Now that we’re A) nearly done with 2026 and B) close to 2026 MLB free agency, let’s turn the clock back, shall we? Last year’s free agency was a wild one, thanks to the infusion of talent from the NPB, plus heavyweight sluggers going to market. Now that we’re a year past it, let’s take a look at who the real winners were in the 2025 MLB free agent period.
Blue Jays
Yes, the Blue Jays are fighting for their lives in the American League playoff race. It’s a stark contrast from 2025, when Toronto was almost on a glide path to the World Series. Still, the Blue Jays had, arguably, the best free agency run out of any team last winter.
Toronto signed now-ace Dylan Cease, one of the top strikeout pitchers in baseball over the last five years. Now, he could add an American League Cy Young to his resume. Not to mention, Tyler Rogers came over via free agency. Rogers entered play on September 17 with an opponents’ wOBA in the top 20 among relievers, plus the second-lowest HR/9 (.13) in the Majors.
Oh, and Kazuma Okamoto nicely filled the void left behind by Bo Bichette.
Orioles
Look, some of the Orioles‘ offseason additions didn’t work out as hoped. Taylor Ward was a great on-base threat in his time with Baltimore. However, he didn’t hit as well as he did in Anaheim. Chris Bassitt and Ryan Helsley both missed time on the injured list.
However, Pete Alonso has been everything that the O’s needed and then some.
Alonso is in the top 10 in the Majors in home runs, and his 102 RBIs led the American League as of this writing. No, not everything has gone the club’s way in 2026. Nonetheless, the O’s landed a big fish…or polar bear, in this instance…and hit.
Phillies
Did you forget that Kyle Schwarber was a free agent this past winter?
It’s easy to, given that Schwarber swiftly re-signed with the Phillies after walking to free agency on a high in 2025. So what did Schwarber do for an encore in 2026? He hit 45 home runs as of September 17, currently leading all of Major League Baseball. His 14.4% BB% was also 10th-best among players with 375+ plate appearances.
While Bryce Harper has had a resurgent 2026 season, the Phillies wouldn’t be where they are today with Schwarber.
White Sox
The second half has been…interesting for Munetaka Murakami. Murakami slashed .171/.317/.376 over his first 57 games of the second half. His 38.5% K% was the fourth-highest in the Majors, only behind Francisco Alvarez, Esmerlyn Valdez, and teammate Colson Montgomery.
Perhaps these are the kinds of numbers we should have expected for Murakami, who came into the offseason last year as one of the more mysterious players available. And yet, Murakami will still end with a 30-home run campaign, helping power a White Sox club that has a shot at October baseball.
Aside from Murakami, though, the White Sox pulled off some magic. Not counting Tristan Peters (acquired via trade), Chicago also signed Sean Newcomb and Anthony Kay, two steady hands on the mound.
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