MLB Next Team Odds: Free Agency Predictions for Tucker, Bichette, Bellinger and More

• Kyle Tucker headlines the list of baseball’s most coveted free agents
• Tucker is projected to land a long-term contract as rich as $400 million
• See the MLB next team odds and free agent predictions for Tucker, Cease, Bichette and more

There’s no Juan Soto this year in MLB free agency, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t big names worth paying. Interestingly enough, one of the top free agents on the market is also a former Yankee who is a strong bet to follow in Soto’s footsteps and sign with the Mets.

We’ll get to Cody Bellinger’s next team below, but first, there are a couple of other players who will be commanding bigger paydays.

MLB Next Team Odds & Predictions

That list is led by former Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker. There are only a handful of teams that would be willing to pay his price tag, which could be as high as the $400 million range. The most obvious team that would fork over that kind of cash is the Dodgers, who, despite winning back-to-back World Series, need to upgrade the heart of their order.

Odds as of Nov. 4 at DraftKings. Check out the top DraftKings promo code and get a bonus to wager on MLB futures.

DRAFTKINGS SPORTSBOOK

Offer

T&Cs

Sign Up Today & Receive Up to
$1,050 in Bonuses!

GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/KY/NH/WY). Void in ONT/OR/NH. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS).

LOCK IN PROMO

SIGNUP PROMO

SIGN UP
& GET $1,050

BONUS BETS + DEPOSIT BONUS

GET PROMO

Free Agent Prediction #1: Tucker to the Dodgers

Los Angeles hit just .204 in the postseason, and scored more than four runs in only four of their final 13 playoff games. Big-name hitters like Mookie Betts, Max Muncy, and others no showed for the bulk of the postseason, and it should have cost them a ring.

Everyone knows the Dodgers’ budget has no cap, and Tucker looks like an expensive investment that’s worth making. Prior to his injury in June, he was on pace to lead all pending free agents in WAR. He’s a rare combination of power and speed, with multiple 30 home run, and 20 steal seasons on his resume.

Tucker would instantly upgrade the heart of their lineup and could fill a void in the outfield. Dave Roberts couldn’t trust Andy Pages’ bat in the postseason, while Kiki Hernandez and Teoscar Hernandez are nowhere near as talented.

The only other realistic suitors are the New York teams, but I believe the Mets are going to target a slightly cheaper outfield option, while the Yankees’ outfield is already crowded.

Free Agent Prediction #2: Bichette Back in Toronto

Bo Bichette is the positional player set to earn the next biggest raise, and I’d be shocked if the Blue Jays are not the ones to give it to him.

Bichette is one of the faces of the franchise, along with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. They grew up playing together in the minors and have both excelled since hitting the big leagues. 

Bo Bichette 2025 Stats

Bichette is a major reason why Toronto was in a position to make a World Series run before his late-season injury, leading MLB with 181 hits when he went down. His running was compromised when he returned against the Dodgers, but his bat was electric, putting the Blue Jays in position to win it all before their untimely collapse.

Blue Jays fever swept not only the city of Toronto, but the entire country of Canada. Baseball hasn’t been this relevant north of the border in a very long time, and the Blue Jays organization built up a ton of goodwill, and more importantly, revenue, thanks to their postseason run. They cannot afford to lose that momentum, making signing Bichette the number one priority this offseason.

Bichette has been adamant that he wants to stay in Toronto, and the market is buying it. In the last 24 hours alone, his odds have gone from plus-money to now -110 to remain a Blue Jay. It’s a steep price to pay on a futures bet, but I’m buying it.

Free Agent Prediction #3: Bellinger Moves to the Mets

On to Bellinger now, who’s +700 to join Soto in Queens. The Yankees are the favorites to retain his services at +550, but to me, that seems unlikely. New York has already invested heavily in some of their younger outfielders, and have recently been burned multiple times by signing veterans to long-term, expensive contracts.

The Mets, on the other hand, seem to have an unlimited budget when it comes to free agency. They also have a gaping hole in center field, and at first base if they let Pete Alonso walk. 

That’s where Bellinger comes in. The 30-year-old can play all three outfield positions and would be a major upgrade in center over converted infielder Jeff McNeil. He slashed .272/.334/.480 last season, with 29 home runs, 98 RBI and a 5.0 WAR. That pop could go a long way to helping the Mets get back to the playoffs.

Free Agent Prediction #4: Schwarber Stays with Phillies

Speaking of pop, that’s exactly what Kyle Schwarber brings to the table. The 32-year-old set career-highs in home runs (56), RBI (132) and hits (145) last season, reducing his strikeout rate significantly along the way.

That kind of production doesn’t grow on trees, and the Phillies would be crazy not to bring him back. Philadelphia’s World Series odds window is now, as the bulk of their key players are all north of 30. They have two or three years left to maximise their championship chances, so I’d expect that type of term on Schwarber’s next contract.

Other realistic suitors include the Red Sox, who could use another left-handed power bat, or the Mets if they strike out on Bellinger. At the end of the day, I expect Schwarber to return to Philly, and that’s where my money is going.

Free Agent Prediction #5: Murakami Lands with Mariners

Finally, we have to talk about the next great Japanese superstar, Munetaka Murakami. The left-handed slugging phenom has been cranking dingers professionally at an elite rate since he was 19, and is going to draw a bidding war from a handful of teams.

I expect the Red Sox to be interested given their history of paying for Japanese talent, as well as potentially the Dodgers. Murakami can play either first or third base, and while LA has Freddie Freeman under contract, they can walk away from Max Muncy.

Pairing Murakami with fellow Japanese stars Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Rory Sasaki makes sense, but I expect them to take an even bigger swing for Tucker, a legit NL MVP odds candidate.

Instead of the perennial big-time spenders, I’m looking at the Mariners as Murakami’s next team. Both of their corner infielders, Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suarez, are free agents and were two of Seattle’s top sluggers. The M’s were eight outs away from their first World Series berth this season, and don’t have a lot of holes to plug to get back into position for another deep run.

Murakami could follow in Ichiro Suzuki’s footsteps, and with Seattle being on the edge of the West Coast, it would make travel to and from Japan extremely convenient for him and the Japanese media.