Tatsuya Imai became the first free agent to secure a deal in 2026, but there are some high-profile names still out there to be had.
With Spring Training only six weeks away, here’s the latest on six available players who will have a huge impact on the 2026 season.
Kyle Tucker, OF
The consensus No. 1 free agent of the offseason has had a relatively quiet market to this point, with his visit with the Blue Jays last month at their spring facility in Florida representing the biggest news of his winter.
Toronto remains the favorite to land Tucker, sources said, though the Mets can’t be counted out, given their need for outfield help and their general willingness to spend big when they feel it’s appropriate. If the Yankees are prepared to spend big, it’s likely going to be for Cody Bellinger (more on him later) rather than Tucker.
The Dodgers are also lurking as a possibility for Tucker, who would make the two-time defending World Series champions even more dangerous as they take aim at a threepeat.
Tucker rejected a qualifying offer from the Cubs, so any team that signs him will surrender Draft picks, though that typically doesn’t have a huge impact on players like Tucker. If the long-term deal that Tucker is seeking doesn’t present itself, he could opt to sign a shorter-term deal with a higher average annual value and opt-out clauses, allowing him to test the market again in the next year or two.
The Blue Jays, Diamondbacks, Cubs, Red Sox and Tigers have been connected to him throughout the offseason.
Detroit made a strong bid to sign Bregman last winter, before he inked a three-year, $120 million deal (half of which was deferred) with the Red Sox, a contract he opted out of after the 2025 season. The Tigers’ offer last offseason was for six years and $171.5 million with some deferred money, though Detroit doesn’t appear to be in the same range this winter.
Sources believe the Blue Jays and Diamondbacks may be the two most aggressive clubs in the hunt for Bregman, though a Red Sox reunion remains a possibility.
Last month, Bichette’s camp let clubs know that he would be willing to move to second base, news that potentially opened his market to more suitors. The Red Sox, who have Trevor Story at shortstop, are believed to be interested in Bichette, though it may come down to whether Boston prefers him to Bregman. Marcelo Mayer can slot in at second or third, making either player a fit for the lineup.
Bichette’s future may be tied directly to what happens with Bregman, as the Blue Jays and Red Sox are in on both players. Toronto – the only club that won’t have to give up Draft picks to sign Bichette – could bring him back for second base, where he played during the World Series, shifting Andrés Giménez to shortstop.
There are other players available at those positions, such as a trade for Ketel Marte at second base or a free-agent deal with Eugenio Suárez at third, though Bichette and Bregman appear to be the top options at those spots for the AL East rivals.
Cody Bellinger, OF/1B
Bellinger was such a strong fit with the 2025 Yankees, a reunion between the two sides made too much sense not to happen. Yet like Bichette, Bellinger is still a free agent in January with no indication that a deal with New York – or any other club – is imminent.
The Yankees are holding firm to their price, not wanting to bid against themselves for Bellinger, though most believe the two sides will ultimately find common ground and come to terms on a deal. If they don’t, the Yankees could turn to Jasson Domínguez and/or No. 4 prospect Spencer Jones to fill their left field vacancy.
The Mets have been among the teams most often connected to Bellinger, and after trading Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil, the need for an outfielder (or two) is clear. The two New York teams seem like the obvious fits for Bellinger, though the Angels, Blue Jays and Dodgers remain in the mix.
The Angels have a need in the outfield after trading Taylor Ward to Baltimore, and their recent settlement with Anthony Rendon should give them some payroll relief, making them an intriguing option if Bellinger wants to return to Southern California.
Bellinger settled on a shorter-term deal the last time he hit the free-agent market, but with no qualifying offer attached to him as he enters his age-30 season, he’s likely to wait as long as he can until he finds the long-term deal that has evaded him.
Framber Valdez, LHP
The Orioles and Mets have been the two clubs most often connected to Valdez, which makes perfect sense given that the top baseball-operations executives for each team have history with the left-hander. Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias was the Astros’ scouting director when Houston signed Valdez signed in 2015, while Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns was the Astros’ assistant GM at the time.
Baltimore has already added Shane Baz in a trade with the Rays and re-signed Zach Eflin, but the need for a frontline starter remains. The Orioles also have handed out their biggest free-agent contract in years with Pete Alonso’s five-year, $155 million deal, so it remains to be seen whether they’re prepared to make another high-priced signing.
The Mets have been very active this winter, trading away Nimmo and McNeil and letting Alonso and Edwin Díaz leave as free agents while adding Marcus Semien, Jorge Polanco, Devin Williams and Luke Weaver. New York could use a big arm to lead its rotation, with Valdez a logical option. One potential sticking point: Stearns has historically shied away from signing starters to long-term deals, making a trade for a controllable arm – Brewers ace Freddy Peralta, perhaps? – a more realistic option.
The Braves and Giants are among the other teams that have been connected to Valdez, who rejected a qualifying offer and will cost his new team Draft picks.
Ranger Suárez, LHP
Like Valdez, Suárez has been linked to the Mets and Orioles throughout the winter, which is hardly a surprise given their respective needs for starting pitching.
But Suárez is two years younger than Valdez, making him a more appealing option for potential suitors. Both left-handers have ample postseason experience, and while both have had success in October, Suárez’s dominance in the playoffs could separate him from Valdez despite the latter’s reputation as an innings-eating workhorse.
The Braves, Cubs and Angels are also looking for pitching help, with Suárez – another player who rejected a qualifying offer – among the potential targets.
