2026-27 Free Agent Watch: Top Starting Pitchers On the Open Market

Every team across Major League Baseball is always looking for starting pitching in free agency. Whether it’s shopping at the top of the market for an ace, a middle-of-the-rotation arm with upside, or a back-end starter who can eat some innings, every team needs pitching depth to get through the grind of a 162-game season.

This year’s crop of starting pitchers might not be filled with rotation-changing aces, with the exception of arguably the best pitcher in the sport in Tarik Skubal, but there are plenty of intriguing arms who will be in high demand this winter.

When looking at the 2026 MLB free-agent class, Freddy Peralta will hit the open market for the first time after salvaging much of his value with a strong second-half run in Tampa Bay. Michael King, on the other hand, will re-enter the open market as the top arm behind Skubal in this year’s class.

Names like Trevor Rogers and Tyler Mahle, among others, will look to capitalize on a relatively weak free-agent class and cash in this winter, setting the stage for what should be a fascinating offseason for Major League Baseball.

Below, you’ll find the 2026 free-agent starting pitchers divided into several different tiers, ranging from frontline starters to mid-rotation arms and back-end options, along with their ages for the 2027 season and statistics from the 2026 campaign.

With the 2026 season officially in the books and the MLB offseason fully underway, it’s time to dive headfirst into this year’s crop of free agents. As the offseason marches on, we’ll periodically update this article with new information on these players. You can also click on any player’s name below to visit his Baseball Reference page.

2026-27 Free Agent Starting Pitchers: The Elite

There’s really only one clear-cut elite starting pitcher in this year’s free-agent class, and it’s southpaw Tarik Skubal.

The back-to-back AL Cy Young Award winner was traded from the Detroit Tigers to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the trade deadline, setting himself up for one impressive payday. Skubal owns a 2.42 ERA dating back to the beginning of the 2024 season, second-best in MLB only to Chris Sale among qualified pitchers.

With a legitimate claim to being the best starting pitcher on the planet, the Skubal sweepstakes will be the story to follow this winter.

Tarik Skubal, Los Angeles Dodgers

• Age in 2027: 30

• 2026 Stats: 26 GS, 158.2 IP, 2.72 ERA, 2.51 FIP, 0.96 WHIP, 10.55 K/9

2026-27 Free Agent Starting Pitchers: Frontline Arms

Beyond Skubal, there are a handful of frontline arms with elite upside.

Michael King will re-enter free agency after declining his player option, making him the top arm on the open market not named Tarik Skubal.

King opted out of his two-year, $58 million deal with San Diego and will be in high demand this winter. He tossed a career-high 185 innings in 2026 while posting a 3.21 ERA, the 10th-best mark in the NL. King owns a 3.15 ERA across his three seasons with the Padres (2024-26), and although he’s battled availability issues throughout his career, he’s proven to be a frontline arm when healthy.

Freddy Peralta recouped millions (literally) with his stint with the Tampa Bay Rays. After a nightmare first half of the season with the New York Mets, Peralta found his footing just in time to hit the open market with what should be plenty of suitors.

Sonny Gray dominated in his first season after being traded to the Boston Red Sox, posting a 2.72 ERA at 36 years old. Though he’s on the older side among this group, he’s still a proven top-of-the-rotation arm for a contending ball club.

Michael King, San Diego Padres

• Age in 2027: 32
  
• 2026 Stats: 32 GS, 185 IP, 3.21 ERA, 4.13 FIP, 1.18 WHIP, 7.74 K/9

Freddy Peralta, Tampa Bay Rays

• Age in 2027: 31
  
• 2026 Stats: 32 GS, 169 IP, 4.42 ERA, 4.28 FIP, 1.33 WHIP, 8.31 K/9

Sonny Gray, Boston Red Sox

• Age in 2027: 37
  
• 2026 Stats: 29 GS, 169 IP, 2.72 ERA, 3.47 FIP, 1.15 WHIP, 7.93 K/9

2026-27 Free Agent Starting Pitchers: Mid-Rotation Arms

This tier features some interesting names, such as Nick Martinez, who posted a career year with the Rays at age 35, and Clay Holmes, who was one of the more sought-after arms at the trade deadline and enjoyed a strong 2026 campaign himself. There are also several other arms who flash noticeable upside.

Several pitchers in this group have battled availability issues throughout their careers but have shown stretches of high-end potential. Names like Trevor Rogers, whose age is a major advantage in his free-agent case, and Tyler Mahle fall into that category.

While veterans Kevin Gausman and Matthew Boyd might not have had their best seasons in 2026, their track records as top arms in playoff-caliber rotations should earn them interest across the industry. Add in a couple of intriguing arms from NPB in Hiromi Itoh and Kaima Taira, and there are several middle-of-the-rotation options with upside worth taking a gamble on.

Trevor Rogers, Baltimore Orioles

• Age in 2027: 29
  
• 2026 Stats: 30 GS, 169.2 IP, 4.03 ERA, 3.45 FIP, 1.18 WHIP, 8.33 K/9

Clay Holmes, Chicago Cubs

• Age in 2027:34
  
• 2026 Stats: 18 GS, 101.1 IP, 3.29 ERA, 3.63 FIP, 1.19 WHIP, 6.93 K/9

Nick Martinez, Tampa Bay Rays

• Age in 2027: 36
  
• 2026 Stats: 31 GS, 180 IP, 3.10 ERA, 3.96 FIP, 1.09 WHIP, 5.45 K/9

Tyler Mahle, Atlanta Braves

• Age in 2027: 32
  
• 2026 Stats: 27 GS, 149 IP, 3.99 ERA, 3.99 FIP, 1.23 WHIP, 8.28 K/9

Foster Griffin, Cleveland Guardians

• Age in 2027: 31
  
• 2026 Stats: 31 GS, 172.2 IP, 3.60 ERA, 3.96 FIP, 1.21 WHIP, 8.24 K/9

Kevin Gausman, Chicago Cubs

• Age in 2027: 36
  
• 2026 Stats: 32 GS, 177.2 IP, 4.51 ERA, 3.74 FIP, 1.27 WHIP, 9.32 K/9

Matthew Boyd, Chicago Cubs

• Age in 2027: 36
  
• 2026 Stats: 22 GS, 126.2 IP, 3.91 ERA, 4.21 FIP, 1.21 WHIP, 6.82 K/9

Nick Pivetta, San Diego Padres

• Age in 2027: 34
  
• 2026 Stats: 8 GS, 34.2 IP, 2.86 ERA, 2.21 FIP, 1.01 WHIP, 10.90 K/9

Hiromi Itoh, NPB

• Age in 2027: 29
  
• 2026 Stats: 26 GS, 172.2 IP, 3.23 ERA, 2.81 FIP, 1.26 WHIP, 8.29 K/9

Kaima Taira, NPB

• Age in 2027: 27
  
• 2026 Stats: 22 GS (23 G), 146 IP, 1.36 ERA, 2.28 FIP, 0.96 WHIP, 8.69 K/9

2026-27 Free Agent Starting Pitchers: Remaining Arms

While this class of free-agent starters might not be filled with an abundance of top-tier aces, it’s a relatively deep group, with several names providing plenty of intrigue for contending ball clubs.

Some arms have been prone to injuries but have produced when healthy, while others are former frontline starters looking to return to that form in 2027. Regardless, starting pitching is always in high demand, and many of the names listed below should have a healthy market this winter.

Here are the remaining starting pitchers in the 2026-27 free-agent class.

Casey Mize, San Diego Padres

• Age in 2027: 30
  
• 2026 Stats: 26 GS, 131.1 IP, 4.32 ERA, 4.14 FIP, 1.23 WHIP, 7.54 K/9

Zac Gallen, Arizona Diamondbacks

• Age in 2027: 31
  
• 2026 Stats: 20 GS (22 G), 105.1 IP, 6.07 ERA, 5.34 FIP, 1.55 WHIP, 5.47 K/9

Shane Bieber, Toronto Blue Jays

• Age in 2027: 32
  
• 2026 Stats: 11 GS, 55.2 IP, 4.37 ERA, 5.15 FIP, 1.42 WHIP, 7.11 K/9

Shota Imanaga, Chicago Cubs

• Age in 2027: 33
  
• 2026 Stats: 32 GS, 174.1 IP, 3.77 ERA, 4.47 FIP, 1.10 WHIP, 8.98 K/9

Michael Soroka, Arizona Diamondbacks

• Age in 2027: 29
  
• 2026 Stats: 21 GS (22 G), 116 IP, 3.41 ERA, 3.19 FIP, 1.09 WHIP, 8.84 K/9

Robbie Ray, San Diego Padres

• Age in 2027: 35
  
• 2026 Stats: 30 GS (31 G), 165.2 IP, 3.59 ERA, 4.69 FIP, 1.35 WHIP, 7.61 K/9

Kris Bubic, Los Angeles Dodgers

• Age in 2027: 29
  
• 2026 Stats: 9 GS (14 G), 55 IP, 3.76 ERA, 3.54 FIP, 1.20 WHIP, 9.16 K/9

Brandon Woodruff, Milwaukee Brewers

• Age in 2027: 34
  
• 2026 Stats: 9 GS, 45.1 IP, 2.98 ERA, 3.19 FIP, 0.84 WHIP, 9.33 K/9

Jeffrey Springs, Athletics

• Age in 2027: 34
  
• 2026 Stats: 29 GS, 142.2 IP, 6.18 ERA, 6.02 FIP, 1.46 WHIP, 7.07 K/9

Martín Pérez, Atlanta Braves

• Age in 2027: 36
  
• 2026 Stats: 26 GS (30 G), 142 IP, 3.04 ERA, 4.32 FIP, 1.27 WHIP, 6.46 K/9

Chris Bassitt, Baltimore Orioles

• Age in 2027: 38
  
• 2026 Stats: 18 GS (20 G), 102 IP, 4.41 ERA, 4.31 FIP, 1.55 WHIP, 6.53 K/9

Patrick Sandoval, Boston Red Sox

• Age in 2027: 30
  
• 2026 Stats: 13 GS (15 G), 70.1 IP, 5.12 ERA, 3.77 FIP, 1.68 WHIP, 9.34 K/9

David Peterson, Chicago Cubs

• Age in 2027: 31
  
• 2026 Stats: 23 GS (32 G), 148.1 IP, 4.79 ERA, 3.96 FIP, 1.50 WHIP, 8.31 K/9

Walker Buehler, San Diego Padres

• Age in 2027: 32
  
• 2026 Stats: 32 GS, 153.2 IP, 4.63 ERA, 4.51 FIP, 1.35 WHIP, 7.67 K/9

Dustin May, Milwaukee Brewers

• Age in 2027: 29
  
• 2026 Stats: 31 GS, 145.2 IP, 4.70 ERA, 3.63 FIP, 1.32 WHIP, 8.90 K/9