Kyle Tucker, Framber Valdez Headline MLB’s Remaining Free Agents

With reporting dates for Spring Training about four weeks away, several big-name free agents remain unsigned in Major League Baseball. Most notably, slugger Kyle Tucker and left-hander Framber Valdez, widely expected by analysts to be the most expensive hitter and pitcher on the market, respectively, are still unemployed.

With a report circulating about the New York Mets offering Tucker a short-term deal for something like three years and $140 million to play left field, he is said to be deciding soon on a new home. The Mets would be adding him to a lineup that already has Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor, but did lose Pete Alonso to the Orioles.

The Mets previously added Jorge Polanco in free agency and Marcus Semien in a trade. They've shuffled the bullpen around, signing Devin Williams and Luke Weaver after losing Edwin Díaz in free agency to the Dodgers, but they would seem to need front-line starting pitching more than Tucker. Maybe owner Steve Cohen will find loose change for all of the above.

The Toronto Blue Jays have been viewed by many as Tucker's likeliest landing spot for a longer-term deal, but the Dodgers also have been lurking in case the market develops more like what the Mets envision.

Valdez might be moved to sign soon amid reports that the Boston Red Sox agreed with left-hander Ranger Suárez on a five-year, $130 million contract. The Orioles have been prominently linked with Valdez, who at 32 is two years older than Suárez but has been one of the five or six most valuable starting pitchers since 2020.

Valdez comes with a caveat after a bizarre incident in September where he appeared to cross up catcher Cesar Salazar on purpose out of frustration, hitting him in the chest with a pitch.

The Red Sox have been active this winter — not with free agents but instead with trades — having added right-handers Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo, along with first baseman Willson Contreras. They also lost third baseman Alex Bregman in free agency when he signed with the Chicago Cubs.

Boston is said to be shopping surplus pitching, possibly right-hander Brayan Bello, in exchange for lineup help.

Outfielder Cody Bellinger and infielder Bo Bichette are the other two huge names who remain unsigned, with the New York Yankees considering both. Bellinger would be a better positional fit by returning to the Yankees, but Bichette's name has been linked to the Bronx after a protracted negotiation with Bellinger's agent, Scott Boras.

The Yankees have an opening at shortstop — for a while — as Anthony Volpe recovers from shoulder surgery. Recovering from a left knee sprain, Bichette played second base for the Blue Jays in the 2025 postseason, and probably will be a better defensive fit there or at third base in the long term.

The Yankees already have Jazz Chisholm at second and Ryan McMahon at third, and could be looking for leverage over Bellinger, whose free agency experience seems to get stranger every time he files.

About 150 major league free agents remain overall, with players like Eugenio Suárez, J.T. Realmuto and Luis Arráez also available on offense. Justin Verlander, Zac Gallen and Max Scherzer are among the pitchers still out there.