With free agency now underway, it is time to go over the very best players available, and what kind of contracts they might sign.
The offseason is upon us, and with it comes the beginning of free agency. Whether you are happy about it or not, the MLB season is over, so all fans can look forward to until Spring Training are the many transactions. We here at Back Sports Page are running down the very best free agents available. Baseball writers Mark Grinage, Joshua Ambroise, Nate Powalie, and I have composited this list. We are focusing on the best players and perhaps some personal favorites, rather than the ones who will sign the biggest contracts. The blurbs for each player include a ballpark figure for what size contract they will ultimately receive.
1. Kyle Tucker
Of course, there is plenty of overlap between talent and contract size. OF Kyle Tucker is easily the best available, and no one will be within shouting distance of however much he ends up signing for. After years of being a not-so-underrated star with the dynasty Houston Astros, Tucker joined the Chicago Cubs in the biggest trade last offseason. The move worked spectacularly, as Tucker led the Cubbies back to the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Tucker didn’t quite match his amazing half season in 2024, but his mostly full season on the North Side stands up with his previous three years in Texas. In 136 games, Tucker slashed .266/.377/.464 with 22 homers and 25 steals. His isolated power dropped below .200 for the first time since a brief debut, but he was still the most fearsome hitter in a good lineup.
The big question: How much will his second-half slide affect his earning power? Tucker dealt with injuries once again, and he experienced a power outage after the All-Star break. When 1B Vlad Guerrero Jr. signed his extension in April, many observers thought Tucker could also get $5oo million. That now seems to be off the table, but $400 million should still be in play. Lots of teams will be interested, especially the ones with deep pockets, but whoever signs Tucker must be confident the injuries won’t be a concern going forward.
2. Kyle Schwarber
DH Kyle Schwarber made the most of his platform season. On the heels of leading the NL with 56 home runs and 132 RBI, Schwarber is the best pure hitter in this free agent class. He still isn’t a great contact hitter, but he has certainly improved in that regard. He was astronomically better against lefties compared to earlier in his career. In 2025, Schwarber was actually better against left-handed pitchers than righties, with a .964 OPS versus .904. Just two years ago, his OPS was 90 points lower against lefties than righties. Schwarber has become a fan favorite wherever he goes, and that is especially true in Philadelphia. His monstrous blasts give him an outside shot at Cooperstown, and another few MVP-type seasons would solidify his case.
The big question: Which teams will be willing to pay up for a DH in his thirties? Schwarber has certainly earned a nine-figure contract, but many front offices are wary to hand out that kind of deal to someone with his profile. Plenty of position players over 30 continue to age gracefully, but plenty of others faceplant. Schwarber means so much to the Philadelphia Phillies that a reunion is likely, but other contenders in need of power will be open to making a risky investment.
3. Bo Bichette
SS Bo Bichette has been in the news a lot lately, as he returned from injury to enter the Toronto Blue Jays lineup during the World Series. Following a poor 2024 season where everything fell apart, Bichette returned to form in 2025. When he was on the field, he looked like his old self, slashing .311/.357/.483 in 139 games. Most of his stats were remarkably similar to his 2021-2023 averages, but Bichette cut his strikeout rate to a career best 14.5%. His injury issues remain, but Bichette can certainly hit again. The famous baseball son wants to play his whole career alongside Vladito, but regardless of who signs Bichette, that team will have no problem slotting him into the top of their lineup.
The big question: What position will Bichette play going forward? Bichette has always been a poor shortstop, so teams have known for years they would be taking some cons alongside the pros. Alas, a new wrinkle is that Bichette returned to play second base, and he looked solid there. Some evaluators have speculated he’d be a better fit there, and some teams probably want to move him over anyway. But Bichette would have to agree to move to the keystone full time, which is a different animal from a few games with the highest stakes. The position likely won’t affect the price, which should come in around $180 million.
4. Alex Bregman
3B Alex Bregman officially opted out of his contract on Tuesday, making him a free agent. Like a number of players on this list, Bregman had a strong season but missed some time with injuries. In his lone year with the Boston Red Sox, Bregman played in 114 games and performed slightly better compared to his final two seasons in Houston. His walk rate and hard-hit rate both jumped over three points from 2024, two critical measures that carry over from stadium to stadium. Plus, Bregman is still a solid defender at the hot corner. In a lopsided lineup of lefty-swinging outfielders, the BoSox could really use Bregman back, but they will have competition.
The big question: Will Bregman receive the big contract he sought last winter? Entering 2025, Bregman had multiple offers in the $165 million range to play for a team he has close ties to, but instead he bet on himself. By getting $40 million, hitting, and opting out, Bregman could still get around $150 million and easily come out ahead.
5. Pete Alonso
1B Pete Alonso is in a very similar situation to Bregman. He wanted a big deal last winter, didn’t really get it, signed an opt-out laden deal, hit well, and is now a free agent again. Alonso definitely had a better season, as his .272/.347/.524 slash line was very similar to his 2022 season and much better than his ’23 and ’24 production. He led the league in doubles and played all 162 games. Alonso showed he isn’t just a boom-or-bust slugger but a more well-rounded hitter at the plate. He also set dramatic career highs in average exit velocity (93.5 MPH) and hard-hit rate (54.5%). The New York Mets really need him back, as they don’t exactly have a backup plan at the cold corner.
The big question: Will teams pay up for an older first baseman? Alonso is effectively wondering the same thing Bregman and Schwarber are, as teams don’t often hand out the contract he wants anymore. He has performed like a $150 million player for much of his career, but a front office has to think he will continue to do so.
6. Munetaka Murakami
The most enigmatic player this winter, 3B Munetaka Murakami has a profile filled with excitement and red flags. A fearsome hitter in the box, he has true 80-grade raw power. Murakami exploded onto the international scene in 2022, when he hit 56 home runs in notoriously hitter-friendly Nippon Professional Baseball. Since then, however, Murakami has done more to concern evaluators than reassure them. While still performing like a star for the Yakult Swallows, Murakami has become very whiff-prone in the last three seasons. From ’22 to ’23, his strikeout rate spiked over seven points, and his batting average plummeted 62 points. Plus, injuries limited him to just 56 games this year, but he at least slugged more in that time. But Murakami is coming stateside at just 25 to be a professional, so he could still be in line to earn $200 million.
The big question: Will Murakami’s hit tool ever come around? Scouts have been dying to answer that question his whole career, and they still cannot. A 28% strikeout rate is manageable in MLB, but it’s a frightening figure in NPB. There is a real chance better stuff overwhelms him, in which case his raw power won’t matter. But plenty of front offices are hopeful a couple tweaks will make him one of the most fearsome hitters in the world.
7. Cody Bellinger
The spotlight has been shining on OF Cody Bellinger for a couple of winters now, and he is once again available. He sought a megadeal which didn’t materialize before 2024, so he signed an opt-out laden deal with the Chicago Cubs. Then, following an underwhelming campaign, the Cubs gave him away to the New York Yankees. So of course, his performance picked back up in the Bronx, and now he has opted out. Bellinger is no longer an MVP candidate, but he can still be a lineup anchor. He slashed .272/.334/.480 in 2025, and he can play solid defense at all three outfield spots and first base. He also cut his strikeout rate to just 13.7%, the lowest of his career. Bellinger should be able to finally cash in for the long-term deal he always wanted, but it won’t be a historically significant one.
The big question: Will front offices believe in Bellinger this time around? Bellinger’s player profile bounces around year to year, from all-or-nothing slugger to contact maven and now to something in between. It seems like he found a good balance, and teams will want this latest version of a former MVP.
8. Dylan Cease
The starting pitching market features a bunch of interesting players, but none of them are sure things. SP Dylan Cease most embodies that dynamic, as he is incredibly talented but has not played like an ace in two of the past three seasons. There is little to separate him from SPs Framber Valdez and Ranger Suarez, but Cease has better stuff. He averages over 97 MPH on his fastball, and he throws one of the dirtiest sliders in the league. But Cease also posted an ERA over 4.50 in 2023 and 2025, which you can’t just waive away by a bad Chicago White Sox defense, as the San Diego Padres have a pretty good crew. Even so, Cease has qualified each of the last five seasons, and he struck out over 210 hitters in each of those years, as well. If he gets a long-term deal, it will be in the $16o million range.
The big question: How much do front offices care about ERA? It is the pitching stat many fans care about the most, and analytically minded people bring it up, as well. But those same people care more about estimators like FIP and SIERA, which view Cease more favorably as a mid-threes guy, rather than mid-fours. The signing team will certainly be looking past Cease’s run prevention numbers.
9. Eugenio Suarez
If we were writing this list in July, 3B Eugenio Suarez would have a higher ranking. He was by far the best rental bat available at the deadline after raking with the Arizona Diamondbacks. But once again, he struggled somewhat with the Seattle Mariners. All told, Suarez tied his career high with 49 home runs while playing passable defense at third. He doesn’t walk often or make a lot of contact, so Suarez has to be slugging to be valuable. Considering his difficulty hitting in a pitcher’s park, I expect Suarez to prioritize signing with a team in a more favorable hitter’s park. He should get three or four seasons worth around $80 million total.
The big question: Can Suarez come close to repeating his best stretches? He has been legitimately one of the best hitters in the league–at times. He posted a .930 OPS in 2019 but dropped to average the following season. Suarez had a 142 OPS+ this year before the trade and then just 94 after. Suarez will likely keep alternating great stretches with some blah ones, and his new team will need to accept that.
10. Tatsuya Imai
Perhaps the biggest wild card this offseason is SP Tatsuya Imai, the best pitcher coming from overseas. A lifelong Seibu Lion, Imai posted a 1.92 ERA this season in NPB. That followed three straight years in the low-twos. His peripherals all went in the right direction, as he increased his strikeout rate while lowering his walk and home run rates. A 27% K-rate is rarified air in Japan, especially for a starter. Imai is a personal favorite of mine, and I expect him to have the same kind of impact as SP Shota Imanaga in 2024. Contract projections are all over the place, but the strikeout ability should translate. I would not be surprised if he ends up with the biggest contract for a pitcher this winter, but he could also fall well short of that mark.
The big question: Which teams think Imai’s skills will translate? As we have seen in recent years, front offices can have vastly different opinions on international pros. When the deal happened and in retrospect, many think the Red Sox overpaid for DH Masataka Yoshida. Scouts likely have different takes on Imai, and the more bullish ones will push to sign him. But it’s anyone’s guess which teams those optimistic scouts work for.
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