Tarik Skubal He is the overwhelming favorite to be the top free agent next offseason. The two-time defensive back AL Cy Young Award winner may be the best pitcher on the planet. He almost certainly won’t sign an extension with the Tigers. As long as he stays healthy during his walk-on period, Skubal should become MLB’s first $400MM+ pitcher.
Just as the top of the pitching market is visible, the top spot in the batting department is wide open. It is a rare location even in March. Every year, MLBTR releases its first power rankings for next winter’s free agent class shortly after Opening Day.
The following players have topped the early free agent rankings over the past five Aprils: Corey Seager*, Aaron Judge, Shohei Otani, Juan Soto and Kyle Tucker. The first four players were signed for more than $300 million (much more than Ohtani and Soto). Tucker received at least one $350 million offer, but opted for a shorter contract at a record average annual value. It is usually very easy to identify the top batsmen for an upcoming free class a year or more in advance.
That’s not the case for the 2026-27 class, so it’s debatable which player enters the season in pole position. Their 2026 performance will obviously play a big role in determining future contracts, but only a few of next offseason’s hitters have a real chance of landing the biggest contracts. Randy ArozarenaFor example, while he’s one of the best hitters in the class, it’s safe to assume he doesn’t have the biggest contract as a left fielder to test the market in his age-32 season. That’s just not the right profile for a 9-figure deal.
Let’s look at a more realistic possibility. The full list of 2026-27 free agents can be found here.
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