Tarik Skubal, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, headlines this year’s pitching free agent class, though he is likely to have a limited number of suitors who can afford his services.
Other top starting pitchers, such as Corbin Burnes and Michael King, can opt out of their current contracts and hit the open market if they so choose.
Several other arms should garner a decent amount of interest, but today, World Baseball Network focuses on international-born pitchers who are soon-to-be free agents.
Here's a ranking of the top 10 and potential landing spots for each of them.
LHP Jose Quintana, Colorado Rockies (Colombia) - The veteran left-hander could opt to retire instead of pitching for a 16th consecutive season in the Majors. He made 11 starts and posted a 5.44 ERA for the Rockies, missing nearly four months of the season with a sprained left elbow -- Potential Landing Spots (Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox)
LHP Martin Perez, Atlanta Braves (Venezuela) - Perez was a surprise contributor for the Braves, posting a 3.04 ERA across 30 appearances, including 26 starts. He's never been a high-strikeout guy and likes to keep the ball on the ground, especially as he ages. -- Potential Landing Spots (Atlanta Braves, Colorado Rockies, Minnesota Twins)
RHP Bryan Abreu, Houston Astros (Dominican Republic) - 2026 was Abreu's worst full season in the Majors, though he still managed a 111 ERA+ and struck out 11.5 batters per nine innings. Interested clubs should be wary of the reliever's 15.3% walk rate, however. -- Potential Landing Spots (New York Yankees, Minnesota Twins, Pittsburgh Pirates)
LHP Gregory Soto, Pittsburgh Pirates (Dominican Republic) - Soto has thrown 60 or more innings five times in his eight-year career, striking out 24.8% of batters faced. He may not be the best lefty reliever available, but he is dependable more often than not. -- Potential Landing Spots (Toronto Blue Jays, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets)
RHP Jonathan Loaisiga, Arizona Diamondbacks (Nicaragua) - Loaisiga dealt with countless injuries during his eight seasons with the Yankees. He threw the second-most innings (67) of his career with the D-Backs and was a master at generating weak contact and ground balls. -- Potential Landing Spots (Arizona Diamondbacks, Houston Astros, Toronto Blue Jays)
RHP Raisel Iglesias, Atlanta Braves (Cuba) - This was Iglesias' third season with 33 or more saves in parts of four years with the Braves. He is one of the best in baseball at getting hitters to extend outside the zone, generating a 39% chase rate in 60 innings. -- Potential Landing Spots (Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees, Miami Marlins)
LHP Shota Imanaga, Chicago Cubs (Japan) - The former Nippon Professional Baseball ace turned 33 in September and could be on his way out of Chicago. He posted a respectable 3.77 ERA in 32 starts but may need to find a pitcher-friendly ballpark to limit home runs. -- Potential Landing Spots (San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres, Washington Nationals)
LHP Yuki Matsui, San Diego Padres (Japan) - MLB.com's Mark Feinsand said "it wouldn't be surprising" to see Matsui opt out of the final two years of his contract with the Padres. If the left-hander, who posted a 1.83 ERA and allowed just 5.2 hits per nine innings, decides to opt out, he could be a highly coveted reliever. -- Potential Landing Spots (San Diego Padres, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs)
RHP Freddy Peralta, Tampa Bay Rays (Dominican Republic) - Peralta has turned his season around with the Rays after a midseason trade from the Mets. "Fastball Freddy" also throws a devastating changeup that has regained its dominance since the deadline, and his 3.25 ERA in 10 starts with Tampa Bay better aligns with the caliber of starter he was with the Milwaukee Brewers. -- Potential Landing Spots (Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago Cubs, Washington Nationals)
LHP Adrian Morejon, San Diego Padres (Cuba) - If it weren't for Mason Miller, Morejon would easily be the Padres' closer. His Baseball Savant page is a sea of red that includes 99th percentile rankings in chase rate (38.6%), barrel rate (2.8%), and xERA (2.34). Morejon will be the best free agent reliever this winter. -- Potential Landing Spots (San Diego Padres, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox)