1 player each NL team should sign
Every team enters the offseason with its own unique needs to fill, but only some will be able to accomplish their winter goals. Let's take a look at one player each club should sign, starting with the National League.
Arizona Diamondbacks, Merrill Kelly
Arizona heads into 2026 with several areas to fill due to a banged-up roster. One important need is the rotation, which will be without ace Corbin Burnes (Tommy John) for the first half of the season. Re-signing Zac Gallen could be an option, but Kelly enjoyed his best years with the D-Backs before they traded him in July and should be more affordable. The 37-year-old is reportedly interested in a reunion but won't take a discount to return to the desert.
Atlanta Braves, Ha-Seong Kim
There's been a glaring hole at shortstop in Atlanta since Dansby Swanson departed in free agency, and it looked like the Braves were going to fill it with Kim before the infielder declined his $16-million option and became a free agent. Atlanta could still re-sign the 30-year-old, who would be an upgrade over projected starter Mauricio Dubón. Kim accrued the 11th-most fWAR among big-league shortstops between 2022-24.
Chicago Cubs, Zac Gallen
The Cubs are reportedly looking to upgrade the rotation and could do so with Gallen, who is one of the top arms available. The 30-year-old is coming off the worst campaign of his career, but most of his troubles came in the first half - his 3.97 ERA after the All-Star break was better than Matthew Boyd's and Shota Imanaga's. Gallen is also a proven commodity in the postseason, where he's performed well outside of one bad series against the Philadelphia Phillies in 2023.
Cincinnati Reds, Edwin Díaz
Cincinnati is reportedly in the market for high-leverage arms and was connected to Devin Williams before he signed with the New York Mets. The Reds don't have a ninth-inning option after Emilio Pagán became a free agent, and while signing him is a possibility, the superior Díaz enjoyed another terrific campaign where he logged a 1.63 ERA and 13.3 K/9. The Reds could use more swing-and-miss after their bullpen finished 16th in K/9 last season.
Colorado Rockies, Nathaniel Lowe
Don't expect the Rockies to make a big-ticket addition this winter under new president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta. Lowe feels like the sort of player Colorado should aim for after cutting ties with Michael Toglia, the only first baseman on the roster to hit more than 10 homers last season. Lowe was solid during a 34-game cameo with the Red Sox to end 2025, posting a .370 on-base percentage and .790 OPS (121 OPS+). His bat and veteran presence - Lowe won a World Series in 2023 - could benefit the rebuilding Rockies.
Los Angeles Dodgers, Cody Bellinger
The Dodgers were one of the best offensive teams in baseball last season, but left field was a huge void for the reigning champs. Michael Conforto was one of the worst hitters in the majors and won't be returning, which opens up the possibility of a Bellinger reunion. The Dodgers are reportedly considering the idea of bringing back the 30-year-old, who had one of the best seasons of his career with the New York Yankees.
Miami Marlins, Kenley Jansen
The Marlins improved by 17 wins and are reportedly expected to spend this offseason. They were connected to Williams, but now that he's off the board, Jansen looks like a good way to upgrade a bullpen that finished 18th in saves and 22nd in ERA last season. The 38-year-old still strikes out about one batter per inning and converted 29 of his 30 save chances in 2025.
Milwaukee Brewers, Jonah Heim
Milwaukee doesn't have many needs after winning the most games in the majors last season, but a catcher to back up William Contreras could help. Heim would be an upgrade over Eric Haase and Danny Jansen, who filled the role in 2025. The former Rangers backstop is a one-time All-Star and Gold Glove winner who hit 18 homers and 95 RBIs during Texas' 2023 World Series campaign. He hasn't been the same player since (71 wRC+), but he was among the league's best catchers defensively until last season.
New York Mets, Pete Alonso
The Polar Bear is the best pure slugger available in free agency and was immensely popular during his time in New York, so a reunion between the Mets and the franchise's all-time home run leader seems like a perfect marriage. It's going to be tougher for David Stearns and Co. to sign Alonso than last offseason when he was coming off a down year and attached to a qualifying offer, but their lineup will be significantly more terrifying if he's hitting fourth behind Francisco Lindor, Marcus Semien, and Juan Soto.
Philadelphia Phillies, Kyle Schwarber
The Phillies have never missed the playoffs since signing Schwarber in 2022, so keeping him around seems like a good idea. Schwarber hit a career-best 56 homers in 2025, and his 187 round-trippers for the Phillies rank 12th in franchise history. He's going to be expensive and is drawing interest from several clubs, but there may not be a better fit in free agency for Dave Dombrowski, who said bringing Schwarber back is a priority.
Pittsburgh Pirates, Paul Goldschmidt
First base has been a revolving door for the Pirates since trading Josh Bell in 2020. Goldschmidt, a former MVP who could fit into the financial plans of the cash-strapped Pirates, might be worth a look. While his 30-homer power seems to be a thing of the past, Goldschmidt still hit 31 doubles and remained above league average as a hitter last season. He could share first-base duties with Spencer Horwitz while also DHing in a very familiar division after spending six years with the St. Louis Cardinals.
San Diego Padres, Kazuma Okamoto
Okamoto isn't getting as much attention as Munetaka Murakami, but the Padres should set their sights on the Japanese slugger because he fits their needs. The 29-year-old hit 277 homers for the Yomiuri Giants. He'd provide San Diego with a middle-of-the-order threat who can play first base, DH, or spell Manny Machado at third (if he ever decides to take a day off). Padres exec A.J. Preller took a scouting trip to Japan in September and has actively pursued - and signed - Japanese players before.
San Francisco Giants, Ranger Suárez
Suárez would be a terrific fit for the Giants, who could use a rotation piece behind Logan Webb and Robbie Ray. The 30-year-old left-hander has been one of baseball's finest starters since converting to the role in 2022, ranking seventh in fWAR, eighth in wins, ninth in innings pitched, and 10th in ground-ball percentage among NL starters during that span. San Francisco's front office has said they're more focused on modestly-priced arms this offseason, but if it wants to contend with the Dodgers, D-Backs, and Padres, it's going to have to make some uncomfortable moves.
St. Louis Cardinals, Luke Weaver
It seems like the Cardinals are going to spend most of the offseason subtracting from their roster instead of adding to it, but St. Louis still needs someone to pitch the ninth, and Weaver could be the guy. Although the right-hander didn't have the same kind of success last season as he did in 2024, his 10.0 K/9 would be better than all but one of St. Louis' relievers from a season ago. Weaver also spent the first three seasons of his MLB career with the Cardinals from 2016-18, so there is some familiarity there as well.
Washington Nationals, Luis Arraez
The Nationals ranked near the bottom of the NL in batting average and struck out in 22.6% of their plate appearances last season, so something needs to change. Arraez could provide a fix in both of these areas as an elite contact hitter who rarely strikes out. Signing Arraez would also allow Luis García Jr. to play second base instead of first.