2026 MLB Free Agents: Top 10 Rankings and Position Breakdown

The upcoming free agent class is unique for a variety of reasons. You have a two-time Cy Young who could be chasing a record-setting contract, and a bevy of other top starting pitchers who will also be hitting the market.

In a market that will be dominated by pitching, the second base position holds some of the best talent on the board among a weak position player crop. Meanwhile, positions like shortstop, first base, and catcher lack any true high-upside options.

Then you have the subplot that makes it all the more intriguing, which is that the league is likely heading towards a lockout when the CBA expires on December 1st. This means free agents will have just a few weeks after the World Series to sign on the dotted line before potentially going into a lockout without a guaranteed contract.

Calling this the 2026-2027 MLB free agent class has a deeper meaning than ever before, as this year’s class will be split by those who sign pre- and post-lockout.

Let’s take a look at the class and identify who the best players are at each position.

Top 10 MLB Free Agents for the 2026-27 Class

1. Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers

Current Contract: $32 Million (Final Year of Arbitration)

The clear top dog of the upcoming free agent class, Tarik Skubal, has been sidelined for the last few weeks after getting a bone chip removed from his pitching elbow. Due to a revolutionary NanoNeedle scope procedure, Skubal could be back in short order.

Assuming Skubal finishes the year healthy, there is not much that could keep the reigning two-time AL Cy Young from getting paid in free agency. Even a lockout shouldn’t hold him back.

2. Freddy Peralta, New York Mets

Current Contract: $8 Million (Final Club Option on Pre-Arb Extension)

There are a few guys later down on this list who are in the midst of better seasons than Freddy Peralta, but the track record is what carries Freddy to our No. 2 spot.

Peralta is one of two pitchers in MLB who have struck out 200 batters in each of the last three seasons. The other is Dylan Cease, who just cashed in on a seven-year, $210 million deal this past offseason as the previous top arm on the market.

3. Michael King, San Diego Padres

Current Contract: Three-Year, $75 Million Deal with Opt-Outs After Each Year

Michael King is off to a great start this season, pitching to a 2.76 ERA across his first 11 starts.

The only thing that could hold back his market is the fact that he was limited to 15 starts in 2025, so there could be a perceived injury risk, but there have been few pitchers better than King over the past few seasons.

If King opted into his current contract, he would still be owed $58 million over the next two years. A mark he should be able to easily beat over a longer-term deal.

4. Kevin Gausman, Toronto Blue Jays

Current Contract: Final year of a Five-Year, $110 Million Deal

Another starting pitcher, as this is clearly the biggest strength of the upcoming free agent class.

While Kevin Gausman may not receive another five-year deal like his last foray into free agency, he is likely to receive a raise, as he has been one of the most effective pitchers in baseball over the past seven seasons.

Gausman is off to yet another strong start to his season and is coming off leading the Blue Jays to a World Series run in 2025. Even heading into his age-36 season, Gausman is going to get a bag.

5. Randy Arozarena, Seattle Mariners

Current Contract: $15.65 Million (Final Year of Arbitration)

With all due respect to Randy Arozarena, who is off to a fantastic start this season, the fact that he is the top free agent position player says all you need to know about this class.

Arozarena will be going into his age-32 season when he hits free agency, and up to this point, he has never cleared 30 home runs or 90 RBIs in a given season. While he is outperforming compared to past norms, Arozarena typically finds himself with a wRC+ around his career mark of 125 by the end of any given season.

In last year’s class, Arozarena would have struggled to crack our list of the top 10 free agents. This time around, he’s the best position player in the class.

6. Jazz Chisolm Jr., New York Yankees

Current Contract: $10.2 Million (Final Year of Arbitration)

There is still time for Jazz Chisolm Jr. to move up this list, as the 28-year-old is coming off a 30-30 season in 2025, bringing the rare blend of speed and power that we don’t see much of throughout the rest of this free agent class.

When you factor in the length of contract, there is a chance that Jazz gets the largest deal of this year’s free agent position players.

7. Brandon Lowe, Pittsburgh Pirates

Current Contract: $11.5 Million (Final Club Option on Pre-Arb Extension)

In the offseason, Brandon Lowe was traded from the Tampa Bay Rays to the Pittsburgh Pirates, and so far, the change has been a welcomed one for Lowe. The soon-to-be 32-year-old second baseman is in the midst of a career year.

Through 49 games, Lowe has already cleared his fWAR output from 2025, posting 2.3 fWAR compared to a 1.7 last year. He has hit 13 home runs and his 151 wRC+ would match a career-year, which he set during the shortened 2020 season.

8. Luis Arraez, San Francisco Giants

Current Contract: $12 Million (Signed one-year FA deal)

Luis Arraez wanted to get back to playing second base, and that decision could pay dividends when he hits free agency again after the season. Arraez has gone from one of the worst defenders in baseball to one of the best, as legendary infield coach Ron Washington has gotten him on track.

Combine the suddenly stellar defense with a batting average that is once again well over .300, and you are actually looking at one of the more complete players on the market.

9. Daulton Varsho, Toronto Blue Jays

Current Contract: $10.75 Million (Final Year of Arbitration)

When it comes to potential, there may not be a better position player on this list than Daulton Varsho, who hit 20 home runs in just 71 games last season, and has the ability to play Gold Glove defense at a premium position in center field.

The former catcher is one of the more athletic players in the game, and set to turn 30 in July, age is on his side to get a long-term deal.

10. Ian Happ, Chicago Cubs

Current Contract: Final year of a Three-Year, $61 Million Deal

There are few players who are more consistent in MLB than Ian Happ, who has never finished a season with his wRC+ being below 100. Typically good for 20+ home runs and 80+ RBIs, Happ is a solid bat, who is also one of the best left fielders in baseball. He has won the Gold Glove in the National League for his work in left field in each of the past four seasons.

Honorable Mentions: Bo Bichette, Brandon Woodruff

Based on track record, Bo Bichette should be a no-brainer to be a top 10 free agent in the upcoming class, but there’s a good chance he is not a free agent.

With the way Bichette has started his Mets tenure, he may want to get out of dodge as soon as possible, but that can’t happen if he’s rocking a sub-600 OPS. If Bichette comes on strong, he can still opt out and take advantage of the weak free agent class to get a long-term deal elsewhere.

Otherwise, Bichette is opting into year two of that three-year, $126 million deal, which is not a bad place to be with a looming lockout.

Brandon Woodruff is our other honorable mention, because if he proves health, he can easily be a top 10 free agent. Until then, he is on the outside looking in for our list.

Full 2026-27 Free Agent List By Position

2026 Free Agent Catchers:

Carson Kelly (mutual option), Ryan Jeffers, Tyler Stephenson, Travis d’Arnaud, Kyle Higashioka (mutual option), Gary Sánchez (mutual option), Jonah Heim

2026 Free Agent First Basemen:

Ryan Mountcastle, Andrew Vaughn, Carlos Santana (mutual option), Paul Goldschmidt, Josh Bell (mutual option), Christopher Morel

2026 Free Agent Second Basemen:

Jazz Chisholm Jr., Gleyber Torres, Luis Arraez, Brandon Lowe, Mauricio Dubón, Jonathan India, Jeff McNeil (club option), Gavin Lux

2026 Free Agent Third Basemen:

Bo Bichette (opt-out), Eugenio Suárez, Alec Bohm, Anthony Rendon, Edmundo Sosa, Yoán Moncada, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Ramón Urías (mutual option)

2026 Free Agent Shortstops:

J.P. Crawford, Ha-Seong Kim, Jorge Mateo

2026 Free Agent Outfielders:

Luis Robert Jr. (club option), Randy Arozarena, George Springer, Adolis García, Trent Grisham, Nick Castellanos, Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, Daulton Varsho, Starling Marte, Cedric Mullins (mutual option), Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (club option), Victor Robles (club option), Taylor Ward, Ramón Laureano, Lane Thomas, Rob Refsnyder, JJ Bleday, Austin Hays

2026 Free Agent Designated Hitters:

Marcell Ozuna (mutual option), Jorge Soler, Joc Pederson (mutual option)

2026 Free Agent Starting Pitchers:

Tarik Skubal, Kevin Gausman, Freddy Peralta, Michael King (opt-out), Shane Bieber, Corbin Burnes (opt-out), Brandon Woodruff, Tatsuya Imai (opt-out), Jack Flaherty, Sonny Gray (club option), Clay Holmes (opt-out), Shota Imanaga, Robbie Ray, Nick Pivetta (opt-out), Zac Gallen, Chris Bassitt, Luis Severino (player option), Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Tyler Mahle, José Berríos (opt-out), Brady Singer, Zach Eflin (mutual option), Trevor Rogers, David Peterson, Matthew Boyd (mutual option), Taijuan Walker, Jameson Taillon, Jeffrey Springs (club option), Casey Mize, Nick Martinez (mutual option), Zack Littell (mutual option)

2026 Free Agent Relief Pitchers:

David Bednar, Aroldis Chapman (mutual option), Ryan Helsley (opt-out), Kenley Jansen (club option), Bryan Abreu, Pete Fairbanks, Carlos Estévez (club option), Jason Adam, Raisel Iglesias, José Alvarado, Emilio Pagán (opt-out), Blake Treinen, Alex Vesia, Garrett Whitlock (club option), Matt Strahm, Shawn Armstrong (mutual option), Kirby Yates, Evan Phillips, Paul Sewald, Danny Coulombe

Club Options That Will Likely Be Exercised

Ronald Acuña Jr. (club option), Ozzie Albies (club option), Yandy Díaz (vesting option), Sandy Alcantara (club option), Drew Rasmussen (club option), Andrés Muñoz (club option)