Top 10 MLB Free Agents Shaping The 2025–26 Offseason

Major League Baseball free agency has exploded into an entirely new financial stratosphere, reshaping not only how teams spend but how they’re opting to solidify the future of their franchises.

This has resulted in jaw-dropping contracts that seem both risky and bloated, forever changing the way players and fans view value, potential, and long-term competitiveness.

Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million pact with the Dodgers, Aaron Judge’s $360 million return to the Yankees, and Juan Soto’s record-shattering $765 million deal with the Mets would have simply been unthinkable just a decade ago. Contracts like these set a new baseline for what true superstars cost while raising expectations (sometimes unfairly) for franchise cornerstones.

These mega-deals reveal that teams are no longer paying just for production. They’re paying for perceived certainty, identity, and longevity.

Ohtani, Soto, and Judge each brought a rare combination of elite skill, sustained consistency, marketability, and game-changing star power. They hit free agency at peak leverage, and the teams pursuing them were willing to pay for relevance as much as wins. 

This trend carries directly into the 2025-26 MLB offseason.

Players near the top of this year’s free-agent class share many of the same traits that made past megastars valuable: youth or prime-age performance, track records that minimize risk, skills that typically age well, and the ability to alter the trajectory of a franchise.

Whether it’s a frontline ace, a middle-of-the-order bat, or a dynamic two-way threat, the biggest deals today go to players who check multiple boxes that include production, durability, upside, and star value.

This year’s top 10 free agents (which we count down below) might not command Ohtani- or Soto-level money, but they fit the modern mold of the player a growing number of teams believe is worth betting their future on.

10. Michael King, RHP

Michael King enters free agency with an interesting mix of upside and risk, making him one of the more intriguing arms available this offseason.

At almost 31 years old and fresh off a 2024 campaign where he posted a 2.95 ERA with 201 strikeouts, he showed front-rotation potential thanks to a five-pitch arsenal that includes a sweeping slider and change-up. When healthy, he can produce a strikeout rate approaching 25%.

In a perfect scenario, King stays healthy, nails down 30-plus starts, and thrives as a No. 2 starter — capable of being an ace-lite for years. A team in contention, willing to hedge a bit on durability for high upside, would make a great fit for King.

Because of his recent injury history (he only made 15 starts in 2025 due to shoulder and knee problems) his market has cooled some. The consensus projection this winter seems to land around a 3-to-4-year deal in the $60-90 million range.

9. Ranger Suarez, LHP

Ranger Suárez is quietly turning into one of the most fascinating free-agent starters this winter. Heading into the 2026 season at age 30, he logged 26 starts, 157.1 innings, a 3.20 ERA, and 3.21 FIP in 2025. He did this while recording 151 strikeouts and a 5.8% walk rate.

What makes Suárez valuable is his consistency and under-the-radar effectiveness. He doesn’t overpower hitters with velocity, but his sinker/change-up mix keeps hitters off balance. And since 2024, his average exit velocity against ranks among the lowest in MLB.

A team looking for a steady, reliable lefty who can slot into a rotation immediately while keeping payroll manageable will find him a strong fit.

In a perfect scenario, Suárez becomes a top three rotation starter over the next three to five seasons, giving 180-plus innings per year at sub-3.50 ERA levels. His ideal landing spot: a contender in need of a ground-ball lefty built for longevity rather than flash.

Contract-wise, the recent projections suggest something like 3 to 6 years in the $20 to 25 million per-year range (i.e., $60-150 million total).

8. Pete Alonso, 1B

Pete Alonso is more than just a slugger. He’s a cornerstone hitter whose 2025 campaign (.272 AVG, 38 HR, 126 RBI) reaffirmed his value in a power-first era. 

What makes Alonso attractive during free agency is his sustained punch from the left side, consistent 30-plus home-run seasons, and the fact that he set a new franchise home-run record with the New York Mets. 

In a perfect world for Alonso’s future franchise, he becomes a 40-plus homer threat each of the next five to six years, anchoring a lineup and providing marketable star. He’s a match for playoff-bound clubs needing a middle-of-order hitter who can change the game with one swing.

Surround him with a competitive roster around him, an MLB-ready infield, and a need for leadership and identity, and Alonso should thrive.

Contract projections suggest something in the range of 3 to-6 years at $25 to 35 million a year (total of about $75 to $210 million), depending on term, age, and health. With no qualifying offer attached this time around, his market might stretch a bit further, especially for a team that sees him as their guy.

UPDATE: Pete Alonso signed with the Baltimore Orioles: 5 Years, $155million

7. Dylan Cease, SP

Dylan Cease stands out as a top free agent this winter mostly because his strikeout profile is elite: five straight seasons of 200-plus Ks. During his 2024 campaign, he posted a 3.47 ERA in 189.1 innings for the San Diego Padres.

What makes Cease valuable is his high strikeout rate, relative youth (he’ll be 30 by next season), and ability to carry a heavy load. Even though his 2025 ERA ballooned to 4.55, his underlying metrics suggest better days.

In a perfect scenario, Cease becomes a bona-fide ace throwing more than 200 innings a year with a sub-3.50 ERA. Teams may see him as a rotation leader for the next 4 to 5 seasons, anchoring a contender’s pitching staff.

A team with a strong defense and solid (but not elite) rotation needing a top arm would be an ideal fit for Cease — perhaps a contender ready to spend for a “true No. 1” that’ll push them into the playoffs.

Contract-wise, projections have him around 5 years, $145 million (about $29 million annually). Given the recent down season, the term or money could be slightly softened, but the ceiling is still high.

UPDATE: Dylan Cease signed a contract with the Toronto Blue Jays: 7 years, $210million

6. Cody Bellinger, OF/1B

Cody Bellinger enters this free-agency period with momentum. He not only revived his career with the Cubs and then the Yankees, but he showed he can contribute to teams in multiple meaningful ways.

In 2025, Bellinger slashed .272/.334/.480 with 29 home runs, 98 RBIs and a 125 wRC+, all while posting a 4.9 fWAR across 152 games. His value comes from blending above-average power with improved contact and lower strikeout rates. (He finished 2025 with a 13.7 K rate, elite among free agents.)

Defensively, he offers positional versatility, able to handle all three outfield spots as well as first base.

In an ideal scenario, Bellinger becomes a 30-plus home run left‐handed bat for the next five years, delivers an annual WAR between 4 and 5 each season, anchors the middle of a contender’s lineup, and stays healthy.

Contract projections currently sit around six years, $165 million (around $27.5M annually) based on his recent numbers and age (30 at opening day 2026).

5. Kyle Schwarber, OF/DH

Kyle Schwarber is one of the most captivating free-agent bats up for grabs this offseason. Turning 33 by opening day, he just logged arguably the best power output of his career, leading the National League with 56 home runs and piled up 132 RBIs in 2025.

What makes Schwarber valuable is pretty obvious: it’s his ability to single-handedly swing a lineup through sheer slugging force, particularly from the left side. His durability in recent years (playing all 162 games in 2025) is also notable.

He’s already moved into more of a DH role, but that fits well in today’s game. In the ideal scenario, Schwarber becomes that 40-plus homer guy for 3 or 4 seasons, giving a contender a middle-of-the-order bat who’s able to change the momentum of a game with one swing.

Scharber is a strong fit for a team that has a relatively full lineup, but which lacks that true middle-power bat — perhaps a club with pitching in place but which just needs one big-time slugger from the left side.

As for salary, industry projections put him around a 4-year deal at $120 to 130 million (around $30–32 million pe year), though some projections put him as high as 5 years, $145 million total.

UPDATE: Schwarber returning to Philadelphia Phillies: 5 years, $150 million

4. Framber Valdez, SP

Framber Valdéz has built a rock-solid resume over the last few years.

Since 2022, he’s collected 57 wins, maintained a sub-3.30 ERA, and averaged around 190 innings per season. But beyond the stats, what makes him especially valuable is he pairs durability with consistency — a left-handed arm (always a premium) with elite pitch-quality.

In a perfect scenario, Valdéz becomes a bona-fide ace for a contender over the next 3 to 5 years, giving a team 200-plus innings a year while holding a mid-3.00 ERA. He’d be an ideal anchor in a rotation while younger arms develop around him.

While he’s bound to get a lot of interest in free agency, he’s likely to pick a market with playoff ambitions and a rotation gap. Most ideal would be one with strong defense and depth so Valdéz can thrive.

Contract-wise, projections suggest something like 3 to 5 years at $28 to 35 million annually (≈ $90 to $175 million total) given his age (32) and workload.

3. Alex Bregman, 3B

Alex Bregman is one of the most well-rounded position players available during free agency, an everyday cornerstone player who blends on-base skill, defensive reliability, and a long track record of high-leverage performance.

Even in seasons where his stats dip, Bregman brings elite plate discipline, routinely finishing among MLB leaders in walk and chase rates. That gives him that stabilizing, low-variance offensive profiles that teams covet as they try to project player production and value.

Ideally, Bregman signs with a new team and provides exactly what he’s delivered for most of his career: a 4 to 5 WAR third baseman who gets on base at a .360 to .380 clip, posts 20 to 25 homers with gap power, and anchors the infield defense.

He fits best with competitive clubs that already have star power but need the kind of dependable, playoff-tested performer who raises the offense’s floor.

Because of his age (early 30s) and pedigree, he’s expected to command something in the range of 5 to 7 years and $150 to 200 million, depending on market aggression and which franchises most covet reliable consistency.

2. Bo Bichette, SS

At just 28 and fresh off a rebound campaign, Bo Bichette is one of the most interesting bats on the free-agent market.

In 2025 he hit .311/.357/.483 (129 OPS+) and collected 181 hits, posting a 3.8 fWAR. He hits from the right side and offers power to the gaps, has improved plate discipline, and is entering what’s typically considered a player’s prime window.

Optimistic forecasts have Bichette becoming a perennial .300 hitter with 20+ homers, 90 to 110 RBIs, and 4-plus WAR per year player for the next 6-plus seasons — a true offensive anchor is he can fulfill this promise. This would make him piece on a playoff-caliber team that’s ready to win now and not stuck in the middle of a rebuild.

Defense remains a concern for Bichette, though, which could lower his overall value to some teams. Recent metrics show him well in the negative in Outs-Above-Average and Defensive Runs Saved, so his fit may depend on whether a club sees him shifted to a less demanding role like second base.

Given his age, production uptick, and positional value, Bichette may command around $180-220 million over 7 to 8 years (between $23 to 30 million annually).

1. Kyle Tucker, OF

Kyle Tucker is the undisputed prize of this year’s free-agent class, and for good reason: it’s rare for players with his combination of age, production, tools, and consistency to hit the open market. Yet here he is.

At 28, he’s already compiled multiple All-Star seasons, four straight years with a WAR between 4 and 6, and a career slash line that blends power, plate discipline, and surprising efficiency on the bases. Even in an injury riddled 2025, Tucker still posted elite on-base skills and above-average pop, the kind of traits teams trust will age well into a long contract.

What makes Tucker a potential franchise-changing investment is how many different ways he helps you win. He hits left-handed with middle-of-the-order thump, draws walks at a high clip, rarely strikes out relative to his power, plays strong corner-outfield defense, and runs the bases like a plus athlete.

In a perfect scenario, he becomes the kind of star who quietly posts MVP-caliber seasons while anchoring a lineup for nearly a decade. He’d be perfect for a team with budget and ambition that’s looking for a long-term cornerstone.

Because of his age and all-around profile, Tucker is widely projected to command the largest deal of the offseason: something in the 10-to-12 year, $3300-to-400 million range, with an annual value likely in the low- to mid-30s.

The Free Agents Who Will Define MLB’s Next Era

The 2025–26 MLB offseason is shaping up to be one of the most influential in recent memory. Whether it’s Kyle Tucker’s all-around superstar skill set, Bo Bichette entering his prime, or frontline arms like Framber Valdez and Dylan Cease hitting the market at the perfect moment, this year’s class is loaded with players who can instantly shift the balance of power for any franchise willing to invest.

What makes this free-agent cycle especially fascinating is how clearly it reflects the evolution of modern roster-building. Teams aren’t just hunting for home runs or strikeouts — they’re searching for durability, versatility, leadership, and long-term stability. Each of the players in our Top 10 brings a blend of performance and projection that fits the new standards of what front offices covet.

And as these stars negotiate their futures, their past achievements — MVP seasons, playoff heroics, breakout years, and franchise-defining moments — continue to resonate with fans.

If you’re one of those fans, you can keep a piece of that history long after the ink is dry. Pristine Auction offers authenticated, signed memorabilia from MLB’s biggest names — including many of this offseason’s top free agents. Whether they remain with their current teams or headline blockbuster moves, their autographed baseballs, jerseys, bats, and collectibles are available now and make it easy to celebrate your favorite players through every stop in their careers.

Free agency shapes the next chapter of the sport — but the legends players build along the way?
Those belong in your collection.