MLB Big Board Rankings for Top 25 Free Agents of 2025-26 Class

It's never too early to start looking ahead to the 2025-26 MLB free-agent class. While it's unlikely that anyone will come close to the contract Juan Soto signed with the New York Mets last winter, plenty of star players are poised to cash in.

Now that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has finally inked a long-term extension with the Toronto Blue Jays, outfielder Kyle Tucker is now the consensus top hitter on the market. However, Guerrero's teammate, Bo Bichette, is capable of giving him a run with a return to his pre-2024 form.

On the pitching side of things, Dylan Cease, Zac Gallen, Framber Valdez and Michael King are all safe bets to land nine-figure paydays, while Ranger Suárez, Tyler Mahle, Zach Eflin and Chris Bassitt headline a robust secondary market.

Here, we've put together our first MLB free-agency big board for the 2025-26 class. These rankings will be updated as the season unfolds based on the on-field performance and health of the upcoming class of players.

Let's start with some honorable mentions and a look at players facing contract options and opt-out decisions.

SP: Tyler Anderson, Griffin Canning, Aaron Civale, Nestor Cortes, Erick Fedde, Jon Gray, Andrew Heaney, Clayton Kershaw, Zack Littell, Michael Lorenzen, Germán Márquez, Nick Martinez, Miles Mikolas, Charlie Morton, Martín Pérez, Cal Quantrill, Jose Quintana, Max Scherzer, Tomoyuki Sugano, Justin Verlander

RP: Scott Barlow, Kyle Finnegan, Chad Green, Hunter Harvey, Raisel Iglesias, Luke Jackson, Kenley Jansen, Tommy Kahnle, Jose Leclerc, Chris Martin, Shelby Miller, Emilio Pagán, Ryan Pressly, Tyler Rogers, Jordan Romano, Paul Sewald, Ryne Stanek, Luke Weaver, Kirby Yates

C: Victor Caratini, Gary Sanchez, Christian Vazquez

IF: UT Willi Castro, SS/3B Paul DeJong, 1B Ty France, 1B Paul Goldschmidt, 1B Rhys Hoskins, UT Jose Iglesias, SS Isiah Kiner-Falefa, UT Dylan Moore, 1B Ryan O'Hearn, 2B/3B Luis Rengifo, UT Amed Rosario, 1B Carlos Santana, 3B Eugenio Suárez, 2B Gleyber Torres, 1B LaMonte Wade Jr.

OF: Miguel Andújar, Michael Conforto, Max Kepler, Starling Marte, Lane Thomas, Alex Verdugo, Jesse Winker, Mike Yastrzemski

For the time being, players that have contract options and players with opt-out clauses for 2026 will not be included in our free-agency rankings, though several of these players could end up hitting the open market.

Options

2B Ozzie Albies ($7 million club option, $4 million buyout)
OF Cody Bellinger ($25 million player option, $5 million buyout)
SP Shane Bieber ($16 million player option, $4 million buyout)
RP Edwin Díaz ($18.5 million player option, no buyout)
1B Yandy Díaz ($12 million club option, no buyout)
RP Pete Fairbanks ($7 million club option, $1 million buyout)
DH Randal Grichuk ($5 million mutual option, $3 million buyout)
2B Brandon Lowe ($11.5 million club option, $500k buyout)
3B Max Muncy ($10 million club option, no buyout)
RP Andrés Muñoz ($6 million club option, no buyout)
SP Freddy Peralta ($8 million club option, no buyout)
C Salvador Perez ($13.5 million club option, $2 million buyout)
OF Luis Robert Jr. ($20 million club option, $2 million buyout)
SP Chris Sale ($18 million club option, no buyout)
SP Brandon Woodruff ($20 million mutual option, $10 million buyout)

Opt-Outs

1B Pete Alonso (1/$24M remaining)
3B Alex Bregman (2/$80M remaining)
SP Jack Flaherty (1/$10M remaining)
SS Ha-Seong Kim (1/$16M remaining)
SP Seth Lugo (1/$15M remaining)
SP Frankie Montas (1/$17M remaining)
OF Tyler O'Neill (2/$33M remaining)
SS Trevor Story (2/$55M remaining)
RP Robert Suarez (2/$16M remaining)

25. 2B/3B Jorge Polanco (Age: 31)

The Mariners brought Polanco back on a new one-year, $7.75 million deal despite a lackluster 2024 season where he battled a knee injury that eventually required offseason surgery. He is hitting .346/.352/.558 for a 171 OPS+ over 55 plate appearances this season, and he has added to his defensive versatility by shifting to third base.

24. OF Austin Hays (Age: 29)

An All-Star in 2023 as part of a three-year stretch where he posted a 109 OPS+ while averaging 32 doubles, 18 home runs, 66 RBI and 2.9 WAR, Hays found himself traded to the Phillies last summer and non-tendered this offseason. The Reds scooped him up on a one-year, $5 million deal that is quickly shaping up to be one of the steals of the winter, as he is hitting .429/.467/.786 with three home runs over his first 30 plate appearances.

23. RP Michael Kopech (Age: 28)

Kopech has always had an elite fastball, but things never quite clicked for him as a starter, and the White Sox moved him to the bullpen in 2024. The Dodgers acquired him at the deadline, and he logged a 1.13 ERA and 0.79 WHIP with six saves in 24 appearances following the trade. Elbow inflammation has sidelined Kopech to start the year, but his age and high-octane stuff give him significant upside relative to the rest of the reliever market.

22. SP Walker Buehler (Age: 30)

One of baseball's best young pitchers prior to undergoing his second career Tommy John surgery, Buehler is still trying to work his way back to pre-injury form. Despite struggling to a 5.38 ERA and 5.54 FIP in 75.1 innings last year, the Red Sox rolled the dice with a one-year, $18.1 million deal and a mutual option for 2026. He would fly up these rankings if he strings together a few quality starts.

21. OF Trent Grisham (Age: 28)

A two-time Gold Glove winner, Grisham would have free-agency appeal simply for his ability to play a quality center field. He batted just .191 with an 84 OPS+ in 1,288 plate appearances the last three seasons, but he's off to a scorching start this year with a .320/.393/.700 line and six home runs over 56 plate appearances. The batted-ball metrics support his breakout performance, and he could steadily climb these rankings with sustained production.

20. SP Merrill Kelly (Age: 36)

Since returning stateside for the 2019 season following a successful KBO stint, Kelly has been a rock-solid middle-of-the-rotation starter, logging a 3.85 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 851 innings. He does not have the same mileage on his arm as most pitchers his age, though his market will likely still be limited to one- or two-year deals.

19. SP Chris Bassitt (Age: 36)

A veteran workhorse who has made at least 30 starts in three straight seasons, Bassitt is off to a fantastic start in 2025, posting a 0.77 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 31 strikeouts in 23.1 innings. His 1.02 FIP leads all qualified starters by a wide margin. If the Blue Jays fall out of the AL East race early, he could be one of the prizes of this year's trade deadline.

18. DH Marcell Ozuna (Age: 34)

Ozuna was an offensive force during the 2023 (140 OPS+, 40 HR, 100 RBI) and 2024 (153 OPS+, 39 HR, 104 RBI) seasons, and he is off to a terrific start once again this year in the middle of the Atlanta lineup. However, he is also a mid-30s slugger with zero secondary value. Players with that profile can sometimes struggle to generate free-agency interest beyond one-year deals.

17. DH Kyle Schwarber (Age: 32)

Only Aaron Judge (318) has more home runs than the 275 long balls that Schwarber has slugged since first becoming an everyday player during the 2017 season. He is showing no signs of slowing down with a 180 OPS+ and seven homers through his first 22 games in 2025. His on-base ability and terrific postseason track record put him a tier above Marcell Ozuna on the DH market.

16. SP Zach Eflin (Age: 31)

Eflin finished sixth in AL Cy Young voting in 2023, and he followed that up with a 3.59 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 165.1 innings split between Tampa Bay and Baltimore last year. He was the O's Opening Day starter this year following the departure of Corbin Burnes, though he made just three starts before landing on the injured list with a lat strain. Age is working in his favor, and he could move closer to the top 10 with a smooth return from his injury.

15. SP Tyler Mahle (Age: 30)

Mahle leads all qualified starters in ERA (0.68) and opponents' batting average (.112) through his first five starts, and more importantly, he is finally healthy after Tommy John surgery limited him to eight starts and 28.1 innings the last two years. He was a legitimate No. 2 starter in 2021 (13-6, 3.75 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 210 K, 180.0 IP), and he offers more upside than perhaps any starter outside of the top-tier arms.

14. SP Dustin May (Age: 27)

May has never pitched more than 56 innings in a season in the majors, but he has consistently shown electric stuff when healthy. His 2.93 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in 208.2 career innings speaks to his effectiveness. If he can make it through the 2025 season without spending extended time on the injured list, his age and stuff will make him a popular target capable of providing value beyond his likely asking price.

13. RP Devin Williams (Age: 30)

Rocky start to the 2025 season aside, Williams has consistently been one of baseball's most dominant late-inning relievers since winning NL Rookie of the Year honors during the shortened 2020 campaign. He had a 1.83 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 14.3 K/9 in 241 career appearances entering the 2025 season, so he gets the benefit of the doubt on returning to form for the time being.

12. RP Ryan Helsley (Age: 30)

Helsley won 2024 NL Reliever of the Year honors, nailing down 49 saves while posting a 2.04 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 10.7 K/9 in 65 appearances. With a fastball that averages 98.8 mph and a swing-and-miss slider, he has prototypical late-inning stuff. It's a coin toss between him and Devin Williams for the title of top available reliever.

11. C J.T. Realmuto (Age: 34)

The catching market is virtually non-existent behind Realmuto, assuming the Royals exercise their club option on Salvador Perez. The best of the rest include Gary Sánchez, Christian Bethancourt, Victor Caratini and Danny Jansen if his mutual option is declined. That's probably why there have already been some rumblings of potential extension talks by the Phillies.

10. 1B Josh Naylor (Age: 27)

Veterans like Paul Goldschmidt, Anthony Rizzo, Carlos Santana and others found a limited market this past offseason, but a big reason for that was their age. That's working in Naylor's favor as one of the youngest members of the 2025-26 free-agent class. After posting a 119 OPS+ with 31 home runs and 108 RBI last season, he is off to a fantastic start this year after being traded to the D-backs in December. He's sporting a 165 OPS+ and 10 extra-base hits in 96 plate appearances.

9. OF Cedric Mullins (Age: 30)

Mullins has yet to duplicate his out-of-nowhere 30/30 performance from 2021, but he has developed into a quality everyday center fielder, tallying 9.4 WAR in 419 games over the last three seasons. Aside from a potential roll of the dice on Trent Grisham, Mullins is far and away the best available center fielder. He is hitting .284/.429/.627 with five doubles, six home runs and 19 RBI in 84 plate appearances.

8. SP Ranger Suárez (Age: 29)

Suárez has been quietly excellent the last four years, posting a 3.27 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 500 strikeouts in 537 innings while making a seamless transition to the starting rotation. Most teams would prioritize signing a young starter like him to a long-term deal, but with Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola and Taijuan Walker set to make a combined $84.6 million in 2026 and J.T. Realmuto also a free agent, letting him walk might be unavoidable.

7. 1B Luis Arráez (Age: 28)

Arráez is baseball's best contact hitter with three straight batting titles on his resume, but in today's power-driven game, it remains to be seen how much value his skills will command on the open market. The fact that his best defensive home is probably designated hitter further muddies his free-agency outlook, but someone will pay up for a table-setter who is a near lock to hit .300.

6. SP Michael King (Age: 29)

After three lights-out seasons as a swingman in the Yankees bullpen, King made the full-time move to starting after joining the Padres last year and went 13-9 with a 2.95 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 201 strikeouts in 173.2 innings to finish seventh in NL Cy Young voting. It has been more of the same to open the 2025 season, and he could be playing his way to a nine-figure payday.

Age: 31

With three straight top-10 finishes in AL Cy Young voting under his belt, Framber Valdez has developed into the unquestioned ace of the Houston Astros starting rotation.

The fact that Alex Bregman is gone and Kyle Tucker was traded while he is still wearing an Astros uniform could speak to the club's plans to make a serious push to re-sign him, but it's going to mean a significant financial commitment.

Aside from his stellar regular-season performance, he also brings a wealth of postseason experience with a 4.34 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 85 innings across 17 playoff appearances.

Age: 27

Simply put, Bo Bichette was one of the best offensive players in baseball during the 2021, 2022 and 2023 seasons:

2021: 121 OPS+, .298/.343/.484, 191 H, 60 XBH (29 HR), 102 RBI, 5.9 WAR
2022: 128 OPS+, .290/.333/.469, 189 H, 68 XBH (24 HR), 93 RBI, 3.7 WAR
2023: 122 OPS+, .306/.339/.475, 175 H, 53 XBH (20 HR), 73 RBI, 4.8 WAR

Those numbers cratered during an injury-plagued 2024 season where he hit .225/.277/.322 for a 70 OPS+ in 81 games, so his 2025 performance will have a tremendous impact on his earning power.

Through 22 games this year, he is hitting .313 with a 120 OPS+, though he is still searching for his first home run.

Age: 29

Since his first full season in the Arizona Diamondbacks' rotation in 2020, Zac Gallen trails only Zack Wheeler (26.0), Max Fried (19.9), Gerrit Cole (19.8), Corbin Burnes (18.6) and Logan Webb (18.0) among all pitchers with 16.9 WAR as the ace of the staff.

The addition of Burnes on a massive six-year, $210 million deal in free agency this past offseason gives the D-backs one of baseball's best one-two punches. However, it could be short-lived if the club decides it can't make a similar financial commitment to Gallen this coming winter.

Age and track record should make him a lock for a contract north of $100 million. He is "1A" to Dylan Cease's "1" among the top starting pitchers of the 2025-26 class.

Age: 29

Dylan Cease is one of only seven pitchers to make at least 30 starts in each of the past four seasons, and he is more than just an innings-eater with true top-of-the-rotation stuff.

He finished in the top five in NL Cy Young voting in 2022 (14-8, 2.20 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 227 K, 184.0 IP) and 2024 (14-11, 3.47 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 224 K, 189.1 IP), and he has also logged at least 200 strikeouts four years in a row.

Aside from being a bit more prone to walks than the typical frontline starter, Cease checks all the boxes to be paid like a top-of-the-rotation ace. His asking price could be in the same ballpark as the six-year, $210 million deal that Corbin Burnes inked this past winter.

Age: 28

Can the Chicago Cubs convince Kyle Tucker to stick around beyond the 2025 season?

That was no doubt the hope when the North Siders paid a steep price to acquire him via trade in December, sending 2024 All-Star Isaac Paredes and 2024 first-round pick Cam Smith to Houston as part of the return package.

The list of players capable of hitting .300 with 30 home runs and 30 steals is extremely short, and he is thriving so far with the change of scenery. He's hitting .302/.404/.615 for a 188 OPS+ with 16 extra-base hits in 24 games to begin his Cubs tenure.

His asking price probably starts at $300 million, though that figure could easily climb after seeing the contracts handed to Juan Soto and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in recent months.