At a Glance
- MLB free agency stretches over the winter, unlike the NBA and NFL flurries.
- Four qualifying offers were accepted this year: Trent Grisham, Shota Imanaga, Gleyber Torres, Brandon Woodruff.
- Pete Alonso, who waited until February, signed with the Baltimore Orioles.
Why it matters: Teams and fans must stay patient as deals unfold across months.
MLB free agency is a marathon, with moves spread across months instead of a single flurry. The latest offseason saw players like Pete Alonso and Alex Bregman wait until February to sign. This article breaks down qualifying offers, retained stars, new signings, international additions, and the top remaining free agents.
Qualifying Offers & New Signings
Thirteen players received qualifying offers this year, but only four accepted them. The accepted offers went to outfielder Trent Grisham, pitcher Shota Imanaga, second baseman Gleyber Torres, and starter Brandon Woodruff. The rest of the class chose to explore other options.
- Trent Grisham
- Shota Imanaga
- Gleyber Torres
- Brandon Woodruff
Notable Retentions
Several key players chose to stay with their current clubs. The list includes shortstop Ha-Seong Kim, starter Michael King, first baseman Josh Naylor, reliever Emilio Pagán, and slugger Kyle Schwarber.
- Ha-Seong Kim
- Michael King
- Josh Naylor
- Emilio Pagán
- Kyle Schwarber
New Homes
A number of players found new teams after the free-agency window opened. These include first baseman Pete Alonso, starter Dylan Cease, reliever Edwin Díaz, reliever Pete Fairbanks, outfielder Adolis García, reliever Ryan Helsley, reliever Kenley Jansen, starter Merrill Kelly, first baseman Ryan O’Hearn, infielder Jorge Polanco, reliever Tyler Rogers, reliever Robert Suarez, reliever Luke Weaver, reliever Devin Williams, and outfielder Mike Yastrzemski.
- Pete Alonso
- Dylan Cease
- Edwin Díaz
- Pete Fairbanks
- Adolis García
- Ryan Helsley
- Kenley Jansen
- Merrill Kelly
- Ryan O’Hearn
- Jorge Polanco
- Tyler Rogers
- Robert Suarez
- Luke Weaver
- Devin Williams
- Mike Yastrzemski
International Signings
Two Nippon Professional Baseball stars were posted to free agency and signed with MLB teams. Right-hander Tatsuya Imai joined the Houston Astros, while slugger Munetaka Murakami signed with the Chicago White Sox.
- Tatsuya Imai (Houston Astros)
- Munetaka Murakami (Chicago White Sox)
Top Remaining Free Agents
The list of best remaining free agents features a mix of position players and pitchers, many of whom posted strong 2025 performances. Key names include Luis Arráez, Harrison Bader, Chris Bassitt, Cody Bellinger, Bo Bichette, Alex Bregman, Zac Gallen, Lucas Giolito, Rhys Hoskins, Nick Martinez, Kazuma Okamoto, Marcell Ozuna, J.T. Realmuto, Max Scherzer, Eugenio Suárez, Ranger Suárez, Kona Takahashi, Kyle Tucker, Framber Valdez, and Justin Verlander.
Key Takeaways
- MLB free agency is a prolonged process with deals spread across months.
- Four qualifying offers were accepted this year.
- International stars Tatsuya Imai and Munetaka Murakami joined MLB teams.
As teams navigate this extended free-agency season, fans will need to keep an eye on the next wave of moves.
