Ranking the top 50 MLB free agents for the 2026-27 offseason, plus landing spots for every player

With a likely lockout looming, it’s unclear just how the winter will proceed before and after a work stoppage

The World Series is complete, the Milwaukee Brewers are first-time champions and MLB's offseason is already underway. It won't be long until the hot stove sizzles. To get the winter started, CBS Sports has ranked the top 50 MLB free agents for the 2026-27 offseason. These rankings are compiled through statistical and video analysis, past market research, plus vibes and general hunches. We have included players expected to make the leap from Japan's NPB and South Korea's KBO to the big leagues, but not non-tender candidates or unexpected option decisions. Of course, this is no normal offseason. With the current collective bargaining agreement set to expire at 11:59 p.m. on Dec.

1, a lockout is all but certain. How long will it last? What will baseball — and for our purposes, contracts — look like on the other side? Will teams and players rush to make deals before the work stoppage or delay everything until it's over? Who knows. These are the ultimate questions of the winter, and how they get answered is up to the owners and the players' union. The two most important things to know about these rankings: First, free agency is forward-looking. What you've done in the past counts for only so much. More than ever before, teams pay players based on what they expect them