Demilio: Top 50 MLB Free Agent Predictions
Major League Baseball free agency officially got underway on Thursday evening and players are now free to negotiate and sign with any of the 30 teams in the league.
To mark the occasion, MLB Trade Rumors released its top 50 free agent predictions, and in one of my favorite parts of the offseason, an accompanying contest where readers get to make their own predictions.
I finished making my picks this morning. Most of them will be wrong, but hopefully I get a few right. Here’s how I have the 2025-26 free agent market unfolding.
1. OF Kyle Tucker: Dodgers
- The rich get richer. There are a handful of teams that make sense for Tucker but the Dodgers have a pressing need and seemingly unlimited funds.
2. SS Bo Bichette: Blue Jays
- Toronto was two outs away from winning the World Series. Bichette is a staple on the team. It would be hard to let him walk.
3. RHP Dylan Cease: Red Sox
- The Red Sox will be aggressive in their hunt for a starting pitcher and Cease is the top option available.
4. 3B/1B Munetaka Murakami: Mariners
- The Mariners have holes at both corners of the infield. Why not go for an impact a guy who could theoretically fill either?
5. 3B Alex Bregman: Tigers
- Bregman reunites with A.J. Hinch, who managed him in Houston, and gives the Tigers an impact bat.
6. LHP Framber Valdez: Giants
- The Giants need help in the rotation. Valdez is the top lefty starter available.
7. RHP Tatsuya Imai: Padres
- The top international pitcher available this year ends up in sunny San Diego.
8. OF/1B Cody Bellinger: Yankees
- Bellinger and the Yankees have been a good match. Keep it going.
9. DH Kyle Schwarber: Phillies
- I just cant envision a scenario where the Phillies let Schwarber walk. He’s meant to be in Philadelphia.
10. LHP Ranger Suarez: Blue Jays
- The Blue Jays were so close to winning it all. Go big to fill an opening in the rotation.
11. 1B Pete Alonso: Rangers
- I’m not confident Alonso will return to the Mets. Texas probably has a more pressing need on the pitching staff but Alonso would be a splash to boost the offense.
12. 1B Josh Naylor: Mariners
- Naylor proved to be a good trade acquisition for Seattle. Run it back.
13. RHP Edwin Diaz: Mets
- The Mets can’t let both of their top free agents walk, can they?
14. RHP Michael King: Mets
- Back-to-back Mets picks. Owner Steve Cohen isn’t afraid to spend.
15. RHP Zac Gallen: Cubs
- The Cubs need a starter. Gallen won’t break the bank after a down year but is a strong bounce-back candidate.
16. RHP Devin Williams: Dodgers
- Williams was one of the top relievers with the Brewers but had a bad first season with the Yankees. The Dodgers will take a chance.
17. RHP Brandon Woodruff: Orioles
- It worked out for one former Brewers starter and Baltimore in Corbin Burnes. Why not try again with another?
18. OF Trent Grisham: Angels
- The Angels, perhaps foolishly, are going to try and win. Grisham was great for the Yankees this year.
19. 3B/1B: Kazuma Okamoto: Mets
- There are a lot of solid international bats available this winter. The Mets join in on the fun.
20. 3B Eugenio Suarez: Red Sox
- Not a bad replacement for Bregman, eh?
21. RHP Robert Suarez: Giants
- Suarez jumps to the Padres’ division rival.
22. LHP Shota Imanaga: Rangers
- It was a bit surprising to see the Cubs opt out of their contract with Imanaga but I have the Rangers reaping the rewards.
23. INF Jorge Polanco: Royals
- I think Polanco would be a good target for the Pirates, but would he want to come to Pittsburgh? The Royals seem like a good enough fit.
24. RHP Chris Bassitt: Angels
- If the Angels don’t punt, they need help in their rotation.
25. RHP Merrill Kelly: Diamondbacks
- Though I have them letting Gallen walk, I think they bring back Kelly.
26. RHP Brad Keller: Tigers
- Keller had a darn good year out of the bullpen for the Cubs. Detroit needs ‘pen reinforcements.
27. RHP Lucas Giolito: Braves
- This is just one of those instances where I can picture Giolito in a Braves uniform.
28. SS Ha-Seong Kim: Braves
- The Braves traded for Kim who opted for free agency but I don’t have the marriage ending just yet.
29. C J.T. Realmuto: Phillies
- Like with Schwarber, Realmuto just means too much to the Phillies.
30. 1B/OF Ryan O’Hearn: Reds
- The Reds need offense. O’Hean can provide some.
31. OF Harrison Bader: Guardians
- The Guardians will be on the hunt for outfield help and Bader feels like a good fit.
32. RHP Raisel Iglesias: Braves
- Iglesias has had a good run with the Braves. Bring him back.
33. RHP Nick Martinez: Diamondbacks
- A swingman who can serve as a replacement for Gallen.
34. 1B Luis Arraez: Red Sox
- The Padres could bring him back. I think the Red Sox could make a play too.
35. RHP Zack Littell: Nationals
- The Nats have a new front office and a need for a veteran starter.
36. RHP Ryan Helsley: Padres
- Helsley was really good with the Cardinals and really bad with the Mets. The Padres need a replacement for Suarez.
37. 2B Gleyber Torres: Tigers
- I have Torres accepting the qualifying offer.
38. RHP Justin Verlander: Astros
- Likely his last season. He had a good run in Houston last time.
39. RHP Cody Ponce: White Sox
- Former Pirate alert! Ponce heads to Chicago after a strong run in Japan and Korea.
40. RHP Kyle Finnegan: Yankees
- Here comes a run on relievers. The teams are interchangeable but all have a need.
41. RHP Luke Weaver: Cubs
- From the Yankees to the Cubs.
42. RHP Tyler Rogers: Rangers
- I have the Rangers going big in free agency this year. Not sure how I feel about that.
43. RHP Seranthony Dominguez: Marlins
- The Marlins need help everywehre.
44. RHP Pete Fairbanks: Twins
- A little surprised that Fairbanks was not retained by the Rays, but let’s give Derek Shelton a shiny new toy to play with.
45. LHP Gregory Soto: Pirates
- The Pirates badly need a left-handed reliever. They also need offense, but I think there’s a better chance of trading for an impact bat than signing one.
46. RHP Emilio Pagan: Orioles
- Baltimore lands a needed back-end relief pitcher.
47. RHP Tyler Mahle: Rays
- This just feels like a Rays signing.
48. RHP Max Scherzer: Tigers
- Another future Hall of Fame starter reuniting with one of his former teams.
49. C Victor Caratini: Rays
- It’s a thin catching market this year but the Rays really need one.
50. INF Willi Castro: A’s
- I almost put the Pirates here but the A’s have just as big a need.
More about: MLB