Top remaining MLB free agents: Framber Valdez leads 34 best still available

Free agency never really ends, as general managers are likely to tell you as the January cold gives way to the promise of Florida sunshine. Yet the pickings are getting ever slimmer on Major League Baseball’s free agent market – especially the hitting side.

A pair of difference-making starting pitchers are still available, along with a decent swath of reliable, itinerant veterans who can pad out the middle or back of the rotation. But it’s getting late late, as one might say, as teams aim to wrap up their dealmaking before camps begin opening Feb. 10.

A ranking of the top remaining free agents:

Framber Valdez is the top remaining MLB free agent.

Not sure if he’ll sniff the Max Fried rent district for lefty starters but it never hurts when you’re literally one of two on the market. Valdez is consistently right around 200 innings, has a championship pedigree and suppresses the home run ball. Not an ideal conclusion to his Houston era, but it’s also easy enough to hand him the ball and set your alarm clock for September.

2. Zac Gallen (30, RHP, Diamondbacks)

He led the NL in WHIP (0.91) and the majors in fewest hits per nine innings (5.9) in 2022, but regressed to 1.26 and 8.3/8.1 the past two seasons. He was much better once the trade deadline passed, posting a 3.32 ERA in his last 11 starts.

3. Lucas Giolito (31, RHP, Red Sox)

Giolito finally turned the page on a pair of injury-ravaged seasons to make 26 starts and post a 3.41 ERA, enough to comfortably decline his $19 million player option. Giolito completed at least six innings in 15 of his 26 starts, though he missed a playoff outing with elbow soreness.

4. Eugenio Suárez (34, 3B, Mariners)

Forty-nine home runs at age 34: What kind of a price do you put on that? Suarez, a free agent for the first time in his career, is about to find out. Suitors know what they’re getting: Punishing power, a ton of strikeouts, suboptimal defense at third but off the charts on the clubhouse affability index.

5. Chris Bassitt (37, RHP, Blue Jays)

A little high for the reliable righty? Well, consider that there are so few Chris Bassitts out there and this one just completed a three-year, $63 million deal with numbing consistency: 32 starts a year, a 3.89 ERA, nearly six innings per start. He topped that off with a selfless stint in the playoff bullpen, where he gave up one earned run in seven appearances.

6. Max Scherzer (41, RHP, Blue Jays)

He indicated after World Series Game 7 that he hadn’t thrown his final pitch, and he posted often enough in 2025 that the standard one year, $15.5 million deal should still be waiting for him.

7. Justin Verlander (43, RHP, Giants)

Those videos of Verlander and Scherzer playing bridge in the nursing home are gonna be wild 40 or so years from now. For now, though, they’ve got innings in their arms and for Verlander’s sake, hopefully he can find a home that’s both pitcher-friendly but also not totally lacking in run support: His 3.85 ERA resulted in a 4-11 record as he sits on 266 wins.

8. Luis Arráez (28, INF/DH, Padres)

Let the Arráez Rorshach tests begin. Do you see a singles hitter with a league average OPS? Or a magician with elite bat-to-ball skills? A three-time batting champion with three teams? Or a guy who can never justify his lack of slug despite all those one-baggers. Be interesting to see what the market thinks.

9. Nick Martinez (35, RHP, Reds)

More invaluable than his peripherals indicate, Martinez took the ball 82 times over two years in Cincy, including 42 starts, and amassed 6.3 WAR and a steady 3.83 ERA.

10. Jose Quintana (37, LHP, Brewers)

Can we at least spare this man the indignity of nosing around for a job in March?

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) prays before Game 7.

Shohei Ohtani (17) warms up before Game 7.

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer (31) warms up before Game 7.

11. Paul Goldschmidt (38, 1B, Yankees)

Until further notice, he remains a decent right-handed platoon option at first, the Yankees eminently pleased at the 1.2 WAR and clubhouse gravitas he provided.

12. Rhys Hoskins (33, 1B/DH, Brewers)

A bumpy couple of years in Milwaukee, where injuries and the emergence of Andrew Vaughn cut Hoskins out of the fun this past season. He struck out more than once per game as a Brewer but did salvage league-average OPS thanks to his power.

13. Zack Littell (30, RHP, Reds)

Littell completed the transition from swingman to full-fledged starter the past two seasons and this year reached 186 ⅔ innings with Tampa Bay and Cincinnati. Just 130 strikeouts might give suitors pause to believe he can repeat it, but Littell has proven himself as a reliable innings-eater.

14. Tomoyuki Sugano (36, RHP, Orioles)

A tale of three seasons for Sugano, who started strongly, faded badly and then made a mini-comeback to land almost exactly on the definition of “quality start”: A 10-10 record and 4.64 ERA. Probably did enough to land another job stateside in 2026.

15. Michael Conforto (33, OF, Dodgers)

Will that beautiful left-handed swing again prove irresistible to a suitor? The Dodgers gambled $17 million that they could turn him into a weapon and he batted .199 and did not make the playoff rosters.

16. Marcell Ozuna (35, DH, Braves)

Last call for the full-time DH? The Braves couldn’t get rid of Ozuna at the trade deadline and now he’ll take his 21 homers to the market. Hit 40 and 39 homers in 2023-24, finishing fourth in NL MVP voting in ’24.

17. Isiah Kiner-Falefa (31, INF, Blue Jays)

Simple though his role may be, there’s simply not many IKFs out there, tasked with catching the ball, running the bases well and possessing the ability to fill in anywhere on the infield.

18. Austin Hays (30, OF, Reds)

Cincy was a solid fit for Hays, who smacked 15 homers in 380 at-bats. Still adept in a right-handed platoon role.

19. Patrick Corbin (36, LHP, Rangers)

Can still eat innings – 155 of ‘em in 2025 – and now with a little less pain, as he shaved his ERA from 5.62 his final year in Washington to 4.40 in Texas.

20. David Robertson (40, RHP, Phillies)

Used to be only Roger Clemens could get away with chilling out for a few months and then hopping aboard a playoff train. Robertson did so to some success in Philly; will he be up for the long haul next spring?

Aug. 6, 2025: The Phillie Phanatic interacts with Philadelphia Phillies service dog Tugger during a break in action against the Baltimore Orioles at Citizens Bank Park.

April 7, 2025: Jackie Hornung and her Samoyed dog, Lumi (also known as Little Bear Lumi), throw a ceremonial first pitch before the game between the New York Mets and Miami Marlins at Citi Field.

April 6, 2025: A dog is seen at the game between the New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays at Citi Field.

Sept. 3, 2024: Fans bring their dogs during the Bark in the Park night prior to the game between the Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Guardians at Kauffman Stadium.

Aug. 28, 2024: Decoy, the dog of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani, waits for instruction before delivering the first pitch before a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Dodger Stadium.

Aug. 28, 2024: A dog gets close to the camera during the Bark at the Park event before the Colorado Rockies’ game against the Miami Marlins at Coors Field.

Aug. 28, 2024: Television actress Caitlin O’Connor holds her dog Bubbles on the field prior to the Pittsburgh Pirates playing the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park.

Aug. 24, 2024: Oakland Athletics head groundskeeper Clay Wood (left) and manager Mark Kotsay (right) pet Reba, the Oakland Athletics’ clubhouse dog, in the dugout before the game between the Oakland Athletics and Milwaukee Brewers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

Aug. 12, 2024: Dogs walk on the warning track for Bark in the Park day before the game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park.

June 2, 2024: Fans and their dogs walk the field during a pup parade during Pups in the Park day prior to the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium.

May 9, 2024: A dog takes the ball from Milwaukee Brewers first base coach Quintin Berry following a first pitch prior to the game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Bark at the Park night at American Family Field.

May 5, 2024: Oakland Athletics infielder Max Schuemann shares a moment with Reba, the Oakland Athletics’ clubhouse dog, before a game against the Miami Marlins at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

March 31, 2024: Oakland Athletics head groundskeeper Clay Wood’s dog Reba plays with a baseball on the field before the game between the Oakland Athletics and Cleveland Guardians at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

March 29, 2024: Oakland Athletics groundskeeper Clay Wood and his dog rake the infield before a game against the Cleveland Guardians at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

March 29, 2024: A dog dressed in New York Mets apparel sits in front of Citi Field before the Opening Day game between the Mets and Milwaukee Brewers.

Sept. 28, 2022: Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark (Oklahoma CIty Dodgers)

Sept. 5, 2022: A dachshund gives a Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw doll a ride around the field during the Pups at the Park Parade at Dodger Stadium.

Aug. 16, 2022: Great American Ball Park (Cincinnati Reds)

Brooks, a 2-year-old Dalmatian owned by Sarah Paukert of Ames, enjoys the action during the Dog Days at Principal Park as the Iowa Cubs hosted Columbus in a minor league baseball game on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, in Des Moines.

June 7, 2022: Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Brent Suter throws out a first pitch for his dog on Bark at the Park night prior to the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at American Family Field. Suter wrote a children’s book “The Binky Bandit” inspired by his mini golden doodle.

June 4, 2022: Globe Life Field (Texas Rangers)

May 9, 2022: Great American Ball Park (Cincinnati)

April 19, 2022: Kauffman Stadium (Kansas City)

Sept. 28, 2021: Kauffman Stadium (Kansas City)

Sept. 3, 2020; Minute Maid Park (Astros)

Sept. 10, 2019: Guaranteed Rate Field (White Sox).

July 16, 2019: Brewers pitcher Jeremy Jeffress pets his dog.

July 16, 2019: Josh Hader shows fans his dog at Miller Park.

June 21, 2019: Oakland Coliseum (Athletics)

June 17, 2019: Great American Ball Park (Reds).

May 14, 2019: Great American Ball Park (Reds)

April 29, 2019: Guaranteed Rate Field (White Sox)

March 6, 2019: Salt River Fields (Rockies spring training)

Feb. 21, 2019: Padres outfielder Hunter Renfroe with his dog on media day

Sept. 24, 2018: Guaranteed Rate Field (White Sox)

Sept. 2, 2018: Minute Maid Park (Astros)

April 23, 2018: Guaranteed Rate Field (White Sox)

Sept. 6, 2017: Guaranteed Rate Field (White Sox)

Aug. 20, 2016: Citizens Bank Park (Phillies)

21. Tommy Kahnle (36, RHP, Tigers)

Leaving New York – where he’d posted a 2.38 ERA his past two seasons – was tricky for Kahnle, whose 4.43 ERA was his worst since 2018.

22. Daniel Coulombe (36, LHP, Rangers)

Was better before he got caught up in the Twins fire sale (1.16 ERA in Minnesota, 5.25 in 15 appearances in Texas) but on balance remains one of the most reliable and versatile lefty relief options available.

23. Walker Buehler (31, RHP, Phillies)

The arm is too good to give up on, even if the Red Sox had little choice but to do so after posting a 5.45 ERA and 5.89 FIP in 22 starts there. He fared a little better in a two-start look-see with Philadelphia, but he’ll clearly be in a short-term incentive-laden situation in 2025.

24. Jon Gray (34, RHP, Rangers)

His 2025 was a wash, as a fractured wrist in spring training and shoulder neuritis limited him to six appearances.

25. Tyler Anderson (36, LHP, Angels)

Seemed like a quick three years in Anaheim, mercifully, where Anderson posted a good year, not-so-good and a so-so season. He’s coming off the last of those, the biggest bugaboo a career worst 1.8 homers per nine.

26. Miles Mikolas (37, RHP, Cardinals)

A bit of will-he or won’t-he involved with Mikolas, who may retire, though he’s never one to leave any innings on the table. Last year, he ate up 156 ⅓ of them, with a 4.84 ERA.

27. Miguel Andujar (30, INF, Reds)

A nifty revival for the 2018 Rookie of the Year runner-up, as he posted an .822 OPS with the A’s and Reds and positioned himself as a versatile righty platoon bat going forward.

28. Justin Wilson (38, LHP, Red Sox)

About as close to a LOOGY as one can get in this three-batter minimum era, as Wilson tossed 48 1/3 innings in 61 appearances, holding lefties to a .212 average.

29. Mitch Garver (35, C/DH, Mariners)

The bat continues to fade, but Garver did catch 43 games backing up the Big Dumper in Seattle.

30. Scott Barlow (33, RHP, Reds)

A throw-till-you-blow guy and well, Barlow hasn’t blown yet, his 75 appearances always a value to a team needing innings.

31. Martin Perez (34, LHP, White Sox)

Declined the player portion of his mutual option after a flexor strain limited him to 10 starts in 2025.

32. Starling Marte (37, OF, Mets)

His four years of meritorious, if injury-plagued, service in Flushing are over. But Marte should still retain some value as an extra outfielder.

33. Andrew McCutchen (39, OF, Pirates)

He’s not so sure about that open invitation to return to Pittsburgh, but has indicated he’ll run it back one more time, somewhere, in 2026.

34. Brent Suter (36, LHP, Reds)

If only for the post-clinch dance moves. For real, though, Suter never pitched more than 3 ⅔ innings last season but appeared in innings 1 through 9 at some point. Anytime, anywhere.