MLB free agency officially opens the day after the World Series ends, with teams being able to re-sign their own players.
Players can’t sign with a new team until the fifth day after the World Series is over.
With the Mets and Yankees sure to be in the discussion, here are the top players available at each position, with outfielders grouped together as well as starting pitchers and relievers.
Catchers
J.T. Realmuto: Veteran not quite the elite catcher he once was, but is by far the best of a weak free-agent class at the position and will get paid accordingly.
Potential destinations: Phillies, Tigers, Padres
Victor Caratini: Longtime solid defensive backstop with a little pop in his bat as a bonus, will quickly find a home as quality catching depth in the majors is perhaps at an all-time low.
Potential destinations: Angels, Padres, Tigers
Gary Sanchez: Few things speak to the sport’s overall lack of quality at the position than the 32-year-old Sanchez getting paid $8.5 million by the Orioles last season.
Potential destinations: White Sox, Guardians, Nationals
First base
Pete Alonso: Scott Boras client turned in one of the best years of his career and, while on the surface a reunion with the Mets seemingly makes sense, Alonso couldn’t declare fast enough his decision to opt out of his deal. Ignore the predictable Boras-driven narrative about the Yankees being interested. They’re not.
Potential destinations: Mets, Astros, Red Sox
Josh Naylor: Mashes righties and gets under the opposition’s skin in equal order. Key cog in Mariners’ run to the seventh game of the ALCS, and a return to the Pacific Northwest could be in the cards.
Potential destinations: Diamondbacks, Cubs, Mariners
Ryan O’Hearn: Blossomed late in his career — he made his first All-Star Game last season at age 32 — the reason O’Hearn, a potent lefty bat, isn’t likely to get the kind of long-term deal he seeks.
Potential destinations: Red Sox, Mariners, Rangers
Second base
Gleyber Torres: Former Yankee made the most of his one-year deal with the Tigers, qualifying for his third All-Star Game (and first since 2019). Saw an OPS jump of nearly 40 points, from .709 in his final year with the Yankees in 2024 to .745 this season.
Potential destinations: Tigers, Mets, Giants
Jorge Polanco: The 32-year-old bounced back big-time from a miserable 2024, going from a .651 OPS in ’24 to an .821 OPS this year. Not a great defender but plenty of teams will be looking for an offensive upgrade at the position.
Potential destinations: Tigers, Padres, Guardians
Luis Arráez: Never a darling of the analytics crowd, all the three-time batting champion does is hit. “Slumped” to a .292 batting average this season, striking out just 21 times in 675 plate appearances.
Potential destinations: Padres, Tigers, Mariners
Shortstop
Bo Bichette: Big bounce-back season by Bichette, who turns just 28 in March. Hit .311 with 18 homers and an .840 OPS this season for the Blue Jays after hitting .225 with four homers and a .595 OPS last season with Toronto. But consistency in the field has always been the issue.
Potential destinations: Blue Jays, Atlanta, Dodgers
Miguel Rojas: Turns 37 in February, which will keep the veteran, who has indicated plans to retire after 2026, from landing any kind of deal of significance when it comes to money. But in what is a weak free-agent year at the position, will have plenty of options.
Potential destinations: Atlanta, Blue Jays, Dodgers
Amed Rosario: Much more a utility man at this stage of his career than a full-time shortstop but won’t have any difficulty finding work because of his ability to hit lefties, which he again showed this season, including with the Yankees.
Potential destinations: Yankees, Dodgers, Atlanta
Third base
Alex Bregman: Just about a shoo-in the 31-year-old opts out of the three-year, $120 million deal he signed late last offseason with the Red Sox. All but certain to sign far quicker this winter and for far more years/money.
Potential destinations: Red Sox, Padres, Mets
Eugenio Suárez: Yankees trade deadline target who ultimately ended up in Seattle, where he finished off the second 49-homer season of his career. Middle-of-the-order bat who also strikes out a ton and isn’t the best in the field. Turns 35 next July, which will limit interested teams’ investment.
Potential destinations: Cubs, Red Sox, Angels
Yoan Moncada: Might be the best of rest after Bregman and Suarez in a weak third-base field but comes with a significant history of injuries.
Potential destinations: Angels, Cubs, Mariners
Outfield
Kyle Tucker: Yankees tried to acquire Tucker last winter, but he instead went to the Cubs. Tucker went cold in the season’s second half after a blistering start but shouldn’t hurt his free agency all that much.
Potential destinations: Dodgers, Cubs, Yankees
Cody Bellinger: Will hit the open market after declining the player option that is a part of his two-year, $60 million deal and the Yankees, with whom Bellinger thrived last season, will make re-signing the dynamic player, who also filled in capably at first base, a winter priority.
Potential destinations: Yankees, Cubs, Phillies
Kyle Schwarber: All but a full-time DH now — he saw a total of eight games in leftfield last season with the Phillies — but continues to hit and hit and hit, to the tune of 56 homers in 2025. With so many teams in need of a bat, Schwarber will get paid.
Potential destinations: Phillies, Padres, Atlanta
Trent Grisham: Career-best season by a long shot, which included 34 home runs, sets up one of winter’s most fascinating free-agent pursuits. Was 2025 a one-off or signs of a late bloomer?
Potential destinations: Mets, Angels, Astros
Harrison Bader: Still an elite defender who took a swing-for-the-fences approach at the plate, resulting in a career-high 17 homers. Not a candidate for a megadeal but won’t have trouble finding a job.
Potential destinations: Guardians, Royals, Astros
Cedric Mullins: Flopped after trade to the Mets at the deadline but there’s enough positive on the 31-year-old’s career resume to make him a target for teams needing a strong defender in center.
Potential destinations: Astros, Reds, Guardians
Max Kepler: Turns 33 in February and didn’t distinguish himself in his one season in a big market, Philadelphia, after spending the first 10 years of his career with the Twins.
Potential destinations: Giants, Angels, Pirates
Willi Castro: Valuable Swiss-Army piece who played all three outfield positions, as well as second, third and short, last season with the Twins and Cubs.
Potential destinations: Reds, Guardians, Astros
Marcell Ozuna: Like Kyle Schwarber, pretty much exclusively a DH. When healthy, 34-year-old two-time Silver Slugger Award winner still has plenty of pop.
Potential destinations: Atlanta, Dodgers, Astros
Mike Yastrzemski: Underrated much of his career, especially when it comes to his bat-to-ball skills. But, entering his age-35 season, a candidate for probably not much more than a two-year deal.
Potential destinations: Royals, Giants, Reds
Starting pitchers
Dylan Cease: Had something of a down year, but nonetheless remains one of the best starters on the market. The righthander compiled a 4.55 ERA and struggled with men on base, but his track record, pitch mix and durability make him a tantalizing option.
Potential destinations: Mets, Padres, Red Sox
Framber Valdez: A workhorse who threw 192 innings with the Astros, the lefty was one of the best in baseball for the first half of the season. The second half, when he threw to a 5.20 ERA, might give some teams pause, as might his “cross-up” with battery mate Cesar Salazar. After surrendering a grand slam to Trent Grisham in a game this past September, Valdenz nailed Salazar with a fastball to the chest, even though Salazar called curveball. The two-time All-Star is reliable, though, and his 3.36 career ERA is nothing to scoff at.
Potential destinations: Blue Jays, Orioles, Padres
Ranger Suarez: The lefty compiled his best ERA since his transition to starter at 3.20 and proved to be a stabilizing presence in the Phillies’ rotation. He won’t blow anyone away, but he eats innings, gets outs and produced plenty of soft contact; the question is whether he can stay healthy.
Potential destinations: Mets, Padres, Cubs
Nick Martinez: Regressed from his stellar 2024 this season and split time between the rotation and bullpen. The righthander is reliable, pitching to a 4.45 ERA in 165 2/3 innings and, at 35, could be a solid budget option if he regains his form.
Potential destinations: Red Sox, Twins, Atlanta
Chris Bassitt: At 36, Bassitt is another low-risk, potential high-reward option. His kitchen sink approach to pitching means he continues to find creative ways to get batters out. Righty put together a 3.96 ERA, tossed 170 1/3 innings and contributed veteran savvy to the clubhouse.
Potential destinations: Guardians, Orioles, Brewers
Michael King: Has mutual option with Padres, though it seems very likely they’ll part ways. The former Yankee was plagued by injury this year, but his stuff is undeniable. The Padres, though, might extend a qualifying offer, meaning that whoever signs him will have to provide draft compensation.
Potential destinations: Mets, Angels, Orioles
Shota Imanaga: Imanaga’s contract is thorny, and it’s not clear if he and the Cubs will divorce. Had a down year, gave up too many home runs, and had manager Craig Counsell wondering if he could trust him in the playoffs Battled a hamstring strain this season — a potential reason for his late-season drop-off.
Potential destinations: Cubs, Yankees, Dodgers
Zac Gallen: The righty struggled this year, pitching to a 4.83 ERA, but was significantly better in the second half. He, too, may come with a qualifying offer, which could limit his market. That said, he’s only two seasons removed from being one of the best pitchers in baseball.
Potential destinations: Yankees, Mets, Astros
Relievers
Edwin Diaz: The flamethrowing righthander hasn’t said whether he’s going to exercise his opt-out, but all logic points to yes. Diaz regained his 2022 form and remains one of the best (and most expensive) closers. The talent is undeniable; it’s all about who wants to crack open the piggy bank.
Potential destinations: Mets, Blue Jays, Dodgers
Robert Suarez: Expected to opt out after leading National League with 40 saves, pitching to a 2.97 ERA. The righty strikes out a ton of batters and doesn’t walk many but does have a tendency to allow hard contact when hitters catch up to him.
Potential destinations: Atlanta, Diamondbacks, Blue Jays
Raisel Iglesias: Veteran closer has a 2.90 career ERA and a history of dominance. At 35, he can still induce a lot of chase, primarily thanks to his sinker and the movement on his fastball.
Potential destinations: Yankees, Blue Jays, Mets
Ryan Helsley: The righty didn’t have a great time in Flushing after getting traded by the Cardinals but bounced back slightly, not allowing a run in his last six appearances. The stuff still looks to be there. Though he’s a risk, his second-half implosion means he could come at a bargain.
Potential destinations: Diamondbacks, Atlanta, Tigers
Devin Williams: Had a tough year with the Yankees, and, like Helsley, could come for cheap — or at least for little commitment, since he’ll want to prove that he can return to form. Once a dominant reliever; the question is whether he and his “airbender” changeup (and the rest of him) can be fixed.
Potential destinations: Tigers, A’s, Diamondbacks
