Why Tarik Skubal Dominates the 2027 MLB Free-Agent Class and Who Could Upend Him

But as temperatures climb, my mind drifts toward the chillier side of baseball talk — specifically, the upcoming 2027 free-agent class. This piece kicks off a series of monthly updates charting the shifting landscape ahead of the offseason. No doubt, surprises will surface: injuries, underperformers, unexpected stars. We’re stepping into uncharted waters here, so expect the rankings and narratives to evolve dramatically.

Before diving into player evaluations, let’s zoom out for a moment with three crucial observations about this class. First, brace yourself: this might be one of the worst groupings of position-player free agents we’ve ever seen. Since 2015, every offseason has featured at least one hitter snapping up a contract north of $100 million — that streak might just end this winter. Sure, players like Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Seiya Suzuki could potentially break into that elite tier, but it ain’t a slam dunk. Why the scarcity? Extensions signed by Cal Raleigh and Nico Hoerner sucked away some of these surefire talents, and the peculiar thinness of the 2020 rookie class hasn’t helped.