2026 MLB Free Agents: Top 10 Rankings and Position Breakdown

We first published this article back on May 28th, after watching the first two months of the MLB season. At the time, the focus for this year’s free agent class was a long list of starting pitchers, headline by two-time Cy Young Tarik Skubal.

The other real position of interest that we spotlighted was second base, which featured three of the top 10 players on the list. As the season has worn on though, we have seen the corner outfield position start to emerge as the best of this year’s free agent class, with Randy Arozarena leading a good group of corner outfielders.

Still, it is pretty clear that this year’s free agent class is weaker than it has been in previous season, which sets the stage for a fascinating winter when you consider the looming lockout that will create a deadline for sorts for deals to get done.

The league is expected to lockout when the CBA expires on December 1st, which 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, Los Angeles Dodgers

Might as well just call this year’s free agent class, the year of Skubal, because Tarik is the biggest star on the market by a mile. A two-time reigning AL Cy Young, who will now get to showcase his talents on the grandest stage joining up with the reigning two-time champion Los Angeles Dodgers for the stretch run.

Skubal is well-positioned to sign a record-breaking contract early this winter, as agent Scott Boras will look to cash in on his prized free agent prior to the looming lockout that is expected to begin on December 1st when the CBA expires.

2. Michael King, San Diego Padres

There is a chance that Michael King will not be a free agent, as he holds a pair of player options that would allow him to remain with the Padres next season and wait out the new CBA.

However, King has a $5 million buyout on his opt-out for 2027, meaning he would cash in immediately going into free agency, and would then be in line to hit the market without a qualifying offer attached.

If King finishes the season healthy, he should look to enter the market coming off another strong season, where he is currently pitching to a 3.41 ERA across 25 starts. King is pacing towards 180 innings pitched at a sub 3.50 ERA, a mark he has not exceeded in any of the last five seasons.

At 31 years old, this could be King’s chance to cash in on a long-term contract, potentially even one that stretches into nine figures.

3. Randy Arozarena, Seattle Mariners

While this season has not gone as planned for the Seattle Mariners, Randy Arozarena has been the furthest thing from the problem, as the 31-year-old is hitting .274/.366/.454, with 17 home runs, 20 stolen bases and a 140 wRC+ across his first 118 games played. It was his second-straight All-Star season for Seattle.

Arozarena is three home runs away from his sixth-straight 20-20 season, and he is also on his way to his sixth-straight season with 140+ games played. That is production any team would love to insert into the middle of their lineup next season.

4. Seiya Suzuki, Chicago Cubs

The more that you look at this market, the more you realize that corner outfield is one of the few strengths of this free agent class, and Seiya Suzuki is right there with Arozarena in the conversation for being the top bat.

Despite playing at Wrigley Field, which is not the best environment for a right-handed slugger, Suzuki has managed to hit 20 home runs in each of the last four seasons. Through his time in Chicago, Suzuki is running a career .269/.359/.486 slash line with a 128 wRC+.

Not traditionally known for his glove, Suzuki is boasting his free agent case with 4 OAA, while showcasing a strong arm in right field.

A free agent at 32 years old, Suzuki could do better than the $85 million contract he signed five years ago if he gets a 4+ year deal.

5. Clay Holmes, Chicago Cubs

Just based on the return that Clay Holmes fetched at the trade deadline, it is pretty clear how the market values him. Holmes, along with Mets’ teammate Tyrone Taylor, was traded to the Cubs for a top-100 talent in Jefferson Rojas, despite the fact that he was coming off the IL.

While Holmes may show signs of rust down the stretch, his injury was a fractured fibula that likely kept his arm fresh. By getting traded, Holmes sheds the risk of a qualifying offer, and will hit the market as an unencumbered free agent at 33 years old, after two strong seasons as a starting pitcher.

Holmes has less mileage on his arm than most 33-year-old starters, as he spent a majority of his career pitching in high-leverage in the Yankees bullpen. Finding a deal that spans beyond three years may be difficult based on his age, but Holmes could double his salary from the $12 million 2027 player option he is undoubtedly declining.

6. Casey Mize, San Diego Padres

Casey Mize pitched to a 2.70 ERA in 16 starts with the Detroit Tigers prior to being traded to San Diego.

In his first three starts as a member of the Padres, Mize yielded 10 runs in 15 1/3 innings pitched. As long as Mize can lock back in down the stretch, he will be in line for a strong deal in free agency.

Age is on Mize’s side compared to Michael King and Clay Holmes, as the 29-year-old right-hander likely falls into a similar AAV bucket to the two starters, but will get a longer deal. With a strong finish, Mize will be in position to sign the second-largest contract of this free agent class behind only his former teammate, Skubal.

7. Ian Happ, Chicago Cubs

You may have noticed know that the first three free agent bats on this list are all corner outfielders and two of them are Chicago Cubs. While the Cubs could sign either of their free agents, it would feel rather odd to see Ian Happ where anything other than Cubby blue.

Drafted ninth overall by the Cubs more than a decade ago back in 2015, Happ has been a fixture in Chicago, and is getting a taste of the open market for the first time at 32 years old. The Cubs could tender both Suzuki and Happ qualifying offers, which may suppress their market some, but Happ should still garner plenty of interest.

A four-time Gold Glover in left field, Happ has already cleared 20 home runs for the fourth-straight season in 2026. There are few players more consistent than Happ.

8. Sonny Gray, Boston Red Sox

Prior to this season, Sonny Gray was not looking like a rental for the Red Sox, as they escalated a buyout in his contract from $5 million to $10 million on a mutual option for the 2027 season. This made it likely that the Red Sox would exercise their end of the mutual option, which would guarantee Gray $30 million next season.

If Gray likes how things are going in Boston, he can simply opt-in, wait out the new CBA, and attempt to hit the market again the following season. Set to turn 37 in November, Gray may decide to just play out this contract and hang it up anyway.

But there is still plenty left in the tank, and if Gray want to keep pitching beyond the 2027 season, he could opt-out now and find a two or three-year deal on the market with ease.

9. Kevin Gausman, Chicago Cubs

You may be surprised to find Kevin Gausman this high on the list, considering the struggles he has endured this season. At the same time, this is a battle-tested veteran starter, who is four starts away from his sixth-straight year making 30+ starts.

Innings are always at a premium in Major League Baseball, and Gausman can still provide them to a good team next season. While the results haven’t been great this year, Gausman’s stuff has not seen any considerable decline, as he is still missing bats and is likely to clear 180 Ks for the second-straight year.

Gausman will have the chance to improve his stock in October with the Cubs, and will then hit the market prior to his 36th birthday in January, looking to cash in on one more big free agent deal.

10. Nick Martinez, Tampa Bay Rays

You can make a case that no starting pitcher on this list is having a better season than Nick Martinez. The 36-year-old has found a fountain of youth in Tampa, and is turning in the best season of his career.

For the first time in the big leagues, Martinez has pitched exclusively out of the rotation, and in doing so, he has become quite the innings eater. Martinez will be limited in terms of the length of his next deal, but he should enjoy a considerable raise from the $13 million deal he signed last offseason.

Honorable Mentions: A Confusing Second Base Class

Instead of being the year of the corner outfielder, this free agent class was supposed to be geared around the second base position, as Jazz Chisolm Jr. and Nico Hoerner were once looked at as the top bats of this class.

Hoerner signed a new deal with the Cubs to take his name off this list, and Chisolm has really struggled in his platform year with the Yankees. In fact, if they tender him a qualifying offer, there is a chance that Jazz will just jump on it, as he could play out another year and still hit the market before his 30th birthday.

Beyond Jazz, Brandon Lowe and Luis Arraez stand out as interesting free agents in this class as well.

Both second basemen have posted strong defensive metrics this season after miserable defensive season in 2025. Lowe is likely to clear 30 home runs for the second-straight year, and Arraez is in line for his fourth batting title.

My only question is how the market will value Arraez when he only got $12 million a year ago. Do teams really think he is plus defender at second moving forward?

Meanwhile with Lowe, the Pirates are likely to tender him a qualifying offer, which could suppress his market.

Nick Martinez was the barometer that I measured each of these second basemen against, and while all of them could sign for more total money than Martinez, I don’t know if any of them clear $20 million next season unless they accept the qualifying offer.

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:

Jake Bauers, Ryan Mountcastle, 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, 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)