MLB free agency is now fully underway. Here are the best players available

Framber Valdez, Bo Bichette are also looking for new deals.

So, from the top players available to how the qualifying offer works and more, here's everything you need to know about MLB free agency:

When does MLB free agency start?

Players scheduled to hit free agency officially became free agents the day after the World Series ended. At that time, teams were able to re-sign their departing free agents.

But players weren't permitted to sign with a new club until 5 p.m. ET on the fifth day after the World Series ended.

When is the MLB option deadline?

The exercising of a player, club or mutual option had to occur within five days following the conclusion of the World Series.

Among the players who didn't reach free agency due to option decisions were Trevor Story, Brandon Lowe, Freddy Peralta.

What is a qualifying offer in MLB?

Teams had five days after the World Series ended to extend qualifying offers to their departing free agents. A team could only extend a qualifying offer to a player who hadn't received one before and spent the entire 2025 season on its roster.

The qualifying offer is a one-year deal with a value equal to the mean salary of MLB's 125 highest-paid players, and a player has until 4 p.m. ET on Nov. 18 to accept it.

Should a player reject the qualifying offer and then sign with a new club in free agency, the team who lost the free agent will receive a compensatory draft pick. A club that signs a rival player who rejected a qualifying offer is subject to the loss of at least one draft pick.

How much is the MLB qualifying offer worth?

This year's qualifying offer is worth $22.025 million.

Which MLB players received the qualifying offer?

Here are the 13 players who were extended the qualifying offer, according to reports:

• Bo Bichette, SS, Toronto Blue Jays
• Dylan Cease, RHP, San Diego Padres
• Edwin Díaz, RHP, New York Mets
• Zac Gallen, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks
• Trent Grisham, OF, New York Yankees
• Shota Imanaga, LHP, Chicago Cubs
• Michael King, RHP, San Diego Padres
• Kyle Schwarber, DH, Philadelphia Phillies
• Ranger Suárez, LHP, Philadelphia Phillies
• Gleyber Torres, 2B/SS, Detroit Tigers
• Kyle Tucker, OF, Chicago Cubs
• Framber Valdez, LHP, Houston Astros
• Brandon Woodruff, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers

When are the MLB Winter Meetings?

The Winter Meetings will run from Dec. 8-11 in Orlando, Florida.

Who are the top 2026 MLB free agents?

Here's a look at the top players who hit free agency (listed alphabetically by last name, all contract details via Spotrac):

Pete Alonso, 1B, New York Mets

• Age: 30 (turns 31 in December)
• 2025 stats: 162 games, .272/.347/.524 slash line, 38 HR, 126 RBI, 1 SB
• Previous average annual salary: $27 million
• Status: Free agent (declined player option for 1 year, $24 million)

Luis Arráez, 2B/1B, San Diego Padres

• Age: 28
• 2025 stats: 154 games, .292/.327/.392 slash line, 8 HR, 61 RBI, 11 SB
• Previous average annual salary: $14 million
• Status: Free agent

Harrison Bader, OF, Philadelphia Phillies

• Age: 31
• 2025 stats: 146 games, .277/.347/.449 slash line, 17 HR, 54 RBI, 11 SB
• Previous average annual salary: $6.25 million
• Status: Free agent (declined mutual option for 1 year, $10 million with $3 million buyout)

Chris Bassit, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays

• Age: 36
• 2025 stats: 31 starts (32 appearances), 170.1 IP, 3.96 ERA, 1.327 WHIP, 166 SO, 52 BB
• Previous average annual salary: $21 million 
• Status: Free agent

Josh Bell, 1B, Washington Nationals

• Age: 33
• 2025 stats: 140 games, .239/.326/.421 slash line, 22 HR, 63 RBI, 0 SB
• Previous average annual salary: $6 million
• Status: Free agent

Cody Bellinger, OF, New York Yankees

• Age: 30
• 2025 stats: 152 games, .272/.334/.480 slash line, 29 HR, 98 RBI, 13 SB
• Previous average annual salary: $26.66 million
• Status: Free agent (declined player option for 1 year, $25 million)

Bo Bichette, SS, Toronto Blue Jays

• Age: 27
• 2025 stats: 139 games, .311/.357/.483 slash line, 18 HR, 94 RBI, 4 SB
• Previous average annual salary: $11.2 million
• Status: Free agent

Alex Bregman, 3B, Boston Red Sox

• Age: 31
• 2025 stats: 114 games, .273/.360/.462 slash line, 18 HR, 62 RBI, 1 SB
• Previous average annual salary: $40 million
• Status: Free agent (opted out of 2 years, $80 million)

Dylan Cease, RHP, San Diego Padres

• Age: 29 (turns 30 in December)
• 2025 stats: 32 starts, 168 IP, 4.55 ERA, 1.327 WHIP, 215 SO, 71 BB
• Previous average annual salary: $13.75 million
• Status: Free agent

Edwin Díaz, RHP, New York Mets

• Age: 31
• 2025 stats: 62 appearances, 66.1 IP, 1.63 ERA, 0.874 WHIP, 98 SO, 21 BB, 28-for-31 in save chances
• Previous average annual salary: $20.4 million
• Status: Free agent (opted out of 2 years, $37 million, followed by $17.25 million club option in 2028 with $1 million buyout)

Pete Fairbanks, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays

• Age: 31 (turns 32 in December)
• 2025 stats: 61 appearances, 60.1 IP, 2.83 ERA, 1.044 WHIP, 59 SO, 18 BB, 27-for-32 in save chances
• Previous average annual salary: $4 million
• Status: Free agent (Rays declined club option for 1 year, $12.5 million with $1 million buyout)

Zac Gallen, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks

• Age: 30
• 2025 stats: 33 starts, 192 IP, 4.83 ERA, 1.260 WHIP, 175 SO, 66 BB
• Previous average annual salary: $13.8 million
• Status: Free agent

Lucas Giolito, RHP, Boston Red Sox

• Age: 31
• 2025 stats: 26 starts, 145 IP, 3.41 ERA, 1.290 WHIP, 121 SO, 56 BB
• Previous average annual salary: $19.25 million
• Status: Free agent (Declined mutual option for 1 year, $19 million with $1.5 million buyout)

Trent Grisham, OF, New York Yankees

• Age: 28 (turns 29 in November)
• 2025 stats: 143 games, .235/.348/.464 slash line, 34 HR, 74 RBI, 3 SB
• Previous average annual salary: $5 million
• Status: Free agent

Ryan Helsley, RHP, New York Mets

• Age: 31
• 2025 stats: 58 appearances, 56 IP, 4.50 ERA, 1.536 WHIP, 63 SO, 25 BB, 21-for-30 in save chances
• Previous average annual salary: $8.2 million
• Status: Free agent

Rhys Hoskins, 1B, Milwaukee Brewers

• Age: 32
• 2025 stats: 90 games, .237/.332/.416 slash line, 12 HR, 43 RBI, 2 SB
• Previous average annual salary: $17 million
• Status: Free agent (Brewers declined mutual option for 1 year, $18 million with $4 million buyout)

Shota Imanaga, LHP, Chicago Cubs

• Age: 32
• 2025 stats: 25 starts, 144.2 IP, 3.73 ERA, 0.988 WHIP, 117 SO, 26 BB
• Previous average annual salary: $13.25 million
• Status: Free agent (declined player option for 1 year, $15 million after Cubs declined club extension option for 3 years, $57 million)

Kenley Jansen, RHP, Los Angeles Angels

• Age: 38
• 2025 stats: 62 appearances, 59 IP, 2.59 ERA, 0.949 WHIP, 57 SO, 19 BB, 29-for-30 in save chances
• Previous average annual salary: $10 million
• Status: Free agent

Merrill Kelly, RHP, Texas Rangers

• Age: 37
• 2025 stats: 32 starts, 184 IP, 3.52 ERA, 1.114 WHIP, 167 SO, 48 BB
• Previous average annual salary: $9 million
• Status: Free agent

Michael King, RHP, San Diego Padres

• Age: 30
• 2025 stats: 15 starts, 73.1 IP, 3.44 ERA, 1.200 WHIP, 76 SO, 26 BB
• Previous average annual salary: $7.75 million
• Status: Free agent (declined mutual option for 1 year, $15 million with $3.75 million buyout)

Nick Martinez, RHP, Cincinnati Reds

• Age: 35
• 2025 stats: 40 appearances (26 starts), 165.2 IP, 4.45 ERA, 1.207 WHIP, 116 SO, 42 BB
• Previous average annual salary: $21.05 million
• Status: Free agent

Yoan Moncada, 3B, Los Angeles Angels

• Age: 30
• 2025 stats: 84 games, .234/.336/.448 slash line, 12 HR, 35 RBI, 0 SB
• Previous average annual salary: $14 million
• Status: Free agent

Josh Naylor, 1B, Seattle Mariners

• Age: 28
• 2025 stats: 147 games, .295/.353/.462 slash line, 20 HR, 92 RBI, 30 SB
• Previous average annual salary: $14.2 million
• Status: Free agent

Ryan O'Hearn, 1B/OF, San Diego Padres

• Age: 32
• 2025 stats: 144 games, .281/.366/.437 slash line, 17 HR, 63 RBI, 3 SB
• Previous average annual salary: $3.5 million
• Status: Free agent

Marcell Ozuna, DH, Atlanta Braves

• Age: 34 (turns 35 in November)
• 2025 stats: 145 games, .232/.355/.400 slash line, 21 HR, 68 RBI, 0 SB
• Previous average annual salary: $16.25 million
• Status: Free agent

Emilio Pagán, RHP, Cincinnati Reds

• Age: 34
• 2025 stats: 70 appearances, 68.2 IP, 2.88 ERA, 0.917 WHIP, 81 SO, 22 BB, 32-for-38 in save chances
• Previous average annual salary: $8 million
• Status: Free agent

Jorge Polanco, INF, Seattle Mariners

• Age: 32
• 2025 stats: 138 games, .265/.326/.495 slash line, 26 HR, 78 RBI, 6 SB
• Previous average annual salary: $7.75 million
• Status: Free agent (declined player option for 1 year, $8 million)

Jose Quintana, LHP, Milwaukee Brewers

• Age: 36
• 2025 stats: 24 starts, 131.2 IP, 3.96 ERA, 1.291 WHIP, 89 SO, 50 BB
• Previous average annual salary: $4 million
• Status: Free agent (Brewers declined mutual option for 1 year, $15 million with $2 million buyout)

J.T. Realmuto, C, Philadelphia Phillies

• Age: 34
• 2025 stats: 134 games, .257/.315/.384 slash line, 12 HR, 52 RBI, 8 SB
• Previous average annual salary: $23.1 million
• Status: Free agent

Max Scherzer, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays

• Age: 41
• 2025 stats: 17 starts, 85 IP, 5.19 ERA, 1.294 WHIP, 82 SO, 23 BB
• Previous average annual salary: $15.5 million
• Status: Free agent

Kyle Schwarber, DH, Philadelphia Phillies

• Age: 32
• 2025 stats: 162 games, .240/.365/.563 slash line, 56 HR, 132 RBI, 10 SB
• Previous average annual salary: $19.75 million
• Status: Free agent

Eugenio Suárez, 3B, Seattle Mariners

• Age: 34
• 2025 stats: 159 games, .228/.298/.526 slash line, 49 HR, 118 RBI, 4 SB
• Previous average annual salary: $9.42 million
• Status: Free agent

Ranger Suárez, LHP, Philadelphia Phillies

• Age: 30
• 2025 stats: 26 starts, 157.1 IP, 3.20 ERA, 1.220 WHIP, 151 SO, 38 BB
• Previous average annual salary: $11.3 million
• Status: Free agent

Robert Suarez, RHP, San Diego Padres

• Age: 34
• 2025 stats: 70 appearances, 69.2 IP, 2.97 ERA, 0.904 WHIP, 75 SO, 16 BB, 40-for-45 in save chances
• Previous average annual salary: $9.2 million
• Status: Free agent (declined player option for 2 years, $16 million)

Gleyber Torres, 2B/SS, Detroit Tigers

• Age: 28 (turns 29 in December)
• 2025 stats: 145 games, .256/.358/.387 slash line, 16 HR, 74 RBI, 4 SB
• Previous average annual salary: $15 million
• Status: Free agent

Kyle Tucker, OF, Chicago Cubs

• Age: 28
• 2025 stats: 136 games, .266/.377/.464 slash line, 22 HR, 73 RBI, 25 SB
• Previous average annual salary: $16.7 million
• Status: Free agent

Framber Valdez, LHP, Houston Astros

• Age: 31 (turns 32 in November)
• 2025 stats: 31 starts, 192 IP, 3.66 ERA, 1.245 WHIP, 187 SO, 68 BB
• Previous average annual salary: $18.8 million
• Status: Free agent

Justin Verlander, RHP, San Francisco Giants

• Age: 42
• 2025 stats: 29 starts, 152 IP, 3.85 ERA, 1.362 WHIP, 137 SO, 52 BB
• Previous average annual salary: $15 million
• Status: Free agent

Devin Williams, RHP, New York Yankees

• Age: 31
• 2025 stats: 67 games, 62 IP, 4.79 ERA, 1.129 WHIP, 90 SO, 25 BB, 18-for-22 in save chances
• Previous average annual salary: $7.25 million
• Status: Free agent

Brandon Woodruff, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers

• Age: 32
• 2025 stats: 12 starts, 64.2 IP, 3.20 ERA, 0.912 WHIP, 83 SO, 14 BB
• Previous average annual salary: $8.75 million
• Status: Free agent (Declined mutual option for 1 year, $20 million with $10 million buyout)

Mike Yastrzemski, OF, Kansas City Royals

• Age: 35
• 2025 stats: 146 games, .233/.333/.403 slash line, 17 HR, 46 RBI, 7 SB
• Previous average annual salary: $9.25 million
• Status: Free agent

Editor's note: The original version of this story was published on Oct. 27.