Reese Kaplan -- Remaining Top Free Agents for 2026 (Part 2)

We move onto part two of the list of top free agents available when the 2025 season comes to its conclusion.  Monday was a look at infielders and outfielders.  Today there are Designated Hitters to consider as well as a single Catcher.  Then it’s onto Pitchers both to start games and to relieve them.

Designated Hitters

• Luis Arraez is the hitter today that Jeff McNeil perhaps once hoped to become.  He’s won three batting titles in a row and owns a career batting average of .318.  That’s an incredible level of production.  In 2025 he’s down to a mere .291 but there’s no question that this small lefty hitter is for real.  He’s not much of a fielder so this on-base machine may be better suited as a DH.  The 28 year old is earning $14 million and should be getting a nice increase, though contact hitters don’t normally reach the same plateaus on payday as sluggers do.  Arraez has only once hit 10 HRs and doesn’t steal bases.  However a career .365 OBP is hard to ignore.  How would he be as a number two hitter on the Mets with guys like Juan Soto and others behind him to drive him in?
• Munetaka Murakami is currently injured but at age 25 he’s put together a nice slugging career in Japan.  The big man has had oblique issues this year and during the off season underwent elbow surgery.  He’s not an accomplished fielder and although third base and first base are two of his attempted defensive positions he has the offensive pedigree to be a DH.  In 2022, for example, he clubbed 56 HRs and drove in 134 while hitting .318.  Given his recent injury history and the unknown factor of how he’d adapt to MLB pitching the feeling is that his price will not be as astronomical as other free agents.  With his young age he’s a player worth considering and David Stearns recently went to Japan to have a look at him.
• Marcell Ozuna is not exactly a great person having already served time away for domestic violence but the man can indeed hit.  The Braves’ DH is due to be a free agent at year’s end but he may not be the best choice given he’ll be entering his age 35 season and already at a decline in production.  After consecutive seasons of 40 and 39 HRs with over 100 RBIs each, in 2025 he currently has 20 HRs 60 RBIs and the batting average is down to .236.  He’s earning $16 million this year and likely would want at minimum a three year deal but it’s not likely going to be higher than that number. 
• Kyle Schwarber is a true force with his bat.  His glove, well, consider it more of a souvenir than something part of his day-to-day equipment.  In his last four years he’s hit respectively 46, 47, 38 and thus far 43 HRs in 2025 while driving in near or above 100 RBIs.  He’s not a high-average hitter with a career mark of just .232 but you can’t deny the power.  The chunky left handed slugger earns $20 million from the Phillies this year.  He’ll be 33 during the 2026 season so a 4-5 deal is possible.  The ultimate all-or-nothing swinger, he’ll get a nice bump in pay likely higher for a shorter term deal than for a longer one, but keep him at DH rather than in the field.

Catchers

• J.T. Realmuto was once a top tier selection as a catcher who could hit, something of a rarity in baseball after his successful career beginning with the Marlins.  Turning 35 for the 2026 season he’s not going to get a long term deal as catchers tend to break down faster than any other offensive players.  He’s a career .272 hitter who averages 21 HRs and 80 RBIs per season.  Unfortunately for his pennant leading team this year he’s only got 7 HRs and 39 RBIs in late August.  Earning just under $24 million he’s likely going to get a lower rate given his age and declined production.  Given the resurgence of Francisco Alvarez’s bat after returning from Syracuse, Realmuto probably isn’t a good match for the Mets. 

Starting Pitchers

• Dylan Cease picked a bad year to turn in mediocre numbers as he is going to be available for the highest bidder.  Earning just under $14 million this year for the Padres, he’s not going to get much of an increased based upon his 2025 ERA of 4.87.  Age stands in his favor as he’ll turn just 30 next season but with a 3.87 career number he’s a solid 3rd or 4th starter, not ace material.
• Zac Gallen is unfortunately having the same problem as Cease.  For the Diamondbacks he is a career 3.59 ERA pitcher but as he heads into free agency he’s at a number of 5.31.  Also turning 30 during the 2026 season he will attract bidders but recent output will temper either the annual rate or duration of a prospective deal.
• Merrill Kelly is not exactly a household name, but he may be the somewhat hidden gem of the available starting pitchers.  Earning just $7 million, the Diamondback hurler has a career ERA of 3.75 with a 2025 number of just 3.31.  He’s a right handed starting pitcher who has a winning record for his career.
• Michael King was rumored to be someone the Padres might peddle to another team this past off season.  He’s actually pitching like a number one starter.  For his career he has a shiny 3.16 ERA and this season he’s been even better at 2.81.  Although he’s only earning $4 million for the 2025 season there is a mutual option for $15 million for 2026.  Given his age and pitching record he might decide to opt out and see what he could earn on the open market.  Considering the Mets are paying Frankie Montas more than that, he obviously could expect a jump closer to $20 million for multiple years.  He will be age 31 during the 2026 season.
• Ranger Suarez became a lefty starting pitcher for the Phillies beginning in 2021.  Since then he’s made quite a few starts for Philadelphia and a guy under 30 hitting the marketplace while still just 29 years of age should be looking for a new team to pay him.  His career ERA is 3.40 and his 2025 number is even better at 3.28.  He’s closing the 2025 season earning $8.8 million.  He will likely get 3-5 year offers.
• Framber Valdez is a solid lefty starting pitcher who may be leaving the Astros to seek greater riches.  The pudgy southpaw has a career ERA of just 3.26 and is doing even better this season at 3.01.  He strikes out about a batter per inning pitched and has come up big during post season outings.  Houston is paying him $18 million for this free-agent-to-be year and he’ll likely approach the $24 million annual rate for a 3 year deal elsewhere.  He’s now 31 so it’s improbable he would get a longer deal than that. 

Relief Pitchers

• Aroldis Chapman is well known from his Yankee days but now he’s proving to be crucial to the Boston Red Sox where he was an All Star.  He’s got 22 saves and sports a 1.15 ERA while striking out nearly 13 per 9 innings pitched.  He is earning just $10.75 million after getting $10.5 million the previous year in Pittsburgh.  At age 38 for the coming year it may temper his salary somewhat and likely will limit offers to single years with options rather than a long term contract. 
• Edwin Diaz is obviously critical to the Mets but his contract provides him with an option to test free agency again at the risk of giving up the remaining money of his deal.  This year he’s earning $21.5 million while delivering 24 saves and a 1.65 ERA.  His deal would give him an $18.5 million salary for 2026 if he remains, so his reward for what he’s delivered is a $3 million pay cut.  He has the same option for the 2027 season and the one for 2028 jumps his pay to $20.4 million.  So leaving means he must get over $37 million to exceed the two player option years.  The third option belongs not to him but to the team.  Would someone pony up say $20 million per year to secure Diaz?  Would the Mets try to renegotiate his deal before he hits free agency?  Stay tuned...
• Robert Suarez has been the Padres closer for the past two years and he’s delivered for them.  Last year the righty notched 36 saves and thus far in 2025 he has 33 and could easily hit 40 by year’s end.  He didn’t start his career until age 31 so he has not earned very much.  His current salary is just $10 million and he’ll likely opt out as the player options he has for 2026 and 2027 would drop his pay to $8 million.  He’s already 34 years old but closers have flourished into their upper 30s. 
• Luke Weaver began his career as a starting pitcher with the St. Louis Cardinals.  He bounced around a bit to the Diamondbacks, Royals, Reds and Mariners before landing with the Yankees who converted him into a full time reliever.  He appeared in 62 games in a setup role and finished the 2024 season with a 2.89 ERA.  Proving it was not a fluke, this year the ERA has dropped to 2.52 while appearing thus far in 42 games at age 31.  Earning just $2.5 million, he’s going to have a LOT of suitors when he hits free agency.  He’d sure look a lot better than Reed Garrett or Ryne Stanek.