All the Reasons Why These 7 MLB Free Agents Will Be Playing For a New Team in 2026
So far this offseason, Pete Alonso (Baltimore Orioles), Dylan Cease (Toronto Blue Jays), Edwin Díaz (Los Angeles Dodgers), Devin Williams (New York Mets), Robert Suarez (Atlanta Braves), Merrill Kelly (Arizona Diamondbacks) and Jorge Polanco (Mets) have all signed with different clubs than the ones they finished the 2025 season with.
That's likely just the tip of the iceberg in terms of notable free agents switching teams this offseason.
Here are seven more MLB free agents likely to be playing for new clubs in 2026, with reasoning for their probable change of location.
Kyle Tucker
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We don't yet know what team will employ Kyle Tucker in 2026, but all indications this offseason have been that the incumbent Chicago Cubs don't intend to mount a serious effort to retain the four-time All-Star:
Why did the Cubs trade former first-round pick Cam Smith for Tucker if they had no intention of trying to retain the 28-year-old for more than a season? It's fair to ask, and it speaks to a larger question of why Chicago under owner Tom Ricketts and president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer operates in such a conservative manner.
As for where Tucker is going to wind up, that's still relatively unclear considering he's the top free agent available this offseason.
Right now, the defending AL Champion Blue Jays appear to be the favorites, though perhaps we're putting too much stock into the Tampa Bay native touring Toronto's Spring Training complex in nearby Dunedin.
The New York Yankees might be more inclined to just try to re-sign Cody Bellinger, though Tucker certainly would thrive getting to play 81 games a season at Yankee Stadium.
The looming nightmare scenario for 29 teams is that Tucker's market never develops how he hopes and he becomes open to taking a short-term deal with opt outs, which could invite the two-time defending World Series Champion Dodgers to become serious players for his services.
In any event, it's pretty clear right now that Tucker won't be back with the Cubs in 2026.
Framber Valdez
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Over the last decade, the Houston Astros have let Charlie Morton, Gerrit Cole and Justin Verlander walk in free agency, rather than paying them market-value contracts. How owner Jim Crane has operated with prior frontline starters seems worth considering here.
Perhaps even more noteworthy is that things were very bizarre down the stretch in what will likely prove to be Framber Valdez's final season with the 'Stros. Not only did he post a 5.20 ERA after the All-Star Break, but there was a moment in September where an upset Valdez seemingly crossed up catcher César Salazar on purpose:
Valdez declined a qualifying offer from the Astros, who will recoup draft-pick compensation if the 32-year-old leaves in free agency.
Whether it's the Cubs, Orioles, Mets or another team we haven't considered, Valdez will likely be moving on after eight years in Houston.
Michael King
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The San Diego Padres have already lost the aforementioned Cease and Suarez in free agency, and considering they are reportedly willing to consider trade offers for star reliever Mason Miller and starter Nick Pivetta, it's fair to assume that the usually-aggressive A.J. Preller doesn't have a ton of money to spend this offseason.
That likely means that Michael King—acquired in the December 2023 that sent Grisham and Juan Soto to the Yankees—won't return to the Padres. Luckily for him, there will likely be a robust market of other suitors after King posted a 3.10 ERA in two seasons in San Diego.
Joel Sherman of The New York Post reported last week that the Mets and King had a video meeting. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com painted the picture of a wide-ranging market for King earlier this month, saying that the Mets, Cubs, Yankees and Detroit Tigers were "the most interested clubs," while also adding that the Orioles, Miami Marlins and Los Angeles Angels also were "in the mix" for the 30-year-old.
The 173.2 innings that King logged in 2024 represent the only time that he's topped 105 frames in a season in his career. But despite left knee and right shoulder inflammation limiting him to only 15 starts in 2025, there seems to be widespread interest in King, who likely will be moving on from the Padres.
Eugenio Suárez
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Adam Jude of The Seattle Times reported during last week's MLB Winter Meetings that "the Mariners…are not active in the third-base market."
Granted, they could change course now that Polanco has bolted for the Mets, although a trade for Ketel Marte or Brendon Donovan might be the more likely pivot for president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto.
Frankly, even if the M's do look for outside help at the hot corner, a reunion with Eugenio Suárez probably doesn't make sense for anyone involved. It's clear that there's love between Suárez and the fans in Seattle, who will always have his Game 5 ALCS grand slam. But he now has just a .741 OPS over two stints with the Mariners, and saw his power production drop precipitously following a mid-season trade from the Diamondbacks. It just makes sense for Suárez to look for greener hitting pastures this offseason.
Having missed out on Schwarber and Alonso, the Red Sox have shown interest in Suárez, per Alex Speier of The Boston Globe. Suárez, though, presumably will be a fallback option if the Red Sox don't re-sign Alex Bregman.
More likely might be the Los Angeles Angels, who have both general manager Perry Minasian and manager Kurt Suzuki only signed through 2026. The Halos need a veteran presence and big bat next year as they try to reach the postseason for the first time since 2014. Suárez could slot in as their third baseman.
The good news for Suárez—who has 325 career home runs—is that as he tries to find a more advantageous stadium to hit at than T-Mobile Park in Seattle, just about every other one in the sport would be better.
Ranger Suárez
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The Phillies have continued to pay lip service to the possibility of bringing back Ranger Suárez, but the reality is that from the moment they acquired Jesús Luzardo in a trade last December, it felt unlikely that they would re-sign him.
Luzardo is under contract for 2026, as are Cristopher Sánchez, Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler and Taijuan Walker. Plus, top prospect Andrew Painter is likely to make his Major League Debut relatively early next season. It's not that there isn't some uncertainty with that group, but the Phillies re-signed Kyle Schwarber for $150 million, hope to bring back J.T. Realmuto and still could circle back with Harrison Bader. The focus of Dave Dombrowski and company is elsewhere right now.
Suárez is an interesting free agent. He's a great fielder, and brings a swagger that's infectious. The former All-Star has thrived as both a starter and a reliever, and has found another level in the postseason, with a 1.48 ERA in 42.2 career October innings. At the same time, he's been on the injured list with a back-related ailments in three of the last four seasons, and while he's not someone who has ever been reliant on overpowering hitters, it has to be a bit concerning to potential suitors that his average fastball velocity dropped to 91.3 mph this past year.
The good with Suárez, though, will get him a lucrative contract, even if it's more like a four-year deal than a six-year pact. Both the Cubs and Orioles seem like great fits for him.
Because Suárez declined a qualifying offer, the Phillies will receive a compensatory draft selection in 2026 if the man Scott Boras has dubbed "the cooler" signs elsewhere.
Rhys Hoskins
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With the emergence of Andrew Vaughn, the Brewers ultimately left Rhys Hoskins off of their postseason roster, a pretty good indication that Milwaukee won't be bringing him back following the conclusion of his two-year, $34 million contract.
Hoskins missed the entirety of the 2023 season—which proved to be his final campaign in the Phillies organization—after tearing his left ACL. He hit .232 with a .732 OPS in two seasons with the Brewers. Set to turn 33 in March, Hoskins is a ways removed from being the guy who posted an .827 OPS for the Phillies between 2019 and 2022, combining great pop with an ability to draw walks.
With that said, Hoskins has always been able to mash lefties, and he's been touted as a great clubhouse presence throughout the course of his career. Someone will take a shot on him as a first base/DH option, with the Cleveland Guardians, Colorado Rockies and Marlins among those who make sense as possible suitors for Hoskins.
Luis Arráez
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On King's slide, we previously discussed the financial crunch that the Padres—a franchise that the Seidler Family is considering selling—are under. That could very well mean that Luis Arráez also doesn't return for the Friars in 2026.
Where Arráez goes, what position he plays and how many years he gets is hard to predict because he's one of the most polarizing players in baseball.
Arráez is a three-time batting champion, one who is probably more valuable on a contending team because hitting singles is of greater importance when you have players in front or behind you likely to get on base.
With that said, Arráez has never really hit for much power, and he is probably best-suited to be a DH, because he's never really found his footing at a defensive position. It is great to make contact, and it's refreshing to watch Arráez's ability to do that. The problem is he provides such little value outside of that, so even when he hit .292 this past year, it was underwhelming. This is someone who needs to hit above .310 to really be a particularly effective player.
The question this offseason is whether a team will give him a multi-year deal with the thought that it will age well if he wins a batting title in 2026. More likely is he probably has to take a one-year deal and reestablish himself on a non-contending club.
