What’s Next: Best Fits for MLB’s Top Free-Agent Position Players Still on the Board

A market still waiting to move

With pitchers and catchers set to report to spring training in just over a month, it is notable that several prominent free-agent position players remain available. The pace of the market can be influenced by the top name still on the board, and in this class that role belongs to All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker. As Tucker continues to explore deals, his decision is widely viewed as a factor that could shape the rest of the market. Even so, free agency can shift quickly once a few major dominoes fall.

Below are team fits for five of the most intriguing position players still unsigned, focusing on roster construction, ballpark considerations, and the contract expectations described around each player.

Kyle Tucker: New York Yankees

One of the clearest fits discussed for Tucker is the Yankees, a club that has been relatively quiet and could change the perception of its offseason with a move of this magnitude. Tucker would address a need for a long-term left-handed offensive presence, and his pull-heavy swing is described as particularly well-suited to Yankee Stadium’s right-field short porch.

There is also a lineup context that is difficult for other teams to match: the opportunity to hit behind Aaron Judge. At the same time, the Yankees would need to approach negotiations with the understanding that Tucker is projected to command a very large deal. He is widely projected to sign for at least $400 million and is seeking a $40 million-plus average annual value, placing him among the top tier of MLB salaries.

New York could consider a shorter-term alternative, such as re-signing Cody Bellinger, who is expected to demand fewer years and less money than Tucker. However, a more aggressive long-term offer for Tucker would be framed as a way to protect the Yankees’ future, especially with Judge turning 34 in April and the club’s championship window narrowing. Tucker, who turns 29 this month, would allow the Yankees to maximize their competitive window both alongside Judge and beyond.

• Other possible fits: Blue Jays, Mets, Dodgers

Alex Bregman: Boston Red Sox

Alex Bregman is presented as a natural roster fit in Boston, where his leadership and veteran presence are additional factors alongside on-field production. He started last season in Boston with an exceptionally strong stretch, batting .299 with a .938 OPS, 11 home runs, and 17 doubles through May 23. That performance put him in an MVP-level conversation before a quad injury sidelined him until the All-Star break.

After returning, he was not quite as productive, and the club acknowledged that could have been influenced by bringing him back too quickly. Still, the season in Boston is characterized as a strong “bet on himself,” particularly after he reportedly turned down a six-year offer from the Tigers.

Entering his age-32 season, Bregman is expected to command at least $160 million over six years. Boston appears positioned to spend, having added first baseman Willson Contreras as its first position player of the offseason. The club’s baseball operations leadership also emphasized a continued priority for another big bat and more offense. While Boston could also consider Bo Bichette, Bregman is described as the more economical and proven option—especially given his success in Boston, his relationship with manager Alex Cora, and his fit as a mentor on a young roster with high expectations.

• Other possible fits: Tigers, Cubs, Diamondbacks

Cody Bellinger: New York Mets

Cody Bellinger is positioned as an obvious solution for the Mets following two roster openings created by major departures. The Mets traded outfielder Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers, leaving a hole in left field that remains unaddressed. Then, after slugger Pete Alonso moved on to Baltimore, the club also faced a vacancy at first base.

Bellinger’s versatility aligns with those needs. He could play mostly in left field while also taking reps at first base. That flexibility is particularly relevant given that new infield addition Jorge Polanco is currently slated to play first base despite having appeared at the corner-infield position for only one game in his career.

Beyond roster fit, Bellinger’s ability to handle New York is highlighted, and his multi-position value matches the type of roster construction preferred by the Mets’ baseball operations leadership. The Mets also created another need for a player with Bellinger’s profile when they traded Jeff McNeil to the Athletics, removing a player who had covered both second base and the outfield.

If Bellinger’s market comes down to the Yankees and Mets, it is suggested the Yankees may be less likely to outbid the Mets. The Mets’ owner has not spent as aggressively this winter as in some previous offseasons, but if Bellinger is viewed as a final piece, the club could still choose to outspend other suitors. If the Mets do not land Bellinger, they are noted as a team that should be in the market for Tucker.

• Other possible fits: Yankees, Dodgers, Giants

Bo Bichette: Toronto Blue Jays

The Blue Jays are described as having one of the busiest offseasons in baseball, including the signing of Japanese star third baseman Kazuma Okamoto. Toronto has also signed starter Dylan Cease, secured right-hander Shane Bieber opting in for 2026, and added Cody Ponce and Tyler Rogers. With Okamoto now in the fold on a reported four-year, $60 million deal, Toronto has added a major position-player acquisition as well.

Some believe that signing Okamoto could take the Blue Jays out of the running for their homegrown free-agent star Bo Bichette. However, there is still a path to a reunion because Okamoto primarily plays third base while also offering versatility at first base and in the outfield. Bichette can play second base, where he is noted to have excelled in the World Series even with an injured knee.

Toronto has also shown interest in Tucker, but Bichette is described as the cheaper option and, at 27 years old, the younger player. For now, the Blue Jays are framed as the favorites to land Bichette, with one major caveat: that outlook could change if they sign Tucker instead.

• Other possible fits: Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers

Eugenio Suárez: Detroit Tigers

Eugenio Suárez is presented as a distinctive free-agent case: a higher-profile bat who may be available at a comparatively reasonable price. At 34, he is described as no longer the MVP-caliber hitter he was in his peak years, but he is coming off an All-Star season in 2025. In that season, he slugged 49 home runs—matching his career high—and posted a 126 OPS+ across 159 games for the Diamondbacks and Mariners.

His rising strikeout totals are noted as a concern, but his durability is emphasized as rare. Since 2016, only first baseman Paul Goldschmidt has played more games than Suárez, and Suárez’s 27.5 fWAR over that span ranks 26th in MLB.

Contract expectations place Suárez in a range that could broaden his market: he is expected to command a $20–25 million average annual value on a three-year deal. That pricing could appeal to middle- and smaller-market teams. The Tigers previously showed interest in trading for him at last year’s deadline before choosing to prioritize their farm system, and they could still use him at third base while moving Zach McKinstry into a utility role. Detroit is also described as being able to pay for Suárez’s power as it looks toward another playoff push in ace Tarik Skubal’s final year of team control.

More broadly, Suárez’s steady production and short-term contract profile could make him attractive to a range of contenders seeking added offense. His market is expected to develop more clearly once Bregman is off the board.

• Other possible fits: Diamondbacks, Mariners, Red Sox

How these decisions could shape the next phase of free agency

Each player discussed here sits at a different point in the market: Tucker at the very top, Bregman as a premium infield bat with a significant multi-year price, Bellinger as a versatile solution for teams with multiple openings, Bichette as a younger option with positional flexibility, and Suárez as a power bat expected to be available on a shorter-term deal. With spring training nearing, the timing of one signing could quickly influence the next, especially in a market that appears poised to move once the biggest names come off the board.