The most important names on the MLB free agent market

This upcoming free agent class is looking to be one of the strongest in recent memory for Major League Baseball. Here are some of the names to watch heading into the craziest time on the baseball calendar.

Kyle Tucker

Kyle Tucker is expected to be the player who breaks the market once again. Widely viewed as the top target of the class, he has produced at least 4.0 fWAR every season since 2021, placing him in elite company at the top of the league.

Last season was his weakest, though his limited production down the stretch came after he played through a right-hand fracture. Before that, he hit .291 with 17 home runs in his first 82 games and recorded more walks than strikeouts. He’s also a threat on the bases, averaging 25 stolen bases per 162 games.

Projected Landing Spot: Los Angeles Dodgers

Kyle Schwarber

Tucker isn’t the only notable Kyle on the market, as Kyle Schwarber will enter free agency once again. One of the best power hitters in baseball, Schwarber has hit 187 home runs over the past four seasons, earning two All-Star selections and three top-20 MVP finishes from 2022 to 2024. This year’s awards ceremony will likely place him in the top three of the rankings.

Despite being 33 years old, Schwarber is coming off the best season of his career, posting a 4.9 fWAR that crushed his 3.3 mark from the year before. However, his age remains a concern for teams looking to make a long-term investment. Quality of play often declines rapidly in a player’s mid-30s, especially for power hitters, making front offices question how many more elite seasons he has left.

Projected Landing Spot: Philadelphia Phillies

Alex Bregman

Alex Bregman is another hot topic after signing a one-year deal with the Red Sox last offseason and posting his best offensive season since finishing runner-up for the 2019 AL MVP. He opted out of that contract a couple of weeks ago and will be 32 years old at the start of the 2026 season.

The hot corner is thin this year, as the only other top free agents with MLB experience – Eugenio Suárez and potentially Max Muncy if the Dodgers decline his club option – will be 35 years old next season. Bregman is clearly the best third baseman with plenty left in the tank, and teams such as the Phillies might want to keep an eye on the former Stros star.

Projected Landing Spot: Philadelphia Phillies

Cody Bellinger

Cody Bellinger has also opted out of his deal with a legendary AL East club, the Yankees. Bellinger put his career back on track with the second-best season of his career, trailing only his 2019 MVP campaign. The left-handed slugger will be one of the biggest outfield names on the market, especially since he’ll be just 30 years old at the start of the 2026 season.

One of the most notable aspects of Bellinger’s resurgence is his improved plate discipline since leaving Los Angeles. During his tenure with the Dodgers, he posted an average strikeout rate of 23.2%, but that number has dropped to 14.9% since departing the City of Angels. This newfound control at the plate, combined with his elite defense and being a solid threat on the basepaths, makes him a strong candidate for a massive payday at the Winter Meetings.

Projected Landing Spot: New York Yankees

Pete Alonso

On to another New York-based opt-out, Pete Alonso has decided to enter a new chapter of his baseball career. After seven remarkable seasons in which he averaged 42 home runs per 162 games, the Mets’ decision not to extend him a qualifying offer appears to mark the end of his time in Queens.

The five-time All-Star has never dipped below 22% better than the league-average hitter, according to the OPS+ metric, showcasing his remarkable consistency at the plate. He also posted a career-best 54.5% hard-hit rate last season, a full 7.1% higher than his previous mark. Alonso is an instant power upgrade for any team looking to add some pop to its lineup.

Projected Landing Spot: San Diego Padres

Munetaka Murakami

The only international free agent on this list, Murakami, enters MLB with widespread interest from nearly every team. The Japanese slugger is projected to become one of the most feared hitters ever to make the jump across the Pacific.

Over his eight seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball, Murakami hit 246 home runs, cementing himself as the most feared power hitter in the nation. In 2022, he belted 56 home runs, breaking Sadaharu Oh’s record for the most by a Japanese-born player, a mark that stood for 58 years. He’ll also be just 26 years old entering the upcoming season, so age isn’t a major concern. With his mind-blowing power, Murakami has a chance to be the next player to redefine baseball across oceans.

Projected Landing Spot: Seattle Mariners

Jack Dobbins is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jwd5889@psu.edu