A number of teams (and their fanbases) have already turned their attention towards the offseason. Identifying free agent targets is a big part of that prep work, so it’s worth taking a look at the players who’ll be available at each position.
We’re moving to the outfield corners, where there are a couple of strong everyday guys but then a huge drop-off to the lower tiers. Ages listed are for the 2026 season.
Previous entries in this series: catcher, first base, second base, third base, shortstop, center field
Top of the Class
- Kyle Tucker (29)
Tucker isn’t going into free agency with the ideal amount of momentum. His 2024 season was truncated by a shin fracture. His 2025 campaign was dragged down by a finger fracture and a calf strain. He missed some time and didn’t perform up to expectations in the last few months before hitting the open market.
Regardless, he’s head and shoulders above everyone else listed here. Even with the recent hiccups, he’s been one of the best players in baseball for a few years now. Dating back to the start of 2020, he has a combined .276/.362/.513 batting line and 141 wRC+. He has stolen 113 bases in that time and generally been given strong grades for his defense. FanGraphs has credited him with 25.2 wins above replacement in that stretch, a mark that puts him behind only ten position players.
The injuries may create a bit of uncertainty but his record is otherwise very solid, well-rounded and consistent. For teams looking for a clear and immediate corner outfield upgrade, he’s the obvious choice. Big spenders like the Dodgers, Yankees, Phillies, Blue Jays, Angels, Rangers and Giants have outfield questions and could push the bidding up. Re-signing with the Cubs would be out of character for that club but they clearly love him, since they gave up a lot to get him a year ago. A dark-horse team like the Mariners, Orioles, Tigers or Rays could also be possible. He will receive and reject a qualifying offer from the Cubs and will therefore be attached to the associated penalties, though that will be a small consideration for a player like this.
Everyday Regulars
- Cody Bellinger (30)
It has already been reported that Bellinger will be opting out of his deal, which should come as no surprise. He’ll take a $5MM buyout instead of next year’s $25MM salary, leaving $20MM on the table. That’s an easy decision, as he should be able to top that handily. His previous trips to free agency haven’t yielded the desired long-term deal, but he should be in a better spot this time around. His dismal 2021 and 2022 seasons now seem like distant memories. That’s also true of his 2019 MVP form, but he has settled in as a solid everyday player.
With the Yankees this year, Bellinger hit 29 home runs. He only struck out 13.7% of the time, and he stole 13 bases. His defense was passable in center but above-average in the corners. He slashed .272/.334/.480 for a 125 wRC+. FanGraphs gave him 4.9 fWAR for the season.
There are some questions under the hood. The offense might not be totally sustainable. His batted ball metrics are relatively pedestrian, and he likely benefitted from the short porch at Yankee Stadium. All of this year’s homers were to the pull side. He slashed .302/.365/.544 at home but .241/.301/.414 on the road. He probably won’t be considered an everyday center fielder since he hasn’t done that since 2022. Still, he’s the best corner outfield option apart from Tucker, and there’s a big drop to the next tier. Bellinger won’t receive a QO because he’s already received one in his career and is therefore ineligible. He should get a strong multi-year deal.
- Mike Yastrzemski (35)
After Tucker and Bellinger, there’s a clear drop. Guys like Trent Grisham, Cedric Mullins and Harrison Bader may get consideration for corner jobs but the center field market is also not strong, so they can probably find up-the-middle gigs.
That leaves Yaz as arguably the best solid regular after Tucker and Bellinger. He’s been a decent player for years now. He’s not a superstar but has generally been above-average at the plate and in the field. He’s had five straight seasons with a wRC+ between 99 and 111. He has produced between 3 and 9 Defensive Runs Saved in each of those seasons while Outs Above Average has had him a bit closer to par. FanGraphs has given him between 1.5 and 2.4 WAR in each of those five campaigns.
Despite that track record of reliably decent production, his earning power won’t be huge. A late bloomer, he didn’t break out until his age-28 season. He’s now reaching free agency for the first time just after his 35th birthday. He’ll probably be limited to one-year offers, but a two-year pact isn’t totally out of the question.
Platoon/Bounceback Bats
- Miguel Andujar (31)
Andujar just wrapped up a good season between the Athletics and Reds. He slashed .318/.352/.470 for a 125 wRC+. Most of that damage came against southpaws. The righty bat slashed .290/.331/.429 for a 108 wRC+ against righties but .389/.409/.578 and a 171 wRC+ against lefties. His 2024 production was even more lopsided, with a 192 wRC+ with the platoon advantage and 82 without. In addition to the outfield corners, he also played first and third base this year, so he should find a home somewhere as a lefty masher with some defensive versatility.
- Michael Conforto (33)
Last winter, the Dodgers gave Conforto $17MM on a one-year deal, but it didn’t work out. He hit .199/.305/.333 and was left off the club’s playoff roster. The track record is still decent enough that he could find some club willing to take a bounceback flier. He oddly had reverse splits in 2025, but his career splits are traditional. The lefty swinger has a .249/.351/.460 line and 121 wRC+ against righties in his career and a .233/.318/.391 line and 98 wRC+ against southpaws.
- Randal Grichuk (34)
Grichuk didn’t have a great campaign in 2025, hitting just .228/.273/.401. Even against lefties, he had a subpar .227/.273/.430 slash and 89 wRC+. However, he’s just one year removed from posting a .319/.386/.528 line and 152 wRC+ against southpaws. Even on the heels of that strong showing, he was only able to secure a $5MM guarantee to return to the Diamondbacks, so he should be even more affordable this time.
- Austin Hays (30)
For his career, the righty-swinging Hays has a .282/.340/.479 line against lefties and .253/.301/.416 otherwise, leading to respective wRC+ tallies of 124 and 97. This year was even more extreme, with a .319/.400/.549 line and 155 wRC+ against southpaws and a .249/.286/.422 line and 88 wRC+ without the platoon advantage. Beyond the offense, Hays is considered a strong defender but has been fairly injury prone in the past two seasons.
- Max Kepler (33)
Kepler signed a one-year, $10MM deal with the Phillies last offseason. He thought he was going to be an everyday player, but the Phils mostly shielded him from lefties. He was only sent up to face a southpaw 76 times this year and didn’t fare well. He also didn’t hit righties, turning in a .216/.305/.399 line and 93 wRC+. However, his career numbers are better, with a .240/.324/.446 line and 107 wRC+ with the platoon advantage. He’s solid with the glove, but his rough season at the plate should give him less earning power compared to a year ago.
- Starling Marte (37)
Marte had a good season at the plate, slashing .270/.335/.410 for a 112 wRC+, but mostly as a designated hitter. The Mets only put him out on the grass for 65 innings. Given his age and injury history, he probably can’t be counted on for much more than that going forward.
- Rob Refsnyder (35)
Refsnyder is turning 35 in March but he just keeps hitting lefties. For his career, he has a .281/.383/.443 line and 129 wRC+ with the platoon advantage. In 2025, he was even better, putting up a .302/.399/.560 line and 159 wRC+ against southpaws. There was previously some suggestion he was flirting with retirement, but he plans to play in 2026.
- Austin Slater (33)
Slater has generally been solid against lefties in his career, but his past two seasons have been rough. Overall, he hit .212/.299/.314 for a 77 wRC+ during the 2024 and 2025 seasons. That included some league-average production against southpaws in 2025, but injuries limited him to just 65 games on the year. His career .267/.357/.430 line and 119 wRC+ against lefties will get him some interest, but his recent struggles and injuries will tamp down his earning power.
- Lane Thomas (30)
Thomas is coming off an injury-marred season. He only appeared in 39 games. He underwent surgery to address his plantar fasciitis in September, a procedure that comes with a recovery timeline of three to four months. He’s not too far removed from a 28-homer season in 2023, but even at his best, he did most of his damage against lefties. He has a career .292/.359/.500 line and 135 wRC+ versus southpaws and a .220/.287/.383 line and 84 wRC+ when facing righties. In addition to his bat, he can steal bases and play a passable center field, but his health situation clouds his status somewhat.
- Jesse Winker (32)
Winker’s a good hitter but his health comes and goes. He only played 61 games in 2023 due to back problems. He bounced back in 2024, showing enough that the Mets gave him $7.5MM on a one-year deal for 2025. However, oblique and back issues limited him to just 26 contests this past year. His track record enough to get him interest, but he’s never been a good defender and the injuries keep pushing him more firmly towards full-time designated hitter status.
Depth Types
- Mark Canha (37)
- Bryan De La Cruz (29)
- Adam Frazier (34)
- Jason Heyward (36)
- Sam Hilliard (32)
- Connor Joe (33)
- Jarred Kelenic (26)
- Tommy Pham (38)
- Hunter Renfroe (34)
- Chris Taylor (35)
- Alex Verdugo (30)
Options/Opt-Outs
- Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (32)
Gurriel can opt out of his deal, walking away from the one year and $18MM guarantee he’s still owed. He won’t do it though. He suffered a torn right ACL in September. The surgery comes with a recovery timeline of nine to ten months, putting him out of action through at least the first half of 2026.
- Ramón Laureano (31)
The Padres can retain Laureano for 2026 via a $6.5MM club option. That’s a bargain, considering he just hit .281/.342/.512 for a 138 wRC+ and was credited with three wins above replacement by FanGraphs. The Padres have ongoing financial issues but should pick up the option without much thought. Even if they don’t want to pay Laureano themselves, he’d have plenty of trade value (though it’s likely he’s their regular left fielder next year).
- Tyler O’Neill (31)
O’Neill can opt out of his deal, walking away from the two years and $33MM he is still owed. But injuries limited him to 54 games and a dismal .199/.292/.392 showing in 2025, so it would be silly of him to trigger that opt-out.
Photo courtesy of Rick Scuteri, Imagn Images
Dodgers
If you mean Bellinger, possibly. A good fit in RF. Maybe not a lot of love lost between him and the team management, though.
Doubt there is anyway Belli is going to either be courted by the Dodgers or sign with them because of their interest……Dodgers are clearly going after Tucker….
Not sure what makes that so clear. Just one sportswriter’s speculation.
Let’s say the Dodgers sign Tucker to a $35 million AAV deal (no deferred $ for the sake of this question). What will they really have to pay for him with the luxury tax?
Miguel Andujar and the Cubs should be in deep conversations, as I write this. He can cover the OF (LF), as well, as insurance for 3B.
This makes all the sense in the world.
Plus ‘encourage Happ’ to accept a trade – use that money to sign Andujar ASAP.
Of course the Cubs can’t talk to him right now as I write this.
If defense is irrelevant, sure.
You must be a Cardinals fan.
vtadave is right. The Cubs better not be since that would be a clear case of tampering.
Harrison Bader doesn’t rate a separate mention? He was one of the best deadline acquisitions and filled a real need in Philadelphia. I, for one, hope he resigns with the Phillies.
Bader was in the CF preview that ran a day or two ago.
I don’t think he really profiles as a corner OF yet. He played LF in Minnesota because the Twins have Buxton.
Andujar and Marsh would be a decent platoon in Philly. Add Crawford and Bellinger, you have an outfield. If the Phillies keep Schwarber, pivot from Bellinger to Bader.
Definitely very slim pickings after the first two Tucker and Bellinger. IMO, Yankees don’t want either one and will go with Dominez and Jones. Yankees need some more reliable BP pieces. I’d like Rosario back as a nice bench player. Slater was a waste and a horrible trade for Cashman. Bader was the obvious move. Instead, that didn’t happen.
I’m a big Yaz fan. I think 2/16 or 3/21 wouldn’t be an outlandish ask. He’s a plus fielder and would be a solid platoon bat and then switch to a 4th outfielder role in a year or two. I could definitely see him sticking with KC.
I agree, though not sure KC is the best place for him. I’d like to see him play in a park that isn’t so punitive to LHHs. His defensive value is fairly high with one of the most accurate arms I’ve ever seen.
I recommend no intelligent GM give Tucker what his agent wants.
Tell them to go screw off
I wouldn’t be mad if the reds brought andujar back, but I’m hoping they can swing a trade for a more well rounded player.
I think the Reds should look at Yaz. He’s a much better defender than Andujar. And Statcast projects 10 HRs playing in SF, and 19 HRs in Cincinnati.
Kelenic is only 26. And nobody has been able to fix him. Yikes.
His only positive year with the bat came with considerable batted ball luck. His defense has been okay.
Scouts get them wrong sometimes.
If the Dodgers sign him, he’ll be in the 2026 All-Star game.
The Dodgers will gladly pay $600M for Tucker ($400M to the player, $200M CBT). If he wants more, they’ll give him more, just ask. Money is not an object.
Hey…whats all the talk about Andujar…….not so long ago all the “experts” on this site said that he wasn’t work a bucket of Bazooka, or a Bag of Baseballs and that his only decent year running up to the ROY vote was an outlier and that he didn’t belong in the MLB…..he was the running Yankees joke according to you all……come on guys make up your minds……just another Refsnider expert castration by commenters……all you “experts”……lol
This comment section consists of lagging reactions for the most part.
Can’t have a post with the obligatory “ongoing financial issues” slightly towards the Padres. To even suggest that they would exercise the option merely to trade him is ridiculous.
One of my favorite parts of this website is how padre fans yell every time the writers mention the spending is down relative to a few years ago. Or how padre fans nearly rioted over the suggestion that AJ might do what he does best and trade a player like Dylan Cease/Juan Soto/etc
lol. They were 9th in MLB payroll in 2025, and had their second highest payroll alltime that’s not a downward trajectory at all. But mlbtr pretends they’re bottom feeders circa 1973. Hard to figure.
Do the Yankees overpay for Bellinger? He fits in left field but isn’t a platoon option for Rice. He’s adequate in center field but is a poor every day option for the position.
I’m not sure Rice needs a platoon yet. He’s had grand total of 164 PAs vs LHP so far. Against RHP is obviously his strong side but he can get better. Wasn’t much of a chance for reps with Goldy on the roster. Belli was fine for the eye test in CF but it was also a small sample size with Grisham mainly there.
It’s true the Padres don’t have Ben Stein’s money you know.
Same players year after year until ultimately age out. Tiresome.
Does Nimmo have trade value? Trading him would require work in left or right as well as centerfield. It could allow the Mets to court and hopefully sign Tucker. Use trade return with other prospects to address centerfield. Even if the Mets have to settle for Tyrone Taylor in centerfield, it would still be an outfield of Soto (left), Taylor (center), and Tucker (right).
I don’t think Bellinger is that good a player–better than average, not really worth a huge deal–but he’ll probably get it, and the team that signs him may end up with regrets. Tucker is going to get paid. You roll the dice on Grisham, Bader and Mullens–one of the three will do well, but I have no idea which one that would be. There’s not a lot of excitement to this group–