Paul Goldschmidt and 7 MLB Free-Agent Steals Still on the Market
With February right around the corner and pitchers and catchers just a few short weeks from making their way to spring training, the 2025-26 free-agent class has been whittled down to just a few remaining top-tier players.
Framber Valdez, Eugenio Suárez, Zac Gallen and Luis Arraez are the biggest names left on the market, but behind them, there are still some established veterans capable of being massive bargains.
Ahead, we've highlighted seven players with the potential to far exceed the contract that will ultimately be waiting for them in the coming weeks, and it's a mix of rotation candidates, bullpen arms, utility players and former All-Stars.
3B/OF Miguel Andujar
1 of 7
Stats: 341 PA, 125 OPS+, .318/.352/.470, 28 XBH (10 HR), 44 RBI
WAR: 0.8
Why He's Still Available: Back in 2018, there were five AL Rookie of the Year voters who thought Miguel Andujar had a better rookie season than Shohei Ohtani. However, in the six seasons that followed his stellar debut, he hit a combined .254/.286/.361 for an 81 OPS+ over 825 plate appearances while tallying minus-1.5 WAR in 219 games. He enjoyed an out-of-nowhere renaissance in 2025, but his batted-ball metrics hint at significant regression to come.
Potential 2026 Impact: At this point, teams are hunting for potential bench pieces and platoon players. His underlying metrics are not great, but it's all silly to just completely ignore the numbers he put up last year over a relatively large sample size of 341 plate appearances. On a one-year deal for a couple million dollars, he has a chance to be a nice power source in a part-time role.
SP Chris Bassitt
2 of 7
Stats: 31 GS, 11-9, 3.96 ERA (4.01 FIP), 1.33 WHIP, 166 K, 170.1 IP
WAR: 2.1
Why He's Still Available: Chris Bassitt will turn 37 years old before the start of the 2026 season, and he is still chasing his first World Series ring, so it's not surprising that he is looking for the perfect fit in free agency.
A reunion with the Blue Jays seemed to be his preferred outcome to the offseason back in November, but they went a different direction when they added Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce, and his market has dragged out as a result.
Potential 2026 Impact: With at least 30 starts in each of the last four seasons, Bassitt is a proven workhorse. He also showed some intriguing versatility when he posted a 1.04 ERA with 10 strikeouts in 8.2 innings out of the bullpen during Toronto's run to the World Series. He can slot in as a reliable No. 3/4 starter for a contender once he finds the right fit.
1B Paul Goldschmidt
3 of 7
Stats: 534 PA, 104 OPS+, .274/.328/.403, 42 XBH (10 HR), 45 RBI
WAR: 1.2
Why He's Still Available: The first base market has moved slowly this offseason since Pete Alonso and Josh Naylor signed, with the Mets getting creative and signing Jorge Polanco to man the position. Established veterans Paul Goldschmidt, Luis Arraez, Nathaniel Lowe, Rhys Hoskins, Carlos Santana, Ty France and Rowdy Tellez all still looking for a new home.
Potential 2026 Impact: After hitting .336/.411/.570 in 168 plate appearances against left-handed pitching last season, Goldschmidt still holds significant value as a platoon option. The question is how willing he will be to accept a diminished role to prolong his career.
A reunion with the D-backs still looks like a logical fit, while the Yankees could also bring him back to platoon with Ben Rice.
C Jonah Heim
4 of 7
Stats: 433 PA, 77 OPS+, .213/.271/.332, 25 XBH (11 HR), 43 RBI
WAR: 0.4
Why He's Still Available: Danny Jansen (TEX) and Victor Caratini (MIN) have landed two-year deals to serve in platoon roles, while J.T. Realmuto re-upped with the Phillies on a three-year, $45 million deal, but overall it has been a slow-moving market for catchers.
Heim is not far removed from starting the 2023 All-Star Game, but his numbers have been down the last two years.
Potential 2026 Impact: Now that Realmuto and Caratini have finally signed, Heim and Elías Díaz represent the best available catchers. Heim's 68 home runs over the last five years rank 10th among all catchers, and he does a good job handling the pitching staff.
The Astros, Padres, Rays and Red Sox are all potential fits.
RP Evan Phillips
5 of 7
Stats: 7 G, 1 SV, 0.00 ERA (2.08 FIP), 1.06 WHIP, 6 K, 5.2 IP
WAR: 0.4
Why He's Still Available: Evan Phillips logged a combined 2.79 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 10.0 K/9 with 42 saves in 123 appearances out of the Dodgers bullpen during the 2023 and 2024 seasons, and he was expected to be a key cog in their relief corps again last year.
Instead, his 2025 campaign was cut short by Tommy John surgery in late May, and the Dodgers opted to non-tender him with a projected $6.1 million salary coming in his final year of arbitration.
Potential 2026 Impact: Since he likely will not be ready until at least the All-Star break, Phillips can take an approach similar to David Robertson in 2025 when he waited to see how the season was unfolding before choosing a contender to join.
If he can shake off the rust quickly, he could be a high-leverage arm for the stretch run.
IF Luis Rengifo
6 of 7
Stats: 541 PA, 73 OPS+, .238/.287/.335, 28 XBH (9 HR), 43 RBI, 10 SB
WAR: 0.4
Why He's Still Available: Luis Rengifo is likely still available for the simple reason that he wasn't very good last season, and that's the same reason he stayed put at the trade deadline. His 73 OPS+ ranked 142nd among 145 qualified hitters, and his .287 on-base percentage was his worst over a full season.
Potential 2026 Impact: Despite his struggles last year, Rengifo is not far removed from strong seasons in 2023 (445 PA, 112 OPS+, 35 XBH, 16 HR, 6 SB) and 2024 (304 PA, 115 OPS+, 20 XBH, 24 SB).
The 28-year-old will likely need to settle for a utility role, but he is capable of playing his way into an everyday gig and providing terrific value on a one-year deal.
RP Justin Wilson
7 of 7
Stats: 61 G, 19 HLD, 3.35 ERA (2.95 FIP), 1.41 WHIP, 57 K, 48.1 IP
WAR: 0.3
Why He's Still Available: Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic reported earlier this month that it is unlikely Justin Wilson will pitch unless he gets a "fair deal" from a "legitimate World Series contender" in the coming weeks.
The 38-year-old missed the entire 2023 season with an injury and scuffled along to a 5.59 ERA in 60 appearances in 2024, but enjoyed a terrific bounce back on a one-year, $2.25 million deal with the Red Sox.
Potential 2026 Impact: If he does find an offer to his liking, Wilson represents the best lefty reliever still available on the market, alongside fellow veteran Danny Coulombe.
Wilson's 19 holds ranked second on the Red Sox staff, and his 648 appearances—good for ninth among active pitchers—would bring a wealth of experience to any bullpen.
