MLB Free Agency Opens Nov. 2 with Skubal and Arozarena Among Top Targets

MLB free agency begins at 5 p.m. ET on Nov. 2, featuring left-hander Tarik Skubal, who posted a 2.72 ERA and 186 strikeouts in 2026.

Major League Baseball free agency is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. ET on Nov. 2, following a 2026 season where the Milwaukee Brewers won the World Series. This offseason precedes the expiration of the current collective bargaining agreement at 11:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 1, creating a potential one-month window for signings before a looming lockout.

Left-handed pitcher Tarik Skubal enters the market following a season in which he went 12-7 with a 2.72 ERA, 186 strikeouts, and 27 walks across 158.2 innings. Projections for Skubal’s next contract average eight years and $355 million, a figure that would exceed Yoshinobu Yamamoto's $325 million deal from 2024. The Chicago Cubs, whose rotation ranked 18th in ERA and 21st in strikeout rate, are identified as a primary fit for the ace.

Outfielder Randy Arozarena is also available after recording a 5.7 WAR in 2026, the highest among current free agents. He finished the year with a .281/.381/.484 slash line, 26 home runs, and 79 RBIs. Other notable hitters include Teruaki Sato, who hit 39 home runs for the Hanshin Tigers, and Seiya Suzuki, who posted a 5.1 WAR with 26 home runs for Chicago.

In the relief market, left-hander Adrian Morejon is coming off a season with a 2.83 ERA and 107 strikeouts in 86 innings. Additionally, first baseman Jake Bauers hits free agency after ranking third in the majors in on-base percentage (.389) and 11th in OPS. Pitcher Michael King, who posted a 3.21 ERA over 185 innings for San Diego, is expected to opt out of his $28 million option to seek a multiyear contract.