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Major League Baseball's free-agent market has been open for just about a week, and it's likely to temporarily close once the clock strikes midnight on December 2. The clock, then, is ticking.
Tarik Skubal, he of back-to-back Cy Young Award wins in 2024 and 2025, is the biggest prize on the market. He's expected to become the most expensive pitcher in history, with some projecting his next contract at over $400 million.
After him, this is one of the weaker free-agent classes in recent memory. The best hitters are older than teams would prefer, while the younger guys all come with question marks concerning the ceiling and the floor of their abilities.
This is to say it wasn't easy to rank the 50 best players on the market. We nonetheless did our utmost, which involved weighing players' potential earning power and how productive they figure to be in years to come.
Note: Players with an asterisk (*) next to their names were made a qualifying offer worth $23.15 million.
Nos. 50-46
1 of 10
50. LH RP Brock Burke (Age: 30)
2026 Stats: 77 G, 74.1 IP, 54 H (5 HR), 70 K, 40 BB, 2.30 ERA
WAR: 1.3
Living with Burke tends to mean living with more walks than any team ever likes, but he's still been on a nice run (i.e., 2.78 ERA) over the last two seasons. And given how prevalent good left-handed hitters suddenly are in today's MLB, it matters that he held lefties to a .195 average and .588 OPS this season.
49. LH RP Sean Newcomb (Age: 33)
2026 Stats: 60 G, 90.1 IP, 73 H (4 HR), 84 K, 34 BB, 3.09 ERA
WAR: 2.0
Newcomb had some tough times for a while there, but he's since put up a 2.91 ERA as a jack-of-all-trades reliever over the last two seasons. He isn't much of a weapon against lefties, but righties don't have much of an edge on him either. All told, his four-seamer and slurve both posted averages in the .100s this year.
48. OF Taylor Ward (Age: 32)
2026 Stats: 143 G, 607 PA, 7 HR, 4 SB, .225 AVG, .359 OBP, .311 SLG
WAR: 1.7
Sheesh, what a vexing player. Ward went from 36 homers in 2025 to just seven this year, in which he opted for a hyper-patient approach that crossed over into passivity. Still, teams can see a project here. If they can get Ward to find a middle ground between 2025 and 2026, he'll be a productive everyday hitter.
47. 2B Gleyber Torres (Age: 29)
2026 Stats: 96 G, 420 PA, 8 HR, 0 SB, .260 AVG, .364 OBP, .363 SLG
WAR: 2.0
Torres' days as a slugger are long gone by now, but he's remade himself into a patient hitter. His walk rate this year was 13.6 percent, placing in the 95th percentile. This skill alone makes him useful as a table-setter atop a lineup, and he even posted +3 Defensive Runs Saved at the keystone this year.
46. 3B/1B Alec Bohm (Age: 30)
2026 Stats: 155 G, 629 PA, 15 HR, 2 SB, .249 AVG, .315 OBP, .383 SLG
WAR: -0.2
The book on Bohm's Phillies tenure was that he was a lousy defender who didn't hit for enough power. Yet his chase and whiff rates and exit velocity were well above average in 2026, and he generally has a history of not getting the results he deserves. So, there's untapped upside here that should appeal to teams.
Nos. 45-41
2 of 10
45. LH SP Robbie Ray (Age: 35)
2026 Stats: 30 GS, 165.2 IP, 142 H (22 HR), 140 K, 84 BB, 3.59 ERA
WAR: 2.3
Ray's AL Cy Young Award win in 2021 is a clear outlier that is ancient history by now. And dude's led his league in walks in each of the last two seasons. Even so, he can give you 30 starts and upwards of 150 innings. He also might have an underused pitch in his changeup, which had a +7 Run Value this year.
44. LH SP David Peterson (Age: 31)
2026 Stats: 23 GS, 148.1 IP, 157 H (15 HR), 137 K, 65 BB, 4.79 ERA
WAR: -0.1
Those are some ugly numbers that Peterson posted this season. However, he was an All-Star in 2025 and he did much better (80.1 IP, 3.70 ERA) after he got traded from the Mets to the Cubs this year. Even if he doesn't keep up that momentum, he's a reasonably solid bet for 150 innings and a 4.00-something ERA.
43. RH RP Jonathan Loรกisigaย (Age: 32)
2026 Stats: 67 G, 67.0 IP, 56 H (3 HR), 48 K, 13 BB, 2.42 ERA
WAR: 1.7
Even if he didn't strike out that many batters, this truly was a return-to-form season for Loรกisiga. Among all relievers, only three had a better Pitching+ score.ย He throws strikes with a four-pitch mix, which is rare for a reliever. Moreover, all four of his pitches had average exit velocity below the league average of 88.7 mph.
42. LH RP Steven Okert (Age: 35)
2026 Stats: 68 G, 67.2 IP, 45 H (7 HR), 68 K, 14 BB, 2.13 ERA
WAR: 2.3
Okert has been around for a decade, yet it's only in the last two years that he's really come into his own as a bullpen weapon. He's done so not just with a 2.58 ERA, but with a 0.883 WHIP as well. He's not going to come in and start walking guys, and he's going to rely on his slider to get swings and misses and stifle hard contact.
41. RH RP Paul Blackburn (Age: 32)
2026 Stats: 62 G, 85.0 IP, 59 H (7 HR), 69 K, 33 BB, 1.59 ERA
WAR: 3.1
Only Louis Varland and Jhoan Duran had more rWAR among relievers than Blackburn did. He's more about ground balls than whiffs, yet that could be sustainable. He basically doesn't throw a four-seamer, instead relying on a turbo sinker with a changeup and curveball that both had averages below .100 this season.
Nos. 40-36
3 of 10
40. C Tyler Stephenson (Age: 30)
2026 Stats: 130 G, 468 PA, 15 HR, 0 SB, .241 AVG, .323 OBP, .404 SLG
WAR: 2.5
Even if this year more or less represents Stephenson's WAR ceiling, he's a reliably average-ish offensive catcher who excels at blocking pitches behind the plate. His career .785 OPS against lefties suggests he's best used in a pseudo-platoon role, but a team can sign him as an everyday backstop and feel fine about it.
39. SS/3B J.P. Crawford (Age: 31)
2026 Stats: 116 G, 489 PA, 14 HR, 1 SB, .221 AVG, .335 OBP, .352 SLG
WAR: 0.9
Given how much his range and arm strength have declined, Crawford is better used as a utility infielder than as an everyday shortstop at this stage of his career. Even so, he's a guy with an excellent eye for the zone (98th percentile chase rate in 2026) and occasional pop. He's also the kind of veteran you want in your clubhouse for leadership purposes.
38. DH Joc Pederson (Age: 34)
2026 Stats: 136 G, 432 PA, 26 HR, 2 SB, .235 AVG, .329 OBP, .487 SLG
WAR: 1.7
It's Joc Pederson. Does anyone really need a sales pitch? When he's bad, he's close to useless. When he's good, he's going to crush right-handers for an OPS near or over .900 and north of 20 home runs. We'll see how long he can keep it up, but teams should figure he can do so for at least one more year.
37. RH SP Hiromi Itoh (Age: 29)
2026 Stats: 26 G, 172.2 IP, 184 H (16 HR), 159 K, 34 BB, 3.18 ERA
WAR: N/A
Though he won the Sawamura Award in Japan just last year, scouting reports on Itoh don't glow with praise. The thinking is that he's a No. 5 starter in MLB, whose identity will be built on throwing strikes with a whole bunch of different pitches. But as noted by Geoff Pontes of Baseball America, there could be No. 4 upside for Itoh if he regains fastball velocity after losing some in 2026.
36. CF Daulton Varsho (Age: 30)
2026 Stats: 140 G, 526 PA, 12 HR, 12 SB, .221 AVG, .281 OBP, .355 SLG
WAR: 0.8
Among outfielders, only Pete Crow-Armstrong has more Outs Above Average than Varsho for the last five seasons. There's also 20-homer power here in the best of times, though that probably shouldn't be taken as a given anymore. Varsho is getting up there and his 2026 season ended early because of wrist surgery.
Nos. 35-31
4 of 10
35. C Carson Kelly (Age: 32)
2026 Stats: 120 G, 425 PA, 10 HR, 0 SB, .258 AVG, .336 OBP, .376 SLG
WAR: 1.9
Kelly was never likely to sustain his 3.5-rWAR breakout in 2025, but he hardly plummeted to earth in 2026. Ultimately, a 106 OPS+ and 27 home runs over two seasons is good stuff for a catcher, and this one can also handle framing and blocking behind the dish. He's worth a short-term deal as a regular.
34. UTIL Mauricio Dubรณnย (Age: 32)
2026 Stats: 153 G, 619 PA, 12 HR, 10 SB, .276 AVG, .321 OBP, .399 SLG
WAR: 2.7
Dubรณn won his third utility Gold Glove this year, following his awards with the Astros in 2023 and 2025. What he did at the plate is at the high end of what he's capable of, though teams can raise his floor by getting him as many at-bats against lefties as possible. He has a .740 OPS against lefties for his career.
33. RH RP Evan Phillips (Age: 32)
2026 Stats: 31 G, 26.0 IP, 22 H (5 HR), 33 K, 6 BB, 3.46 ERA
WAR: 0.4
Phillips was unhittable in 2022 and 2023, and then not so much in 2024 before undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2025. Thankfully, he looked like his old self in his return this year. The fastball was humming at 96.8 mph, and the sweeper held hitters to an .049 average. Get the word out: This is a guy you want in your pen.
32. LH RP Alex Vesia (Age: 30)
2026 Stats: 72 G, 58.0 IP, 30 H (4 HR), 74 K, 32 BB, 2.64 ERA
WAR: 1.5
Vesia has a career 145 ERA+ to go with a rate of 12.0 strikeouts per nine innings, so he's not exactly a mystery as a bullpen piece. He's definitely more of a lefty killer (.530 OPS) than a righty killer (.642 OPS), but he isn't a comfortable at-bat for either because of his fastball. Nobody gets more induced vertical break on the heater than Vesia does.
31. RH RP Bryan Abreu (Age: 29)
2026 Stats: 66 G, 62.2 IP, 44 H (9 HR), 80 K, 41 BB, 3.73 ERA
WAR: 1.0
It's not great that Abreu had a brutal April this year, nor that he lost 1.6 mph off his average fastball relative to 2025. And yeah, he also walks way too many hitters. Yet his 159 ERA+ for the last five seasons still pops, and he at least maintained a whiff rate in the 97th percentile. So, teams should go bargain hunting here.
Nos. 30-26
5 of 10
30. RH RP Emilio Pagรกnย (Age: 35)
2026 Stats: 45 G, 42.2 IP, 33 H (7 HR), 45 K, 11 BB, 3.38 ERA
WAR: 1.3
Pagรกn has always been a bit of a nerd favorite because of his advanced metrics and rising fastball. He's since become a "proven closer" type with the Reds, saving 57 games over the last two seasons despite a 3.88 ERA at Great American Ball Park. His 2.03 ERA on the road shouldย get teams' attention.
29. RH RP Raisel Iglesias (Age: 36)
2026 Stats: 59 G, 60.0 IP, 48 H (6 HR), 64 K, 17 BB, 2.55 ERA
WAR: 1.4
Iglesias has a 150 ERA+ in 796.0 innings as a big leaguer, so it's weird that he's rarely discussed as one of MLB's great relievers. His fastball velocity is coming down, sitting at just 94.3 mph in 2026, yet he's still good at getting hitters to swing at his pitches. His chase rate has been in the 99th percentile in three of the last four seasons.
28. RH SP Casey Mize (Age: 29)
2026 Stats: 26 GS, 131.1 IP, 123 H (18 HR), 110 K, 38 BB, 4.32 ERA
WAR: 1.3
Mize was overdue for regression by the time he got traded from the Tigers to the Padres on August 3, but nobody saw a 7.46 ERA over 10 starts coming. His career 4.22 ERA is a better measure of what he is: a back-end starter who can go five innings per start. Don't expect more just because he's a former No. 1 pick.
27. RH SP Dustin May (Age: 29)
2026 Stats: 31 GS, 145.2 IP, 142 H (14 HR), 144 K, 50 BB, 4.70 ERA
WAR: 0.4
May just had the healthiest season of his career, and it ended with him proving himself as a useful swingman for the World Series champion Brewers. There might be a team that looks at metrics like Stuff+ and concludes there's more here, but good luck with that. This is a back-end starter whose stuff has always been more hittable than it should be.
26. RH SP Michael Soroka (Age: 29)
2026 Stats: 21 GS, 116.0 IP, 97 H (10 HR), 114 K, 29 BB, 3.41 ERA
WAR: 2.2
Nobody is going to sign Soroka hoping for an innings-eater. Since his 174.2-inning breakout in 2019, this year's 116.0 innings are his high mark. Yet since he can throw strikes and limit hard contact with a five-pitch mix, he's a good target for a back-end starter/swingman role.
Nos. 25-21
6 of 10
25. RH SP Nick Pivetta (Age: 33)
2026 Stats: 8 GS, 34.2 IP, 27 H (2 HR), 42 K, 8 BB, 2.86 ERA
WAR: 1.0
Pivetta's elbow injury limited him to just eight starts this year, and that converted his player option into a team option that the Padres declined. Teams should approach him with a certain wariness, but the upside remains worth a bet. He has a 2.87 ERA and 6.0 rWAR to show for the last two seasons, with a sub-1.000 WHIP to boot.
24. 1B Ty France (Age: 32)
2026 Stats: 133 G, 500 PA, 21 HR, 1 SB, .295 AVG, .363 OBP, .502 SLG
WAR: 4.5
France seemed on his way out of baseball two years ago, but he has since won a Gold Glove in 2025 and posted career bests with a 139 OPS+ and 21 homers this year. There's an "overachiever" alarm bell here, but it shouldn't totally obscure that France had the best contact quality of his career in 2026.
23. LH SP Foster Griffin (Age: 31)
2026 Stats: 31 GS, 172.2 IP, 164 H (23 HR), 158 K, 45 BB, 3.60 ERA
WAR: 3.3
Griffin's All-Star form for the Nationals never seemed sustainable, so his 5.19 ERA in nine starts as a Guardian shouldn't be seen as a huge surprise. The profile is of a strike-thrower who gets ground balls, with the best part being that he can eat innings. Griffin worked more than Tarik Skubal, Freddy Peralta, Trevor Rogers and Sonny Gray this year.
22. RH SP Clay Holmes (Age: 33)
2026 Stats: 18 GS, 101.1 IP, 79 H (6 HR), 78 K, 42 BB, 3.29 ERA
WAR: 2.0
Teams shouldn't be concerned about the fluky fibula fracture that Holmes suffered on a comebacker in May. There's a more pressing concern over how his stuff is aging, as the sinker only averaged 93.1 mph this year. Yet his appeal is all right there in his 99th percentile ground ball rate and 93rd percentile barrel rate. This is a perfectly solid No. 3/4 starter on a contender.
21. LH SP Shota Imanaga (Age: 33)
2026 Stats: 32 GS, 174.1 IP, 154 H (35 HR), 174 K, 37 BB, 3.77 ERA
WAR: 2.0
Imanaga has been in the majors for three years, and that he's allowed the most home runs (93) of any pitcher in this span is his biggest red flag. Yet he also has a top-10 ratio of strikeouts to walks for the last three years, not to mention a 118 ERA+. If he lands in a pitcher-friendly home stadium, he could absolutely thrive.
Nos. 20-16
7 of 10
20. RH SP Tyler Mahle (Age: 32)
2026 Stats: 27 GS, 149.0 IP, 138 H (20 HR), 137 K, 46 BB, 3.99 ERA
WAR: 1.7
It was a tale of two seasons for Mahle, who went from a 5.13 ERA as a Giant to a 1.99 ERA as a Brave. All it took was going all-in on his four-seamer and splitter, which is also what worked for him when he posted a 2.18 ERA over 16 starts in 2025. Teams should see mid-rotation upside, even if they must also be wary that he's spent a lot of time on the IL in recent seasons.
19. RH SP Kaima Taira (Age: 26)
2026 Stats: 23 G, 146.0 IP, 95 H (4 HR), 141 K, 45 BB, 1.36 ERA
WAR: N/A
Taira is only 5'8", 209 pounds, but Geoff Pontes of Baseball America notes that he gets 6.8 feet of extension on the fastball. Moreover, he was able to hold his mid-to-high 90s velocity as a starter this year after mostly succeeding as a reliever in Japan before 2026. He throws as many as five other pitches. He might be a No. 3 starter, with the bullpen serving as a potential off-ramp if that doesn't work out.
18. RH SP Kevin Gausman (Age: 35)
2026 Stats: 32 GS, 177.2 IP, 179 H (26 HR), 184 K, 47 BB, 4.51 ERA
WAR: 1.1
Gausman's strikeout rate has fallen quite a bit since he led the AL in strikeouts in 2023, going from 31.1% that year to 24.5% this year. Yet his 4.51 ERA overstates his decline. The stuff and command are still solid, so don't be surprised if he goes out next year and rips off an ERA in the 3.00s with around 180 innings.
17. LF Ian Happ (Age: 32)
2026 Stats: 156 G, 636 PA, 24 HR, 4 SB, .218 AVG, .326 OBP, .412 SLG
WAR: 2.7
Happ already has four Gold Gloves, and he could have won another this year after once again posting strong metrics. He's also hit 20โ25 home runs in each of the last four seasons. Yet there's no additional upside beyond this good stuff, and teams must beware his downside after his strikeout rate spike (29.7 K%) and the deterioration of his production from the right side of the plate (.484 OPS).
16. 2B Jazz Chisholm Jr. (Age: 28)
2026 Stats: 137 G, 532 PA, 19 HR, 41 SB, .231 AVG, .312 OBP, .399 SLG
WAR: 1.7
The bust potential here is obvious, and it covers Chisholm's inconsistent offense and occasional carelessness. But this was also a 30-30 guy just last year, and Chisholm's +23 Outs Above Average over the last two years are the best of any AL second baseman. The boom potential is thus just as obvious, and certainly worth an investment in what is sure to be a short-term deal.
Nos. 15-11
8 of 10
15. 2B Luis Arraez (Age: 29)
2026 Stats: 151 G, 655 PA, 6 HR, 10 SB, .310 AVG, .345 OBP, .419 SLG
WAR: 2.9
This year proved there's more to Arraez after all. Nothing more needs to be said about the viability of his high-contact, low-slug offense. He can set the table just fine. The real surprise is that he finished with +12 Outs Above Average as a second baseman, which is worth an extra zero or two on his next contract.
14. RH SP Nick Martinez (Age: 36)
2026 Stats: 31 GS, 180.0 IP, 171 H (22 HR), 109 K, 22 BB, 3.10 ERA
WAR: 3.9
Martinez doesn't quite qualify as a top-of-the-rotation starter, but it's also hard to downplay his credentials. He's posted an ERA in the 3.00s in four of the last five seasons, and a WHIP close to 1.000 in two of the last three. He's going to throw strikes, limit hard contact and eat innings, making him at least a good No. 3.
13. RH SP Sonny Gray (Age: 37)
2026 Stats: 29 GS, 169.0 IP, 148 H (16 HR), 149 K, 46 BB, 2.72 ERA
WAR: 4.3
There was a pretty big gap between Gray's actual ERA and his expected ERA this year, and that does capture some discomfort over how he doesn't miss bats anymore. But if you can't miss bats, at least limit walks, get ground balls and generally succeed at getting batters to expand the zone. It worked for Gray this year, and he's smart enough to repeat the formula in 2027.
12. C Ryan Jeffers (Age: 29)*
2026 Stats: 92 G, 369 PA, 14 HR, 1 SB, .256 AVG, .363 OBP, .461 SLG
WAR: 2.8
Jeffers is not a strong defensive presence behind the dish, and even his successful work with the wood this year obscures some trouble with the fastball. But at a time when good righty hitting is scarce, a righty-hitting catcher who's topped a 125 OPS+ twice in four seasons naturally stands out. Plenty of lineups could use him, even if more games at DH (or even first base) should be in his future.
11. 1B Jake Bauers (Age: 31)*
2026 Stats: 144 G, 578 PA, 26 HR, 11 SB, .266 AVG, .389 OBP, .484 SLG
WAR: 3.3
Is Bauers really as good as he showed this year? One's instinct is to lean "no," but one look at his Baseball Savant page suggests otherwise. The patience and the pop were legit, and he even had a .901 OPS in left-on-left matchups. He's probably not going to break the bank with his next deal, but teams should definitely want him.
Nos. 10-6
9 of 10
10. RH RP David Bednar (Age: 32)*
2026 Stats: 64 G, 69.1 IP, 52 H (4 HR), 76 K, 20 BB, 2.47 ERA
WAR: 1.9
In five of his last six seasons, Bednar has made 40-plus appearances and posted an ERA in the 2.00s. The worry now concerns the roughly 1.0 mph drop in his average fastball from 2025 to 2026, which he covered up with heavy splitter usage. It worked well enough, but teams should still be thinking of ways he might reverse the 7.2-percent drop in his strikeout rate.
9. LH RP Adrian Morejon (Age: 27)*
2026 Stats: 76 G, 86.0 IP, 65 H (4 HR), 107 K, 28 BB, 2.83 ERA
WAR: 1.9
According to Pitching+, Morejon was the best reliever in baseball this year. Regardless of whether you buy that, a lefty who can touch 102 mph and throws strikes well enough is just an obviously compelling player. If Morejon doesn't already have Tanner Scott's four-year, $72 million contract in his sights, he darn well should.
8. 2B Brandon Lowe (Age: 32)*
2026 Stats: 150 G, 656 PA, 35 HR, 2 SB, .260 AVG, .331 OBP, .493 SLG
WAR: 5.3
We knew before 2026 that Lowe could hit as many as 35 home runs in a season. What we didn't know is that he could play Gold Glove-caliber defense, which he did to the tune of +15 Outs Above Average. Those two things are worth banking on, even if teams must also be wary of Lowe's third-percentile whiff rate from this year.
7. LH SP Trevor Rogers (Age: 28)*
2026 Stats: 30 GS, 169.2 IP, 162 H (19 HR), 157 K, 39 BB, 4.03 ERA
WAR: 2.2
Rogers has plenty of defenders out there, and they have advanced metrics like xERA and Pitching+ in their favor. The general theory of him as a guy who hasn't yet peaked could prove to be true, in which case a nine-figure deal is going to be a steal. Yet the risk of such a deal should not be understated. For all his ability, Rogers has yet to put together a full season's worth of ace-caliber results.
6. RH SP Freddy Peralta (Age: 30)
2026 Stats: 32 GS, 169.0 IP, 161 H (23 HR), 156 K, 63 BB, 4.42 ERA
WAR: 0.7
Peralta is an All-Star-caliber starter when he's right, and he seemed to become that guy again after he went from the Mets to the Rays at this year's trade deadline. His extension and velocity both improved and helped result in a 1.63 ERA in his last 11 appearances as a Ray. He surely has a nine-figure deal coming his wayโฆ even if it requires ignoring that his strikeout rate somehow dropped as a Ray.
Nos. 5-1
10 of 10
5. 3B/OF Teruaki Sato (Age: 27)
2026 Stats: 143 G, 614 PA, 39 HR, 8 SB, .306 AVG, .383 OBP, .609 SLG
WAR: N/A
Sato is often compared to Munetaka Murakami, and mostly for good reasons. He's another extremely powerful left-handed hitter from Japan who, nonetheless, comes with questions pertaining to defense and whiffs. Yet after Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto struck gold in MLB, the thinking is rightfully that Sato could as well. As such, don't be surprised if he commands nine figures.
4. RH SP Michael King (Age: 31)
2026 Stats: 32 GS, 185.0 IP, 148 H (20 HR), 159 K, 70 BB, 3.21 ERA
WAR: 4.3
Due to a hard-to-miss drop in his strikeout rate and how much he benefited from his defense in 2026, King might be the bust candidate of this year's class of free agents. But also, dude has a career 129 ERA+ and he was top-10 in innings pitched this year. If a team plunks a $100 million contract in front of him, you could at least understand it even if the fear of it going bad is real.
3. LF Randy Arozarena (Age: 31)*
2026 Stats: 154 G, 670 PA, 26 HR, 26 SB, .281 AVG, .381 OBP, .484 SLG
WAR: 5.7
Arozarena comes with genuine concerns, including the viability of his defense and about a 2 mph drop in his bat speed since 2023. Yet he's already adjusted by shortening up and using the whole field more often. It's also not going to be lost on teams that he had a .933 OPS away from T-Mobile Park this year. In a more hitter-friendly home park, even a $100 million contract could become a bargain.
2. RF Seiya Suzuki (Age: 32)*
2026 Stats: 143 G, 634 PA, 26 HR, 3 SB, .270 AVG, .368 OBP, .473 SLG
WAR: 5.1
Suzuki and Arozarena are technically in the same boat as slightly older outfielders who offer good bats, but Suzuki has a few points in his favor. Consistency is one, as he's hovered around a 130 OPS+ and 25 home runs in each of the last four seasons. He also showed this year that he can play a darn good right field, and that alone might make him more deserving of nine figures than Arozarena.
1. LH SP Tarik Skubal (Age: 29)
2026 Stats: 26 GS, 158.2 IP, 126 H (14 HR), 186 K, 27 BB, 2.72 ERA
WAR: 4.6
It may be a weak class, but Skubal is as much an obvious No. 1 target as Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto and Kyle Tucker were in the four previous classes. Nobody's ignoring his history of elbow injuries, nor the shift downward in the quality of his stuff this year. But when a two-time defending Cy Young Award winner is this good in a down year, you take it and gladly cut a $400 million checkโฆ if you can afford it, of course.
Stats courtesy of Baseball Reference, FanGraphs and Baseball Savant.
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