The 2026 offseason has officially kicked off with the Milwaukee Brewers making franchise history as World Series champions, but a massive dark cloud hangs over what should be a wild free agency period. Forget the champagne and parades, because the entire league is staring down a collective bargaining agreement set to expire on December 1. A work stoppage looks likely, and that means we could see an unprecedented rush to sign deals before everything grinds to a halt. On the flip side, front offices are probably hesitant to make huge commitments when they don’t even know what rules they’ll be playing by next year. It’s a total bummer for baseball, but here we are. Hopefully, this mess gets sorted faster than anyone expects, but in the meantime, let’s dive into the actual player market.
Tarik Skubal’s Record-Shattering Payday Is Looming
Listen, this free agency class isn’t exactly stacked with superstars, everyone knows that. But there’s one giant, glaring exception: two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal. The guy was lights out this season, splitting time between the Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Dodgers, and now he’s heading to the open market with a shot at the richest payday any pitcher has ever seen. Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s 12-year, $325 million contract is the current record, but Skubal is coming for it. ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel surveyed insiders, and a whopping 13 out of 27 projected Skubal to sign for at least $351 million. The average projection? A mind-blowing eight years and $355 million. If he lands anywhere near that number, his market is going to be incredibly limited, basically just the biggest spenders in baseball. ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez said it’s too early to call it Mets versus Dodgers, but doesn’t it just feel like that’s exactly where this is headed? Of course, if the league decides to pull back on the high-end spending limits, maybe that opens things up for a few more teams to jump in.
Beyond the Big Three: Pitching Depth and a Japanese Slugger
Even if teams don’t land Skubal, there are still some fantastic options out there, especially on the mound. MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand recently ranked his top free agents, and the top three were all starting pitchers: Skubal, Michael King, and Freddy Peralta. And it doesn’t stop there. Feinsand’s top 10 also included two more starters, Clay Holmes and Trevor Rogers, plus a really interesting reliever in Adrian Morejon. So, whether teams are looking for a true ace, rotation depth, or an impact arm out of the bullpen, the pitching market is surprisingly robust. While teams often get a little gun-shy about throwing massive money at pitchers due to injury and performance volatility, this year’s class might actually change that given the sheer amount of impact talent available.
Now, for position players, it’s a different story. You won’t find a guaranteed superstar among them, unless you’re talking about Japanese sensation Teruaki Sato. This guy just tore up the NPB, capturing their Triple Crown with a .306 average, 39 homers, and 106 RBI. The lefty slugger has primarily played third base, even winning the NPB equivalent of a Gold Glove there in 2025, but he’s also got experience in the outfield. There’s no guarantee he sticks at third long-term, but a bat like that is going to get a lot of attention.
This offseason is set to be unlike any other. Keep your eyes peeled on the CBA drama, but don’t forget the talent that’s actually out there, from potential record-breaking pitchers to Triple Crown sluggers. This winter is going to be wild, one way or another.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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