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

Now that the World Series is in the rearview and we’ve crowned a champion, it’s time to shift focus over to the offseason.

With a potential lockout looming and more than a little bit of uncertainty in the air, there’s a feeling around the industry that teams will be aggressive from the start in adding to their teams for 2027 and beyond.

Last offseason, the likes of Bo Bichette, Alex Bregman, and Pete Alonso headlined the free-agent class of infielders. Each of them hit the open market as established stars looking to make some serious money, which, of course, they all did.

This time around, though, it feels like something’s missing. Gone are the high-end difference-making bats from last winter. Sure, there’s still plenty of talent to sift through on the infield side of things, but it’s hard to argue that the quality has taken a year-to-year dip.

Entering the 2026-2027 offseason, there are only a few impact bats available. We’re going to break down a position-by-position primer on who’s set to be available this winter, but first and second base are the only two positions around the dirt that have guaranteed, established, household names.

Let’s jump in and see what we’ve got.

2026-2027 Top Free Agent First Basemen

Alonso’s not the big name on top of the list this time around, but Jake Bauers, who was just recently NLCS MVP and is now a World Series Champion, takes that title. After an improbable but incredible career turnaround in 2026, he should easily become the best-available first baseman on the market. We’ll have to wait and see whether or not he gets and accepts the qualifying offer first.

Don’t sleep on Ty France, though, who enjoyed a breakout of his own in his second stint on the San Diego Padres. The 32-year-old only just fell short of Bauers in the home run, wRC+, and fWAR departments this year and could be ready to ink a multi-year pact.

Jake Bauers, Milwaukee Brewers

• Age in 2027: 31
  
• 2026 Stats: 144 G, .266/.389/.484, 26 HR, 86 RBI, 143 wRC+, 3.7 fWAR
  
• 2026 Salary: $2.7 million

Ty France, San Diego Padres

• Age in 2027: 32

• 2026 Stats: 133 G, .295/.363/.502, 21 HR, 72 RBI, 141 wRC+, 3.6 fWAR

• 2026 Salary: $1.35 million

Other Free Agent 1B: Paul Goldschmidt, Rhys Hoskins, Nathaniel Lowe, Dominic Smith

2026-2027 Top Free Agent Second Basemen

First base had two established bats leading the way, and now second base gets three.

Topping the charts are Brandon Lowe, Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Luis Arraez, and these could not possibly be three more strikingly different baseball players.

If you need straight power, go Lowe. If you need a pesky on-base machine, go Arraez. If you need an all-around ballplayer who is a stud but may not fit in every clubhouse, you go Jazz.

Point being, there’s a little bit of something here for everyone. Even Gleyber Torres, the best-available second baseman from last year’s offseason, finds himself back in the pool. There’s no real way to argue that this is the deepest infield position we’re working with this year.

Brandon Lowe, Pittsburgh Pirates

• Age in 2027: 32
  
• 2026 Stats: 150 G, .260/.331/.493, 35 HR, 96 RBI, 121 wRC+, 4.9 fWAR
  
• 2026 Salary: $11.5 million

Jazz Chisholm Jr., New York Yankees

• Age in 2027: 29
  
• 2026 Stats: 137 G, .231/.312/.399, 19 HR, 55 RBI, 98 wRC+, 3.5 fWAR
  
• 2026 Salary: $10.2 million

Luis Arraez, Philadelphia Phillies

• Age in 2027: 30
  
• 2026 Stats: 151 G, .310/.345/.419, 6 HR, 64 RBI, 110 wRC+, 4.1 fWAR
  
• 2026 Salary: $12 million

Gleyber Torres, Detroit Tigers

• Age in 2027: 30
  
• 2026 Stats: 96 G, .260/.364/.363, 8 HR, 38 RBI, 109 wRC+, 1.0 fWAR
  
• 2026 Salary: $22.025 million

Other Free Agent 2B: Ozzie Albies (club option), Kiké Hernández, Adam Frazier, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Jeff McNeil (club option), Ildemaro Vargas

2026-2027 Top Free Agent Third Basemen

There is no Bregman topping the lists this time around, but the most intriguing third baseman available is one that’s looking to make the jump from Japan to Major League Baseball. Teruaki Sato, who will turn 28 in March, has considerable pop in his bat and could conceivably come stateside to man either the hot corner or a corner-outfield spot.

Alec Bohm, one of the more frustrating and inconsistent players who will somehow have a big list of landing spots, is the second-best bat. That should tell you a lot about the quality of options on the open market.

Teruaki Sato, Hanshin Tigers (JPCL)

• Age in 2027: 28
  
• 2026 Stats (Japan): 143 G, .306/.383/.609, 39 HR, 106 RBI, 196 wRC+
  
• 2026 Salary: N/A

Alec Bohm, Philadelphia Phillies

• Age in 2027: 30
  
• 2026 Stats: 155 G, .249/.315/.383, 15 HR, 88 RBI, 90 wRC+, 0.2 fWAR
  
• 2026 Salary: $10.2 million

Other Free Agent 3B: Yoán Moncada, Amed Rosario, Eugenio Suárez (mutual option), Ramón Urías

2026-2027 Top Free Agent Shortstops

Each position so far has at least one player capable of making an impact, and shortstop has only one of those as well this winter. J.P. Crawford, coming off of a largely successful stint in Seattle, is set to hit the open market as a 15 to 20-homer bat who would benefit immensely from a position switch, much like Bichette at this time last year.

The fall-off behind Crawford is pretty dramatic, as Mauricio Dubón, who best profiles as a super-utility option, is the second-best shortstop that’ll be up for grabs.

J.P. Crawford, Seattle Mariners

• Age in 2027: 32
  
• 2026 Stats: 116 G, .221/.335/.352, 14 HR, 40 RBI, 105 wRC+, 1.2 fWAR
  
• 2026 Salary: $12 million

Mauricio Dubón, Atlanta Braves

• Age in 2027: 32
  
• 2026 Stats: 153 G, .276/.321/.399, 12 HR, 73 RBI, 99 wRC+, 2.4 fWAR
  
• 2026 Salary: $6.1 million

Other Free Agent SS: Orlando Arcia, Ha-Seong Kim, Jorge Mateo

2026-2027 Top Free Agent Catchers

Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but the catcher position is also pretty weak heading into the offseason.

Ryan Jeffers tops the charts, but he’s only an impact backstop when he’s healthy. Over the past few years, that’s been the exact problem. He debuted back in 2020 and has appeared in 100 or more games just two times. In 2026, he only made it into 92, but he turned in an .814 OPS, which was fourth amongst catchers with 300 or more PA.

Carson Kelly, who was 16th on that same list, has gone from “just okay” journeyman backup to a respectable starting catcher for a contender. He’s been all around the league, but he’s also hit 27 home runs with a combined 108 RBI in the past two years for the Cubs. If teams look for durability more than potential, he’s the best fit.

Tyler Stephenson, a career-long Cincinnati Red, is now the third-best catcher on the market. He’s largely lived in anonymity over the course of his career, but he’s a consistent bat who has some thump. However, his defensive play leaves a bit to be desired. It’s reasonable to say that he’d fit better as a team’s backup catcher who can also play first base or DH.

Ryan Jeffers, Minnesota Twins

• Age in 2027: 30
  
• 2026 Stats: 92 G, .256/.353/.461, 14 HR, 56 RBI, 128 wRC+, 2.6 fWAR
  
• 2026 Salary: $6.7 million

Carson Kelly, Chicago Cubs

• Age in 2027: 33
  
• 2026 Stats: 121 G, .258/.336/.376, 10 HR, 58 RBI, 103 wRC+, 1.6 fWAR
  
• 2026 Salary: $5 million

Tyler Stephenson, Cincinnati Reds

• Age in 2027: 30
  
• 2026 Stats: 130 G, .241/.323/.404, 15 HR, 54 RBI, 99 wRC+, 1.3 fWAR
  
• 2026 Salary: $6.8 million

Other Free Agent Catchers: Travis d’Arnaud, Austin Hedges, Kyle Higashioka (mutual option), Jonah Heim, James McCann, Gary Sánchez (mutual option)