2026 MLB Free Agent Rankings: Top 50 Available Players

Baseball America's 2026 MLB Free Agent Rankings present a detailed analysis of notable players in the first four tiers. The rankings combine recent signing data, advanced metrics, and consensus value estimates to assess player worth.

Win values represent an aggregate from FanGraphs, Baseball Prospectus, and Baseball Reference, with contract projections based on a $10 million per WAR calculation.

Key Players and Insights

Kyle Tucker stands out as the top prospect of this free agent class. His unique blend of youth, proven performance, upside, and background makes him exceptionally valuable. If multiple teams compete, his final contract could far exceed projections.
Bo Bichette is on the edge of Tier 1 consideration. However, declines in his bat speed, sprint speed, and concerns about his defense cast some doubt on his long-term outlook.
Framber Valdez, the oldest player within the top tier, offers a consistently strong performance history and dependability, making him the leading starting pitcher in the class.

Recent Updates

The rankings were recently revised after Trevor Story, Shane Bieber, and Jack Flaherty chose to opt into their contracts as of Tuesday, November 5, removing them from the free agent pool.

"Kyle Tucker is the clear jewel of this class. He has an unmatched combination of youth, track record, upside and pedigree. If a bidding war erupts, he may out-earn this projected contract by a wide margin."

"Bo Bichette has a Tier 1 argument, but his declining bat speed and sprint speed, combined with questionable defense, clouds his future projection."

"While Framber Valdez is the oldest player in this tier, his performance track record and reliability are rock solid. He’s the premier starter in the class."

About the Rankings

Stay tuned for position-by-position free agent rankings to get a comprehensive look at available players across all roles this offseason.

Author’s summary: This ranking highlights top 2026 MLB free agents, focusing on emerging stars like Kyle Tucker and reliable veterans such as Framber Valdez, reflecting a balance of youth, performance, and potential.

Baseball America — 2025-11-04