MLB free agents: Cody Bellinger, Kyle Tucker, Kyle Schwarber head list
Kyle Schwarber, 33, DH, 4.7, 19.9: Schwarber is a premier slugger with 187 home runs in four seasons with Philadelphia, where he was also an outstanding club leader. He is instead limited to designated hitter and is approaching an age where offensive production could decline. He still deserves a lucrative multi-year deal, although a term of more than four years at an average annual value (AAV) of $30 million could spark buyer’s remorse in 2030.
Kyle Tucker, 29, OF, 4.5, 27.3: Although his 2025 bWAR is lower than Bellinger and Schwarber, Tucker might have the highest sticker price in this free agent class. The average projection from 20 ESPN experts is 10 years and $391.5 million for an AAV of $38.8 million. The Dodgers are considered a top contender due to their deep pockets and need for a productive corner outfielder.
Eugenio Suarez34, 3B, 3.6, 26.8: A nearly one-win drop from replacing the top three free agents — Cody Bellinger, Schwarber and Tucker — still puts Suárez in an enviable position. Splitting the season between the Diamondbacks and Mariners, Suarez tied a career high with 49 home runs and drove in 118 runs.
Alex Bregman32, 3B, 3.5, 43.1: Even though Bregman’s bWAR was slightly lower than Suárez’s, he should command a larger contract because he is younger and more complete. Bregman missed 44 games due to injury during his lone season in Boston, but still posted solid numbers. His average bWAR over his 10-year career is 4.3.
Trent Grisham29, OF, 3.5, 14.6: Grisham is an enigma, a first-round pick who flourished with the Padres only to crater and bat under .200 three years in a row. But in 2025, he bounced back, hitting a career-high 34 home runs with the Yankees in 2025. Grisham also has two Gold Gloves in center field. Still, it’s a bit of a gamble.
Bo Bichette28, SS, 3.4, 20.8: Bichette demonstrated his toughness by playing effectively in the World Series despite a lingering knee injury. Bichette can hit hard, racking up over 175 hits in four of the last five seasons with above-average power. He also plays a premium position and will only be 28 years old in March, meaning he could command a contract surpassed only by Tucker’s.
Bo Bichette of the Toronto Blue Jays hits a three-run home run during Game 7 of the World Series, November 1, 2025, in Toronto.
(Ashley Landis/AP)
Pete Alonso31, 1B, 3.4, 23.3: Alonso was disappointed by the lukewarm interest he received as a free agent last offseason, re-signing with the Mets on a one-year, $30 million deal with a player option. He’s expected to test the market again after once again posting the sparkling power numbers that made him a New York fan favorite for seven years.
Josh Naylor28, 1B, 3.1, 8.4: The 5-foot-10, 235-pound left-handed slugger produced well in 2025 while splitting the season between the Diamondbacks and Mariners, hitting a career-high .295 and hitting precisely 20 home runs for the third time in five seasons.
Gleyber Torres29, 2B, 2.9, 18.7: Torres needed to restore his value after agreeing to a one-year deal with the Tigers following a hohuhu 2024 season with the Yankees. He has done so gradually and is expected to strike a measured multi-year deal this time around.
JT Realmuto35, C, 2.6, 38.8: Realmuto is recognized as one of the best catchers in baseball, and he is clearly the best free agent backstop, proving in 2025 that he can still catch 130+ games while posting solid offensive numbers. Still, he will be 35 on Opening Day and his .700 OPS was his lowest in a decade.
Jorge Polanco32, 2B, 2.6, 20.7: Polanco hit 26 homers and posted an .821 OPS, the hitter’s best season since 2021 when he hit 33 homers and drove in 98 runs. Chronic knee problems have put his shortstop days behind him and reduced his range at second or third base, but the bat still plays.
Mike Yastrzemski35, OF, 2.6, 16.8: Although the grandson of Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski posted his best OPS (.839) since the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, he might only accept one-year contract offers at around $10 million.
Ryan O’Hearn31, 1B/DH, 2.4, 3.1: O’Hearn is an accomplished left-handed hitter coming off a season split between the Orioles and Padres. He can expect a significant increase from the $3.5 million he made in 2025, or even triple it.
Marcell Ozuna35, OF/DH, 1.6, 29.5: Ozuna is a proven power bat who topped 20 homers in nine seasons and led the NL with 18 homers and 56 RBIs during the pandemic-shortened 2020. After huge 2023 and 2024 seasons in which he totaled 79 homers and 204 RBIs, Ozuna slipped in 2025, batting .232 with 21 homers while battling hip soreness.
Luis Arraez29, 1B, 1.3, 16.5: Arráez doesn’t get a lot of love from bWAR or fWAR, but he can certainly hit, leading all major leagues with a .317 lifetime average. He led the NL with 181 hits in 2025, but since he doesn’t hit for power and doesn’t walk much, his OPS was a pedestrian .719. The three-time batting champion is expected to continue making around $14 million per year, the question being for how long.
Paul Goldschmidt38, 1B, 1.2, 63.8: Goldschmidt has the highest career bWAR among all free hitters and he’s made it clear he’s not ready to retire. However, its productivity tends to decline, particularly its power. With just 10 homers and 45 RBIs in 534 plate appearances with the Yankees last season, Goldschmidt is no longer an elite hitter.
Victor Caratini32, C, 0.9, 4.3: Receivers are valuable in this free agent class and Caratini is one of the few with a powerful bat and the ability to play more than 100 games in a season. He recently agreed to a two-year, $12 million deal with the Astros and could land a similar contract due to the scarcity of backstops.
