Free agency is officially open. As of Thursday, five days after Los Angeles Dodgers won their second straight World Series title, eligible players can communicate and negotiate with all 30 teams in hopes of finding their next employer. Some will end up with long-term deals worth more than most of us could ever dream of.
So who's going where? Agents and general managers need to figure this out. As for your CBS Sports experts? Let the guessing games begin.
Ranking the top 50 MLB free agents for 2026: Kyle Tucker, Alex Bregman at the top, plus landing spots for each player
R.J. Anderson
R.J. Anderson: I'll say Dodgers. They could use another outfield bat, something bad, and he's the best one available. Money obviously won't be an issue, and if it's even close, it makes sense for Tucker to end up out west.
Mike Axisa: Dodgers and Yankees looks like he'll intervene, maybe Metz too, but I'm going to go off topic a little: Giants. Maybe it's not THAT unconventional. I think the Giants are a little underrated right now. Even after taking over Rafael Devers and his whole contract, they have money to spend and I guess it's POBO Buster Posey will have more success signing deals with top free agents than his predecessor Farhan Zaidi. Tucker fills a need for the Giants and I will say he is a big name free agent who will break the seal and head to San Francisco.
Dane Perry: I'd like to be unconventional here, but I think Tucker-do-Dodgers makes too much sense to ignore. They need help on the field, they continue to prioritize building the best squad and, as defending champions, they are obviously an attractive destination. The best team gets the best free agent, perhaps without even making the highest offer.
Matt Snyder: I'll go with Tucker to the Phillies. They could move Nick Castellanos to left field to accommodate a player with Tucker's talent, but they need help in the outfield anyway. Taking the 28-year-old Tucker is a good way to keep the current window of contention open while also having a bridge to him as a centerpiece going forward. Let us remind you that Bryce Harper is now 33 years old.
R.J. Anderson: If not Red Soxyou could make a strong case for TigersMets and Phyllis. I'll go with the Mets because I'm not sure the Tigers will invest the money – not when they passed up a golden opportunity to do so for Bregman just last offseason.
Mike Axisa: I'll say Mets. I'd take a chance Pete Alonso returns to New York with less than 50%, and the Mets will need to replace his right-handed bat in the middle of the lineup. In addition, Mets have improve the protection of the personal plot. This is absolutely necessary and Bregman would do it. His signing will also free up the club for trade. Brett Baty, Ronnie Mauricioand/or Mark Winds. After the disappointing season they just had, it will be easier for the Mets to turn the page with Alonso, but I also don't think they'll stay at the top of the free agent market. So, Bregman.
Dane Perry: Sometimes the boring answer turns out to be the most sensible one. Bregman returns to Boston. It's likely they'll compete in 2026 and possibly beyond with a young talent base, Bregman filling a need and serving as a veteran stabilizer, and his relationship with coach Alex Cora is strong. This time it is a long-term pairing of club and free agent.
Matt Snyder: I like the Mets here. Pete Alonso appears to be on the cusp, and Bregman helps offset some of that offensive loss while also improving the defense by taking over at third and sending Mark Vientos to first base. Yes, I still hope that Vientos in 2024 will be better than in 2025, and having to focus less on defense (yes, first base is important, but it's much less intense than third base) will help there.
R.J. Anderson: The big question surrounding Bichette's free agency is which teams view him as a defenseman. If they're willing to put up with his glovework at shortstop, at least for the near future, that really opens up his fanbase. Maybe you will have a command like Withstands or the Yankees will attack him. If instead he is treated as an aggressive second baseman, it will change things. Blue Jays Either way they suit him. I'll only pick them because it would be great if he stayed in Toronto.
Mike Axisa: Returning to Toronto is so easy. I'm putting it at 99% Blue Jays and 1% on the field just because you never know with free agents, but I think Bichette will be back. This will happen quite early in the off-season. It wouldn't surprise me if a deal gets done before the Winter Meetings start on December 7th. It also wouldn't surprise me if Bichette moves to second base full-time in 2026. This suits him better defensively, and Andres Jimenez is more than capable in short. Jimenez at short and Bichette at second should be Toronto's long-term double play combination, not the other way around.
Dane Perry: I think the joy of winning the pennant plus the lifetime status and dedication of the organization to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. makes returning to Toronto Bichette's biggest opportunity. After a successful season with the Jays in fighting mode, Bichette will be back where it all started.
Matt Snyder: After their World Series run, the Blue Jays have plenty of incentive to keep Bichette, as well as the cash to pay what is needed. He's not going anywhere.
R.J. Anderson: I've played here with the Mets and Red Sox, among others, but I'll go with the Giants. Last season, they ranked in the top 10 in slugging percentage among starting pitchers and paired Valdez with Logan Webb at the top of their rotation, this will give them an effective one-two punch as they try to catch up in the National League West.
Mike Axisa: It occurred to me that Orioles could take part given their pitching needs and Valdez's history with POBO Mike Elias from his days at Astrosbut a) those things may be overpriced in free agency, and b) I'm not comfortable with O's spending at the level it would take to get Valdez. So I'll put it aside for Cubswho left Shota Imanaga and have a pretty big hole in rotation with Justin Steele still recovering from elbow surgery. I think Valdez is a free agent who will likely sign with Mystery Team in January or February.
Dane Perry: If the Mets are going to turn the page on a disappointing 2025, they'll likely need a real presence up front in the rotation. That's Valdez, and he's been one of the most reliable starting pitchers in all of baseball over the last half-century. It says here that Steve Cohen will honor the request and strengthen the Mets to compete for the NL East title in 2026.
Matt Snyder: The Giants are trying to get back into the playoffs and have money to spend. I like Valdez in this ballpark, and with Logan Webb and Robbie Ray, the Giants will have a chance to move past three front-line veterans ahead of Landen Rupp and perhaps Trevor McDonald or Kai-Wei Teng.
R.J. Anderson: I would have thought Phyllis. Dave Dombrowski has shown a willingness to sign mid-level bats to big contracts in his previous stops in Detroit and Boston. Schwarber remains an important part of this lineup, and unless they get Tucker or Bregman in the mix, I don't see how they can maintain or improve their lineup while losing Schwarber elsewhere.
Mike Axisa: It must be Phyllis, right? I think Schwarber's chances of returning to Philadelphia are better than Bichette's chances of returning to the Blue Jays. Let's call it 99.5% Phillies and 0.5% field. I know the Phillies are looking to revamp their offense after another quick exit from the postseason, but Schwarber is the guy to keep and build around. A favorite 50-homer dude with an offensive skill set that tends to age well (power and plate discipline) is not the guy you let go when your World Series window is as open as it can be. Of course, DH would take too many years and too many dollars. However, this is what is needed. I think re-signing Schwarber with Philadelphia is as close to a deal as anything this offseason.
Dane Perry: While some retooling is possible in Philadelphia after another disappointing playoff performance, I don't think Dave Dombrowski is ready to lose his best offensive player. There is some risk in Schwarber's profile as he ages, but he still breaks the ball and is patient at the plate. Plus, Philly is in win-now mode, and Schwarber is truly checking that box. He'll be back.
Matt Snyder: The Phillies are the most likely option here, but if they decide to sign Kyle Tucker as I predicted above, it's entirely possible that Schwarber heads elsewhere. If he does, he'll be a perfect fit for his original team with the Cubs. They need more home run power, there is a lot of familiarity here and there is an open DH spot as things stand. This fits well. The challenge will be getting Tom Ricketts to open his wallet, but with a familiar face it seems possible.
