MLB Roundtable: Free-agent edition
With Major League Baseball free agency in full swing, theScore's MLB editors Bryan Mcwilliam, Tom Ruminski, and Simon Sharkey-Gotlieb answer some of the biggest questions this offseason:
Which FA would you want to sign if you're a GM?
Bo Bichette: The two-time All-Star is the best free-agent bat on the market, and yet it feels like he's being slept on a bit. We're talking about a player who's twice led his league in hits, and he would've done it a third time if not for an unfortunately timed knee injury in early September. That setback also potentially robbed him of a 25-homer, 50-double season. Bichette has incredible bat-to-ball skills, is patient enough to take his share of walks, and lowered his strikeout rate by over 5% this past season. Yes, there are legitimate concerns about his defense at shortstop, but his willingness to shift to second base, or potentially third, makes him even more attractive. Bichette played second in the World Series for the first time since 2019 on one good knee and looked like a natural at times. I'm backing up the Brinks truck for Bo. - Sharkey-Gotlieb
Kyle Tucker: Tucker will likely command the richest contract of the offseason, and he's worth it. Since 2021, the 28-year-old has accrued the 10th-highest fWAR in the majors while making four All-Star appearances and winning two Silver Sluggers, a Gold Glove, and a World Series. He also has only one season with fewer than 136 games played over the last five years, posting 105 stolen bases (18th in the majors) and a 143 wRC+ (10th in the majors) during that time. Tucker struggled in the second half for the Cubs, but that stretch came as he played through a hairline fracture in his hand. - Mcwilliam
Kyle Schwarber: Nobody on the open market can match Schwarber's power. The 2025 NL MVP runner-up has gone deep 187 times since 2022 - a total tied with Shohei Ohtani and trails only Aaron Judge. Schwarber has consistently stayed healthy, logging at least 150 games per season over the last four years, including an MLB-high 162 in 2025. The Phillies signed him to a four-year, $79-million deal the last time he was a free agent. He could get close to double that amount this offseason, even as a designated hitter entering his age-33 campaign. - Tom Ruminski
Which high-profile FA would you stay away from?
Dylan Cease: When Cease is on, he's electric and misses bats like few other pitchers. But his strikeout numbers hide a few issues. Chief among them is his struggles with control. The 29-year-old has finished either first or second in his league in walks in four of the last five seasons, and he's hitting free agency after his BB/9 soared to 3.8 this year. And although Cease has six pitches, he's really a two-pitch pitcher, throwing either his four-seam or slider over 80% of the time. Batters caught onto both this year, hitting .228 against those pitches - up from .159 a year ago - while his hard-hit percentage spiked from the 52nd percentile in 2024 to the 72nd in 2025. I'd consider Cease at the right price and in the right ballpark. However, if he's in the wrong environment, I'd worry that an expensive deal could backfire. - Sharkey-Gotlieb
Cody Bellinger: The 30-year-old received downballot MVP consideration after hitting 29 homers and 98 RBIs in 152 games for the Yankees this past campaign, but some of his underlying metrics are worrisome for a player expected to ink one of the offseason's larger deals. Bellinger ranked in the 36th percentile or lower in chase rate, barrel rate, hard-hit rate, average exit velocity, and bat speed. His expected batting average and expected slugging percentage were also underwhelming, sitting in the 52nd percentile or lower. And while Bellinger provided above-average defense in left field, he didn't play especially well in center, which is concerning for teams eyeing him for a regular role in that spot. - Mcwilliam
Munetaka Murakami: The slugging corner infielder will get a lot of attention due to his otherworldly power numbers in Japan (246 homers with .557 slugging percentage in 892 games) and age (25). Yet, MLB teams should think twice before giving him a deal in the $150-million range because he's got a swing-and-miss problem that may get even worse in the majors. Murakami posted a 36.7% whiff rate with a 28.6% strikeout rate and struggled immensely against high velocity in 2025. Those numbers could easily rise in MLB, where top Japanese hitters have historically seen their contact numbers decrease. - Ruminski
Which team needs to win the offseason?
Orioles: Even after an early playoff exit in 2024, the future looked bright in Baltimore at this time last year. But after finishing at the bottom in 2025, a team that appeared to be on the verge of controlling baseball's toughest division for the next half-decade is suddenly scrambling to stay afloat. Baltimore desperately needs to make a high-profile addition this offseason, whether through trade or free agency - even if it means overpaying. Life in the AL East means spending money to keep up with the Yankees, Red Sox, and Blue Jays, and the Orioles' talented young nucleus deserves support. Settling for the likes of Tomoyuki Sugano and Charlie Morton won't cut it. If Baltimore sits back and allows 2026 to mirror 2025, the club's championship window could slam shut before it ever really opened. - Sharkey-Gotlieb
Blue Jays: Toronto was inches away from capturing its first World Series in 32 years but couldn't get the job done. While the sting of Miguel Rojas' game-tying homer in the ninth will hurt until spring training, the Blue Jays' front office can provide fans with some relief by winning the offseason. Re-signing Bichette should be the top priority, but adding a shutdown closer and another impact player could be what this club needs to get over the hump. Acquiring Edwin Díaz or Kyle Tucker in addition to Bichette would send a signal to the rest of the league that the Blue Jays aren't satisfied with just reaching the Fall Classic. - Mcwilliam
Phillies: It feels like Philadelphia's World Series window is on the precipice of closing if the organization doesn't crush its offseason to-do list. Schwarber, Ranger Suárez, and J.T. Realmuto are free agents, while Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Zack Wheeler, and Aaron Nola are all either approaching or in their mid-30s. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski publicly questioned whether Harper could be an elite player again, which might be a good motivational tactic, but it doesn't ease fears that the Phillies squandered their best chance at a championship after consecutive early playoff exits despite back-to-back NL East titles. - Ruminski
Which team will make the biggest surprise signing?
Pittsburgh Pirates: Yeah, I said it: the Pirates. This team doesn't have a history of spending money. Francisco Liriano's three-year, $39-million deal in 2015 remains Pittsburgh's biggest free-agent contract, and the franchise has never signed a position player to a multi-year deal in free agency. So, any skepticism about owner Bob Nutting actually opening his checkbook is entirely justified. But general manager Ben Cherington has not only hinted that the Pirates will be active this winter - they're expected to have money to spend to get Paul Skenes some help. Who that surprise signing could be and whether it will even work out long term is the bigger question. Given the organization's track record, Pittsburgh will likely have to overpay for any bigger name. Still, what's certain in my mind is that the Pirates want to do something huge to shock the baseball world. - Sharkey-Gotlieb
Los Angeles Angels: This could be Perry Minasian's last shot to turn around the Angels, so the exec might take a big swing before the final year of his contract is up. The Halos added a new manager in Kurt Suzuki, but it'll take more for L.A. to make the playoffs for the first time since 2014. The Angels need a third baseman, starting pitching, and bullpen upgrades, which would make Alex Bregman, Framber Valdez, and Díaz especially appealing. - Mcwilliam
Miami Marlins: The Marlins showed their fans that there could be light at the end of the tunnel after going 56-50 to finish 2025. Miami's steady progress throughout the season has reportedly prompted the club's front office to increase payroll. Adding several veterans could bring valuable leadership and stability to the clubhouse, helping mentor a young core. Although Miami hasn't been known as a baseball hotbed in recent years, it's still one of the most populous metropolises in the U.S., boasting beautiful weather and Latin influence. - Ruminski
Which FA will be the biggest bargain?
Zac Gallen: Gallen's hitting free agency after a rough 2025 season, but there's plenty of upside here. It's easy to forget that he's only two years removed from being a Cy Young finalist and the ace of a pennant winner. And while his 2025 numbers weren't great, Gallen looked a little more like his old self in the second half. He'll probably end up signing a short-term deal to try to rebuild his value, giving a contender with a history of helping pitchers the chance to land a major bargain for 2026. - Sharkey-Gotlieb
Pete Fairbanks: It's never surprising when the Rays walk away or trade a good player because of salary. In Fairbanks' case, the Rays declined the $11-million option on his contract, making him a free agent. This could make Fairbanks one of the best bargains of the offseason. Since 2020, the hard-throwing right-hander has saved 88 games while posting an 11.2 K/9 and 2.95 FIP. Teams could sign Fairbanks, who's the same age as Díaz, for a much more affordable price. - Mcwilliam
Michael King: The 30-year-old might have the highest upside out of any starter available on the open market. Multiple injuries, including a nerve issue, limited King to 73 1/3 innings this year, but that opens the door for potential suitors to land the right-hander on a multi-year deal that could prove a bargain. In 2024, he authored a 2.95 ERA with 201 strikeouts over 173 2/3 innings (30 starts), finishing seventh in NL Cy Young voting in his first full year pitching in a rotation. Kings owns a career 3.24 ERA with 10.2 K/9 and doesn't have a lot of mileage on his arm. He has ace potential if he can stay healthy. - Ruminski