At a Glance
- Kyle Tucker finally signed a $240 million Dodgers deal on Jan. 15
- Thirteen qualifying-offer players remain on the market
- Luis Arráez, Bo Bichette and Max Scherzer headline unsigned stars
- Why it matters: Fans tracking winter moves still wait on biggest names
MLB’s hot-stove season is creeping instead of sprinting. While the NBA and NFL see instant fireworks when free agency opens, baseball’s market unfolds in slow motion-and this winter is no exception, with several headline talents still searching for new contracts months after the signing window began.
Who’s Off the Board
Outfielder Kyle Tucker ended his wait on Jan. 15, agreeing to a four-year, $240 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to News Of Los Angeles‘s earlier reporting. Tucker’s deal is the richest so far this cycle, yet dozens of proven veterans remain unsigned.
Among the 13 players extended qualifying offers, four accepted and stayed put:
- Trent Grisham, OF, New York Yankees
- Shota Imanaga, SP, Chicago Cubs
- Gleyber Torres, 2B, Detroit Tigers
- Brandon Woodruff, SP, Milwaukee Brewers
Others re-signed with their 2024 clubs without taking the qualifying offer:
- Ha-Seong Kim, SS, Atlanta Braves
- Michael King, SP, San Diego Padres
- Josh Naylor, 1B, Seattle Mariners
- Emilio Pagán, RP, Cincinnati Reds
- Kyle Schwarber, DH, Philadelphia Phillies
Biggest Names on the Move
Several stars already found new homes:
| Player | Position | New Team |
|---|---|---|
| Pete Alonso | 1B | Baltimore Orioles |
| Alex Bregman | 3B | Chicago Cubs |
| Dylan Cease | SP | Toronto Blue Jays |
| Edwin Díaz | RP | Los Angeles Dodgers |
| Adolis García | OF | Philadelphia Phillies |
| Ryan Helsley | RP | Baltimore Orioles |
| Kenley Jansen | RP | Detroit Tigers |
| Merrill Kelly | SP | Arizona Diamondbacks |
| Ryan O’Hearn | 1B | Pittsburgh Pirates |
| Jorge Polanco | IF | New York Mets |
| Tyler Rogers | RP | Toronto Blue Jays |
| Ranger Suárez | SP | Boston Red Sox |
| Robert Suarez | RP | Atlanta Braves |
| Luke Weaver | RP | New York Mets |
| Devin Williams | RP | New York Mets |
| Mike Yastrzemski | OF | Atlanta Braves |
Three Japanese standouts completed their jump from Nippon Professional Baseball:
- Tatsuya Imai, RHP, Houston Astros
- Munetaka Murakami, 1B, Chicago White Sox
- Kazuma Okamoto, 3B, Toronto Blue Jays
Right-hander Kona Takahashi opted to return to NPB.
Top Names Still Available
Luis Arráez, 1B
- 2025 slash: .292/.327/.392
- Led majors with 3.1% strikeout rate
- Tied for second with 181 hits
- Defensive concern: minus-7 outs above average at first base
Harrison Bader, OF
- Career-best .796 OPS at age 31
- Set personal highs in hits (124), doubles (24), homers (17) and RBI (54)
- Plus-7 outs above average in center field
Chris Bassitt, RHP
- 3.96 ERA over 170.1 innings in 2025
- At least 30 starts for the fourth straight year
- WHIP of 1.327 ranks near bottom-10 among qualifiers
Cody Bellinger, OF
- Declined $25 million player option with Yankees
- 2025 line: .272/.334/.480 with 29 HR, 98 RBI, 13 SB
- Plus-7 outs above average in outfield
Bo Bichette, SS
- Rebounded to hit .311 with 18 HR, 94 RBI
- Tied for second in MLB with 181 hits and 44 doubles
- Defensive red flag: minus-13 outs above average
- Rejected qualifying offer from Toronto
Zac Gallen, RHP
- Career-worst 4.83 ERA in 2025 after three straight sub-3.65 seasons
- 175 strikeouts over 192 innings
- Tied for fourth with 31 homers allowed
- Rejected qualifying offer
Lucas Giolito, RHP
- Bounce-back 3.41 ERA-best since 2019
- 145 innings after missing 2024 following UCL surgery
- 121 strikeouts, 56 walks, 1.290 WHIP
Rhys Hoskins, 1B
- Limited to 90 games by thumb injury
- Slashed .237/.332/.416 with 12 HR, 43 RBI
- Plus-1 outs above average at first base
Nick Martinez, RHP
- Split 26 starts and 14 relief outings
- ERA rose from 3.10 to 4.45, WHIP from 1.026 to 1.207
- Career-high 165.2 innings, 116 K, 42 BB
Marcell Ozuna, DH
- OPS dropped to .756 after back-to-back .900+ seasons
- 21 HR, 68 RBI in 145 games
- Had combined 79 homers in 2023-24
J.T. Realmuto, C
- First season under .750 OPS since 2015
- Hit .257/.315/.384 with 12 HR, 52 RBI
- Three-time All-Star entering age-34 season
Max Scherzer, RHP
- Career-worst 5.19 ERA in 17 starts (thumb injury)
- 82 strikeouts, 23 walks, 1.294 WHIP over 86 innings
- Opponents’ .810 OPS highest of his 18-year career
Eugenio Suárez, 3B
- All-Star in 2025; matched career high 49 HR, set best 118 RBI
- Split season: .897 OPS with Arizona, .682 OPS with Seattle
- Minus-5 outs above average at third base
Framber Valdez, LHP
- Top lefty on the market
- Sub-3.70 ERA in each of last four seasons
- 3.66 ERA, 187 K, 68 BB, 1.245 WHIP in 192 innings (31 starts)
- 20 quality starts–seventh-most in majors
- Eight complete games since 2022, second-most in MLB
Justin Verlander, RHP
- 29 starts at age 42
- 3.85 ERA, 137 K, 52 BB, 1.362 WHIP in 152 innings
- Three-time Cy Young winner still chasing another ring
Key Takeaways
- Kyle Tucker’s mega-deal may thaw the freeze, but 13 qualifying-offer players remain unsigned
- Luis Arráez and Bo Bichette offer elite bats, while Framber Valdez is the lone front-line lefty available
- Aging aces Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander hope to prove they still have October stuff
- With spring training weeks away, teams still have room-and budget-to land impact talent
