Tracking top players left for 2026 – NBC Los Angeles

MLB free agency is much more like a marathon than a sprint.

In leagues like the NBA and NFL, the start of free agency typically coincides with a flurry of activity.

But the activity in MLB free agency tends to be spread out over the course of the winter. Look no further than last offseason, when Pete Alonso and Alex Bregman didn’t strike deals until February.

This year’s free agent class included 13 players who were extended the qualifying offer, and four of them accepted it: New York Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham, Chicago Cubs starter Shota Imanaga, Detroit Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres and Milwaukee Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff.

Those aren’t the only notable free agents staying put, either. Shortstop Ha-Seong Kim (Atlanta Braves), starter Michael King (San Diego Padres), first baseman Josh Naylor (Seattle Mariners), reliever Emilio Pagán (Cincinnati Reds) and slugger Kyle Schwarber (Philadelphia Phillies) re-signed with their respective clubs.

Meanwhile, those who found new homes include first baseman Pete Alonso (Baltimore Orioles), starter Dylan Cease (Toronto Blue Jays), reliever Edwin Díaz (Los Angeles Dodgers), reliever Pete Fairbanks (Miami Marlins), outfielder Adolis García (Phillies), reliever Ryan Helsley (Orioles), reliever Kenley Jansen (Tigers), starter Merrill Kelly (Arizona Diamondbacks), first baseman Ryan O’Hearn (Pittsburgh Pirates), infielder Jorge Polanco (New York Mets), reliever Tyler Rogers (Blue Jays), reliever Robert Suarez (Braves), reliever Luke Weaver (Mets), reliever Devin Williams (Mets) and outfielder Mike Yastrzemski (Braves).

Right-hander Tatsuya Imai and slugger Munetaka Murakami, two of several Nippon Professional Baseball stars who were posted to free agency, signed with the Houston Astros and Chicago White Sox, respectively.

So, with hot stove season underway, here’s an updated look at the best remaining MLB free agents (this list will be updated as free agents sign; players listed alphabetically by last name):

Luis Arráez, 1B, San Diego Padres

Luis Arráez, 28, continued to be a singles machine in 2025, with 139 of his 181 hits being base hits. While the three-time batting champion didn’t record a .300-plus batting average for the first time since 2021, his .292 average still tied for 12th-best in the majors. And Arráez, who slashed .292/.327/.392 with eight homers, 61 RBI and 11 steals in 154 games, tied for the second-most hits in all of baseball. He had the lowest strikeout percentage in the majors (3.1%), but also tied for the 10th-worst walk percentage (5%). In the field, Arráez tied for third-worst among first basemen in outs above average at minus-7.

Harrison Bader, OF, Philadelphia Phillies

Ricky Bottalico and Danny Pommells discuss the likelihood that free agents Kyle Schwarber, Harrison Bader, Ranger Suarez and J. T. Realmuto will stay with the Phillies this offseason.

Harrison Bader‘s age-31 campaign was the best offensive season of his career, as he split time between the Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies. He posted career highs in hits (124), doubles (24), home runs (17), RBI (54) and OPS (.796) while slashing .277/.347/.449 across 146 games. Bader also tied for 18th among outfielders in outs above average (plus-7).

Chris Bassitt, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays

Chris Bassitt logged at least 30 starts for the fourth straight season. The 36-year-old recorded a 3.96 ERA, 166 strikeouts and 52 walks in 170.1 innings pitched over 31 starts and 32 total appearances. While Bassitt brought down his 1.462 WHIP from 2024, he still tied for ninth-worst in that category at 1.327.

Cody Bellinger, OF, New York Yankees

Cody Bellinger, 30, declined his $25 million player option following a strong debut season in the Bronx. The 2019 NL MVP hit .272/.334/.480 with 29 home runs, 98 RBI and 13 steals. Bellinger, who made his most appearances since 2019 with 152, tied for 18th among outfielders in outs above average (plus-7).

Bo Bichette, SS, Toronto Blue Jays

Bo Bichette, 27, was back to his old self at the dish following a 2024 season where he posted a .598 OPS while being limited to 81 games due to injuries. The two-time All-Star hit .311/.357/.483 with 18 homers and 94 RBI in 139 games. He tied for the second-most hits (181) and second-best batting average in the majors, while also tallying the second-most doubles (44). Bichette, however, tied for last among shortstops in outs above average at minus-13. Bichette declined the qualifying offer from Toronto.

Alex Bregman, 3B, Boston Red Sox

Joon Lee joins Felger and Tom Giles on BST to discuss what the outfield logjam looks like this offseason, plus who to target in free-agency

Bregman opted out of two years and $80 million remaining on the deal he signed with the Boston Red Sox last offseason. The 31-year-old is coming off his first All-Star campaign since 2019, hitting .273/.360/.462 with 18 home runs and 62 RBI in 114 games. Bregman, who missed extended time with a quad injury, tied for ninth among third baseman in outs above average at plus-3.

Zac Gallen, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks

Zac Gallen, who declined the qualifying offer, hit free agency on the heels of a subpar 2025 campaign. The 30-year-old hadn’t recorded an ERA higher than 3.65 since 2021, but saw that figure balloon to 4.83 across 192 innings last season. In 33 starts, Gallen posted 175 strikeouts, 66 walks and a 1.260 WHIP. He tied for the fourth-most homers allowed among all pitchers with 31.

Lucas Giolito, RHP, Boston Red Sox

Lucas Giolito enjoyed quite the bounce-back season after being traded and subsequently waived in 2023 and then missing all of 2024 due to UCL surgery. The 31-year-old posted a 3.41 ERA — his best since 2019 — in 145 innings over 26 starts. Giolito recorded 121 strikeouts and 56 walks with a 1.290 WHIP.

Rhys Hoskins, 1B, Milwaukee Brewers

Rhys Hoskins was limited to 90 games last season as he missed extended time with a thumb injury. The 32-year-old hit .237/.332/.416 with 12 home runs and 43 RBI. He was tied for 11th among first basemen in outs above average at plus-1.

Nick Martinez, RHP, Cincinnati Reds

Nick Martinez again split time between the rotation and bullpen in 2025, making 26 starts and 14 relief appearances. The 35-year-old saw his ERA rise from 3.10 in 2024 to 4.45 in 2025 and his WHIP go from 1.026 to 1.207. Martinez, who accepted the qualifying offer last offseason, struck out 116 hitters and walked 42 in a career-high 165.2 innings.

Kazuma Okamoto, 3B/1B, Japan

Kazuma Okamoto, 29, hit .277/.361/.521 with 248 home runs and 717 RBI in 1,074 games over 11 NPB seasons. An elbow injury limited Okamoto to 69 games last season, when he hit .327/.416/.598 with 21 homers and 49 RBI. Okamoto has until Jan. 4 to sign with a team.

Marcell Ozuna, DH, Atlanta Braves

After two straight seasons with a .900-plus OPS, Marcell Ozuna saw that figure dip to .756 in 2025. The 35-year-old slashed .232/.355/.400 with 21 homers and 68 RBI in 145 games. Ozuna had hit a combined 79 home runs in the previous two seasons.

J.T. Realmuto, C, Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies Talk podcast crew takes a closer look at what a potential contract could look like for J.T. Realmuto.

J.T. Realmuto, 34, last season failed to record a .750-plus OPS for the first time in a decade. The three-time All-Star catcher hit .257/.315/.384 with 12 home runs and 52 RBI.

Max Scherzer, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays

Max Scherzer, 41, posted a career-worst 5.19 ERA in 2025 while being limited to 17 starts due to a thumb injury. The three-time Cy Young winner had 82 strikeouts, 23 walks and a 1.294 WHIP in 86 innings. Opposing hitters put up an .810 OPS against Scherzer, the highest mark of his career. It was the second straight season that Scherzer missed extended time after making nine starts in 2024.

Eugenio Suárez, 3B, Seattle Mariners

Eugenio Suárez last season made his first All-Star Game since 2018, matching his career high in homers (49) and driving in a personal-best 118 runs. The 34-year-old had an .897 OPS and 36 homers in 106 games with the D-backs, but dropped off to a .682 OPS and 13 homers in 53 games after a midseason move to the M’s. His outs above average of minus-5 ranked 32nd among third basemen.

Ranger Suárez, LHP, Philadelphia Phillies

Ranger Suarez’s agent, Scott Boras, spoke on Suarez’s appeal in free agency this winter at the MLB GM meetings in Las Vegas.

In addition to Schwarber, Ranger Suárez also declined the qualifying offer from the Phillies. The 30-year-old southpaw posted a 3.20 ERA in 2025, his best in a season in which he made at least 20 starts. Suárez, who earned his first All-Star nod the season prior, logged 157.1 innings over 26 starts with 151 strikeouts, 38 walks and a 1.220 WHIP.

Kona Takahashi, RHP, Japan

Kona Takahashi, like Okamoto, has until Jan. 4 to sign with an MLB team. The 28-year-old right-hander recorded a 3.39 ERA and 1.296 WHIP in 196 games over 11 NPB seasons. In 24 games last season, Takahashi had a 3.04 ERA, 88 strikeouts, 41 walks and a 1.230 WHIP across 148 innings.

Kyle Tucker, OF, Chicago Cubs

Following an offseason trade from the Houston Astros, Kyle Tucker earned his fourth straight All-Star nod in 2025. The 28-year-old hit .266/.377/.464 with 22 home runs, 73 RBI and 25 stolen bases. But Tucker, a Gold Glove winner in 2022, tied for 70th among outfielders in outs above average at minus-2 while playing right field.

Framber Valdez, LHP, Houston Astros

Framber Valdez, 32, is the top left-hander in this free agent class. The two-time All-Star has made at least 28 starts and posted a sub-3.70 ERA in each of the last four seasons. He made 31 starts in 2025, posting a 3.66 ERA, 187 strikeouts, 68 walks and a 1.245 WHIP across 192 innings. His 20 quality starts last season tied for the seventh-most in the majors, and the southpaw has tossed eight complete games since 2022, good for the second-most over that span.

Justin Verlander, RHP, San Francisco Giants

On “Giants Postgame Live,” Laura Britt and Rich Aurilia discuss Justin Verlander’s final outing of the 2025 MLB season and his potential future.

Justin Verlander logged 29 starts in his age-42 season. The three-time Cy Young winner recorded a 3.85 ERA, 137 strikeouts, 52 walks and a 1.362 WHIP in 152 innings.

Editor’s note: This story was first published on Nov. 25.