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Free agency is off to the races! We are already seeing players sign deals ahead of the MLB Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) deadline. The CBA is set to expire on December 1, 2026, at 11:59 pm ET. We can decipher this early signing activity in a few ways, but I like to think on the positive side that players and teams are trying to carry on like it’s business as usual.
The elephant in the room in these CBA discussions is simple. Will there end up being a salary cap for players at the end of these negotiations? The reality is we have no idea how this is going to turn out. Regardless of how much money players can earn after the conclusion of these negotiations, there will be baseball.
Today I wanted to focus on three players who will not get generational money but could be high-value players to the teams that end up signing them for the 2027 season. I will start with a pitcher, as every team is always in need of pitching!
Nick Martinez
I mean, age is just a number. Sure, Martinez is 36 years old, and he will turn 37 in the middle of next season. Age does not seem to be affecting him too much at this point. In fact, Martinez has leveled up his game across the last three seasons of his 13-year professional baseball career. Sure, age will catch up with him at some point, but I don’t think that the team looking to sign him is looking at a multi-year deal.
Martinez can be a weapon as the 3-4-5 starter in most rotations. If it’s a serious contender that ends up acquiring Martinez for his services, he will likely serve as a 4th or 5th starter. For a guy who has a career 3.99 ERA in Major League Baseball, that is solid depth to add to the rotation.
Across the last three seasons, Martinez has pitched to a 3.55 ERA across 488 innings. As a baseball fan, I’d take that any day of the week for my team. He is not the big, sexy strikeout guy with ridiculous velocity, but he gets outs. Martinez utilizes a 6-pitch mix against opposing lineups, including a Sinker (32%), Changeup (26%), Cutter (22%), 4-Seam Fastball (13%), Curveball (4%), and a Slider (4%) to attack hitters in the box.
Adding Martinez could be pivotal to a team in need of bolstering quality rotation depth.
Potential Landing Spots - Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, Baltimore Orioles, or the Detroit Tigers
Joc Pederson
Another veteran who can deliver huge numbers next season (if we have one!) is Joc Pederson. The 34-year-old is in a similar boat as Nick Martinez; he will be turning 35 in the middle of next season. Totally understand that the game is getting younger and faster, but Pederson can 100% contribute to a team trying to make a playoff run.
Pederson is also a 13-year pro in this league with two All-Star nods during his career. If we want to focus on the “what have you done for me lately”, Pederson hit 26 bombs last year batting .235. I’ll take that for the end of my lineup and/or a platoon designation.
Yes, Pederson is limited defensively, and the team signing him would have to understand he would serve as the DH, bench bat, or a deep-reserve outfielder, but the power is there. The fit needs to be just right for Pederson, limiting his market, but he will deliver positive results all the same.
Potential Landing Spots - San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox, Seattle Mariners, Milwaukee Brewers, or the Miami Marlins
Bryan Abreu
Admittedly, this one is a stretch, as Bryan Abreu has been one of the best relievers in the game since his career got started. He is also on the right side of 30 (as of today); he will be turning 30 years old in April!
There is no shortage of teams looking for bullpen support, and Abreu could be the guy to solve relief pitching problems. He has been serving as the setup man in Houston under Josh Hader for years now. He is an elite setup man and can also close out games, with 25 career MLB saves recorded!
The reason I am including him on this list is that he is coming off his worst season since 2021, making him a more affordable option. For a guy with a career 2.82 ERA and 392.1 career innings, he has logged 528 strikeouts during that time. He utilizes a 3-pitch mix with his Slider, 4-Seamer, and Cutter to go after hitters. All three of these pitches generate a 27% whiff rate or greater, which makes him so lethal out of the bullpen.
He will most likely be the most “expensive” player on this list if I had to take a guess, but money well spent in my opinion. Plus, a team can sign a 2-3 year deal with Abreu and not feel terrible about it compared to Martinez and Pederson.
Potential Landing Spots - New York Yankees, Cleveland Guardians, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays, or the San Francisco Giants