10 MLB Free Agents to Watch

MLB teams have until November 6th to negotiate exclusively with their pending free agents. At 5PM Thursday, MLB’s marathon free agency window opens, setting a few notable names out into the open.

RELATED:
2026 MLB Free Agents
Spotrac’s MLB Market Values

Kyle Tucker (29, RF, Cubs)

10 years, $400M

Tucker’s shine wore off a bit as he pushed through a fractured hand, but he remains the top all-around pending free agent this winter. The numbers likely won’t reach Soto or even Judge thresholds, but this should be another eye-popping free agent contract nevertheless. (Qualifying offer expected)

Dylan Cease (30, SP, Padres)

7 years, $210M

Cease doesn’t have the statistical resume or consistency as many of the top-paid pitchers possess, but he’s got age and durability on his side this winter. Since making his debut in 2019, Cease has never missed a start. That might be worth an extra year on the contract when it’s all said and done. (Qualifying offer expected)

Framber Valdez (31, SP, Astros)

6 years, $200M

Valdez hits the market with a bit of a weird vibe, as questions surrounding his health, conditioning, and locker room presence all surfaced in 2025. The production on the mound hasn’t wavered a bit however, and there’s a world where contending teams overpay on the annual to maximize a shorter term deal here. (Qualifying offer expected)

Bo Bichette (28, SS, Blue Jays)

7 years, $175M

Bichette is a hit machine, and has shown a good deal of power in his first 6+ seasons as well. This recent knee injury could be a nail in the coffin for his days as a shortstop, but a willingness to slide over to 2nd or 3rd in a more primary manner could help bolster his market this winter. A mini bidding war should get his bottom line north of $200M. (Qualifying offer expected)

Pete Alonso (31, 1B, Mets)

5 years, $150M

Pete’s first go-round in free agency didn’t exactly go as planned, as the 30-year-old returned to NY on a 2 year, $54M contract that became a 1 for 30 per his opt-out. With no qualifying offer attached to him this time, and coming off yet another stat-filled campaign in 2025, there should be a fairly strong market for Alonso in the coming weeks. Can he secure himself a 5 (or maybe even 6) year guarantee? (Qualifying offer unavailable)

Alex Bregman (32, 3B, Red Sox)

4 years, $120M

Bregman just opted-out of a 2 year, $80M guarantee in Boston, so the thought of him accepting a new deal at less than $40M per year might seem off, but the goal here is to maximize the overall guarantee (and remain in a winning setting) for the next 3-5 seasons. Both he and Pete Alonso will be working hard to secure that 5th year this winter. (Qualifying offer unavailable)

Cody Bellinger (30, 1B, Yankees)

6 years, $180M

Bellinger’s rollercoaster career has been mostly on the positive track since the 2023 season, and he was a big part of the Yankees strong run in 2025. Will a team or two value him as a central figure in their window of contention, or is he destined for short-term, option-filled contracts for the remainder of his career? (Qualifying offer unavailable)

Ranger Suarez (30, SP, Phillies)

6 years, $160M

The best case to be made for Suarez is that he’s found a way to be successful in a variety of ways, despite a dip in velocity the past few seasons. Every team in the league wants a LHP who can give them 150 IP without blinking, but longevity will be a red flag per these negotiations. (Qualifying offer expected)

Kyle Schwarber (33, DH, Phillies)

4 years, $120M

Mathematically, Schwarber in a full-time DH role carries a value at around $25M per year, but his pedigree, experience, and history of clutch production should be considered nearly invaluable to contenders this winter. Will the Phillies push more into the tax in order to retain his services? (Qualifying offer expected)

Munetaka Murakami (26, 3B, Japan)

5 years, $115M

His stock has cooled a bit over the past few seasons, but Murakami remains the international position player to watch this winter. He has experience at both corners defensively, and many believe his approach at the plate will translate extremely well to the MLB game. (Posting Fee Required)

10 MLB Trade Candidates to Watch

As of November 2nd, the MLB Trade Window is now back open, and based on a few early reports - it may very well be an active one. Generally we don’t begin to see this kind of movement until during/after the December Winter Meetings, but here are a few names we’re watching closely over the coming weeks.

RELATED:
Spotrac’s Trade Candidate Tracker
2026 Tax Payrolls

Mitch Keller (29, SP, Pirates)

2026 Salary: $16.5M

Keller has 3 years, $54.5M remaining on his contract in Pittsburgh, including $16.5M for the upcoming 2026 season. The Pirates have developed a strong young rotation, which could make Keller expendable this winter, especially if they can bring back an MLB-ready bat or two.

Freddy Peralta (29, SP, Brewers)

2026 Salary: $8M club option

Milwaukee holds an $8M team option (no buyout) with Peralta for 2026, and obviously would have no trouble keeping him on that number (204 Ks, 154 ERA+, 5.5 WAR in 33 2025 starts). But the option represents the final year of his contract, and if the two sides don’t see a future past 2026, flipping this value salary for a good return now makes sense for the Brewers.

Joe Ryan (29, SP, Twins)

2026 Salary: $6M (arbitration estimate)

The Twins are largely expected to cut costs in 2026, and that will include the active payroll as well. Ryan was sought after at the trade deadline, but a deal didn’t materialize. The 29-year-old is arbitration-eligible through 2027, with an estimate near $6M for the upcoming season.

Jarren Duran (29, OF, Red Sox)

2026 Salary: $8M club option/$7.2M arbitration estimate

Boston has a surplus of young positional player talent that could/should culminate in a sizable trade or two this winter. Duran seems the most likely man to move, and there will be more than a handful of teams ready to pounce. The 29-year-old has been filling up the stat board each of the past 2+ seasons, and is a Day 1 starter elsewhere. Furthermore, he’s cost controlled through the 2028 season.

Brendan Donovan (28, 2B, Cardinals)

2026 Salary: $5.75M arbitration estimate

Now a positional utility man (2B, 3B, LF, RF) Donovan’s stock is at a career-high, and the Cardinals appear poised to bank off of it this winter. The 28-year-old is cost-controlled through 2027, which should net St. Louis a fairly strong prospect in return.

Steven Kwan (28, LF, Guardians)

2026 Salary: $8.5M arbitration estimate

Kwan is arbitration-eligible through the 2027 season, so there’s no real urgency for Cleveland to cut ties just yet. However, extension negotiations appear to have turned sour, and could be all but dead between the two sides. Generally speaking, once Cleveland knows they won’t have a featured player going forward, they begin to nibble at the trade market. That’s likely what this winter looks like for these two sides.

Pete Fairbanks (31, RP, Rays)

2026 Salary: $12.5M club option ($1M buyout)

One of the more consistent back-end relievers in the game, Fairbanks may simply be too expensive for a Tampa team that prides itself on flipping players at certain thresholds, and relying heavily on their draft/develop process to backfill. Proven Relievers continue to provide strong trade returns - even with an expiring contract such as Fairbanks here.

Luis Castillo (32, SP, Mariners)

2026 Salary: $22.75M

Castillo has 2 years, $45.5M remaining on his contract, plus a potential $25M vesting option for 2028). There’s also a $1M trade assignment bonus built into the deal, adding another layer of complexity to a winter move. Seattle has plenty of starting pitching depth, and could handle a move to help generate a little more offense going forward.

Alec Bohm (29, 3B, Phillies)

2026 Salary: $10.25M arbitration estimate

Bohm remains a solid player for the Phils, but a few things are true right now: 1) He’s entering a walk year in 2026, and will likely price himself out of Philadelphia’s reach 2) The Phillies have three, expensive free agents they’d like a crack at retaining in Ranger Suarez, Kyle Schwarber, and JT Realmuto. Moving on from Bohm helps reduce what is setting up to be a very expensive tax year.

Kyle Freeland (32, SP, Rockies)

2026 Salary: $16M

Freeland remains a solid, reliable starter despite the shortcomings that exist as a pitcher in Colorado. He’s also headed into a contract year for the Rockies (who are headed for a complete overhaul, again) and doesn’t figure to be in the long-term plans going forward.