Thursday is Christmas, and it’s been nearly two months since the Dodgers defeated the Blue Jays in Game 7 of the World Series. That means we’re now at roughly the midpoint between the start of the offseason and when pitchers and catchers begin reporting to Spring Training in February.
A number of teams have made major additions already, but there is also much left to do before the Hot Stove draws to a close. Fortunately, we’re here to help. Of MLB.com senior national reporter Mark Feinsand’s top 30 free agents of the offseason, nearly half (14) remain unsigned. In the spirit of the season, we’re here to find them homes for the holidays -- and to bring some lucky teams just what they needed.
Obviously, 14 free agents isn’t enough for everyone (although we’ll add a few honorable mentions), but we’ll spread the joy around as much as possible by observing a limit of one free agent per team. And while every team would no doubt love to have Kyle Tucker dropped onto its roster, we’ll also try to be reasonably realistic here, based on team needs and likely appetite for spending.
Each player’s rank below is via Feinsand’s beginning-of-offseason list.
To the Blue Jays: A well-rounded star
RF Kyle Tucker (Rank: 1)
The Blue Jays have made no secret about the fact that, after coming oh-so-close to a championship in 2025, they are stepping on the gas this offseason in pursuit of that goal. Toronto struck quickly to add Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce to its rotation and Tyler Rogers to the back of its bullpen. But what it hasn’t done is bolster a lineup with one major missing piece (free agent Bo Bichette) and a clear opportunity to improve in the corner outfield. The Blue Jays could opt to simply bring back Bichette -- especially given his willingness to shift to second base -- but landing Tucker’s lefty bat to pair with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. could be an even more impactful move. Tucker’s rare combination of skills would be a boon to Toronto’s title hopes, and his arrival would establish without a doubt the Blue Jays’ status as a franchise that can attract (and land) elite talent.
To the Red Sox: A proven fit
3B Alex Bregman (Rank: 2)
Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow made it clear that even after acquiring first baseman Willson Contreras on Monday, the Sox are looking for another significant lineup piece. That almost certainly means an infielder, which could be another free agent, such as Bichette, or a trade acquisition, perhaps someone like Arizona’s Ketel Marte or St. Louis’ Brendon Donovan. But why not go with the guy who you already know is a fit, establishing himself as a clubhouse leader upon arriving last season? Bregman’s overall numbers were strong, and the Red Sox got a look at the best version of him when he hit .299/.385/.553 before sustaining a right quad injury in late May. By keeping Bregman at the hot corner, Boston could also keep Marcelo Mayer at second, sharpening its defense up the middle.
To the Giants: Another big infield bat
2B Bo Bichette (Rank: 4)
The Giants have won between 79-81 games in each of the past four seasons and have just one season with a win percentage over .500 (and one with a playoff berth) since 2017. It’s a team very much in need of star-level talent, even after the recent acquisitions of third baseman Matt Chapman, shortstop Willy Adames and first baseman Rafael Devers. Tucker or one of the market’s top starting pitchers would also make sense here, but Bichette would fill a potential weak spot at second -- where they project near the bottom of the league -- and round out a star-studded (if expensive) infield. His contact-oriented, line-drive approach could also be a good fit at Oracle Park, an extremely tough venue for home runs but one that’s favorable for other types of hits.
To the Mets: The right puzzle piece
OF/1B Cody Bellinger (Rank: 5)
It’s not hard to see Bellinger heading back to the Yankees or even returning to the Dodgers. But his particular set of skills feels like an ideal match for a Mets roster that has shed three cornerstones in Pete Alonso, Jeff McNeil and Brandon Nimmo. Bellinger would give New York coverage at three positions where they now have some question marks: center field, left field and first base. He would also add another strong bat to the lineup while helping the Mets’ goal of fortifying a defense that was decidedly below average in 2025. Taking another key player away from the Yankees probably wouldn’t be a bad bonus, either.
To the Orioles: A reliable veteran starter
SP Ranger Suárez (Rank: 10)
Baltimore has been as aggressive as anyone so far this offseason, seeking to put a disastrous 2025 in the rearview mirror. Alonso and Taylor Ward add needed right-handed thump to the lineup, Ryan Helsley bolsters the back of the bullpen and Shane Baz could be a significant upgrade over Grayson Rodriguez (traded for Ward) in the rotation. But that starting group still looks a little light, considering its dependence on pitchers with significant recent injury histories. Suárez isn’t going to pile up innings (147 on average in four seasons as a full-time starter) and doesn’t pitch like your typical ace. But he gets the job done, keeps runs off the board and has a sterling postseason resume.
To the Yankees: A mix of rotation security and upside
SP Tatsuya Imai (Rank: 11)
The Yankees haven’t had a pitcher from Japan take the mound for them since Masahiro Tanaka’s tenure ended after the 2020 season, but this would be a good time for that drought to end. While there may not be a desperate need for rotation help in the Bronx, it’s also true that the team is banking on three pitchers coming off elbow surgery (Carlos Rodón, Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt), with the latter two rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. Cam Schlittler and Will Warren were rookies in 2025, and Luis Gil looked shaky in 11 starts, despite a solid ERA. Imai is not without some risk, as is any player coming over from NPB, but as a 27-year-old with a consistently impressive track record there, he would look awfully nice slotting in behind Max Fried and protecting the Yankees in case any part of their existing rotation plan goes haywire.
To the Cubs: A ground-ball machine
SP Framber Valdez (Rank: 13)
If Chicago isn’t going to retain or replace Tucker, then the top of the rotation is a clear area to address instead. Matthew Boyd was excellent in 2025 but is about to turn 35 and just had his first healthy season since 2019. Cade Horton has made all of 22 MLB starts. Shota Imanaga was hit hard in the second half of ‘25. For a team that hasn’t been able to dethrone the Brewers atop the NL Central, that might not be good enough. Not only would Valdez bring the most polished resume of any free-agent starter -- averaging 30 starts per year and a 3.21 ERA since 2022 -- but his grounder-heavy approach would look great on a team with Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner vacuuming up anything hit to the middle infield.
To the Mariners: A slugger with a familiar face
3B Eugenio Suárez (Rank: 14)
A fan favorite and beloved clubhouse presence during his first stint in Seattle (2022-23), Suárez didn’t exactly come up big in his Trade Deadline return this past summer (.682 OPS in 53 games, after a huge first half in Arizona). Still, there would be reason beyond simple sentiment for the Mariners to keep the relationship going. Ben Williamson (.604 OPS as a rookie) is currently projected as the Opening Day starter at third, and even if top prospect Colt Emerson is ready to take over at some point in 2026, the Mariners have room to slide Suárez to DH, even after signing lefty-masher Rob Refsnyder to a one-year deal this week. (Seattle has the 22nd-best projection at third and 15th at DH.) Suárez has thump left in his bat, and he could still help the Mariners make good on their legitimate championship aspirations.
To the Pirates: Even more power
3B Kazuma Okamoto (Rank: 16)
The Pirates have been busy addressing their offensive deficiencies in the past week, swinging a trade for Brandon Lowe and agreeing to a deal with free agent Ryan O’Hearn. But as long as Pittsburgh has the appetite for another significant expenditure, there is no reason for the club to stop there -- not after it scored the fewest runs in the Majors in 2025 while allowing the fifth fewest. If the Bucs want to give their Paul Skenes-fronted pitching staff the best chance to lead the team back to October, it makes all the sense in the world to bring in Okamoto, a 29-year-old whose bat was a consistent force in NPB, including a 41-homer season in 2023. If Okamoto could play third while lengthening the lineup, that would allow Jared Triolo to continue in a utility role. It would also provide some right-handed insurance for the all-lefty 1B/DH combo of O’Hearn and Spencer Horwitz.
To the Rockies: An elite contact bat
1B Luis Arraez (Rank: 18)
We all want to see this, right? Coors Field is the best park in baseball for singles, by far. (It’s nearly the best for doubles, too.) And Arraez is the singles master. There would be entertainment value to seeing how that translated over 81 games there. The Rockies could use some guys who can put the bat on the ball after striking out more than any team besides the Angels in 2025, and Arraez does that better than anyone. While Colorado’s new-look front office does need to focus on building the next good Rockies team -- and Arraez likely wouldn’t be around for that -- there would be little harm in bringing him in on a short-term deal, with the chance to flip him for prospect capital if things go well.
To the Braves: A rotation security blanket
SP Zac Gallen (Rank: 20)
Atlanta’s starting staff fell apart physically in 2025, one major reason why a team with title hopes plummeted from 89 wins to 76. There is still the makings of a strong unit here, but that’s relying on a lot of pitchers with checkered health histories and/or limited big league track records. That would figure to increase the appeal of a pitcher who has been pretty durable since becoming a big league starter midway through the 2019 season. While there were some concerning signs for Gallen in 2025, as his ERA ballooned to 4.83, he finished the year relatively strong. A move to Atlanta, which has enjoyed success in recent years in getting the most from its pitchers, could help as well.
To the Phillies: The sensible catching solution
C J.T. Realmuto (Rank: 22)
While there are reasons for the Phillies to be skittish about re-committing to a catcher who will turn 35 in March and is showing clear signs of decline, there are even clearer reasons for them to bring back Realmuto for an eighth season in Philadelphia. This is a team with obvious urgency to capitalize on its championship window and one whose current catching situation without Realmuto is projected at the very bottom of the league. The free-agent market offers no better alternative, while a trade-based solution would be both tough to come by and quite expensive in terms of talent. Nothing is guaranteed in baseball -- nor in free agency -- but it feels like Philly retaining Realmuto is just a matter of time.
To the Padres: Innings in the bank
SP Chris Bassitt (Rank: 29)
Even after bringing back Michael King, the Padres have to figure out a way to not only piece together the innings to get through the 2026 season, but also to fight for a playoff spot. With Cease in Toronto and Yu Darvish sidelined, following last summer’s trade of Stephen Kolek and Ryan Bergert to Kansas City, roughly half of the team’s 2025 starts are now out of the picture for ‘26. That doesn’t count Joe Musgrove, but he’s working his way back from Tommy John surgery. A big-ticket free-agent solution would seem unlikely, and while you can never rule out A.J. Preller pulling off a significant trade, signing Bassitt would make a lot of sense as an alternative. The 36-year-old won’t command a massive deal at this point, but he just reached the 170-inning mark for the fourth straight season, and has been roughly league-average or better by ERA+ every year since 2018. That sounds like a nice insurance policy.
To the Rays: A new project
SP Lucas Giolito (Rank: 30)
It’s been a somewhat tumultuous four years for Giolito since he finished 2021 by logging Cy Young Award votes for the third season in a row. He did bounce back somewhat with the Red Sox a year ago, after missing all of 2024 due to right elbow surgery, but his 3.41 ERA belied a 5.00 expected ERA, per Statcast, and a host of concerning below-the-surface numbers. That said, Giolito wouldn’t be the first veteran pitcher to boost his career with a stint with the Rays, and for its part, Tampa Bay could use additional rotation protection after trading Baz, and with Shane McClanahan trying to come back from two lost seasons in a row. Even if the Rays don’t wind up in contention this summer, a revived Giolito would be a nice chip to have at the Trade Deadline.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Here are five interesting free agents who didn’t rank within Feinsand’s top 30, and a fit for each one.
OF Harrison Bader to the Guardians -- This is a team with a constant need in the outfield, and one that had a historic lack of right-handed batters in its lineup in 2025.
SP Zach Eflin to the Cardinals -- The rebuild is happening, but St. Louis could use some veteran protection (and guidance) for a young rotation short on reliable options.
RP Seranthony Domínguez to the Diamondbacks -- Few high-leverage relief arms remain on the market, and an Arizona bullpen with some key injuries needs one as much as perhaps anyone.
SP Tyler Mahle to the Athletics -- Mahle has had trouble staying healthy, but when available, he’d be a nice addition to a questionable rotation that’s looking to support a legitimately exciting offense.
SP Justin Verlander to the Tigers -- We’re suckers for a nice late-career reunion, but Verlander also looked strong down the stretch, and a Tigers team with high hopes could stand to bolster the back of its rotation.