When I was a kid, one of my favorite activities during long road trips with my family was Mad Libs.
Remember that one? Every page was a story with a number of blank spaces, requiring players to fill those spaces in with different words to create the whole story.
With the Winter Meetings only one week away, we figured we would try a Hot Stove version of Mad Libs, where we fill in the blanks for all 30 teams with potential free-agent targets.
This list isn’t meant to serve as a prediction of what’s to come this winter, but rather an opportunity to try reading tea leaves and connecting dots.
1. Every player has to be from another team (no incumbents).
2. Each player can be on the list only once.
That means that a number of notable free agents were not included, but don’t read into that in terms of their overall markets. Players such as Robert Suarez, J.T. Realmuto, Chris Bassitt and Lucas Giolito will find plenty of suitors despite not being listed below.
Without further ado, here’s the latest attempt at playing free-agent matchmaker in our annual “30 free agents for 30 teams” list.
Blue Jays: Kyle Tucker, OF
Toronto has already made the biggest splash of the offseason by agreeing to a seven-year deal with Dylan Cease, so why stop there? Tucker is the consensus No. 1 free agent on the market and would make a dangerous lineup even better. Just imagine the nightmare pitchers would face with Tucker and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hitting back-to-back for the next decade.
Orioles: Framber Valdez, LHP
Baltimore has already added a bat (Taylor Ward) and a reliever (Ryan Helsley), but the Orioles need starting pitching as badly as any team in the Majors, putting them in the market for the top arms. Valdez is the oldest of the bunch (he’s entering his age-32 season), but he has the longest track record, has postseason experience, and could sign for fewer years than some of the others.
Rays: Mike Yastrzemski, OF
The Rays need outfield help after posting a cumulative .663 OPS among the three spots, ranking 13th in the AL. Yastrzemski has been a consistent 2- to 3-WAR player throughout his career and has averaged 18 home runs and a .741 OPS in 135 games per season since the start of 2021.
Red Sox: Pete Alonso, 1B
First base was an issue for the Red Sox, who may not be sold on Triston Casas as the future at the position. Boston wants to add an impact bat, and few players on this year’s market can have the impact of Alonso, who slugged 38 homers with 126 RBIs and an .871 OPS last season.
Yankees: Bo Bichette, SS
Bichette and the Blue Jays could still have a reunion, but what if the Yankees made a strong bid for the shortstop? Many view Bichette as a future second baseman, but with Anthony Volpe recovering from shoulder surgery and Jazz Chisholm Jr. set to become a free agent next year, Bichette could step in at shortstop and give New York a long-term plan at second base if Chisholm leaves.
Guardians: Austin Hays, OF
Hays’ best seasons came between 2021 and ‘23 in Baltimore, but the 30-year-old had a solid year with the Reds in 2025. His 15 home runs, 64 RBIs and .768 OPS in 103 games would have made him the leader in all three categories in the Guardians’ outfield, as Cleveland ranked last in the AL in outfield OPS (.629).
Royals: Harrison Bader, OF
Kansas City got very little production out of center field last season (six home runs, 47 RBIs, .645 OPS), with Kyle Isbel getting about 70% of the at-bats. Bader had the best offensive season of his career in 2025, recording career highs in home runs (17), RBIs (54) and OPS (.796) while ranking in the 92nd percentile with 7 Outs Above Average.
Tigers: Alex Bregman, 3B
If this one seems familiar, it is. Bregman and the Tigers danced the free-agent dance last year before the third baseman signed with the Red Sox, but with no qualifying offer attached this year, could things be different? Detroit’s .628 OPS at third base ranked last in the AL, making the hot corner a clear need for the Tigers.
Twins: Rhys Hoskins, 1B
The Twins could use an upgrade at first base and a right-handed power bat, making Hoskins an ideal fit. He’s entering his age-33 season and played in only 90 games in 2025, but the veteran is only one year removed from a 26-homer season for the Brewers, a total he reached or exceeded in each of his five full seasons prior to last year.
White Sox: Adolis García, OF
García became a free agent after the Rangers non-tendered him, and although he hasn’t looked like the two-time All-Star who averaged 32 homers, 99 RBIs and a .777 OPS between 2021 and ‘23, García still averaged 22 home runs and 80 RBIs during the past two seasons, albeit with a .675 OPS. García could look to sign a one-year deal in an effort to re-establish his value.
Astros: Ranger Suárez, LHP
Hunter Brown emerged as the Astros’ ace in 2025, but with Framber Valdez likely headed elsewhere as a free agent, Houston will need to replace the sturdy, reliable left-hander. Suárez threw a career-high 157 1/3 innings last season, but his postseason track record — he’s 4-1 with a 1.48 ERA in 11 career appearances (8 starts) — is the best of the free-agent bunch.
Angels: Zac Gallen, RHP
The Angels’ eternal search for starting pitching continues this winter, and while they aren’t expected to be major players for the top four or five arms available, the idea of bringing in a former ace looking to re-establish himself could be appealing. Gallen had a career-high 4.83 ERA last season, but he threw 192 innings for Arizona, and he’s averaged more than 180 frames per season since the start of 2022 — a mark no Angels pitcher has reached since Andrew Heaney in 2018.
Athletics: Luke Weaver, RHP
Last summer’s trade of Mason Miller left a big hole in the Athletics’ bullpen, one they could look to fill via free agency. Weaver had two solid years with the Yankees, though his performance dipped last season after a hamstring strain sent him to the IL for three weeks in June. Still, the 32-year-old ranked in the top 20 percent of the league in chase, whiff and strikeout percentage in each of the past two seasons.
Mariners: Munetaka Murakami, 3B
The Mariners have had some success with Japanese players during the past 25 years, though most — aside from Ichiro Suzuki, of course — have been pitchers. Murakami is the most notable power hitter to come from NPB since Hideki Matsui in 2003, and with Eugenio Suárez likely to depart as a free agent, Seattle has a vacancy to fill at third base.
Rangers: Marcell Ozuna, DH
The Joc Pederson experiment did not go well for the Rangers, who ranked last in the AL with a .607 OPS out of the DH spot last season. Ozuna had a down year in Atlanta, hitting 21 home runs with 68 RBIs and a .756 OPS in 145 games, though he averaged 39 homers, 102 RBIs and a .916 OPS from 2023-24. The 35-year-old may not get back to those levels, but even last year’s production would be an upgrade for Texas.
Braves: Brad Keller, RHP
Keller had great success in a relief role with the Cubs in 2025, posting a 2.07 ERA in 68 appearances. The Braves had success converting Reynaldo López from a reliever into a starter, and Keller is a prime candidate to make that transition in 2026. Atlanta needs bullpen help, as well, so Keller would give the Braves options depending on how the rest of their offseason plays out.
Marlins: Kyle Finnegan, RHP
Miami ranked 12th in the NL with a 4.28 bullpen ERA last season, while saves leader Calvin Faucher blew five of his 20 save opportunities. The Marlins plan to spend ahead of next season, and while they are unlikely to spend big on the top closers, Finnegan would give them a proven arm in the back end of the bullpen.
Mets: Cody Bellinger, OF/1B
The recent trade of Brandon Nimmo opened a spot in the Mets’ outfield, creating an opportunity for Bellinger, who proved his ability to perform in New York during his first season with the Yankees. Bellinger would also provide first-base insurance in the event that Pete Alonso signs elsewhere.
Phillies: Rob Refsnyder, OF
Philadelphia’s top targets remain Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto, but the Phillies could use a right-handed bat in the outfield to complement Brandon Marsh and/or Justin Crawford — especially if Harrison Bader signs elsewhere. Refsnyder, who can play all three outfield positions, had seven home runs and a .959 OPS in 138 plate appearances against lefties last season.
Nationals: Ryan O’Hearn, 1B/OF/DH
Washington has graduated a number of position players through its system over the past two years, but first base remains a need. O’Hearn made his first All-Star team in 2025, hitting 17 home runs with an .803 OPS in 144 games with the Orioles and Padres. The 32-year-old can also play right field, providing versatility to whichever team signs him.
Cubs: Michael King, RHP
Even with the return of Shota Imanaga via the qualifying offer, the Cubs are in the market for a frontline starter this offseason. King is one of the most talented arms available, and after missing a chunk of 2025 with a thoracic nerve injury and a knee issue, he could sign for fewer years than some of the other top starting pitchers.
Reds: Kyle Schwarber, DH
Schwarber hails from nearby Middletown, Ohio, and while free agents don’t tend to base their decisions on a desire to return home, it’s the one thing the Reds can offer that no other team can. Cincinnati needs a big bat, and while it remains to be seen whether the Reds will be willing to spend what it’s going to take to land Schwarber, the fit is perfect.
Brewers: Devin Williams, RHP
Williams’ lone season in New York did not go the way the free agent was hoping it would, potentially costing him some money this winter. What better place to sign to re-establish his value than Milwaukee, the site of his greatest successes? If Williams is looking for a one-year deal with an eye on testing free agency again next year, the Brewers could be the ideal landing spot.
Pirates: Eugenio Suárez, 3B
All signs point to the Pirates spending some money in free agency this winter, and given their need for offense, adding a two-time All-Star who slugged 49 home runs last season would be an ideal place to start. Suárez’s defense at third base is below average, but Pittsburgh could give him some at-bats at DH, as well.
Cardinals: Tyler Mahle, RHP
The Cardinals are clearly in reset mode after trading Sonny Gray, with more deals likely to come this winter. But St. Louis is in need of rotation help for 2026, and with long-term deals seemingly not in its plans, the club could look to starting pitchers willing to sign for a year or two. Mahle was 6-4 with a 2.18 ERA in 16 starts for the Rangers last season, but he hasn’t reached the 100-inning mark since 2022, so he could look to take a one-year deal with the hopes of putting together a healthy year before testing free agency again next offseason.
D-backs: Kazuma Okamoto, 3B
Having traded both Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suárez last summer, Arizona had openings at both corner-infield positions. Jordan Lawlar and/or Blaze Alexander could be the answer at third, but Okamoto — who can play either corner spot — could be an intriguing option at first. A six-time NPB All-Star, Okamoto hit 248 career home runs in 11 seasons with Yomiuri, including six straight 30-homer campaigns from 2018-23.
Rockies: Luis Arraez, 1B
Arraez had his lowest batting average (.292), OPS (.719) and OPS+ (99) of his career in 2025, but he still led the NL with 181 hits and had a 3.5% strikeout rate — the lowest any hitter has had since Tony Gwynn in 1995. The Rockies had the highest strikeout rate and lowest OPS of any team in the Majors, not to mention an opening at first base. Quirky stat: Arraez has never struck out in 53 career plate appearances at Coors Field.
Dodgers: Edwin Díaz, RHP
Even after signing Tanner Scott a year ago, the Dodgers found themselves searching for an answer in the ninth inning by the end of the season. Roki Sasaki filled the role through the postseason, but he’s expected to return to the rotation, leaving a vacancy in the ninth inning. Díaz opted out of the final two years of his record-setting, five-year, $102 million contract with the Mets, and whether or not he exceeds that with his next deal, he’s a perfect fit for a team that never hesitates to spend.
Padres: Cody Ponce, RHP
San Diego has some major rotation issues, as Dylan Cease reached a deal with Toronto, Michael King is a free agent and Yu Darvish is slated to miss the season following elbow surgery. Without a ton of payroll flexibility, the Padres could be forced to think outside the box, and Ponce — who posted a 1.89 ERA in 180 2/3 innings for the Hanwha Eagles in the KBO in 2025 after three seasons in Japan — is hoping to be the latest pitcher to find success in the Majors following a strong stint in Asia.
Giants: Tatsuya Imai, RHP
San Francisco has taken its shot at Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki over the past few years, only to watch all three sign with the rival Dodgers. Imai, one of Japan’s top pitchers, recently said he would “rather take them down” than sign with the Dodgers, so what better team to do that with than Los Angeles’ historic rival? Slotting Imai in a rotation with Logan Webb and Robbie Ray would give the Giants a boost in the competitive NL West.
