The MLB offseason is nearly upon us, and free agency will soon begin. Fans will be scouring the rumor mill for where players like Kyle Tucker, Kyle Schwarber, Alex Bregman and others will sign. However, there are several free agents that teams should beware of handing long-term contracts. We take a look at eight free agents that MLB franchises should think twice about before backing up the Brinks truck.
Ranger Suarez
Ranger Suarez is a former All-Star and stellar postseason pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies. However, he’s missed time the last three seasons due to injury while seeing his ERA spike following the All-Star break from 2023-25. On top of that, his velocity has also dipped. Those red flags might scare teams off from handing out a four- or five-year deal.
Pete Alonso
Pete Alonso will opt out of his deal and hit free agency as he reportedly seeks a seven-year contract. The New York Mets first baseman had a strong season at the plate, leading the National League in doubles with 41 while hitting 38 home runs, posting a 144 OPS+ and making the All-Star team for the fifth time. But he will be 31 when the 2026 season begins, plays poor defense, is not a good baserunner and a long-term contract will age poorly. He is entering free agency once again as a one-trick pony.
Framber Valdez
Framber Valdez, a two-time All-Star for the Houston Astros, is entering free agency after giving up the most hits (171), earned runs (78), walks (68) and wild pitches (12 — led baseball) since becoming a full-time starter. His BABIP of .299 was also concerning. He was mired in controversy after hitting his catcher in the chest with a 93 mph fastball on a crossed-up pitch, which drew accusations of intent.
Luis Arraez
Luis Arraez is a career .317 hitter, three-time All-Star and three-time batting champion. He’s led the National League in hits twice, including 2025. But the biggest knock against Arraez is that he doesn’t hit for power; he only has 36 career home runs in seven seasons. His defensive numbers have also slipped, and he doesn’t steal many bases. It’s hard to imagine throwing a bag of money at essentially a singles hitter.
Ryan Helsley
Before the disastrous Mets trade, Ryan Helsley was one of the best closers for three and a half seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals. But that all changed after he was sent to Queens. In 22 appearances for the Mets, Helsley posted a 7.20 ERA, giving up 16 earned runs in 20 innings. He gave up more earned runs during his time with the Mets than he did with the Cardinals in 2022, 2023 or 2024. After Helsley’s implosion with the Mets, it’s hard to imagine any team offering him a multiyear deal.
Dylan Cease
Dylan Cease is a curious case. He’s finished in the top four in Cy Young voting twice and led the American League in pitcher bWAR at 6.4 while a member of the Chicago White Sox in 2022. The knock on Cease, though, is he alternates between good and subpar years, and he’s entering free agency after posting a 4.55 ERA and 1.1 bWAR with the San Diego Padres. He’s been inconsistent throughout his seven-year career, and that could hold teams back from giving Cease a long-term deal.
Zac Gallen
Zac Gallen is a former All-Star who has finished in the top nine in Cy Young voting three times, including third in 2023. The 30-year-old Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher, though, has seen his ERA rise the last four years and had the worst season of his career in 2025, giving up 31 home runs and 103 earned runs in 192 innings with a 4.83 ERA while striking out just 8.2 batters per nine innings. It might be best to do a one-year deal to regain value before going back into free agency.
J.T. Realmuto
J.T. Realmuto is regarded as one of the best all-around catchers in baseball, but he’s not the hitter he used to be. Since becoming a full-time catcher in 2015, he had career lows in slugging (.384) and OPS+ (91) this past season. His home run totals have fallen since 2022, from 22 to 12. He will also be 35 next year and has caught 134 games or more in four of his five seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies. Realmuto is reportedly looking for a three-year deal, but that seems like a lot for a catcher his age. While he’s still productive, giving Realmuto a contract longer than two years could be asking for trouble.
