Top 5 Players Set To Opt Out & Become Free Agents

Shane Bieber, Toronto Blue Jays pitcher will opt out to become a free agent

The winter of 2025-26 features some big-name free agents already, with the likes of Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette ready to take their wares to market.

But a truckload of talent who own player options can choose whether they want to enter the free agent frenzy as well. Per noted insider Jeff Passan, here's a look at the top 5 players who are certainly set to opt out and test their luck in free agency.

1. Alex Bregman, Boston Red Sox

He just couldn't land the big mammoth deal he hoped for last winter, so he signed a three-year, $120 million contract with the Red Sox at the 11th hour, with opt-outs after each of the first two seasons. That move will pay off large for Bregman, who has a .281 average, an .849 OPS, plus his 3rd All-Star nod. In addition, writes Passan, he's "taken over the Red Sox's clubhouse and become their unquestioned leader."

Making up that remaining $80M that he's opting out of will be no problem at all on the market this winter.

2. Pete Alonso, New York Mets

The Mets really put the squeeze on the Polar Bear last winter, forcing him to return on a two-year, $54 million deal. But after watching fellow first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. land a $500 million contract from the Toronto Blue Jays, and then going out and putting up another monster year himself for the Mets (33 HR, 113 RBIs thus far), Alonso will opt out and get some serious nine-figure offers.

3. Edwin Diaz, New York Mets

Petey's teammate, Diaz has returned to the top of the closer charts after an underwhelming year last season, following a lost 2023 to a torn patellar tendon in his right knee suffered in the World Baseball Classic. With a 1.87 ERA, 25 saves and 13.8 K/9, he's set to rake in a nice deal in free agency, unless, as Passan notes, the Mets manage to re-sign him before he hits the open market.

4. Cody Bellinger, New York Yankees

The on-again, off-again star outfielder is ON again this season, putting up tremendous numbers for the Bronx Bombers. He will opt out of his $25M player option and hit the open market. Passan says Belli "will seek nine figures this winter". He's had to settle for short-term, 'prove it' deals the past couple of years.

5. Shane Bieber, Toronto Blue Jays

The Jays gave up their No. 5 prospect for Bieber, the former Cy Young winner, who was coming back from Tommy John surgery and hadn't pitched in the majors in a year and a half. They felt they were getting a bargain at a $16M option for 2026. But Bieber's hot start in his Blue Jays debut will turn out to be bittersweet, as he boosts the Toronto rotation for now, but will certainly opt out of that $16M and seek a deal well north of $100 million this offseason.