Usually, there is no reason to focus on MLB free agency in August. It’s three months away and there’s playoffs to worry about.
Except this year, baseball’s traditionally drawn-out free agency period is expected to be a frenzy, condensed into the three weeks between the end of the World Series and the end of the collective bargaining agreement.
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The market opens five days after the World Series ends. The labor deal expires at 11:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 1, and a lockout is widely expected the moment it does. The last one ran 99 days and froze every signing and trade in the sport. This one could be worse, because the owners want a salary cap and the union has spent decades saying that’s not even in the conversation.
So, the players about to hit the market are looking at a narrow chance in November where deals can actually get done under the current CBA before the expected lockout.
These last two months will matter more than they normally would. Almost every name in this free agent class just changed teams at the deadline. Tarik Skubal is a Dodger. Freddy Peralta is a Ray. Luis Arraez is a Phillie. Kevin Gausman and Clay Holmes are Cubs.
They’re all auditioning somewhere new, right now, for a market that might slam shut before anyone gets their money.
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Blockbuster trades and late surprises on MLB trade deadline day
It’s trade deadline day in Major League Baseball, with some big names expected to be dealt in the hours, minutes and seconds leading up to the 6 p.m. ET deadline.
The Los Angeles Dodgers‘ trade for back-to-back Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal further solidified the World Series champions as the favorites to win it all once again.
“I don’t think I’ve felt this good after getting swept,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after Sunday’s loss to the Boston Red Sox – who rode a wild winning streak into contention and should be involved in a deal or two ahead of the deadline.
Keep it here for the latest rumors and updates as the clock winds down: Pirates set for Luke Weaver trade with Mets Pushing for their first postseason appearance in 11 years, the Pittsburgh Pirates are bolstering their bullpen with a trade for Luke Weaver. Weaver has a 1.84 ERA this season for the New York Mets, in the first year of a two-year, $22 million deal.
(Brad Penner, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Blockbuster trades and late surprises on MLB trade deadline day
It’s trade deadline day in Major League Baseball, with some big names expected to be dealt in the hours, minutes and seconds leading up to the 6 p.m. ET deadline.
The Los Angeles Dodgers‘ trade for back-to-back Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal further solidified the World Series champions as the favorites to win it all once again.
“I don’t think I’ve felt this good after getting swept,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after Sunday’s loss to the Boston Red Sox – who rode a wild winning streak into contention and should be involved in a deal or two ahead of the deadline.
Keep it here for the latest rumors and updates as the clock winds down: Pirates set for Luke Weaver trade with Mets Pushing for their first postseason appearance in 11 years, the Pittsburgh Pirates are bolstering their bullpen with a trade for Luke Weaver. Weaver has a 1.84 ERA this season for the New York Mets, in the first year of a two-year, $22 million deal.
(Brad Penner, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Blockbuster trades and late surprises on MLB trade deadline day
Red Sox trade for Adley Rutschman In a stunning deal that marks the end of a failed rebuild in Baltimore, the Orioles are trading catcher Adley Rutschman to the Boston Red Sox Monday, Aug. 3, a rare intra-division deal for a three-time All-Star, ESPN first reported. Rutschman, 28, was the first overall pick in 2019, chosen over prep shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. as the OriolesÕ reward for a 115-loss season that prompted the hiring of now club president Mike Elias. Through two more 100-loss seasons, Elias continued collecting elite draftees and building what appeared to be a sustainable and potentially imposing youth movement.
(Dan Hamilton, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Blockbuster trades and late surprises on MLB trade deadline day
Robbie Ray to Padres The Giants are trading a former Cy Young winner within the NL West, sending Robbie Ray to the San Diego Padres in exchange for prospects Joniel Hernandez and Miguel Mendez.
(Denis Poroy, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Blockbuster trades and late surprises on MLB trade deadline day
Braves get Brent Suter
Atlanta landed left-handed pitcher Brent Suter in a trade with the Los Angeles Angels, sending infielder Nacho Alvarez Jr. to Southern California, the teams announced Monday morning.
(Kiyoshi Mio, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Blockbuster trades and late surprises on MLB trade deadline day
Mets send Brooks Raley to Phillies Brooks Raley has been traded from the Mets to the rival Phillies. The Mets are receiving outfielder John Spikerman and right-handed pitcher Luke Gabrysh in the deal. The move comes after the Mets also offloaded left-hander A.J. Minter to the Twins last Friday. Raley and Minter were the two likeliest trade candidates out of the Mets’ bullpen given their expiring deals. The Mets also traded Freddy Peralta to the Rays on Sunday and right-handed reliever Huascar Brazoban to the White Sox early Monday morning.
(David Frerker, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Blockbuster trades and late surprises on MLB trade deadline day
Luis Arraez to the Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are trading for three-time batting champion Luis Arraez and right-reliever Kaleb Kilian of the San Francisco Giants, a person with direct knowledge of the trade told USA TODAY Sports. The Giants will receive starter Ramon Marquez, the PhilliesÕ No. 4 prospect and reliever Marty Gair. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity since the trade has yet to be announced until physicals are complete. Arraez, a three-time All-Star, is hitting .324 this season with four homers, 47 RBIs and an .801 OPS. And although heÕs left-handed, he still rakes against lefties, hitting .315 with a .341 on-base percentage and .782 OPS. HeÕs exactly the type of hitter the Phillies are looking for, someone who is dramatically different than the rest of the slugging lineup they have in place. He has struck out just 21 times all season.
(Kelley L Cox, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Blockbuster trades and late surprises on MLB trade deadline day
Blue Jays acquire Jose Soriano Just one day after trading away staff ace Kevin Gausman, the Toronto Blue Jays have added a starting pitcher to take his place in the rotation. The Jays have acquired right-hander Jose Soriano from the Los Angeles Angels, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports. In exchange, the Angels receive shortstop prospect Arjun Nimmala, outfielder Eddie Micheletti and right-hander Angel Rivero. Nimmala is the Jays’ No. 2 overall prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, behind fellow shortstop JoJo Parker. The other two prospects aren’t among the Jays’ top 30.
(Bruce Kluckhohn, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Blockbuster trades and late surprises on MLB trade deadline day
Freddy Peralta experiment ends for Mets It took David Stearns seven months to turn the No. 3 prospect in baseball into three players who don’t crack anybody’s top 100. In January, the Mets sent Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat to Milwaukee for Peralta and Tobias Myers. Williams was supposed to be part of the next contending Mets team. Instead, he’s a Brewer, Peralta is a Ray and New York is last in the National League East. Stearns opened these talks asking for a top-100 prospect and more. He got none. He gave away any leverage he had by scratching Peralta on Friday, signaling he was about to hold a fire sale.
(Jeff Hanisch, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Blockbuster trades and late surprises on MLB trade deadline day
White Sox land Luis Castillo The Chicago White Sox didn’t have to prove they were legitimate playoff contenders, but they affirmed as much on Saturday when they acquired right-handed pitcher Luis Castillo from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for reliever Seranthony Dominguez, former outfield prospect Nolan Jones and catching prospect Boston Smith. Castillo, 33, was expendable in Seattle thanks to the Mariners’ deep rotation, a gaggle of majors-ready prospects and the $24.1 million salary he’s due in 2027. He also hasn’t performed particularly well this season, posting a 5.06 ERA in 20 appearances (17 starts) this season. Yet Castillo is a three-time former All-Star who finished fifth in 2023 AL Cy Young award voting and as recently as last season pitched 180 innings. He’ll add length to a White Sox rotation that thins out after No. 1 starter Sean Burke and No. 2 Davis Martin.
(Stephen Brashear, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Blockbuster trades and late surprises on MLB trade deadline day
Cubs get Kevin Gausman Kevin Gausman, 35, is 5-10 with a 4.38 ERA in 23 starts this season but has been one of the most consistent starters in baseball for the past half-decade, posting a 3.36 ERA from 2020-2025. A two-time All-Star, Gausman finished third in AL Cy Young voting in 2023. Toronto is receiving minor league outfielder Brett Bateman and infielder Ty Southisene in the trade. Gausman was stellar in the Blue Jays’ 2025 postseason run, ultimately losing in Game 7 of the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Gausman started five games and also got the win in relief in Game 7 of the ALCS.
(Kevin Sousa, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Blockbuster trades and late surprises on MLB trade deadline day
Skubal trade had nothing to do with money Tarik Skubal is a Dodger, and perhaps more significantly the avatar for All That Is Wrong With Baseball, he and his new team the whipping boys for a looming lockout whether or not L.A. wins a seemingly inevitable third consecutive World Series title. The Dodgers are kicking everyoneÕs behinds in every facet of the game: Drafting, player development, scouting (which includes assessing internal talent) and providing a workplace where players want to be.
(Luke Hales, Getty Images)
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Blockbuster trades and late surprises on MLB trade deadline day
Mets’ fire sale continues While it’s not the magnitude of the Freddy Peralta trade, the New York Mets have dealt another pitcher. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported overnight that they’ve send hard-throwing reliever Huascar Brazoban to the Chicago White Sox for minor-league pitchers Gabe Davis and Zach Franklin.
(David Frerker, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Here’s the top free agents heading into 2027 … or 2028:
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Why Tarik Skubal is the only sure thing on the market
He is the class of the class and it isn’t close. Two Cy Youngs, 29 years old, chasing the biggest contract ever handed to a starting pitcher. He had a bone chip taken out of his elbow earlier this year, which is the only question about an otherwise simple market.
His agent, Scott Boras, doesn’t mind a slow winter − he’s managed them before. He has the ace of the class and the wallets will open up for him whenever the business of baseball returns to wins and losses.
Top MLB free agent pitchers for 2027
The class has pitching depth, but most of it comes with questions attached. These aren’t guys sailing into November on career years, they are trying to prove something in these last six weeks.
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Freddy Peralta, 30, went 17-6 last year with a 2.70 ERA and finished fifth in the Cy Young voting. He’s 5-9 with a 5.33 ERA this year and struggles to miss bats. He has the last few weeks with the Tampa Bay Rays and their magic pitching factory to resurrect his free agent value.
Kevin Gausman is 35 − he’ll 36 by Opening Day − and he’s been a middle-of-the-rotation arm this season. But he’s made 31 starts every year since 2022, and somebody always pays for innings. He’s continuing his case with the Cubs after Toronto dealt him.
Behind them are Shane Bieber, 30; Brandon Woodruff, 33; Robbie Ray, 34; and Luis Severino, 32.
The best position players in the 2027 free agent class
There aren’t many bats available in this class.
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Luis Arraez, 29, is a three-time batting champ who just landed in the Phillies lineup, which is about the best setup he can get two months before he hits the market. Jazz Chisholm Jr., 28, and Randy Arozarena, 31, come after him. Ian Happ, 31, Brandon Lowe, 32, Seiya Suzuki, 31, J.P. Crawford, 31, Trent Grisham, 29 and Taylor Ward, 32, are also in this thin group.
Gleyber Torres, 29, is worth watching too. He is only one of three second baseman in this class who hasn’t turned 30 yet.
Which MLB players will opt out after the 2026 season?
Injuries took care of a lot of these decisions.
Corbin Burnes, 31, can walk away from four years and $140 million in Arizona. He had Tommy John surgery in June 2025 and has yet to return, so he’s probably not going anywhere. Jose Berrios, 32, had Tommy John in May and won’t pitch again until the middle of 2027. It will certainly be with Toronto.
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Michael King has been here before. The 31-year-old hit the market last winter and came right back to San Diego for three years and $75 million. The deal lets him leave after this season with a $5 million buyout instead of collecting $53 million over the next two years. If he’s healthy, he’s probably taking the buyout.
Clay Holmes, 33 is an interesting case. He closed for the Yankees, made two All-Star teams doing it, then turned into a legitimate starter with the Mets. He suffered a broken fibula in May and just made his first start back and after being dealt to the Cubs. He has a $12 million option and if he has a strong August, September and October, he will decline.
Bo Bichette, 28, is the genuinely interesting one. He signed for three years and $126 million with the Mets, including opt-outs every season. Walking after his first miserable season in Queens is over means giving up $84 million after hitting .236. Still, many in the business believe he will leave.
Why the pending MLB lockout makes November a deadline
Every player here knows what’s coming. Take the November deal and there is the security of knowing exactly what you have, or wait it out and find out what the new rules look like − with nobody able to tell you when the waiting ends.
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The unofficial deadline for losing regular season games is early-to-mid-March. That’s a long time to sit unemployed.
The guys with the least leverage will try to sign in November. Teams know that and will take advantage of it.
Skubal, on the other hand, can wait as long as he likes. The money will be there.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The best MLB free agents this offseason, and how lockout could change it all
