There’s all the time quite a lot of intrigue every offseason in relation to the Scorching Range, however one of many extra distinctive parts this time of 12 months is the prospect of a star free agent signing with a division rival.
And there’s no scarcity of potential instances wherein that might occur this offseason. Right here’s a have a look at seven notable free brokers who may very nicely find yourself suiting up for a unique staff inside the similar division in 2026.
If Pete Alonso decides to go away Queens after spending the primary seven seasons of his Main League profession with the Mets, he’ll additionally go away a gaping gap in the midst of New York’s lineup. Enter Schwarber?
The hulking slugger could be the most effective alternative accessible in the marketplace (assuming he’s nonetheless in the marketplace), and with Steve Cohen’s bunch lacking the postseason altogether after signing famous person Juan Soto to the biggest contract within the historical past of sports activities, there will definitely be motivation to usher in a man who slammed 56 dwelling runs final season.
To not point out the Mets could be taking one of many recreation’s best sluggers away from their division rivals, the Phillies.
Does Bo know pinstripes? A deal that brings Bichette to the Bronx is actually possible. Sure, the Yankees have Anthony Volpe at shortstop and traded for Ryan McMahon to play third base final season, however Bichette may doubtlessly be inserted at second, particularly after he performed on the keystone place admirably regardless of having a compromised left knee in the course of the World Collection.
Bichette’s bat would make any lineup higher, however it could be significantly promising for the Yankees’ group, which will be feast-or-famine at occasions — particularly when Aaron Choose is both slumping or damage. Bichette proved final season that he stays an elite hitter regardless of a down 12 months restricted by damage in ’24.
Outdoors of Choose, no certified hitter on the Yanks’ roster final season batted higher than .274 (Paul Goldschmidt). Bichette hit .311 final season and is a profession .294 hitter. He’s additionally a doubles machine, with a career-high 44 of them in the course of the 2025 marketing campaign regardless of lacking practically the complete remaining month as a consequence of damage. And given his opposite-field pop, that quick porch in proper at Yankee Stadium appears inviting for a hitter like him.
The Yankees reportedly wish to re-sign Bellinger, however may the Jays swoop in and snatch him?
Toronto is undoubtedly within the combine for the offseason’s high free-agent hitter, Kyle Tucker. Bellinger may very well be an ideal fallback possibility if Tucker indicators elsewhere and the Blue Jays should look elsewhere to bolster their lineup.
It’s clear based mostly on how busy the Blue Jays have already been since shedding Sport 7 of the World Collection to the Dodgers in further innings that Toronto goes all-in to provide itself the most effective likelihood attainable to get again to the Fall Basic. May the 30-year-old Bellinger find yourself being a part of the blueprint in 2026?
Since two attempting seasons on the plate with the Dodgers in 2021 and ’22, Bellinger has resuscitated his profession and will show useful each offensively and defensively for Toronto if the Jays miss out on Tucker.
Suárez hit one of many greatest dwelling runs in Mariners historical past this previous fall and is a fan favourite in Seattle, however may he go away the Pacific Northwest for Southern California?
The Halos dealt slugging outfielder Taylor Ward to the Orioles to amass right-handed starter Grayson Rodriguez. Going after beginning pitching is smart, after all, for a franchise that has struggled in that division for a very long time. However together with Ward’s departure went 36 homers from final season.
Suárez is coming off a season wherein he launched a career-high-tying 49 homers earlier than belting three extra within the playoffs, together with a memorable go-ahead grand slam in Sport 5 of the AL Championship Collection towards the Blue Jays, a sequence Seattle in the end misplaced in seven.
The Angels bought a breakout efficiency from Jo Adell final season, when he hit a team-leading 37 homers. However with the nice Mike Trout having been slowed by damage a lot of the previous a number of seasons and no different 30-plus-homer performances apart from Ward, Los Angeles may actually use extra thump within the lineup — significantly at third base, the place there’s a emptiness now that Yoán Moncada is a free agent.
The Dodgers’ run to their second consecutive World Collection championship this 12 months was spectacular, particularly contemplating the membership’s bullpen was its weak hyperlink. L.A.’s reduction corps completed the common season tied for twentieth in ERA, at 4.27. So, naturally, an offseason precedence for the two-time defending World Collection champs is fortifying the ’pen.
Suarez is without doubt one of the finest choices accessible on the free-agent market, significantly now that Ryan Helsley and Devin Williams are off the board. In 4 Main League seasons, all with the Padres, Suarez owns a 2.91 ERA with 77 saves, a Nationwide League-leading 40 of which got here final season. He’s coming into his age-35 marketing campaign subsequent 12 months, however the Dodgers are rumored to be taking a look at shorter-term contracts for relievers, so there may very well be a match.
With one of many recreation’s best four-seam fastballs — the pitch ranked within the 97th percentile final season, in accordance with Statcast, in each run worth (21) and common velocity (98.6 mph) — Suarez posted wonderful strikeout (27.9%) and stroll (5.9%) charges. The 2-time All-Star may very well be an excellent match simply up the California coast in L.A., serving to the Dodgers preserve San Diego at bay to take care of their grip on NL West supremacy.
The Giants have quite a lot of query marks of their beginning rotation behind Logan Webb and Robbie Ray on the entrance, with a number of inexperienced/unproven candidates to fill out the ultimate three spots.
San Francisco has been rumored to be related to Japanese sensation Tatsuya Imai, however different stories recommend the Giants aren’t trying to pay top-of-the-market costs.
Enter Gallen, whom the Giants have needed to cope with for seven seasons as he rose to prominence with the division-rival D-backs. The suitable-hander emerged as top-of-the-line starters within the NL from 2022-24, posting a 3.20 ERA over that span and serving to Arizona make a shock run to the World Collection in ’23.
Gallen, 30, had a tough 2025 marketing campaign wherein his ERA was a career-worst 4.83. However his anticipated ERA was greater than half a run decrease (4.28) and he’s not far faraway from a third-place end in NL Cy Younger Award voting (2023). He’d undoubtedly be a lower-cost different to the elite arms within the higher echelon of the market, and that might entice San Francisco to signal him.
The Crimson Sox had an incredible bullpen in 2025, ending second within the majors with a 3.41 ERA thanks largely to the duo of Garrett Whitlock and Aroldis Chapman on the again finish. Whitlock emerged as a dependable setup man and Chapman had a profession 12 months in his age-37 marketing campaign.
However with left-handers Steven Matz and Justin Wilson on the free-agent market, Boston stands to lose two of its relievers and would want to fill these holes. Weaver is coming off a down 12 months by his requirements in his second season with the Yankees, however there may be loads of cause to consider he’ll bounce again in 2025, and including him may create a three-headed monster within the Boston ’pen.
Past that, it’s all the time good for the Crimson Sox once they can take from their archrivals within the Bronx.
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