Cody Bellinger tops the position-player board, Framber Valdez is the last front-line lefty standing, and a cluster of proven closers and veteran starters could swing division races—here’s the instant primer on who’s left and where they could land.
The New Reality: Half the Top 50 Are Gone
Seventeen of USA TODAY Sports’ original top-50 free agents have signed since November, including seven of the top 10. The combined guarantees: just under $1.4 billion. That flood of cash—headlined by Tucker’s four-year, $240 million pact and Bichette’s three-year, $126 million lightning strike—has reset the spending baseline and left clubs scrambling for the next tier of talent.
Spring training opens in 24 days. Agents are accelerating talks, and front offices are pivoting from stars to strategic fits. Below is the definitive ranking of who can still move the needle, grouped by how they can reshape a roster.
Tier 1: Last Star Standing
- Framber Valdez, LHP, 32 – The lone 200-inning lefty on the board; playoff pedigree from Houston’s 2022 title run.
- Cody Bellinger, OF/1B, 30 – Rebounded to 5.1 WAR and 29 HR in 2025; health history is the only red flag.
- Zac Gallen, RHP, 30 – 2022 NL WHIP leader (0.91) who closed 2025 with a 3.32 ERA in his final 11 starts.
Tier 2: Playoff-Caliber Starters
- Lucas Giolito, RHP, 31 – 3.41 ERA across 26 starts; declined $19 million player option to bet on himself.
- Chris Bassitt, RHP, 37 – Model of consistency: 32 starts, 3.89 ERA, six innings per outing each of last three years.
- Max Scherzer, RHP, 41 – Hasn’t retired; one-year, $15.5 million pillow deal expected.
- Justin Verlander, RHP, 43 – 266 wins and a 3.85 ERA in 2025; needs run support, not nostalgia.
Tier 3: Bullpen & Bench Weapons
- Seranthony Domínguez, RHP, 31 – Halved his HR/9 to 0.7 after trade to Toronto; playoff-tested leverage arm.
- Daniel Coulombe, LHP, 36 – 1.16 ERA in Minnesota before Twins fire-sale; lefty specialists are gold in October.
- Luis Arráez, INF/DH, 28 – Three-time batting champ; market split on whether empty average is worth nine-figure risk.
Buyer Beware: Upside & Injury Variables
- Walker Buehler, RHP, 31 – Stuff still electric, but 5.45 ERA in 22 Boston starts means incentive-laden landing spot.
- Michael Conforto, OF, 33 – Dodgers paid $17 million for a .199 season; lefty swing will get another prove-it shot.
- Jon Gray, RHP, 34 – Fractured wrist and shoulder neuritis limited him to six appearances; upside remains if healthy.
Market Movers: Why These Names Matter Now
Framber Valdez is the last true workhorse southpaw—expect the Cardinals, Giants and Rangers to drive the price toward $30 million AAV. Cody Bellinger’s camp is leaking optimism about a six-year, $180 million framework; the Mariners and Blue Jays have vacated outfield at-bats and playoff windows wide open. Bassitt and Giolito are the fallback plans for clubs that missed on Yamamoto and Snell last winter, keeping their markets fluid and potentially lucrative.
Unsigned & Unbothered: Veterans Still Searching
- Eugenio Suárez, 3B, 34 – 49 HR at 34; power plays anywhere, but strikeout rate scares analytically heavy clubs.
- Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, 38 – 1.2 WAR in part-time Yankees role; right-handed bench bat with leadership cachet.
- Harrison Bader, OF, 31 – Was Philadelphia’s most valuable trade acquisition down the stretch; elite center-field defense ages well.
Clock Ticking: Key Dates Ahead
- Feb. 10 – First spring workouts; unsigned players lose leverage once camp opens.
- Feb. 21 – Mandatory reporting for pitchers and catchers; teams prefer deals done before bullpen sessions begin.
- March 20 – Opening Night; history shows last-minute deals signed after March 1 average 18% less guaranteed money.
Bottom Line
The $240 million Tucker earthquake and $126 million Bichette aftershock drained star power, but they also clarified budgets. Contenders still needing a front-line starter, a middle-order bat or a lockdown reliever will find legitimate answers in this group—if they move before the calendar flips to February. Expect a condensed, high-stakes sprint that decides division favorites and October dark horses.
Keep the fastest, most authoritative MLB analysis bookmarked—visit onlytrustedinfo.com daily for instant breakdowns of every deal, rumor and ripple effect before the first pitch of 2026.
