Top MLB Free Agency 2025 Rumors and Predictions for Notable Landing Spots
The free agent market is heating up amid the MLB winter meetings, with rumors running rampant surround some of the top players available this off-season.
From starting pitchers receiving increased interest to quality bats dominating the conversation, who are the players commanding the most attention and what are their potential landing spots?
Find out with this collection of reports from some of the game's top insiders.
Interest in Zac Gallen Heating Up
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Though Jeff Passan refuted Bob Nightengale's report that he was nearing a deal with the Chicago, Zac Gallen remains the subject of interest from multiple teams, including the Cubs, per MLB.com.
Gallen had a down season in 2025, going 13-15 with a 4.83 ERA and, perhaps most concerning, gave up 31 home runs, by far the most in his career. He remained a durable, reliable starter for the Arizona Diamondbacks, though, proving the best ability is availability as he appeared in 33 games and 192 innings.
That, plus his play over the last two seasons, have intrigued teams enough for them to be interested in and try to sign him this offseason.
The Cubs need another starter to beef up their rotation, and Gallen, at his best, has strong stuff that would immediately improve the pitching situation in the Windy City.
The New York Mets and Baltimore Orioles are also looking for starters. It would not be surprising to see either of those teams pop up in reports surrounding the 30-year-old righty.
Prediction: Where there is smoke, there is fire. Chicago signs Gallen, but not without competition from other starter-needy teams first.
Orioles Involved With Kyle Tucker, Other Top Hitters
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The Orioles may be in need of starting and relief pitchers this off-season, they are not excusing themselves in the competition for top hitters.
Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported "The Orioles, while seeking another accomplished starter to complement Trevor Rogers and Kyle Bradish, remain involved with Tucker and other top hitters."
The report notes that neither Bo Bichette nor Alex Bregman is on the team's wishlist as they "are set in their infield, other than at first base."
Tucker is the crown jewel of this year's free agent market and is expected to attract a 10-year deal worth $401 million, per Spotrac. He also has a history with the current Orioles President of Baseball Operations, Mike Elias, who drafted Tucker during his time in Houston.
Tucker, one of the best pure hitters in the game, is a career .273 hitter, with 147 home runs, 490 RBI, and an on-base percentage of .358.
The team has never spent that amount of money on a single player ever so it would be somewhat of a surprise to see them throw that much at Tucker, regardless of how consistently great he is at the plate and how much of a defensive upgrade he would be in the outfield.
The team has also been linked to designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, seemingly looking to add hitting to a lineup that had a subpar 2025 season.
Prediction: Despite the interest in both hitters, the Orioles opt to spend on a starting pitcher, such as signing Framber Valdez or trading for Mackenzie Gore
Bo Bichette on the Red Sox Radar
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Sammon and Rosenthal also reported, "retaining free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman is a priority for the Boston Red Sox. But some with the club view Bo Bichette, previously a division rival with the Toronto Blue Jays, as an intriguing alternative."
Bichette is one of the best hitters in the game, accumulating a .311 ERA with 18 home runs, 94 RBI, 78 runs. He was even better once he joined the Blue Jays in the postseason after dealing with a knee injury, hitting for .368, six RBI, and an on-base percentage of .444.
He is a defensive liability at shortstop, though, opening the possibility that a team looking to sign him could move him to a different infield position, with third base potentially being an option.
The report added, "In addition, Bichette has always hit well at Fenway Park, batting .329 with a .907 OPS in 157 plate appearances. The Red Sox could use him at second base, a position he played for the first time in the World Series," giving the Red Sox even more reason to be in on adding the second-generation player to their lineup.
The team is also considering Pete Alonso and Kyle Schwarber as they look to add much-needed power hitting to their roster.
Prediction: Bichette re-signs with Toronto but Boston manages to snag a hitter this off-season, even if it is not one of the three mentioned in the report.
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