MLB Free Agents 2026 Rumors and Updated Landing-Spot Predictions

The MLB hot stove is starting to heat up.

With fewer teams remaining in the World Series chase and more shifting into offseason mode, there are starting to be some rumblings around the top free agents in this class.

Let's dive into the discussions, then, with a rumor roundup and updated landing-spot predictions.

Padres, Ty France Hoping to Run It Back?

Back with his first ever MLB employer, the San Diego Padres, and inside of his home state of California, Ty France engineered a stars-all-aligned kind of campaign. The 31-year-old posted his most wins above replacement to date ( 4.5 ) and set personal-bests in home runs (21) and OPS (.865).

Given how fruitful this partnership proved, it's hardly surprising to hear there is "mutual interest" between the Padres and France, per The Athletic's Dennis Lin .

That said, Lin noted the Padres "have multiple holes to fill in their starting rotation," so France may not be their first priority. And the veteran first baseman admitted "I...understand it's a business."

If France is forced to look elsewhere, he shouldn't have trouble identifying suitors. He has previously earned both All-Star and Gold Glove honors, and again, he was arguably at his best this season.

Landing spots: Houston Astros, New York Mets, San Diego Padres

Amid all of the uncertainty with this offseason, there is one guarantee: Someone is going to pay Tarik Skubal an absurd amount of money. And insiders see two clear candidates regarding whom that someone might be.

"Most insiders project the Dodgers and Mets to be serious bidders," ESPN's Kiley McDaniel reported, "but there is some hesitation surrounding the Dodgers given the controversy around the team's ownership. Some thought the Mets might be looking to do a shorter-term deal such as they did with Bo Bichette, which might not work if Skubal is looking to set a record for guaranteed money."

McDaniel's article, built around discussions with industry insiders, actually listed seven possible landing spots for Skubal. The Detroit Tigers joined the Dodgers and the Mets in the "True contenders" tier, with the New York Yankees mentioned as being "just behind that lead group in total mentions." The Los Angeles Angels, Chicago White Sox and San Diego Padres were all brought up as sleepers.

With Skubal being a two-time Cy Young winner and a Scott Boras client, he'll command a payday so rich that it prices out a lot of interested teams. That probably puts Skubal with a marquee team in a marquee market, though a return to Detroit—where he spent his first six-plus MLB seasons—could be compelling.

Landing spots: Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets

This marked the second full season for Jazz Chisholm Jr. with the New York Yankees, a relationship first forged ahead of the 2024 deadline. The two-time All-Star is hoping to extend his stay with the Pinstripes.

"I do hope to be back," he told reporters after New York's season-ending loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday.

It'll be interesting to see if that interest is recipocrated from the Yankees' side, and if it is, to what degree. Chisholm had an up-and-down tenure with the team, and he wasn't great with the bat or the glove this postseason. Amid those struggles, he was benched twice in favor of Anthony Volpe.

If Chisholm looked elsewhere, he shouldn't have trouble finding interested suitors. Even with the inconsistency, he amassed 50 homers and 72 steals since the start of the 2025 season, and since he'll only turn 29 in February, he could have more prime years ahead of him.

Landing spots: Los Angeles Angels, San Diego Padres, Toronto Blue Jays

Predicting the Outcome for Each Team's Top Free Agent 🔮