Here are the top 30 names to watch in free agency this offseason

Upon the end of the World Series, all eyes turn to 2027, and free agency will start grabbing headlines before we know it.

Free agency can often be a slow burn that creeps along for months, but the expiration of the current collective bargaining agreement on Dec. 1 could have an impact on how clubs approach the offseason. Five years ago, prior to the expiration of the previous CBA, we saw Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, Max Scherzer, Javier Báez, Robbie Ray and Kevin Gausman all sign nine-figure deals before the Thanksgiving leftovers had been finished.

MLB.com takes a look ahead at the Top 30 players set to hit the free-agent market this week.

(Ages listed represent the player’s “baseball age” for 2027, which is their age as of next June 30)

* -- indicates player option (opt-out)

** -- indicates club option

1) Tarik Skubal, LHP (age 30)

The undisputed No. 1 free agent this offseason, Skubal is a near-lock to set a new standard for a free-agent pitching-only contract, currently held by Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who signed a 12-year, $325 million deal with the Dodgers before the 2024 season. Skubal has won the past two American League Cy Young Awards, and although early-season left elbow surgery forced the left-hander to miss six weeks, he had another strong season (2.72 ERA in 26 starts with the Tigers and Dodgers). He’ll be the top target for every team looking to add a bona fide ace on a multi-year deal.

2) Michael King, RHP (age 32)*

After missing roughly half of the 2025 season due to right shoulder and left knee injuries, King signed a three-year, $75 million contract with the Padres last winter, a deal that allows him to opt out and become a free agent after both 2026 and 2027. King would earn $28 million in 2027 and $30 million in 2028 if he plays out the contract. However, given his strong, healthy season (3.21 ERA in 32 starts), there’s a strong possibility that he will opt out, taking the $5 million buyout with the goal of securing a longer-term deal on the open market. Since becoming a full-time starter in 2024, King has a 3.15 ERA in 78 games (77 starts).

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3) Freddy Peralta, RHP (age 30)**

Peralta’s free-agent résumé took a sharp turn for the worse after he joined the Mets, with whom he posted a 5-9 record and a 4.99 ERA in 22 starts. A midseason trade to the Rays proved to be the perfect tonic, as Peralta pitched to a 3.25 ERA in 10 starts, including a 0.79 ERA over his final six regular-season outings. The right-hander carried that run into the postseason, posting a 1.08 ERA in four outings (three starts) to help Tampa Bay reach the World Series, earning ALCS MVP honors in the process.

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4) Teruaki Sato, 3B/OF (age 28)

Sato, the 2025 Central League Most Valuable Player who won the league’s Triple Crown this past season, is expected to be posted by the Hanshin Tigers, sending another Japanese slugger to the Majors. Sato strikes out a lot, drawing comparisons to Munetaka Murakami, but that swing-and-miss didn’t stop Murakami from posting a solid rookie season. In a market thin on power hitters, Sato’s potential will draw a lot of attention.

5) Seiya Suzuki, OF (age 32)

Suzuki established new career highs in both bWAR (5.1) and fWAR (4.6) in 143 games for the Cubs this season, hitting 26 home runs with 86 RBIs and an .841 OPS. The right fielder ranked in the 88th percentile with 5 Outs Above Average and owns one of the strongest arms in baseball, providing plenty of defensive value to go along with his bat. Given the relatively weak outfield class, Suzuki could do quite well on a four- or five-year contract.

6) Randy Arozarena, OF (age 32)

Arozarena was one of the few consistent performers on an otherwise underachieving Mariners team in 2026, posting his second straight 25-homer/25-stolen base season with an .865 OPS in 154 games. He ranked in the top 10 in both bWAR (5.7) and fWAR (5.5) among all AL hitters, earning his third All-Star selection in the past four years. The 2021 AL Rookie of the Year has also been a strong postseason performer throughout his career, posting a .945 OPS with 12 home runs in 45 games.

7) Brandon Lowe, 2B (age 32)

Lowe was a steady presence in the Pirates’ lineup during his first year in Pittsburgh, hitting 35 home runs with 96 RBIs and a .824 OPS in 150 games. The two-time All-Star showed great improvement at second base, ranking in the 98th percentile with 15 Outs Above Average. He strikes out too much (189 in 656 plate appearances), but Lowe ranked in the top 20% of the league in average exit velocity and barrel percentage, ranking first in homers (169) and slugging percentage (.482), and tied for second in OPS (.807) since 2020 among all players who played at least 50 percent of their games at second base.

8) Clay Holmes, RHP (age 34)*

Like King, Holmes has reinvented himself since moving to the rotation in 2025, posting a 3.44 ERA in 51 games (49 starts) since the start of last season. Holmes had a 3.29 ERA for the Mets and Cubs in 18 starts this season, though he missed nearly three months after suffering a fractured right leg in mid-May. Holmes was dealt to Chicago at the Trade Deadline, so he won’t be subject to a qualifying offer if he decides -- as expected -- to opt out of his $12 million salary for 2027.

9) Adrian Morejon, LHP (age 28)

Morejon isn’t the most established closer on the free-agent market, but he brings the best performance over the past three seasons to the market. Since the start of 2024, Morejon has a 2.58 ERA in 211 appearances, posting a 1.088 WHIP while striking out more than a batter per inning. Although he served in a setup role to Mason Miller with the Padres, Morejon could be viewed as a potential ninth-inning option by bullpen-needy clubs, though some believe he could be a candidate to make the transition to a starting role.

10) Trevor Rogers, LHP (age 29)

Rogers was dominant in 18 starts with the Orioles in 2025, posting a 1.81 ERA over 109 2/3 innings. He reverted during the 2026 season, pitching to a 4.03 ERA in 169 2/3 innings, though he did post a 1.80 ERA during a nine-start stretch in June and July, displaying flashes of brilliance. Entering his age-29 season, Rogers could be an appealing multi-year rotation candidate for a number of teams.

11) Jake Bauers, 1B/OF (age 31)

It’s unusual to see a hitter have his breakout season at the age of 30, but that’s what happened with Bauers, who became one of the key cogs in the Brewers’ lineup. After compiling a -1.2 bWAR between 2018-25, Bauers had a 3.3 bWAR in 2026, setting career bests in games played (144), home runs (26), RBIs (86), OPS (.873) and OPS+ (140). While he ranked in the bottom 20 percent in strikeout and whiff percentage, Bauers sat in the top 10 percent in average exit velocity, barrel percentage, hard-hit percentage, chase percentage and walk percentage.

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12) Luis Arraez, 2B (age 30)

Arraez settled for a one-year, $12 million deal with the Giants last winter in his first go-around at free agency, but that was following a season in which he set career lows with a .292 average and a .719 OPS. Arraez looked more like his old self this season, hitting .310 with 185 hits and a .764 OPS in 151 games with the Giants and Phillies, who acquired him at the Trade Deadline. Arraez also showed great improvement in the field, his 12 Outs Above Average ranking in the 97th percentile of the league.

13) Ryan Jeffers, C (age 30)

Jeffers started the season on a heater, hitting seven home runs with 26 RBIs and a .949 OPS in his first 37 games, but a broken left hamate bone sidelined him for nearly two months, bringing his season to a halt. Despite being a hot name on the trade market, Jeffers wasn’t moved before the Trade Deadline, though he wasn’t the same hitter after returning from the injury, posting a .727 OPS with seven homers and 30 RBIs in 55 games. In a market thin on starting catching options, Jeffers should be a popular target.

14) Sonny Gray, RHP (age 37)

Gray had a stellar season in 2026, posting his lowest ERA (2.72) since his rookie season of 2013. The right-hander led the American League with a career-high 18 victories in 29 starts (169 innings), surpassing the 160-inning mark for the fourth consecutive season. His age will prevent him from landing anything long-term, but a multi-year deal for the steady starter should be in play.

15) Jazz Chisholm Jr., 2B (age 29)

Chisholm posted his first career 30-30 season in 2025, and while he wasn’t as productive this season, he still hit 19 home runs with 41 stolen bases while playing elite defense (his 15 Outs Above Average ranked in the 98th percentile). Among the top free agents, Chisholm is one of the few still in his 20s, which could bode well for him as he seeks a new deal. The Yankees seem unlikely to extend a qualifying offer to Chisholm, which could open his market to more clubs.

16) Tyler Mahle, RHP (age 32)

It was a tale of two seasons for Mahle, who went 3-9 with a 5.13 ERA in 18 starts for the Giants before being dealt to the Braves at the Trade Deadline. In nine starts for Atlanta, the right-hander was 4-1 with a 1.99 ERA, allowing two earned runs over 13 1/3 innings (1.35 ERA) in two postseason starts. With so many teams seeking rotation help, Mahle, whose 149 innings were his most since 2021, should draw interest from a number of them.

17) David Bednar, RHP (age 32)

After posting a pair of All-Star seasons with the Pirates in 2022-23, Bednar’s career took a step backwards in 2024. He rebounded in 2025 and was traded to the Yankees that summer, reestablishing himself as one of the game’s best closers during his year and half in pinstripes. Bednar had 35 saves with a 2.47 ERA this past season, ranking in the top 20 percent of the league in chase percentage, whiff percentage, strikeout percentage, barrel percentage and ground-ball rate.

18) Nick Martinez, RHP (age 36)

Martinez posted the best overall year of his career, going 15-6 with a 3.10 ERA in 31 starts while making the first All-Star team of his career. Martinez doesn’t strike out many hitters (109 in 180 innings), but his 1.3 walks per nine innings were the lowest in the league. After accepting a qualifying offer from the Reds in 2025, Martinez signed a one-year, $13 million deal with the Rays this season, placing a successful bet on himself. His bounceback season -- which earned him the Game 1 start in the World Series -- should result in a better contract this offseason, though at age 36, he will likely be looking at no more than a two- or three-year contract.

19) Casey Mize, RHP (age 30)

Mize was having a superb season with the Tigers, posting a 2.70 ERA in 16 starts before being dealt to the Padres at the Trade Deadline. He didn’t fare nearly as well in San Diego (7.46 ERA in 10 starts), but the 2025 All-Star should find a number of suitors interested in his services. Mize’s strong command -- he ranked in the 76th percentile in walk percentage -- makes up for his middle-of-the-road strikeout numbers (32nd percentile in strikeout percentage), and unlike some of the other starters in this year’s free-agent class, Mize won’t turn 30 until next May.

20) Ian Happ, LF (age 32)

Happ has quietly become one of the more consistent and durable players in the league, averaging 22 home runs, 75 RBIs and a .770 OPS during the past six seasons. A Gold Glove winner in each of the past four seasons through 2025, Happ ranked in the 89th percentile in walk percentage, though he still strikes out too much (a career-high 189 in 2026). Happ’s numbers dipped a bit last season (.738 OPS, 103 OPS+), but he should have a healthy market.

21) Gleyber Torres, 2B (age 30)

An All-Star in 2025, Torres accepted a qualifying offer last offseason, so he returns to the free-agent market for a second consecutive winter. A pair of trips to the injured list with oblique injuries limited Torres to 96 games in 2026, the first time in his career that he’s played fewer than 127 games in a 162-game season. Torres’ power numbers were down last season (eight HRs, .363 slugging percentage), but he posted a career-high .364 on-base percentage.

22) Kaima Taira, RHP (age 27)

Taira, a 5-foot-8 righty listed between 210-220 pounds, is expected to be posted by the Seibu Lions, as he will otherwise be an unrestricted free agent after the 2027 season. Taira has bounced between the rotation and bullpen throughout his career, but he posted a minuscule 1.36 ERA over 146 innings in 2026 while posting a sub-1.000 WHIP. It will be interesting to see whether Major League teams view Taira as a starter or a reliever, but his big fastball should help him land a solid contract.

23) Foster Griffin, LHP (age 31)

Griffin was one of this season’s early success stories, returning from three years in Japan to post an All-Star first half for the Nationals. After pitching to a 3.06 ERA in 22 starts for Washington, Griffin was traded to the Guardians, with whom he had a 5.19 ERA in nine starts. Griffin was around league average in strikeout rate (21.9%), but he posted an elite walk rate (6.2%), ranking in the 88th percentile.

24) Kevin Gausman, RHP (age 36)

Gausman has mentioned the possibility that he may retire, but if he wants to continue pitching, there will be a number of teams happy to bring him aboard. Gausman had been one of the most consistent pitchers in the game from 2021-25 (3.34 ERA in 158 starts), but he posted a 4.51 ERA with the Blue Jays and Cubs in 2026. A reunion with Toronto could be an option if Gausman decides to pitch again in 2027.

25) Shota Imanaga, LHP (age 33)

Imanaga has been a steady presence in the Cubs’ rotation since signing with Chicago in 2024, posting a 3.45 ERA in 86 starts during his three seasons. Imanaga signed a four-year, $53 million deal with the Cubs in January 2024, then after opting out of the contract a year ago, he accepted a qualifying offer to return in 2026. The left-hander struck out a batter an inning (174 in 174 1/3 innings), issuing only 37 walks to rank in the 95th percentile (5.2 percent). In 492 1/3 Major League innings, Imanaga has actually allowed more home runs (93) than walks (91).

26) Michael Soroka, RHP (age 29)

Soroka has yet to come close to replicating his breakout rookie season of 2019, when he went 13-4 with a 2.68 ERA and made the All-Star team at the age of 21. But the right-hander had a solid campaign with Arizona in 2026, going 9-5 with a 3.41 ERA in 22 outings (21 starts), topping the 100-inning mark for the first time since his rookie season. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Soroka land the first multi-year deal of his career.

27) Ty France, 1B (age 32)

France was one of the best signings of last offseason, signing a one-year, $1.35 million Minor League contract with the Padres that also included $650,000 in incentives (which he reached). San Diego was rewarded with 21 homers, 72 RBIs and an .865 OPS in 133 games as France posted a 4.5 bWAR. France also excelled defensively, his 8 Outs Above Average ranking in the 93rd percentile. The eight-year veteran shouldn’t have to settle on a one-year deal this winter.

28) Alec Bohm, 1B/3B (age 30)

One of only seven right-handed hitters in the Majors to drive in at least 85 runs in three of the past four seasons, Bohm has been a consistent run producer throughout his seven-year career. After a disappointing start to 2026 (.159/.227/.206 with one home run and 15 RBIs in his first 35 games), Bohm slashed .274/.340/.433 with 14 home runs and 73 RBIs in his final 120 regular-season games after May 9, helping the Phillies secure a trip to the postseason. It remains to be seen if the Philly lifer will return to his former club, but his corner-infield versatility should make him a target for several clubs.

29) Raisel Iglesias, RHP (age 37)

After spending three-plus seasons in Atlanta, Iglesias re-signed with the Braves last winter, landing a one-year, $16 million deal. The 36-year-old had another strong season, posting a 2.55 ERA with 34 saves and the first All-Star selection of his career. Iglesias’ fastball isn’t what it used to be, but he’s still finding ways to get hitters out, which should earn him a closer’s job somewhere this offseason.

30) Robbie Ray, LHP (age 35)

Ray just completed the five-year, $115 million deal he signed with the Mariners in November 2021, though he spent that period with three teams: the Mariners, Giants and Padres, the latter of which traded for him this summer. Ray was an All-Star with San Francisco in 2025, then posted a 3.08 ERA in 22 games (21 starts) this season before being dealt to San Diego. He’s averaged more than 170 innings over the past two seasons, something a number of clubs will find attractive as he seeks a new deal.