Latest MLB Free Agents Rumors and Predictions After 2026 World Series

The Milwaukee Brewers are the 2026 World Series Champions, and while they wrap up their celebration, the rest of Major League Baseball is focusing on the free agent additions that will have them celebrating the next World Series title.

One such addition is the undisputed top free agent this offseason, Tarik Skubal, who is sure to fetch a monster deal.

Find out the latest on the two-time Cy Young Award winner and more with this collection of reports from baseball insiders.

Aldan Gonzalez of ESPN reported that one league executive told him about Skubal, "The price will be huge, but I don't think he's touching 400."

He continued, "Skubal clearly won't get the 12-year deal that allowed Yamamoto's guarantee to stretch so high, and some executives have a hard time believing he'll get 10."

Skubal has been the game's best pitcher over the last three years. He won two Cy Young Awards during that time and has accumulated a 24.7 WAR, according to FanGraphs .

Even in a "down" season for the southpaw, Skubal managed 10.55 strikeouts per nine innings.

At 30 years old and coming off elbow surgery this past May, it is understandable that some teams may be hesitant to give Skubal a $400 million contract with any long-term commitment.

Still, Skubal is the gem of this class and should have big-money suitors vying for his services, with the Dodgers hoping to woo him back while the New York Mets are an obvious team to keep an eye on.

Considering the young upside of the Mets, with Carson Benge, AJ Ewing, and Nolan McLean forming a promising nucleus, they are an intriguing fit. Whether David Stearns and the front office are going to spend upwards of $300 million on a 30-year-old pitcher is the real question.

MLB insider Ken Rosenthal reported on Foul Territory TV on X, "Jazz is going to have difficulties, not so much because of what he can do from a physical standpoint, but some of the questions that came up when he was with the Yankees" (36:00).

Throughout his run in New York, Chisholm made headlines as much for his perceived lack of focus, issues with management, and the fan base's frustration over his uneven performances.

Those issues, combined with diminished play this past season in every major measurable category, mean Chisholm is not nearly as valuable a free agent pickup as he may have otherwise been.

In his three seasons in New York, his average plummeted from .273 to .231, and his slugging percentage fell from .500 to .399. Add to that 12 fewer home runs than in 2025 and 25 fewer RBIs, and you have a player whose production was going in the wrong direction.

He will catch on somewhere because, when motivated and at his best, Chisholm has raw ability that any number of players would love to possess. The Los Angeles Angels, Detroit Tigers, and Cincinnati Reds are all teams to keep an eye on.

Prediction: Chisholm stays in the AL, signs with Detroit

How Will the Impending Lockout Affect Free Agency?

Rosenthal also noted in his Foul Territory TV appearance (31:00) that he expects teams to chase players, despite the uncertainty surrounding a potential lockout.

There had been questions about teams' willingness to pursue free agents, considering the uncertainty surrounding a potential salary cap. With the specifics unknown and the cap unlikely to take effect immediately, Rosenthal sees teams acquiring the players they are interested in and dealing with any issues with their rosters and payroll later.

That should help maintain some excitement and positive headlines around the game while the owners and players discuss the framework of a new agreement.

And more importantly, ensure teams are ready to resume playing, if and when any time in the 2027 season is missed.