At a Glance
- MLB free agency unfolds over winter, unlike NBA and NFL.
- Key deals: Bo Bichette and J.T. Realmuto on Jan. 16.
- 13 players received qualifying offers, 4 accepted.
Why it matters: The pace and timing of MLB free agency shape team rosters and the market, affecting fan expectations and franchise strategies.
MLB free agency is much more like a marathon than a sprint. While the NBA and NFL see a flurry of activity as soon as the window opens, MLB’s market spreads out over the winter. This season, several high-profile names stayed on the open market months after free agency began.
Signing Highlights
Bo Bichette, an infielder, and catcher J.T. Realmuto both landed deals on Jan. 16. Bichette joined the New York Mets, while Realmuto returned to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Qualifying Offers
The free-agent class included 13 players who were extended the qualifying offer. Four of those players accepted: New York Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham, Chicago Cubs starter Shota Imanaga, Detroit Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres, and Milwaukee Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff.
Re-signings
Several players chose to stay with their current clubs:
- Shortstop Ha-Seong Kim (Atlanta Braves)
- Starter Michael King (San Diego Padres)
- First baseman Josh Naylor (Seattle Mariners)
- Reliever Emilio Pagán (Cincinnati Reds)
- Catcher J.T. Realmuto (Philadelphia Phillies)
- Slugger Kyle Schwarber (Phillies)
- Outfielder Cody Bellinger (New York Yankees)
New Homes
The offseason saw a number of players find new teams:
- First baseman Pete Alonso (Baltimore Orioles)
- Infielder Bo Bichette (New York Mets)
- Third baseman Alex Bregman (Cubs)
- Starter Dylan Cease (Toronto Blue Jays)
- Reliever Edwin Díaz (Los Angeles Dodgers)
- Reliever Pete Fairbanks (Miami Marlins)
- Outfielder Adolis García (Phillies)
- Reliever Ryan Helsley (Orioles)
- Reliever Kenley Jansen (Tigers)
- Starter Merrill Kelly (Arizona Diamondbacks)
- First baseman Ryan O’Hearn (Pittsburgh Pirates)
- Infielder Jorge Polanco (Mets)
- Reliever Tyler Rogers (Blue Jays)
- Starter Ranger Suárez (Boston Red Sox)
- Reliever Robert Suarez (Braves)
- Outfielder Kyle Tucker (Dodgers)
- Reliever Luke Weaver (Mets)
- Reliever Devin Williams (Mets)
- Outfielder Mike Yastrzemski (Braves)
International Moves
Three Nippon Professional Baseball stars were posted to free agency and moved to the majors:
- Right-hander Tatsuya Imai (Houston Astros)
- First baseman Munetaka Murakami (Chicago White Sox)
- Third baseman Kazuma Okamoto (Blue Jays)
Right-hander Kona Takahashi returned to NPB.
Player Profiles
Below are brief performance snapshots for selected players from the 2025 season.
| Player | Position | 2025 Stats | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luis Arráez | 1B | .292/.327/.392, 8 HR, 61 RBI, 11 SB, 154 G | 139 of 181 hits were singles; lowest strikeout % (3.1%) |
| Harrison Bader | OF | .277/.347/.449, 17 HR, 54 RBI, OPS .796 | Career highs in hits (124) and doubles (24) |
| Chris Bassitt | RHP | 3.96 ERA, 166 K, 52 BB, 170.1 IP, 31 starts | 1.462 WHIP, 1.327 worst in league |
| Zac Gallen | RHP | 4.83 ERA, 175 K, 66 BB, 192 IP | 1.260 WHIP, 31 HR allowed |
| Lucas Giolito | RHP | 3.41 ERA, 121 K, 56 BB, 145 IP | 1.290 WHIP, best ERA since 2019 |
| Rhys Hoskins | 1B | .237/.332/.416, 12 HR, 43 RBI | 90 games due to thumb injury |
| Nick Martinez | RHP | 4.45 ERA, 116 K, 42 BB, 165.2 IP | 1.207 WHIP, career-high innings |
| Marcell Ozuna | DH | .232/.355/.400, 21 HR, 68 RBI | OPS dropped to .756 |
| Max Scherzer | RHP | 5.19 ERA, 82 K, 23 BB, 86 IP | 17 starts, thumb injury |
| Eugenio Suárez | 3B | .682 OPS, 13 HR | Mid-season trade from D-backs |
| Framber Valdez | LHP | 3.66 ERA, 187 K, 68 BB, 192 IP | 20 quality starts, 8 complete games |
| Justin Verlander | RHP | 3.85 ERA, 137 K, 52 BB, 152 IP | 29 starts, age 42 |
Key Takeaways
- MLB free agency’s slow, spread-out nature means teams can evaluate options over months.
- Bo Bichette and J.T. Realmuto’s deals on Jan. 16 highlight that marquee moves can still happen early.
- The qualifying-offer system keeps a core of talent within teams, as seen with Grisham, Imanaga, Torres, and Woodruff.
- The influx of international talent, especially from NPB, continues to diversify MLB rosters.
- Player performance in 2025 provides context for future free-agent decisions.
