Many teams (and their fans) have already turned their attention to the offseason. Identifying free agent targets is an important part of preparation, so it’s worth paying attention to the players available at each position.
We’re moving to the outfield corners where there are some strong everyday players, but then there’s a massive drop-off to the lower levels. Ages listed are for the 2026 season.
Previous entry in this series: Catcher, first base, second base, third base, Shortstop, center fielder
Top of class
Tucker didn’t enter free agency with ideal momentum. His 2024 season was cut short by a broken tibia. His 2025 campaign has been hampered by a broken finger and calf strain. He missed some time and didn’t perform as expected in the final months before entering the public market.
Regardless, he is far superior to everyone else listed here. Despite some recent issues, he’s still been one of the best players in baseball for several years. Dating back to the start of 2020, he was hitting .276/.362/.513 overall with a wRC+ of 141. He stole 113 bases during that span and generally received high marks for his defense. FanGraphs rates him with 25.2 wins over replacement during that span, a mark that puts him behind just 10 position players.
Injuries may bring some uncertainty, but his record is otherwise solid, well-rounded and consistent. He’s the obvious choice for a team looking for a clear and immediate upgrade in the corner outfield. Big players like the Dodgers, Yankees, Phillies, Blue Jays, Angels, Rangers and Giants all have outfield issues that could drive up bids. Re-signing with the Cubs is out of character for this club, but they clearly love him because they gave up a lot to get him a year ago. A dark horse team like the Mariners, Orioles, Tigers or Rays is also a possibility. He will receive and reject a qualifying offer from the Cubs and will be subject to associated penalties, although that’s only a minor consideration for a player like this.
daily frequent visitor
Bellinger is reportedly opting out of his deal, which is no surprise. He will accept a $5MM buyout instead of next year’s $25MM salary, leaving him with $20MM. It’s an easy decision as he should be able to do it easily. His previous free agency run didn’t result in the expected long-term deal, but he should be in a better position this time around. His dismal 2021 and 2022 seasons now seem like a distant memory. His 2019 MVP performance was the same, but he’s become a solid, everyday player.
This year with the Yankees, Bellinger hit 29 home runs. He struck out only 13.7% of the time and stole 13 bases. His center defense is passable, but his corner defense is above average. He slashed .272/.334/.480 for a 125 wRC+. FanGraphs gives him an fWAR rating of 4.9 this season.
There are some issues behind it. This offense may not be entirely sustainable. His hitting metrics are relatively uninspiring, and he might benefit from the short porch at Yankee Stadium. All the home runs this year have been in pull. He slashed .302/.365/.544 at home but slashed .241/.301/.414 on the road. He likely won’t be considered an everyday center fielder, as he hasn’t done so since 2022. Still, he’s the best corner outfield option besides Tucker, and is a long way from being at the next level. Bellinger will not receive a QO because he has already received a QO during his career and is therefore ineligible. He deserves a strong multi-year contract.
After Tucker and Bellinger, things dropped off significantly. guys like Trent Grisham, Cedric Mullins and Harrison Bader Corner jobs may be considered, but the centerfield market isn’t strong either, so they may find work in the middle.
That makes Yaz arguably the most reliable regular behind Tucker and Bellinger. He’s been a good player for years. He’s not a superstar, but his production on and off the court is generally above average. He’s had five straight seasons with a wRC+ between 99 and 111. In each season, he saved between three and nine defensive runs, while an above-average number of outs put him closer to par. FanGraphs gave him between 1.5 and 2.4 WAR in each of those five campaigns.
Despite a solid, decent production record, his profitability won’t be huge. He was a late bloomer and didn’t break out until his age-28 season. Just after his 35th birthday, he now becomes a free agent for the first time. He could be limited to a one-year deal, but a two-year deal isn’t entirely out of the question.
Row/bounce bat
Andujar is coming off a great season between the Athletics and the Reds. He slashed .318/.352/.470 for a 125 wRC+. Most injuries come from lefties. The right-handed bat slashed .290/.331/.429 for a 108 wRC+ against righties, but slashed .389/.409/.578 for a 171 wRC+ against lefties. His 2024 production is even more uneven, with 192 wRC+ vehicles with platoon advantage and 82 without platoon advantage. In addition to the corner outfield, he also played first and third base this year, so he should find a home somewhere as a left-handed crusher with some defensive versatility.
The Dodgers offered Conforto a one-year, $17MM contract last winter, but it 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 could find some clubs willing to take on bounce-back flyers. Oddly, he has a reverse split in 2025, but his career split is traditional. The left-handed swingman has a career .249/.351/.460 line and 121 wRC+ against right-handers and a .233/.318/.391 line and 98 wRC+ against lefties.
Grichuk wasn’t great in 2025, hitting just .228/.273/.401. Even against lefties, his slash line was a below-par .227/.273/.430 with a wRC+ of 89. However, he’s just one year removed from his .319/.386/.528 line and 152 wRC+ against lefties. Even after that strong performance, he was only guaranteed $5MM to return to the Diamondbacks, so he should be more affordable this time around.
For his career, the right-swinging Hayes has a line of .282/.340/.479 against lefties and .253/.301/.416 otherwise, resulting in wRC+ scores of 124 and 97, respectively. This year is even more extreme, with a .319/.400/.549 line and a 155 wRC+ against lefties, compared to a .249/.286/.422 line and an 88 wRC+ for no platoon advantage. Outside of offense, Hayes is considered a strong defender but has been injury-prone the past two seasons.
Kepler signed a one-year, $10M contract with the Phillies last offseason. He thought he would be an average player, but the Phillies mostly protected him against lefties. He’s only been used against lefties 76 times this year and hasn’t done well. He also didn’t hit righties, posting a .216/.305/.399 line and a 93 wRC+. However, his career numbers are better, with a .240/.324/.446 line and 107 wRC+ with platoon advantage. His glove is solid, but his rough season on the field should make him less profitable than he was a year ago.
Marte had a good season at the plate, slashing .270/.335/.410 for a 112 wRC+, but primarily as a designated hitter. The Mets allowed him only 65 innings on grass. Given his age and injury history, there may not be much more to look forward to in his future.
Refsnyder turns 35 in March, but he continues to hit lefties. For his career, he has a .281/.383/.443 line and a 129 wRC+ with platoon advantage. He was even better in 2025, posting a .302/.399/.560 line and a 159 wRC+ against lefties. It has been previously suggested that he is considering retirement, but he plans to continue playing in 2026.
Slater has generally excelled against lefties in his career, but his last two seasons have struggled. Overall, he hit .212/.299/.314 with a 77 wRC+ in the 2024 and 2025 seasons. That included some league-average performance against lefties in 2025, but injuries limited him to just 65 games on the year. His career .267/.357/.430 line and 119 wRC+ against lefties will generate some interest in him, but his recent struggles and injuries will diminish his earning power.
Thomas is coming off an injury-plagued season. He only played in 39 games. He underwent surgery in September to treat plantar fasciitis, which had a recovery time of three to four months. He’s not far away from a 28-homer season in 2023, but even at his best, most of his damage has been against lefties. He has a career line of .292/.359/.500 and a 135 wRC+ against lefties and a .220/.287/.383 line and 84 wRC+ against righties. In addition to his bat, he can steal bases and play a passable center field, but his health has hampered his status somewhat.
Wink was a good hitter, but his health waxed and waned. He only played 61 games in 2023 due to back problems. He bounced back in 2024 and performed well enough that the Mets gave him $7.5MM on a one-year deal in 2025. However, tilt and back issues limited him to just 26 games this past year. His track record was enough to attract interest, but he was never a great defender, and injuries kept forcing him more firmly toward full-time designated hitter status.
depth type
Options/Opt-Out
Gurriel can opt out of his contract, giving up the one year and $18MM in guarantees he’s still owed. But he won’t do that. In September, he tore his right ACL. The recovery time from the surgery is nine to 10 months, so he won’t be able to compete until at least the first half of 2026.
The Padres can keep Laureano through 2026 with a $6.5MM club option. That’s a bargain considering he just hit .281/.342/.512 with a 138 wRC+ and is considered three wins above replacement by FanGraphs. The Padres have been having financial issues, but this option should be a no-brainer. Even if they don’t want to pay Laureano themselves, he has plenty of trade value (although he’ll likely be their regular left fielder next year).
O’Neal can opt out of his contract, giving up the two years and $33MM he’s still owed. But injuries limited him to 54 games and a dismal .199/.292/.392 performance in 2025, so he would be foolish to trigger the opt-out.
Photo courtesy of Rick Scuteri of Imagn Images
