The following players project to become free agents after the 2026 season. The player’s 2027 age is in parentheses. For MLBTR’s list of players who project to become free agents after the current season, click here.
Updated 1-5-26
Catchers
Travis d’Arnaud (38)
Austin Hedges (34)
Kyle Higashioka (37)
Danny Jansen (32)
Ryan Jeffers (30)
Carson Kelly (32) – $7.5MM mutual option with a $1.5MM buyout
Andrew Knizner (32)
James McCann (37)
Jake Rogers (32)
Tyler Stephenson (30)
Luis Torrens (31)
First Basemen
Jake Bauers (31)
Alec Bohm (30)
Yandy Diaz (35) – $10MM club option
Ryan Mountcastle (30)
Second Basemen
Ozzie Albies (30) – $7MM club option
Jazz Chisholm Jr. (29)
Mauricio Dubon (32)
Luis Garcia Jr. (27)
Nico Hoerner (30)
Jonathan India (30)
Brandon Lowe (32)
Gavin Lux (29)
Nick Madrigal (30)
Amed Rosario (31)
Gleyber Torres (30)
Ildemaro Vargas (35)
Shortstops
Orlando Arcia (32)
J.P. Crawford (32)
Paul DeJong (33)
Mauricio Dubon (32)
Ha-Seong Kim (31)
Kevin Newman (33)
Third Basemen
Alec Bohm (30)
Jazz Chisholm Jr. (29)
Mauricio Dubon (32)
Jonathan India (30)
Max Muncy (36)
Anthony Rendon (37)
Josh Rojas (33)
Edmundo Sosa (31)
Left Fielders
Randy Arozarena (32)
Jake Bauers (31)
Dylan Carlson (28)
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (33) – $14MM club option with a $5MM buyout
Sam Haggerty (33)
Ian Happ (32)
Jonathan India (30)
Ramon Laureano (32)
Gavin Lux (29)
Chas McCormick (32)
Rob Refsnyder (36)
Taylor Ward (33)
Center Fielders
Trent Grisham (30)
Jeff McNeil (35) – $15.75MM club option with a $2MM buyout
Cedric Mullins (32)
Luis Robert Jr. (29) – $20MM club option with a $2MM buyout
Victor Robles (30) – $9MM club option with a $500K buyout
Myles Straw (32) – $8MM club option with a $1.75MM buyout
Tyrone Taylor (33)
Lane Thomas (31)
Daulton Varsho (30)
Tyler Wade (32)
Right Fielders
Ronald Acuña Jr. (29) – $17MM club option with a $10MM buyout
Nick Castellanos (35)
Jake Fraley (32)
Adolis Garcia (34)
Ramon Laureano (32)
Jorge Soler (35)
George Springer (37)
Seiya Suzuki (32)
Designated Hitters
Josh Bell (34) – mutual option
Yandy Diaz (35) – $10MM club option
Joc Pederson (35)
Jorge Soler (35)
George Springer (37)
Seiya Suzuki (32)
Starting Pitchers
Sandy Alcantara (31) – $21MM club option with a $2MM buyout
Jose Berrios (33) – can opt out of remaining two years, $48MM
Shane Bieber (32)
Paul Blackburn (33)
Matthew Boyd (36) – $15MM mutual option with a $2MM buyout
Kris Bubic (29)
Corbin Burnes (32) – can opt out of remaining four years and $140MM
Carlos Carrasco (40)
Zach Eflin (33)
Jack Flaherty (31)
Kyle Freeland (34) – $17MM player option for 2027 with 170 innings pitched in 2026
Luis Garcia (30)
Kevin Gausman (36)
Tony Gonsolin (33)
Sonny Gray (37) – $30MM club option with a $5MM buyout
Foster Griffin (31)
Kyle Hart (34) – club option
Clay Holmes (34) – can opt out of remaining one year, $12MM
Tatsuya Imai (29) – can opt out of remaining two years, $36MM
Shota Imanaga (33)
Michael King (32) – can opt out of remaining two years, $53MM for a $5MM buyout
Jesus Luzardo (29)
Tyler Mahle (32)
Dustin May (29)
Lance McCullers Jr. (33)
Casey Mize (30)
Frankie Montas (34)
Freddy Peralta (31)
David Peterson (31)
Nick Pivetta (34) – $14MM player option barring injury
Drew Rasmussen (31) – $8MM club option with a $500K buyout
Colin Rea (36) – $7.5MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Trevor Rogers (29)
Chris Sale (38)
Patrick Sandoval (29)
Antonio Senzatela (32) – $14MM club option
Luis Severino (33) – $22MM player option
Brady Singer (30)
Tarik Skubal (30)
Michael Soroka (29)
Jeffrey Springs (34) – $15MM club option with a $750K buyout
Jameson Taillon (35)
Taijuan Walker (34)
Trevor Williams (35)
Brandon Woodruff (33)
Kyle Wright (31)
Right-Handed Relievers
Bryan Abreu (30)
Jason Adam (35)
Jorge Alcala (31)
Dan Altavilla (34)
Adbert Alzolay (31)
Shawn Armstrong (36) – mutual option
David Bednar (32)
John Brebbia (37)
Emmanuel Clase (29) – $10MM club option with a $2MM buyout
Enyel De Los Santos (31)
Carlos Estevez (34) – $13MM club option with a $2MM buyout
Pete Fairbanks (33)
Yimi Garcia (36)
Kevin Ginkel (33)
Brusdar Graterol (28)
Hunter Harvey (32)
Ryan Helsley (32) – can opt out of remaining one year
Raisel Iglesias (37)
Kenley Jansen (39)
Joe Jimenez (31)
Andrew Kittredge (37)
Mark Leiter Jr. (36)
Chris Martin (41)
Emilio Pagan (36) – player option
Tanner Rainey (34)
Jordan Romano (34)
Dennis Santana (31)
John Schreiber (33)
Trevor Stephan (31) – $7.25MM club option with a $1.25MM buyout
Robert Stephenson (34) – $2.5MM club option
Ryan Thompson (35)
Justin Topa (36)
Blake Treinen (39)
Jacob Webb (33)
Garrett Whitlock (31) – $8.25MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Kirby Yates (40)
Left-Handed Relievers
Keegan Akin (32)
Tyler Alexander (32)
Kolby Allard (29)
Jose Alvarado (32)
Aaron Bummer (33)
Brock Burke (30)
Aroldis Chapman (39) – $13MM mutual option with a $300K buyout (guaranteed if Chapman pitches 40 innings in 2026 and passes post-season physical exam)
Caleb Ferguson (30)
Tim Hill (37)
Yuki Matsui (31) – can opt out of remaining two years, $13.5MM if he has not had Tommy John surgery or an elbow injury causing him to spend 130 consecutive days on the injured list in 2024-25
Hoby Milner (36)
A.J. Minter (33)
Adrian Morejon (28)
Andres Muñoz (28) – $6MM club option
Sean Newcomb (34)
Steven Okert (35)
Wandy Peralta (35) – $4.45MM player option
Drew Pomeranz (38)
A.J. Puk (32)
Brooks Raley (39)
JoJo Romero (30)
Gregory Soto (32)
Matt Strahm (35)
Caleb Thielbar (40)
Alex Vesia (31)
Ryan Yarbrough (35)
Is this the worst free agent class of all time? I can’t see anyone topping 9 figures aside from Skubal.
A quick glance – Jazz might also top it. The Q.O. will be close to $25M by then. Bellinger is going opt-out and receive one this winter. But yeah it’s a bad class.
Whoever gives $100 M for a bat like Jazz should be fired. Unless he corrects his pitch selection, he’ll continue to be a low OBP with 20-HR power.
Truly bad class
Probably gives a nice bump to a guy like Bregman this offseason.
Even Gleybar should get fat with teams looking ahead at this monstrosity
Curious George Springer might even get another bag, something that seemed like a pipe dream not so long ago
George is going to be 37 the only bag he could get would be from the Astros
Ronald acuna definitely isnt going to be declined but I wonder how much he could make if he still gets injured
RAJ’s option is a $7M decision. That’s an automatic even if he’s hurt all of ’26. Even the lowly White Sox is most likely picking up LRJ’s $20M option next season. RAJ has a much higher ceiling than him.
You mean to tell me you don’t want to sign 37 year old Rendon on a bounceback deal?
There are a decent set of bats in Randy, Suzuki, Varsho JP, Jazz and Nico, but because of age/position/defense base value they are looking at 3-4yr deals which will make $100M a long shot. Varsho and Jazz probably have the best chance if they can have a good power year.
On the pitching side, Lazardo and Flaherty with good platforms would have a chance as well.
Pretty much. I can see some teams lock up their younger players in the next two seasons in light of this. The A’s could do well by doing so and begin honing in on building a pitching staff.
As for 9 figure contracts, I would add Freddy Peralta and Pete Alonso, barring injuries or extensions. Under normal circumstances, their options will vest or be picked.
Also, depending on performances, maybe Alcántara, Luzardo, and Alec Bohm is a long shot, unless he has two great seasons after this one.
David Peterson will clear 9 figures easy if he’s healthy and pitching like he has over the last 250 innings.
No one is giving David Peterson $100 million.
Seiya Suzuki is pretty good
matt – Let’s not forgot opt outs have become quite common, you’ve got guys like Bregman … he could stay with Boston next year and then opt out.
When 42 year old Justin Verlander can get $15MM to pitch poorly in 2025, I think you might be undervaluing what these guys are going to end up getting
God awful. Yankees are screwed
All big market teams are screwed! I am sure the Players will be calling collusion since
Nobody will be making big money!!!!
It is a pretty uninspiring class heading into a likely lockout offseason…
Has the game really been more exciting with the DH in the NL?
New CBA could be big reason for a poor FA class. Both sides have the same problem. Some make a lot of money while others make a little more and a few get fat
oh – So you’re saying you’d rather Ohtani hit only once every 5-6 games?
And you’d rather Schwarber retire?
They made ohtani rules. Don’t act like neither of them could’ve gotten an AL job or can stand in the OF
oh – There’s a reason Babe stopped pitching, starting pitchers cannot physically handle playing a defensive position every day between starts. Pitchers need their rest.
And Schwarber is fantastic, but he cannot play the outfield competently.
This offseason
Yanks need to let jazz go
Move Volpe to 2nd
Bring Lombard to the majors
There’s a good chance the Yankees look to extend Jazz. They’re going to give Volpe time to hopefully rebound defensively then go from there. I wouldn’t rule out Lombard moving to 3B when he reaches the big leagues
A reputable scout sees it the way I described
This is a terrible class lmaoooo. I’ll just skip the offseason next year.
There likely won’t be a 2027 season anyway, so this list won’t really matter.
That’s what I was thinking. Lockout or strike, same result for the fans.
I don’t see it as very likely that Burnes opts out considering his injury/surgery this season.
JP is as good as gone after next year since colt Emerson and Celesten are coming
Ryan OHearn?
He is a free agent after this current season, not after 2026
That’s rough, looks like another reliever based trade deadline next year based on rentals. Spend big this year I guess.
This a terrible list. Yikes. Glad my team is really building a sustainable pipeline of young talent.
Oof. This is a rough FA class.
Uninspiring group, and a rare opportunity for some near the CBT levels to cut spending, because there’s no one to spend money
Jeff McNeil listed at center field? I know he’s been playing there but his primary position is 2B.
Not a great group by any means. Might be a good thing as that seems like it will be another MLB winter of discontent…
That’s certainly a …. list of players
The angels will finally get rid of their rendon problem
Kyle Tucker? Kyle Schwarber?
It’s a list of 2026-27 free agents
everyone is saying it is a terrible class but that is mainly for position players, there are some decent arms out there especially if guys like alcantra come back to form and everyone will probably be in on skubal
If alcantara comes back to form the marlins will pay him the $21M
or he doesn’t finish the year as a marlin – and whoever trades for him does
Clay Holmes has player option after 2025 season