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

Two offseasons ago, the Mets signed Juan Soto to the richest contract in North American professional sports history. A year later, the Dodgers inked Kyle Tucker to a (much shorter) deal with a record-breaking average annual value.

This year’s outfield class doesn’t have a star at the same level as Soto or Tucker, but there are at least a handful of impact bats who will draw considerable interest.

Seiya Suzuki and Randy Arozarena have been consistent, well-rounded offensive players throughout their major league careers. Any team that wants a safe bet for an offensive upgrade (and is willing to spend $20 to $30 million on a multi-year deal) should be giving them a call. Ian Happ and Taylor Ward present less expensive alternatives.

Then there are Teruaki Sato and Jake Bauers. Sato is the best hitter in NPB. Bauers is coming off a dominant breakout campaign. We’d be having a longer conversation about how they compare to the other top bats in this class if either of them were really an outfielder.

Yet, Sato’s primary position is third base, while Bauers belongs at first (or maybe even DH). They’re listed here because they could play corner outfield positions in 2027 if that’s where a team wants their bat. However, it’s more likely they’ll stay on the dirt.

Finally, before I get to the list itself, I feel I should mention at least one center fielder. Daulton Varsho is coming off a dismal season, but it wasn’t so long ago that plenty of us thought he’d be a top-10 free agent in the 2026-27 class. He’ll be looking for a one-year, prove-it deal this winter, and the fact that he’s still arguably the best center fielder available will give him some leverage.

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In the following breakdown of this year’s free agent outfield class, you will find the top players available at each position: corner outfielders, center fielders, and a couple of designated hitters who would technically count as outfielders if you had to give them a defensive label.

As the offseason marches on, we will periodically update this article with new information that relates to these free agents. You can also click on any name below to read more about each player on his Baseball Reference page.

2026-27 Top MLB Free Agent Corner Outfielders

Randy Arozarena and Seiya Suzuki are the top left and right fielders, respectively. It’s not just that you can count on them to produce year in and year out, but you can also count on them actually playing the outfield in 2027. In contrast, Teruaki Sato and Jake Bauers can play the outfield, but the infield is where they’re most comfortable.

Following those four, you’ll find a couple more talented veterans who are coming off down years at the plate: Ian Happ and Taylor Ward. Then, the market drops off to a handful of part-time players and utility men.

Randy Arozarena, Seattle Mariners

• Age in 2027: 32

• 2026 Stats: 154 G, 670 PA, .281/.381/.484, 26 HR, 79 RBI, 26 SB, 151 wRC+, -7 FRV, 5.5 fWAR

Seiya Suzuki, Chicago Cubs

• Age in 2027: 32

• 2026 Stats: 143 G, 634 PA, .270/.368/.473, 26 HR, 86 RBI, 3 SB, 134 wRC+, 7 FRV, 4.5 fWAR

Teruaki Sato, NPB

• Age in 2027: 28

• 2026 Stats: 143 G, 614 PA, .306/.383/.609, 39 HR, 106 RBI, 8 SB, 196 wRC+

Jake Bauers, Milwaukee Brewers

• Age in 2027: 31

• 2026 Stats: 144 G, 578 PA, .266/.389/.484, 26 HR, 86 RBI, 11 SB, 143 wRC+, -3 FRV, 3.7 fWAR

Ian Happ, Chicago Cubs

• Age in 2027: 32

• 2026 Stats: 156 G, 636 PA, .218/.326/.412, 412 HR, 68 RBI, 4 SB, 107 wRC+, 6 FRV, 2.6 fWAR

Taylor Ward, Seattle Mariners

• Age in 2027: 33

• 2026 Stats: 143 G, 607 PA, .225/.359/.311, 7 HR, 37 RBI, 4 SB, 102 wRC+, -1 FRV, 1.0 fWAR

Randal Grichuk, Chicago White Sox

• Age in 2027: 35

• 2026 Stats: 117 G, 280 PA, .287/.314/.566, 15 HR, 46 RBI, 0 SB, 139 wRC+, 0 FRV, 1.7 fWAR

Michael Conforto, Chicago Cubs

• Age in 2027: 34

• 2026 Stats: 113 G, 314 PA, .240/.331/.469, 15 HR, 45 RBI, 1 SB, X wRC+, -2 FRV, 0.8 fWAR

More Free Agent Corner Outfielders: Nick Castellanos, Jake Fraley, Adam Frazier, Adolis García, Austin Hays, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Max Kepler, Ramón Laureano, Tommy Pham, Austin Slater, LaMonte Wade Jr.

2026-27 Top MLB Free Agent Center Fielders

This is a weak class. If you’re a team looking for a new center fielder in free agency this winter, you’ll have to settle for a project, a gamble, or a platoon.

Daulton Varsho is a Gold Glove winner who has flashed middle-of-the-order power. He’s also coming off a season in which he ranked third last among qualified AL hitters in OPS. Even worse, his defensive metrics also took a hit. If he can get back to being the player he was in 2025, he’s an All-Star-calibre talent. Unfortunately, he showed in 2026 that his floor is uncomfortably low.

Similarly, Trent Grisham followed up the best season of his career with a mediocre campaign, while Cedric Mullins continues to look more like a role-player than a full-time starter.

The only players listed below who are coming off strong seasons are Mauricio Dubón and Tyrone Taylor, but Dubón’s value comes from his defensive versatility, while Taylor is a fourth outfielder and the short side of a platoon.

Daulton Varsho, Houston Astros

• Age in 2027: 30

• 2026 Stats: 140 G, 526 PA, .221/.281/.355, 12 HR, 40 RBI, 12 SB, 78 wRC+, 4 FRV, 0.8 fWAR

Mauricio Dubón, Atlanta Braves

• Age in 2027: 32

• 2026 Stats: 153 G, 619 PA, .276/.321/.399, 12 HR, 73 RBI, 10 SB, 99 wRC+, 0 FRV, 2.4 fWAR

Cedric Mullins, Tampa Bay Rays

• Age in 2027: 32

• 2026 Stats: 137 G, 502 PA, .205/.284/.344, 15 HR, 48 RBI, 21 SB, 76 wRC+, 10 FRV, 1.1 fWAR

Trent Grisham, New York Yankees

• Age in 2027: 30

• 2026 Stats: 121 G, 484 PA, .211/.308/.395, 18 HR, 59 RBI, 9 SB, 98 wRC+, -5 FRV, 0.7 fWAR

Tyrone Taylor, Chicago Cubs

• Age in 2027: 33

• 2026 Stats: 97 G, 241 PA, .279/.325/.502, 11 HR, 38 RBI, 3 SB, 127 wRC+, 2 FRV, 1.5 fWAR

Lane Thomas, Atlanta Braves

• Age in 2027: 31

• 2026 Stats: 118 G, 374 PA, .224/.318/.383, 11 HR, 40 RBI, 9 SB, 96 wRC+, -3 FRV, 0.7 fWAR

More Free Agent Center Fielders: TJ Friedl, Enrique Hernández, Alek Thomas

2026-27 Top MLB Free Agent DH/OF Bats

I’ll be blunt. There aren’t enough free agent designated hitters for us to give them their own article. So, instead, we’re shoehorning these guys in here. All of them were outfielders earlier in their careers, but now, they’re only going to put on a glove in a pinch.

Of course, that’s not to say there isn’t any value in this group. Joc Pederson bounced back in the second season of his two-year pact with the Rangers, hitting 26 bombs with an .816 OPS and 128 wRC+. For a team that’s willing to stomach his streakiness, there’s still a lot of power in his bat.

Meanwhile, George Springer is only one year removed from earning MVP votes in 2025. His 2026 season was disappointing by comparison, but 15 homers and a 105 wRC+ are nothing to sniff at from a player who turned 27 in September. If he doesn’t retire this offseason, he could still contribute to a lineup in a part-time role.

After Springer, you’re looking at a list of veterans who could be bounce-back candidates if you squint hard enough, but it’s just as likely their days in the major leagues are over.

Joc Pederson, Texas Rangers

• Age in 2027: 35

• 2026 Stats: 136 G, 432 PA, .235/.329/.487, 26 HR, 53 RBI, 2 SB, 128 wRC+, 1.4 fWAR

George Springer, Toronto Blue Jays

• Age in 2027: 37

• 2026 Stats: 126 G, 517 PA, .249/.321/.405, 15 HR, 54 RBI, 12 SB, 105 wRC+, 0.9 fWAR

Marcell Ozuna, Pittsburgh Pirates

• Age in 2027: 36

• 2026 Stats: 70 G, 280 PA, .203/.286/.327, 8 HR, 29 RBI, 0 SB, 68 wRC+, -1.0 fWAR

More Free Agent Designated Hitters: Starling Marte, Andrew McCutchen, Jorge Soler