Top 5 Starting Pitchers Still Available in MLB Free Agency

With Tatsuya Imai's signing with the Houston Astros, that leaves several teams still in need of a starting pitcher vying for the remaining available free agent arms.

These are the top 5 starters still out on the market:

Framber Valdez
Ranger Suarez
Zac Gallen
Lucas Giolito
Chris Bassitt

It's a mix of high-end and middle-of-the-rotation guys, but all, except for Giolito, are legitimate innings-eaters, and good ones, at that.

Valdez is at the top of the chart, and was right from the beginning of the offseason, even with all the other since-departed names on the board. The Astros' move to sign Imai likely puts an end to any remaining pipedreams of Houston fans that Valdez might return. There are currently two teams seen as frontrunners here.

Suarez has tossed over 150 innings in three of the past four seasons for the Philadelphia Phillies, and posted an ERA in the mid-3.00s in each of those years. He's at least a No. 3, maybe even a No. 2 starter for some teams. There are a number of clubs in need of a higher-end starter who are in on him. He will come at a more reasonable price than Valdez.

Gallen is a former Cy Young contender who picked a bad year to have the worst season of his career. But he's still projected to land a four-year deal worth at least $75M. It's possible, however, that his difficult season with a 4.83 ERA may have cost him up to $100M. There were six teams said to be in pursuit of Gallen as of about a month ago.

Giolito, who sat out 2024 with a partially-torn UCL, came back with a very good 2025, going 10-4 with the Boston Red Sox with a 3.41 ERA in 26 starts. Teams around the majors don't seem to be convinced, however, as Giolito recently said it's been 'crickets' for him in free agency.

Bassitt was a good soldier in his three seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays, even moving to the bullpen for their electric playoff run in 2025, and performing with excellence (1.04 ERA). But going on 37, his market is a bit of a mystery at this point.