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Boston Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman. John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

Ranking the pending MLB free agents: American League edition

By David Hill, Seth Carlson, Aaron Somers | Last updated Oct 21, 2025 12:04 PM ET

MLB free agency officially begins days after the conclusion of the World Series. The teams in the American League will be battling to upgrade their rosters and put themselves in a better position to contend for the league pennant next season.

This week, Yardbarker's MLB writers got together to identify the top pending free agents from each division.

AL East

New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger. Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Outfielder Cody Bellinger

Acquired in a trade with the Chicago Cubs last offseason, Bellinger proved to be an integral part of the New York Yankees’ Juan Soto pivot. The 30-year-old center fielder hit 29 home runs in 2025, good for an .813 OPS and 125 OPS+, well above-average production behind presumed AL MVP Aaron Judge.

Bellinger will be coveted as a plus-hitting center fielder with pop, and his lefty bat makes a ton of sense in Philadelphia (assuming the Phillies don’t re-sign Harrison Bader). He could also be a good fit in Queens, where the New York Mets have a center field-sized hole to fill.

Third baseman Alex Bregman

The Boston Red Sox made an unexpected run to the postseason in 2025, with Alex Bregman’s veteran leadership and strong offensive output helping to catapult the team into October. He’s almost certain to opt out of his massive three-year, $120 million contract following a season in which he posted an .821 OPS and a 128 OPS+.

Assuming Bregman does indeed test the waters again, the Red Sox would be wise to re-sign him, especially since their in-house third base options aren’t exactly stellar. Other potential fits include the two teams that played in this year’s ALCS, the Toronto Blue Jays (who could feasibly upgrade from incumbents Addison Barger and Ernie Clement) and the Seattle Mariners (who have a rental at third base in Eugenio Suarez).

Shortstop Bo Bichette

Bichette has notably missed the Toronto Blue Jays’ deep postseason run in 2025, but that hasn’t made his contributions any less valuable. The 27-year-old finished second in the American League in hits this year (181), just three behind Kansas City Royals star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. His prime age and premier position will make him one of the most intriguing free agents of the winter.

Among teams in the market for shortstops, expect the Los Angeles Dodgers to be involved since they could move Mookie Betts back to the outfield. An under-the-radar team to watch? The Yankees insist that Anthony Volpe is their shortstop, but his struggles this season could be tough to ignore.

Right-handed pitcher Shane Bieber

Making his return from Tommy John surgery in 2025, the Cleveland Guardians traded Bieber to the Toronto Blue Jays this past summer for touted pitching prospect Khal Stephen. That wound up becoming a shrewd acquisition by Toronto, as Bieber finished the 2025 season with a 3.57 ERA in seven starts down the stretch.

In terms of suitors, Bieber should have many after he (likely) declines his player option. The New York Mets would make sense given their rotation struggles in 2025. The San Diego Padres also appear to be a good fit on paper, as they’ll also need to replace pending free-agent pitchers of their own. Other teams that could play for Bieber include the Detroit Tigers and the Atlanta Braves.

Second baseman Brandon Lowe

Lowe has a 2026 club option with the Tampa Bay Rays, but it’s difficult to envision the latter picking that up. Thus, the veteran second baseman and his position-leading 31 home runs in 2025 should likely hit the open market this winter.

A few teams to watch if Brandon Lowe hits the open market include the Detroit Tigers, who are slated to lose Gleyber Torres in free agency, the San Diego Padres, who could lose Luis Arraez, and the San Francisco Giants, who could stand to upgrade from incumbent Casey Schmitt.

-- Seth Carlson

AL Central

Detroit Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres. Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Second baseman Gleyber Torres

Torres gambled on himself when he signed a one-year, $15 million contract with the Tigers. Although he cooled off after a torrid first half, Torres provided solid power and on-base skills as he helped set the table for the Tigers sluggers. A possible candidate for the qualifying offer, Torres should be in high demand as the best second baseman on the market.

A reunion with Detroit remains possible, but Torres could easily draw interest on the open market from several clubs like Kansas City or San Francisco, which could look to upgrade at second base.

Right-handed pitcher Jack Flaherty

Flaherty holds a $20 million player option that he may exercise following a disappointing return to Detroit. However, he is just a year removed from arguably the second-best season of his career. Flaherty would be a gamble and may not receive a long-term deal, but he could also be a tremendous bargain.

Assuming Flaherty opts to leave the Tigers, he should see interest from several teams in a weak pitching market. The Mets are known to be looking for another starter. The Blue Jays or Astros could also be fits.

Outfielder Luis Robert Jr.

The White Sox hold a pair of $20 million team options on Robert, so there is no guarantee that he enters free agency this offseason. Although he has disappointed in the past two years, Robert had a strong second half before a strained left hamstring ended his season. The White Sox have publicly said they remain committed to Robert, but that is a sizable investment for a player whose production has fallen off.

While Chicago may be likely to hold onto its Cuban center fielder, teams will show an interest in seeing if he can bounce back to form if he reaches the free-agent market. Potential contenders like the Yankees and Mets could be fits, as could an outfield-needy franchise like the Royals.

Outfielder Randal Grichuk

If there is one thing Grichuk has done well over his career, it has been to hit lefties. His platoon splits evened out in 2025, and he was slightly better against right-handed pitching, but he still has decent power and could be an inexpensive option for a team looking to improve its outfield production.

Grichuk has spent much of his career in a platoon role, but his ability to provide some power off the bench remains valuable, and several teams need help in the outfield. A reunion with Kansas City remains in play, but Grichuk could also draw interest from the Red Sox (if they lose Rob Refsnyder) or Tigers.

Right-handed pitcher Kyle Finnegan

Finnegan was a rarity at the 2025 trade deadline — a bullpen acquisition that actually panned out for a contending team. He has saved more than 20 games in each of the past three seasons and could be viewed as part of the second tier of closers. Finnegan has a 47 percent ground-ball rate over his career, and, at worst, could be a solid setup man for a contending team.

Plenty of teams will be seeking bullpen help this offseason. The Yankees, Diamondbacks and Phillies could all be in the market for a late-inning arm.

-- David Hill

AL West

Seattle Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor. Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

Left-handed pitcher Framber Valdez

In a relatively weak pitching market, Valdez may prove to be the most intriguing arm available. The left-hander has been Houston's most consistent starter in recent years, topping 176 IP in each of the last four seasons. This past season, the 31-year-old posted a 3.66 ERA (114 ERA+) despite issuing the most walks and wild pitches of his career.

A reunion with Houston appeared likely just months ago, but now it seems clear that Valdez will likely depart for greener pastures this offseason. Any team looking to upgrade its rotation should at least be kicking the tires on Valdez.

First baseman Josh Naylor

A July trade addition, Naylor quickly won over the Seattle fan base with his all-out effort on defense and hustle on the bases. Between the D-backs and Mariners, Naylor hit a combined .295/.353/.462 on the year with 20 HRs, 92 RBI and a career-high 30 stolen bases.

Seattle will surely entertain bringing "Thickey Henderson" back into the fold next season, but Naylor could draw interest from several clubs this offseason looking to add a bat at first base. He'll likely be the less costly option for teams pursuing Cody Bellinger and Pete Alonso.

Third baseman Eugenio Suarez

Once again, Suarez showed that he has one of the most powerful bats in the big leagues at third base, hitting a career-high-tying 49 home runs and driving in 118 between his time with Arizona and Seattle this season. Mariners fans embraced Suarez despite his struggles at the plate following the trade.

Toronto, Seattle, Boston and many of the same clubs that could pursue Alex Bregman and/or Munetaka Murakami this offseason will also be in play for Suarez, who at 34 should still command a multiyear contract.

Infielder Jorge Polanco

Polanco holds a $6 million player option for the 2026 season that he could conceivably still exercise. It's also entirely possible he opts to explore the open market with the hope of landing a higher AAV over a longer commitment. Polanco's 2025 marked a sharp turnaround from his 2024, with almost a 200-point increase in his OPS.

Gleyber Torres and Brandon Lowe might monopolize the second base market when free agency opens, but if Polanco is available, he could prove to be a more affordable option for teams seeking an upgrade at the position.

Infielder Luis Rengifo

2025 proved challenging for Rengifo, as his offensive numbers dipped significantly from the three prior seasons. Rengifo hit just .238/.287/.335 for Los Angeles this season. Still, a 28-year-old switch-hitter who can field multiple positions will draw interest from teams even if it's just to play a role off the bench.

Rengifo's market will largely depend on the role he's angling for. If he wants to start, options may be more limited unless he's willing to wait things out to see where the other infielders sign first.

-- Aaron Somers

Aaron Somers

Aaron Somers has more than a decade of experience writing about sports and has been published in numerous outlets, but baseball is and has always been his biggest passion. You can follow him on BlueSky, @AaronJSomers.

David Hill

Based in the mountains of Vermont, Dave has over a decade of experience writing about all things baseball. Just don't ask his thoughts on the universal DH.

Seth Carlson

Seth Carlson is an experienced writer and editor based in the NYC area with a particular love for all things baseball. He has a demonstrated history of delivering insightful analysis and engaging content across multiple outlets and industries. Seth brings his expertise and commitment to high-quality coverage to Yardbarker’s readers.

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