MLB free agency: Best players available, top landing spots for 2026-27 free agents

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MLB free agency: Best players available, top landing spots for 2026-27 free agents

Bailey Bassett, ClutchPoints · ClutchPoints

Tue, November 3, 2026 at 7:22 PM UTC ·

14 min read

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MLB free agency: Best players available, top landing spots for 2026-27 free agents appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .

MLB free agency has officially begun. Unlike other sports, there isn't a rush to sign players in the opening hours of free agency. Still, teams are excited to add the best players on the open market who can bolster their rosters. This year, there isn't much star talent in free agency compared to other years. Excluding arguably the best pitcher in baseball, that is. So, who are the 25 best MLB free agents this offseason?

25. Eugenio Suarez, Cincinnati Reds, 3B

Ideal landing spot:Seattle Mariners

Everybody knew Eugenio Suarez was bound to fall back down to Earth after a 49-home run season in 2025. Still, Suarez didn't fall off too far. He smashed 26 home runs with the Cincinnati Reds, maintaining his reputation as a high-power, high-strikeout player in the process. Suarez provides a very specific role of right-handed power to teams in need of that in MLB free agency. Considering he will be 36 years old next season, he shouldn't cost too much on the open market, either.

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24. Jose Alvarado, Philadelphia Phillies, RP

Ideal landing spot:Arizona Diamondbacks

Now over a year removed from an 80-game suspension for violating MLB's PED policy, Jose Alvarado hits the open market as one of the top available relievers. Alvarado didn't perform well for the Philadelphia Phillies last year. His 5.86 ERA was a career-worst mark, excluding nine innings pitched during the 2020 shortened season. Still, Alvarado had a season with a 1.74 ERA not all that long ago, and he seems primed to bounce back next season.

23. Clay Holmes, Chicago Cubs, SP

Ideal landing spot:Chicago White Sox

Clay Holmes will officially hit the open market after declining his player option . A long-time closer, Holmes has successfully transitioned into the role of starting pitcher. Holmes attacks the bottom of the strike zone and is among the league leaders in pitches that result in ground balls every single year.

22. Ryan Jeffers, Minnesota Twins, C

Ideal landing spot:Los Angeles Angels

Offensive pop from the catcher position is a rarity. Ryan Jeffers provides that, making him the top backstop available this offseason. The Minnesota Twins catcher is particularly great against lefties. With his 30s approaching, expect Jeffers next team to have him spend more time at DH, as to not overextend his workload behind the plate.

21. Taylor Ward, Baltimore Orioles, OF

Ideal landing spot:Toronto Blue Jays

In 2025, Taylor Ward belted 36 home runs for the Los Angeles Angels. Unfortunately, he lost nearly all of that pop after becoming the Baltimore Orioles' big offseason acquisition last year, evidenced by the fact that he only had seven long bombs this past season. Ward supplanted his production by improving when it comes to plate discipline, though.

The outfielder was seventh in baseball with 99 walks in 2026. The concern is that Ward is trending the wrong direction, because he was worse after a trade to the Seattle Mariners to end the year than he was in Baltimore. If Ward can rediscover his power with the newfound plate vision, though, he can be an impact bat for whichever team signs him next.

20. Alec Bohm, Philadelphia Phillies, 3B

Ideal landing spot:Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies have long had a star-studded lineup filled with big-name batters. For years, Alec Bohm has been a key piece of said lineup. He typically lingers around 15 home runs and a .280 batting average, good but not great numbers. That was until the start of the 2026 season.

A disastrous slump resulted in Bohm being the worst statistical third baseman in baseball during the first half of the season, and his team's slow start can largely be attributed to his struggles. As the Phillies turned their season around, so did Bohm, and he ended up being the team's best postseason producer. It seems likely that teams will view the back half of Bohm's season as more representative of what he'll do going forward than his first half.

19. J.P. Crawford, Seattle Mariners, SS

Ideal landing spot:St. Louis Cardinals

J.P. Crawford has been the Seattle Mariners shortstop since 2019. Since then, he has been one of the most relevant players at arguably the most premier position in the sport. However, Crawford's numbers have never seemed to match his name recognition, and the Mariners have a new answer at shortstop in Colt Emerson.

Crawford has shown a willingness to move to the hot corner. He also has the added benefit of being one of a few noteworthy free agents at the shortstop position this offseason.

18. Ian Happ, Chicago Cubs, OF

Ideal landing spot:Philadelphia Phillies

Ian Happ's bat-to-ball skills were down during his contract year. The Chicago Cubs outfielder batted just .218, by far the worst mark of his career. Even so, he smashed more than 20 homers for the fifth time in six years. Happ is a patient hitter who will likely rebound in the contact department next season. However, he might be too much of a replacement-level player to demand a big, multi-year deal in free agency.

17. George Springer, Toronto Blue Jays, DH

Ideal landing spot:Colorado Rockies

George Springer's resume might be the best of anybody available in MLB free agency this year. He has four All-Star nods, three Silver Slugger awards, and a World Series MVP to his name. During that 2017 World Series victory, Springer smashed a record-tying five home runs, which will forever hold him in legend status.

Springer left the Houston Astros after 2020 and has been with the Toronto Blue Jays ever since. His winning experiences nearly helped the Blue Jays win the World Series in 2025, as Toronto went to Game 7 in the Fall Classic that year. Both he and his team took a major step back in 2026, though. Springer's batting average regressed from .309 to .249, and he went from 32 home runs to 15. Even so, this is a champion who knows how to produce when the lights are the brightest.

16. Kevin Gausman, Chicago Cubs, SP

Ideal landing spot:Chicago Cubs

Kevin Gausman is now 35 years old and has been in the big leagues since 2013. Despite his veteran status and impending retirement, Gausman is still going strong. In fact, he has 30-plus starts every season since the shortened 2020 season. The starting pitcher's durability is his best trait.

He also has an impressive splitter and an accurate fastball. As Gausman continues to get older, teams might not be able to rely on him for as many starts at a top-line level, but he should continue being a reliable rotation option.

15. Kaima Taira, Japan, SP

Ideal landing spot:Athletics

Signing players from Japan is the newest fad for MLB teams, and it has paid off in a big way for a number of programs in recent years. Of course, Shohei Ohtani is still arguably the best player in the league. Yoshinobu Yamamoto won the World Series MVP in his second year after coming stateside, and Munetaka Murakami was a breakout star in his rookie season with the Chicago White Sox last season.

Kaima Taira and Teruaki Sato are the next big things from Japan. Taira is a starting pitcher with an unorthodox but effective game. He stands just 5-foot-8, but he generates tons of power from his low point of leverage. If Taira doesn't cut it as a starter, he could revert to the bullpen. He had plenty of success as an explosive reliever/closer prior to a breakout season in the rotation in 2026.

14. Trevor Rogers, Baltimore Orioles, SP

Ideal landing spot:Baltimore Orioles

In a free agent class with a lot of aging pitchers, a starter like Trevor Rogers who hasn't surpassed the 30-year-old threshold yet could be highly coveted. He has powerful stuff, threw 169 innings this year, and had a 1.81 ERA the season prior. The Orioles haven't given enough attention to their rotation in recent years, so bringing Rogers back would be smart. The pitcher was just given the one-year qualifying offer.

13. Sonny Gray, Boston Red Sox, SP

Ideal landing spot:Minnesota Twins

Sonny Gray has played for six MLB teams since 2013. He is a three-time All-Star who has pitched in lots of high-leverage matchups. Somehow, the 36th-year-old just had a career year in his 14th season. He led the AL with 18 wins, and his 2.72 ERA was the best mark of his career. Gray announced to the world that he is ready to keep playing at a high level.

However, there is a concern that this will be the year that age catches up to Gray. He doesn't throw with premier velocity, and his strikeout rates were down last year. The production will lead to a team banking on Gray as one of their top starters, but there is a world where regression hits hard.

12. Luis Arraez, Philadelphia Phillies, 2B

Ideal landing spot:Texas Rangers

One of the best contact hitters of a generation, Luis Arraez has thrice led his league in batting average. He was again above the .300 mark and in the All-Star Game last season after converting back to second base, a much better fit for him than first. Arraez did regress and battled with injury woes after a trade to the Phillies, though.

Furthermore, he provides next to no power. But even in the modern game where the long ball rules supreme, there is still value to getting on base and hitting for contact.

11. Adrian Morejon, San Diego Padres, RP

Ideal landing spot:New York Yankees

Just 27 years old and coming off his first All-Star appearance, Adrian Morejon will be one of the top players available in free agency, specifically when it comes to bullpen arms. The southpaw has had an ERA below 3.00 for three straight seasons. Morejon throws his heater with plenty of velocity, and had it not been for Mason Miller overshadowing him in the San Diego Padres' bullpen, he'd likely be an even bigger name in MLB free agency.

10. Freddy Peralta, Tampa Bay Rays, SP

Ideal landing spot:Atlanta Braves

Freddy Peralta was one of the top pitchers active during the Tampa Bay Rays vs. Milwaukee Brewers World Series. While Peralta was on the losing end of the Fall Classic, he boosted his stock heading into free agency. Ironically, Peralta was on the Brewers just last season.

In four postseason starts this year, Peralta was 2-1 with a 2.95 ERA and a 1.359 WHIP. Peralta did struggle with the New York Mets before joining the Rays championship push, but his late-season surge came at the perfect time.

9. David Bednar, New York Yankees, RP

Ideal landing spot:Chicago Cubs

David Bednar is one of the very best closers in baseball. He made two All-Star Games in Pittsburgh before a 2025 trade to the Yankees. In 69.1 innings this past season, the closer had a 2.47 ERA. Bednar's splitter has improved in New York, as has the frequency in which he throws it.

8. Jake Bauers, Milwaukee Brewers, 1B/OF

Ideal landing spot:New York Mets

It is hard to say if Jake Bauers' breakout season, at age 30, was a one-season wonder, or a sign of things to come. En route to winning the World Series, Bauers hit .266 with 26 home runs and 94 walks. In seasons prior, he was a mere depth bat, and he even contemplated retirement.

Now, Bauers has an NLCS MVP to his name, and there could be a sizable market for his skills this offseason. In all likelihood, 2026 will go down as a career year for Bauers, but he is still one of the better free agents this offseason.

7. Brandon Lowe , Pittsburgh Pirates, 2B

Ideal landing spot:Pittsburgh Pirates

Brandon Lowe has back-to-back seasons above 30 home runs, and he did it with two different teams. That means another team in free agency can expect Lowe to come in and put up huge numbers if he were to sign in free agency. The two-time All-Star has been trekking along for nearly a decade now. He isn't somebody that teams want to be their best player, but he is a power hitting middle infield with steady production. That deserves to get paid.

6. Jazz Chisholm Jr., New York Yankees, 2B/OF/3B

Ideal landing spot:Detroit Tigers

Electrifying, polarizing, and streaky are all buzzwords that can be used to describe Jazz Chisholm. The versatile Chisholm can line up all over the field defensively, where he can leave fans' jaws dropped when he creates highlight defensive plays or inexcusable errors. On offense, he is just as likely to get crazy hot as plenty cold.

Chisholm has a magnificent blend of speed and power. He also strikes out a lot. Some teams may ignore him in free agency; others will be willing to pay a pretty penny to sign the bona fide superstar.

5. Seiya Suzuki , Chicago Cubs, OF

Ideal landing spot:Seattle Mariners

Seiya Suzuki keeps raking at the big league level. The Cubs handed him the $23.15 million qualifying offer, but he seems likely to decline and pursue a multi-year deal on the open market. Excluding his rookie season, the outfielder has now been above 20 home runs every season of his career. The defense and on-base percentage were both better than ever before this past season, too.

4. Michael King , San Diego Padres, SP

Ideal landing spot:San Diego Padres

Michael King has successfully transition from reliever to starter, and now he can be relied upon as a mid-line rotation option. After missing half of last season, King bounced back in a big way this year. Rumors suggest that he could be headed back to the San Diego Padres.

3. Teruaki Sato, Japan, 3B/OF

Ideal landing spot:New York Yankees

Fresh off the success of Munetaka Murakami's rookie season, Japanese phenom Teruaki Sato is likely to get paid handsomely by a major league team. The five-time NPB All-Star has everything from Japanese baseball on his resume, including a championship, an MVP, a Gold Glove, and most recently, a triple crown win.

Sato actually profiles somewhat similarly to Murakami as an offensively-minded third baseman/corner outfielder who strikes out a decent amount but makes up for it with pop.

2. Randy Arozarena , Seattle Mariners, OF

Ideal landing spot:Baltimore Orioles

There is a surplus of former Rays players on this list, which is a testament to Tampa Bay's player development program. Randy Arozarena spent the last two and a half seasons in Seattle, though, where he made back-to-back All-Star Games. This season, Arozarena hit .281 with 26 home runs. His 113 runs scored led the AL, too.

The analytics aren't quite as favorable to Arozarena's projections as the 2026 numbers would indicate. Still, he is someone who can slot in the middle of any order in baseball.

1. Tarik Skubal , Los Angeles Dodgers, SP

Ideal landing spot:Los Angeles Dodgers

Tarik Skubal entered the 2026 season ranked as the third best player in MLB, only trailing Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge in that regard. While Skubal's two season streak of winning the Cy Young award and leading the AL in ERA came to an end, the pitcher was still one of the best in the league.

The Dodgers traded for Skubal knowing that he could be a rental, but they've outbid everyone for the best free agents in recent years, so it would come as no surprise if Skubal ended up back in Los Angeles.

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