MLB free-agent rankings: Tarik Skubal still No. 1 amid class full of underperforming pitchers and lacking elite position players

This is such an odd free-agent class, and somehow, it’s only getting odder.

Tons of pitching, no clear elite position player and the uncertainty of the impending lockout made this group quite unique heading into the 2026 MLB season. And over the past month, many of those exciting arms have struggled (Trevor Rogers, Kris Bubic, Shota Imanaga) or missed time (Tarik Skubal, Casey Mize, Ryan Helsley).

For now, we’re left with a class in flux, one with more questions than answers. Regardless, we march on.

Notes: Whenever you see a number, a slash and another number, that’s a reference to contract years and total earnings. For instance, the shorthand for Bryce Harper’s 11-year, $330 million deal would be “11/330.” Ages listed below are for the 2027 season.

Our first rankings were released just days before Skubal went down with an elbow injury. But even though the two-time Cy Young hasn’t thrown a pitch since April 29, he’s still the clear choice for the top spot. That’s even more true considering how shockingly quickly Skubal is returning to the mound. The Tigers’ ace underwent revolutionary elbow surgery on May 6 and is set to make his first start back on Saturday. It has been a remarkable recovery for a remarkable pitcher.

How crisp Skubal looks upon his return and how the Tigers fare over the next month will be the two biggest factors in determining whether Skubal gets dealt at the trade deadline. Detroit, currently 11 games under .500 and 5.5 games adrift of a wild card, has been playing a touch better of late. If Skubal’s arrival supercharges a hot stretch, it could go a long way toward putting all that trade chatter to bed.
, Mets SP, 31 (2)

Like most things Mets, Peralta has underwhelmed so far this season. He hasn’t been dreadful by any means, but the Dominican righty was acquired by New York over the winter to be its ace. And Peralta has very much not been that. His fastball velocity is down a full tick from 2025, he has a career-low strikeout rate, and his walk rate is his highest since 2019. Peralta’s track record is strong enough to avoid going full panic mode right now, but another mediocre month could push him down this list.

On April 22, Chisholm’s OPS started with a four. Understandably, that horrid start thrust the Yankees’ second baseman into the spotlight as evaluators began to worry that the pressure of a contract season was starting to get to him. Since then, he has looked a whole lot more like Jazz Chisholm, with an .833 OPS, 9 homers and 9 steals across 41 games. The gregarious Bahamian has been particularly hot since Yankees captain Aaron Judge went on the IL due to a rib issue, ripping three homers and tallying nine RBI while using Judge’s bat.
, Blue Jays SP, 36 (5)

Gausman inching up a spot has more to do with other players underwhelming than a significant jump in his production, though the Jays’ righty has been solid over the past month. His surface-level numbers aren’t particularly inspiring, but the under-the-hood stats are in line with Gausman’s career norms. His walk rate is down, and his strikeout rate is the same as it was last season, when he started Games 2 and 6 of the World Series. Because of his age, Gausman won’t get a long-term deal, but he’s still one of the top 30 or so arms in the sport.
, Mariners OF, 32 (7)
6. Ian Happ, Cubs OF, 32 (6)

Arozarena just might be Seattle‘s only All-Star. He’s hitting the ball harder than he has in years and is doing so at optimal angles. That strong start leap-frogs him over the other left fielders on this list. His defense still stinks, but Arozarena’s basestealing prowess (he always gets to 20 bags) makes up for that somewhat.

Happ, as the Cubs descend into inexplicable darkness, has been a hopeful bright spot. One of the most reliable, high-floor bats in the game, this 2015 first-round pick has been posting OPSes in the high sevens since the Proterozoic Era. He has been even better than usual this season, putting him in line for a nice payday.
, Pirates 2B, 32 (14)
8. Luis Arraez, Giants 2B, 30 (13)

Lowe has arguably been the most important piece in Pittsburgh’s offensive renaissance. The long-time Tampa Bay Ray leads all primary second basemen with 16 long balls, 14 of which have been to the pull side. Injury issues have limited Lowe at various points throughout his career, but a strong, healthy walk year could earn him a three- or four-year deal.

Arraez is just awesome at defense now? Everything else, good and bad, about the slap-hitting Venezuelan has remained true. He doesn’t strikeout or whiff — or barrel the ball or hit for meaningful power. This weirdo profile petrified teams into utter inaction last winter, leading to a one-year pillow contract in San Francisco. But that version of Arraez was a mediocre defensive first baseman. You have to think his turning into a glovesmith at second changes the calculus a bit.
, Cubs OF, 32 (3)
10. Taylor Ward, Orioles OF, 33 (8)

Suzuki, like his ballclub, has fallen off a cliff in May. His unexpected defensive improvements are encouraging, yes, but Suzuki’s under-the-hood offensive stats have all taken a step back compared to 2025. It wouldn’t be shocking to see him catch fire again and leap back up the rankings, but his previous month (.551 OPS) was ugly enough to drop him for now.

Ward’s supremely bizarre season rolls on. He’s walking nearly 20% of the time and leads all of baseball with an absurdly low 12.5% chase rate. But the Baltimore outfielder isn’t hitting the ball particularly hard when he does decide to swing, and his defensive metrics in left field continue to fall. He’s a perfectly viable, low-ceiling, every-day player who gets to his value in a very odd way.

(opt-out), Padres SP, 32 (9)

It has been even par for King over the past few weeks. He hasn’t been great, and he hasn’t been unplayable. A few more months of mediocrity could see him opt in to the $28 million he’s guaranteed for 2027.
, Blue Jays CF, 30 (17)
13. Trent Grisham, Yankees CF, 30 (18)
14. Gleyber Torres, Tigers 2B, 30 (15)

Varsho edges Grisham once again, thanks to his more bankable defensive skills in center, even though the Jay’s underlying offensive numbers are slightly worrisome. Grisham has been hot of late, showing that even if he doesn’t replicate his breakout 2025, he’s still a valuable offensive player. But the mustachioed Yankee continues to see his metrics decline in center field, a trend that will make teams think twice before giving him the Brinks truck.

Torres missed most of May due to an oblique strain but has been raking since his return on June 2. He has one of the more dependably high offensive floors in this class, but let’s see him stay on the field before pushing him up the list.
, D-backs SP, 29 (31)
17. Nick Martinez, Rays SP, 36 (34)

Mize has already been on the IL twice this season due to a leg issue, but he’s set to return next week for the Tigers. Through the starts and stops, the former No. 1 pick and 2025 All-Star has been productive. Soroka is the biggest surprise of this class so far. The former Brave battled through a series of debilitating injuries that cost him years of his career. But he made it back and is still only 28 years old. A 90th-percentile walk rate and 84th-percentile chase rate offer signs that Soroka’s command is locked in right now. Martinez, whose 2.43 ERA ranks third in the American League, is a bit of a conundrum. He doesn’t walk anybody and generally avoids hard contact, but he’s rocking a third-percentile strikeout rate (red flag!) and expected numbers that point toward regression.
, Twins C, 30 (16)

Jeffers was in the midst of a career year when he went on the IL due to a fractured hamate bone on May 19. The injury was to his left, catching hand, which could further complicate the recovery process. Hamate bones are occasionally slow to heal, which could limit Jeffers once he comes back, but this guy’s offensive consistency and the dearth of catching in this class will lead to a multiyear pact anyway.
, Yankees RP, 32 (24)
20. Raisel Iglesias, Braves RP, 37 (25)

Both relievers scoot up the list thanks to horrible stretches from a handful of starters who were previously ranked above them. Bednar’s numbers have tailed off since his dynamite April, but that looks like typical reliever volatility more than anything sticky. The Yankees’ closer, endearingly nicknamed “Bus,” is rocking career highs in ground-ball rate and chase rate.

After rejoining Atlanta on a one-year deal last winter, Iglesias has been downright incredible for the league-leading Braves. Barring injury or disaster, he’ll be at the All-Star Game in Philly. Considering his age, the lean flamethrower is probably looking at short-term deals the rest of his career. But he got $16 million per annum last offseason and should improve on that this go-around if he keeps carving.
($13M team option), Astros IF, 28 (27)
22. Alec Bohm, Phillies IF, 30 (35)
23. J.P. Crawford, Mariners IF, 32 (36)

The pull-happy Paredes, given his age and raw juice, will be sought after on the open market. That is, if he gets there. The Astros have a $13 million team option on the Mexican infielder for 2027, which would be a relative no-brainer for many clubs. But Houston‘s infield group is already overcrowded with Paredes, Jeremy Peña, Carlos Correa, Jose Altuve and Christian Walker. It has worked out so far this season, with Correa on the shelf for a long stretch, but there’s a chance the Astros let Paredes walk in order to reallocate those resources.

On Opening Day, Bohm would have been in the top 15 of this list, but a disastrous start sent him tumbling down the rankings. He has been much better of late, with an .834 OPS since May 1. The curly haired limb lord is an inherently flawed player — middling defense, less power than you’d like — but his combination of offensive track record and youth is rare for this class.

Crawford was on fire before a wayward Framber Valdez heater contused his right hand. He has been very public about his desire to stay in Seattle long-term and has expressed a willingness to move to third in deference to Colt Emerson. If Crawford comes off the shelf raking, there’s a chance he outplays his wish and earns a decent deal somewhere else.
, Red Sox SP, 37 (38)

Very little has gone well in Boston this season, but Gray has been a grain of sugar in a pile of salt. He missed a touch of time on the IL in late April due to a minor hamstring strain, but that hasn’t hampered his performance one bit. Gray’s strikeout rate is down compared to last season, but he has remained just as effective by leaning more on a refashioned cutter. It’s veteran guile, it’s a deep pitch mix, it’s a long track record. Nobody is giving Gray multiple seasons at his age, but he’ll land himself a nice, one-year pact.

Helsley, on the shelf due to right elbow inflammation, hasn’t pitched for the O’s since April 28. He struck out three in a rehab start on Thursday and should be back on the mound in Baltimore before long. Elbow injuries are always scary, but his doesn’t appear to be a reason for long-term concern.

Foster Griffin, Nationals SP, 31 (32)

Paul Goldschmidt, Yankees 1B, 39 (NR)

George Springer, Blue Jays DH, 37 (29)

Jeff McNeil (opt-out), Athletics 2B, 35 (28)

Jeffrey Springs, Athletics SP, 34 (40)

Jose Alvarado, Phillies RP, 32 (46)

Ha-seong Kim, Braves SS, 31 (42)
Edmundo Sosa, Phillies 3B, 31 (43)
Eugenio Suarez, Reds 3B, 35 (47)
Adolis García, Phillies OF, 33 (48)
Jameson Taillon, Cubs SP, 35 (49)