Top 20 MLB free-agent pitchers

These are the top 20 pitchers looking for new contracts this offseason (statistics from 2025, ages as of Opening Day 2026).

Top free-agent pitchers | Top free-agent position players

1. Framber Valdez

Age: 32
Throws: Left
Position: SP
2025 salary: $18M
Qualifying offer: Yes

There isn't a bona fide ace available on the open market, but Valdez is pretty close. The two-time All-Star ranks fifth in fWAR among all starting pitchers since 2022, with only Kevin Gausman, Tarik Skubal, Logan Webb, and Zack Wheeler above the left-hander. Consistently demonstrating his ability to pitch deep into contests, Valdez has thrown eight complete games and three shutouts over the last four years.

2. Dylan Cease

Age: 30
Throws: Right
Position: SP
2025 salary: $13.75M
Qualifying offer: Yes

Cease has been somewhat inconsistent over the last few seasons, but he has the highest ceiling of this group, demonstrated by his 2022 AL Cy Young runner-up and 2024 NL Cy Young fourth-place finishes. The right-hander posted an MLB-leading 11.5 K/9 among qualified starters in 2025, resulting in his fifth straight 200-strikeout campaign. His 1,106 strikeouts are tops in baseball over the last five years.

3. Ranger Suárez

Age: 30
Throws: Left
Position: SP
2025 salary: $8.8M
Qualifying offer: Yes

Suárez profiles as a solid No. 2 or a very good No. 3 on a contending team. He excels at keeping the ball in the park (0.8 HR/9 in 2025), ranking in the 98th percentile for hard-hit percentage, 95th in average exit velocity, and 89th in barrel rate. The 2024 All-Star also posted a career-low 2.2 BB/9 in 2025. The only potential question mark is his durability. Suárez has never pitched more than 157 1/3 innings in a season over his eight-year career.

4. Edwin Díaz

Age: 32
Throws: Right
Position: RP
2025 salary: $21.55M
Qualifying offer: Yes

Díaz has been one of the premier closers in baseball since 2016. His 253 saves trail only Kenley Jansen during that period. The three-time All-Star owns a dominant 14.5 K/9 for his career, leading to two 100-strikeout seasons as a reliever in 2018 and 2022 to go along with near misses in 2019 and 2025.

5. Tatsuya Imai

The next Japanese ace pegged for the majors is expected to be made available through the posting system this winter. Imai has drawn comparisons to Kodai Senga, who finished as the NL Rookie of the Year runner-up and placed seventh in NL Cy Young voting in 2023. However, Imai is projected to arrive in the majors at age 27 and is likely to sign a lucrative, long-term contract.

6. Michael King

Age: 30
Throws: Right
Position: SP
2025 salary: $7.75 million
Qualifying offer: Yes

King probably would've been higher on this list if multiple injuries hadn't derailed his season, including a nerve issue in his shoulder. He authored a 2.95 ERA with 201 strikeouts over 173 2/3 innings to finish seventh in 2024 NL Cy Young voting during his first full year as a starter. Potential suitors have to be leery of whether he can remain a rotation piece on a long-term deal.

7. Zac Gallen

Age: 30
Throws: Right
Position: SP
2025 salary: $13.5M
Qualifying offer: Yes

Once considered the top pitcher in this free-agent class, Gallen produced the worst season of his seven-year career at an unfortunate time. The 2023 NL Cy Young finalist amassed a 3.34 ERA with 1.12 WHIP and 9.7 K/9 over 735 1/3 innings (128 starts) between 2020 and 2024, so somebody could be getting a discounted ace.

8. Shota Imanaga

Age: 32
Throws: Left
Position: SP
2025 salary: $13.5M
Qualifying offer: Yes

Imanaga surprisingly hit free agency after both he and the Cubs declined their options. The left-hander had an outstanding freshman season in 2024, accruing a 2.91 ERA with 1.02 WHIP and 174 strikeouts over 173 1/3 innings (29 starts). His performance earned him an All-Star nod, a fifth-place finish in NL Cy Young voting, and a fourth-place result in the NL Rookie of the Year race.

9. Robert Suarez

Age: 35
Throws: Right
Position: RP
2025 salary: $13M
Qualifying offer: No

Suarez is a legit bullpen ace after leading the NL with 40 saves in 2025. The two-time All-Star's 76 saves over the last two years are the most in baseball. The right-hander finished the season in the 97th percentile in fastball velocity, 83rd in strikeout percentage, and 85th in walk percentage.

10. Brandon Woodruff

Age: 33
Throws: Right
Position: SP
2025 salary: $5M
Qualifying offer: Yes

Woodruff returned this past campaign after missing almost two years due to a shoulder injury that required surgery. He looked sharp but then sustained a lat strain in September. Although the two-time All-Star is a risk because of his health, the gamble might be worth it for a career 3.10 ERA and 10.5 K/9.

11. Lucas Giolito

Age: 30
Throws: Right
Position: SP
2025 salary: $19M
Qualifying offer: No

Giolito returned from elbow surgery to post his best season since 2021. The former All-Star is no longer the same pitcher who received downballot AL Cy Young votes between 2019 and 2021. However, he can still be a solid middle-of-the-rotation starter who eats innings.

12. Devin Williams

Age: 31
Throws: Right
Position: RP
2025 salary: $10.5M
Qualifying offer: No

Williams went through the worst campaign of his seven-year career under New York's immense spotlight. While his FIP suggests bad luck played a role in his performance, he only allowed five homers with a 13.1 K/9. Williams authored a 1.70 ERA with 68 saves and 361 strikeouts over 222 innings between 2020 and 2024.

13. Merrill Kelly

Age: 37
Throws: Right
Position: SP
2025 salary: $7M
Qualifying offer: No

Kelly has been one of the most underrated starters in baseball since 2022. The veteran right-hander has gone 52-39 with a 3.62 ERA and 753 strikeouts over 825 innings (140 starts). Driven by his 2023 World Series run with the Diamondbacks, Kelly boasts a career 2.25 ERA in the playoffs.

14. Chris Bassitt

Age: 37
Throws: Right
Position: SP
2025 salary: $21M
Qualifying offer: No

Bassitt's biggest strength may be his durability, having logged at least 30 starts with 170-plus innings per season since 2022. He also showed in the 2025 playoffs that he could be a big bullpen weapon in his late 30s, allowing one earned run on three hits with one walk and 10 strikeouts over 8 2/3 innings.

15. Pete Fairbanks

Age: 31
Throws: Right
Position: RP
2025 salary: $3.81M
Qualifying offer: No

Fairbanks became one of the best relievers available on the open market after the Rays declined his $11-million option. The closer owns a 2.98 ERA with 90 saves and 11.1 K/9 over seven seasons with Tampa Bay. He also sat in the 90th percentile in fastball velocity and 93rd in barrel rate this year.

16. Ryan Helsley

Age: 31
Throws: Right
Position: RP
2025 salary: $8.2M
Qualifying offer: No

Helsley was a disaster with the Mets after a trade deadline move, as the two-time All-Star gave up 16 earned runs over 20 innings. However, he led the majors with 49 saves last year and amassed a 1.83 ERA with 12 K/9 between 2022 and 2024.

17. Zack Littell

Age: 30
Throws: Right
Position: SP
2025 salary: $5.72M
Qualifying offer: No

Littell emerged as a viable rotation piece after becoming a full-time starter in 2024. He authored a 3.63 ERA with 8.1 K/9 across 156 1/3 innings with the Rays that season before producing another solid but unspectacular 2025 split between two teams.

18. Raisel Iglesias

Age: 36
Throws: Right
Position: RP
2025 salary: $16M
Qualifying offer: No

Iglesias brings a wealth of closing experience thanks to his 253 saves over his 11-year career. He'll also be just two seasons removed from a 2024 campaign in which he put up a 1.95 ERA with 0.74 WHIP over 66 appearances.

19. Justin Verlander

Age: 43
Throws: Right
Position: SP
2025 salary: $15M
Qualifying offer: No

Verlander proved he somehow still has something left in the tank in his age-42 campaign after bouncing back from a poor 2024 performance. The 2011 AL MVP deserves attention based purely on a resume with three AL Cy Young awards, nine All-Star nods, and two World Series rings.

20. Max Scherzer

Age: 41
Throws: Right
Position: SP
2025 salary: $15.5M
Qualifying offer: No

The three-time Cy Young winner and future Hall of Famer is coming off the worst season of his stellar 18-year career. Scherzer's health is a concern after pitching in a combined 128 1/3 innings over the last two years. However, he came up big in the playoffs, surrendering six earned runs with 11 strikeouts over 14 1/3 innings to help the Blue Jays reach the World Series.