MLB teams are preparing for exciting pennant races during this final month of the regular season, as well as looking forward to what should be an amazing postseason. At the same time, front offices are focusing on the upcoming free-agent class. Executives, analysts and scouts throughout the sport are spending the final few weeks of the regular season finalizing their valuations and target lists and ranking the potential free agents in the 2026-2027 class.This winter’s class is headlined by starting pitching, led by the Dodgers’ Tarik Skubal, the Padres’ Casey Mize and Michael King, the Orioles’ Trevor Rogers and the Cubs’ Clay Holmes. This class also includes three elite relievers, Yankees closer David Bednar, Braves closer Raisel Iglesias and Padres set-up man Adrian Morejon.The position player side of the class is not nearly as strong as the pitching side. The most intriguing players are Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., who’s having a down year, and Mariners outfielder Randy Arozarena.Though we don’t yet know how the labor negotiations will impact this offseason, we do know that the last time there was a lockout (the 2021-22 offseason), there were still many significant free-agent signings. Here is a quick look at the cream of the expected free agent class, broken down by the top 15 pitchers and the top 15 position players:Top 15 free agent pitchersTarik Skubal, LHP, Los Angeles Dodgers After winning back-to-back AL Cy Young Awards for the Tigers, Skubal suffered an elbow injury in April that led to surgery on May 6. He missed roughly six weeks but still managed to post a 2.79 ERA in 96 2/3 innings before being dealt to the Dodgers at the trade deadline. He’s continued to pitch at that high level with the Dodgers and looks well positioned to enter the offseason as the premier free agent on the market.Assuming he remains healthy, there’s no doubt that he’ll soon become the highest paid pitcher based on the average annual value. He turns 30 in November and he looks poised to continue dominating hitters for the next several years. He’s by far the best free agent in this class and I can’t wait to see what contract he and his agent Scott Boras are able to secure.Michael King, RHP, San Diego PadresPadres’ fans are hoping the ownership change will help them secure King to a long-term deal, as he has quietly become their ace and is the second-best starting pitcher in this year’s free-agent class. King, 31, is in the 90th percentile in pitching run value, 93rd in breaking ball run value and 97th in off-speed run value. He’s also in the 88th percentile in hard-hit% and 85th percentile in Avg Exit Velocity thanks to his special secondary offerings.After an injury-shortened 2025 season, Michael King has been durable once again in 2026. (Sergio Estrada / Getty Images)Perhaps most importantly, King has looked durable this season after making only 15 starts in 2025 due to injury. He’s already nearing a career-high in innings pitched and ranks among the top 10 in the National League in that category.Clay Holmes, RHP, Chicago CubsOne of the best moves Mets president David Stearns has made was signing Holmes before the 2025 season and moving him from the relief role he held with the Yankees to a starting role.It was a smooth transition for Holmes last year, as he went 12-8 with a 3.53 ERA in 165 2/3 innings. He has continued to pitch at a high level this season, though his year was interrupted by a freak injury that resulted in a fractured right fibula in May. He hasn’t missed a beat since returning from the injury. The Mets traded him to the Cubs at the deadline for top infield prospect Jefferson Rojas and Holmes will be a big part of Chicago’s push for the postseason (and potentially beyond). Teams will be lining up for his services this fall.Adrian Morejon, LHP, San Diego PadresMorejon is the best left-handed reliever in this class and although he is in a set-up role for the Padres, he also has the potential to be an impact closer. He has a power arsenal that features a 99-mph sinker, a 99-mph four-seam fastball, a 92-mph changeup and an 89-mph slider. He has been durable over the years and has exceeded 60 appearances in each of the past three seasons, maintaining sub-3.00 ERAs in each of those years.Robbie Ray, LHP, San Diego PadresScouts are going to be keeping a close eye on the Padres’ pitching staff, as several of their top arms will be free agents this offseason. Ray is one of them after he was acquired from the Giants at the trade deadline.Though Ray hasn’t missed a lot of bats with either team this season, he’s posted strong results and has looked durable for a second straight year after missing most of the 2023 and 2024 seasons recovering from Tommy John surgery. His fastball averages 93.1 mph and his deceptive changeup is his best secondary pitch, while his slider has been solid all season long.Foster Griffin, LHP, Cleveland GuardiansThough he made his MLB debut in 2020, until this season, Griffin had made only seven MLB appearances with the Royals and Blue Jays. Before the 2023 season, he signed with Yomiuri of the Nippon Professional Baseball league. After three stellar seasons in Japan, Griffin returned to the U.S. this offseason as a free agent. He was one of the best value signings, inking a one-year, $5.5-million deal with the Nationals. After he had a great first half, the Nationals tried to extend Griffin before the trade deadline. When they couldn’t get it done, they traded him to the Guardians.After spending time in Japan, Foster Griffin returned to MLB with the Nationals this year and established himself as a valuable starter. (Jamie Sabau / Getty Images)His return to MLB has been sensational, as he’s gone 15-4 with a 3.21 ERA in 154 1/3 innings. His seven-pitch mix has been impressive, as he throws a four-seamer, cutter, two-seamer, sweeper, changeup, curveball and split-finger. At age-31, he’s now a solid mid-rotation starter.Casey Mize, RHP, San Diego PadresMize, 29, was the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft. Although he’s never lived up to that billing and has had to overcome several injuries, he’s finally healthy and a solid mid-rotation starter. After posting a 3.87 ERA in 149 innings last season, he has a 3.64 ERA in 113 2/3 innings this year with the Tigers and the Padres. His four-seam fastball has been the most effective it’s been in years, with much improved command and finish.