Following the oddly quiet Winter Meetings, the 2026 MLB offseason has officially kicked into gear with multiple top free agents coming off the board. With Pete Alonso, Kyle Schwarber, Dylan Cease, and more significant signings, the market seems to finally be moving.
Despite this, there are still major free agent pitchers and position players yet to sign or be traded, many acting as dominoes in relation to each other. With significant action yet to take place, the remainder of the offseason could hold major surprises.
6 Years – $240 MM (Player Option Following 3rd)
Despite spending north of $200 MM on Dylan Cease, the Blue Jays are rumored to be all in on adding at least one major bat. While he’ll certainly have the steepest price, Toronto could feasibly add Tucker to a medium-length deal with a high AAV. This contract lands them the best free agent of the class without a 10+ year commitment. Tucker adds value in all phases of the game and gives the Jays a left-handed version of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at the top of their lineup.
5 Years – $130 MM (Mutual Option Following 4th)
While recent rumors regarding the Diamandbacks and Blue Jays have surfaced, Bregman’s market seems to be thinner than expected. There are certainly cases to be made about him signing with other teams, but remaining in Boston is likely his best option, and the Red Sox know that.
Whether Scott Boras drags out negotiations or not, Bregman will likely return to Boston on a deal around 5 years with an option later in the contract. While he won’t receive the $40 million average annual value in his previous deal, this contract gives him more long-term security on an affordable deal for the Red Sox.
8 Years – $240 MM
While the Blue Jays are already signing Kyle Tucker in this scenario, it’s not out of the question that they retain their superstar infielder as well. Bringing in Tucker on a deal he could likely opt out of allows Toronto to sign Bichette to a long-term deal as well. Contrary to many of the remaining free agents, Bichette hasn’t turned 30 years old yet and looks to enter his prime for the next few years.
Because of this, teams could be willing to give him 8+ years on a potential deal. While he could certainly seek out a 10-year contract, he may be open to taking a slight discount to remain in Toronto, where he could still play shortstop for a few more seasons.
6 Years – $180 MM
The Mets are seemingly looking to restructure the makeup of their team, letting Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz walk in free agency. They also moved fan favorite outfielder Brandon Nimmo to Texas in exchange for Marcus Semien. With two open outfield spots, the Mets are likely to sign one of Tucker or Bellinger to a long-term deal. As they continue to shed payroll, they may lean towards the cheater of the two in Bellinger.
6 Years – $168 MM
With Tucker likely signing elsewhere, the Cubs could be in the business of spending a chunk of their payroll on rotation upgrades. Despite posting extremely consistent production over recent years, Valdez likely depleted some of his value with clubhouse issues and character concerns over the past season. While some organizations may look past him as a potential option, Chicago could see him entering their price range and jump on the opportunity. With great infield defense, Valdez’s 97th percentile groundball rate should bode well with the Cubs.
Despite a significant portion of the offseason being over, some of the top free agents from the class are still available. While a wildcard team could come out of left field for any of these players, they are likely dominoes that’ll be signed by the same few teams showing notable interest.
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