Will Skubal sign before lockout? Ranking MLB's top 50 free agents

Alas, we did this exact same exercise five years ago.

Once again, the hot stove will almost certainly be cooled by an industry-shuttering lockout Dec. 1, as commissioner Rob Manfred pulls the plug on the offseason as collective bargaining talks with the players’ association lurch on. Until then, it will be a moderate scramble for teams to sign players — with another feverish trade and free agency sprint once the CBA is settled.

Whenever that is.

Until then, though, there are dozens of players to dream on, some who will sign quickly, others who will beat the buzzer at the end of November and still more that will have to wait until 2027. With that, USA TODAY Sports presents its top 50 free agents, from the most desired to those reasonably expected to sign a major league contract.

Rankings based on projected future performance and perceived market value: Ages are listed as of April 1, 2027.

1. Tarik Skubal (LHP, 30, Dodgers)

Still the one. Tarik Skubal’s elbow procedure in May and his decent but not indomitable playoff stint after a trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers might cool his market a tad, but he’ll easily sail past the $325 million record for a free agent pitcher. Expect him to sign shortly before the lockout plug is pulled.

2. Michael King (RHP, 31, Padres)

Yeah, this free agent class is a little short on star power. Michael King will make someone happy, though: In 77 starts over three seasons in San Diego, he pitched to a 3.15 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP and struck out 436 in 432 innings. He is a solid No. 1, or an excellent No. 2 for a team with playoff aspirations.

3. Freddy Peralta (RHP, 30, Rays)

What a roller-coaster for ol’ Fastball Freddy Peralta, who seemed to jeopardize eight seasons of greatness with one half of terrible with the New York Mets. Yet Peralta reignited his value with an increasingly electric three-month stint in Tampa Bay, capped by a postseason in which the Rays won the first four games he pitched in before running into the Milwaukee Brewers. That run likely brought him back into the nine-figure contract club.

4. Sonny Gray (RHP, 37, Red Sox)

Yeah, we’re a little heavy on veteran arms, here. Such is the game today, though: A paucity of starters, a slew of fungible offensive options. Sonny Gray won 18 games and posted a 2.72 ERA in Boston, and while some below him on this list will outshine him in total value, he should make a very nice killing in average annual value after opting out of a $30 million player option.

5. Clay Holmes (RHP, 34, Cubs)

Again with the reliable if not dominant right-handed starters. Clay Holmes re-made himself very nicely with the Mets, stretching out to become a starter again, and he was bound for an All-Star bid before a comebacker resulted in a freak broken bone in his leg. Still, he posted a 3.26 ERA over 40 starts there and has a knack for suppressing the home run.

6. Trevor Rogers (LHP, 28, Orioles)

Trevor Rogers’ up-and-down stint in Baltimore after a 2024 trade ended on a very high note, as he pitched to a 2.89 ERA and 2.90 FIP in his final 20 starts. His age and apparent remaining upside make him a nice fit for a club that fancies itself pitching savants.

7. Seiya Suzuki (OF/DH, 32, Cubs)

Seiya Suzuki is likely just a future DH, and we’re not altogether convinced he’s the best position player on this market, but it’s tough to argue with four consecutive seasons with an OPS between .804 and .841. Get him out of Wrigley Field — which ranks 22nd for batters in park factor and 26th for right-handed swingers — and it could be a very smooth transition into his mid-30s.

8. Randy Arozarena (OF, 32, Mariners)

Did someone mention park factors and right-handed hitters? Well, Seattle's T-Mobile Park is the worst for righty swingers, per Statcast, yet Randy Arozarena put up a 26-homer, 26-steal season, and career bests in OPS (.865) and WAR (5.7). Given his age and that speed is a fairly big part of his game, there is a little buyer beware here, but he can be instant offense for a team in need.

9. Teruaki Sato (INF, 28, Hanshin Tigers)

All hail the Central League Triple Crown winner, who hit 39 homers and drove in 106. Teruaki Sato did strike out 27% of the time the past two seasons, but his market will no doubt benefit from Munetaka Murakami’s success, who hit 35 homers in his MLB rookie year after similar whispers about contact issues.

10. Nick Pivetta (RHP, 34, Padres)

A flexor strain cost Nick Pivetta five months of this season, but he looked crisp in his return and brings to the market a nice two-year sample in San Diego: A 2.87 ERA over 216 1/3 innings and a 0.99 WHIP. Durability concerns might force him to accept a deal laced with some incentives, but Pivetta and his signing club will feel pretty good betting on each other.

11. Foster Griffin (LHP, 31, Guardians)

Talk about a winning bet on yourself: Foster Griffin came back from Japan and posted a 15-6 record and 3.60 ERA with the Washington Nationals and Cleveland Guardians, appearing in three playoff games for Cleveland. Griffin’s eight-ish pitch mix makes him tough to square up, even if his 8.2 strikeouts per nine innings may give pause to clubs obsessed with swing-and-miss.

12. Nick Martinez (RHP, 36, Rays)

Speaking of first-time All-Stars who induce weak contact, Nick Martinez had an extremely precise season with the Rays: A 1.09 WHIP despite just 109 strikeouts in 180 innings. But Martinez was extremely valuable in the rotation and clubhouse for Tampa Bay and, like many pitchers on this list, might not be a bona fide No. 1, but can make a decent rotation playoff-caliber.

13. Matthew Boyd (LHP, 36, Cubs)

Matthew Boyd backslid a fair amount from his 2025 All-Star campaign, his ERA bumping from 3.21 to 3.91 and his FIP from 3.65 to 4.21. Boyd required surgery on his meniscus after a mishap playing with his children and also had a biceps issue, but in 61 starts over three seasons he has a 3.41 ERA. Quality you can rely on.

14. Shota Imanaga (LHP, 33, Cubs)

Shota Imanaga pitched last year after accepting a qualifying offer and had a typical year, dominating in six April starts before blowing up in May and August, landing on a 3.77 ERA overall. His three major league seasons have had similar roller coasters, and the Cubs have lost both playoff games he’s appeared in before staying away from him in the 2026 Wild Card Series. Still, the stuff is good and he’s posted a 1.04 career WHIP.

15. David Bednar (RHP, 32, Yankees)

Who knew how valuable this dude would be when the New York Yankees acquired him in July 2025? David Bednar saved 45 games in 52 chances across 1 1/2 seasons, plus two more in the postseason, giving up one earned over nine innings of playoff ball. The Yankees extended him the qualifying offer, so perhaps a reunion could be worked out before he fully hits the market.

16. Evan Phillips (RHP, 32, Dodgers)

Injuries limited Evan Phillips to just 38 appearances the past two seasons, but he was 42-for-49 in save opportunities in 2023 and ’24, and has given up zero runs in 18 1/3 career playoff innings. Yes, that’s an Aaron Ashby-like run across five postseasons, including two World Series championships and an NL Championship Series run this year.

17. Kaima Taira (RHP, 27, Seibu Lions)

An intriguing posting, to be sure, as Kaima Taira posted a 1.36 ERA in 23 starts this year in Japan — and saved 36 games as a reliever the year before. He has a career 9.4 strikeouts per nine innings, generating mid-90s velocity despite a 5-foot-8 frame.

18. Raisel Iglesias (RHP, 36, Braves)

Is this guy getting better with age? Raisel Iglesias saved 34 games for Atlanta last season, capping a five-year run in which he posted a 0.97 WHIP and saved 131 games. He gave up just 48 hits in 60 innings.

19. Adrian Morejon (LHP, 28, Padres)

Adrian Morejon suffered shoulder inflammation at the finish line in 2026, and the Padres opted to stay away from him in their last two NL Division Series games against Milwaukee. The Brewers extended him a qualifying offer, which may ensure his return. He was one of the game’s greatest relievers the past two seasons, making the 2025 All-Star Game and striking out 177 in 159 2/3 innings. He pitched in 75 and 76 games, so you can call him every-other-day Adrian.

20. Brandon Lowe (2B, 32, Pirates)

The Pittsburgh Pirates extended Brandon Lowe a qualifying offer after he ripped 35 home runs and produced 5.4 WAR in his lone season with the team. Lowe also struck out 189 times — 28.8% of his plate appearances — yet his OPS of .824 was in line with his .810 career mark. It is an interesting market for a guy entering his mid-30s.

21. Jazz Chisholm Jr. (INF, 29, Yankees)

After a 31-homer, 31-steal season, Jazz Chisholm’s homers dropped to 19 and his OBP from .332 to .312. Still, he’s the youngest position player on the market and a dynamic talent in an offensively uninspiring class; might be best served if a club made him a multi-positional everyday option.

22. Bryan Abreu (RHP, 29, Astros)

Bryan Abreu an amazing two-year run in 2022 and ’23, posting a 1.84 ERA and striking out 12.8 batters per nine innings as the Astros won the World Series and reached Game 7 of the ’23 ALCS. Now, he’s still pretty good but not quite as dominant — his home runs per nine innings have leaped from 0.3 in 2022 to 1.3 this past season.

23. Luis Arraez (INF, 29, Phillies)

Luis Arraez's marketability took a big leap under the tutelage of infield wizard Ron Washington, who helped him become a serviceable second baseman. Arraez banged out 185 hits between San Francisco and Philadelphia, and his .765 slug was his highest since 2023.

24. Hiromi Itoh (RHP, 29, Nippon Ham Fighters)

Teams who obsess over strike zone control will love Hiromi Itoh, who struck out 159 but walked just 34 in 172 innings this past season in Japan. The winner of the NPB’s Cy Young equivalent in 2025, Itoh figures to slot as a mid-rotation option in the major leagues.

25. Ian Happ (OF, 32, Cubs)

Ian Happ’s 10-year run at Wrigley Field concluded with a career-low .218 batting average yet 24 homers that were just one off his career high. His streak of four consecutive Gold Gloves in left field came to an end, but Happ is still a significant all-around add for a contending team.

26. Tyler Mahle (RHP, 32, Braves)

27. Gleyber Torres (2B, 30, Tigers)

28. Jake Bauers (1B, 31, Brewers)

29. Mauricio Dubon (INF/OF, 32, Braves)

30. Dustin May (RHP, 29, Brewers)

31. Trent Grisham (CF, 30, Yankees)

32. Daulton Varsho (OF, 30, Astros)

33. Kevin Gausman (RHP, 36, Cubs)

34. J.P. Crawford (INF, 32, Mariners)

35. Shane Bieber (RHP, 31, Blue Jays)

36. Casey Mize (RHP, 29, Padres)

37. Ryan Jeffers (C, 29, Twins)

38. Zac Gallen (RHP, 31, Diamondbacks)

39. David Peterson (LHP, 31, Cubs)

40. Tyler Stephenson (C, 30, Reds)

41. Alec Bohm (INF, 30, Phillies)

42. Robbie Ray (LHP, 35, Padres)

43. Erick Fedde (RHP, 34, White Sox)

44. Paul Blackburn (RHP, 33, Yankees)

45. Martin Perez (LHP, 35, Braves)

46. Walker Buehler (RHP, 32, Padres)

47. Gregory Soto (LHP, 32, Pirates)

48. Luis Robert Jr. (OF, 29, Orioles)

49. Carson Kelly (C, 32, Cubs)

50. Jack Flaherty (RHP, 31, Tigers)