Major League Baseball
Hot Stove Season Update: Royals and Salvador Perez Agree on a 2-Year Extension
Update: November 4, 2025
The Kansas City Royals and Salvador Perez agreed to a 2-year extension. The deal covers the 2026 to 2027 seasons, and the contract guarantees $25 million, with some deferred money.
Original Post: November 2, 2025
After the Los Angeles Dodgers repeated as World Champions in what will be remembered as one of the greatest seven-game series in modern baseball history, the focus now shifts to the offseason, a time when every franchise looks to uncover the formula that has powered the Dodgers’ unprecedented success.
What looked like a sure victory for the Toronto Blue Jays, leading by one run with just two outs to go in the ninth, turned into another improbable Dodgers comeback, sealing their second straight title and cementing their modern-day dynasty. With 12 division crowns in the past 13 years, five World Series appearances, and three championships, the Dodgers have defined what consistency and dominance look like in today’s game. And with nearly the same roster expected to return in 2026, that dominance could very well continue, a daunting thought for every other contender hoping to be next.
The free agent market officially opens on Sunday, just a day after the Dodgers’ victory parade. While the champs bask in celebration, the other 29 general managers will waste no time — reevaluating rosters, crunching numbers, and preparing aggressive bids for the talent that could shift the balance of power next season.
Let’s take a look at some of the biggest names set to hit the open market this offseason:
⚾Catchers
• J.T. Realmuto – A 12-year MLB veteran, Realmuto remains one of the game’s top backstops and most reliable defenders. Despite battling injuries over his career, he’s appeared in at least 130 games in four of the last five seasons while providing consistent power and a serviceable .250+ batting average. The 34-year-old has spent the last seven seasons with the Phillies. Whether he returns to Philadelphia or signs elsewhere, any team landing Realmuto will get a catcher who knows how to handle a pitching staff and help win ballgames.
• Salvador Perez – A Kansas City legend, Perez has spent all 14 seasons of his MLB career with the Royals, earning nine All-Star selections and a 2015 World Series title. Even at 36, he continues to produce at an elite level — hitting 30 home runs and driving in 100 RBIs in 2025. Splitting time between catcher, first base, and DH, Perez still brings big power and veteran leadership. If he leaves Kansas City, whichever team signs him, will get one of the most respected and productive hitters in the game.
⚾ First Base
• Pete Alonso – Perhaps the biggest name in this year’s free agent class. Alonso drove in 126 runs in 2025, even as the Mets fell short of the postseason. After opting out of his 3-year deal, the Mets’ all-time home run leader is eyeing a long-term contract. While he didn’t reach 40 home runs, he still posted career highs in doubles (41), hits (170), at-bats (624), and batting average (.272), while appearing in all 162 games for the second straight year. Letting him walk would be a monumental risk for the Mets, and a massive upgrade for any team that lands him.
• Luis Arraez – At just 29 years old, Arraez stands out as one of the game’s purest hitters. Not known for power, his elite bat-to-ball skills have earned him comparisons to Tony Gwynn. He’s a three-time batting champion (2022–2024) and carries a career average of .317, even after hitting .298 in 2025. In a league obsessed with launch angles and home runs, Arraez has made consistent contact cool again, the perfect table-setter for power bats behind him.
⚾Second Base
• Ozzie Albies – The Braves hold a player option on the three-time All-Star, and it’s hard to imagine him in another uniform. After an injury-shortened 2024, Albies bounced back strong in 2025, playing 157 games and anchoring the Braves’ infield. At 29, he’s still in his prime and would be a valuable pickup for any team in need of a dynamic second baseman with both pop and range.
• Jorge Polanco – After two years with Seattle, the former Twin delivered his best season since 2021, hitting 30 doubles, 26 home runs, and 78 RBIs. Polanco also shined in the postseason, adding three homers in the Mariners’ playoff run. Clubs looking for a switch-hitting second baseman who can field and produce power from both sides of the plate will surely have Polanco high on their list.
The countdown is on for #OpeningDay!
March 26th will be here before you know it ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/7bHUUZjHgD
— MLB (@MLB) November 2, 2025
⚾Shortstop
• Bo Bichette – One of the brightest young stars in baseball, Bichette’s name will headline the shortstop market, if he even reaches it. Rumors suggest the Blue Jays want to reunite him long-term with teammate Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who just signed an extension. But if Toronto lets him test free agency, the 28-year-old will have no shortage of suitors. After rebounding from a 2024 injury, Bichette hit .310 with 44 doubles, 18 homers, and 94 RBIs in 139 games this past season and added a clutch homer in Game 7 of the World Series. A complete hitter and clutch performer, he’ll command big attention.
⚾Third Base
• Alex Bregman – After opting out of his 2-year deal with Boston, the 31-year-old former All-Star is once again on the market. Though limited to 114 games due to a quad injury, Bregman remains one of the best all-around third basemen in baseball. Teams that missed on him last offseason will now have another shot to bring his leadership and offensive spark into their clubhouse.
• Eugenio Suárez – The power-hitting third baseman split time between Arizona and Seattle in 2025, combining for 49 home runs and 118 RBIs while helping the Mariners to the ALCS. A model of consistency, Suárez has averaged 154 games over the past three seasons. Any GM looking to add instant middle-of-the-order power should have him near the top of their list.
⚾ Outfielders
• Cody Bellinger – After a resurgent year with the Yankees, Bellinger enters free agency once again as one of the game’s premier outfield bats. The short right-field porch in Yankee Stadium played to his strengths, and a long-term deal in New York could make him a superstar in pinstripes. Still, other teams will line up to lure the former Rookie of the Year and MVP away, both for his talent and to keep him from helping the Bronx Bombers win.
• Kyle Tucker – Another elite left-handed bat on the market, Tucker rebounded from an injury-shortened 2024 to play in 136 games with the Cubs and record his fifth straight 20+ home run season. For teams willing to spend big, the idea of pairing Tucker with Bellinger is tantalizing, but it’ll come down to who’s willing to write the biggest check.
