Almost once Juan Soto signed a 15-year, $765 million unfastened agent contract with the New York Mets over the iciness, a query used to be bandied about in entrance places of work around the recreation: Who goes to be the participant to wreck Soto’s file for total price?
Answering that used to be tougher than it appeared, in part as a result of Soto’s deal shattered all earlier ones (Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million contract had a gift price of lower than $500 million), but additionally as a result of various avid gamers who would were threats had signed contract extensions already. To also be thought to be for a deal of that magnitude takes the uncommon mixture of age and superstardom, and with Bobby Witt Jr., Fernando Tatis Jr., Corbin Carroll and Jackson Chourio all locked up longer term, the applicants are seriously restricted. The extension months later for San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill erased one of the crucial high applicants to dethrone Soto.
Expanding the workout to these executives and brokers made for a much more attention-grabbing query: Who are the $100 million-plus avid gamers within the recreation at this time?
The nine-figure contract is not as unusual because it was — greater than 150 were given to avid gamers for the reason that first used to be signed through Kevin Brown in 1998 — but it surely stays possibly the clearest threshold of a very good participant. And so off we went on a quest with baseball insiders to spot the following technology of $100 million avid gamers.
Here are the names that got here up maximum, from the crowded $100 million tier all of the option to the celebrity deemed in all probability to land the following $600 million megadeal.
(Not incorporated within the under checklist are avid gamers who already are a part of the nine-figure membership, despite the fact that they are in line for some other $100 million-plus deal. Those come with Witt, Carroll, Merrill, Yordan Alvarez, Ronald Acuna Jr., Garrett Crochet and Alex Bregman.)
Jump to: $100M | $200M | $300M | $400M | $500M | $600M
$100 million
Note: Because the $100 million-plus deal is not just about the rarity it as soon as used to be, we have damaged this tier into 4 classes: avid gamers in each and every of the following 3 unfastened agent categories, plus those that are not set to hit unfastened company till the 2028-29 offseason or later. Also incorporated with each and every workforce is an inventory of avid gamers who’re greater than in a position to incomes their option to 9 figures, however are not but there.
Class of 2025-26
Pete Alonso, 1B, New York Mets: After a brutal unfastened company wherein he sought upward of 4 instances the $54 million over two years that he in the end signed for in January, Alonso has put himself with ease into the $100 million class with a shot at $200 million assuming he opts out of his present deal after the season. The similar problems groups had ultimate iciness stay. He’s in his 30s. He performs a place groups do not prioritize. But it is unattainable to forget about his manufacturing and skill to stick at the box in addition to his evolution: Alonso in fact has extra walks than strikeouts this season, an exceedingly uncommon high quality for a hitter with such a lot chronic.
Michael King, SP, San Diego Padres: Two years in the past, King used to be a reliever for the New York Yankees. Now he is the most productive pitcher within the magnificence. King’s sinker and slider have elite motion, and his command of his four-pitch arsenal is outstanding. He moves out oodles of hitters, maintains his pace and may just finally end up with a larger deal in unfastened company than his teammate with flashier stuff who is indexed subsequent in this checklist.
Dylan Cease, SP, San Diego Padres: Cease has lengthy been thought to be the gem of a robust crop of starters scheduled to hit unfastened company after this season, and it is simple to look why. His slider is a weapon. His fastball sits at 97 mph. The stuff is nasty. But he by no means has been in a position to keep away from walks, and that may scare away some suitors. Cease is far better than the 5.61 ERA he these days sports activities (a 3.34 FIP portends higher effects) and he will have to get a five-plus-year deal, however $200 million-plus is most definitely out of achieve on account of the unfastened passes.
Zac Gallen, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks: While Gallen’s stuff has ticked down this season and he turns 30 in August, he has been a constant sufficient innings eater with a excessive sufficient strikeout price to warrant inclusion some of the nine-figure aspirants. His increased stroll charges each and every of the previous two seasons are of outrage for a tumbler whose fastball sits at 93, so Gallen must pare the ones again if he desires to stick on this workforce.
Framber Valdez, SP, Houston Astros: He’s throwing tougher than ever, which is any such factor that is helping convince groups to spend money on a beginning pitcher who can be 32 subsequent Opening Day. Listed at 5-foot-11, 232 kilos, Valdez does not have any such frame that has a tendency to age neatly, however he throws a variety of innings, does not stroll hitters, wields numerous postseason revel in and bounds house runs. That is a thrilling workforce of attributes, despite the fact that sinkerballers are not the sexiest signings in nowadays’s strikeout-focused recreation.
Bo Bichette, SS, Toronto Blue Jays: Two years in the past, Bichette gave the impression of a lock for $300 million. A brutal 2024 soured his inventory, and whilst his moderate has climbed early this season, the facility he confirmed in 3 consecutive 20-plus-homer seasons stays AWOL. Because he’s going to be a 28-year-old shortstop, Bichette can get 9 figures. He additionally may just go for a momentary care for opt-outs to maximise his alternatives to hit the marketplace after a robust season.
Kyle Schwarber, DH, Philadelphia Phillies: A delegated hitter who is going to be 33 subsequent Opening Day getting a nine-figure deal? Schwarber is an outlier in such a lot of different respects, so why no longer right here, too? He is terminally productive. He is a phenomenal clubhouse chief. Nobody would blink at giving him $25 million a 12 months, and a four-year ask — specifically in a category susceptible on high-end bats — is eminently cheap.
Contenders: 2B Luis Arraez, SP Jack Flaherty, CF Cedric Mullins, 1B Josh Naylor.
Class of 2026-27
Freddy Peralta, SP, Milwaukee Brewers: The magnificence of 2026-27 is shaping as much as be an all-time susceptible workforce of unfastened brokers. Peralta is not any positive factor to be a nine-figure participant, however since becoming a member of Milwaukee’s rotation in 2021, he has the 11th-best ERA+ of any pitcher with 100-plus begins. Of the ones forward of him, six have signed for $100 million-plus, and the others are Tarik Skubal (the highest participant within the magnificence of ’26-27), Framber Valdez, Logan Webb and Sonny Gray. Peralta is appearing no indicators of growing old, throwing tougher this 12 months than ever, and he’s going to be 30 on Opening Day after his unfastened company.
Contenders: OF Randy Arozarena, 3B Alec Bohm, SP Kris Bubic, 2B Jazz Chisholm Jr., OF Adolis Garcia, OF Ian Happ, 2B Nico Hoerner, IF Gavin Lux, SP Jesus Luzardo, SP Casey Mize, SP Brady Singer, OF Seiya Suzuki, OF Daulton Varsho.
Class of 2027-28
Adley Rutschman, C, Baltimore Orioles: Two years in the past, he would were within the $300 million workforce. After ultimate 12 months, $200 million. And Rutschman may just nonetheless very simply to find himself in both. For now, regardless that, the loss of thump in his bat and deficient catching metrics have soured groups at the prospect of handing Rutschman franchise-player cash. Also essential: Catchers merely do not receives a commission like different positions as a result of groups concern about their long-term well being. The greatest deal ever for a catcher is Joe Mauer’s for $184 million, and the largest for a unfastened agent catcher is J.T. Realmuto’s at $115.5 million.
Shane McClanahan, SP, Tampa Bay Rays: When he is wholesome, McClanahan is a top-10 pitcher in baseball, and he nonetheless has numerous time to take his spot within the $200 million workforce. But for now, after sitting out 2024 on account of his 2nd Tommy John surgical operation, and all of 2025 thus far on account of a nerve factor in his throwing arm, McClanahan belongs on this class.
Jeremy Peña, SS, Houston Astros: One of the sneaky steadiest avid gamers in baseball. Peña is not a lot of a danger to complete excessive in MVP vote casting, however his flooring is upper than maximum. He’s simply excellent, a constant four-win participant, and if he can elevate that for 3 extra seasons, he’s going to achieve unfastened company at 30 as a sexy excellent similar to Willy Adames, who simply cashed in for $182 million as a 29-year-old over the iciness.
MacKenzie Gore, SP, Washington Nationals: No different pitcher within the magnificence has the ceiling of Gore, who can be a 29-year-old unfastened agent. His 13.3 strikeouts in line with 9 innings leads all of MLB this 12 months, and if Gore can stay controlling his walks and restrict the house runs he offers up, he is a $200 million participant. Even within the absence of that, Gore’s arsenal performs up considerably when he can spot it, and groups are all the time keen to wager on a tumbler with strikeout stuff whose age begins with a 2.
William Contreras, C, Milwaukee Brewers: His loss of slug this 12 months is a bit of worrisome (he has handiest 3 house runs in 117 at-bats) and a continuation of it might thrust Contreras again into 8 figures. But he nonetheless hits the ball very onerous — if no longer persistently — and he is a weapon at the back of the plate along with his arm. One doable factor: Framing may not have just about the price it does now by the point Contreras is a unfastened agent on account of the anticipated implementation of the automatic ball-strike problem device.
Steven Kwan, OF, Cleveland Guardians: Kwan is a satisfying participant. He hits for a excessive moderate, hardly ever moves out, runs the bases with preferrred intelligence and will play an average left box. At the similar time, no person along with his perceived profile — an offensive recreation personified through batting moderate — has ever signed a nine-figure deal. This is as a lot a big gamble on Kwan’s recreation evolving reasonably, in addition to his all-around excellence, as the rest, and his career-best .467 slugging proportion thus far this season is a superb signal.
Joe Ryan, SP, Minnesota Twins: Ryan may well be the most productive under-the-radar pitcher within the massive leagues, a constant strikeout manufacturer whose stroll price over the last 3 seasons ranks 6th amongst all massive league starters. If Ryan can restrict house runs — and he is doing so this season in comparison along with his previous two — he’s going to safe his spot within the nine-figure membership, whilst he turns 32 two months after Opening Day in 2028.
Pablo López, SP, Minnesota Twins: López used to be set to achieve unfastened company ultimate iciness however signed a four-year, $73.5 million extension in April 2023. Though he’ll be 32 when the 2028 season starts, he’s inducing extra groundballs than ever and proscribing house runs, two superb indicators for his long term price. López is one of the smartest pitchers in baseball, any such factor that may give groups peace of thoughts whilst he ages.
Contenders: SP Sandy Alcantara, 2B Ozzie Albies, UT Brendan Donovan, SP Tanner Houck, SP Nick Lodolo, 3B Isaac Paredes, CF Luis Robert Jr., 2B Bryson Stott.
Class of 2028-29 or later
Note: Players on this class are indexed so as of age on Opening Day the season when they achieve unfastened company. Players who have not begun to debut within the main leagues don’t seem to be incorporated.
Junior Caminero, 3B, Tampa Bay Rays: One excellent 12 months and Caminero will graduate from the $100 million tier. A couple of standout seasons and the fee will upward thrust multiplicatively. Beyond his immense chronic, probably the most alluring factor about Caminero is his age. He’s set to achieve unfastened company in 2031 at 27. And if he does so coming off a robust season, Caminero — now 21 — gets a megadeal of a minimum of $300 million and most definitely extra.
Eury Pérez, SP, Miami Marlins: How is a participant who is these days at the shelf after Tommy John surgical operation — who has thrown fewer than 100 main league innings — in line to enroll in the nine-figure membership? Well, for starters, Pérez used to be in point of fact, in point of fact excellent when he used to be wholesome. More than that, regardless that, he debuted simply 27 days after his 20th birthday, and Pérez is the one participant on this complete evaluate who will hit unfastened company at 26 years previous. Perhaps elbow reconstruction will rob Pérez of his triple-digit fastball pace or the lean on his slider. If Pérez’s stuff returns, regardless that, he’s going to briefly belong within the $200 million workforce — and even upper.
Masyn Winn, SS, St. Louis Cardinals: Nobody will have to query Winn’s defensive bona fides. His bat will resolve his monetary ceiling, and Winn has numerous time to expand. What’s essential to keep in mind: He performs a place that will get paid in unfastened company, and he’s going to flip 28 simply sooner than Opening Day in 2030. If Winn is even reasonably above moderate, that is a $100 million participant. If he is the rest extra, the quantity may well be huge.
CJ Abrams, SS, Washington Nationals: Between his age when he hits unfastened company after the 2028 season (28), the placement he performs (shortstop) and his power-speed mixture (.284/.333/.523 with 4 house runs and 6 stolen bases this season), Abrams has a possibility to be a unprecedented unfastened agent. Abrams may not get there till he begins hitting the ball tougher and extra persistently — and possibly strikes off shortstop, the place he is moderate at excellent defensively.
Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF, Chicago Cubs: Thus a ways, Crow-Armstrong has rejected entreaties from the Cubs referring to an extension. Chicago introduced a deal within the $75 million vary. If Crow-Armstrong assists in keeping up even an affordable facsimile of his manufacturing, he’ll vault into this $200 million class through this iciness, and by the point he is a unfastened agent after the 2030 season, it may well be two times that. The handiest factor holding him from it now, frankly, is plate self-discipline.
Zach Neto, SS, Los Angeles Angels: Because he performs for the Angels, Neto is wildly underappreciated. And as a shortstop who will hit unfastened company at 28 (and switch 29 in January 2030), he may just simply vault himself into the $200 million-plus workforce. Neto packs massive chronic right into a slight body, is brave at the basepaths and is definitely above moderate on protection.
Hunter Greene, SP, Cincinnati Reds: Had Greene no longer signed a six-year extension with a membership choice, he would were a near-lock for the $200 million membership. He nonetheless may just get there anyway, coming into the 2030 season at 30. Greene has halved his profession stroll price this season whilst keeping up gaudy strikeout numbers, and along with his MLB-best 99.3 mph moderate fastball, it is any such chronic stuff that get groups excited.
Spencer Schwellenbach, SP, Atlanta Braves: This is a big gamble on Schwellenbach’s array of stuff and mature mound presence. Suggesting a soon-to-be-25-year-old with fewer than 200 massive league innings will warrant 9 figures is dangerous. He does not achieve unfastened company till after the 2030 season. But if there is somebody to wager on, it is a pitcher with excessive athleticism whose fastball sits 97 mph and is one in all six pitches he throws with super command.
Hunter Brown, SP, Houston Astros: The pitcher with the most productive ERA within the AL over the last calendar 12 months comes with chronic stuff and a burgeoning skill to keep watch over it. Brown has entertained taking an extension in previous seasons — and will have to be satisfied he did not. Because if he can pair productiveness and well being, he’ll simply surpass $100 million and be a excellent wager to blow previous $200 million.
Cole Ragans, SP, Kansas City Royals: The concern of Ragans’ harm historical past — back-to-back Tommy John surgical procedures and greater than 3 years with out throwing in a certified recreation — will all the time cling over his long term. His brilliance over the last two years cannot be overstated, regardless that, and so long as his left arm stays intact, Ragans will benefit inclusion on this workforce.
George Kirby, SP, Seattle Mariners: No, he hasn’t thrown a large league pitch this 12 months on account of a shoulder factor, and, sure, he’s going to be 31 when he debuts after signing a unfastened agent deal. But Kirby’s first 3 massive league seasons were an workout in constant high quality. Nobody within the recreation’s historical past has struck out as many hitters over this kind of span whilst strolling as few as Kirby has in his 89 profession begins. (Right at the back of Kirby’s 484-to-64 ratio is Greg Maddux at 488 to 65.) It’s a singular profile, one who may not lack pastime and may just finally end up at $200 million-plus.
Geraldo Perdomo, SS, Arizona Diamondbacks: Perdomo simply signed a four-year, $45 million extension with a membership choice that purchased out 3 unfastened agent seasons and can go away him as a unfastened agent at 31. Perdomo has been good this 12 months, just about matching his profession excessive in house runs, getting on base at a .400 clip and strolling greater than he moves out. And there are few higher with the glove, simply positioning him to money in as soon as unfastened company beckons.
Logan Webb, SP, San Francisco Giants: Like Perdomo, Webb signed a multiyear deal that purchased out 3 years of unfastened company, and he’s going to be 32 when he is a unfastened agent following the 2028 season. With his sinker-slider-changeup trio, constant command, a excessive groundball price and a low house run price, Webb, even at that age, is primed to be in excessive call for.
Jarren Duran, OF, Boston Red Sox: He used to be at the beginning at the $200 million checklist, however his age is a complicating issue. When Duran reaches unfastened company after the 2028 season, he’ll already be 32. And as dynamic a participant as he’s, outfielders who depend on their legs have a tendency to not age neatly. That mentioned, a $100 million-plus deal can be one hell of a comfort prize.
Contenders: OF Wilyer Abreu, C Francisco Alvarez, SP Shane Baz, SP Taj Bradley, 1B Michael Busch, OF Kerry Carpenter, OF Colton Cowser, OF Dylan Crews, CF Brenton Doyle, C Yainer Diaz, 2B Jackson Holliday, SP Jared Jones, SP Jack Leiter, SP Nick Lodolo, SP Rhett Lowder, SP Matthew Liberatore, 1B Kyle Manzardo, 2B Matt McLain, SP Max Meyer, SP Bryce Miller, RP Mason Miller, OF Lars Nootbaar, C Logan O’Hoppe, SP Reese Olson, OF Andy Pages, 1B Vinnie Pasquantino, OF Heliot Ramos, 1B Ben Rice, OF Cam Smith, 1B Tyler Soderstrom, SP Jose Soriano, OF Kyle Stowers, 1B Spencer Torkelson, 2B Brice Turang, SS Anthony Volpe, C Austin Wells, IF Jordan Westburg, SS Jacob Wilson, SP Bryan Woo.
$200 million
Oneil Cruz, CF, Pittsburgh Pirates: Cruz looks like he is in any case figuring it out on the plate. His house run price has jumped. He has 14 steals in 32 video games after swiping a career-best 22 in 146 video games ultimate 12 months. His stroll price is the 5th excellent in baseball. His strikeouts are down. All that is keeping apart him from stardom is a ghastly glove in heart, the place the 6-foot-7 Cruz moved from shortstop. Even if proper box is his final vacation spot, Cruz’s offensive skills are bountiful sufficient to earn a large quantity that begins with a 2 when he hits unfastened company at 30.
Riley Greene, CF, Detroit Tigers: Greene has age and place on his aspect — he’s going to flip 28 proper sooner than he hits the marketplace in 2029 and is a cast defender at a top class place. His strikeouts are just a little too excessive, his walks just a little too low, however near to the entirety else Greene does performs, and on height of that, he is prone to have numerous postseason revel in by the point he is a unfastened agent.
Roki Sasaki, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers: Of all the ones within the teams above $100 million, Sasaki is the largest wild card. He additionally has probably the most excellent doable of the crowd, making him a tough participant to position. Between now and November 2030, when the rookie is about to hit unfastened company, he may just very simply blossom into the most productive pitcher on the earth. He additionally may just by no means to find the 100 mph fastball he ceaselessly threw in Japan and finally end up an enormous case of what may have been. This placement is solely a big gamble on his splitter, a real unicorn pitch.
Spencer Strider, SP, Atlanta Braves: Strider’s six-year, $75 million extension signed in October 2022 set a file for a tumbler with such little provider time. Should the Braves workout a membership choice in 2029, it is going to put Strider onto the marketplace at 31 — the similar age as his former Braves teammate Max Fried used to be when he were given 8 years and $218 million from the Yankees ultimate iciness. When he is wholesome, Strider is even higher than Fried, and if he can maintain his stuff, he may well be a greater wager for the $300 million membership.
Logan Gilbert, SP, Seattle Mariners: He has dimension, he has stuff, he has innings and he has adaptability. Gilbert is the quintessential trendy pitcher, and with $200 million now the usual for true aces, he qualifies. Gilbert is because of hit unfastened company after the 2028 season, and if he can get previous the elbow problems these days sidelining him and proceed to supply till then, groups can be lining up for his services and products.
Kristian Campbell, 2B/OF, Boston Red Sox: It’s ordinary to incorporate a participant who signed an extension a month in the past, however 22-year-old Campbell’s bat is that particular. Boston has him locked up for the following 8 years at $60 million with two membership choices on height of that, this means that if he makes it to unfastened company, Campbell can be 32 on Opening Day in … 2035. If he’s what the Red Sox suppose he’s, regardless that, likelihood is that they’re going to attempt to make him a one-uniform participant sooner than then — and that might be a $200 million-plus proposition.
$300 million
James Wood, OF, Washington Nationals: He has unusual chronic, an incredible eye, sudden pace and, excellent of all, formative years. Wood may have simply became 28 when he reaches unfastened company after the 2030 season, and through then, he may have 200 house runs. Suggesting a participant is price $300 million-plus with lower than a complete season of revel in is one thing of a stretch, but when there is somebody price stretching for, it is a 6-7 outfielder whose house run stroke runs foul pole to foul pole.
Wyatt Langford, OF, Texas Rangers: Langford slightly scratched the skin of his skills ultimate 12 months and nonetheless wound up generating just about 4 WAR as a rookie. He has been some of the few vivid spots for the Rangers’ offense this 12 months, with pace complementing his massive uncooked chronic and a disciplined way on the plate. Best of all: He’ll be slightly 28 when he heads to unfastened company after the 2029 season.
Jackson Chourio, OF, Milwaukee Brewers: There’s numerous time for Chourio to determine the best way to take a stroll between now and the 2033 season, which is how lengthy the Brewers keep watch over him after he signed an eight-year, $82 million deal ultimate season with a couple of membership choices. Chourio starred as a 20-year-old rookie and would hit unfastened company at 30, and even if he’s going to be older than Wood or Langford, he is succesful sufficient to be worthy of status along them within the $300 million membership.
$400 million
Tarik Skubal, SP, Detroit Tigers: Now that is the place it begins to get in point of fact a laugh. The biggest contract ever given to a tumbler used to be Yoshinobu Yamamoto‘s 12-year, $325 million deal within the 2024-25 offseason. But if Skubal remains wholesome for the following two years and continues his Cy Young-caliber efficiency, it isn’t out of the world that he’s going to search a 10-year deal (he’s going to be 30) for $40 million-plus a season. Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander have got $43.3 million moderate annual values on a multiyear deal. And Gerrit Cole were given 9 years at $324 million. The basis for the primary $400 million pitcher is there.
Paul Skenes, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates: If it isn’t Skubal (or Pérez), it is sure to be Skenes. The 22-year-old helped his clock through profitable Rookie of the Year and the overall 12 months of provider that includes it. He’ll be simply 27 when he is available on the market after the 2029 season. And if Skubal (or Pérez) does certainly crack the $400 million threshold, it might be no marvel to look Skenes — the most productive pitching prospect in a technology — parlay his productiveness, age and marketability into changing into baseball’s first half-billion-dollar pitcher.
$500 million
Kyle Tucker, OF, Chicago Cubs: This one used to be difficult. Nobody doubts Tucker’s ability as a participant. The mixture of different parts — a possible lockout after the 2026 season converting the sport’s budget, the presence of big-revenue groups that would make a choice to keep away from a deal the magnitude of which Tucker will rightly search — merely makes it a problem to are expecting whether or not he’s going to land right here or within the earlier tier. On Tucker’s aspect are the comparables. He is a greater participant than Vladimir Guerrero Jr., whom the Blue Jays gave $500 million. He’ll play all of subsequent 12 months at 29. He’s one in all baseball’s excellent power-speed combos. Everything is there for Tucker to exceed $400 million. Surging previous $500 million may well be difficult, however then nobody expected Soto getting $765 million, both.
Elly De La Cruz, SS, Cincinnati Reds: Multiple executives named the Reds superstar as a possible successor to Soto, however the math is prone to save you that from going down. With lower than two years of provider time, De La Cruz may not be a unfastened agent till the category of 2029-30, at which level he’s going to be 28. Even if he receives a 13-year deal, De La Cruz would wish a median wage of just about $59 million a 12 months to exceed Soto’s contract. Is it conceivable? Well, positive. De La Cruz is that gifted. But he hasn’t produced at an exceptionally excessive degree, hitting .252/.328/.444 for his profession. De La Cruz is electrical, no query, however he will have to be offering more than one MVP-caliber seasons to be within the dialog, and he hasn’t produced even one but.
$600 million
Gunnar Henderson, SS, Baltimore Orioles: Henderson used to be the only participant discussed through each and every government as the most productive wager to overcome Soto. And even then, executives mentioned, it is a lengthy shot. Henderson debuted at 21 and can achieve unfastened company after the 2028 season at 27. He performs a much more essential place than Soto’s proper box, and despite the fact that Henderson does ultimately transfer to 3rd base, the positional benefit nonetheless can be true. In his two complete seasons, Henderson has already post greater than 15 WAR, together with a nine-win appearing ultimate 12 months that used to be higher than any 12 months Soto ever posted. Even then, Henderson wishes extra years of constant high quality sooner than he will also be taking a look at $600 million, let by myself $765 million.