It’s tempting to call this a free agency period like Major League Baseball has never seen.
Alas, we did this exact same exercise five years ago.
Once again, the hot stove will almost certainly be cooled by an industry-shuttering lockout Dec. 1, as commissioner Rob Manfred pulls the plug on the offseason as collective bargaining talks with the players’ association lurch on. Until then, it will be a moderate scramble for teams to sign players – with another feverish trade and free agency sprint once the CBA is settled.
Whenever that is.
Until then, though, there are dozens of players to dream on, some who will sign quickly, others who will beat the buzzer at the end of November and still more that will have to wait until 2027. With that, USA TODAY
Sports presents its top 112 free agents, from the most desired to those reasonably expected to sign a major league contract. Rankings based on projected future performance and perceived market value:
Ages on April 1, 2027
1. Tarik Skubal (LHP, 30, Dodgers)
Still the one. Skubal’s elbow procedure in May and his decent but not indomitable playoff stint after a trade to the Dodgers might cool his market a tad, but he’ll easily sail past the $325 million record for a free agent pitcher. Expect him to sign shortly before the lockout plug is pulled.
2. Michael King (RHP, 31, Padres)
Yeah, this free agent class is a little short on star power. King will make someone happy, though: In 77 starts over three seasons in San Diego, he pitched to a 3.15 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP and struck out 436 in 432 innings. A solid No. 1, an excellent No. 2 for a team with playoff aspirations.
3. Freddy Peralta (RHP, 30, Rays)
What a roller-coaster for ol’ Fastball Freddy, who seemed to jeopardize eight seasons of greatness with one half of terrible with the Mets. Yet Peralta reignited his value with an increasingly electric three-month stint in Tampa Bay, capped by a postseason in which the Rays won the first four games he pitched in before running into the Brewers. That run likely brought him back into the nine-figure contract club.
4. Sonny Gray (RHP, 37, Red Sox)
Yeah, we’re a little heavy on veteran arms, here. Such is the game today, though: A paucity of starters, a slew of fungible offensive options. Gray won 18 games and posted a 2.72 ERA and while some below him on this list will outshine him in total value, he should make a very nice killing in average annual value after opting out of a $30 million player option.
5. Clay Holmes (RHP, 34, Cubs)
Again with the reliable if not dominant right-handed starters. Holmes re-made himself very nicely with the Mets, stretching out to become a starter again and he was bound for an All-Star bid before a comebacker resulted in a freak broken bone in his leg. Still, he posted a 3.26 ERA over 40 starts there and has a knack for suppressing the home run.
6. Trevor Rogers (LHP, 28, Orioles)
Rogers’ up-and-down stint in Baltimore after a 2024 trade ended on a very high note, as he pitched to a 2.89 ERA and 2.90 FIP in his final 20 starts. His age and apparent remaining upside make him a nice fit for a club that fancies itself pitching savants.
7. Seiya Suzuki (OF/DH, 32, Cubs)
He’s likely just a future DH and we’re not altogether convinced he’s the best position player on this market, but: It’s tough to argue with four consecutive seasons with an OPS between .804 and .841. Get him out of Wrigley Field – which ranks 22 ND for batters in park factor and 26 TH for right-handed swingers – and it could be a very smooth transition into his mid-30s.
8. Randy Arozarena (OF, 32, Mariners)
Did someone mention park factors and right-handed hitters? Well, Seattle T-Mobile Park is the worst for righty swingers, per Statcast, yet Arozarena put up a 26-homer, 26-steal season and career bests in OPS (.865) and WAR (5.7). Given his age and that speed is a fairly big part of his game, there’s a little buyer beware here. But he can be instant offense for a team in need.
9. Teruaki Sato (INF, 28, Hanshin Tigers)
All hail the Central League Triple Crown winner, who hit 39 homers and drove in 106. Sato did strike out 27% of the time the past two seasons, but his market will no doubt benefit from Munetaka Murakami’s success, hitting 35 homers his rookie year after similar whispers about contact issues.
10. Nick Pivetta (RHP, 34, Padres)
A flexor strain cost him five months of this season, but he looked crisp in his return and brings to the market a nice two-year sample in San Diego: A 2.87 ERA over 216 1/3 innings and a 0.99 WHIP. Durability concerns might force him to accept a deal laced with some incentives, but Pivetta and his signing club will feel pretty good betting on each other.
11. Foster Griffin (LHP, 31, Guardians)
Talk about a winning bet on yourself: Griffin came back from Japan and posted a 15-6 record and 3.60 ERA with the Nationals and Guardians, appearing in three playoff games for Cleveland. Griffin’s eight-ish pitch mix makes him tough to square up, even if his 8.2 strikeouts per nine innings may give pause to clubs obsessed with swing-and-miss.
Brewers World Series book
12. Nick Martinez (RHP, 36, Rays)
Speaking of first-time All-Stars who induce weak contact, Martinez had an extremely precise season with the Rays: A 1.09 WHIP despite just 109 strikeouts in 180 innings. But Martinez was extremely valuable in the rotation and clubhouse for Tampa Bay and, like many pitchers on this list, might not be a bona fide No. 1 but can make a decent rotation playoff-caliber.
13. Matthew Boyd (LHP, 36, Cubs)
Boyd backslid a fair amount from his 2025 All-Star campaign, his ERA bumping from 3.21 to 3.91 and his FIP from 3.65 to 4.21. Boyd required surgery on his meniscus after a mishap playing with his children and also had a biceps issue, but in 61 starts over three seasons has a 3.41 ERA. Quality you can rely on.
14. Shota Imanaga (LHP, 33, Cubs)
He pitched last year after accepting the qualifying offer and had a Shota-esque year, dominating in six April starts before blowing up in May and August, landing on a 3.77 ERA overall. His three major league seasons have had similar roller coasters, and the Cubs have lost both playoff games he’s appeared in before staying away from him in the 2026 wild card series. Still, the stuff is good and he’s posted a 1.04 career WHIP.
15. David Bednar (RHP, 32, Yankees)
Who knew how valuable this dude would be when the Yankees acquired him in July 2025? He saved 45 games in 52 chances across 1 ½ seasons, plus two more in the postseason, giving up one earned over nine innings of playoff ball. The Yankees extended him the qualifying offer, so perhaps a reunion could be worked out before he fully hits the market.
16. Evan Phillips (RHP, 32, Dodgers)
Injuries limited Phillips to just 38 appearances the past two seasons, but he was 42-for-49 in save opportunities in 2023 and ’24 and has given up zero runs in 18 1/3 career playoff innings. Yes, that’s an Aaron Ashby-like run across five postseasons, including two World Series championships and an NLCS run this year.
17. Kaima Taira (RHP, 27, Seibu Lions)
An intriguing posting, to be sure, as Taira posted a 1.36 ERA in 23 starts this year – and saved 36 games as a reliever the year before. He has a career 9.4 strikeouts per nine innings, generating mid-90s velocity despite a 5-foot-8 frame.
18. Raisel Iglesias (RHP, 36, Braves)
Is this guy getting better with age? Iglesias saved 34 games for Atlanta last season, capping a five-year run in which he posted a 0.97 WHIP and saved 131 games. Gave up just 48 hits in 60 innings.
19. Adrian Morejon (LHP, 28, Padres)
Morejon suffered shoulder inflammation at the finish line this year, the Padres opting to stay away from him in their last two NL Division Series games against Milwaukee, but then extending him the qualifying offer, which may ensure his return. He was one of the game’s greatest relievers the past two seasons, making the 2025 All-Star Game and striking out 177 in 159 2/3 innings. Pitched in 75 and 76 games, so you can call him Every-Other-Day Adrian.
20. Brandon Lowe (2B, 32, Pirates)
The Pirates extended him the qualifying offer after he ripped 35 home runs and produced 5.4 WAR in his lone season in Pittsburgh. Lowe also struck out 189 times – 28.8% of his plate appearances – yet his OPS of .824 was in line with his .810 career mark. An interesting market for a guy entering his mid-30s.
21. Jazz Chisholm Jr. (INF, 29, Yankees)
After a 31-homer, 31-steal season, Chisholm’s homers dropped to 19 and his OBP from .332 to .312. Still, he’s the youngest position player on the market and a dynamic talent in an offensively uninspiring class; might be best served if a club made him a multi-positional everyday option.
22. Bryan Abreu (RHP, 29, Astros)
Had an amazing two-year run in 2022 and ’23, posting a 1.84 ERA and striking out 12.8 batters per nine innings as the Astros won the World Series and reached Game 7 of the ’23 ALCS. Now, he’s still pretty good but not quite as dominant – his home runs per nine innings have leaped from 0.3 in 2022 to 1.3 this past season.
23. Luis Arráez (INF, 29, Phillies)
His marketability took a big leap under the tutelage of infield wizard Ron Washington, who helped Arráez become a serviceable second baseman. Banged out 185 hits between San Francisco and Philadelphia and his .765 slug was his highest since 2023.
24. Hiromi Itoh (RHP, 29, Nippon Ham Fighters)
Teams who obsess over strike zone control will love Itoh, who struck out 159 but walked just 34 in 172 innings this past season. The winner of the NPB’s Cy Young equivalent in 2025, Itoh figures to slot as a mid-rotation option in the major leagues.
25. Ian Happ (OF, 32, Cubs)
Happ’s 10-year run at Wrigley Field concluded with a career-low .218 batting average yet 24 homers that were just one off his career high. His streak of four consectuvie Gold Gloves in left field came to an end, but Happ is still a significant all-around add for a contending team.
26. Tyler Mahle (RHP, 32, Braves)
Mahle might want to send a Christmas bonus along to the Braves’ pitching department after his ERA dropped from 5.13 in 18 starts with San Francisco to 1.99 in nine starts with Atlanta. His overall 3.99 mark was probably what was expected all along but Mahle’s strong finish and overall healthy campaign – his 27 starts were his most since 2021 – will ensure a nice payday this winter.
27. Gleyber Torres (2B, 30, Tigers)
Not the All-Star offensive force he was a year ago, Torres nonetheless got on base at a .364 clip, while his eight home runs helped suppress his OPS to .727, just above league average. After accepting the $22 million qualifying offer for 2025, he’s unencumbered this season and should land a multiyear pact following two seasons as a Tiger.
28. Jake Bauers (1B, 31, Brewers)
Pat Murphy’s hot mic private moment with Bauers wasn’t totally accurate – the Yankees are pretty well covered at first base – but Bauers does figure to cash in after reviving his career with two solid seasons in Milwaukee. He hit 26 homers and turned around pivotal Game 3 of the NLCS with another longball at Dodger Stadium. Will the power of friendship compel him to accept the $23.15 million qualifying offer and try to go back-to-back with the Brewers?
29. Mauricio Dubon (INF/OF, 32, Braves)
That’s three-time Gold Glove winner Maurico Dubón, for the record. Simply, the man does anything a team could ask, this past season holding down shortstop for 51 starts and then making 89 more in the outfield, mostly after Ha-Seong Kim was healthy. Not the guy to center a rebuild around, but a perfect add for a club with championship aspirations.
30. Dustin May (RHP, 29, Brewers)
What happens when you debut at 21, suffer a litany of injuries yet bounce back with the World Series champs? You hit the free agent market at 29, youngest pitcher in the class, and in far better shape than imagined. May put it together nicely with the Cardinals, nearly throwing a perfect game, and aimed to fit into the Brewers’ pitching equation. He landed on “multi-inning fireballing option,” starting one playoff game and contributing a handful of relief efforts. An acquiring team could use him any number of ways, but his 8.9 strikeouts per nine innings in 2026 ensures he’ll be nicely compensated for it.
31. Trent Grisham (CF, 30, Yankees)
Will suitors weigh Grisham’s 34-homer, .811 OPS 2025 season more heavily than his injury-interrupted 18-homer, .703 OPS ’26 campaign? Grisham played through the qualifying offer to emerge unencumbered this winter, but now must convince teams he can maintain solid center field play and decent power into his 30s.
32. Daulton Varsho (OF, 30, Astros)
This is Grisham Part II. Varsho averaged 3.7 WAR and 19 homers his first three seasons in Toronto but fell off with the rest of the roster in 2026, hitting just 12 homers and compiling 0.9 WAR between the Blue Jays and Astros.
33. Kevin Gausman (RHP, 36, Cubs)
Gausman was weighing retirement this season and then saw his ERA balloon to 4.83 in nine starts after a trade to Chicago. Still, he struck out 10.2 batters per nine for the Cubs and in the right hands can make his fastball-splitter combo bite. If he doesn’t sign before the lockout kicks in, it might be tougher to get out of Dad Mode.
34. J.P. Crawford (INF, 32, Mariners)
Gradually made himself into a solid offensive player with the Mariners and eventually an indispensable cog, until injuries and the emergence of young infielders Colt Emerson and Cole Young infringed on his production. Crawford has signaled he’d like to come back, perhaps as a third baseman or super utility sort, but either way he still has plenty to give on the field and in the clubhouse.
35. Shane Bieber (RHP, 31, Blue Jays)
Still might not be fully ready to hit the market after opting into his $16 million player option for 2026. Lingering effects from a World Series run that followed Tommy John recovery limited Bieber to 11 starts, so perhaps one more short-term deal is in his future. He’s young enough and good enough to cash in once he’s able to go to the post 25 to 30 times.
36. Casey Mize (RHP, 29, Padres)
He looked primed to cash in in a big way after posting a 2.70 ERA in 16 starts with Detroit and then getting swept out of town along with Tarik Skubal, landing in San Diego. But it all went south, so to speak, with the Padres, as he was hammered for 56 hits in 44 2/3 innings and a 7.46 ERA in 10 starts. Given his uneven health history, a make-good situation might be best for Mize, too.
37. Ryan Jeffers (C, 29, Twins)
Seems like the guy’s been around forever but he doesn’t turn 30 until June 3. Jeffers averages 22 homers per 162 games, but was limited to 92 last season, a year the Yankees hoped to acquire him. Still, right-handed power is hard to come by, especially from a catcher.
38. Zac Gallen (RHP, 31, Diamondbacks)
He’s been backsliding since 2022, when he led the NL with a 0.91 WHIP and just 5.9 hits per nine innings. Yet his ERA has gone straight up since: From 2.54 to 3.47 to 3.65, 4.83 and finally 6.07 last year, when he yielded 10.9 hits per nine. It’s clear a change of scenery is necessary; the question is how much someone’s willing to pay who believes they can bring back the old Zac.
39. David Peterson (LHP, 31, Cubs)
An All-Star in 2025, when he pitched a career-high 168 2/3 innings, he was more swingman with the Mets in 2026, starting eight games and relieving in eight others before a trade to Chicago, where the Cubs put him back in the rotation. Still, a lefty who can start or go multiple innings retains significant value.
40. Tyler Stephenson (C, 30, Reds)
A 30-year-old catcher with pop is not a bad profile to bring to free agency. Stephenson has been a largely league average hitter over his career (lifetime 104 OPS-plus) with a career-best 19 homers and 112 OPS-plus in 2024. Solid change-of-scenery upside here.
41. Alec Bohm (INF, 30, Phillies)
Just a wild seven seasons in Philly for Bohm, who was an All-Star and Rookie of the Year runner-up, a defensive liability turned playable third baseman and a target of boos only to be relatively appreciated by the end of his tenure. After all that, he landed on almost exactly league average (career 101 OPS-plus). Yet if Bohm can survive that he can certainly help in a less-demanding situation, particularly with his family financial flap behind him.
42. Robbie Ray (LHP, 35, Padres)
Like Casey Mize, Ray backslid after a trade from an also-ran to San Diego. Still, there aren’t many more reliable inning-consuming lefties than Ray, who posted a 3.54 ERA over 60 starts for a couple bad teams in San Francisco.
43. Erick Fedde (RHP, 34, White Sox)
Almost the platonic ideal of Modern Pitcher, Fedde can start, open, serve as a bulk guy and get out of the way when needed. His second go-round on the South Side went just fine, even if his 5.01 FIP didn’t reflect it – he was worth 2.0 WAR and posted a 3.83 ERA.
44. Paul Blackburn (RHP, 33, Yankees)
The Yankee bullpen was their secret weapon and Blackburn was just about as big a piece of this as the closer Bednar was. Blackburn took down 85 innings with a 1.69 ERA. His K rate of 7.3 per nine innings isn’t necessarily what you want to see in the late innings but Blackburn is nonetheless reliable.
45. Martin Perez (LHP, 35, Braves)
The Braves sneaked him through waivers, dropped him back in the rotation and watched him take down 142 innings for a division-winning team – with a 139 ERA-plus, to boot. Probably not the guy for your playoff rotation, but one who can certainly help you get there.
46. Walker Buehler (RHP, 32, Padres)
It’s been a few years of baby steps for Buehler, and he quietly reached some nice plateaus last year: Thirty-two starts, most since he made 33 and finished fourth in 2021 NL Cy Young voting. His 153 2/3 innings were also highest since he took down 207 2/3 that year. And his 4.63 ERA nearly equaled a quality start, while his strikeouts per nine perked up from 5.3 to 7.7. He’s getting there.
47. Gregory Soto (LHP, 32, Pirates)
Not exactly a True Closer, but Soto did strike out 79 in 16 innings and saved 16 games. About as good as it gets for lefty heat these days.
48. Luis Robert Jr. (OF, 29, Orioles)
He doesn’t turn 30 until August and still possesses one of the finest skill sets in the game. But oh, those injuries. And oh, the miniscule production. Since his All-Star, 5.3-WAR campaign of 2023, Robert has a .223/.290/.379 slash line.
49. Carson Kelly (C, 32, Cubs)
Eleven years in and Kelly is aging gracefully, his two years in Chicago highlighted by a 15-homer, 3.5 WAR campaign in 2025. Can likely hold down two-thirds of a catching timeshare productively.
50. Jack Flaherty (RHP, 31, Tigers)
Injuries – most notably right flexor inflammation - limited Flaherty to 19 starts, though he was more or less a quality outing (4.48 ERA) every time. He threw his four-seam fastball 49% of the time, second only to 2021 in frequency, even as it averaged a career-low 92.7 mph.
51. Ty France (1B, 32, Padres)
From minor league deal to one of the top right-handed bats on the market – yes, it’s been quite a year for France, who ripped 21 homers with an .865 OPS even after waiting until Feb. 15 to get a spot in anyone’s spring training camp. Actually had a higher OPS vs. right-handers (.869) than lefties (.853).
52. Max Scherzer (RHP, 42, Blue Jays)
We’ll always leave the light on for Maxie if the old boy wants to find his way home. The consenting parties would know what they’re getting: An incentive-laden deal with no guarantee of health, but a Hall of Fame presence that can certainly still spin a gem.
53. Jonathan Loáisiga (RHP, 32, Diamondbacks)
Two years removed from Tommy John surgery, Loáisiga flourished in his lone season in the desert, with a 1.03 WHIP and 2.42 ERA across 67 appearances. Perhaps his K rate – 6.4 per nine – will perk up next.
54. Alex Vesia (LHP, 30, Dodgers)
Still a left-on-left king, he held them to a .138 average and two homers in 106 plate appearances while pitching in a career-high 72 games.
55. Chris Bassitt (RHP, 38, Orioles)
Like his pal Scherzer, Bassitt might take it to the house in 2027, but not until fulfilling union duties as an executive council member. Bassitt posted a 3.74 ERA and FIP over his last eight starts in Baltimore after undergoing a mild back procedure.
56. Jason Adam (RHP, 35, Padres)
An All-Star in 2025, injuries limited Adam to 38 appearances, but his recent work can only overshadow his four-year dossier so much: He struck out 295 over 256 2/3 innings and posted a 2.95 ERA from 2022-25 with the Padres and Rays.
57. Ha-Seong Kim (INF, 31, Braves)
The man has not played in more than 51 games since 2024. Perhaps next year will be the charm. Kim started his Atlanta stint 5 for 76 (.066) but contributed some key hits down the stretch and started four of their seven playoff games. There’s still a good player in there.
58. George Springer (DH, 37, Blue Jays)
What a six years in Toronto for Springer, who took his Playoff George persona up north and nearly helped them win a World Series. Now, he’s a full-time DH but, if he opts to come back in 2027, can at the least be a strong part-time DH option for a contending team.
59. Steven Okert (LHP, 35, Astros)
Sheesh, what a good year for Okert, finest of his career in the run-up to free agency: A 2.13 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 68 strikeouts in 67 2/3 innings. Held lefties to a .186 average and .301 slug.
60. Emilio Pagan (RHP, 35, Reds)
Fifty-seven saves over two seasons has to be worth something, even if Pagan’s 1.5 homers per nine was his highest since 2019.
61. Adolis Garcia (OF, 34, Phillies)
A tough stint for Garcia in Philly, as lat surgery ended his season after 231 at-bats. But he should be full go for spring training and might fit best in a right field time share.
62. Brandon Woodruff (RHP, 34, Brewers)
Run it back in Milwaukee? The Brewers know Woodruff better than anybody and perhaps nobody was more deserving to earn a ring with them than Woodruff. A moderate base salary and significant incentives will likely be the move, be it in Wisconsin or elsewhere.
63. Michael Soroka (RHP, 29, Diamondbacks)
He really did it: Soroka made it through 21 starts and 116 innings, most since he covered 174 2/3 innings over 29 starts for Atlanta in 2019. Incessant health issues followed, but Soroka posted a 3.19 FIP and 1.08 WHIP for the Diamondbacks and suddenly is a free agent before hitting 30.
64. Taylor Ward (OF, 33, Mariners)
Strange, strange year: Ward went from 36 homes and 75 walks to seven homers and 99 walks. Hey, walks are great, especially if you’re starring in Moneyball, but the power outage was a really odd set-up to free agency. Still boasts a .750 career OPS, 109 adjusted.
65. Sean Newcomb (LHP, 33, White Sox)
Newcomb might have unlocked the finest version of himself within the White Sox’s “pitching chaos” ethos, opening six games and pitching in 60 of them with a 3.05 ERA. He provided six scoreless innings in three ALDS appearances against Cleveland, including one start. The way folks run their pitching staffs these days, Newcomb will have plenty of suitors.
66. Paul Goldschmidt (1B, 39, Yankees)
Seems like he’s approaching Yankee For Life status, hitting 18 homers in a part-time role and strafing lefties for a .299 average and .967 OPS.
67. Eugenio Suarez (1B/DH, 35, Reds)
You can go home again, but it might not be the same. Suarez followed up his stirring second act in Seattle with a less-than-overwhelming Cincy encore, with a .212 average, .704 OPS and 34% strikeout rate. Still hit 26 homers, though, and can still inflict significant damage against lefties.
68. Patrick Sandoval (LHP, 30, Red Sox)
Provided 13 starts to the Red Sox in the back half of a two-year deal, the first spent recovering from Tommy John surgery. A year removed from that, he can certainly help someone’s rotation.
69. Isiah Kiner-Falefa (INF, 32, Red Sox)
IKF is eternal. Worth 1.6 WAR despite an 81 adjusted OPS. Every team can use an IKF, but there’s just one.
70. Jose Quintana (LHP, 38, Rockies)
Quintana suffered a left elbow sprain, opted for a PRP injection and lived to tell about it. An injury-plagued year at Coors Field is no great selling point, but the man did pitch to a 3.96 ERA for Milwaukee a year ago.
71. Joc Pederson (DH, 34, Rangers)
Kind of wild to think he hasn’t been back on the postseason stage since 2021, when he donned pearls and won a second consecutive World Series title. Rebounded nicely from an ugly first year in Arlington (.181, nine homers in 96 games) to rip 26 homers with an .816 OPS.
72. Brock Burke (LHP, 30, Reds)
A lefty who took the ball 77 times and responded with a 2.30 ERA and a strikeout per inning.
73. Aaron Civale (RHP, 31, Cubs)
He started 16 games and finished seven others between Yolo County and Wrigleyville, his ERA dropping to 1.72 in 18 relief outings with the Cubs, who rostered him in the wild-card series.
74. Michael Conforto (OF, 34, Cubs)
His home run percentage of 4.8 – 15 in 314 plate appearances – was his highest since 2019, when he hit a career-high 33 in the juiced-ball year. At the least, reestablished himself as a viable platoon or bench bat.
75. Cal Quantrill (RHP, 32, Rangers)
Limited to 110 innings but made the most of them, making 15 starts and producing a 2.86 ERA. A 135 adjusted ERA yet a 4.01 FIP – he averaged less than a strikeout per inning – makes Quantrill an interesting case.
76. Colin Rea (RHP, 36, Cubs)
He’s been either a Cub or Brewer since 2020 and grew into a valued swing man in Chicago the past two seasons, starting 46 games and finishing 13 others with a 4.13 ERA.
77. Brent Suter (LHP, 37, Braves)
The 6-4, 213-pounder is a flexible dude, largely used in situations yet able to stretch out and give a few innings as an opener on occasion. Perked up significantly after a trade from Anaheim to Atlanta, posting a 1.62 ERA in 13 appearances and adding three scoreless playoff innings.
78. Edmundo Sosa (INF, 31, Phillies)
Hard to imagine the Phillies without Sosa, who filled in anywhere and everywhere when a health or other issue flared up with one of their veterans. More valuable than his career 97 adjusted OPS would suggest.
79. Ramon Laureano (OF, 32, Padres)
Not a bad injury bounceback bet, Laureano accrued 3.8 WAR and an .855 OPS in 2025 but tried playing through a hip injury that required season-ending labrum surgery in June. Still an elite defender with pop.
80. JoJo Romero (LHP, 30, Brewers)
Romero ate a couple of crucial October innings for the World Series champs and had an overall fine season between St. Louis and Milwaukee.
81. Tomoyuki Sugano (RHP, 37, Rockies)
Sugano and Coors Field looked like a nightmare but the right-hander simply maintained his near-quality start production. Oh, his 5.37 ERA won’t wow anyone, but he still made 29 starts with a 93 adjusted ERA.
82. Brady Singer (RHP, 30, Reds)
One of those rare deals where a guy posts a 5.85 ERA yet is allowed to make 31 starts because, as a Reds exec once suggested, “Where else you gonna go?” Singer led the majors by giving up 102 earned runs yet still got through 157 innings. Can likely benefit from a new environment.
83. Tyler Kinley (RHP, 35, Tigers)
Durable guy – appeared in 67, 73 and 64 games the past three seasons – and had a nice 15-game finish after a trade from Atlanta to Detroit, posting a 1.79 ERA.
84. Lane Thomas (OF, 31, Braves)
Ever-reliable extra or short-side platoon outfielder who has found his way into a playoff start two of the past three seasons.
85. Jordan Montgomery (LHP, 34, Rangers)
His three-year nightmare after leading Texas to the 2023 World Series is finally over. A cool free agent period, poor performance and then Tommy John surgery in Arizona sidetracked the big lefty but he did return for 13 relief appearances after sitting out 2025. Intriguing flyer.
86. Josh Bell (1B/DH, 34, Twins)
Switch-hitter, eternal masher, he crushed 21 homers for Minnesota this season.
87. Cedric Mullins (OF, 32, Rays)
An extra outfielder at this point in his career, Mullins hit 15 homers and stole 21 bases in 137 games while providing significant defensive value.
88. Ryne Stanek (RHP, 35, Cardinals)
Throws gas, will travel: Stanek has pitched for six teams the past eight seasons, collecting a World Series ring along the way. Still punches out more than a batter an inning, his career strikeout per nine rate 10.3 over 10 seasons.
89. Randal Grichuk (OF, 35, White Sox)
So long as there’s a dearth of right-handed power bats, Grichuk will probably be on your screen in October. Fifteen homers and a 141 adjusted OPS played just fine on the South Side.
90. Victor Robles (OF, 29, Mariners)
The Mariners revived Robles’ career but he struggled to continue his offensive renaissance after a shoulder injury derailed his 2025 season. Elite defense and speed still his calling card.
91. Tyrone Taylor (OF, 33, Cubs)
Useful extra outfielder who produced a 128 adjusted OPS and appeared in his fifth postseason in the past seven years.
92. Kris Bubic (LHP, 29, Dodgers)
You just knew when the Dodgers acquired this dude from Kansas City that he’d be some kind of high upside reclamation project. Sure enough, Bubic needed just five games with L.A. and 14 overall to work his way into their playoff bullpen trust tree. Not sure what this might mean for 2027 but an endorsement from the Chavez Ravine brain trust shouldn’t hurt his cause.
93. Nathaniel Lowe (1B, 31, Guardians)
Lowe continues his human victory cigar act, a trade from Cincinnati to Cleveland creating his third key playoff role in the past four postseasons. Hit 17 homers overall, and Lowe could go high a few more times with a more consistent role.
94. Jakob Junis (RHP, 34, Rangers)
Every team could use a Junis. He has a 4.31 career ERA yet it’s 3.31 since 2023 as clubs deploy him properly as opener, innings-eater, occasional leverage guy.
95. Kyle Freeland (LHP, 33, Rockies)
Freeland made generational money in Colorado, grossing $73 million in salary. You gotta figure he’s wondering how his ERA might look getting out of the altitude. It’s been a rough go since 2022 – a 5.23 ERA in 138 starts – yet Freeland continues taking the ball.
96. James McCann (C, 36, Diamondbacks)
McCann’s reputation – hard-nosed, great clubhouse guy – precedes him. Perhaps he’d be a nice fit in Philadelphia, bringing some edge to the role of J.T. Realmuto’s backup.
97. Tyler Alexander (LHP, 32, Rangers)
Seventy-five games, 73 innings pitched, a career-best 3.70 ERA. Alexander is approaching situational lefty nirvana.
98. Andrew Kittredge (RHP, 37, Orioles)
Re-upped in Baltimore after a 2025 trade to the Cubs and saved 11 games, posting a 3.54 ERA.
99. Jordan Romano (RHP, 33, Rockies)
Got peppered in Anaheim and strangely found stability in Denver, where he saved 11 games and posted a 119 adjusted ERA in 27 games. Plenty of high-leverage experience and still has a big arm for anyone willing to give him a shot.
100. Eric Lauer (LHP, 31, Dodgers)
A postseason hero in Toronto in 2025, things went sour this past year and he fared a little better in L.A. Consummate lefty swingman whose league average career adjusted ERA belies the wild swings he’s had over an eight-year career.
101. Kyle Higashioka (C, 34, Rangers)
Proverbial reliable timeshare catcher, though he may not approach his career-best 17 homers in 2024.
102. A.J. Minter (LHP, 33, Twins)
Minter was hurt most of his 1 1/2 -year stint in New York but put together a strong 48-game sample between Queens and Minneapolis, with a 1.05 WHIP and 164 adjusted ERA over 45 2/3 innings.
103. Austin Hedges (C, 34, Guardians)
Not just a glue guy anymore, Hedges had a breakout offensive season (.247, .702 OPS). His adjusted OPS in 2024 was 21. This year, it was 99. Hard to imagine a reunion won’t happen.
104. Christian Vazquez (C, 36, Astros)
In case you didn’t notice, we’ve entered Backup Catchers Estates. Vazquez could be head of the HOA, clawing out positive WAR in 86 games despite batting .207.
105. Ildemaro Vargas (INF/OF, 35, Diamondbacks)
Put together a fine season (1.3 WAR) as a utilityman, a fine example of a veteran knowing what he does best.
106. Dominic Smith (1B/DH, 31, Braves)
Smith has had to fight for roster spots the past few springs, including this year, but stuck all year with Atlanta, even notching a pair of hits in five postseason at-bats. A reliable DH platoon option and consummate clubhouse guy.
107. Trent Thornton (RHP, 33, Cubs)
At 32, had the best season of his career, with a 127 adjusted ERA over 48 games.
108. Jeff McNeil (INF/OF, 34, Athletics)
Not exactly an inspiring 144 games in West Sacramento, but McNeil played five positions with some competence and didn’t hurt the squad. Someone can probably use that.
109. Trevor Williams (RHP, 34, Rangers)
Has had endless health woes in recent years but looked decent (3.14 ERA) over 28 2/3 innings with Washington and Texas after his July 29 season debut.
110. Jonah Heim (C, 31, Athletics)
An All-Star and World Series champion in 2023, Heim did not impress with Atlanta and the Athletics (-1.1 WAR), but a backup catcher who can consistently reach double-digits in homers will always have some value.
111. Taylor Clarke (RHP, 33, Diamondbacks)
A 2.96 ERA and 1.00 WHIP always look good, though Clarke’s 45 strikeouts in 73 innings will likely relegate him to fighting for a lower-leverage role.
112. Ryan Yarbrough (LHP, 35, Yankees)
Rubber-armed and willing to open, eat innings or pitch whenever needed, “Yarbs” is a relatively deluxe option at the end of a pitching staff, with a 3.66 ERA over 226 innings since 2024.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ranking MLB's top 112 free agents: Will Tarik Skubal sign before lockout?
Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.
