Updated MLB Free Agency Rankings for 2026-27 Offseason

With the MLB trade deadline fast approaching, upcoming free agents will become more and more of a focus, as teams out of the playoff race look to cash in their expiring trade chips.

Ace Tarik Skubal is the headliner of the 2026-27 free-agent class by a wide margin, and behind him guys like Jazz Chisholm Jr., Freddy Peralta and Randy Arozarena will potentially be joined by opt-out candidates Bo Bichette and Michael King.

Ahead is the first update to our MLB free agency big board since the way-too-early version published on April 8, and this time around how players are currently performing carried as much weight as career track record.

Let's start with some honorable mentions to paint a more clear picture of the entire market.

Honorable Mentions

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Jack Flaherty

These players missed the cut for a spot inside our updated top 25 rankings, but they still have a chance to climb in the coming months:

SP: Jack Flaherty, Nick Martinez, Brandon Woodruff, Foster Griffin, Shota Imanaga, Zac Gallen, Brady Singer, David Peterson, Shane Bieber, Aaron Civale, Jameson Taillon, Chris Bassitt, Tyler Mahle, Martín Pérez, Patrick Corbin, Max Scherzer, Michael Soroka (mutual option), Matthew Boyd (mutual option), Zack Littell (mutual option), Lucas Giolito (mutual option), Griffin Canning (mutual option), Clay Holmes (player option)

RP: Paul Sewald, Jason Adam, Bryan Abreu, Sean Newcomb, JoJo Romero, Blake Treinen, Dennis Santana, Brock Burke, John Schreiber, José Alvarado, Tyler Alexander, Taylor Clarke, Ryan Thompson, Tim Hill, Jalen Beeks, Brooks Raley, Mark Leiter Jr., Matt Strahm, Hoby Milner, Evan Phillips, Pete Fairbanks, Joe Jiménez, Jakob Junis (mutual option)

C: Tyler Stephenson, Christian Vázquez, Jonah Heim, Carson Kelly (mutual option), Kyle Higashioka (mutual option)

CIF: Paul Goldschmidt, Alec Bohm, Nathaniel Lowe, Ty France, Rhys Hoskins, Amed Rosario, Luis Rengifo (mutual option)

MIF: Ildemaro Vargas, Gavin Lux, Ha-Seong Kim, Luis García Jr., Jonathan India, Mauricio Dubón, Edmundo Sosa, Isiah Kiner-Falefa

OF: Taylor Ward, Adolis García, Ramón Laureano, Michael Conforto, Lane Thomas, Tyrone Taylor, Jake Fraley, Cedric Mullins (mutual option)

DH: Joc Pederson, George Springer, Jorge Soler, Eugenio Suárez (mutual option), Josh Bell (mutual option), Marcell Ozuna (mutual option), Miguel Andujar (mutual option)

Nos. 25-21

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Alex Vesia

25. 1B/OF Jake Bauers (Age: 30)

Stats: 243 PA, 147 OPS+, .276/.374/.519, 25 XBH (13 HR), 5 SB

WAR: 1.6

Bauers ranks among the MLB leaders in hard-hit rate (97th percentile), average exit velocity (92nd percentile) and bat speed (97th percentile), suggesting his career-best offensive numbers might be sustainable. His best defensive position is designated hitter, but the bat might still earn him a multi-year deal.

24. RP Gregory Soto (Age: 31)

Stats: 31 G, 10/13 SV, 3.26 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 10.4 K/9, 30.1 IP

WAR: 0.5

The one-year, $7.75 million deal the Pirates gave Soto was rich enough to make him the sixth-highest paid player on the team. He has been rock solid in the closer's role this year, averaging 96.2 mph with his fastball and generating a 48.1 percent whiff rate with his sweeper. His 66 career saves speak to his extensive late-inning experience.

23. RP Raisel Iglesias (Age: 36)

Stats: 22 G, 14/14 SV, 1.16 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 10.4 K/9, 23.1 IP

WAR: 1.0

One of the most accomplished active players to never earn an All-Star selection, Iglesias is on track to rectify that career-long snub this season as he has been lights out at the back of baseball's best bullpen. The fact that he turns 37 in January limits his earning power, but for teams looking for a short-term solution in the ninth inning, he is the best closer on the board.

22. RP Alex Vesia (Age: 30)

Stats: 31 G, 10 HLD, 2.74 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 12.1 K/9, 23.0 IP

WAR: 0.4

Since joining the Dodgers in 2021, Vesia has a 2.67 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 12.1 K/9 with 15 saves and 85 holds in 326 appearances as one of the most reliable left-handed relievers in baseball. He should land somewhere in the same range as the deals given to Tyler Rogers (3/$37M) and Robert Suárez (3/$45M) last offseason, with a chance at a fourth year.

21. RP David Bednar (Age: 31)

Stats: 29 G, 14/16 SV, 3.64 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 10.9 K/9, 29.2 IP

WAR: 0.2

If Raisel Iglesias is the best closer on the market next offseason, Bednar is a close second, and a far more likely candidate for a long-term deal thanks to the fact that he is almost five years younger. His 103 saves since 2023, most of them with Pittsburgh, rank third in the majors during that span, and he is off to another strong start this year in his first full season in Yankee pinstripes.

Nos. 20-16

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Gleyber Torres

20. OF Trent Grisham (Age: 29)

Stats: 264 PA, 108 OPS+, .232/.341/.406, 21 XBH (8 HR), 6 SB
WAR: 0.9

Grisham accepted a qualifying offer after a career year in 2025 when he posted a 124 OPS+ with 34 home runs and 3.5 WAR in 143 games. His power production has regressed this season, but he is still an above-average offensive player and one of the few upcoming free agents capable of handling center field defensively.

19. RP Adrian Morejón (Age: 27)

Stats: 33 G, 12 HLD, 4.00 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 10.3 K/9, 36.0 IP
WAR: 0.1

Morejón has developed into one of the best lefty relievers in baseball since finding a regular role in the San Diego bullpen. In 168 appearances since the start of 2024, he has a 2.75 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 9.5 K/9. He still offers intriguing upside as a candidate to potentially be stretched out given his background as a starter in the minors and past rumblings of a potential transition, and at 27 he is one of the youngest free agents in the class.

18. 2B Gleyber Torres (Age: 29)

Stats: 189 PA, 121 OPS+, .282/.397/.397, 10 XBH (4 HR), 0 SB
WAR: 1.9

Torres signed a one-year, $15 million deal prior to the 2025 season, then accepted a one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer to stay with the Tigers. Still shy of his 30th birthday while playing in his ninth MLB season, he has averaged 3.2 WAR over the last four years, and a career-high 15.3 percent walk rate has anchored his offensive value in 2026.

17. SP Kevin Gausman (Age: 35)

Stats: 15 GS, 4-4, 3.41 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 16 BB, 86 K, 87.0 IP
WAR: 2.2

Gausman will be 36 years old on Opening Day next season, which likely limits his market to one-year deals, but he continues to provide frontline production as one of the most consistent starters in baseball. Since joining the Blue Jays in 2022, he has made at least 31 starts every year, and has a 3.48 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 879 strikeouts in 820.2 innings.

16. C Ryan Jeffers (Age: 29)

Stats: 148 PA, 161 OPS+, .295/.408/.541, 15 XBH (7 HR), 1 SB
WAR: 1.9

The catching market is thin this offseason, with Tyler Stephenson, Kyle Higashioka and Jonah Heim among the other notable upcoming free agents. Jeffers has a 118 OPS+ while averaging 22 home runs and 78 RBI per 162 games since the start of the 2023 season. His 161 OPS+ this year is tied for 10th among 339 players with at least 100 plate appearances.

Nos. 15-11

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Kris Bubic

15. 2B Luis Arraez (Age: 29)

Stats: 306 PA, 125 OPS+, .319/.352/.435, 22 XBH (2 HR), 5 SB
WAR: 2.0

With a .317 career batting average and three batting titles on his resume, Arraez is well-established as one of the league's elite contact hitters, though that profile carries less weight in today's power-driven game. He settled for a one-year, $12 million deal this past winter, but proving he can still play a solid second base (9 OAA, 0.1 dWAR) could help increase his chances of a multi-year deal.

14. OF Seiya Suzuki (Age: 31)

Stats: 236 PA, 121 OPS+, .255/.339/.433, 17 XBH (10 HR), 0 SB
WAR: 2.0

Suzuki has a 128 OPS+ in five seasons with the Cubs since making the jump from the Japanese League, and he was one of the NL's premier run producers in 2025 with a 32-homer, 103-RBI campaign. After serving as the team's primary DH last year, he is playing a strong right field (7 DRS, 2 OAA), though his value is still largely driven by what he does in the batter's box.

13. 2B Brandon Lowe (Age: 31)

Stats: 289 PA, 127 OPS+, .240/.325/.512, 34 XBH (17 HR), 0 SB
WAR: 2.5

With a 123 OPS+ and 20.3 WAR over nine seasons, Lowe has been one of baseball's best offensive-minded second basemen since he first broke into the league. He earned his second All-Star selection and recorded his second 30-homer campaign in 2025, and he has been a big part of Pittsburgh's improved offense after coming over in a December trade.

12. OF Ian Happ (Age: 31)

Stats: 300 PA, 132 OPS+, .224/.337/.478, 31 XBH (16 HR), 4 SB
WAR: 2.0

Happ has averaged 153 games and 3.7 WAR over the last five years as one of baseball's most durable, productive left fielders. He is a four-time Gold Glove winner, and he is also on his way to a sixth 20-homer campaign as he plays out the final season of a three-year, $61 million extension as the longest-tenured player on the Cubs roster.

11. SP Kris Bubic (Age: 28)

Stats: 9 GS, 3-2, 4.11 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 26 BB, 51 K, 50.1 IP
WAR: 0.8

Bubic was one of the biggest breakout stars of 2025 before a rotator cuff strain brought his season to a premature end in late July. He has not quite returned to All-Star form, but he is pitching better than his surface-level numbers suggest with a 3.72 FIP and a career-low .200 opponents' batting average. With his age and upside, he'll be one of the most sought-after mid-level rotation options on the market.

Nos. 10-6

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10. SS J.P. Crawford (Age: 31)

Stats: 233 PA, 119 OPS+, .228/.356/.409, 15 XBH (10 HR), 1 SB
WAR: 0.8

Crawford is the top available option for teams looking to upgrade at shortstop, and he has quietly tallied 22.7 WAR over 10 seasons in the big leagues. He is one of 24 qualified hitters with a walk rate above 10 percent and a strikeout rate below 20 percent, and his 10 long balls this year have him on track for career-best power output.

9. SP Trevor Rogers (Age: 28)

Stats: 13 GS, 3-7, 5.86 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 22 BB, 48 K, 66.0 IP
WAR: -0.5

Rogers was an All-Star in 2021 (25 GS, 2.64 ERA, 133.0 IP) and an ace in 2025 (18 GS, 1.81 ERA, 109.2 IP), but he has struggled to find consistency outside those peak performances. His age and proven ceiling will be enough for teams to overlook his surface-level numbers, though he may have to weigh a modest multi-year offer against a one-year, prove-it deal with a higher AAV.

8. OF Daulton Varsho (Age: 29)

Stats: 236 PA, 101 OPS+, .256/.331/.408, 20 XBH (5 HR), 5 SB
WAR: 1.2

An elite defensive center fielder with 20-homer power, Varsho already has a trio of 3-WAR seasons on his resume. He had a 120 OPS+ and 20 long balls in 71 games last season, and he has trimmed his strikeout rate from 28.4 to 19.1 percent this year for a more well-rounded offensive profile.

7. SP Casey Mize (Age: 29)

Stats: 9 GS, 2-3, 2.27 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 12 BB, 49 K, 47.2 IP
WAR: 2.2

Mize has not lived up to being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 draft, but he has developed into a solid big league starter. An All-Star 2025, he was off to a fantastic start this year before an IL stint for right adductor inflammation. With a 2.41 FIP and career-low .200 opponents' batting average, he is positioning himself for a significant payday if he can pick up where he left off when he returns to action.

6. OF Randy Arozarena (Age: 31)

Stats: 302 PA, 136 OPS+, .291/.377/.448, 26 XBH (7 HR), 19 SB
WAR: 2.5

Arozarena is working on a streak of five straight 20/20 seasons, going back to his AL Rookie of the Year-winning campaign in 2021. The two-time All-Star also comes with one of the most prolific clutch resumes of any active player with a .292/.380/.565 line and 12 home runs in 45 career playoff games.

5. SP Michael King (Opt-Out Clause)

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Age: 31
Stats: 14 GS, 4-5, 3.46 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 32 BB, 72 K, 80.2 IP
WAR: 1.6

The Padres re-signed Michael King with a three-year, $75 million deal in December, but he can opt-out of the final two years and $58 million of that contract this winter.

With a long list of upcoming free-agent starting pitchers underperforming relative to expectations, he can comfortably slide into the No. 3 starter spot behind Tarik Skubal and Freddy Peralta if he stays healthy after logging just 73.1 innings in 2025.

4. 3B Bo Bichette (Opt-Out Clause)

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Age: 28
Stats: 309 PA, 81 OPS+, .239/.285/.361, 18 XBH (8 HR), 1 SB
WAR: -0.3

Given his lackluster start to the season, Bo Bichette might not seem like an obvious candidate to leave two years and $84 million on the table in favor of an opt-out next offseason, but he is reportedly expected to do just that by rival teams.

He is batting .390 with three home runs and 12 RBI over his last 10 games, and his career .289/.332/.460 line and 117 OPS+ is enough to believe he will get back to being an impact offensive player in short order.

3. 2B Jazz Chisholm Jr.

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Age: 28
Stats: 274 PA, 99 OPS+, .229/.318/.400, 21 XBH (9 HR), 20 SB
WAR: 1.0

Fresh off a 31-homer, 31-steal, 4.1-WAR season that earned him an All-Star selection and a Silver Slugger Award, second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. looks like the top position player on the market next winter as things currently stand.

With nine homers and 20 steals, he is again making a significant power/speed impact, though his batted-ball metrics are down across the board. There is some boom-or-bust risk in signing him to a long-term deal, but he is also far and away the most dynamic offensive player in the class.

2. SP Freddy Peralta

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Age: 30
Stats: 15 GS, 5-5, 3.90 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 33 BB, 81 K, 83.0 IP
WAR: 1.0

The Mets acquired Freddy Peralta hoping for a bona fide staff ace, and while he has not matched the elite-level production from a year ago that landed him fifth in NL Cy Young voting, his track record on the mound is unmatched in this class by everyone outside of Tarik Skubal.

The glaring number that jumps out is his strikeout rate dipping from 28.2 percent a year ago to a career-low 22.7 percent this season, and his success has long been built on his ability to miss bats. His track record alone might net him a $100 million deal, but he's one to watch in the coming months with a wide range of potential outcomes for his market.

1. SP Tarik Skubal

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Age: 29
Stats: 8 GS, 3-3, 2.81 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 7 BB, 49 K, 48.0 IP
WAR: 1.6

The elbow surgery Tarik Skubal underwent in early May to clean up loose bodies ended up sidelining him for only six weeks, as he returned to action on Saturday with 4.2 innings of work against Cleveland.

Had that been a season-ending injury, Skubal still would have sat comfortably in the No. 1 spot in these rankings after winning back-to-back AL Cy Young Awards in 2024 and 2025 while firmly establishing himself as one of baseball's elite pitchers. He will be looking for a record-setting contract, and a strong second half would only strengthen his already strong case.