Early Look At Top 5 Free Agents After 2026 Season

The 2026 season is just underway. But you can bet some front offices around the sport are already looking ahead to what kind of talent they can add in next offseason's free agent pool.

With that, we have a very early look at the top five free agents expected to hit the market this coming winter, as listed by Joel Reuter in Bleacher Report.

1. Tarik Skubal

It doesn't get any better than the top pitcher in baseball, the two-time defending Cy Young winner. The Detroit Tigers are apparently not interested in trading Skubal, preferring to ride their one-two punch in the rotation, along with Framber Valdez, to a hoped-for division title in the weak AL Central.

The Tigers, however, went to war in arbitration with their 2-time Cy guy this past offseason, trying to stop him from earning his much-deserved $32 million contract for this year. It didn't work. Instead, it probably gave him even more ammunition to leave at season's end.

2. Jazz Chisholm Jr.

The New York Yankees' dynamic power-speed threat will certainly be one of the most 'in-your-face' free agents of the next offseason. Jazz has no problem tooting his own horn, though his performance between the lines speaks for itself. A 30-30 season last year will do a lot of the talking for him, but he'll need to pick up the pace after a slow start this season.

3. Freddy Peralta

The New York Mets had talked this spring about trying to sign their new pitching ace to an extension, but as soon as Opening Day arrived, Peralta issued a terse "No comment" statement that has been interpreted as an end to negotiations until after the season. It's worth noting, per Ken Rosenthal, that Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns has yet to sign a pitcher for more than three years in his three years with the team. Peralta wants a long-term extension.

4. Trevor Rogers

The Baltimore Orioles ace is off to another sensational start to the season, with a 1.89 ERA through three outings. Many wondered if he'd be able to replicate the insane 1.81 ERA he posted in 18 starts last year with the O's. He probably won't, but if he keeps going like anything close to this, he's looking at being a very rich man this coming offseason.

5. Randy Arozarena

The Seattle Mariners' power-speed threat posted his fifth straight 20-20 season last year, as well as launching a career-high 27 home runs. With Chisholm playing full-time in the infield, Arozarena will be the top outfielder on the market.