Kyle Tucker Leads 2026 Free Agent List

Kyle Tucker leads the 2026 class of free agents. With the World Series over, the Tucker sweepstakes has begun. The top five free agents for the 2026 offseason are presented below, and Tucker leads the list.

The Yankees are likely to sign only one outfielder in 2026, and Tucker leads the list. The former outfielder was traded from the Houston Astros to the Chicago Cubs before the 2025 baseball season. Tucker may very well end up in a new destination in 2026. The other members of the top five are Alex Bregman, Bo Bichette, Framber Valdez, and Kyle Schwarber. Where do you think the 2026 baseball free agents will end up?

Kyle Tucker, Outfielder, Chicago Cubs

Tucker hit .266 with 22 home runs and 73 runs batted in 2025. He also had 25 stolen bases. He entered July with a .931 OPS, but from there on he posted an ice-cold .690 mark. It is fair to wonder if his sharp decline will hurt his value.

Tucker’s downturn was connected to injuries, specifically the fractured hand he suffered in June. He still produced his fifth consecutive 4 WAR season, so he may garner interest as a star-level performer who excels in all areas. The leading contenders for his services are the Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, and the New York Yankees.

Alex Bregman, Third Baseman, Boston Red Sox

Bregman batted .273 last season with 18 home runs and 62 runs batted in. Bregman was one of the last notable free agents to sign last winter; that may happen again this winter. He joined the 90-90 club, that is, a 90% in-zone contact rate and a 90 mph average exit velocity, which is a good sign heading into free agency.

Bregman still plays excellent defense at third base, as well. He is a good player who should get a better contract than three years and $120 million this time. The leading contenders for his services are the Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, and the New York Mets.

Bo Bichette, Shortstop, Toronto Blue Jays

Bichette was a prodigious hitter in 2025, batting .311 with 18 home runs and 94 runs batted in. He also exceeded 60 extra-base hits. His best defensive position is second base; however, his strong hitting might convince a team to tolerate his substandard defensive play at shortstop.

Bichette was one of the comeback players of the year in 2025. He has a flat swing that allows him to hit elevated pitches well, with his .337 batting average on pitches located in the upper half of the strike zone. That ranked him fifth among qualifiers. He is only 28 years old, one of the younger free agents. The leading contenders for his services are the Toronto Blue Jays, Atlanta Braves, and the Los Angeles Angels.

Framber Valdez, Starting Pitcher, Houston Astros

Valdez is a contact manager from a swing-and-miss generation who utilizes his three-pitch mix (sinker, curve, change) to get soft contact. As a contact pitcher, he needs good defenders.  The leading contenders for his services are the Toronto Blue Jays, Baltimore Orioles, and the New York Mets. In the 2025 season, he was 13-11 with a 3.66 earned run average. He is an innings eater who threw 192 of them. He struck out 187 batters.

Kyle Schwarber, Designated Hitter and Outfielder, Philadelphia Phillies

Kyle Schwarber hits very well, but plays awful defense. It is reasonable to wonder if Schwarber will age as gracefully. He has both the high-end bat speed and elite plate discipline.

He regularly performs better than the league-average hitter. Those traits ought to hold for at least a few more years, making him one of the top free agents in this class. The leading contenders for his services are the Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres, and Atlanta Braves.

Conclusion

Free agent acquisition is one of the keys to success in Major League Baseball. One of the things that makes the offseason in baseball interesting is the intrigue over where free agents will end up. A bonus is the decision of foreign free agents. This year, there are two from Japan.