By Jacob Becquey

The 2026 season has come to a close, and with it, a plethora of new questions arise; which team will win the World Series next year? Which team will pull off the biggest trade? Will my team bring me joy or eternal suffering? All of these questions have merit, but one seems to capture the eyes of the entire industry, not just the fanbases: who will sign the top free agents?

2027 is a huge question mark for Major League Baseball, as the looming lockout sends shivers down the spine of every fan. Assuming they get a deal done at some point, free agency should remain the topic of the offseason, and with that comes infinite question marks of its own.

Where will the top dogs of the free agent class end up? Here’s some realistic landing spots for the top 5 players in this year’s slate:

LHP Tarik Skubal

The trade deadline brought many changes to the MLB landscape, but no move was as terrifying as Tarik Skubal’s trade to LA. While the Dodgers went on to get swept by the Brewers in the NLCS, Skubal remained a bright spot on a dominate Dodgers team, posting a 2.61 ERA with 70 Ks in just 62 innings.

Projections show Skubal’s value around the $400 million dollar range, which would be the most money paid to a pitcher ever, a testament to the 2-time Cy Young winner’s success and utter dominance over the last 3 seasons.

Skubal’s market is unsurprisingly surrounded by big market teams. The New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers remain the top candidates in my eyes, but there’s no doubt that the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees will make a push. The Chicago Cubs are an interesting exception, per the Athletic, as their rotation woes require more money to be spent on multiple pitchers. Still, expect the big market teams to outbid each other during the offseason, just like what happened Juan Soto in 2024.

OF Seiya Suzuki

2026 proved to be a great season for Seiya Suzuki; not only did the 5-year veteran Cubs slugger hit 26 homeruns, the second most of his career, he also hit to the tune of a .841 OPS, while also drastically improving his outfield defense. Suzuki also demands a large contract, as he remains one of the 2 top outfield bats on the market.

ESPN projects Suzuki to receive a 4 year, $90 million dollar contract from a team that needs serious outfield help. As far as fits go, the Phillies make a lot of sense, as their outfield and overall offense suffered in 2026. The Seattle Mariners also make sense, as they stand to lose their primary left fielder to free agency (whom we will discuss in a second).

The most fitting team appears to be the Blue Jays, as multiple sources have reported. Toronto lacks an offensive powerhouse in their outfield, and they certainly have the money and ownership backing to get a deal done. Expect Toronto to bring their A-game when it comes to signing Suzuki.

OF Randy Arozarena

Speaking of free agent left fielders, Randy Arozarena has a strong resume, finishing with a higher OPS than the previously mentioned Seiya Suzuki. Arozarena’s power, contact ability, and plate approach make him an attractive option for any contending team.

Contract projections hover around the same as Suzuki’s: around 4 years, $100 million. The fits remain the same as Suzuki’s as well, with the Blue Jays as the most obvious fit if they fail to land Suzuki.

Assuming the Blue Jays do end up signing Suzuki, expect the Phillies to be all over Arozarena. Arozarena’s 26 homeruns would place him 3rd on the team, making him a prime candidate to boost a Phillies team struggling to find an offensive identity.

LHP Adrian Morejon

Just like how the starting pitcher market is dominated by Tarik Skubal, the reliever market is largely dominated by Adrian Morejon. With David Bednar likely to remain in New York, Morejon jumps out as the top dog, pitching to a 2.86 ERA with 107 Ks in 86 innings pitched.

Per ESPN, Morejon projects to earn a wealthy 4 year, $88 million dollar contract this offseason. The reliever’s value has also increased due to the wide belief that he can become a starter for a contending team, much like Clay Holmes and Griffin Jax have done recently.

Expect pretty much every contender to be in on Morejon. The Dodgers jump out as a great fit, especially with Edwin Diaz’s struggles in 2026. The Yankees and Mets also prove to be good fits.

3B Teruaki Sato

Perhaps the most interesting free agent is Japanese superstar Teruaki Sato, who hit for the triple crown in NPB this past year. Sato’s power and contact skills are evident, and lots of teams are willing to see him through. Sato is projected to sign a 5 year, $115 million dollar contract with an MLB team, per ESPN.

When looking at fits, the most obvious is the Yankees. New York has a long history of spending in free agency, and their third base problems were evident with Ryan McMahon’s performance in the past 2 seasons. The Tigers have also been linked to the superstar, which makes sense due to their bright future, despite the middling lineup.

Who do you think will sign these free agents? Let us know on X, @Full_Count_Blog