A number of teams (and their fan bases) have already turned their attention to the offseason. Identifying free agent targets is a big part of that prep work, so it’s worth taking a look at the players who will be available at each position.
We go to the outfield corners, where there are some strong regular guys, but then a huge decline to the lower levels. The stated ages apply to the 2026 season.
Previous entries in this series: catcher, first base, second base, third base, short stop, center field
Top of the class
Tucker isn’t entering free agency with the ideal amount of momentum. His 2024 season was cut short by a tibia fracture. His 2025 campaign was undermined by a broken finger and a calf strain. He missed some time and did not perform up to expectations in recent months before entering the open market.
Either way, it’s head and shoulders above everyone else listed here. Despite the recent struggles, he has been one of the best players in baseball for a few years now. Dating back to early 2020, he has a combined .276/.362/.513 batting line and 141 wRC+. He has stolen 113 bases in that time and received high marks overall for his defense. FanGraphs has awarded him 25.2 Wins Above Replacement in that stretch, a mark that puts him behind only 10 position players.
The injuries may cause some uncertainty, but his record is otherwise very solid, well-rounded and consistent. For teams looking for a clear and immediate upgrade in the corner outfield, he is the obvious choice. Big spenders like the Dodgers, Yankees, Phillies, Blue Jays, Angels, Rangers and Giants have outfield questions and could ramp up bidding. Re-signing with the Cubs wouldn’t be a good fit for the club, but they clearly love him as they gave up a lot to get him a year ago. A dark-horse team like the Mariners, Orioles, Tigers or Rays could also be possible. He will receive and reject a qualifying offer from the Cubs and will therefore be subject to the associated penalties, although that will be a small quid pro quo for a player like this.
Daily regulars
It has already been reported that Bellinger will back out of his deal, which should come as no surprise. He’ll take a $5 million buyout instead of next year’s $25 million salary, leaving $20 million on the table. That’s an easy decision because he should be able to surpass that handily. His previous trips to free agency haven’t yielded the long-term deal he wanted, but he should be in a better place this time around. His dismal 2021 and 2022 seasons now seem like distant memories. That includes his 2019 MVP form, but he’s established himself as a solid everyday player.
Bellinger hit 29 home runs with the Yankees this year. He struck out just 13.7% of the time and stole 13 bases. His defense was decent in the center, but above average in the corners. He slashed .272/.334/.480 for a 125 wRC+. FanGraphs gave him 4.9 fWAR for the season.
There are some questions under the hood. The crime may not be fully sustainable. His batted ball metrics are relatively simple and he likely took advantage of the short porch at Yankee Stadium. All of the home runs this year were on the pull side. He slashed .302/.365/.544 at home, but .241/.301/.414 on the road. He probably won’t be considered an everyday midfielder as he hasn’t done so since 2022. Still, other than Tucker, he’s the best corner-outfield option, and there’s a big drop to the next level. Bellinger will not receive a QO because he has already received one in his career and is therefore ineligible. He should get a strong multi-year contract.
After Tucker and Bellinger there is a clear decline. Boys like it Trent Grisham, Carlo Mullins And Harrison Bader may get consideration for corner jobs, but the midfield market isn’t strong either, so they can probably find top gigs.
That leaves Yaz as perhaps the best regular after Tucker and Bellinger. He has been a good player for years. He’s not a superstar, but was generally above average at the plate and in the field. He’s had five straight seasons with a wRC+ between 99 and 111. He’s saved between 3 and 9 defensive runs in each of those seasons, while Outs Above Average has gotten him a little closer to the mark. FanGraphs has him at between 1.5 and 2.4 WAR in each of those five campaigns.
Despite that track record of reliably decent production, his earning power won’t be huge. He was a late bloomer and didn’t break out until he was 28 years old. He now reaches free agency for the first time, just after his 35th birthday. He will likely be limited to one-year deals, but a two-year deal isn’t completely out of the question.
Platoon/returning bats
Andujar has just had a good season between the Athletics and Reds. He slashed .318/.352/.470 for a 125 wRC+. Most of that damage came against lefties. The right bat slashed .290/.331/.429 for a 108 wRC+ against righties, but .389/.409/.578 and a 171 wRC+ against lefties. His production in 2024 was even more lopsided, with a 192 wRC+ with platoon advantage and 82 without. In addition to the outfield corners, he also played first and third base this year, so he should find a home somewhere as a left-handed masher with some defensive versatility.
Last winter, the Dodgers gave Conforto $17 million on a one-year deal, but that didn’t work out. He hit .199/.305/.333 and was left off the club’s playoff roster. The track record is still good enough that he can find a club willing to take a bounceback flier. Oddly enough, he had a reverse split in 2025, but his career splits are traditional. The lefty swinger has a .249/.351/.460 line and 121 wRC+ against righties in his career and a .233/.318/.391 line and 98 wRC+ against lefties.
Grichuk didn’t have a great 2025 campaign, hitting just .228/.273/.401. Even against lefties, he had a sub-par .227/.273/.430 slash and 89 wRC+. However, he is still just a year removed from posting a .319/.386/.528 line and 152 wRC+ against lefties. Even after that strong showing, he was only able to secure a $5 million guarantee to return to the Diamondbacks, so he should be even more affordable this time around.
Over his career, the right-handed Hays has a .282/.340/.479 line against lefties and .253/.301/.416 otherwise, leading to respective wRC+ figures of 124 and 97. This year was even more extreme, with a .319/.400/.549 line and 155 wRC+ against lefties and a .249/.286/.422 line and 88 wRC+ without platoon advantage. In addition to offense, Hays is considered a strong defender, but has been quite injury-prone over the past two seasons.
Kepler signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Phillies last offseason. He thought he would be an everyday player, but the Phils mostly protected him from lefties. He was sent to a southpaw only 76 times this year and didn’t do well. He also didn’t hit any righties, yielding a .216/.305/.399 line and 93 wRC+. His career numbers are better, though, with a .240/.324/.446 line and 107 wRC+ with platoon advantage. He’s solid with the glove, but his tough season at the plate should leave him with less earning power compared to a year ago.
Marte had a good season at the plate, hitting .270/.335/.410 for a 112 wRC+, but mostly as a design hitter. The Mets only put him on the grass for 65 innings. Given his age and injury history, he probably can’t be counted on much in the future.
Refsnyder turns 35 in March, but he continues to attack lefties. For his career, he has a .281/.383/.443 line and 129 wRC+ with platoon advantage. He was even better in 2025, with a .302/.399/.560 line and 159 wRC+ against lefties. It was previously suggested he was flirting with retirement, but he plans to play in 2026.
Slater has generally been solid against lefties in his career, but his past two seasons have been rough. Overall, he hit .212/.299/.314 for a 77 wRC+ during the 2024 and 2025 seasons. That included average production against lefties in 2025, but injuries limited him to just 65 games per year. His career .267/.357/.430 line and 119 wRC+ against lefties will get him some interest, but his recent struggles and injuries will undermine his earning potential.
Thomas is coming off a season marred by injuries. He only appeared in 39 matches. He underwent surgery in September to address his plantar fasciitis, a procedure that comes with a recovery time of three to four months. He’s not far from a 28-home run season in 2023, but even at his best he did most of his damage against lefties. He has a career .292/.359/.500 line and 135 wRC+ versus lefties and a .220/.287/.383 line and 84 wRC+ when facing righties. Off the bat, he can steal bases and play in decent center field, but his health situation clouds his status somewhat.
Winker is a good hitter, but his health comes and goes. Due to back problems, he played only 61 games in 2023. He rebounded in 2024 and showed enough that the Mets gave him $7.5 million on a one-year deal through 2025. However, indirect issues limited him to only 26 games last year. His track record is enough to get him interested, but he’s never been a good defender and injuries are pushing him ever more firmly toward full-time designated hitter status.
Depth typing
Options/opt-outs
Gurriel can opt out of his deal and waive the one-year guarantee and $18 million he is still owed. Yet he won’t do it. He suffered a torn right cruciate ligament in September. The operation involves a recovery time of nine to 10 months, which will put him out of action for at least the first half of 2026.
The Padres can retain Laureano through 2026 via a $6.5 million club option. That’s a steal, considering he just hit .281/.342/.512 for a 138 wRC+ and was credited with three wins above replacement by FanGraphs. The Padres have ongoing financial problems, but should choose this option without much thought. Even if they don’t want to pay Laureano himself, he would have plenty of trade value (although he will likely be their regular left fielder next year).
O’Neill can opt out of his deal and waive the two years and $33 million he is owed. But injuries limited him to 54 games and a dismal .199/.292/.392 in 2025, so it would be foolish of him to activate that opt-out.
Photo courtesy of Rick Scuteri, Imagn Images
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