As the baseball world turns its focus from late-season races to the looming offseason, the market for free agents is starting to take shape. Performance in 2025 will directly influence the price tag for the winter, and a refreshed round of Free Agent Power Rankings is here to map where the biggest earners could land. Note that these rankings aren’t a simple “best players” list. They measure earning power — the potential value a player can command in a multiyear deal — which means age and contract structure can trump sheer performance in determining a player’s market ceiling. Recent mega-deals for young stars highlight how age can power wealthier contracts, with teams often prioritizing longer commitments for players in their primes.
The top 10, reimagined for the 2025-26 market
1) Kyle Tucker, OF, Cubs
Tucker remains the headline name in this offseason’s class. His current numbers show a strong, healthy season: a .271/.384/.474 line with a league-best on-base ability and proximity to another 20-homer campaign. He’s delivering big-time speed on the bases too, with 23 steals and excellent baserunning acumen. Tucker has never posted a 90 mph-plus exit velocity floor or a sub-42% hard-hit rate, which supports his power and contact profile. Heading into the next season at age 29, he’s on track to push past the $400 million mark and possibly approach the $500 million range with a strong finish to the season and postseason. He’ll receive a qualifying offer but is expected to reject it, and his market will be driven by his prime-age window and continued performance.
2) Bo Bichette, SS, Blue Jays
Bichette has steadied a season previously derailed by injuries, posting .300/.341/.468 across 508 plate appearances, with a scorching stretch over his past 380 plate appearances. His recent surge includes a .404/.449/.633 run over the last month. He’s striking out at a career-low rate (around 14.8%) and drawing walks at a healthy clip, yet his defensive value at shortstop has been a concern, with reports of average-to-below-average glovework and some teams potentially eyeing second base. If he sustains elite free-swinging performance, Bichette could command a deal in the vicinity of the top shortstops of recent years, potentially topping the $200 million threshold as he hits free agency ahead of his age-28 season. He’ll likely reject a qualifying offer.
3) Alex Bregman, 3B, Red Sox
Bregman is positioned to opt out of the remaining two years and $80 million on his current deal if not extended, and he’s shown enough in 2025 to be confident about a lucrative return to free agency. He’s slashing .295/.373/.533 with 15 homers in 295 plate appearances, and his plate discipline is back in strong form with a higher walk rate and consistent contact. His versatility on defense — capable at third base and capable of filling in elsewhere as needed — adds to his appeal. Expect a multi-year deal in the $150 million to $200 million range, with potential to push higher depending on postseason performance. He’ll be a strong candidate for a deal beyond what would be typical for a player entering his age-32 season.
4) Framber Valdez, LHP, Astros
Valdez is the top pitcher in this class by earning power. He’s logged a cadence of sub-3.00 ERAs across multiple seasons and sits at 2.83 ERA in 2025 with durable workmanlike innings. His 25.4% strikeout rate would represent a career high for a full season, and his 7.9% walk rate sits well below league average. He’s a ground-ball machine (around 60%), and his sinker velocity sits around 94 mph, giving him the latest throwback profile of a durable, innings-eating ace. If he finishes strong into the postseason, a five-year deal in the $150-180 million range is a reasonable expectation for a 32-year-old ace, with a strong chance to command even more if he can push beyond five years.
5) Cody Bellinger, OF/1B, Yankees
Bellinger’s value has grown with sustained improvement on both sides of the ball. He’s posted a .276/.328/.496 line with notable plate discipline improvements (a sub-13% strikeout rate) and a robust framing of power. He’s able to play multiple positions — center field, corner outfield, and first base — making him highly attractive to contenders seeking flexibility. He carries a $25 million player option for 2026 with a $5 million buyout, which he’s likely to decline in favor of a broader market. With continued strong performance and positional versatility, Bellinger could exceed the $100 million mark on a multi-year deal, potentially north of $20 million annually for a 30-year-old with a recent track record of sustained production.
6) Dylan Cease, RHP, Padres
Cease remains a premier control-and-miss arm, but this season hasn’t matched the peak of his form. A 4.60 ERA through 123 1/3 innings is a step back from his Cy Young-caliber ceiling. Yet his velocity remains elite (nearly 97 mph on his four-seamer) and his swing-and-miss rate sits among the best in the game. Cease has shown durability in the past, and his K rate sits at about 30%, with a sub-10% walk rate. The combination of youth (still only 26-27 entering free agency in another year or two?) and a high strikeout ceiling makes him a long-term bet. A five-year contract around or above $100-150 million is plausible, with the possibility of a longer-term, higher-value deal if he reclaims peak form. He’s expected to reject a qualifying offer.
7) Ranger Suarez, LHP, Phillies
Suarez sits in the Valdez tier as a dependable, durable lefty who can soak up innings and post solid results. He owns a 2.94 ERA in 2025, and his ground-ball rate remains strong around the 50% mark. He isn’t the hardest thrower, but his command and contact management keep him in the conversation as a durable mid-rotation presence. Injury history — particularly back issues — tempers the ceiling a bit, but teams will be comfortable paying for a high-probability, steady contributor. A five-year deal in the $110-115 million range looks doable given his track record and age near 30 entering the contract window.
8) Kyle Schwarber, OF/DH, Phillies
Schwarber’s market is unique for a player with substantial defensive limitations but elite power. With 40-homer seasons and a high on-base percentage, he profiles as a true offensive force, capable of thriving as a designated hitter while delivering big pop. Statcast percentile marks in bat speed, exit velocity, barrel rate, hard-hit rate, and expected production underscore his hitting prowess. His age will be a factor, but the market for a premier power hitter who can hit lefties as well as righties remains robust. Expect a four-year deal, possibly five, with annual values likely north of $20 million. The defensive limitations make longer-term commitments more scrutinized, but the batting profile is strong enough to command a premium.
9) Pete Alonso, 1B, Mets
Alonso has had an eventful season but remains one of baseball’s best power hitters. He’s at .264/.352/.507 with 25 homers and a continued high hard-contact rate, paired with high exit velocity. The defense isn’t special, and baserunning isn’t a weapon, but the bat remains a reliable source of power. Because Alonso signed two years ago with a salary structure that makes him ineligible for a qualifying offer, his free-agent market will be driven by long-term, multi-year deals rather than single-year offers. Analysts project a four-year deal in the mid-$20s per season range or a five-year deal in the low $20s per year, sized to a total around $100 million-plus depending on post-season performance and demand.
10) Brandon Woodruff, RHP, Brewers
Woodruff returns from shoulder surgery with a small sample that has shown excellent velocity and a strong-looking arsenal. If he can maintain rear-velocity improvements and show a clean bill of health, the market could be red-hot for a pitcher entering his mid-30s. With a recent history of excellent performance, the potential for a three- to four-year deal at a premium annual value exists, provided teams are confident in the durability of the shoulder. The Brewers will consider a qualifying offer, and Woodruff would likely decline in hopes of a longer-term arrangement.
Honorable mentions (alphabetical)
Edwin Diaz (opt-out), Jack Flaherty (opt-out), Zac Gallen, Lucas Giolito (’26 club option becomes mutual option at 140 innings this year), Trent Grisham, Ryan Helsley, Michael King, Tyler Mahle, Munetaka Murakami (NPB), Cedric Mullins, Josh Naylor, Ryan O’Hearn, Eugenio Suarez, Robert Suarez (opt-out), Gleyber Torres, Luke Weaver
What this means for the offseason
– The market will skew toward younger, prime-age players who can secure longer-term deals, even if those players aren’t the absolute best single-season producers. Age remains a key driver of earning power, which is why even players with stellar resumes may face shorter deals or deferred-money structures.
– Premium arms with proven durability, like Framber Valdez and Brandon Woodruff if healthy, could push for multi-year agreements in the upper tier of free-agent pay, while others may settle for shorter-term, high-AAV deals.
– Offensive dynamos with positional flexibility, such as Cody Bellinger and Kyle Schwarber, will be highly targeted by teams seeking lineup balance and defensive versatility.
– The qualifying-offer and opt-out landscape continues to shape negotiations. Players who reject offers may rely on their performance in the final stretch and postseason to boost their market ceiling.
Summary and outlook
This refreshed power ranking reinforces that the offseason will be defined by how teams balance age, health, and long-term potential with immediate impact. The top names mix high-end performance with long-term upside, and the surrounding group includes several players who can anchor a contender’s lineup or rotation for years to come. As the season closes and postseason drama unfolds, the free-agent market will start to crystallize around a handful of marquee targets while others position themselves as strategic, multi-year investments for clubs looking to bridge into a new era. Expect a flurry of activity as teams align their rosters with an eye toward sustainable success over the next several seasons.
Optional hopeful note
The upside in this class is real: young stars who can grow into franchise cornerstones, alongside established veterans who can bring immediate impact on short-term deals. The combination of strong performance, clear earning power, and a wide geographic and positional spread suggests an offseason rich with opportunities for both teams and players to find mutually beneficial agreements.