Ranking free agents can be a fun exercise, one often designed to generate debate. But to get a better look at the annual free-agent class, taking a wide-angle approach sometimes seems more constructive.
With that in mind, MLB.com has grouped free agents together in tiers rather than simply ranking them in order. Below is a list of 181 available players and where they rank in the hierarchy of this year’s free-agent crop.
Players are listed alphabetically by tier, and ages listed are their 2027 seasonal age.
(QO=Received qualifying offer)
Tier 1
Tarik Skubal, LHP, age 30
Every once in a while, a free-agent class has an obvious crown jewel. In recent years, Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto have been a one-man Tier 1; they can now welcome Skubal to the club. The two-time Cy Young Award winner is the prize of this year’s offseason.
Tier 2
Randy Arozarena, OF, age 32 (QO)
Two straight 25-25 seasons and an .865 OPS in 2026 has Arozarena in position to land a big deal, as he ranked in the top 10 in both bWAR (5.7) and fWAR (5.5) among all AL hitters.
Luis Arraez, 2B, age 30
Arraez heads back to the free-agent market for a second straight year after a strong season that saw him hit .310 with 185 hits and a .764 OPS, adding improved defense at second base as a bonus for potential suitors.
Jake Bauers, 1B/OF, age 31 (QO)
A crucial piece of the Brewers’ championship team, Bauers enjoyed a breakout season at the age of 30, setting career highs in games played (144), home runs (26), RBIs (86), OPS (.873) and OPS+ (140).
David Bednar, RHP, age 32 (QO)
Bednar reestablished himself as one of the league’s top closers with the Yankees, posting a 2.47 ERA with 35 saves while ranking in the top 20% of the league in chase percentage, whiff percentage, strikeout percentage, barrel percentage and ground-ball rate.
Jazz Chisholm Jr., 2B, age 29
One year after putting up the first 30-30 season of his career, Chisholm hit 19 homers while swiping 41 bags in 2026. His 15 outs above average ranked in the 98th percentile.
Sonny Gray, RHP, age 37
Even as he enters his late-30s, Gray posted his lowest ERA (2.72) since his rookie season of 2013. The AL wins leader (18) topped the 160-inning mark for the fourth straight season.
Ian Happ, LF, age 32
One of the most consistent players in the league, Happ offers a blend of solid offense (an average of 22 home runs, 75 RBIs and a .770 OPS during the past six seasons) and stellar defense (four straight Gold Gloves from 2022-25).
Clay Holmes, RHP, age 34
The reliever-turned-starter has been a steady rotation presence for the Mets and Cubs (3.44 ERA in 51 games) since the start of 2025, putting Holmes in the next class of starters after Skubal.
Ryan Jeffers, C, age 30 (QO)
Despite missing nearly two months with a broken hamate bone, Jeffers had a huge first half (.942 OPS) in the 39 games he played before the break. He slowed in the second half (.722 OPS), but he’s the top catcher available this winter.
Michael King, RHP, age 32
King’s move from the bullpen to the rotation in 2024 has been a success (3.15 ERA in 78 outings), and after missing significant time with injuries in 2025, he made 32 starts this past season, then opted out of the final two years and $53 million on his contract.
Brandon Lowe, 2B, age 32 (QO)
In a free-agent market with some solid second-base options, none offers the power upside of Lowe, who has three 30-homer seasons in his career including each of the past two.
Tyler Mahle, RHP, age 32
Mahle struggled with the Giants before being traded to the Braves, for whom he posted a 1.99 ERA in nine outings in the regular season, then made a pair of excellent postseason starts.
Nick Martinez, RHP, age 36
Martinez posted the best overall year of his career in 2026, going 15-6 with a 3.10 ERA while earning his first All-Star selection. He isn’t a strikeout pitcher, but his pristine command allows him to work past that.
Adrián Morejón, LHP, age 28 (QO)
The most consistent free-agent reliever available this offseason isn’t a proven closer, but rather Morejón, a late-inning weapon who has a 2.58 ERA and 1.088 WHIP in 211 outings since the start of 2024.
Freddy Peralta, RHP, age 31
Following an uninspiring four-month stint with the Mets, Peralta reestablished himself as a frontline starter following his trade to the Rays, posting a 3.25 ERA in 10 starts, including a 0.79 ERA over his final six regular-season outings before winning ALCS MVP honors.
Trevor Rogers, LHP, age 29 (QO)
After a huge 2025 season (1.81 ERA in 18 starts), Rogers had a 4.03 ERA in 2026, albeit with a dominant nine-start stretch in the middle of the season (1.80 ERA in nine starts).
Teruaki Sato, 3B/OF, age 28
The 2025 Central League Most Valuable Player and the Triple Crown winner in 2026, Sato has been compared to Munetaka Murakami, who just finished a successful rookie campaign with the White Sox.
Seiya Suzuki, OF, age 32 (QO)
Suzuki has been a steady source of offense over the past four seasons, averaging 24 home runs, 30 doubles and 84 RBIs with an .833 OPS during that time.
Tier 3
Jason Adam, RHP, age 35
Adam has quietly been one of the best relievers in baseball since 2022, pitching to a 2.13 ERA with a 190 ERA+ in 300 appearances over the past five seasons. A 2025 All-Star, Adam could find a closer’s job or be brought in as a lockdown setup man.
Shane Bieber, RHP, age 32
Health has been Bieber’s biggest issue, but the former AL Cy Young winner is still effective when he can take the ball. The only question is how often that will happen.
Paul Blackburn, RHP, age 33
Blackburn was a middling starter during his first nine seasons, posting a 4.97 ERA for the Athletics, Mets and Yankees. A move to the bullpen unlocked Blackburn as a shutdown reliever, as he pitched to a 1.59 ERA in 62 appearances in 2026, his 3.1 bWAR topping his combined bWAR from his first nine seasons (2.7).
Alec Bohm, 1B/3B, age 30
Bohm is one of only seven right-handed hitters in the Majors to drive in at least 85 runs in three of the past four seasons. Overall numbers were down in 2026 due to a slow start, but he hit 14 homers with 73 RBIs in 120 games after May 8.
Matthew Boyd, LHP, age 36
Boyd had a 3.91 ERA in 22 starts in 2026, though he missed time following minor knee surgery. The southpaw was a first-time All-Star in 2025, winning a career-high 14 games with a 3.21 ERA in 31 starts.
Kris Bubic, LHP, age 29
Bubic made his first All-Star team in 2025, and while his numbers dipped a bit with the Royals last season, he didn’t allow a run in a brief five-appearance stint with the Dodgers following a midseason trade.
Taylor Clarke, RHP, age 34
Clarke was extremely effective in his return to the Diamondbacks, posting a 2.96 ERA and 140 ERA+ in 71 appearances in 2026. He ranked in the fifth percentile in strikeout percentage and 97th percentile in walk percentage.
Mauricio Dubón, INF/OF, age 32
Dubón played a career-high 153 games last season, setting personal bests with 12 homers and 73 RBIs, his 2.7 bWAR matching his previous high.
Jack Flaherty, RHP, age 31
It was only 2024 when Flaherty was one of the hottest candidates during Trade Deadline season, but his past two seasons have been disappointments, as he went 11-23 with a 4.58 ERA in 51 outings for the Tigers.
Ty France, 1B, age 32
The Padres’ $1.35 million signing of France last offseason paid great dividends, as he hit 21 homers with 72 RBIs, an .865 OPS and 4.5 bWAR. He’s likely to find more suitors this winter.
Zac Gallen, RHP, age 31
Gallen had been one of the league’s most consistent starters prior to 2025, when he posted a career-high 4.83 ERA. That figure bloated to 6.07 in 2026, while his 105 1/3 innings pitched were his fewest in a 162-game season since his rookie year of 2019.
Adolis García, OF, age 34
Following the 2023 season, García appeared on a track to stardom. He hit 39 homers with 107 RBIs, an .836 OPS and a World Series MVP award with the Rangers. His numbers have fallen in the years since, while a lat tear limited him to only 67 games before he underwent season-ending surgery. The power is still there, though.
Kevin Gausman, RHP, age 36
One of the most consistent pitchers in the game from 2021-25 (3.34 ERA in 158 starts), Gausman posted a 4.51 ERA with the Blue Jays and Cubs in 2026. He has said retirement is an option, though that’s not certain.
Foster Griffin, LHP, age 31
Griffin returned from a three-year stint in Japan to post an All-Star first half for the Nationals, posting a 3.06 ERA in 22 starts for the Nationals. His performance dipped after a trade to Cleveland, though he posted an elite walk rate (6.2%), ranking in the 88th percentile on the season.
Raisel Iglesias, RHP, age 37
A first-time All-Star at age 36, Iglesias continues to be among the top closers in the game. His fastball isn’t what it used to be, but he still gets the job done.
Shota Imanaga, LHP, age 33
Imanaga has a 3.45 ERA during his three big league seasons, showing himself to be a steady rotation presence for the Cubs. Strange stat: Imanaga has allowed more home runs (93) than walks (91).
Kenley Jansen, RHP, age 39
Another ageless bullpen wonder, Jansen had 22 saves with a 3.20 ERA in 50 appearances for the Tigers in 2026. With 498 career saves, Jansen has the 500-save club – which includes only Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman – in sight.
Casey Mize, RHP, age 30
Mize posted a 2.70 ERA in 16 starts with the Tigers before being dealt to the Padres, though his stint in San Diego didn’t go as well (7.46 ERA in 10 starts). His age and command work in his favor.
Emilio Pagán, RHP, age 36
Pagan has put together a pair of solid seasons as the Reds’ closer, earning 57 saves with a 3.07 ERA and 0.961 WHIP in 115 appearances. He should be a closer option for multiple clubs.
Joc Pederson, 1B/OF/DH, age 35
Pederson continues to excel against right-handers, bashing 25 of his 26 home runs while posting an .834 OPS. One of the best pure platoon hitters out there.
David Peterson, LHP, age 31
What looked like a lost season for Peterson turned around after the Mets dealt him to the Cubs, for whom he pitched to a 3.70 ERA in 16 games (15 starts). He has averaged 158 innings over the past two seasons.
Nick Pivetta, RHP, age 34
Pivetta followed up his stellar 2025 season with an injury-filled 2026 that limited him to only eight starts. Those starts were effective however, so he should have a solid market.
Robbie Ray, LHP, age 35
Ray continues to be an effective workhorse, averaging more than 170 innings over the past two seasons. After an All-Star campaign in 2025, he had a 3.59 ERA in 31 games (30 starts) in 2026.
JoJo Romero, LHP, age 30
Romero has been a bullpen workhorse over the past three seasons, posting a 2.91 ERA over 185 appearances. He’s was a reverse-split pitcher in 2026, having more success against righties (.661 OPS) than lefties (.738)
Brady Singer, RHP, age 30
Singer posted strong numbers in three of four seasons between 2022-25, but his platform season didn’t go as well. He led the league in losses (15) and earned runs (102), producing career worsts with a 5.85 ERA and a 71 ERA+.
Michael Soroka, RHP, age 29
Soroka went 9-5 with a 3.41 ERA in 22 outings (21 starts) in 2026, topping the 100-inning mark for the first time since his 2019 rookie season.
Eugenio Suárez, 3B/DH, age 35
Suárez’s return to Cincinnati was productive (26 homers, 74 RBIs), but nowhere close to his 49-homer, All-Star campaign in 2025. Poor defense may limit him to DH opportunities.
Kaima Taira, RHP, age 27
A 5-foot-8 right-hander listed between 210-220 pounds, Taira has bounced between the rotation and bullpen throughout his career in Japan. He had a 1.36 ERA over 146 innings in 2026.
Gleyber Torres, 2B, age 30
It’s hard to believe that Torres – who debuted in 2018 – is turning only 30 in December. Though he was limited to 96 games last season, he posted an above-average OPS+ for the fifth consecutive season.
Daulton Varsho, OF, age 30
After a four-year stretch (2022-25) that saw him post an average of 21 homers, 62 RBIs, 11 stolen bases and a combined 16.1 bWAR, Varsho struggled with the Blue Jays and Astros in 2026, hitting 12 homers with a career-low .636 OPS.
Alex Vesia, LHP, age 31
Since becoming a fixture in the Dodgers bullpen in 2021, Vesia has a 2.66 ERA in 367 appearances, striking out 438 in 328 innings. Left-handed batters hit only .138 against him with a .471 OPS in 2026.
Brandon Woodruff, RHP, age 34
If not for injuries, Woodruff would surely be in a higher tier, but the righty has thrown only 177 innings since the start of 2023. If he’s healthy, he will be a big addition for someone.
Tier 4
Bryan Abreu, RHP, age 30
Tyler Alexander, LHP, age 32
José Alvarado, LHP, 32
Josh Bell, 1B/DH, age 34
JT Brubaker, RHP, age 33
Walker Buehler, RHP, age 32
Brock Burke, LHP, age 30
J.P. Crawford, SS/3B, age 32
Zach Eflin, RHP, age 33
Carlos Estévez, RHP, age 34
Erick Fedde, RHP, age 34
Paul Goldschmidt, 1B/DH, age 39
Brusdar Graterol, RHP, age 28
Randal Grichuk, OF, age 35
Trent Grisham, OF, age 30
Jonah Heim, C, age 32
Jonathan India, 2B, age 30
Jakob Junis, RHP, age 34
Carson Kelly, C, age 32
Tyler Kinley, RHP, age 36
Jonathan Loáisiga, RHP, age 32
Nathaniel Lowe, 1B, age 31
A.J. Minter, LHP, age 33
Sean Newcomb, LHP, age 34
Steven Okert, LHP, age 35
Martín Pérez, LHP, age 36
Evan Phillips, RHP, age 32
Cal Quantrill, RHP, age 32
Luis Rengifo, OF, age 30
Luis Robert Jr., OF, age 29
John Schreiber, RHP, age 33
Edmundo Sosa, INF, age 31
Gregory Soto, LHP, age 32
Tyler Stephenson, C, age 30
Brent Suter, LHP, age 37
Tyrone Taylor, OF, age 33
Lane Thomas, OF, age 31
Trent Thornton, RHP, age 33
Blake Treinen, RHP, age 39
Ildemaro Vargas, INF, age 35
Taylor Ward, OF, age 33
Tier 5
Keegan Akin, LHP, age 32
Miguel Andujar, DH, age 32
Shawn Armstrong, RHP, age 36
Chris Bassitt, RHP, age 38
Jalen Beeks, LHP, age 33
Griffin Canning, RHP, age 31
Aaron Civale, RHP, age 32
Michael Conforto, OF, age 34
Patrick Corbin, LHP, age 37
Nestor Cortes, LHP, age 32
Travis d'Arnaud, C, age 38
Enyel De Los Santos, RHP, age 31
Elias Díaz, C, age 36
Dietrich Enns, LHP, age 36
Pete Fairbanks, RHP, age 33
Kyle Farmer, INF, age 36
Adam Frazier, 2B/OF, age 35
Kyle Freeland, LHP, age 34
Michael Fulmer, RHP, age 34
Yimi García, RHP, age 35
Kevin Ginkel, RHP, age 33
Lucas Giolito, RHP, age 32
Hunter Harvey, RHP, age 32
Austin Hays, OF, age 31
Austin Hedges, C, age 34
Kiké Hernández, INF/OF, age 35
Kyle Higashioka, C, age 37
Tim Hill, LHP, age 37
Rhys Hoskins, 1B/DH, age 34
Joe Jiménez, RHP, age 32
Pierce Johnson, RHP, age 36
Ha-Seong Kim, INF, age 31
Craig Kimbrel, RHP, age 39
Isiah Kiner-Falefa, INF, age 32
Andrew Kittredge, RHP, age 37
Brooks Kriske, RHP, age 33
Eric Lauer, LHP, age 32
Ramón Laureano, OF, age 32
Brandon Leibrandt, RHP, age 34
Mark Leiter Jr., RHP, age 36
Nicky Lopez, INF, age 32
Gavin Lux, INF/OF, age 29
Luke Maile, C, age 36
Jorge Mateo, INF/OF, age 32
Dustin May, RHP, age 29
James McCann, C, age 37
Jeff McNeil, INF/OF, age 35
Hoby Milner, LHP, age 36
Yoán Moncada, INF, age 32
Jordan Montgomery, LHP, age 34
Ryan Mountcastle, 1B, age 30
Cedric Mullins, OF, age 32
Tommy Pham, OF, age 39
A.J. Puk, LHP, age 32
Jose Quintana, LHP, age 38
Brooks Raley, LHP, age 39
Colin Rea, RHP, age 36
Trevor Richards, RHP, age 34
Víctor Robles, OF, age 30
Jake Rogers, C, age 32
Taylor Rogers, LHP, age 36
Josh Rojas, INF/OF, age 33
Jordan Romano, RHP, age 34
Amed Rosario, INF, age 31
Patrick Sandoval, LHP, age 30
Dennis Santana, RHP, age 31
Gary Sánchez, C, age 34
Max Scherzer, RHP, age 42
Antonio Senzatela, RHP, age 32
Paul Sewald, RHP, age 37
Burch Smith, RHP, age 37
Dominic Smith, 1B/DH, age 32
Jeffrey Springs, LHP, age 34
Ryne Stanek, RHP, age 35
Robert Stephenson, RHP, age 34
Myles Straw, OF, age 32
Tomoyuki Sugano, RHP, age 37
Jameson Taillon, RHP, age 35
Rowdy Tellez, 1B, age 32
Caleb Thielbar, LHP, age 40
Ryan Thompson, RHP, age 35
Luis Urías, INF, age 30
Christian Vázquez, C, age 36
LaMonte Wade Jr., 1B/OF, age 33
Jacob Waguespack, RHP, age 33
Ryan Weiss, RHP, age 30
Trevor Williams, RHP, age 35
Ryan Yarbrough, LHP, age 35
Kirby Yates, RHP, age 40