Spring training is only a month away, yet an abundance of top-flight names remain on the MLB free-agent market. This is nothing out of the ordinary, but it calls for a reset of likely destinations and contract value for the most coveted players.

Two recent signings reached average annual values (AAV) of at least $30 million, noteworthy because both players are older than 30 and add little to zero value with their gloves. First baseman Pete Alonso, 31, signed a five-year, $155-million deal with the Orioles and designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, who turns 33 in March, signed a five-year, $150-million deal with the Phillies.

Juan Soto ($51 million AAV), Aaron Judge ($40 million) and Mike Trout ($35.5 million) are the only outfielders paid more than $30 million a year, although all three make significantly more. Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger are expected to join the exclusive club this offseason.

The longest contract for a pitcher is the seven-year, $210 million deal Dylan Cease got from the Blue Jays. Japanese import Tatsuya Imai landed the highest AAV when the Astros signed him for $63 million over three years.

The Dodgers can’t be counted out on the biggest names, but their strategy after winning back-to-back World Series appears to prize patience over aggressive spending.

Position players

NAME, AGE, POSITION, 2025 bWAR, CAREER bWAR

Kyle Tucker, 29, OF, 4.5, 27.3: Although the market for the left-handed hitting slugger has been guarded, Tucker should still command the highest sticker price in this free-agent class. Early projections of $400 million might be a long shot, but an AAV of more than $30 million is a near certainty, and Tucker is seeking a 10-year contract. The Dodgers are considered a suitor because they need a productive corner outfielder. However, they are content to wait and see how far Tucker’s market drops before jumping in.

Cody Bellinger, 30, OF/1B, 5.0, 30.4: A Dodgers reunion is a popular topic on L.A. talk radio, but it still feels like a reach because of the stomach-churning roller-coaster ride Bellinger and the team endured during his six-year stint that ended in 2022. Bellinger has gradually rehabilitated his on-field reputation with three excellent seasons — two with the Cubs and one with the Yankees. The Athletic reported that the Yankees have offered Bellinger a deal worth more than $30 million a year, but he is holding firm with his desire for seven years.

Bo Bichette, 28, SS, 3.4, 20.8: Bichette displayed his toughness to the Dodgers by playing effectively in the World Series despite a lingering knee injury. He accumulated more than 175 hits in four of the last five seasons with above-average power — and can play any infield position. Third base would be his home should he sign with the Cubs, who appear determined to add a slugger who can play that position. The Dodgers have Max Muncy under contract for one more season, but could sign Bichette if he is willing to take a shorter deal at a high AAV.

Eugenio Suárez, 34, 3B, 3.6, 26.8: Suárez is in an enviable position even though he is older than fellow infielders Bregman and Bichette. Splitting the season between the Diamondbacks and Mariners, Suarez tied a career high with 49 home runs and drove in 118 runs. Teams that miss out on Bregman or Bichette could turn to Suárez as a short-term solution at third.

Harrison Bader, 31, OF, 3.9, 17.3: Bader declined his player option for $6.5 million after posting a stellar second half with the Phillies, who acquired him from the Twins at the trade deadline. His combined numbers were his best since 2021, and given the fact that he is a Gold Glove center fielder, Bader has suitors that include the Phillies and two other teams whose uniforms he already has worn — the Yankees and Mets.

Pitchers

NAME, AGE, POSITION, 2025 bWAR, CAREER bWAR

Framber Valdez, 32, SP, 3.8, 18.8: Valdez was impressively consistent for the Astros and should be able to choose between several multiyear offers. His age works against a long-term deal, but Sportrac estimated his AAV at $33.3 million, easily the highest among free-agent pitchers.

Ranger Suárez, 30, SP, 4.7, 18.1: The left-handed Suárez is younger than most other free-agent starters and is coming off an excellent season. He has a 1.48 ERA over 11 postseason appearances. He is well-positioned to command a lucrative contract of up to six years. Expect him to sign with one of the teams with a high payroll.

Zac Gallen, 30, SP, 1.1, 20.8: On the plus side, Gallen posted 56 wins over 126 starts the last four years for the Diamondbacks and he’s only 30. On the negative side, his ERA has risen each of those four years, peaking in 2025 at 4.83. The right-hander should be looking at a multiyear deal with an AAV of about $18 million.

Nick Martinez, 35, SP, 2.3, 11.2: Martinez is a swingman who has pined for the workload and pay of a full-time starter. The Reds gave him that opportunity in 2025 and he was moderately successful, posting a 4.45 ERA in a career-high 165 2/3 innings while earning $21 million. He’ll likely get another one-year deal for less money.

Chris Bassitt, 37, SP, 2.1, 18.1: Bassitt has been a dependable mid-rotation arm, making at least 30 starts four years in a row with league-average results. He is coming off a three-year, $63-million contract with the Blue Jays, but at 37 he might not be able to replicate that deal.

Justin Verlander, 43, SP, 1.2, 81.7: Alas, Verlander’s dogged pursuit of 300 wins wasn’t helped by a 4-11 season with the Giants. He deserved better, posting a 3.85 ERA in 29 starts. The future first-ballot Hall of Famer made $15 million, and a one-year deal at two-thirds of that number seems reasonable. No financial worries: Verlander has been paid $419 million over 20 years.

Lucas Giolito, 31, SP, 2.1, 14.4: Giolito has been an effective starter for nine seasons, with a 1-6 record and 6.89 ERA in six starts with the Angels in 2023 the most glaring blemish. The right-hander from Harvard Westlake High missed the 2024 season because of elbow surgery but rebounded to go 10-4 with a 3.41 ERA in 26 starts for the Red Sox in 2025.

Tyler Anderson, 36, SP, 2.0, 16.8: The dependable former Angels and Dodgers starter is coming off a three-year, $39-million contract. Anderson‘s 2025 season ended in August because of an oblique strain, and he was 2-8 with a 4.56 ERA in 26 starts. A two-year deal at a reduced AAV isn’t out of the question.

Max Scherzer, 41, SP, 0.2, 75.6: The future Hall of Famer has no intention of retiring, even after posting a 5.19 ERA and giving up 19 home runs in 85 innings for the Blue Jays. Scherzer might take a steep pay cut from the $15.5 million he made in 2025, but he’s already been paid $366.5 million in his 18-year career. Dodgers fans remember him as a 2021 trade-deadline acquisition going 7-0 with a 1.98 ERA in 11 regular-season starts but bowing out of a start in the NLCS.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Here is the latest news and buzz surrounding free agent outfielder Kyle Tucker and his chances of signing with the Mets…

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Jan. 11, 9:35 p.m.

The Mets, Dodgers, and Blue Jays – the three teams identified as the main teams involved in the pursuit for Tucker – have either “in person or over Zoom,” met with the free agent outfielder, according to a report Sunday night from former MLB exec and MLB Network radio analyst Jim Duquette.

Duquette added that this is “part of the recruiting process for a star player,” but that it will “be interesting to see” if any of the teams increase their offers to “separate themselves from the other.”

Jan. 7, 8:24 p.m.

Earlier reports suggested that Tucker may have to settle for a short-term deal with a high AAV, but one team is seemingly willing to commit to the All-Star outfielder long term.

The Athletic’s Will Sammon reports that while the Mets, Dodgers and Blue Jays are among Tucker’s options this offseason, New York’s preference is to offer a shorter contract. Sammon speculates the Mets would like to make a deal with a length of less than four years. However, the Blue Jays are expected to offer a longer contract this offseason.

Sammon notes that the Dodgers should not be ignored, as they have a history of swooping in and making deals.

After trading Brandon Nimmo to the Rangers, Juan Soto is the only Mets outfielder written on the lineup in pen. Tyrone Taylor and Carson Benge are the current top candidates to fill center field and left field, but adding Tucker would immediately change that equation.

Jan. 6, 8:37 p.m.

Three teams have emerged as the most “aggressive” in their pursuit of Tucker.

According to former MLB exec and MLB Network radio analyst Jim Duquette, the Mets, Dodgers and Blue Jays are the most aggressive suitors for Tucker. However, Duquette adds that nothing appears imminent and there is some distance between the other team reportedly interested and the main three.

The Athletic’s Mitch Bannon reported Tuesday that Toronto has increased their efforts to recruit Tucker as he fits their roster construction better than former infielder Bo Bichette. After signing Japanese star Kazuma Okamoto, the Blue Jays’ infield is likely set, while an outfield addition is easier. Adding Tucker would mean Anthony Santander would move to left field, allowing George Springer to play most of the time as the team’s DH.

Jan. 5, 2:08 p.m.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported Monday that Tucker’s market is “the biggest mystery,” adding that he could have to “take a higher AAV on a short-term contract and hit the market again after two consecutive injury-plagued second halves.”

Many believed Tucker’s market would result in a massive contract in terms of length, with some projecting a contract of 10 or even 11 years. However, that may not be the case if teams balk at the idea of a long-term commitment.

We’re roughly halfway through the MLB offseason, and about half of the top available free agents are still looking for their next home.

The reliever market heated up first this winter, with Edwin Diaz, Devin Williams and other top arms landing big contracts with new teams. Dylan Cease signed a megadeal with the Blue Jays before Thanksgiving, but otherwise the starting pitcher market had been relatively quiet until Tatsuya Imai signed with the Astros. Among position players, Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso found the big paydays they were looking for, but many of the top hitters remain available, including our No. 1 free agent, Kyle Tucker. Four players accepted qualifying offers: Trent Grisham (Yankees), Shota Imanaga (Cubs), Gleyber Torres (Tigers) and Brandon Woodruff (Brewers). And the NPB posting windows reached their end, with Munetaka Murakami, Imai and Kazuma Okamoto finding their MLB homes.

There’s still a lot of offseason business yet to be done. Here’s a look at the 2025-26 free-agent class, headlined by Tucker and full of fascinating cases of star players at a variety of positions.

Note: An asterisk indicates a player received a qualifying offer. Ages listed are for the 2026 season (age on June 30, 2026). You can find a full list of free agents here.

The best player

1. *Kyle Tucker, OF, 29 years old

Tucker is the consensus No. 1 player in this free-agent class and should command a contract north of $350 million. That’s a product of his age — he doesn’t turn 29 until January — and long track record of offensive impact. Since 2020, Tucker’s first full MLB season, he is one of just six hitters to post an OPS above .800 every year. The others are all well-paid superstars: Freddie Freeman, Bryce Harper, Aaron Judge, José Ramírez and Juan Soto. Based solely on the bat, Tucker undoubtedly belongs in that group. Hitters like this don’t hit the open market often, and when they do, they make a killing.

That said, the low-talking Floridian is reaching free agency after an oddly paced walk year with the Cubs. Tucker was dealt from Houston, where he’d spent his entire career, to Chicago in a blockbuster deal last offseason. He got off to a scorching start with the Cubs, was named an All-Star starter and looked like a legit MVP candidate. As late as June 28, he sported a .933 OPS.

Then things got weird. Tucker’s power production cratered in July and August, as he managed just four homers across 211 plate appearances. It turned out he was playing through a hairline fracture in his hand for most of the summer. Just as he appeared to be shifting back into gear, he suffered a calf strain that kept him sidelined until the final week of the regular season.

It marked the second straight year Tucker was significantly limited by injuries, a development that raises a yellow flag or two for a player expected to command a gargantuan contract. Tucker also tends to employ a more laid-back pregame routine that prioritizes preserving energy. That less-is-more approach has helped him ascend to All-Star status, but it raises a few concerns around the league about how he might age and how he’ll adapt if his body starts to need more maintenance. Signs of that physical decline have popped up in Tucker’s sprint speed and defensive metrics, areas in which his skills have dwindled precipitously over the past few seasons.

Then again, that’s probably much too nitpicky. Some very rich team is going to give Tucker gobs of money to rake in the middle of its lineup. His sauceless personality, injury concerns and defensive limitations will combine to make his sweepstakes less of a frenzy than Soto’s were last winter. But don’t get it twisted: This dude is a big prize.

Great hitters with flaws

2. Alex Bregman, 3B, 32

UPDATE: Bregman and the Cubs reportedly agreed on a 5-year, $175 million deal.

A free agent last winter, Bregman ended up in Boston on a three-year, $120 million deal with opt-outs after each season. And after a productive season at Fenway, he reentered the market. A quad issue robbed him of two months over the summer and intensified concerns about Bregman’s gradually deteriorating lower half, but the offensive profile remains incredibly strong. From a swing-decision standpoint, he’s about as good as anybody in the sport. And while the contact quality has dropped off since his MVP contender days, it’s more than good enough to make this version of Bregman an All-Star-level player. Plus, Bregman was heralded for his influence on Boston’s bevy of young players. The Cubs finally spent like a big-market team to add his bat to their lineup and his impact in their clubhouse.

3. *Kyle Schwarber, DH, 33

UPDATE: Schwarber and the Phillies agreed on a 5-year, $150 million deal.

What a season it was for one of the best true power bats of his generation: 56 home runs, 132 RBI and a .928 OPS. Sure, Schwarber is a flawed player — he’s limited to DH, strikes out a ton, doesn’t offer much on the bases and turns 33 in March — but it’s not worth overthinking this. The guy went deep 56 times. People don’t do that too often. For what it’s worth, Schwarber is also regarded as one of the few game-changing locker room presences in the sport. The Phils were front-runners to retain Schwarber’s services and ultimately got it done.

4. *Bo Bichette, SS, 28

A knee sprain kept Bichette on the shelf from early September to the World Series, for which he came back and batted .348. Late-season injury woes aside, 2025 was an extremely successful campaign for the sweet-swinging shortstop. Bichette rebounded from a disastrous 2024 to post numbers more in line with his career norms, swatting 18 homers to go with a .311 batting average that ranked second in baseball. 

Let’s get the elephant out of the way: Bichette is a bad shortstop. This year, he ranked as the game’s worst every-day glove at the infield’s most important spot. A prudent team would probably move him to second or third, but Bichette probably wants to stick at short. His defensive inadequacies don’t overwhelm the value of his bat — this dude rakes — but it adds a wart to the profile.

Still, Bichette’s track record of performance and his age will make him worth it for whichever team lands him. That he managed to return to Toronto’s lineup for the World Series despite not being 100 percent and contributed multiple meaningful hits, including his jaw-dropping blast off Shohei Ohtani in Game 7, lent further credence to his toughness and talent. Optimistically, he should have at least a half-decade of prime left; that’s worth paying for.

5. Pete Alonso, 1B, 31

UPDATE: Alonso and the Orioles agreed on a 5-year, $155 million deal.

Last winter, the Polar Bear and the only club he’d ever known engaged in a protracted stare-down that included a public besmirching from Mets owner Steve Cohen. In the end, Alonso’s market never materialized, and he returned to Queens on a lucrative, two-year deal with an opt-out that everyone expected him to exercise.

Unsurprisingly, that’s what happened after Alonso posted an OPS nearly 100 points higher than his 2024 total. The underlying numbers also rebounded, particularly his average exit velocities and his optimal launch angle percentages. Was that enough to reorient his value as a free agent and earn him the longer-term pact he was looking for a year ago? The Orioles answered with a resounding yes.

Alonso remains a horrid defender at first and a real liability on the bases. Still, he’s generally underrated, the type of needle-moving bat that would make every roster — including Baltimore’s — significantly better.

6. Munetaka Murakami, 1B/3B, 26

UPDATE: Murakami and the Chicago White Sox agreed on a 2-year, $34 million deal.

An unbridled force-of-nature at the plate since he became an every-day player in NPB at age 19, Murakami entered the posting system after seven seasons of legendary slugging in Japan. In 2022, Murakami made history by smashing 56 home runs in 141 games, an NPB record that stands as the most in a single season by a Japanese-born player. Having set an unthinkable standard of Barry Bonds-esque dominance in that 2022 season, with a mind-blowing 225 wRC+, Murakami’s merely outstanding encores in 2023 (31 HR, 150 wRC+) and 2024 (33 HR, 155 wRC+) were viewed as minor disappointments, despite still ranking as some of the best offensive seasons in the league.

The spotlight grew brighter in 2025, as a potential move to MLB came into focus, but an oblique injury cost Murakami multiple months, shrinking the opportunities to scout him. Yet even in an abbreviated sample, Murakami put on a show, nearly returning to his 2022 power peak with a ridiculous .663 SLG% and a whopping 22 home runs in 56 games.

So what’s the catch? Why isn’t this left-handed slugger with prodigious power ranked closer to Tucker on this list? It’s simple: Murakami strikes out a lot. His 29% K rate over the past three seasons is exceptionally high relative to his NPB peers, and while that number might not stand out in MLB right now, it’s difficult for teams to be optimistic that he’s going to make more contact against superior arms stateside. If anything, the concern is that the opposite could occur, with the whiffs piling up to the point that Murakami’s power production is undermined, and he becomes a flawed slugger with volatile ups and downs, a la Joey Gallo. 

It’s also entirely realistic to suggest that Murakami is young and talented enough to make the necessary adjustments to become a classic, power-and-patience superstar in the mold of Matt Olson or Max Muncy, with the high volume of walks and homers compensating for the sky-high strikeout totals. That Murakami is not considered especially likely to stick at third base adds even more pressure on his bat to live up to the hype in Chicago. His issues making contact likely spooked some teams in free agency, negating the upside of his youth and nearly unrivaled NPB résumé. As it turned out, there wasn’t a significant bidding war for his services, giving the White Sox an opportunity at a bargain in their rebuild.

7. Cody Bellinger, OF, 30

No matter how you slice it, glassy-eyed Cody was the second-best position player on the 2025 Yankees behind Aaron Judge. After the Cubs essentially contract-dumped him for nothing last winter, Bellinger responded with the best all-around season of his career since his 2019 MVP campaign. His offensive profile has changed quite a bit since then, but this version of Bellinger — allergic to strikeouts, hitting the ball in the air to the pull side just enough — is a really valuable player.

Add his superb defense in an outfield corner and his relative youth, and you’ve got a legitimate second or third option on a World Series team. Bellinger enjoyed his year in pinstripes, and the Yankees loved what he brought to the table. A reunion there makes a lot of sense, but it would put more pressure on Bellinger’s ability to play center field, where he’s more average than great at this point.

The Big Three arms

8. *Framber Valdez, SP, 32

You could make a strong argument that Valdez belongs in a category all his own, above this other group of arms. The dreadlocked lefty finished top-10 in Cy Young voting in 2022, ‘23 and ‘24. He’s also incredibly durable, as one of just two pitchers to toss at least 175 innings in each of the past four seasons (Logan Webb is the other). Then there’s the October experience: Valdez has 16 career postseason outings. The point is Valdez has been one of the more valuable starting pitchers of this decade. And while his numbers took a half-step back in 2025, he still boasted an elite groundball rate and kept hitters from squaring up the ball.

Valdez’s bizarre interaction with catcher Cesar Salazar in early September, in which Valdez appeared to purposefully cross-up Salazar with a fastball, amplified some previously held concerns about Valdez’s conduct as a teammate. That incident won’t tank his free agency, far from it, but it’s a data point worth noting.

9. *Ranger Suárez, SP, 30

Ranger’s sinker — his most used offering — averages a frosty 90.1 mph, firmly in the bottom 10% league-wide in velocity. Yet Suárez gets outs. A lot of ‘em. After missing the start of the year due to a back issue, the Venezuelan southpaw posted the best numbers of his career, finishing with a 3.20 ERA and just below a strikeout per inning. His postseason track record is notably robust, with a 1.48 ERA across 42 2/3 career innings. Do you feel excited about him starting Game 1 of a playoff series? Probably not. But Game 2 or 3? Definitely. There are some concerns about how he’ll age, particularly if the fastball velocity dips under 90 mph, as there simply aren’t many guys throwing this soft who get outs. But Suárez has been doing this schtick for a few years now, and at some point, the results have to mean something.

10. *Dylan Cease, SP, 30

UPDATE: Cease and the Blue Jays agreed on a 7-year, $210 million deal.

Unlike the southpaw groundball specialists such as Valdez or Suárez fronting their rotations, Cease represents an appealing alternative at the top of the starting pitching market. And a Toronto team fresh off a World Series appearance liked what it saw. While his run-prevention skills have fluctuated more in recent seasons than the two lefties in this tier, Cease has been one of the game’s premier strikeout artists for his entire career, thanks to a tremendous fastball-slider combo. His bouts of ineffectiveness are the product of too many walks and far more hard contact surrendered than you’d expect for someone with Cease’s swing-and-miss stuff, but Cease has been worth at least 3.0 fWAR for five consecutive seasons. 

That consistency is rooted in nearly unrivaled durability: Cease leads all MLB pitchers in starts over the past five years and has never been on the injured list due to an arm injury. Pitcher health is fickle, of course, so there’s no guarantee Cease will remain uninjured for the duration of his Blue Jays contract; it’s also possible some teams viewed the mileage on his arm as problematic. But Toronto saw that longstanding reliability as worthy of committing heavily to him in free agency, and Cease’s demonstrated peaks — including top-four Cy Young finishes in 2022 and ‘24 — likely helped his cause.

Henry Russell/Yahoo Sports

The closer

11. *Edwin Díaz, RP, 32

UPDATE: Díaz and the Dodgers agreed on a 3-year, $69 million deal.

The Mets’ embarrassing collapse does not fall on Díaz’s shoulders, as the lanky Puerto Rican was brilliant once again this year. Now that Emmanuel Clase has effectively been banished for his gambling-related malfeasance, there’s a strong argument that Díaz is the undisputed best reliever in the game. After a catastrophic leg injury during the World Baseball Classic robbed him of his entire 2023 season, Díaz is, amazingly, all the way back to his rip-roaring best.

That’s why, despite having two years and $37 million left on his deal, Díaz opted out to become a free agent. A reunion with the Mets remained likely, but there was no reason for Eddie-D not to try to squeeze out every last dollar that he has earned over the past few years, and the Dodgers were willing to pay Díaz like the elite closer he is.

Tier 2 starter

12. *Zac Gallen, SP, 30

It has been a troubling and confounding decline for Gallen since his third-place NL Cy Young finish in 2023. His first-half struggles in the final year of his Snakes contract were bad enough that no team was willing to meet the price to trade for him in July, despite the right-hander’s widely reported availability, and considering his 5.60 ERA at the deadline, it was tough to blame them. 

Funnily enough, once the trade rumors were behind him and Gallen knew he was going to remain a D-back for the rest of the season, he started to pitch much better, posting a 3.32 ERA in 65 innings over his final 11 outings and restoring some optimism that he could warrant a sizable payday in free agency. It’s not like Gallen’s stuff and velocity are markedly different than during his peak, but regression with his command has caused all five of his pitches to perform worse, a trend that will need to be corrected if he is to reestablish himself as a quality starter whom teams are excited to have on the mound in important games.

NPB stars, part 2

13. Kazuma Okamoto, 3B, 30

UPDATE: Okamoto and the Blue Jays agreed on a 4-year, $60 million deal.

A franchise staple for one of the most prominent organizations in NPB, the Tokyo-based Yomiuri Giants, Okamoto’s prospects of coming to MLB had long been clouded by Yomiuri’s longstanding reluctance to post its players. But Yomiuri will honor Okamoto’s desire to make the jump to the big leagues now, enabling the team to receive some financial compensation for his departure, rather than likely watching him leave for nothing after the 2026 season, when he’d reach the requisite nine years of NPB service to become an unrestricted international free agent. 

Okamoto has been one of the best hitters in Japan for a while — he homered against Team USA in the 2023 World Baseball Classic championship — but he leveled up in a meaningful way in 2025. Although he missed two-plus months in the middle of the season due to a left elbow injury, Okamoto was tremendously productive at the plate when healthy.

He hit .327/.416/.598 with 15 HR in 293 plate appearances across 69 games, good for an astonishing 214 wRC+ that ranked first among NPB hitters with at least 200 plate appearances — yes, even ahead of Murakami (208 wRC+). Okamoto’s 11.3% strikeout rate and 90% in-zone contact rate were both career-best marks, and he is exceptionally adept at pulling the ball in the air, enabling his power to manifest regularly in games. 

He’s also a better bet to stick at third base long-term than Murakami, and he has experience at first base and in left field, offering several paths for him to fit on the Blue Jays’ roster. He’s four years older, right-handed and doesn’t possess quite the eye-popping raw power of Murakami, but it’s entirely reasonable to suggest that Okamoto is more likely to succeed in MLB right away and possibly in the long term as well.

14. Tatsuya Imai, SP, 28

UPDATE: Imai and the Astros agreed on a 3-year, $54 million deal.

Joining Murakami and Okamoto in this winter’s class of Japanese stars making the jump to MLB is Imai, who was posted by the Seibu Lions following a monster season in which he led all NPB starters in WHIP (0.89) and strikeout rate (27.8%) while posting a 1.92 ERA in 163 ⅔ innings. Relative to nearly every other NPB pitcher who has come to MLB in recent years, Imai’s pitch mix is notably more shallow — for now, anyway. His 95-mph four-seam fastball (48%) and 86-mph slider (33%) accounted for more than three-quarters of his pitches thrown in 2025, with the changeup (9%), splitter (5%) and sinker (4%) usage lagging behind. 

That’s not to say there aren’t successful MLB starters deploying a heavy dose of heaters and sliders — Cease, Hunter Greene, and Spencer Strider say hello — but it remains to be seen if Imai’s stuff is good enough at present for him to follow suit or if his arsenal will need adjusting once he arrives stateside. Age is on Imai’s side — he doesn’t turn 28 until May — but there are enough questions that the financial outlay is closer to what Kodai Senga got than Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Also of note: While Murakami is represented by Casey Close of Excel Sports Management (the same agency that represents Kyle Tucker and Kyle Schwarber), Imai and Okamoto are Scott Boras clients.

Rock-solid position players

15. Josh Naylor, 1B, 29

UPDATE: Naylor and the Mariners agreed on a 5-year, $92.5 million deal.

Traded by Cleveland last winter after his first All-Star appearance, Naylor raked for the D-backs before being dealt to Seattle at the deadline and becoming a key contributor during the Mariners’ postseason run. Don’t be fooled by his burly build and high-effort hacks into thinking that Naylor is a one-dimensional slugger; there’s a lot more finesse to his game than meets the eye.

That was most evident in his shocking success stealing bases in 2025, despite his third percentile sprint speed, but it’s also relevant in the batter’s box, where Naylor’s excellent contact ability keeps his strikeout totals low while enabling his power to play to all fields and against various pitch types. He has also turned himself into a rock-solid defender at first base. It appears Naylor’s relative youth and positive recent trajectory helped land him a deal longer than the three-year, $60 million contract Christian Walker secured last offseason as one of free agency’s top available first basemen. By getting Naylor into that fifth year, the Mariners got a manageable $18.5 million AAV.

16. *Trent Grisham, OF, 29

UPDATE: Grisham accepted the one-year qualifying offer from the Yankees at $22.025 million.

Arguably no player climbed these rankings more dramatically over the course of the season than Grisham, who exploded into relevance as a key member of the Yankees’ position-player group after being a virtual afterthought in his first season in the Bronx. To wit: Despite being on the roster for the entire season and every round of the postseason during New York’s run to the World Series in 2024, Grisham appeared in just 76 regular-season games and zero in October. 

This year, Grisham’s 581 plate appearances marked a career high and ranked fourth on the team. Center fielders with Grisham’s power (34 HR) and patience (14.1% walk rate) are rare, and that he’s still just 29. It’s possible some teams viewed him in a fairly skeptical light, considering his timely career year follows a much longer major-league track record of mediocrity, but there are real skills to be excited about here for the Yankees.

17. *Gleyber Torres, 2B, 29

UPDATE: Torres accepted the one-year qualifying offer from the Tigers at $22.025 million.

Torres hit free agency last winter as one of the youngest position players available but ultimately settled for a one-year deal with Detroit, with hopes of bolstering his value with a stronger 2025 showing than in his last hurrah as a Yankee. He generally succeeded, exhibiting elite plate discipline while improving both his hard-hit and barrel rates. He was especially terrific early on for the Tigers (.284/.386/.437 in 72 games through the end of June) but notably faded as the season went on, a decline perhaps explained by a hernia Torres revealed he was playing through after Detroit’s season ended in October.

He underwent surgery to address the issue, and that rehab is not projected to impact his availability to start 2026. Although his defense continues to rate as comfortably below-average, Torres gives an offensive boost at the keystone for Detroit.

18. Jorge Polanco, 2B, 32

UPDATE: Polanco and the Mets agreed on a 2-year, $40 million deal.

Polanco entered free agency a year ago on a decidedly dour note, having just endured the worst campaign of his career in his first year as a Mariner before undergoing knee surgery at the outset of the offseason. Even still, Polanco’s longstanding track record of production before his injury-marred 2024 earned him a spot toward the end of our free-agent rankings, with the idea that a bounce-back could be in store if he could get healthy. 

After staying in Seattle on a one-year deal, Polanco did exactly that, turning in an excellent regular season at the plate (26 HR, 132 wRC+) and delivering several of Seattle’s biggest swings during its run to Game 7 of the ALCS. That strong showing was enough to garner a multiyear deal from the Mets for Polanco in his second trip to the open market. Still, he is a poor defender with a troubling injury history, an indicator of why the deal was relatively short.

Starting pitchers with questions

19. *Michael King, SP, 31

UPDATE: King and the San Diego Padres agreed on a 3-year, $75 million deal.

A breakout 2024 had King primed for a massive platform year in 2025, and his first 10 starts of the season (2.59 ERA in 55 ⅔ innings) suggested he was firmly on track to pitch his way into the top tier of free-agent starters. Then a shoulder injury put him on the shelf for all of June and July, and a left knee injury derailed him shortly after he returned to the mound in August. King was healthy enough to make four September starts and a one-inning relief appearance in the wild-card series, but with just one fully healthy season as a major-league starting pitcher on his résumé (2024), his durability remains a considerable red flag for the Padres, who nonetheless decided to keep him around.

20. *Shota Imanaga, SP, 32

UPDATE: Imanaga accepted the one-year qualifying offer from the Cubs at $22.025 million.

The complex, four-year contract Imanaga signed with the Cubs two years ago featured a crucial decision point following the 2025 season, when Chicago could opt to guarantee Imanaga three more seasons at $57 million or decline to do so, instead affording Imanaga the opportunity to exercise a $15 million player option for 2026. On Nov. 4, Chicago declined to extend Imanaga for three more years, and Imanaga then declined his own one-year option, briefly adding him to the intriguing pool of free-agent starting pitchers before he accepted his QO.

Brilliant as a 30-year-old rookie in 2024, Imanaga regressed in his second major-league season in terms of both durability and effectiveness, missing several starts due to a hamstring strain midsummer and seeing his ERA rise from 2.91 to 3.73. While Imanaga remains an elite strike-thrower who doesn’t allow a boatload of baserunners — his WHIP actually improved in his second season — he’s troublingly susceptible to opponents’ slugging, with a 1.93 HR/9 that ranked second-highest among pitchers with at least 100 innings thrown in 2025. That bugaboo proved costly in the postseason, when he surrendered two key long balls against Milwaukee in NLDS Game 2.

It’s an imperfect profile, but there is still a lot to like about what Imanaga brings on and off the field for the Cubs.

21. Lucas Giolito, SP, 31

Giolito was one of baseball’s most durable starting pitchers until elbow surgery wiped out the entirety of his first year with the Red Sox in 2024. He bounced back with a 3.41 ERA in 145 innings in 2025 but finished the year on a sour note when he reported elbow discomfort that made him unavailable for Boston’s wild-card series against the Yankees. The Red Sox didn’t rule Giolito out for future postseason rounds, but their early elimination left his status uncertain at the outset of the offseason. 

By reaching 140 innings in the regular season, Giolito converted his $19 million team option for 2026 into a player option, which he declined. If he is fully healthy, Giolito remains an alluring option for teams searching for stability in the rotation, though without sizable upside.

22. *Brandon Woodruff, SP, 33

UPDATE: Woodruff accepted the one-year qualifying offer from the Brewers at $22.025 million.

Before shoulder surgery put him on the shelf for a year and a half, Woodruff was one of the best starers in MLB: His 2.93 ERA in 595 innings from 2019 to 2023 was fourth-lowest among qualified starters. But returns from major shoulder injuries tend to be more tenuous than returns from elbow surgery, and the results of Woodruff’s reacclimation to the Brewers’ rotation were extraordinary and unusual. Despite his fastball velocity averaging closer to 93 mph than the 96 he sat at pre-surgery, Woodruff was as dominant as ever, registering a career-high strikeout rate (32.3%) and career-low walk rate (5.4%) while posting a 3.20 ERA in 64 ⅔ innings. He ditched his slider in favor of a cutter, both his two-seam and four-seam fastballs continued to perform well even with diminished velocity, and his changeup remained an excellent swing-and-miss offering. 

The catcher

23. J.T. Realmuto, C, 34

Thirty-one catchers compiled at least 1.0 FanGraphs WAR in 2025. Only two of them, Realmuto and Danny Jansen, are set to hit free agency. So despite Realmuto’s advanced age, he’s still far and away the best backstop available this winter. The muscled Oklahoman isn’t what he once was — the best catcher in the world — but he’s still a valuable player. He was essentially a league-average hitter this year and remained impressively durable, leading the league in games started behind the dish. A reunion with the Phillies feels like the most likely outcome here; he’s simply too valuable a cog in their pitching operation to let him walk. Realmuto will want a three-year deal, but he’ll probably end up with two.

Hitters with difficult markets to project

24. Eugenio Suárez, 3B, 34

Suárez hit 49 home runs in 2025 for the second time in his career and returned to the Mariners via midseason trade after a year-and-a-half as a D-back, enabling him to take part in Seattle’s memorable October run, which included one of the biggest swings in franchise history: his go-ahead grand slam in ALCS Game 5. For as feel-good of a story as the Suárez-to-Seattle reunion was, it’s difficult to ignore his sharp decline in production post-trade, and that sours some of the optimism for his market as he enters free agency for the first time. 

Suárez’s issues making consistent contact likely aren’t going to magically improve as he enters his mid-30s, which puts immense pressure on his prodigious slugging to continue if he is to remain a viable every-day player, especially if his defense at third base continues to trend in the wrong direction. That said, Suárez’s overwhelmingly positive clubhouse reputation should earn him some additional interest from clubs looking for a quality veteran presence in addition to the high-end slugging he offers.

25. Ha-Seong Kim, SS, 30

UPDATE: Kim and the Braves agreed on a 1-year, $20 million deal.

Kim played only 48 games this year — 24 each for Tampa Bay and Atlanta — after signing a two-year free-agent deal with the Rays last winter. Tampa left him on waivers, and the Braves pounced, despite being light-years out of contention, hoping Kim wouldn’t activate his opt-out and they could scoop up an every-day shortstop for 2026 on the cheap. The South Korean infielder declined his $16 million option to reenter the market. He ended up back with the Braves, but for a bit more money. Kim is the only true shortstop in this class, even though he projects to be a well-below-average hitter.

26. Luis Arraez, INF, 29

Arraez promises to inspire a wide array of opinions as one of baseball’s most unique players. Traditionalists might look at his multiple batting titles and microscopic strikeout rates as outstanding and appealing outliers in an era defined by swing-and-miss, but the modern game prioritizes players who are far more multidimensional than what Arraez currently offers. It’s not just that Arraez rarely produces extra-base hits; it’s that he barely reaches. His walk rates have plummeted recently, and his defense doesn’t seem to be getting any better.

While there still will (and should) be an appetite for a player with one truly elite skill, it’d be misleading to suggest that Arraez’s hitting alone is worth a massive long-term contract. He’s an exceptionally fun and singular player but also a limited one. How his free agency unfolds will be one of the more intriguing storylines of the winter.

Tier 2 relievers

27. Devin Williams, RP, 31

UPDATE: Williams and the Mets agreed on a 3-year, $51 million deal.

It was a tumultuous year for Williams, who was dealt to the Bronx last winter after spending the entirety of his career in Milwaukee. Handed the closer role out of spring training, Williams and his airbender changeup had a cataclysmic April, in which he was booed multiple times by the Yankees faithful and booted from the ninth inning by skipper Aaron Boone.

Things gradually got better over the summer, as Williams regained his manager’s trust and slotted back into a high-leverage role by the playoffs. In fact, he didn’t allow a run in 22 of his final 23 outings, postseason included. With Edwin Diaz leaving Queens, the Mets are likely paying Williams to close, and the airbender is still a special pitch, but Williams’ stock has fallen significantly since this time last year.

28. Robert Suarez, RP, 35

UPDATE: Suarez and the Braves agreed on a 3-year, $45 million deal.

The flame-throwing Venezuelan had two years and $16 million left on his deal with the Padres, a nice haul for a reliever his age, but opted out. He got a higher AAV from the Braves after posting another dominant season for the Padres. That 2.97 ERA looks great, not spectacular, but if you overlook two disaster outings in which Suarez recorded one out and surrendered five runs, that figure drops to 1.70.

There are certainly concerns about whether Suarez’s elite fastball velocity (98.5 mph) will sustain as he creeps closer to 40, especially because of how much he leans on that pitch (60% usage), but this is one of the truly elite relievers in the game.

Deadline bats who played well

29. Ryan O’Hearn, 1B/OF, 32

UPDATE: O’Hearn and the Pirates agreed on a 2-year, $29 million deal.

The first-time All-Star tailed off slightly after a deadline deal sent him from Baltimore to San Diego, but the overall numbers were unavoidably impressive for a guy who was left to rot on the waiver-wire scrap heap just a few years ago. O’Hearn’s peripheral numbers were strong for a third straight season and secured him a two-year deal with a Pirates team trying to upgrade this winter. After missing out on the upper crust of Alonso, Schwarber and Naylor, O’Hearn is a perfectly competent consolation prize for Pittsburgh. He also earns rave reviews for his clubhouse presence.

30. Harrison Bader, OF, 32

When Bader went from Minnesota to Philadelphia at the deadline, it wasn’t even the biggest Twins-Phillies deal of the week. But the luscious-locked center fielder energized the Phillies’ lineup, offering a much-needed contact-oriented profile. His groin injury in Game 1 of the NLDS turned out to have an enormous impact on that series, as the Phillies sorely missed his presence in the lineup. Given the likelihood that the team moves on from right fielder Nick Castellanos, Bader could make some sense as a versatile fourth outfielder. But a two-year deal might be in order for the 32-year-old, who just posted the best offensive season of his career. Bader will find a sturdy market for his services.

31. Mike Yastrzemski, OF, 35

UPDATE: Yastrzemski and the Braves agreed on 2-year, $23 million deal.

Having not debuted in the big leagues until age 28 with the Giants, Yastrzemski finally entered free agency at age 35 coming off a sneaky stellar post-trade run with Kansas City, during which he slugged .500 with more walks (25) than strikeouts (22) across 50 games. His raw power is modest, but Yastrzemski has a knack for pulling the ball in the air and just had a career year from a plate-discipline standpoint, making more contact than ever and drawing walks at a 12.9% clip. He remains subpar against left-handers, but Yastrzemski should be quite productive if deployed properly by the Braves.

Tier 3 relievers

32. Luke Weaver, RP, 32

UPDATE: Weaver and the Mets agreed on a 2-year, $22 million deal.

Weaver was handed the ninth inning after his teammate Williams hit the schneid in April. He was magnificent through the season’s first two months, with just two earned runs to his name on May 26. Then he hit the shelf due to a hamstring injury that derailed his year. Weaver returned in late June but wasn’t the same, posting a 5.31 ERA the rest of the way before rough outings in AL wild-card Game 1 and ALDS Game 1 pushed him out of Boone’s bullpen trust circle. Just a year ago, this guy was the most trusted arm on a World Series team, so the Mets will be hoping that he bounces back and that his late-season struggles were injury-based, rather than a more concerning harbinger.

33. Ryan Helsley, RP, 31

UPDATE: Helsley and the Orioles agreed on a 2-year, $28 million deal.

The hard-throwing closer had an ERA of 3.00 when he was traded from St. Louis to Queens on deadline day. Helsley had a multiyear track record of high-leverage success, built on one of the hardest heaters in the sport. But his Mets tenure will go down as one of the all-time reliever disasters, as Helsley posted an abhorrent 7.20 ERA in 22 outings in blue and orange. His late-summer implosion was crucial in the Mets’ shocking tumble down the standings.

Helsley compiled the second-most fWAR among relievers between 2022 and ‘24 — 5.7, with a 1.83 ERA in 167 2/3 innings — but his 2025 was so weird, bad and ugly that it might’ve scared some teams off. In the end, though, he got a two-year contract as projected, with a reported opt-out after the first year.

Deadline bats who played poorly

34. Cedric Mullins, OF, 31

UPDATE: Mullins and the Rays agreed on a 1-year, $7 million deal.

Mullins spent a decade in the Orioles organization before being dealt to the Mets at the deadline. His production had been closer to league average in the years since his star-level 2021 campaign, in which he hit 30 homers, stole 30 bases and finished ninth in AL MVP voting. His particularly poor showing with New York (.565 OPS including a brutal 6-for-55 skid to finish the season) pushed Mullins much further down these rankings than we expected him to be a few months ago.

35. Willi Castro, UTL, 29

An All-Star in 2024 known for his unrivaled defensive versatility, Castro was having another stellar season before he was shipped to Chicago as part of Minnesota’s epic fire sale at the trade deadline. And while he continued to provide value as a competent defender at multiple positions, Castro’s bat completely disappeared as a Cub, posting a paltry .485 OPS and not registering a single plate appearance across Chicago’s eight postseason games. His relative youth and flexibility with the glove should still make him a fairly alluring free agent.

A bunch more starting pitchers

36. Merrill Kelly, SP, 37

UPDATE: Kelly and the Diamondbacks agreed on a 2-year, $40 million deal.

That the Rangers were willing to send three solid prospects to Arizona for two months of Kelly suggests that he is still well-regarded within the industry, but free agency is a different equation, especially for a pitcher this old. Without plus velocity, Kelly gets by on great command of a six-pitch repertoire, headlined by an excellent changeup. Like most of the pitchers in this tier, he’s more likely to provide value in the regular season than as a no-doubt postseason starter, but that’s not something to sneeze at. Clearly, the Diamondbacks had enough faith in Kelly, based on his previous stint with the team, to bring him back on a two-year pact.

37. Tyler Mahle, SP, 31

UPDATE: Mahle and the Giants agreed on a 1-year, $10 million deal.

Mahle was absolutely brilliant through the end of May (1.64 ERA in 66 innings across 12 starts) before fading in June and landing on the injured list due to shoulder fatigue, which kept him out until mid-September. It was encouraging to see him finish the season healthy, but Mahle hasn’t thrown more than 100 innings since 2022.

38. Zach Eflin, SP, 32

UPDATE: Eflin and the Orioles agreed on a 1-year, $10 million deal.

Recurring back injuries limited Eflin to 14 ineffective starts (5.93 ERA) for Baltimore in 2025, but he was a mid-rotation workhorse the previous two seasons (3.54 ERA in 343 innings) and could prove to be a nice buy-low option for an Orioles team that needed rotation reinforcements. We’re only two years removed from Eflin finishing sixth in AL Cy Young voting — let’s not forget about this guy.

39. Zack Littell, SP, 30

The good: Littell’s 3.73 ERA ranks 17th out of 37 qualified starters over the past two seasons, his 1.65 BB/9 is bested only by Tarik Skubal over that same timeframe, and among free-agent pitchers, only Framber Valdez and Zac Gallen threw more innings in 2025 than Littell’s 186 2/3 frames. 

The bad: Whiffs are hard to come by for Littell (17.1% strikeout rate ranked 47th out of 52 qualified starters in 2025), and he’s particularly susceptible to the long ball, making his next home ballpark a crucial variable when projecting his effectiveness moving forward.

40. Griffin Canning, SP, 30

After allowing the most earned runs in the American League with the Angels in 2024, Canning was enjoying a nice bounce-back season in his first year with the Mets, leaning heavily on his slider and changeup to keep hitters off-balance. But his season ended abruptly when he ruptured his left Achilles on a non-contact play in June, starting a rehab process that could stretch into 2026. A team that believes in Canning’s revamped form with New York and his ability to rebound from serious injury could target the right-hander as a low-cost rotation option.

Hitters who confuse us

41. Max Kepler, OF, 33

Kepler struggled badly out the gate in his first year as a Phillie but settled into being a useful contributor and finished the regular season strong, hitting .262/.322/.505 with seven home runs over his final 30 games. Kepler still exhibits decent power and plate discipline, but his earning potential will depend on whether teams view him as a viable every-day player or more in a predominantly platoon role, like Philadelphia did. Not helping Kepler’s free-agent case is an 80-game suspension for testing positive for PEDs, which the league announced Jan. 9.

42. Miguel Andujar, OF/DH, 31

Albeit in a smaller sample, Andujar quietly posted one of the better offensive seasons of any free-agent bat available. Among hitters with at least 300 plate appearances in 2025, Andujar’s .318 average ranked second in MLB behind only Aaron Judge, and he was one of the most productive trade-deadline acquisitions in the league after being dealt by the A’s to the Reds. He remains a poor defender who doesn’t draw walks, but he crushes lefties and makes a ton of contact. He’s a sneaky target for teams on a tight budget looking for offense.

43. Rob Refsnyder, OF, 35

UPDATE: Refsnyder and the Mariners agreed on a 1-year, $6.25 million deal.

This isn’t just any platoon bat. The degree to which Refsnyder demolishes left-handed pitching puts him in some truly outrageous company. Among hitters with at least 250 plate appearances against southpaws over the past two seasons, Refsnyder’s .949 OPS ranks fifth behind Aaron Judge, Ketel Marte, José Ramírez and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. That’s ridiculous. He’s essentially unplayable against right-handers and a below-average corner-outfield defender, but his special skill still makes Refsnyder an appealing pickup for the Mariners.

Tier 4 relievers

44. Brad Keller, RP, 30

UPDATE: Keller and the Phillies agreed on a 2-year, $22 million deal.

An unremarkable starting pitcher for the first six years of his career, Keller broke out in a big way in the Cubs’ bullpen in 2025, throwing harder than ever and posting a sterling 2.07 ERA in 69 2/3 innings with underlying data that strongly supports his performance as legitimate. Keller cost considerably less than the top relievers who already have a boatload of saves on their résumés, but he could offer similar or even greater upside for the Phillies if he can sustain the gains he made in Chicago.

45. Raisel Iglesias, RP, 36

UPDATE: Iglesias and the Braves agreed on a 1-year, $16 million deal.

Iglesias had a catastrophic start to his season, allowing seven home runs across his first 25 appearances after allowing four total in 66 games pitched in 2024. That left him with an unsightly 6.75 ERA in early June, but after that, Iglesias got back on track and was generally the elite game-ender we’ve long known him to be, posting a 1.25 ERA over his final 43 1/3 innings, a dominant stretch that went somewhat unnoticed amid a lost Braves season.

Iglesias and Keller are our picks to squeeze into the end of our Top 50 among a deep free-agent class of accomplished righty relievers that also includes Kenley Jansen, Kyle Finnegan, Emilio Pagán, Phil Maton and Tyler Rogers.

Veteran starters

46. Chris Bassitt, SP, 37

After another year of sturdy work in the rotation — Bassitt is one just seven pitchers to make at least 30 starts in each of the past four seasons — the 36-year-old right-hander made a successful transition to the bullpen for Toronto’s World Series run. He allowed just one run across his eight relief outings in October, demonstrating versatility that could prove valuable as teams project his role as he enters the latter stages of his career. 

It’s also worth a mention that the Blue Jays’ clubhouse absolutely adores this guy, and Bassitt has not been shy in expressing his desire to stay put. Sentimentality and postseason bullpen cameos aside, Bassitt’s durability would seem to be his most appealing trait as a free agent for teams looking to solidify their rotations. Whether that leads him back to Toronto remains to be seen..

47. Jose Quintana, SP, 37

Quintana has delivered a better-than-league-average park-adjusted ERA in 12 of his 14 major-league seasons, including 2025, when he helped stabilize an injury-ravaged Brewers rotation. The stuff unsurprisingly isn’t getting any better — he just posted a career-low 16% strikeout rate — but he still seems to have the guile to get outs in a bulk role and thus deserves a nod toward the end of this list.

48. Justin Verlander, SP, 43

It took until mid-July for Verlander to record his first win as a Giant, but he managed to find his groove down the stretch, posting a 2.60 ERA in 72 ⅔ innings over his final 13 starts. Even at age 42 (his birthday is in February), Verlander is still innovating, adding an 80-mph sweeper to complement his traditional slider and curveball, a pitch that performed as his most effective by run value. While his goal of reaching 300 wins feels farfetched at this point (he’s at 266), he pitched well enough in 2025 to earn the chance to continue that chase.

A probably washed guy who used to rake

49. Marcell Ozuna, DH, 35

For the first two months of the season (.883 OPS), Ozuna resembled the impactful slugger he was the previous two years in Atlanta. But in early June, the burly Dominican revealed that he’d been battling a tear in his right hip. He never ended up on the injured list, but his performance plummeted as the season went on, with a .673 OPS after June 1.

While Ozuna’s overall offensive résumé should garner some interest, there are ample reasons for teams to find production elsewhere: He’s a full-time DH in his mid-30s with lingering injuries issues, and he has a history of multipleoff-field incidents.

Overseas stars seeking MLB comeback

50. LHP Anthony Kay, SP, 31

UPDATE: Kay and the Chicago White Sox agreed on a 2-year, $12 million deal.

A first-round draft pick by the Mets in 2016, Kay was dealt to Toronto in the Marcus Stroman trade in 2019 and appeared with the Blue Jays in parts of four seasons. After brief cameos with the Cubs and then back with the Mets in 2023, Kay took his talents overseas, where he became an impact starter for the Yokohama Bay Stars in NPB.

Kay was solid in his first year in Japan but really leveled up in 2025, adding an equally effective two-seamer to complement his 94-mph four-seam fastball and three solid secondary offerings (slider, cutter, changeup). Among qualified NPB starters, Kay ranked fifth in ERA (1.74), fifth in WHIP (0.98), and first in ground-ball rate (55.8%), a stellar résumé of dominance in the second-best league in the world that could earn him a much more significant opportunity stateside than he got earlier in his major-league career.

Kay is one of several pitchers with MLB experience who have blossomed overseas recently ahead of making a return to the majors. Right-hander Cody Ponce (1.89 ERA in 180 ⅔ innings with 252 strikeouts for the Hanwha Eagles in the Korean Baseball Organization) landed a three-year, $30 million deal with Toronto. And left-hander Foster Griffin (2.57 ERA in 315 ⅔ innings for the Yomiuri Giants the past three seasons) signed a one-year, $5.5 million deal with the Nationals.

Alabama wide receiver Isaiah Horton is headed to Texas A&M.

Per On3, Horton committed to the Aggies on Sunday after entering the transfer portal following the Crimson Tide’s College Football Playoff loss in the Rose Bowl to Indiana. Horton finished third on the team with 42 catches for 11 yards but led all Alabama receivers with eight touchdowns.

He was also the only Alabama receiver with more than 100 yards to appear in all 15 of the Crimson Tide’s games this season. Horton had just two catches for 16 yards in the Rose Bowl after he had five grabs for 65 yards in the first-round CFP win over Oklahoma.

Horton spent just one season at Alabama after he transferred from Miami. Horton was with the Hurricanes for three seasons and had 56 catches for 616 yards and five scores in 2024. He was the Hurricanes’ second-leading receiver a season ago as Miami needed to replace its top six receivers in 2025. That seemed to work out OK, too. The Hurricanes will play Indiana in the national title game on Jan. 19.

Horton could immediately start for the Aggies as KC Concepcion seems likely to head to the NFL Draft. Concepcion transferred from NC State ahead of the 2025 season and had 61 catches for 919 yards and nine touchdowns while also serving as the Aggies’ primary punt returner.

WR Mario Craver has already announced that he’s coming back to Texas A&M in 2026 along with QB Marcel Reed. Craver had 59 catches for 917 yards and four touchdowns while Reed threw for over 3,100 yards and 25 TDs with 12 interceptions.

Chicago Bears now know who they will face in divisional round of playoffs originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Chicago Bears divisional round opponent is now set.

Going into Sunday, the only thing the Bears knew was that they would play the second-lowest seed remaining in the postseason.

After the San Francisco 49ers beat the Philadelphia Eagles, that left the Los Angeles Rams as the second-lowest remaining seed, thus setting up a matchup with the Bears next week.

Meanwhile, the 49ers will have a matchup against their NFC West foe, the Seattle Seahawks, who were on a bye after securing the No. 1 seed in the conference.

The Bears and Rams did not meet during the 2025 regular season. Their last meeting came in September of 2024, when Chicago beat Los Angeles, 24-18.

The Bears own the all-time series lead over the Rams, 55-39-1, but the two teams have split their two postseason games.

More NFL News

• Why Bills’ road playoff win is good omen for Super Bowl hopes
• Harbaugh-Packers rumor is bad news for Giants, good news for Dolphins
• Ben Johnson’s electric locker room speech after Bears vs. Packers
• Ben Johnson explains how Packers gave Bears extra motivation
• Why Ben Johnson, Matt LaFleur shared unfriendly handshake

Player Ratings: Barcelona 3–2 Real Madrid

Thibaut Courtois — 7
Made four saves that kept Real Madrid within one goal of Barcelona. Without him, this could have gotten away.

Raúl Asencio — 6.5
Put in a strong defensive shift against Raphinha for long stretches, but struggled badly on the ball. Clearly uncomfortable under pressure from the right-back position.

Aurélien Tchouaméni — 5
Slow and poorly positioned on Lewandowski’s goal. Had difficulty organizing the backline, though he did make a few important clearances.

Dean Huijsen — 4
Still too raw for matches of this intensity. Careless in possession and often a step slow when Barcelona increased the tempo.

Álvaro Carreras — 7
One of Real Madrid’s better performers. Defended Lamine Yamal very well, especially in the first half, and showed maturity in his positioning — but he missed a massive chance at the end of the game that should’ve been buried.

Federico Valverde — 5
Sluggish early with his touches and passing. Improved in the second half and showed fight, but his night ended early due to injury.

Jude Bellingham — 4
A game that required him to impose himself—and he didn’t. Too quiet and not involved enough when Madrid needed leadership.

Eduardo Camavinga — 5
Played a few excellent long balls and made some good tackles, but looked extremely uncomfortable dealing with Barcelona’s press.

Rodrygo — 8
One of Madrid’s best players. Outstanding defensive work and created two major chances in the first half with his movement and passing.

Vinícius Jr. — 8.5
Scored a vintage Vinícius goal to equalize and tormented Barcelona thereafter—until he asked to be subbed due to injury.

Gonzalo García — 6.5
Excellent defensive work and pressing. Missed a big chance in the first half but made amends by scoring the equalizer just before halftime.

---

Substitutes

Arda Güler — 5.5
Dropped deep to help Madrid escape pressure. Didn’t have much influence, but his role was limited and options ahead of him were scarce.

David Alaba — 5.5
Added leadership and composure to the backline and helped Madrid retain the ball more effectively.

Kylian Mbappé — N/A
Barely involved in his brief cameo. His main contribution was stealing the ball from Lamine Yamal before suffering a brutal challenge from Frenkie de Jong that resulted in a red card.

Franco Mastantuono — N/A
Had no real impact. Every touch on the wing was immediately swarmed by two or three Barcelona players.

Dani Ceballos — N/A
Brought some verticality late on but was unable to influence the match.

Arkansas receiver Kam Shanks has signed with Wake Forest out of the NCAA transfer portal, On3 has learned. He spent just one year with the Razorbacks.

Shanks had somewhat limited production for Arkansas after transferring in from UAB prior to the 2025 season. He finished this year with nine catches for 101 yards and a touchdown.

Ultimately, Kam Shanks opted to look for a new opportunity rather than stick around through a coaching change in Fayetteville. But he’s proven he can be an effective receiver in the past, one of the reasons the Razorbacks took him out of the transfer portal.

At UAB in 2024, during his second year with the Blazers, Shanks recorded 62 catches for 656 yards. He scored six touchdowns.

On3 will have more on this developing story shortly.

Dallas Goedert stats today: Eagles TE stars with two TDs for Philadelphia vs. 49ers originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Philadelphia Eagles are hosting the San Francisco 49ers in the wild-card round of the 2026 NFL playoffs. The Eagles’ offense has been on a rollercoaster this season, but they seem to be firing on all cylinders early in the playoff game against the 49ers. 

Quarterback Jalen Hurts hasn’t looked his tight end Dallas Goedert’s way often, but that doesn’t mean that Goedert hasn’t been productive. He first found the endzone against San Francisco when Philadelphia was pressed up against the goal line. The Eagles usually run a tush push at this distance, but on Sunday, Goedert got a carry and scored.

Later, Hurts hit him from nine yards out for another score. 

Here is more on Goedert’s big first half against the 49ers in the Wild Card Round. 

MORE: 49ers vs. Eagles LIVE scores, updates and highlights

Dallas Goedert stats today vs. 49ers

• 4 targets
• 4 receptions
• 33 yards 
• 1 receiving TD
• 1 carry
• 1 rushing yard
• 1 rushing TD

Dallas Goedert highlights today vs. 49ers

Goedert’s first touchdown of the day came on a sneaky play where the tight end was tossed the ball and he ran the ball into the endzone. It went into the books officially as a rushing touchdown.

DALLAS GOEDERT RUSHING TD 🦅

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— NFL (@NFL) January 11, 2026

Goedert’s second touchdown of the game was a nine-yard reception. Initially, it was called back due to an illegible man downfield, but the flag was picked up and the touchdown stood. 

One rushing TD
One receiving TD

WHAT A START FOR DALLAS GOEDERT 🔥

SFvsPHI on FOX/FOX One
Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/tMCxf5JReu

— NFL (@NFL) January 11, 2026

MORE: Who could the Eagles play next in the 2026 NFL playoffs?

Dallas Goedert playoff stats

Here is a look at how Goedert has fared in the postseason in his career. 

Year	Games	Receptions	Targets	Receiving Yards	Receiving TDs	Carries	Rushing Yards	Rushing TDs
2018	2	2	4	20	1	0	0	0
2019	1	7	8	73	0	0	0	0
2021	1	6	12	92	0	0	0	0
2022	3	16	18	141	1	0	0	0
2023	1	4	6	21	1	0	0	0
2024	4	17	20	215	1	2	13	0
2025	1	4	7	33	1	1	1	1
Total	13	56	75	595	5	3	14	1