Alex Bregman and Nick Pivetta turned the newest free brokers to seek out new groups, agreeing to offers Wednesday with the Crimson Sox and Padres, respectively.
A lot of free brokers stay accessible, however now that MLB.com’s total Prime 25 free agent record has been taken off the board, it’s time to have a look at gamers who may very well be candidates to signal contract extensions with their present golf equipment.
Bear in mind, extensions can occur for various causes. Some golf equipment look to lock up younger expertise years prematurely of free company, whereas others might attempt to signal their gamers headed without spending a dime company subsequent offseason.
Right here’s a have a look at 16 gamers who may very well be candidates for the following notable extension.
(Gamers are listed alphabetically with 2025 season age as of July 1.)
Luis Arraez, INF, Padres, age 28Eligible without spending a dime company after the 2025 season
Arraez will earn $14 million in his ultimate yr earlier than free company, and whereas the three-time batting champion has performed for 3 groups for the reason that begin of 2022, he’s put himself in place to money in with a pleasant multi-year deal due to a .323 lifetime batting common and two straight 200-hit seasons. San Diego seems involved in maintaining Arraez in a Padres uniform, so maybe the membership will attempt to lengthen him earlier than he turns into a free agent subsequent fall. Regardless of various sizable monetary commitments already in place past 2025, the Padres could have roughly $35 million coming off the books with Arraez, Michael King and Dylan Stop headed without spending a dime company.
Hunter Brown, RHP, Astros, age 26Eligible without spending a dime company after the 2028 season
Brown received’t even start his arbitration years till subsequent offseason, however the Astros have been identified to signal pre-arb gamers to extensions prior to now. Normal supervisor Dana Brown was additionally a part of a Braves entrance workplace that had nice success locking up younger gamers effectively prematurely of free company, so he’s no stranger to the method. Brown had an uneven yr in his first full season as an enormous league starter (5.09 ERA in 155 2/3 innings in 2023), however he carried out a lot better in 2024, posting a 3.49 ERA over 170 innings.
Lawrence Butler, OF, Athletics, age 24Eligible without spending a dime company after the 2029 season
Butler received’t be eligible for arbitration till the tip of the 2026 season, however after his breakout 2024 marketing campaign, he could be the kind of participant the Athletics would need to construct round as they enter the Las Vegas period in 2028. Butler hit 22 dwelling runs with 18 stolen bases and an .807 OPS in 125 video games final season, although his second half — 13 homers, 12 steals and an .898 OPS in 61 video games — confirmed the kind of offensive power he might be. The Athletics opened the checkbook this winter to signal Luis Severino (three years, $67 million) and José Leclerc (one yr, $10 million) whereas additionally buying and selling for Jeffrey Springs, who’s assured $21.75 million over the following two years. Maybe locking in an rising younger star may very well be within the playing cards for the Athletics, with Butler being an apparent candidate.
Garrett Crochet, LHP, Crimson Sox, age 26Eligible without spending a dime company after the 2026 season
The Crimson Sox dealt 4 prospects — together with a pair on MLB Pipeline’s Prime 100 record — to the White Sox for the gifted left-hander, who agreed to a $3.8 million contract to keep away from arbitration. Crochet is arbitration-eligible for the ultimate time subsequent season, after which he’s slated to turn into a free agent. After giving up an enormous haul to amass the 25-year-old, it might make sense for Boston to attempt locking up Crochet on a long-term deal. The tough half? Crochet will certainly be searching for a deal commensurate with different prime beginning pitchers, although with just one season as a starter on his résumé, the Crimson Sox might need to see him repeat his breakout 2024 efficiency earlier than spending large to increase him.
Oneil Cruz, SS/CF, Pirates, age 26Eligible without spending a dime company after the 2028 season
Over the previous three years, the Pirates have locked up Ke’Bryan Hayes, Bryan Reynolds and Mitch Keller, displaying a willingness to maintain their younger gamers in Pittsburgh. Whereas extending Paul Skenes can be a dream, that’s unlikely to occur — however what about Cruz? The shortstop-turned-center fielder had a bounce-back season in 2024, posting a 20-homer, 20-stolen base marketing campaign after enjoying solely 9 video games in 2023 due to a leg fracture. Pittsburgh doesn’t have any prime outfield prospects, so extending Cruz would make sense.
Brenton Doyle, CF, Rockies, age 27Eligible without spending a dime company after the 2029 season
Doyle has received Gold Gloves in every of his first two seasons, displaying the kind of worth he gives within the discipline. The Rockies have been aggressive in relation to locking up their younger gamers, signing Ezequiel Tovar to a pre-arb extension final yr whereas additionally lately extending Ryan McMahon, Kyle Freeland and Antonio Senzatela throughout their arbitration years; might Doyle be subsequent? Doyle — who hit 23 dwelling runs with 72 RBIs and 30 stolen bases in 149 video games final season — will seemingly be a Tremendous Two subsequent offseason, giving him 4 years of arbitration eligibility, however he received’t be a free agent till the tip of 2029, when he’ll be coming into his age-32 marketing campaign.
Logan Gilbert, RHP, Mariners, age 28Eligible without spending a dime company after the 2027 season
The Mariners have various younger beginning pitchers who may very well be extension candidates, however Gilbert is essentially the most skilled of the group and due to this fact the closest to free company. The 27-year-old made his first All-Star staff final season and led the league in innings pitched (208 2/3) and WHIP (0.887), incomes down-ballot Cy Younger votes regardless of a 9-12 report. Gilbert settled on a $7.625 million deal to keep away from arbitration this season, however with two years of arbitration eligibility remaining, his wage ought to rise significantly in 2026 and ’27 if he continues to carry out the way in which he has throughout his first three full seasons. It’s unlikely that Gilbert and the Mariners will work out an extension this season, however he may very well be a precedence subsequent offseason if he continues his present trajectory.
Riley Greene, OF, Tigers, age 24Eligible without spending a dime company after the 2028 season
The fifth total decide within the 2019 Draft, Greene had his breakout season at age 23, hitting 24 dwelling runs with 74 RBIs, an .827 OPS and 5.4 bWAR whereas making his first All-Star staff final season. Greene received’t be eligible for arbitration till subsequent offseason, and Detroit has proven a willingness to signal pre-arb extensions just like the one Colt Keith landed prior to creating his large league debut. The Tigers would love to increase Tarik Skubal, however the defending AL Cy Younger winner is just two years from free company and should select to play these out to check the market. Greene continues to be below management for 4 years, so shopping for out his arbitration years and probably a free-agent yr or two could be an choice for Detroit.
The Blue Jays have already tried to increase Guerrero with a reported supply of greater than $300 million, although the hole between the 2 sides seems to be pretty broad. Guerrero has stated he received’t negotiate as soon as Spring Coaching begins, leaving solely a handful of days left earlier than that self-imposed deadline arrives. Guerrero is alleged to be searching for a deal price greater than $400 million, which might be greater than twice as a lot as the highest first-base offers lately. Juan Soto’s $765 million contract with the Mets blew the roof off the marketplace for prime younger hitters, with Guerrero on the prime of the record of beneficiaries.
Jackson Merrill, OF, Padres, age 22Eligible without spending a dime company after the 2029 season
Merrill received’t be arbitration-eligible till the tip of the 2026 season, however the Padres reportedly mentioned an extension with him previous to final season, so it wouldn’t be a shock for the 2 sides to re-engage on the topic once more. San Diego has achieved these sort of offers earlier than, with Fernando Tatis Jr. being the apparent instance. Merrill’s debut season was spectacular, and if he follows up with one other sturdy yr, his price ticket will solely go up. The Padres might look to purchase out his arb years along with some free-agent years, although it’s going to price them.
Cole Ragans, LHP, Royals, age 27Eligible without spending a dime company after the 2028 season
The Royals acquired Ragans from the Rangers for Aroldis Chapman in the summertime of 2023, and the younger lefty rewarded Kansas Metropolis with a 5-2 report and a couple of.64 ERA in 12 begins in the course of the second half. Ragans backed that up in 2024 together with his first All-Star choice and a fourth-place end within the AL Cy Younger Award vote, proving his Ok.C. debut was no fluke. Ragans shall be arbitration-eligible for the primary time subsequent offseason, so there’s no urgency to get an extension achieved. However after giving their greatest participant (Bobby Witt Jr.) an extension final yr, might the Royals do the identical with their greatest pitcher?
Cal Raleigh, C, Mariners, age 28Eligible without spending a dime company after the 2027 season
Julio Rodríguez could be the face of the franchise in Seattle, however Raleigh has turn into the clubhouse chief and an area fan favourite. The defensive stalwart — he received the AL Platinum Glove final season — received’t be a free agent till his age-31 season, so maybe locking in a long-term take care of the Mariners can be helpful to each side. Raleigh’s current agent change (he left Scott Boras and employed Excel) sparked hypothesis that he can be open to an extension, and given his work behind the plate with Seattle’s younger employees, it might make sense for the Mariners to maintain him on the town for the foreseeable future.
J.T. Realmuto, C, Phillies, age 34Eligible without spending a dime company after the 2025 season
Kyle Schwarber, DH, Phillies, age 32Eligible without spending a dime company after the 2025 season
Schwarber is coming into the ultimate season of his four-year, $79 million contract, having turn into one of many leaders of Philadelphia’s clubhouse throughout his time there. Ditto for Realmuto, who’s within the ultimate yr of his five-year, $115.5 million pact. Getting into his age-32 season, Schwarber has been very productive throughout his first three years with the Phillies, averaging 44 dwelling runs and 101 RBIs whereas enjoying 155 video games per season. Realmuto’s offensive numbers pale compared, however his work behind the plate has been stellar, and with no catching prospects near being prepared for the Majors, the Phillies might look to maintain Realmuto in Philly. Whether or not Philadelphia will attempt to lock up each gamers — particularly since signing Schwarber would clog up the DH spot for the speedy future — stays to be seen, however each are reputable extension candidates.
Adley Rutschman, C, Orioles, age 27Eligible without spending a dime company after the 2027 season
Rutschman has helped set the tone for Baltimore’s younger core since he debuted in 2022, and even with a slight decline in his offensive numbers final season, the switch-hitter stays the spine of the younger membership. Whereas fellow children Gunnar Henderson and Jackson Holliday are represented by Scott Boras, who famously prefers to take his shoppers to free company, Rutschman is repped by Wasserman, which has negotiated extensions for various outstanding shoppers. The Orioles haven’t been overly aggressive in free company, but when new proprietor David Rubenstein makes use of his monetary wherewithal to maintain the membership’s core intact, Baltimore ought to stay aggressive for years to come back.
Kyle Tucker, OF, Cubs, age 28Eligible without spending a dime company after the 2025 season
The Cubs traded three gamers — Isaac Paredes, Hayden Wesneski and Prime-100 prospect Cam Smith — for Tucker, who’s slated to turn into a free agent on the finish of the season. Chicago would like to lock up Tucker with a multi-year deal, and given the membership’s payroll scenario — Dansby Swanson is the one participant on the roster signed past 2027 — there must be ample flexibility to pay Tucker. The largest query is whether or not the three-time All-Star has his sights set on testing free company subsequent offseason, although the Cubs will seemingly attempt to get a deal achieved earlier than he reaches that time.
