2025 PC Top 50 Free Agent Guide
From Left to Right: Kyle Tucker, Alex Bregman, Scott Boras, Dylan Cease, and Munetaka Murakami
Kyle Tucker | RF | 29 yo |10 yrs/$400M | Yankees
Tucker can do it all, even if he’s not elite at any of the five tools. His bat speed and exit velocity are middle-of-the-road, but he’s a Gold Glove right fielder with both power and contact ability. Since he is far and above the best player available on the market, several teams will be bidding. The Yankees lost out on Juan Soto, and should be aggressive in their pursuit of Tucker, particularly with Bellinger likely leaving the Bronx.
Bo Bichette | SS | 28 yo | 7 yrs/$210M | Blue Jays
Bo was great in the World Series at the plate despite the bad knee. He struggled on the basepaths and lacked range defensively, but Bichette looked comfortable at second base. If the Jays do pay him, they should probably move platinum defender Andrés Giménez to short and let Bo play a less demanding position. He has a career 121 OPS+ and hit .311 this year - his bat more than profiles for the keystone.
Dylan Cease | RHS | 30 yo | 6 yrs/$168M | Orioles
Cease has started at least 32 games each of the last five seasons; his top skill is durability. He finished 2nd in the AL Cy Young in 2022, but put up a 4.55 ERA with plenty of bad luck in 2025. His peripherals are still very good though, and his five-year average of a 3.72 ERA over 177 innings annually makes him an ace for a second division club or a #2 starter on a contender. The Orioles didn’t bring back Corbin Burnes, yet also didn’t replace him with anyone close to his pedigree. They ran into a few other injuries, and their starting pitching drove them off a cliff by the end of May. 32 starts a year from Cease is just what the doctor ordered for a club that still has plenty of promise.
Cody Bellinger | OF/1B | 30 yo | 6 years/$156M | Giants
Belly has had a roller coaster of a career – from MVP to bottom-of-the-barrel and back to All-Star. His comeback arc has been a great watch, his defensive versatility further punctuates his value as he hits free agency. The Giants have Devers at 1B, but they could use an outfielder and middle-of-the-order hitter to provide some lineup protection for Raffy.
Munetaka Murakami | 3B | 26 yo | 7 yrs/$154M | Mets
I believe Murakami could play the hot corner for a year or two, but I envision a top-of-the-market club like the Mets paying a premium to stick him at first and watch him hit 40 homers a year for the foreseeable future. If he’s a younger version of Kyle Schwarber, it’s almost a best-case scenario. Many have pointed to the slugger’s struggles with velocity- if he can’t adjust he’ll look like the 2nd edition of Yoshi Tsutsugo. There is bust potential here for sure, but I believe Murakami is more Schwarber than Yoshi. Steve Cohen needs to land a big fish after missing big on Yamamoto, and the young NPB superstar can replace Alonso.
Tatsuya Imai | RHS | 27 yo | 6 yrs/$150M | Mets
Imai is a young, durable starting pitcher, and should hit nine figures easily despite a lack of MLB experience. He hasn’t been as dominant as Yamamoto was in the NPB, but he was a finalist for the Sawamura award this year after finishing with a 1.92 ERA. He doesn’t walk many guys, and his 20.7% K-BB rate is a career best. The Mets thought they had Yamamoto two years ago - this is their redemption arc to make a big splash and get a share of the Japanese market.
Alex Bregman | 3B | 32 yo | 4yrs/$150M | Tigers
Alex’s first year outside of Houston started great - Breggy hit 298/.380/.546 before the AS break. The quad strain slowed him down in the latter half, but he showed that he’s still a star player when healthy. Not only is the bat worthy of the #3 spot in many lineups, he’s a Gold Glove defender at third. At 32, he is unlikely to get the years that Murakami will, but he’s arguably the best proven position player in this free agency aside from his former teammate, Kyle Tucker. The Tigers made a push for him last season, and I think they’ll find each other at the dance given the Tigers’ offensive struggles in the playoffs.
Framber Valdez | LHS | 32 yo | 5 years/$140M | Jays
Framber intentionally hit his catcher with a 93 MPH fastball right off the chest protector, right after a pitch call disagreement that led to a grand slam. There are some impulse control issues, but there’s no question about his quality as a pitcher. He’s usually close to the top of the league in groundballs, pitches deep into games, and stays healthy. He’s finished top 10 in the AL Cy Young in three consecutive seasons, and has a good shot of making it four in 2025. Framber will be in high demand, even if he doesn’t get the sixth year we have projected for Dylan Cease. Toronto needs an ace, and it makes sense to get a durable #1 starter like Framber to replace Bassitt.
Ranger Suárez | LHS | 30 yo | 5 yrs/$110M | Cubs
Ranger is unheralded outside of Philly. He’s a sinker-baller like Framber, and his 3.25 ERA over the last five seasons is 10th in the MLB. Suárez is only 30; he’s elite at generating soft contact (98th percentile in 2025). The lefty will be more affordable than Cease or Framber, which will be attractive to mid-market clubs in need of a frontline starter.
Kyle Schwarber | DH | 33 yo | 4 years/$110M | Phillies
It’s hard to imagine Schwarber taking his bombs anywhere other than Philly; Dombrowski seems intent on bringing him back. Kyle’s career year came at 32, leading the league with 56 HR and 132 RBI. He’s likely to finish top three in NL MVP as well, despite being a full time DH. He has no defensive value, and is a career .231 hitter. That said, he walks 15% of the time, and hits tape measure homers. I have him going back to the Phillies for $26M AAV, a fair deal for both sides.
Pete Alonso | 1B | 31 yo | 4 yrs/$108M | Reds
Steve Cohen called negotiations with Boras and Pete last offseason “exhausting” and I don’t see him being willing to negotiate back and forth for months again. Polar Bear is slower than most people, and certainly not as fast as an actual polar bear. He’s not a particularly good defender at first and seems likely to slot over to DH soon. The Cincinnati offense was clearly missing pop in their lineup, with no one to protect Elly. Alonso rebounded in a big way after betting on himself, putting up his best OPS since his rookie season. This is the year for him to get his multi-year deal, and the Reds badly need a 40 HR hitter to push past their Wild Card wall for this talented roster.
Edwin Díaz | CL | 32 yo | 5 yrs/$100M | Jays
Díaz had a freak injury in the WBC, missing the entire 2023 season. His 2025 season rivaled his career year in 2022 - a 1.63 ERA and 38% K rate that is certain to get him paid. Edwin is one of the best closers in the game, and moves up one more slot with the gambling indictment of Emmanuel Clase in Brooklyn this week. The Rivera and Hoffman award winner is the best closer on the market for sure, and I think he’ll get another five year deal because he’s still only 32. There will be several teams offering four years, but the Jays will offer five to ensure they get a top 9th inning arm north of the border. Giving up runs in the 9th is ultimately how they lost game seven of the World Series. The bullpen was weak all year, and it bled into the postseason. If they’re serious about getting back to the Fall Classic, they need a closer with better command than Jeff Hoffman.
Michael King | RHS | 30 yo | 4 yrs/$82M | A’s
King has stepped up his game, pitching to a 3.10 ERA in San Diego over two years. He’s only 30 and has solid peripheral numbers, particularly in 2024 when he was healthy all season. In 2025, he barreled up a bit more and gave up more hard contact before his shoulder injury and knee inflammation. Even with the injuries this year, he’s in line to receive an AAV around $20M due to his youth and breakout 2024 campaign in which he finished 7th in the NL Cy Young. The A’s swung and missed on Luis Severino, but Michael King could be the frontline starter they need to give this roster a competitive shot.
Josh Naylor | 1B | 28 yo | 3 yrs/$75M | Mariners
Some sites have projected Naylor for a five year deal, but I see him biting on a three year with high AAV. Guys with physiques like Naylor don’t typically age very well, and he may not be able to play first base three years from now. 28 is young for a free agent though, and he’s hit .295 or better in two of the last three seasons. He shockingly stole 30 bags in 2025 and doesn’t strike out much at all despite a high chase rate. He’s a bad ball hitter, and tough to strike out. The Mariners needed more contact in their lineup, and Naylor felt like a necessity in the playoffs this year. Seattle should be willing to pay a bit above market to ensure Josh stays in the Pacific Northwest.
Kazuma Okamoto | 3B | 29 yo | 5 yrs/$75M | Angels
Okamoto seems to want to stay at third, and the Angels are known to accommodate players more than other clubs (see Shohei signing with Angels out of Japan). Kazuma is the captain of the Yomiuri Giants and owns a career .882 OPS in 11 NPB seasons. He hit 41 HR with a .958 OPS two years ago in a dead ball league, and posted a career high 1.014 OPS in 69 games this season. If Okamoto can play third, and hit .260 with 25 HR a year, a contract like this would be a huge win for the Angels. If he can’t play third, or struggles to hit over .230, it’ll be tough to justify.
Eugenio Suárez | 3B | 34 yo | 3yrs/$66M | Red Sox
Geno is coming off one of his best seasons, a few years after the Mariners were convinced the bat speed was gone for good. He tied his career high in homers, and drove in 118 runs despite hitting only .189 post trade. Seattle has Ben Williamson and Colt Emerson, it seems highly unlikely they’ll use their limited resources to pay Suárez. The Red Sox need a third baseman and bat to replace Bregman- Eugenio offers power fit for Fenway Park, but with worse defense and less contact. He’ll also be more affordable than Alex though, and won’t require a four or five year commitment.
Devin Williams | RHR | 31 yo | 4 yrs/$64M | Dodgers
Williams had a rough year in the Bronx, but the ugly 4.79 ERA is largely attributed to his 55.2% strand rate. From 2022-2024, the former Brewers closer had a 1.66 ERA, giving up only 26 runs in that span. He gave up 33 earned in 2025, but that strand rate is unlikely to persist going forward. Relievers have variance, Josh Hader, Craig Kimbrel, and Edwin Díaz have all had rough years only to come back and dominate the following season. The Dodgers have nearly unlimited resources, and they were clearly missing reliable high leverage relievers this postseason.
Trent Grisham | CF | 29 yo | 4 yrs/$64M | Phillies
Grisham had a career year offensively. I doubt anyone had 34 HR and 3.5 bWAR on their bingo card. That’s with his defensive metrics sliding in the wrong direction, and at 29 you do wonder if the range is declining permanently. Even if he is, he should be capable of playing a corner at a Gold Glove level; the key question for teams is if they believe in the breakout 2025 numbers or not. He posted an .811 OPS this year, but had a career .697 OPS in March.
Gleyber Torres | 2B | 29 yo | 3 yrs/$63M | Giants
Gleyber bet on himself after leaving the Yankees, and had a decent year. After posting an .812 OPS in the 1st half, he struggled to a .223/.320/.339 after the break. Torres has a career .770 OPS as a middle infielder, but he’s a bad defender at the keystone. He’s averaged 2.5 bWAR over the last three seasons, which puts him in the $20M to $22M AAV range.
Brandon Woodruff | RHS | 33 yo | 3 yrs/$57M | Rockies
DePodesta just took over the Rockies front office, and everyone knows they need starting pitching. With Woodruff’s recent shoulder issues, the Rockies can get a discount on a frontline starter with a clean physical. In 12 starts this season, Woody picked up right where he left off, with a 0.912 WHIP and 2.18 xERA.
Robert Suarez | CL | 35 yo | 3 yrs/$50M | Mets
Suarez saved 36 games last year, and closed 40 out this season. His four-seamer was 98.6 MPH this year, and his K rate was improved from 2024. 34 is often regression time for starters, but it’s really not old for a guy tasked with getting six outs at most, and usually three. The Mets are probably losing their closer and need a reliable guy to shut the door in the 9th.
Zac Gallen | RHS | 30 yo | 2 yrs/$47M | Padres
Mike Hazen and the Snakes’ front office opted to hold onto Gallen rather than trade him, but that was more about getting the comp pick from the QO than a shot at resigning him. Zac is a workhorse, averaging a 3.63 ERA in the last four years over an average of 183.5 innings. His 4.83 ERA in a contract year is rough, but he posted a 1.091 WHIP and 3.97 ERA over the 2nd half. It is possible Gallen gets four or five years, but a short-term deal with higher AAV could work for both sides. With King and Cease leaving, the Padres are an obvious fit.
Jorge Polanco | 2B | 32 yo | 3 yrs/$45M | Marlins
Polanco had some big hits this postseason, and he posted a 134 OPS+ over a full regular season. His defensive value is dubious – he seems unlikely to play anywhere other than first long-term. An .821 OPS bat plays anywhere though, if he can keep up the offense from 2025. The Marlins need a stable veteran around all of their young guys, and Polo has the temperament to lead a young locker room. He’s still only 32, and could fit in the middle of the lineup nicely with Kyle Stowers.
Shota Imanaga | LHS | 32 yo | 3 yrs/42M | Snakes
Imanaga struggled this season after a dominant rookie year, he had a 4.70 ERA after the break. The main problem was the bad homer rate from Japan rearing its head again – Imanaga gave up 31 HR in 2025. Shota has demonstrated he can throw strikes consistently, but his success is also contingent on command in the zone given the lack of dominant stuff. I will give him the benefit of the doubt, as some of this could be attributed to a nagging hamstring. With the DBacks losing Gallen, Imanaga can take on a larger role as the ace of the desert.
Merrill Kelly | RHS | 37 yo | 2 yrs/$36M | Snakes
As mentioned, Arizona faces the possibility of losing Zac Gallen after sending Kelly to Texas at the trade deadline. Gallen’s deal may be rich for their blood, but I do expect them to bring veteran Merrill Kelly back to Chase Field. His first taste of MLB success came in Arizona, he had seven solid years here. He’s already 37 years old as a late bloomer, so this is probably his last shot at a multi year deal.
Chris Bassitt | RHS | 37 yo | 2 yrs/$36M | Yankees
Another 37-year-old starter, Chris Bassitt was solid out of the bullpen this postseason for Toronto. Chris doesn’t have overpowering stuff, but he throws eight pitches and keeps hitters off balance. Bassitt has started at least 30 games in four consecutive seasons, and carries a 3.77 ERA from 2022-2025.
Lucas Giolito | RHS | 31 yo | 2 yrs/$34M | Braves
Giolito got hurt immediately after signing the deal with Boston two years ago, and went under the knife. He posted a dazzling 3.41 ERA, a great number for a guy coming off elbow surgery. However, his xERA is 5.06 and his whole savant page is blue. He’s not getting swing and miss, while also letting up too much hard contact. Since he’s been pretty durable outside of the TJ surgery, he’ll get paid to throw 150+ innings. He’s not the guy he was in Chicago, but he’s a serviceable backend starter and the Braves need an innings eater.
J.T. Realmuto | C | 35 yo | 2 yrs/$32M | Phillies
Realmuto is the only starting catcher on the market, and will get multiple years for that reason. He might even get two years, $40M, because the catcher market is so thin, but I expect him to sign for a hometown discount in Philly. He’s 35 now, and the defense has declined from his Gold Glove days. Over the last three seasons, J.T. is a league-average hitter with a 100 OPS+ and roughly average defense.
Marcell Ozuna | DH | 35 yo | 2 yrs/$30M | Pirates
Ozuna doesn’t have the best reputation off the field, and had an off year after a monster 2024 campaign. He has no defensive value, which limits his market to clubs needing a full time DH. The Pirates can take a stab at him returning closer to his 2024 slash line, .302/.378/.546, they badly need some pop in their lineup.
Ha-Seong Kim | SS | 30 yo | 2yrs/$30M | Braves
Ha-Seong Kim took a while to get healthy, but finally looked more like himself down the stretch last season. Atlanta clearly liked him, and he’s a valuable player if he can hit anywhere close to league average. From 2022-2024, he hit .250/.336/.385 with a 103 OPS+ and won a Gold Glove in 2023. He can stabilize shortstop for the Braves, who haven’t had a solid shortstop since losing Dansby.
Harrison Bader | CF | 31 yo | 2 yrs/$28M | Angels
Bader is a premium defensive outfielder, and he had a career year offensively. Bader will likely never hit 17 HR or put up a 117 OPS+ again, but anything close to it would make him a second division regular when you factor in his glove. The Angels are in need of a center fielder, with Jo Adell destined for a move to right field.
Zack Littell | RHS | 30 yo | 2 yrs/$26M | Guardians
Littell doesn’t have impressive K rates, but he generates soft contact and stays healthy. He’s got a 3.73 ERA over 61 starts in the last two years, which would be a solid and economical pickup for Cleveland slotted in behind Gavin Williams and Tanner Bibee.
Brad Keller | RHR | 30 yo | 2 yrs/$25M | Yankees
Keller is another successful starter to reliever conversion, his velocity up to 97.2 MPH on his four-seam this year. Brad finished 99th percentile in hard contact, 95th percentile in groundball rate, and 93rd with a .200 expected batting average against. He’s also only 30 years old, so his second act as a high leverage reliever could be several more years.
Nick Martinez | RHS | 35 yo | 2 yrs/$25M | Nationals
Martinez didn’t have a great year with the Reds on the QO, a 4.45 ERA and sharp drop in K rate. He has the versatility to start or pitch out of the pen, and he has the resume to get a multi-year deal despite the rough season. The Nationals desperately need veteran leadership, and their starting pitching ranked 29th in the MLB with a 5.18 ERA.
Luis Arráez | 1B | 28 yo | 2 yrs/$25M | Snakes
Many question the value Luis carries, since he can’t run, hit for power, or play defense. Understandable, but he also did win three consecutive batting titles in a time where we criminally underestimate the importance of being able to hit on demand. He ranked 100th percentile in whiff rate this year, but only hit .292 with a putrid 1.1% barrel rate. The Snakes could use a batting title contender at the top of their lineup ,and they have a hole at first base.
Cody Ponce | RHS | 31 yo | 2 yrs/$25M | Rays
Ponce went 17-1 with a 1.89 ERA and 252 K’s last year in the KBO, eye popping numbers even for Korea. He’ll get a multi-year deal, like Erick Fedde did. It’s worth noting he had a 4.54 ERA in the NPB, so it’s fair to question if he’s feasting off inferior competition or if he figured something out. He’s only 31, so it’s not out of the question his breakout is legit and justification for $25M or so over two years.
Ryan Helsley | RHR | 31 yo | 2 yrs/$25M | Angels
Helsley looked to be in line for a major payday when he was traded at the deadline, but he limped to the end of the season. He got shelled multiple times, with a 7.20 ERA over 22 games for the Mets. From 2022-2024, Ryan had a Williams-esque 1.83 ERA with 12.1K/9 before getting rocked down the stretch in 2025. He will most likely be fine going forward, and the Angels clearly need a closer upgrade from Kenley Jansen if they’re serious about an AL West run.
Raisel Iglesias | RHR | 36 yo | 2 yrs/$24M | Giants
Iglesias has led the league in games finished three separate times over his career, which says something about both his durability and caliber for performance. He posted 2.35 ERA in four seasons with the Braves, and put up a 1.76 2nd Half ERA in 2025 after a rough start to the year. He’s got gas left in the tank, and the Giants need a high-leverage reliever badly with Randy going under the knife, and Tyler Rogers hitting the market.
Ryan O’Hearn | DH | 32 yo | 2 yrs/$24M | White Sox
O’ Hearn has had a nice career resurgence, and I can easily see him hitting cleanup for a rebuilding club like the White Sox. The lefty put up a 125 OPS+ for the Orioles from 2023-2025 after his career was hanging in the balance on the Royals. This year, he hit .281, put up an .803 OPS, and made his first All Star team. He’s a complete hitter, but doesn’t possess elite contact or power tools.
Luke Weaver | RHR | 32 yo | 2 yrs/$22M | Cubs
Weaver lost his closer role in the Bronx after struggles and injury, but his .196 xBA still rated in the 95th percentile. He has high whiff and K rates, but rated 1st percentile in groundball rate. The Cubs bullpen was lacking this season, Ryan Pressly was the closer on opening day. Weaver would be a huge upgrade, and an affordable one at that.
Michael Soroka | RHS | 28 yo | 2 years/$22M | Cubs
Soroka is young and has good stuff, which makes him appealing on the open market even if the end results haven’t really been there. His .210 xBA in 2025 is much better than his 4.52 ERA, he gets soft contact and his 25% K rate is solid. $11M a year is cheap if he's a success as a starter, and they can always throw him back in the bullpen if need be.
Pete Fairbanks | RHR | 32 yo | 2 yrs/$21M | Braves
After Fairbanks had elite K rates north of 35% for multiple seasons, he’s had back-to-back seasons under 25%. That’s concerning for a high-leverage reliever, and even more so when you notice the velocity has gone down a few ticks since 2022. He’s still a solid high-leverage option, but likely not a dominant closer anymore with the drop in velocity on the fastball.
Kyle Finnegan | RHR | 34 yo | 2 yrs/$20M | Tigers
Finnegan is not quite as good as Fairbanks right now, but it’s probably close. Kyle is also a few years older, and doesn’t have the pedigree Pete has. He’s posted enough results for a multi-year deal though, and I presume the Tigers would like to bring Finnegan back to stabilize the top end of this bullpen.
Tyler Rogers | RHR | 35 yo | 2 yrs/$18M | Marlins
Rogers has been great the last few seasons, and this may be his shot to close at 35 years old. He’s led the league in games pitched four times, managers love to deploy him and he’s usually available.The Marlins have been calling around the league looking for a veteran reliever, and Rogers would be the best on the roster if they pulled him in.
Emilio Pagán | RHR | 34 yo |2 yrs/$18M | A’s
Pagán managed a 2.88 ERA in the homer-happy ballpark, Great American. He’s had good years and bad years, with a career 116 ERA+. With the A’s trading Mason Miller this past deadline, Hogan Harris is currently the closer on the depth chart. Emilio is better and should be able to pitch in the 9th for the A’s, an appealing prospect for almost any reliever.
Justin Verlander | RHS | 43 yo | 1 yr/$18M | Tigers
Verlander continues to amaze me. I thought he was cooked and he put up a 2.99 ERA after the All-Star break. He also threw 152 innings – not bad for an old man. It’s time for the Hall-of-Famer to come back to Detroit, where it all started, for one last hurrah.
Max Scherzer | RHS | 41 yo | 1 yr/$16M | Jays
Similar conversation here – Max looked better in the postseason than we could have expected, given how much he fell off at the end of the regular season. Still, he had to work harder to get 12 outs than he’s used to over his Hall of Fame career. The Jays can bring him back on a reasonable deal, and hope to get 120 innings out of him.
Willi Castro | UTL | 28 yo | 2 yrs/$15M | Padres
Willi can play almost any position, but the defensive metrics are also bad at almost every one, and he only hit .226 this year. He has value because he can play so many positions, but he’s more of a bench guy than a starter. The Padres bench was a major weakness last year, so this is a great fit.
Victor Caratini | C | 32 yo | 2 yrs/$15M | Padres
San Diego can continue to add to their bench with Caratini as a part-time catcher. The switch hitter put up a 105 OPS+ over two seasons in Houston, but he only catches about 50 games a year.
Caleb Ferguson | LHR | 29 yo | 2 yrs/$13M | Mariners
Ferguson is a reliable middle-leverage southpaw with a 3.52 ERA over the last four seasons. Seattle got him at the deadline from the Pirates, and it’s a great fit for a Seattle bullpen that needs another lefty behind Gabe Speier.
