{"id":265240,"date":"2025-11-06T09:20:11","date_gmt":"2025-11-06T09:20:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/265240\/"},"modified":"2025-11-06T09:20:11","modified_gmt":"2025-11-06T09:20:11","slug":"mlb-free-agent-rankings-2025-26-kyle-tucker-dylan-cease-bo-bichette-alex-bregman-headline-top-100-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/265240\/","title":{"rendered":"MLB Free Agent Rankings 2025-26: Kyle Tucker, Dylan Cease, Bo Bichette, Alex Bregman headline Top 100 list"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>As always, with the conclusion of the World Series comes this year\u2019s ranking of the winter\u2019s top free agents. Players are ranked based on how I expect teams will view them, not on how I perceive them myself. As such, they\u2019re listed from predicted biggest contract to smallest, using an adjustment for multi-year deals.<\/p>\n<p>Excluded from the rankings are players whose options seems certain to be exercised, a group that includes Luis Robert Jr., Chris Sale and several others. I\u2019m also expecting the likes of Tyler O\u2019Neill, Joc Pederson and A.J. Minter to exercise their player options. I\u2019ve included two Japanese sluggers who are set to be posted, but I held back on top right-hander Tatsuya Imai, since his status isn\u2019t as clear at this point.<\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udc49 Don\u2019t forget: Check out the <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/fantasy\/baseball\/player-news\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Rotoworld player news feed<\/a> for all the latest news, rumors, and transactions as MLB\u2019s Hot Stove gets underway!<\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"Link\" aria-label=\"2025 MLB Free Agency Guide: Top players, key dates, qualifying offers, how it works\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/mlb\/news\/2025-mlb-free-agency-guide-top-players-key-dates-qualifying-offers-how-it-works\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"MLB: Playoffs-Philadelphia Phillies at Los Angeles Dodgers\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1762420810_631_\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Everything you need to know about MLB free agency, including key dates, the top names on the market, qualifying offers, and draft pick compensation. <\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"DJShortBW.jpg\"  width=\"32\" height=\"32\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1762420810_338_\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>    D.J. Short,<\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"DJShortBW.jpg\"  width=\"32\" height=\"32\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1762420810_338_\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>    D.J. Short,<\/p>\n<p>All ages are as of Apr. 1, 2026.<\/p>\n<p>\u25b6 Top 100 MLB Free Agents1. Kyle Tucker (29, OF, Cubs)<\/p>\n<p>Back-to-back seasons marred by injury won\u2019t help Tucker\u2019s market, but he put up the best numbers of his career during his half season in 2024 and he was off to another great start in 2025 before suffering a hand injury that was only much later revealed to be a fracture. Both that and the fractured shin from 2024 seem like fluky injuries, and Tucker played 505 out of a possible 546 games the previous four years. Of some concern is that, in spite of his excellent basestealing ability, Tucker is slow and getting slower, leaving him with subpar range in the outfield. However, he seems like someone who would take well to first base a few years down the line. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: nine years, $360 million<\/p>\n<p>2. Dylan Cease (30, SP, Padres)<\/p>\n<p>Cease\u2019s ERAs are all over the place, but the underlying stats have been remarkably stable over the last five years, with only a modest blip as his velocity dipped some in 2023. While he wound up 8-12 with a 4.55 ERA for the Padres in his walk year, his strikeout rate held steady at 30% and he had a 3.46 xERA and a 3.58 SIERA. Teams will also be enthralled by his durability; he\u2019s never missed a start since debuting in mid-2019. It\u2019s still entirely possible that he has a year or two of Cy Young contention in his future. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: seven years, $210 million<\/p>\n<p>3. Bo Bichette (28, SS, Blue Jays)<\/p>\n<p>Bichette was all set to lead the AL in hits for a third time this year before a sprained knee cost him the final 20 games. Even so, at 181, he still finished just three behind Bobby Witt Jr. for the major league lead. That he returned from the knee injury as a second baseman in the World Series is a fascinating turn ahead of his free agency; it\u2019s doubtful anyone was going to look at him as a long-term shortstop anyway, and if he\u2019s willing to change positions now, it would open up his market. There will probably come a time at which Bichette\u2019s lack of bat speed leads to real problems, but he\u2019s a difference-maker on offense right now.<\/p>\n<p>Prediction: eight years, $216 million<\/p>\n<p>4. Alex Bregman (32, 3B, Red Sox)<\/p>\n<p>Bregman didn\u2019t get the long-term deal he wanted last winter, settling for a three-year, $120 million pact with Boston that gave him the right to opt out. Now he\u2019ll give it another try after a season in which he was fantastic for two months before missing 43 games with a quad injury. He continued to produce initially after returning, but he hit just .180\/.273\/.262 in his final 31 games, dropping his OPS from .933 to .821. Bregman remains a strong defender, and he\u2019s showed an impressively steady bat since his steep decline from his near-MVP campaigns in 2018 and \u201919. Still, it\u2019d be dangerous to give him the kind of rest-of-career contract he obviously desires. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: five years, $160 million<\/p>\n<p>5. Framber Valdez (31, SP, Astros)<\/p>\n<p>On paper, Valdez seems like the best pitcher available; he\u2019s made 121 starts with a 3.21 ERA the last four years and shown no real decline in stuff in the process. Still, questions about his conditioning and attitude linger, and his recent postseason performances were particularly discouraging. It might serve to knock a year or two off of what will still be a very healthy contract. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: five years, $150 million<\/p>\n<p>6. Pete Alonso (31, 1B, Mets)<\/p>\n<p>Alonso\u2019s first foray into free agency last year saw him coming off a down season in which he hit just .240\/.329\/.459. He\u2019s back on the market now after hitting .272\/.347\/.524 and declining a $24 million player option to spend an eighth season with the Mets. Alonso\u2019s exit velocity numbers last season were all the best of his career, with his 54% hard-hit rate towering well above his previous high of 47% from 2021. It makes him look like a pretty good bet on a four-year deal. He\u2019ll want more, though. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: five years, $150 million<\/p>\n<p>7. Cody Bellinger (30, 1B\/OF, Yankees)<\/p>\n<p>Bellinger\u2019s nine-season MLB career breaks down rather remarkably:<\/p>\n<p>2017-19: .278\/.368\/.559, 111 HR, 22% K rate in 450 games<br \/>2020-22: .203\/.272\/.376, 41 HR, 25% K rate in 295 games<br \/>2023-25: .281\/.338\/.477, 73 HR, 15% K rate in 412 games<\/p>\n<p>Bellinger\u2019s declining bat speed seems like a problem, but his approach is just so good these days. He does probably need to stick with a team that plays in a ballpark with a short porch in left. He\u2019s great in the outfield corners and at first base, and he could still probably handle center if necessary. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: five years, $145 million<\/p>\n<p>8. Kyle Schwarber (33, DH, Phillies) <\/p>\n<p>Schwarber\u2019s 56 homers and 132 RBI in his walk year bested his previous highs by nine and 28, respectively. That he hit .244 in the second half of his four-year deal with the Phillies, compared to .207 in the first half, has dramatically increased his value, with the caveat that no one can know how much longer it will last. Still, he\u2019ll almost certainly get another four-year deal, this one worth considerably more than the $79 million he signed for in 2022. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: four years, $128 million<\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"Link\" aria-label=\"Kyle Schwarber Free Agent Profile: Contract prediction, best fits, stats\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/mlb\/news\/kyle-schwarber-free-agent-profile-contract-prediction-best-fits-stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"Kyle Schwarber\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1762420811_816_\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p>After a historic power season with the Phillies, Kyle Schwarber enters free agency at age 33 looking to cash in once again. Which teams make the most sense, and how high could the bidding go?<\/p>\n<p>    9. Ranger Su\u00e1rez (30, SP, Phillies)<\/p>\n<p>Su\u00e1rez seems like the biggest risk among the top 10 free agents, but it\u2019s impossible not to have him here. The largest cause for concern is that his fastball velocity has dropped 2.5 mph since 2023. Still, these last two seasons have been exceptional, with the left-hander posting a 3.33 ERA and a 23.2% strikeout rate. Su\u00e1rez has also never made 30 starts in a season, though he has topped 150 innings three of the last four years, and he\u2019s had just one arm problem as a major leaguer, costing him the first quarter of the 2023 season. Every team would love to have him, and every team that pursues him is going to be sweating the back half of the deal. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: five years, $135 million<\/p>\n<p>10. Josh Naylor (28, 1B, Guardians)<\/p>\n<p>Naylor is definitely hitting free agency at the right time; his 128 OPS+ was just off his career high, he went a ridiculous 30-for-32 stealing bases despite being one of the slowest guys in the league and his clubhouse rep got a big boost during Seattle\u2019s run to the ALCS. Plus, thanks to the midseason trade, he can\u2019t get be saddled with a qualifying offer. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: five years, $125 million<\/p>\n<p>11. Shane Bieber (30, SP, Blue Jays)<\/p>\n<p>Bieber\u2019s return from 2024 Tommy John surgery has been a great success, as he\u2019s shown his best velocity since 2021. The stuff still obviously wasn\u2019t what it was when he was maybe the best pitcher on the planet in 2020, but what he has now should make an above average starter going forward. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: four years, $112 million<\/p>\n<p>UPDATE: Bieber exercised the $16 million player option in his contract and will remain with the Blue Jays for 2026. <\/p>\n<p>12. Munetaka Murakami (26, 1B\/3B, Japan)<\/p>\n<p>Murakami seemed very much like one of the best players in the world three years ago, when, at just 22 years old, he broke the NPB single-season record for Japanese-born players with 56 homers and hit .318 with a 125\/118 K\/BB for the Yakult Swallows. Since then, though, he\u2019s hit just .254, and his strikeout rate has climbed from 21% to 29%. It\u2019s a dead-ball era in Japan, but that doesn\u2019t account for all the swings and misses he\u2019s generating. His power is exceptional, and he\u2019ll find the MLB baseball more to his liking. Hopefully, he\u2019ll wind up as more of a .240-.250 hitter than a .200-.220 guy. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: five years, $120 million<\/p>\n<p>13. Edwin D\u00edaz (32, RP, Mets) <\/p>\n<p>Three years into a five-year, $102 million contract that made him the highest-paid reliever of all-time, D\u00edaz figures to opt out and sign a new deal that keeps him in that position. 2025 saw him finish with a sub-2.00 ERA for the fourth time in his career and strike out 38% of the batters he faced. One imagines he\u2019ll get a four- or five-year deal with a slight raise. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: five years, $110 million<\/p>\n<p>14. Michael King (30, SP, Padres)<\/p>\n<p>After breaking out as a starter in his first year in San Diego, King was limited to 15 starts by shoulder and knee injuries last season and saw his strikeout rate dip from 28% to 25% and his hard-hit rate increase from 30% to 38%. On the other hand, his velocity held steady and stuff models didn\u2019t see any drop off from 2024. His next contract seems like a high risk, high reward kind of deal, which should be of more interest to top contenders than those who need to play it a little safer. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: three years, $84 million<\/p>\n<p>15. Eugenio Su\u00e1rez (34, 3B, Mariners)<\/p>\n<p>49 homers is remarkable regardless, but it\u2019s especially impressive that Su\u00e1rez got there with Chase Field and T-Mobile as his home parks. Still, Su\u00e1rez is 34, his defense seems to be in decline and those 49 homers came with a .298 OBP. A two-year deal seems appropriate, but someone will probably go three. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: three years, $78 million.<\/p>\n<p>16. Devin Williams (31, RP, Yankees)<\/p>\n<p>Williams could opt for a one-year contract after a down season, but it\u2019s doubtful he\u2019ll need to. He finished pretty strong, and his 4.79 ERA for the Yankees still came with a 35% strikeout rate and his best walk rate since 2020. ERA estimator SIERA put him at 2.67, which is right at his 2.70 average from the previous four seasons. He ought to be valued as one of the game\u2019s best relievers. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: four years, $88 million<\/p>\n<p>17. Trevor Story (33, SS, Red Sox)<\/p>\n<p>It would have been hard to fathom Story opting out of his deal with the Red Sox a year ago, but after a season in which he hit .263\/.308\/.433 and drove in 96 runs in 157 games, he could walk away from the $55 million he\u2019s owed over the next two seasons. If he does so, the Red Sox would have the option to lock him in at $75 million for three years. That would seem to be about what Story is worth in a weak market for shortstops, so it\u2019s just up to what he wants. If he stays in Boston, the team should think about moving him to second and installing Marcelo Mayer at short. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: three years, $75 million<\/p>\n<p>18. Brandon Woodruff (33, SP, Brewers)<\/p>\n<p>Fortunately, Woodruff\u2019s season-ending setback in his return from shoulder surgery proved to be a lat strain and not something that figures to carry over into 2026. Even though his velocity was down about three mph from his prime, the right-hander performed incredibly well after his summer return, amassing a 3.20 ERA and an 83\/14 K\/BB in 64 2\/3 innings. No one is going to want to risk a particularly long-term contract, so Woodruff might take a deal that allows him to opt out after one year. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: three years, $72 million<\/p>\n<p>19. Lucas Giolito (31, SP, Red Sox)<\/p>\n<p>Giolito was a nice surprise for the Red Sox in his first year back from Tommy John, going 10-4 with a 3.41 ERA in 26 starts before missing the postseason with what was apparently elbow inflammation. That late injury sets up the possibility that Giolito could exercise his half of a $19 million mutual option, but that still seems unlikely. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: two years, $48 million<\/p>\n<p>20. J.T. Realmuto (35, C, Phillies)<\/p>\n<p>Realmuto just finished up a five-year, $115.5 million contract that is still the standard for catchers (the extra half million gave him a $23.1 million average salary designed to put him just ahead of Joe Mauer\u2019s $23 million-per-year deal from 2011-18). He\u2019s no longer the player he was when he inked that contract, but he still stands out among this year\u2019s catching crop with his durability and solid numbers at the plate. He\u2019ll probably have his pick of two-year offers, and someone might go three. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: three years, $60 million<\/p>\n<p>21. Zac Gallen (30, SP, D-backs)<\/p>\n<p>One of the NL\u2019s best pitchers in 2022, Gallen mostly kept it together in 2023 and \u201924 even though his exit velocity numbers were thoroughly mediocre. In 2025, his strikeout rate dropped from 25-27% to 21.5% and his ERA skyrocketed to 4.83. Gallen has proved durable and his velocity has held pretty steady, so there should be no shortage of teams wanting to take a look at him. He\u2019s a prime candidate for a contract that allows him to opt out after one season, or he might even accept the $22 million qualifying offer, assuming that the Diamondbacks make him one. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: two years, $45 million<\/p>\n<p>22. Merrill Kelly (37, SP, D-backs)<\/p>\n<p>Kelly is seven years older than Gallen and didn\u2019t enjoy a great finish with the Rangers, but the fact that he, unlike his former Arizona rotationmate, can\u2019t be handed a qualifying offer will make him the more desirable free agent option for a lot of teams. Kelly had a 4.23 ERA and a 19.7% K rate in 10 starts with Texas after coming in at 3.22 with a 23.5% K rate for the D-backs, but he\u2019s been remarkably solid on the whole these last four years. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: two years, $44 million<\/p>\n<p>23. Kazuma Okamoto (29, 1B\/3B, Japan)<\/p>\n<p>Okamoto is older than Murakami and has never had a season quite like Murakami\u2019s 2022, but he\u2019s been a consistently potent bat for the Yomiuri Giants for eight years now, and he did some of his best work while healthy last season, hitting .327\/.415\/.598 with 15 homers and a 33\/33 K\/BB in 69 games. He\u2019s probably best suited for first base and he\u2019s unlikely to show 30-homer power in MLB, but he should be a steady run producer and potentially a safer investment than Murakami. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: three years, $54 million<\/p>\n<p>24. Chris Bassitt (36, SP, Blue Jays)<\/p>\n<p>Bassitt lost one mph off his fastball last season, but he held steady otherwise, posting a 108 ERA+ and finishing with his usual 22% strikeout rate. He was also particularly impressive in returning from a back injury as a reliever in the postseason, something that could make him extra interesting to top contenders who might appreciate that flexibility in October. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: two years, $40 million<\/p>\n<p>25. Shota Imanaga (32, SP, Cubs) <\/p>\n<p>The three-year, $57 million option on Imanaga\u2019s contract seemed like a no-brainer for the Cubs for most of the year, but he gave up 12 homers in his final six starts, taking his ERA from 3.03 to 3.73, and then continued to struggle into October, which led to the Cubs bypassing him in the decisive Game 5 of the NLDS against the Brewers. With his velocity down a little, Imanaga\u2019s strikeout rate fell from 24% in his first year in Chicago to 21% last season. There\u2019s still a good case for him being worth the $57 million, but the Cubs might decide to decline it and aim higher in free agency. Imanaga would then get player options for $15 million next year and $17 million in 2027, but he could probably do better than that in free agency. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: two years, $40 million<\/p>\n<p>26. Ryan Helsley (31, RP, Mets)<\/p>\n<p>Helsley believes it was pitch tipping that allowed the league to catch up to him last season, and given the lack of any real change in terms of stuff, it seems like that he\u2019s right. Helsley had a 1.83 ERA from 2022-24, and his slider ranks as one of the game\u2019s best. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: three years, $48 million<\/p>\n<p>27. Jack Flaherty (30, SP, Tigers)<\/p>\n<p>Flaherty\u2019s odd campaign saw him essentially match his career strikeout, walk and home run rates, yet finish with an ERA a run higher than his career mark (4.64 to 3.63) and lead the AL in losses. The Tigers, incredibly, went 9-22 in his starts and 78-53 the rest of the time. Flaherty now has the option of sticking around Detroit for $20 million or taking his chances elsewhere. He\u2019ll probably be able to do a little better in free agency while coming off a third straight relatively healthy season. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $24 million<\/p>\n<p>28. Harrison Bader (31, OF, Phillies)<\/p>\n<p>After settling for $6.25 million as a free agent last year, Bader put up his best offensive season to date, hitting .277\/.347\/.449 in a career-high 501 plate appearances with the Twins and Phillies. It took adding some more swing and miss to his game &#8212; he struck out 27% of the time &#8212; but his 40% hard-hit rate far outpaced his career mark of 32%. Most likely, he\u2019ll fall back some offensively, but he remains an above average defensive center fielder, and there\u2019s no one else on this list who fits that description. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: two years, $38 million<\/p>\n<p>29. Gleyber Torres (28, 2B, Tigers)<\/p>\n<p>Torres wanted a one-year deal as a free agent last winter and made good on it, turning in a better season offensively and defensively than he did in his final year in New York. How much of a reward that will provide remains to be seen. Teams don\u2019t love making big commitments to second basemen, and Torres still lacks range at that position and the foot speed and arm strength to contribute anywhere else. He\u2019s a nice enough player right now, but a long-term commitment still wouldn\u2019t make much sense. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: three years, $45 million<\/p>\n<p>30. Robert Suarez (35, RP, Padres) <\/p>\n<p>At age 34, Suarez had his most encouraging season since returning to the U.S., making it an easy call for him to opt out of the final two years and $16 million the Padres owe him. His K:BB has improved from 2.7 in 2022-23 to 3.7 in 2024 and 4.7 in 2025. It\u2019ll be interesting to see if San Diego works to bring him back; if they do, it\u2019d seem to be a sign that they really do want to try Mason Miller in the rotation. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: three years, $45 million<\/p>\n<p>31. Tyler Mahle (31, SP, Rangers)<\/p>\n<p>In the last 3 1\/2 years, Mahle has had several rounds of shoulder problems and undergone Tommy John surgery, but he did impress while healthy for the Rangers last season, posting a 2.18 ERA in 16 starts. A big-budget team could roll the dice on him staying relatively healthy for the first time since 2021, when he had a 125 ERA+ and a 28% strikeout rate in 33 starts for the Reds. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: two years, $36 million<\/p>\n<p>32. Trent Grisham (29, OF, Yankees) <\/p>\n<p>Grisham\u2019s 34-homer breakout was quite the story, and there\u2019s enough improvement in his strikeout and exit velocity numbers to think some of it will stick around. Unfortunately, however, he\u2019s lost so much speed that, unless he can get that back somehow, he needs to be looked at as a corner outfielder going forward. Also, he was definitely a little lucky to rack up the 34 homers; Statcast gave him an expected total of 28, and besides the homers, he totaled just 10 extra-base hits all year (nine doubles, one triple). <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: two years, $34 million<\/p>\n<p>33. Jorge Polanco (32, 2B\/3B, Mariners)<\/p>\n<p>Polanco followed up the worst year of his career with the best, hitting .265\/.326\/.495 with 26 homers in his return to Seattle. It didn\u2019t seem fluky, either, as he made consistent hard contact while striking out just 16% of the time. He even fared better than expected at second base after being signed to play third and then, in part because of knee soreness, spending much of the year as a DH. It\u2019s still hard to project Polanco as a second baseman going forward, and continued time at DH might keep him from breaking down. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: two years, $34 million<\/p>\n<p>34. Ha-Seong Kim (30, SS, Braves)<\/p>\n<p>Kim\u2019s return from shoulder surgery didn\u2019t go as well as hoped, but he did pick it up in the end after the Braves claimed him off waivers from the Rays, hitting .253\/.316\/.368 with three homers in his final 24 games. The thrifty Rays dropped Kim because they didn\u2019t want to risk him picking up his $16 million player option, but as a fine defensive shortstop and at least the potential for league-average offense, he figures to be worth at least that much in his first full season back. It\u2019s just a matter of whether he wants to try to further rebuild his value on a one-year pact or if he would prefer to lock in for two or three years now. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $18 million<\/p>\n<p>35. Raisel Iglesias (36, RP, Braves)<\/p>\n<p>25 appearances into his 2025 season, Iglesias had a 6.75 ERA, four blown saves in 12 chances and five losses, briefly costing him his job as Atlanta\u2019s closer. Fortunately, he turned things around extremely well from there, posting a 1.25 ERA and a 48\/10 K\/BB in his final 43 1\/3 innings. He allowed one run in his final 27 outings. He\u2019ll probably become more homer-prone as he enters his upper-30s, but he\u2019s still a reasonable closing option for now. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: two years, $28 million<\/p>\n<p>36. Ryan O\u2019Hearn (32, 1B, Padres) <\/p>\n<p>O\u2019Hearn\u2019s decline after being traded away by the Orioles is more of a concern than it might otherwise be, as his exit velocity numbers fell way off while his strikeout rate went in the other direction. Of course, it was still a nice season overall, as he hit .281\/.366\/.437 in 544 plate appearances. That he\u2019s turned himself into an above average defender at first base also adds to his case for a multiyear deal. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: two years, $28 million<\/p>\n<p>37. Tyler Rogers (35, RP, Mets)<\/p>\n<p>Rogers is a 35-year-old who never breaks 85 mph and has no history of closing, yet he might also be the safest relief investment on the market. In spite of his heavy workloads &#8212; he\u2019s topped 70 innings in five straight seasons &#8212; the submarining Rogers was as effective as ever in amassing a 1.98 ERA last season and his 83.5 mph average on his fastball was actually a career high. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: three years, $33 million<\/p>\n<p>38. Max Muncy (35, 3B, Dodgers)<\/p>\n<p>With their unmatched payroll and potentially a desire to get younger in the lineup, it\u2019s reasonable to ask if the Dodgers might want to move on from Muncy this winter. Still, his club option is a paltry $10 million, which seems like a bargain for a player coming off another three-WAR season. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: option exercised<\/p>\n<p>39. Justin Verlander (43, SP, Giants)<\/p>\n<p>Although he has indicated he wants to keep pitching until age 45, it looked like Verlander might be finished at 42 with the way he threw the first half of last season. Fortunately, he bounced back nicely afterwards, going 4-3 with a 2.60 ERA and a 70\/24 K\/BB over 72 2\/3 innings in his final 13 starts. He allowed one or no runs in eight of those. He seems like at least as good of a bet now as he did last winter, when he got $15 million from the Giants. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $15 million<\/p>\n<p>40. Luis Arraez (28, 1B\/2B, Padres)<\/p>\n<p>Arraez\u2019s down year came at the worst possible time, as he hit .292\/.327\/.392 in 2025 after coming in at .328\/.371\/.426 over the previous three years. He doesn\u2019t seem like a legitimate second baseman at this point, and he needs to bat at least .310 to be of much help as a first baseman. He\u2019s just turning 29 in April, so a bounce-back is certainly possible. But it\u2019s hard to see why any team would want to commit to him for more than a year or two. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $14 million<\/p>\n<p>41. Brad Keller (30, RP, Cubs) <\/p>\n<p>A one-time sinkerballing, mid-rotation starter for the Royals, Keller had nearly fallen out of the league entirely before his sudden emergence as a flamethrowing setup man for the Cubs last season. He struck out 27% of the batters he faced while averaging 97 mph with his fastball, and he was still a strong groundball pitcher in the process. That seems worth a two-year commitment. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: two years, $22 million<\/p>\n<p>42. Max Scherzer (41, SP, Blue Jays) <\/p>\n<p>Scherzer, who had a 3.77 ERA in his three postseason starts, indicated after Game 7 that he plans on returning from another year, and he\u2019s already been linked to the Giants, since that team just hired his good friend Tony Vitello as their new manager. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $13 million<\/p>\n<p>43. Marcell Ozuna (35, DH, Braves) <\/p>\n<p>Ozuna\u2019s 2025 fade can seemingly be explained by a tear in his hip. He had an .883 OPS through two months after coming in at .905 and .925 the previous two years, both of which saw him drive in 100 runs. He\u2019s strictly a DH and it\u2019s possible he\u2019ll continue to decline, but he presents a chance to lock in a pretty good cleanup hitter on a one-year deal. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $13 million<\/p>\n<p>44. Cody Ponce (31, SP, Korea) <\/p>\n<p>Ponce was last seen in the majors going 0-6 with a 7.04 ERA in 38 1\/3 innings for the 2021 Pirates. He then spent three years in Japan and 2025 in Korea, where he turned in one of the KBO\u2019s best seasons of all-time in going 17-1 with a 1.89 ERA and a 252\/41 K\/BB in 180 2\/3 innings. That\u2019s not with Japan\u2019s dead ball, either; the KBO had a 4.31 ERA last season. Ponce always had good command, and he\u2019s throwing harder now than he used to. He should be useful in the middle of a rotation for a couple of years. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: two years, $20 million<\/p>\n<p>45. Kenley Jansen (38, RP, Angels)<\/p>\n<p>While obviously not the dominant force he was, Jansen has also never been ineffective as he continues his steady march towards 500 saves (now 24 away). The day is coming when he\u2019ll lose it &#8212; last season\u2019s career-worst 24.4% strikeout rate isn\u2019t a good omen &#8212; but his velocity has held steady and stuff models still like him plenty. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $12 million<\/p>\n<p>46. Dustin May (28, SP, Red Sox) <\/p>\n<p>May stayed healthy enough to make 23 starts and two relief appearances, but with his velocity down 2-3 mph and his cutter lacking its former movement, he just wasn\u2019t the same pitcher in his return from flexor tendon and esophageal surgeries last season. Fortunately, he still has youth on his side, and if he is stronger in his second year back, he\u2019s someone a team can imagine starting a postseason game. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $12 million<\/p>\n<p>47. Victor Caratini (32, C, Astros)<\/p>\n<p>Caratini\u2019s performance warrants a starting job in free agency, but that was also the case last time around, when he took a two-year, $12 million contract to play behind Yainer Diaz in Houston. He went on to hit .263\/.329\/.406 in 660 plate appearances over the two seasons. Of some concern is that he\u2019s never started more than 81 games behind the plate in a season and hasn\u2019t even topped 55 as a part-timer the last three seasons. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: two years, $18 million<\/p>\n<p>48. Kyle Finnegan (34, RP, Tigers) <\/p>\n<p>It should be pretty embarrassing to the Nationals how, mostly just by encouraging him to throw his splitter more often, the Tigers instantly turned Finnegan into a strikeout machine after picking him up at the deadline; he had a 4.38 ERA and a 20% K rate prior to the trade and a 1.50 ERA and a 35% K rate afterwards. That he wasn\u2019t as sharp in October after missing much of September with an adductor strain could cost Finnegan some, but he\u2019ll still do considerably better than if he had finished the season in D.C. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $11 million<\/p>\n<p>49. Luke Weaver (32, RP, Yankees) <\/p>\n<p>Following up his breakthrough 2024, Weaver continued to look like one of the league\u2019s best relievers in posting a 1.05 ERA over the first two months. However, upon returning from a hamstring strain in late June, he had a 5.31 ERA the rest of the way, even though he fanned 48 in 39 innings. He then went and allowed five runs while getting one out in three postseason appearances, good for a 135.00 ERA. He was probably tipping his pitches then, and his mid-90s fastball\/changeup combo still looks good on the surface, but because of his struggles, he\u2019ll probably need to settle for a one-year deal. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $11 million<\/p>\n<p>50. Mike Yastrzemski (35, OF, Giants) <\/p>\n<p>Giants right fielders hit something like .030 after the team regrettably sent Yastrzemski to the Royals at the deadline. Maybe the most consistent player in the league in recent seasons, Yastrzemski has finished between 2.0 and 2.7 WAR every year since 2019 (the one time he was inconsistent was the shortened 2020, when he posted a .968 OPS and actually finished with 2.7 WAR in 54 games). Yaz should be slowing down at this age, but his exit velocity numbers were a little better than usual last season and he posted a career-low 19% strikeout rate. He\u2019s a very easy one-year solution as a platoon corner outfielder. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $11 million<\/p>\n<p>51. Zach Eflin (31, SP, Orioles)<\/p>\n<p>Eflin\u2019s strikeout rate collapsed to 16% in 14 starts last season, and he had a 5.93 ERA before undergoing season-ending back surgery. He\u2019s mostly avoided arm woes and is young enough to bounce back, but he\u2019s in line for a one-year deal at this point. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $11 million<\/p>\n<p>52. Steven Matz (34, RP, Red Sox)<\/p>\n<p>Matz took to a relief role with surprising gusto last season, posting a 3.44 ERA for the Cardinals and then a 2.08 ERA after a deadline deal sent him to Boston. Assuming he\u2019s content to stay in the pen, a multiyear deal seems like a possibility here. He\u2019d probably be in much less demand if he insists on marketing himself as a starter. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: two years, $17 million<\/p>\n<p>53. Seranthony Dom\u00ednguez (31, RP, Blue Jays)<\/p>\n<p>Dom\u00ednguez just pitched a career-high 62 2\/3 innings with his best ERA (3.16) and strikeout rate (30.3%) since his rookie season in 2018. He\u2019s not a perfect eighth- or ninth-inning guy in a contender\u2019s bullpen, but having him around worked out pretty well for the Blue Jays. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: two years, $16 million<\/p>\n<p>54. Adrian Houser (32, SP, Rays)<\/p>\n<p>Houser appeared to be on his way out of the league a year ago, but he reclaimed the velocity he lost the previous couple of seasons and ended up with a nice 3.31 ERA in 21 starts for the White Sox and Rays. He needs a quality defensive infield behind him, but if the velocity sticks, he\u2019s a useful fifth starter. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $10 million<\/p>\n<p>55. Emilio Pag\u00e1n (34, RP, Reds)<\/p>\n<p>The Reds would have preferred it had Pag\u00e1n not picked up his $8 million player option a year ago, but it certainly worked out well that he did; he went 32-for-38 saving games and finished with a 2.88 ERA in 66 2\/3 innings. Pag\u00e1n remains an extreme flyball pitcher who would fit better in a bigger ballpark. He might get more money as a setup man for a contender than as a closer for a lesser team. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $10 million<\/p>\n<p>56. Cedric Mullins (31, OF, Orioles)<\/p>\n<p>Mullins had respectable numbers for the Orioles last season, but he hit just .182 after joining the Mets, leaving him at .216\/.299\/.391 overall. His defense in center field has also worsened, and there isn\u2019t much of a case for starting him against lefties at this point. That said, he can still yank a flyball down the right field line, making him interesting for teams that have short porches that way. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $10 million<\/p>\n<p>57. Drew Pomeranz (37, RP, Cubs)<\/p>\n<p>Following three seasons in which he never threw a pitch in the majors, Pomeranz resurfaced with the Cubs in late April and went 18 straight appearances without allowing a run and then eight more before giving up his first earned run. He finished with a 2.17 ERA and a 28% strikeout rate and then retired 18 of the 19 batters he faced in the postseason. There\u2019s no guarantee that he\u2019ll stay healthy again, but a large-market team will pay him $10 million and hope for the best. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $10 million<\/p>\n<p>58. Anthony Kay (31, SP, Japan)<\/p>\n<p>If he gets some decent offers, Kay, a former first-round pick of the Mets, will probably give MLB another try next year. His cutter seems to have come a long way in the two seasons since he left for Japan, and he finished second in the Central League with a 1.74 ERA while going 9-7 with a 130\/41 K\/BB in 155 innings for Yokohama last season. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: two years, $15 million<\/p>\n<p>59. Nick Martinez (35, SP\/RP, Reds)<\/p>\n<p>An apparent ability to avoid hard contact helped Martinez post a 3.31 ERA in 35 starts and 117 relief appearances from 2022-24. It didn\u2019t really carry over last season, though, and after becoming the only free agent to accept a $21.05 million qualifying offer, he posted a 4.45 ERA in 26 starts and 14 relief appearances for Cincinnati. He doesn\u2019t have as much mileage on his arm as most 35-year-olds, and he still might have a few more useful years as a swingman. However, if he wants a guaranteed rotation spot, he\u2019ll probably have to sign with a lesser team. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $9 million<\/p>\n<p>60. Jos\u00e9 Alvarado (30, RP, Nationals) <\/p>\n<p>Alvarado\u2019s 80-game PED suspension doesn\u2019t seem to have soured the Phillies on him, and president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski indicated last month than that the lefty would likely return. Whether that means picking up his $9 million option or coming to terms on another multiyear deal is unclear. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: option exercised<\/p>\n<p>61. Tomoyuki Sugano (36, SP, Orioles)<\/p>\n<p>It was a given that Sugano would struggle to miss bats in MLB &#8212; he hadn\u2019t had even a 20% K rate in Japan since 2021 &#8212; but the hope was he\u2019d finesse his way into being a league average starter anyway. As it turned out, he came up a little short, giving up 33 homers and finishing with an 88 ERA+. If he wants to keep pitching in the U.S., he\u2019ll probably have to take less than the $13 million he earned in his one-year pact with Baltimore. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $8 million<\/p>\n<p>62. Michael Soroka (28, SP\/RP, Cubs)<\/p>\n<p>Soroka got a surprising $9 million from the Nationals last winter despite finishing 0-10 with a 4.74 ERA for the White Sox in 2024, but it was an intriguing roll of the dice based on the swing-and-miss ability he showed out of the pen. Back in the rotation in D.C., he went 3-8 with a 4.87 ERA in 16 starts, though it came with a nice 87\/24 K\/BB in 81 1\/3 innings. The Cubs acquired him at the deadline, but he went on to miss six weeks with a shoulder strain after his first start and only returned to make five relief appearances. On the whole, he seems like about as good of a bet now as he did a year ago, although it might be better to use him as a full-time reliever. The ability is there for him to start, but keeping him off the IL has proven very difficult. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $8 million<\/p>\n<p>63. Danny Jansen (30, C, Brewers)<\/p>\n<p>After signing him to a one-year, $8.5 million contract in free agency, the Rays opted to bail on Jansen last summer, trading him to Milwaukee and acquiring Hunter Feduccia from the Dodgers and Nick Fortes from the Marlins as their new catching duo. Jansen went on to hit .254\/.346\/.433 as William Contreras\u2019s backup, leaving him with a .215\/.321\/.399 line overall. He still seems like a viable starter offensively, but the decline in his framing numbers will leave some teams wary. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $8 million<\/p>\n<p>64. David Robertson (40, RP, Phillies)<\/p>\n<p>Robertson didn\u2019t find any offers to his liking after an outstanding season with the Rangers in 2024, so he took the first half off before joining the Phillies and posting a 4.08 ERA in 20 appearances. The absence likely played a role in his decline in velocity, though absent the spike he enjoyed the previous three years, his 91.7 mph average on his cutter was still right about where he was at during his prime years. Robertson might choose another midseason return or walk away entirely now, but he still most likely has what it takes to contribute as a setup man for a contender. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $8 million<\/p>\n<p>65. Zack Littell (30, SP, Reds) <\/p>\n<p>Littell\u2019s second year as a full-time starter saw only a slight jump in his ERA from 3.63 to 3.81, but the drop in his strikeout rate from 21.5% to 17.1% seems like a big deal. He makes more sense as an innings eater for a rebuilding team than he would for a contender. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $8 million<\/p>\n<p>66. Foster Griffin (30, SP, Japan)<\/p>\n<p>Griffin, the Royals\u2019 first-round pick in 2014, is planning to return to MLB after three years in Japan. He missed about half of 2025, but he was terrific in posting a 1.62 ERA in 78 innings for Yomiuri, and he had a 2.57 ERA and a 25% strikeout rate overall in his three seasons. Several teams will give him a look as a potential fourth or fifth starter. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: two years, $12 million<\/p>\n<p>67. Paul Goldschmidt (38, 1B, Yankees)<\/p>\n<p>Despite finishing out 2025 as a role player starting against lefties, Goldschmidt wants to keep his Hall of Fame career going at age 38. It\u2019s hard to see a contender signing him as a regular after he hit just .247\/.289\/.329 against righties, but a lesser team might, and if he\u2019s content as a platoon guy, who wouldn\u2019t want to have him around? <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $7.5 million<\/p>\n<p>68. Germ\u00e1n M\u00e1rquez (31, SP, Rockies)<\/p>\n<p>Any number of teams would have loved to lure M\u00e1rquez out of Colorado a few years ago, but after missing most of 2023 and \u201924 following Tommy John surgery, he showed little in finishing with a 6.70 ERA and an ugly 14% strikeout rate last season. He might not be hopeless &#8212; his velocity is down just one mph from his peak &#8212; but he\u2019s five years removed from his last quality season. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $7.5 million<\/p>\n<p>69. Willi Castro (28, INF\/OF, Cubs)<\/p>\n<p>Castro had a really rough go of it after a deadline deal sent him to the Cubs, hitting .170\/.245\/.240 in 110 plate appearances, but before that, he hit .250\/.335\/.398 in 2 1\/2 seasons with the Twins. As one of the youngest and most versatile free agents available, he\u2019ll probably get some two-year offers. Still, he might prefer a chance to hit free agency on a higher note next winter. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $7 million<\/p>\n<p>70. Starling Marte (37, OF, Mets)<\/p>\n<p>Marte faded into a part-time role in the final season of his four-year, $78 million deal with the Mets, but he showed he\u2019s still a useful bat in hitting .270\/.335\/.410, and he also finished with his best defensive numbers in a few years. It\u2019s probably the case that the limited role suits him best at age 37 and after the leg problems he\u2019s experienced in recent years, but he can still help a contender. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $7 million<\/p>\n<p>71. Josh Bell (33, 1B, Nationals)<\/p>\n<p>Bell probably would have been part of a deadline deal for a fourth straight season in 2025, but no one had much interest in a designated hitter with a .700 OPS. That\u2019s a shame, in retrospect, since Bell posted an .837 OPS over the final two months. He wound up with some of the best exit-velocity numbers of his career and also a 16.5% strikeout rate that was his second lowest ever. Statcast gave him an xBA of .270 and an xSLG of .497 for the full season. It doesn\u2019t mean he\u2019ll do it again, but he seems a little more interesting now than he was the previous couple of offseasons. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $7 million<\/p>\n<p>72. Jose Quintana (37, SP, Brewers)<\/p>\n<p>Teams seem to really dislike paying Quintana, who posted a 105 ERA+ in 31 starts for the Mets in 2024 but still had to settle for $4 million from the Brewers over the winter. He went on to miss some time last season, but in his 24 starts, he again had a 105 ERA+. Unfortunately, that did come with the worst peripherals of his career, giving teams an excuse to again not want to pay him much this winter. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $7 million<\/p>\n<p>73. Miguel Rojas (37, 2B\/SS, Dodgers)<\/p>\n<p>Still an excellent defender as he heads into his late-30s, Rojas has been worth 5.5 bWAR in 217 games for the Dodgers the last two years. He indicated last month that he\u2019s looking to play just one more season, and he\u2019ll probably beat his previous career-high salary of $5 million in the process. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $7 million<\/p>\n<p>74. Tyler Kinley (35, RP, Braves)<\/p>\n<p>The Braves knew they were out of the race at the deadline, but they went ahead and picked up Kinley from the Rockies anyway, partly because of his reasonable $5 million option for 2026. He went on to allow just two earned runs in 25 innings for Atlanta, so that option is most likely getting picked up. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: option exercised<\/p>\n<p>75. Walker Buehler (31, SP, Phillies)<\/p>\n<p>Buehler returned from Tommy John surgery in 2024 averaging 95 mph with his fastball, which was down about 1.5 mph from his peak but almost right where he was in his best season in 2021. If anything, he figured to be a little stronger last season. Instead, he dropped another one mph on the fastball and struck out only 16.5 batters he faced on his way to posting a 5.45 for the Red Sox. He did allow just one run over 13 2\/3 innings in three late appearances for the Phillies, but there was nothing there to suggest genuine improvement. A turnaround is hardly impossible, but the stuff has to get better. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $7 million<\/p>\n<p>76. Isiah Kiner-Falefa (31, INF, Blue Jays)<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s kind of amazing to think it was just a year ago that the non-contending Blue Jays sent Kiner-Falefa to the sort-of-contending Pirates at the trade deadline. IKA seemed on his way to a career-year at that point &#8212; he was hitting .292\/.338\/.420 for the Jays &#8212; but he\u2019s mostly struggled since, hitting .262\/.297\/.334 with particularly subpar exit velocity numbers last season. He makes more sense as a utilityman for a contender than as a starter on a lesser team. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $6.5 million<\/p>\n<p>77. Patrick Corbin (36, SP, Rangers)<\/p>\n<p>Experimenting with a cutter in 2024 didn\u2019t pay immediate dividends for Corbin, but he started throwing the pitch harder last season and was stunningly competent in finishing with a 4.40 ERA in 155 innings. He actually seems like a better bet than most of the other innings eaters at this point. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $6.5 million<\/p>\n<p>78. Austin Hays (30, OF, Reds)<\/p>\n<p>The one-year deal Hays signed with the Reds a year ago included a mutual $12 million option for 2026, but the Reds should opt out of that after he missed one-third of the season and finished with a middling 105 OPS+ in 2025. While Hays will likely land another starting job, he\u2019s probably more useful as a platoon guy against left-handers than as a full-timer at this point. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $6 million<\/p>\n<p>79. Colin Rea (35, SP, Cubs)<\/p>\n<p>A middle reliever initially after being brought in as rotation insurance, Rea ended up making 27 starts for the Cubs and posting a 3.95 ERA. He also allowed just one run in 7 2\/3 innings over three postseason appearances. The Cubs can bring him back for $6 million or buy him out for $750,000. One imagines they\u2019ll choose the former, even if they again don\u2019t plan to pencil him into the rotation. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: option exercised<\/p>\n<p>80. Max Kepler (33, OF, Phillies) <\/p>\n<p>Kepler\u2019s longstanding BABIP issues went away for two years; he finished at .294 between 2023 and \u201924, compared to .239 over the previous five years. They resurfaced with the Phillies, though, as he came in at just .232 on his way to hitting .216\/.300\/.391 last season. His offensive projections really haven\u2019t changed much, but now that he\u2019s more of an average corner outfielder than a Gold Glove contender cuts into his value. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $6 million<\/p>\n<p>81. Michael Kopech (29, RP, Dodgers)<\/p>\n<p>Kopech was a big part of the Dodgers\u2019 bullpen during their 2024 World Series run, but he was limited to 11 innings last season by a shoulder injury early and then knee problems late. He was also often terribly wild while on the mound; between the majors and his Triple-A rehab assignments, he walked 33 of the 122 batters he faced (27%). Still, with his ceiling, he\u2019ll get some offers. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $6 million<\/p>\n<p>82. Michael Lorenzen (34, SP, Royals)<\/p>\n<p>Lorenzen\u2019s 4.64 ERA for the Royals was his high mark in four seasons since he retired to starting, but his 21% strikeout rate and 6.4% walk rate were both nice improvements. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $6 million<\/p>\n<p>83. Phil Maton (33, RP, Rangers)<\/p>\n<p>Maton was unable to lock down the closer\u2019s role in Texas after being picked up from the Cardinals at the deadline, but he still had a pretty terrific season overall, finishing with a 2.79 ERA and 33% strikeout rate. His career strikeout rate coming into the year was 26%, and he\u2019d been down to 23% in 2024. Still, he doesn\u2019t necessarily need the big strikeout numbers to be effective; of the 385 pitchers to throw 300 innings since 2017 (the year he entered the league), he has the fourth lowest hard-hit rate at 29.8%. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $6 million<\/p>\n<p>84. Gregory Soto (31, RP, Mets)<\/p>\n<p>Soto\u2019s left arm is getting a bit less lively, with his velocity having dropped 1.5 mph over the last two years, and he hasn\u2019t posted a sub-4.00 ERA since 2022. Still, his peripherals are fine, and lefties who strike batters out are always in demand. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $6 million<\/p>\n<p>85. Hunter Harvey (31, RP, Royals)<\/p>\n<p>Harvey has pitched a total of 185 innings as a major leaguer, but the oft-injured former first-round pick of the Orioles has racked up the six years of service time he needed to qualify for free agency. He had a 3.29 ERA and a 27% strikeout rate in 151 innings from 2022-24 before being held to 10 2\/3 innings by shoulder and abdominal injuries last season. He\u2019s a flier for a large-market team that can hope he\u2019s healthy at the right time of year. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $5.5 million<\/p>\n<p>86. Tyler Anderson (36, SP, Angels)<\/p>\n<p>Anderson\u2019s three-year, $39 million deal with the Angels concluded with a 4.56 ERA in 2023 and a 4.53 ERA overall. His strikeout rate is dropping and he\u2019s now one of the league\u2019s most extreme flyball pitchers, so he\u2019s probably rotation filler for a non-contender at this point. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $5 million<\/p>\n<p>87. Miles Mikolas (37, SP, Cardinals)<\/p>\n<p>Mikolas made 98 starts for the Cardinals while earning $55.75 million the last three years, but those came with a 4.98 ERA. The team that signs him to eat innings at the back of the rotation should be expecting more of the same. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $5 million<\/p>\n<p>88. Rhys Hoskins (33, 1B, Brewers)<\/p>\n<p>Hoskins was hitting .242\/.340\/.428 in 318 plate appearances in July when a bad throw from Joey Ortiz at short led to a collision at first base that left him with a sprained thumb. Once healthy, he was declared obsolete by a Brewers team that had given his at-bats to Andrew Vaughn and Jake Bauers. With just a 102 OPS+ in the two seasons since he returned from a torn ACL, he\u2019s probably not going to get much of a look from contenders. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $5 million<\/p>\n<p>89. John Means (32, SP, Guardians)<\/p>\n<p>The Guardians paid for Means\u2019 Tommy John rehab in the hopes that he might be able to contribute at the end of the year and got themselves a $6 million option for 2026 as a bonus. However, while Means did return to the mound in mid-August, his stuff wasn\u2019t quite up to par, and went unpromoted to the majors after posting a 7.97 ERA in five Triple-A starts. His option will likely be declined, but he still might have some upside if he\u2019s stronger this year. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $5 million<\/p>\n<p>90. Michael Conforto (33, OF, Dodgers)<\/p>\n<p>The Dodgers looked at Conforto\u2019s exit velocity numbers from his final year with the Giants and decided it was worth paying him $17 million last season. It turned out to be one of their worst calls of the decade, but as ineffective as Conforto was in hitting .199\/.305\/.333 and playing subpar defense in left field, his exit velocity numbers remained solid; Statcast gave him an xBA of .246 and an xSLG of .428. He probably won\u2019t draw much interest from contenders this time around, but he could bounce back. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $5 million<\/p>\n<p>91. Rob Refsnyder (35, OF, Red Sox)<\/p>\n<p>Never able to establish himself in his twenties, Refsnyder turned into the ideal platoon outfielder in Boston, hitting .276\/.364\/.440 while primarily starting against lefties the last four years. He even had his best exit velocity numbers to date in 2025, finishing with a 52% hard-hit rate and a 12% barrel rate. He\u2019ll probably stay put in Boston, but there should be widespread interest. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $5 million<\/p>\n<p>92. Lane Thomas (30, OF, Nationals)<\/p>\n<p>A fine regular for the Nationals in 2023, Thomas has cratered since, hitting .237\/.309\/.400 in 2024 and then coming in at just .160\/.246\/.272 in 39 games during a 2025 campaign in which he struggled with plantar fasciitis. If healthy, he can help a team as a platoon corner outfielder against lefties. He\u2019s hit .292\/.359\/.500 versus southpaws and .220\/.287\/.383 against righties over the course of his career. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $5 million<\/p>\n<p>93. Jordan Montgomery (32, SP, Brewers)<\/p>\n<p>Montgomery\u2019s market wasn\u2019t what he thought it would be after he helped pitch the Rangers to a championship in 2023, so he took a short-term deal that couldn\u2019t have worked out much worse; he had a disastrous first season in Arizona and then underwent Tommy John surgery in March that will probably cost him at least the first month or two of 2026. He still makes for an intriguing stash. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $5 million<\/p>\n<p>94. Mart\u00edn P\u00e9rez (34, SP, White Sox)<\/p>\n<p>P\u00e9rez missed much of the year with an elbow injury and then also had his shoulder act up at the end of the season, but he was surprisingly effective while on the mound, posting a 3.54 ERA in 10 starts and one relief appearance. Durability hadn\u2019t been much of an issue previously, so another one-year deal in the $5 million range seems appropriate. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $5 million<\/p>\n<p>95. Pierce Johnson (34, RP, Braves)<\/p>\n<p>Johnson gave the Braves a 3.36 ERA over 115 1\/3 innings in return for their $14 million investment two years ago. Now the team can keep him around for a third year at another $7 million or buy him out for $250,000. With the decline in his strikeout rate (33% in 2022-23, 28% in 2025, 25% in 2025), the guess here is that he wouldn\u2019t command quite that much on the open market. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $5 million<\/p>\n<p>96. Luis Rengifo (29, INF\/OF, Angels)<\/p>\n<p>While getting his most playing time to date, Rengifo came in at just .238\/.287\/.335 in 541 plate appearances for the Angels last season. If some team buys into his improved metrics at second base, maybe he\u2019ll land a starting job. He\u2019d previously graded out as below average everywhere he played. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $5 million<\/p>\n<p>97. Chris Paddack (30, SP, Tigers)<\/p>\n<p>With his formerly excellent changeup betraying him, Paddack has mustered just a 5.22 ERA and an 18% strikeout rate the last two years. He\u2019d be more interesting in the pen than in the rotation at this point, and if he\u2019s willing to market himself as a reliever, it\u2019d probably help his payday. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $5 million<\/p>\n<p>98. Tommy Kahnle (36, RP, Tigers)<\/p>\n<p>Kahnle\u2019s big ERA spike in 2025 was partly the product of a three-appearance run in July in which he gave up nine runs while getting three outs. He had a 2.84 ERA before that and a 3.75 ERA afterwards. Still, his changeup velocity has dropped about three mph these last three years, suggesting the end is coming soon. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $5 million<\/p>\n<p>99. Kirby Yates (39, RP, Dodgers)<\/p>\n<p>Yates followed up a brilliant season in Texas with a year in which he served three stints on the IL and amassed a 5.23 ERA in 41 1\/3 innings for the Dodgers. He might choose to hang up his spikes at age 39, but the 29% strikeout rate this year says he remains a possibility to help a contender. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $5 million<\/p>\n<p>100. Jos\u00e9 Leclerc (32, RP, Athletics)<\/p>\n<p>Leclerc was limited to just 10 appearances in April after signing a one-year, $10 million deal with the A\u2019s last offseason. A lat strain put him on the injured list, and when his rehab failed to progress, he underwent surgery in July. As he returns to free agency, he\u2019ll need to remind teams that he had a 3.36 ERA and a 29% strikeout rate from 2022-24. <\/p>\n<p>Prediction: one year, $5 million<\/p>\n<p>\u25b6 Best of the Rest<\/p>\n<p>$4 million-$4.5 million: Christian V\u00e1zquez, Paul Sewald, Miguel Andujar, Griffin Canning, Mitch Garver, Amed Rosario, Dylan Moore, Kik\u00e9 Hern\u00e1ndez, Yo\u00e1n Moncada, Andrew McCutchen, Aaron Civale, Shawn Armstrong, Jonathan Lo\u00e1isiga, Danny Coulombe, Wandy Peralta, Taylor Rogers, Caleb Thielbar, Justin Wilson, Jon Gray<\/p>\n<p>$3 million-$3.5 million: Hoby Milner, Gary S\u00e1nchez, Andrew Heaney, James McCann, Ty France, Marcus Stroman, Jos\u00e9 Urquidy, Liam Hendriks, Adam Frazier, Jorge Mateo, Tommy Pham, Jesse Winker, Randal Grichuk, Jakob Junis, Scott Barlow, Luis Garc\u00eda, Ryne Stanek, Andrew Chafin, Caleb Ferguson, Tim Hill, Sean Newcomb<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"As always, with the conclusion of the World Series comes this year\u2019s ranking of the winter\u2019s top free&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":265241,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[435],"tags":[49,48,462,82],"class_list":{"0":"post-265240","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mlb","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-mlb","11":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/265240","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=265240"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/265240\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/265241"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=265240"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=265240"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=265240"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}