This free agent group is far from the best or deepest, so teams need to choose wisely. It’s so thin that the one superstar — two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal — could easily receive a contract three or four times greater than any other free agent.
Here’s our annual dollar prediction for the top 30-plus available players, ranked by projected annual salary. (QO means they have Qualifying Offer.)
1. Tarik Skubal, SP
Not only is Skubal probably MLB’s best starter, his durability is top-shelf. Skubal, 29, is one of two pitchers with at least 590 innings (counting the postseason) since 2024 (Cristopher Sánchez). The Mets and Dodgers are proven willing to enter the $50M-a-year category and must be considered favorites even with many clubs checking in. However, the threat of a cap might provide opportunity for others. New owners with the Angels and Padres could be ready to make a splash too. The arbitration dollar record holder will likely receive per-year and total-dollar pitching records. Half the record Juan Soto $765M deal seems ballpark. Best guess: $382.5M, 7 years.
2. Michael King, SP
He opted out of $58M over two years following another brilliant year. The incumbent Padres love him. But some East Coast teams (Orioles, Jays) love the Rhode Island native too. $90M, 3 years, opt out.
