Baltimore Orioles · MLB Free Agency
Free Agent Rankings 2026-27
The top 25 free agents on the market this winter, ranked, with a look at how each one fits the Orioles. Plus every Baltimore player who's hit free agency.
Updated Friday, Oct. 30, 2026.
How we ranked them: by how much each player is likely to help a team in 2027 and beyond, not by past results alone. The fit rating reflects Baltimore’s biggest needs: starting pitching, catcher, late-inning relief and a right-handed bat. We’ll update each player’s status as he signs.
The Orioles’ own free agents
Four Orioles filed for free agency on Oct. 29, and three more could join them depending on Monday’s option decisions. Track every decision on the Orioles offseason tracker.
| Player | Pos | 2026 | Status | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trevor Rogers | LHP | 10-11, 4.03 ERA, 157 K in 169 2/3 IP over 30 starts | Free agent | Baltimore's best starter by workload, and the top pitcher on most free agent boards after Tarik Skubal. Elias has said the club's interest in bringing him back is very high. Expected to receive a qualifying offer. |
| Chris Bassitt | RHP | Veteran starter who turns 38 before Opening Day | Free agent | Filed for free agency Oct. 29. A short-term return would add rotation depth, but Baltimore has other paths. |
| Andrew Kittredge | RHP | Closer for much of 2026 | Free agent | Filed Oct. 29. Heavy usage caught up with him late in the season, and the bullpen will need late-inning help either way. |
| Keegan Akin | LHP | Had Tommy John surgery in July | Free agent | Filed Oct. 29. Recovery will likely cost him much of 2027. |
| Zach Eflin | RHP | $25 million mutual option | Decision Nov. 2 | Option is expected to be declined after April Tommy John surgery. |
| Ryan Mountcastle | 1B/DH | $7.5 million club option | Decision Nov. 2 | Option is expected to be declined after an injury-wrecked 2026. |
| Luis Robert Jr. | OF | $20 million club option, $2 million buyout | Decision Nov. 2 | Claimed off waivers late in the season and hurt his hamstring after three games. |
Top 25 MLB free agents
| # | Player | Pos | 2026 team | 2026 | Orioles fit | Why | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tarik Skubal | LHP | Dodgers | 2.72 ERA, 186 K, 158 2/3 IP | Long shot | The best pitcher on the market by a wide margin and the one true difference-maker in the class. His price will likely be beyond Baltimore's range. | Available |
| 2 | Teruaki Sato | 3B/1B | Hanshin (NPB) | .306, 39 HR, Japanese Triple Crown | Long shot | Big left-handed power coming over from Japan. Swing-and-miss is the question, and Baltimore has its corners mostly covered. | Available |
| 3 | Freddy Peralta | RHP | Rays | 4.42 ERA, 156 K, 169 IP | Possible | Rarely misses a start and rediscovered his best form after a deadline trade. A durable mid-rotation arm is exactly what Baltimore lacks. | Available |
| 4 | Trevor Rogers | LHP | Orioles | 4.03 ERA, 157 K, 169 2/3 IP | Strong fit | Baltimore's own free agent. The underlying numbers are better than his ERA, he's 29 and he made all 30 starts. A qualifying offer would attach a draft pick to him for other teams. | Available |
| 5 | Michael King | RHP | Padres | 3.21 ERA, 159 K, 185 IP | Possible | Opted out of his deal and should land a multiyear contract. Limits hard contact as well as anyone and would slot near the top of the Orioles’ rotation. | Available |
| 6 | Adrian Morejon | LHP | Padres | 2.83 ERA, 107 K, 86 IP | Possible | Elite reliever with the stuff to start. Teams will look closely at his shoulder after he missed part of the NLDS. | Available |
| 7 | Seiya Suzuki | OF | Cubs | .270, 26 HR, 86 RBI | Possible | Consistent right-handed power and patience, which Baltimore’s lineup could use. Turns 33 next summer. | Available |
| 8 | Jazz Chisholm Jr. | 2B | Yankees | .231, 19 HR, 41 SB | Long shot | Speed, defense and pop. Second base is spoken for in Baltimore, which makes him an awkward fit. | Available |
| 9 | Randy Arozarena | OF/DH | Mariners | .281, 26 HR, 26 SB | Possible | Coming off his best season. Best used as a designated hitter at this point, which could work with the Orioles’ DH flexibility. | Available |
| 10 | Ryan Jeffers | C | Twins | .256, 14 HR, 56 RBI | Strong fit | The best catcher available, with a bat that keeps improving. With Adley Rutschman traded, catcher is one of Baltimore’s clearest needs. | Available |
| 11 | Sonny Gray | RHP | Red Sox | 2.72 ERA, 149 K, 169 IP | Possible | Still pitching deep into games at 37. A one- or two-year deal would add a veteran to a young staff. | Available |
| 12 | David Bednar | RHP | Yankees | 2.47 ERA, 76 K, 69 1/3 IP | Possible | Reliable closer who handles both righties and lefties. A natural replacement for Kittredge at the back of the bullpen. | Available |
| 13 | Brandon Lowe | 2B | Pirates | .260, 35 HR, 96 RBI | Long shot | Huge power from the middle infield and a dramatic defensive turnaround in 2026, but injury history and age add risk. | Available |
| 14 | Ian Happ | OF | Cubs | .218, 24 HR, 68 RBI | Possible | Walks, power and Gold Glove-level defense in left field. A steady short-term addition for the outfield. | Available |
| 15 | Luis Arraez | 2B | Phillies | .310, 6 HR, 64 RBI | Long shot | Perennial batting title contender who improved in the field. Doesn't fill a positional need in Baltimore. | Available |
| 16 | Tyler Mahle | RHP | Braves | 3.99 ERA, 137 K, 149 IP | Possible | Finally healthy and finished the year on a roll. A reasonable bet for a team that needs innings. | Available |
| 17 | Jake Bauers | 1B | Brewers | .266, 26 HR, 86 RBI | Long shot | World Series breakout at first base. Pete Alonso’s position makes him a poor fit. | Available |
| 18 | Raisel Iglesias | RHP | Braves | 2.55 ERA, 64 K, 60 IP | Possible | Still effective at 37 with one of the game’s best changeups. Short-term closer option. | Available |
| 19 | Kevin Gausman | RHP | Cubs | 4.51 ERA, 184 K, 177 2/3 IP | Possible | A former Oriole who still takes the ball every fifth day. Velocity is trending down, but his splitter remains a weapon. | Available |
| 20 | Mauricio Dubón | UTIL | Braves | .276, 12 HR, 73 RBI | Possible | Can play nearly anywhere on the field. Useful depth for a roster that dealt with injuries all year. | Available |
| 21 | Ty France | 1B | Padres | .295, 21 HR, 72 RBI | Long shot | Strong year at the plate and in the field, but first base is Alonso’s. | Available |
| 22 | Kaima Taira | RHP | Seibu (NPB) | Starter in 2026 after two years in relief | Possible | Undersized righty with a deep arsenal from Japan. Could start or work as a multi-inning reliever. | Available |
| 23 | Clay Holmes | RHP | Cubs | 3.29 ERA, 78 K, 101 1/3 IP | Possible | Ground-ball specialist who can start or relieve. Velocity dipped after a broken leg. | Available |
| 24 | Hiromi Itoh | RHP | Nippon-Ham (NPB) | 3.18 ERA, 172 2/3 IP | Possible | Durable Japanese starter with a long track record of innings. Projects as a back-end starter. | Available |
| 25 | Casey Mize | RHP | Padres | 4.32 ERA, 110 K, 131 1/3 IP | Possible | Former No. 1 overall pick still searching for a breakout. Affordable upside on a short deal. | Available |
2026 statistics are regular season. NPB is Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. Players from Japan must be posted by their clubs before signing.
Free agency FAQ
- Who is the best free agent in the 2026-27 MLB offseason?
- Left-hander Tarik Skubal is the clear top free agent this winter, followed by a group of starters and bats that includes Orioles left-hander Trevor Rogers.
- Which Orioles are free agents?
- Trevor Rogers, Chris Bassitt, Andrew Kittredge and Keegan Akin filed for free agency on Oct. 29. Zach Eflin, Ryan Mountcastle and Luis Robert Jr. have contract options that must be decided by Nov. 2.
- What do the Orioles need in free agency?
- Starting pitching tops the list after Rogers and Bassitt reached free agency and Eflin's injury. Catcher and late-inning relief are also priorities.
More Orioles offseason coverage
Offseason trackerEvery move, option decision and deadline this winter.
Free agent rankingsThe top 25 free agents and how each fits Baltimore.
Top 30 prospectsThe farm system ranked, with notes on every player.
Orioles rosterEvery player on the 40-man roster.
Latest Orioles newsAnalysis, transactions and reporting all winter.