We recently released our first free-agent power rankings for the upcoming winter, with Kyle Tucker topping the list of names to watch when the hot stove begins to burn.
The No. 2 player on our list was Alex Bregman, though we don’t even know if he’s going to be a free agent yet. Bregman can opt out of the final two years and $80 million of his contract with the Red Sox, $40 million of which is deferred. His situation will be one to watch when the season ends, but he’s not alone.
A number of players have opt-out clauses or player options they will have to consider, while others have club options that are out of their control, leaving their fate for 2026 to their current teams. Then there are vesting options, which won’t be determined until the regular season is complete. Some players have mutual options in their contracts, but we’re not including those because they rarely get picked up; if the deal is good for one side, the other is likely to decline it. Option decisions must be made within five days of the end of the World Series.
MLB.com looks at 25 of these players and how their respective situations might play out in the early days of the offseason.
Alex Bregman, 3B, Red Sox
Remaining contract: Two years, $80 million ($40 million deferred)
Age at start of 2026 season: 32
Bregman inked a three-year, $120 million deal with the Red Sox last February, though $60 million of that salary is deferred. Although he’s played in only 85 games due to injuries, Bregman has played well (16 home runs, 53 RBIs, .922 OPS) when he’s been on the field. It’s unclear whether Bregman will find an AAV that high out there, so opting out might be risky, though many believe he will leverage the opt-out clause into a reworked, longer-term deal with Boston.
Jack Flaherty, RHP, Tigers
Remaining contract: One year, $20 million
Age at start of 2026 season: 30
Flaherty signed a two-year, $35 million deal with the Tigers in February, paying him a $5 million signing bonus and $20 million salary in 2025. He reached the requisite 15-start plateau to double his 2026 salary from $10 million to $20 million, though he can opt out of the deal after the season to give free agency another try. Flaherty is 7-13 with a 4.87 ERA in 26 starts this season, so the way he finishes the year will influence his contractual decision.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr., LF, Diamondbacks
Remaining contract: One year, $18 million
Age at start of 2026 season: 32
Gurriel signed a three-year, $42 million contract with Arizona prior to the 2024 season, a deal that allows him to opt out of the final year and $18 million after this season. Gurriel is set to earn $13 million next season and has a $14 million club option for 2027, one which includes a $5 million buyout (making for a $18 million guarantee if he stays with the Diamondbacks in 2026). Gurriel has 18 home runs and 77 RBIs with a .717 OPS in 121 games this season, so while he could opt to test the market this winter, it seems more likely that he will remain in Arizona on his current deal.
Ha-Seong Kim, SS, Rays
Remaining contract: One year, $16 million
Age at start of 2026 season: 30
Injuries have limited Kim to only 24 games this season, making it unlikely that he will opt out of his $16 million contract for 2026. The Rays often try to trade larger contracts during the offseason, though Kim’s injury-riddled season will make it difficult for Tampa Bay to move him. With Taylor Walls and Carson Williams potentially slotted into the shortstop position, the Rays could shift Kim to second base if they cut ties with Brandon Lowe.
Frankie Montas, RHP, Mets
Remaining contract: One year, $17 million
Age at start of 2026 season: 33
Montas landed a two-year, $34 million deal from the Mets last winter despite an uneven season that saw him go 7-11 with a 4.84 ERA for the Reds and Brewers. His 2025 campaign has been worse; a lat injury cost him the first three months of the season, then he went 3-2 with a 6.28 ERA in nine outings (seven starts) before being removed from the rotation and eventually placed back in the injured list with a season-ending elbow injury. Montas – who might require Tommy John surgery – is a lock to opt into the final year of his deal, guaranteeing himself $17 million in 2026 whether he pitches or not.
Tyler O’Neill, RF, Orioles
Remaining contract: Two years, $33 million
Age at start of 2026 season: 30
O’Neill has been limited to 43 games during his first season with the Orioles, who signed him to a three-year, $49.5 million deal over the winter. O’Neill has been moderately productive when he’s been in the lineup (eight home runs, 23 RBIs, .726 OPS), but that simply hasn’t been often enough for him to roll the dice on free agency.
Trevor Story, SS, Red Sox
Remaining contract: Two years, $55 million
Age at start of 2026 season: 33
Story can opt out of the final two years and $55 million of his deal, and although he’s having his best season since joining the Red Sox in 2022, it would be shocking for the veteran to opt out and test free agency. Story played only 163 games over his first three years with Boston, but he has played in 127 games this season, his highest total since he played 142 games with the Rockies in 2021.
Pete Alonso, 1B, Mets
Remaining contract: One year, $24 million
Age at start of 2026 season: 31
Through 70 games this season, it looked like Alonso would wind up in the National League Most Valuable Player conversation, hitting 17 home runs with 63 RBIs and a .981 OPS. Since then, Alonso has 12 home runs, 40 RBIs and a .693 OPS in 60 games, his performance dipping significantly from his red-hot start. Still, with few true power bats heading to the open market, Alonso is likely to decline his $24 million option and give free agency another whirl.
Cody Bellinger, 1B/OF, Yankees
Remaining contract: One year, $25 million ($5 million buyout)
Age at start of 2026 season: 30
After taking a step backward in 2024, Bellinger’s move to the Bronx has been a success: He’s hit 24 home runs with 75 RBIs and an .810 OPS in 120 games for the Yankees. Bellinger picked up his $27.5 million player option for 2025, but with one final option remaining on the three-year, $80 million deal he signed with the Cubs in February 2024, Bellinger is likely to parlay his strong season into a new long-term deal in free agency.
Shane Bieber, RHP, Blue Jays
Remaining contract: One year, $16 million ($4 million buyout)
Age at start of 2026 season: 30
With only one start thus far in 2025, it’s far too early to guess what Bieber will do regarding his option for 2026. The 2020 American League Cy Young Award winner signed a two-year, $26 million deal to stay in Cleveland last offseason while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, but if he can prove he’s healthy and back to his old form over the final month-plus of the season, he could take the $4 million buyout and test free agency without the drag of a qualifying offer attached to him. If he struggles with health or performance, he could pick up the option and stay with Toronto for another year.
Edwin Díaz, RHP, Mets
Remaining contract: Two years, $37 million ($10 million deferred)
Age at start of 2026 season: 32
Díaz’s stellar 2022 season earned him a five-year, $102 million deal (with $26.5 million deferred) from the Mets, but he missed all of 2023 with a knee injury and looked mortal at times during the 2024 campaign. The three-time All-Star has bounced back in a big way this year, posting a 1.65 ERA with 24 saves in 26 opportunities, making it a near-lock that he will decline the option for the final two years of his deal – Díaz would have to pick them both up simultaneously after this season – to test free agency entering his age-32 season.
Joc Pederson, DH/OF, Rangers
Remaining contract: One year, $18.5 million
Age at start of 2026 season: 33
This might be the easiest call among the opt-outs, with Pederson in the midst of the least productive season of his 12-year career. He has only six home runs with 13 RBIs and a .587 OPS in 70 games in his first year with the Rangers, making it a lock he will exercise his $18.5 million option for 2026.
Robert Suarez, RHP, Padres
Remaining contract: Two years, $16 million
Age at start of 2026 season: 35
An All-Star in each of the past two seasons, Suarez has proven to be one of the more reliable closers in the game. With a league-high 34 saves, Suarez will surely find a higher AAV than $8 million in free agency despite his age, so he will decline his options for 2026 and 2027, which must be exercised or declined simultaneously after the season.
Ozzie Albies, 2B, Braves
Remaining contract: One year, $7 million ($4 million buyout)
Age at start of 2026 season: 29
Albies is having one of the least productive seasons of his career, posting a .629 OPS with 10 home runs and 50 RBIs in 130 games. Still, his contract is quite team-friendly, with $7 million options for both 2026 and 2027, each of which includes a $4 million buyout. The $3 million difference between the buyout and the contract make it very likely that the Braves bring him back next season as he looks to bounce back another year removed from wrist surgery.
José Alvarado, LHP, Phillies
Remaining contract: One year, $9 million ($500,000 buyout)
Age at start of 2026 season: 30
Alvarado was having a bounce back season when he was suspended for 80 games in mid-May after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. He won’t be eligible to pitch in the postseason, but Alvarado should have the option exercised and be back in the Phillies’ bullpen in 2026.
Pete Fairbanks, RHP, Rays
Remaining contract: One year, $7 million ($1 million buyout)
Age at start of 2026 season: 32
Fairbanks’ option will be higher than the initial $7 million he agreed to, because escalators for appearances and games finished will push it past the $10 million mark. Fairbanks has proven himself to be a reliable closer, so the option should be picked up, giving the Rays an opportunity to explore potential trades this winter.
Lucas Giolito, RHP, Red Sox
Remaining contract: One year, $14 million
Age at start of 2026 season: 31
At the moment, the Red Sox possess a $14 million option on Giolito for 2026, but if he throws another 28 2/3 innings this season, that option will vest into a $19 million mutual option with a $1.5 million buyout. Giolito is having his best season since 2021, going 8-2 with a 3.72 ERA in 20 starts. If he reaches the 140-inning mark, he could decline the mutual option and go back to the open market.
Shota Imanaga, LHP, Cubs
Remaining contract: See below
Age at start of 2026 season: 32
Imanaga’s situation is one of the most complex of the offseason. The four-year, $53 million deal he signed prior to the 2024 season can go in a number of directions. First, the Cubs can trigger a three-year, $57 million club option that would pay Imanaga $20 million in 2026 and 2027, then $17 million in 2028. If Chicago declines that, Imanaga can exercise a $15 million player option for 2026; if that happens, the Cubs can add two more years and $42 million to his deal for 2027-28, or Imanaga would have another $15 million player option for 2027. It’s likely that he’ll be back with the Cubs next season, though exactly what his contract looks like at that point is anybody’s guess.
Ramón Laureano, OF, Padres
Remaining contract: One year, $6.5 million
Age at start of 2026 season: 31
Laureano is having the best season of his career, performing well with the Orioles (15 home runs, 46 RBIs, .884 OPS in 82 games) before a midseason trade to the Padres. Since the trade, Laureano has four homers, 15 RBIs and a .942 OPS in 22 games with San Diego, making it a near certainty that the Padres will pick up his option for next season.
Brandon Lowe, 2B, Rays
Remaining contract: One year, $11.5 million ($500,000 buyout)
Age at start of 2026 season: 31
Lowe was a popular trade candidate this summer, because the Rays often look to move players once their salaries creep into the eight-figure range. Lowe made his second career All-Star team this season and is having a solid year (25 home runs, 63 RBIs, .804 OPS in 107 games), so the Rays should pick up his option. Whether they hold him or trade him would seem to be the bigger question for the offseason.
Max Muncy, 3B, Dodgers
Remaining contract: One year, $10 million
Age at start of 2026 season: 35
Knee and oblique injuries have limited Muncy to 89 games this season, but the third baseman has been superb since starting the season with a poor April, hitting 17 home runs with 64 RBIs and an .880 OPS. Muncy has said he wants to retire as a Dodger, and while that’s still far from a certainty, it seems likely that he will be back in 2026.
Freddy Peralta, RHP, Brewers
Remaining contract: One year, $8 million
Age at start of 2026 season: 29
Peralta has excelled since taking over as the Brewers’ ace this season, going 15-5 with a 2.68 ERA in 27 starts. This might be the most obvious call of any club option listed: The Brewers will absolutely pick up the $8 million deal for 2026.
Salvador Perez, C/1B, Royals
Remaining contract: One year, $13.5 million ($2 million buyout)
Age at start of 2026 season: 35
Perez’s days as a full-time catcher are behind him, but he’s shown the ability to handle both first base and DH, keeping his bat in the lineup on most days. Perez still has power (22 home runs, 74 RBIs in 124 games), but his leadership – he’s been Kansas City’s captain since the start of the 2023 season – is more than enough reason for the Royals to pick up his option.
Luis Robert Jr., CF, White Sox
Remaining contract: One year, $20 million ($2 million buyout)
Age at start of 2026 season: 28
Given that the White Sox opted not to trade Robert this summer, all signs point to Chicago exercising the option for 2026. Robert’s contract also includes an identical club option for 2027, leaving him under club control for two more seasons. Robert struggled badly for the first two months of the season, but in 50 games since June 10, he has nine home runs, 29 RBIs, 12 stolen bases and an .815 OPS, looking more like the player that made the All-Star team in 2023.
Chris Sale, LHP, Braves
Remaining contract: One year, $18 million
Age at start of 2026 season: 37
Sale was having another strong season for Atlanta (5-4, 2.52 ERA in 15 starts) when a fractured rib brought his 2025 to a halt. He’s close to returning after missing more than two months, and with the Braves planning to contend again in 2026, last year’s NL Cy Young Award winner should have his option exercised.
