This Baseball Free-Agent Class Could Impact Playoff Teams Too

Eugenio Suarez had a 49-homer season split between Arizona and Seattle that could result in a huge windfall via free agency this winter. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

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Even the four teams left standing in the baseball playoffs could be hit hard by free agency.

Players who qualify are permitted to sell their services on the free agent market that opens five days after the end of the World Series.

With top stars certain to have multiple suitors and no deadline for teams to sign players, protracted negotiations could last well into the start of spring training in March. That’s especially true for clients of super agent Scott Boras, known for squeezing every possible penny from teams interested in his players.

This year’s free-agent class is a virtual All-Star team – from 56-homer man Kyle Schwarber to fellow sluggers Kyle Tucker, Pete Alonso, Cody Bellinger, and Eugenio Suarez.

Seattle defections

The Seattle Mariners, seeking the first pennant in their history, stand to lose not only Suarez but also Josh Naylor, Mitch Garver, and Andres Munoz. Suarez and Naylor played key roles for the M’s as they caught and passed the Houston Astros to win the American League West this year but may wind up as nothing more than costly rentals.

Seattle’s Championship Series rival, the Toronto Blue Jays, also faces massive defections. Their lengthy list of potential free agents includes Bo Bichette, Chris Bassitt, Shane Bieber, Max Scherzer, Isaih Kiner-Falefa, Seranthony Dominguez, and Ty France.

The Milwaukee Brewers, who had the best record in baseball this year, reached the National League’s final round with four players holding mutual options. That means Rhys Hoskins, Brandon Woodruff, Danny Jansen, and/or Jose Quintana could nix their player options and try for larger and longer contracts – either with the Brewers or elsewhere.

Nor are the Los Angeles Dodgers spared. Five of their rostered players are unrestricted free agents, though Clayton Kershaw has already announced this is his last rodeo. That leaves Kiki Hernandez, Michael Conforto, Michael Kopech, Miguel Rojas, and Kirby Yates as possible deserters.

The club options of Max Muncy and Alex Vesia are virtually certain to be exercised, however.

Schwarber Going?

Among teams knocked out in Wild Card or Division Series action, the Philadelphia Phillies may have a tough time keeping Schwarber, whose 56 home runs and 132 runs batted in led the National League. The bearded designated hitter, whose lethal left-handed swing is a perfect match for the compact confines of Citizens Bank Park, is just one of several Phils who could jump ship this fall.

Also eligible for free agency from the Phils are J.T. Realmuto, Harrison Bader, Max Kepler, Ranger Suarez, and Jordan Romano, joined by Jose Alvarado if the team declines its half of his mutual option in the wake of his suspension for substance abuse.

The Chicago Cubs definitely don’t want to lose Kyle Tucker, a slugging right-fielder who made the All-Star team in his first National League season. But he’s on their potential exit list, along with eight teammates who are also unrestricted free agents. Fortunately for Chicago, most of them are victims of advanced athletic age with limited futures.

San Diego, eliminated by the Cubs in the best-of-three Wild Card Series, has even bigger free agent issues. It has five unrestricted free agents, two others who can join the market by declining their share of mutual options, and two others who can opt out of existing contracts. If all of them defect, that means the Padres may have to replace Dylan Cease, Robert Suarez, Michael King, Nestor Cortes, Ryan O’Hearn, and Luis Arraez.

No team in baseball faces such a massive exodus, though the New York Yankees – kayoed from postseason play by the Toronto Blue Jays – could be close. Cody Bellinger, who hit 29 home runs while supplying strong defense at multiple positions, has already declined his player option.

Unrestricted free agents who might shed their pinstripes are Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, Trent Grisham, Paul Goldschmidt, Ryan Yarbrough, Amed Rosario, Paul Blackburn, and Austin Slater.

Newcomers Leaving

Five miles from Yankee Stadium, the Flushing home of the Mets might also have multiple free agent losses. In addition to Alonso, whose power at the plate supersedes his problems in the field, eligible free agents include Cedric Mullins, Ryan Helsley, Tyler Rogers, and Gregory Soto – all four players acquired at the 2025 trading deadline – plus Starling Marte, Jesse Winker, Ryan Stanek, Griffin Canning, Chris Devenski, and Tyler Rogers.

Rogers and identical twin Taylor Rogers, who finished with the Cubs, could become teammates again (as they were in San Francisco) if both, now free agents, sign with the same club.

Teams who sign veteran players in free agency know they’re gambling that age and injuries will not hamper their investments.

For example, Realmuto is the top catcher on the market but he’s 35 and not likely to be as durable in future seasons.

Among first basemen, Justin Turner is 41 and Carlos Santana 40. But Naylor and Arraez, both 29, bring youth along with talent and experience.

The top choices at second are Gleyber Torres, 29, and 32-year-old Jorge Polanco, whose RBI single clinched the 15-inning Division Series finale for Seattle.

Alex Bregman would be the top selection at third base if he opts out of his Boston contract, as expected, though he and Fenway Park’s Green Monster are a marriage made in baseball heaven.

Suarez, whose 49 homers included four in one game, is also on the auction block, along with Dodgers jack-of-all-trades Hernandez, a perpetual post-season hero.

Among outfielders, Tucker tops the choices. At 29, he’s the same age as fellow free agent Grisham. The versatile Bellinger is just a year older.

The field is thin at DH behind Schwarber, whose ability to draw walks offsets his low batting average. Marcell Ozuna, 35, and Joc Pederson, 34, suffered sudden declines last season and saw their market value plunge.

Teams seeking to bolster their pitching might focus first on free-agent pitchers.

Starters range from Ranger Suarez to Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Chris Bassitt, and Framber Valdez, not to mention Jack Flaherty if he opts out of his deal with Detroit.

Justin Verlander’s Quixotic quest for 300 wins might be a tough sell at age 43 – oldest of any free agent – but there’s a myriad of decent arms at least 10 years younger. Among them is 31-year-old Walker Buehler, who enjoyed a resurrection late last summer after Philadelphia picked him up from Boston.

Reliable relief arms are also plentiful. If Edwin Diaz follows teammate Alonso’s lead and opts out of his Mets deal, he’s likely to draw a multi-year deal that would top his previous five-year, $102 million closer record.

Suarez, almost as sure for San Diego as Diaz was for the Mets, is also open to offers. So are Raisel Iglesias, Kenley Jansen, and submarining southpaw Tyler Rogers. But the ages of David Robertson (41) and Kirby Yates (39) may keep the bidding down for their services.

For now, all prospective free agents and their anxious agents are lined up at the starting gate like Kentucky Derby thoroughbreds. When the bell rings, they’ll be ready.