Breaking down the best free agent at every position

Our most recent look at the free-agent market took a wide-angle view of this year’s crop, placing more than 180 players into a five-tier system.

But as clubs formulate their strategy for 2027 and beyond, they surely have specific needs tailored to their respective rosters. Which players represent the best options at every position?

Here’s a look at the top player at each spot -- an All-Free-Agent Team, of sorts -- plus some other alternatives at each position.

C: Ryan Jeffers

Jeffers heads up a thin catching class, but make no mistake, he offers an impact bat at a position that doesn’t feature many of them. Jeffers’ immaculate plate discipline -- he ranked in the 72nd percentile in strikeout and chase percentage, the 85th percentile in whiff percentage and 88th percentile in walk percentage -- makes him a fit for any lineup, though his defense behind the plate is slightly below average.

Best of the rest: Carson Kelly, Tyler Stephenson, Gary Sánchez, Austin Hedges, Elias Díaz, Jake Rogers, Jonah Heim

1B: Jake Bauers

If you can look past his tendency to swing and miss (he ranked below the bottom 20 percent in whiff and strikeout percentage), the rest of Bauers’ offense was superb in 2026. He ranked in the top 10 percent of the league in several different Statcast categories including walk percentage, hard-hit percentage, chase percentage and average exit velocity. One drawback is his defense; Bauers had a -7 outs above average in 2026.

Best of the rest: Ty France, Josh Bell, Paul Goldschmidt, Rhys Hoskins, Nathaniel Lowe, Dominic Smith

2B: Brandon Lowe

Lowe offers the rare combination of power and defense at second base, not only making him the top second-base option in free agency, but one of the top all-around position players on the market this offseason. Lowe had his best offensive season since 2021, belting 35 home runs with 96 RBIs and an .824 OPS in 150 games. He also ranked in the 98th percentile in outs above average with 15, bringing value with his glove, too.

Best of the rest: Luis Arraez, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Gleyber Torres, Jonathan India, Luis Urías, Ildemaro Vargas

SS: Mauricio Dubón

Five years ago, the free-agent market was headlined by a star-studded crop of shortstops, including Corey Seager, Carlos Correa, Marcus Semien, Javier Báez and Trevor Story. This winter, it’s the thinnest position in free agency. Dubón is more of a utility player than a full-time shortstop, though he did play 153 total games for the Braves last season, showing his ability to be a full-time player. With few free-agent options at shortstop, Dubón could be an interesting option.

Best of the rest: J.P. Crawford, Ha-Seong Kim, Isiah Kiner-Falefa

3B: Teruaki Sato

One could argue that Alec Bohm should be listed here, given that he’s one of seven right-handed hitters in the Majors to drive in at least 85 runs in three of the past four years. But Sato’s intriguing résumé in Japan -- he won Central League MVP honors in 2025 and captured the league’s Triple Crown this past season -- gets the nod. The immediate success of Munetaka Murakami should help Sato in his quest to land a contract worth more than the two years and $34 million the White Sox gave Murakami last winter.

Best of the rest: Alec Bohm, Edmundo Sosa, Yoán Moncada, Luis Rengifo, Enrique Hernández

LF: Randy Arozarena

Arozarena has been a consistent performer since becoming a full-time player in 2021, posting six straight 20-homer, 20-steal seasons, including 25-25 campaigns in each of the past two years. A three-time All-Star, Arozarena’s defense can be spotty (-5 outs above average in 2026), but his ability to spark an offense will surely draw interest from a number of clubs. He also carries a strong postseason pedigree, owning a .945 OPS in 45 career games.

Best of the rest: Ian Happ, Taylor Ward, Michael Conforto, Tommy Pham, Austin Hays, Miguel Andujar

CF: Daulton Varsho

A year ago, we would have predicted Varsho to be among the top players in this year’s free-agent class. A precipitous drop in his offensive production with the Blue Jays dinged his value, leading to a midseason trade to the Astros, for whom he played even worse. Clubs in need of a center fielder could still be drawn to Varsho based on his defense -- his 7 outs above average put him in the 92nd percentile -- and it wouldn’t be a shock to see him enjoy a bounceback season at the plate.

Best of the rest: Luis Robert Jr., Cedric Mullins, Trent Grisham, Tyrone Taylor, Victor Robles

RF: Seiya Suzuki

Suzuki has been a model of consistency over the past four seasons, averaging nearly 25 home runs with 84 RBIs, an .833 OPS and 131 OPS+ during that stretch. Despite a modest dip in his power numbers in 2026, Suzuki nearly doubled his bWAR (2.6 to 5.1) from the previous season, raising his average by 26 points and his on-base percentage by 42 points while continuing to play strong defense. His 5 outs above average ranked in the 89th percentile, while his arm strength put him in the 85th.

Best of the rest: Ramón Laureano, Lane Thomas, Adolis García, Randal Grichuk

DH: Joc Pederson

There is no Kyle Schwarber in this year’s free-agent class, but if you’re looking for a righty-crushing side of a DH platoon, Pederson is your guy. The 34-year-old hit 26 home runs with 53 RBIs and an .816 OPS in 2026, with the vast majority of that damage (25 homers, 50 RBIs, .834 OPS) coming against right-handers.

Best of the rest: Eugenio Suárez

LH starting pitcher: Tarik Skubal

What’s left to say about Skubal? The two-time AL Cy Young Award winner has been one of the best pitchers in the game for the past three seasons, posting a 2.42 ERA and 17.7 bWAR since the start of 2024. He’s a workhorse, averaging 182 innings per year -- a number that would be higher had he not missed time following minor elbow surgery last season -- who gives his team a chance every time he takes the mound. Skubal should have a shot to break Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s record for the largest guaranteed pitching contract in history (12 years, $325 million).

Best of the rest: Trevor Rogers, Shota Imanaga, Foster Griffin, David Peterson, Matthew Boyd, Kris Bubic, Robbie Ray, Martín Pérez, Patrick Sandoval

RH starting pitcher: Michael King

This marks the second straight year of free agency for King, who signed a three-year, $75 million deal with the Padres last winter. Coming off a strong 2026 (3.21 ERA in 185 innings), King opted out of the final two years and $53 million, confident that his performance (and the lack of a qualifying offer, which he had attached to him a year ago), will result in a longer-term deal. After Skubal, King is arguably the next-best starter available.

Best of the rest: Freddy Peralta, Kaima Taira, Sonny Gray, Tyler Mahle, Clay Holmes, Kevin Gausman, Nick Martinez, Dustin May, Casey Mize, Michael Soroka, Nick Pivetta, Shane Bieber, Walker Buehler, Jack Flaherty, Brady Singer, Brandon Woodruff

LH relief pitcher: Adrian Morejon

We typically lean toward closers when discussing the best available relievers, but Morejon’s consistent excellence over the past three years -- he has a 2.58 ERA and 161 ERA+ over 211 appearances -- lands him in this spot. Morejon’s Statcast page resembles a valedictorian’s report card, as he ranked in the 90th percentile or better in 10 of the 12 pitching categories. Some clubs may look at Morejon as a potential closer, though he’s clearly comfortable serving as a late-inning bridge to the ninth.

Best of the rest: Alex Vesia, Steven Okert, JoJo Romero, José Alvarado, Brock Burke, A.J. Minter, Gregory Soto, Sean Newcomb

RH relief pitcher: David Bednar

Bednar has bounced back nicely from a rough 2024 season, saving 62 games while posting a 2.39 ERA for the Pirates and Yankees since the start of 2025. His move to New York has been especially encouraging, as the 32-year-old has thrived in a pressure-packed environment, showing the form that made him a two-time All-Star in 2022-23. When it comes to available closers this winter, Bednar easily tops that list.

Best of the rest: Evan Phillips, Raisel Iglesias, Emilio Pagán, Bryan Abreu, Paul Blackburn, Kevin Ginkel, Blake Treinen