MLB free agency 2026: Players who have boosted their stock the most

We’re in the home stretch of the 2026 MLB season, but there’s always a part of sports fandom that has us keeping an eye on the upcoming offseason. 

That’s especially true for MLB free agency, as this is one of the key ways that teams can build out their rosters and improve their standing as they try and make – and win – a World Series title. 

Upcoming MLB Free Agents Who Have Boosted Their Stock in 2026

This year’s free-agent class has some major intrigue, and there are some big names set to hit the market. Some players hit free agency in better shape than others, though, so here at SeatGeek, the Official Ticket Marketplace of MLB, we’re going to share 11 pending free agents who’ve really helped themselves with strong showings thus far in 2026. 

Dodgers SP Tarik Skubal

Skubal is 0-2 since his move to the Dodgers, but don’t let that record fool you – he has a 3.18 ERA over his first three starts for L.A. with 19 strikeouts in 17 innings. Before the move, he had a 2.79 ERA over 16 starts with the Tigers.

Skubal isn’t entering free agency with a third straight Cy Young Award or the low-2 ERA we saw from him the last two years, but he’s still been one of baseball’s best pitchers in 2026. A midseason elbow surgery may have seemed scary at first, but Skubal has come back and pitched very, very well. He’s still punching tickets, avoiding walks and, quite simply, making life very difficult for opposing hitters. 

Skubal is the crown jewel of the upcoming free agency period, and the stud lefty doesn’t turn 30 until November. He’ll get a big payday, and we should see him get some major work this October for a Dodgers team vying for a 3-peat. 

Mariners OF Randy Arozarena

The Mariners’ lineup has been a mess and is a big reason the team is likely going to miss the playoffs this year. Don’t blame Arozarena, though. The veteran outfielder, who turns 32 in February, was a well-deserved All-Star and is set for a big payday this offseason. 

This year’s free-agent class is relatively weak when it comes to impact bats. Arozarena was already going to be highly sought after, and I think he has a case to be the best overall bat on the market. His 2026 season only helps his upcoming salary demands as Arozarena is approaching his sixth straight 20-homer, 20-stolen base season, and he’s putting together arguably the most well-rounded season of his career. Currently he’s on track for his best batting average, on-base percentage and OPS in any single season of his career.

Teams already were going to want Arozarena this offseason, but given how well he’s performed amid the chaos around him, he’s only going to look that much more attractive on the open market. 

Guardians SP Foster Griffin

No one pending free agent has helped his stock more than Griffin. After being essentially a Quad-A player for years, Griffin, 31, went to Japan and reinvented himself. The one-year deal he signed with Washington turned into an All-Star nod and being one of the bigger names moved at the deadline when he got dealt to Cleveland. He owns a 3.25 ERA over 24 starts and is 13-4.

Griffin essentially has transformed from a castoff to an All-Star arm who is set to pitch big innings for the Guardians down the stretch. Griffin won’t command a megadeal like some others this offseason, but he’s certainly earned himself a pay bump and some long-term security with his performance in 2026.

Rays SP Nick Martinez

Martinez is in the midst of a career season with the Rays. After years of shuffling between teams as well as bouncing between the rotation and bullpen, Martinez owns a 2.74 ERA for Tampa Bay and made his first All-Star Game. He’s pounding the zone and avoiding hard contact, so even if the whiff and K numbers aren’t there, Martinez is eating innings and getting outs for one of the best teams in baseball. 

A few things need to be noted with Martinez, though. First, he has a mutual option for 2027. The Rays will certainly want him back, but will Martinez want to test the market after a breakout season? If so, the thing to note is Martinez is 36. This could be his last chance for a major payday, but Martinez clearly likes pitching for the Rays. It’ll be interesting to see what ends up happening here. 

Phillies IF Luis Arraez

Arraez hit the open market last year but only netted himself a one-year deal with the Giants before he was dealt to the Phillies ahead of the trade deadline. That proved to be a bargain as Arraez has been putting together one of the  better performances of his career. The three-time batting champ may well win his fourth this year as he leads the NL in batting average. Maybe more importantly, he’s playing arguably the best defense of his career, which was a big question mark when he hit the open market last offseason. Add in that Arraez is slugging more than he has in years as well and he’s going to be hitting free agency in an ideal spot.

Given how well Arraez has played across multiple stops, it’s easy to overlook that he’s only 29 years old. The multi-year deal he should have gotten last year should present itself this winter, especially given how few offensive threats there are at second base in today’s game.

Cubs OF Seiya Suzuki

Suzuki has been a very steady performer since joining the Cubs in 2022, and he’s putting together his best all-around season as an MLB player. The soon-to-be 32-year-old outfielder is hitting around where he normally does in terms of batting average, and he’s getting on base at a very high clip without sacrificing any slug. As a result, he should have the highest OPS of his MLB career when 2026 is all said and done. 

Suzuki has also graded out very well defensively in the outfield, and there’s a legit argument to be made for him winning a Gold Glove. Suzuki, like Arozarena, will be highly sought after this winter for teams looking for more thump in the lineup, and Suzuki’s bringing an elite outfield glove to the fold as well. 

Twins C Ryan Jeffers

Catchers with offense like Jeffers are hard to find. Yes, he missed some time with injury for the Twins this year, but Jeffers is OPSing nearly .900 at .883. He provides slugging, hits the ball very hard, draws walks, minimizes strikeouts all while staying in the zone and not chasing. Yeah, that’s a good profile to have. 

The big question with Jeffers is the glove. He doesn’t grade out very well defensively, so that could be an obstacle toward securing a long-term deal. But if you’re open to him moving to first base or getting more DH days as the years go on, then Jeffers could be an intriguing target for your team. He’s also only 29. 

Pirates IF Brandon Lowe

After years of shining for the Rays, Lowe was dealt to the Pirates this offseason. And like he has done for most of his career, Lowe has posted and produced. The veteran second baseman is hitting .252 with his highest slugging percentage since 2021. He’s been a major run producer for a team that, surprisingly, has one of the best lineups in baseball this year. Lowe is a huge reason why that’s the case.

Lowe isn’t a premium defender, by any means, and he doesn’t walk much and also struggles against lefties. But he’s a true middle-of-the-order bat and, at 32, should give his next club considerable run production. 

Padres RP Adrian Morejon

Morejon hasn’t been as dominant as he was in 2025, but the lefty is still one of baseball’s best  leverage arms, pitching for a Padres team that has maybe the best back-end bullpen in MLB. Morejon has seen the best swing and miss and strikeout numbers of his career, so a team looking to add a guy with plus stuff who gets outs will be in luck. 

Morejon is durable and reliable – two important qualities in a leverage reliever. Add in that he’s only 27 years old and this lefty should earn quite the payday this offseason as maybe the best reliever available on the open market. 

Brewers IF Andrew Vaughn

A change of scenery really helped Vaughn. After years of looking like a draft bust for the White Sox, he was dealt to the Brewers, where he had an .869 OPS down the stretch. It would have surprised no one if Vaughn fell off this year, but that hasn’t been the case. He missed some time due to injury early in the season, but Vaughn has been great once again with a slash line of .300/.390/.457 (.847) with 23 extra-base hits and 35 RBIs in 80 games. He can play first and third base, which will help his market, and he’s showing he can be a run producer with some pop for a very good Milwaukee team.

Vaughn needs to be better and more consistent versus right-handed pitching, but his numbers off lefties will make him very intriguing for teams that need a reliable right-handed hitter. Vaughn is also just 28 years old, which will only help his market. 

Padres SP Casey Mize

It looked like Mize was never going to live up to the hype of being the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft due to inconsistency and injury, but he made the All-Star Game in 2025 and has had arguably better numbers this year, though he did miss time with injury. Mize was part of Detroit’s sale at the deadline, being moved to San Diego, where he’ll pitch key innings in the Padres’ playoff push. 

Mize has limited hits and punched out more batters than he has in any season of his career, and he has great stuff that some team will want to harness on a multi-year deal. Mize also doesn’t turn 30 until next May. This year – and last season – have really turned Mize’s prospects around moving forward, and after a rocky first start for the Padres, he’s put together consecutive quality starts, including six scoreless against Cleveland in his most recent outing on Sunday.