Dylan Cease is a strong free agent for 2026. He is a reliable starter who made 32 starts last season and will find a home. As a right-handed starting pitcher, Cease is a member of a common commodity, but he is one of the top right-handed starting pitchers in Major League Baseball.
This list of free agents includes another Japanese import, a starting pitcher. Tatsuya Imai is the Japanese pitcher’s name. He is on this list with Cease, J.T. Realmuto, Eugenio Suarez, and Edwin Diaz. Do you think Cease will get the largest contract in this group of free agents?
Dylan Cease
Cease secured his fifth season in a row with 32 or more starts, showing great durability, but he got the worst full-season ERA+ of his career. ERA+ is earned run average adjusted for ballpark. Many believe it is the most accurate pitching metric.
Potential suitors will ask themselves: What was going on with his slider? He tinkered with both his slider and his breaking ball, throwing the latter harder with less depth and sweep. His results were worse, suggesting he should revert. He could sign with the New York Mets, the Boston Red Sox, or the San Francisco Giants.
Tatsuya Imai
Imai is a competitor to Cease. It is important to note that Japanese starting pitchers are viewed by major league front offices as a near-sure thing. That is good news for Imai’s stock. He is coming off a dominant season that saw him get a 1.92 earned run average and an outstanding 3.96 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
He was durable as well, pitching 163 innings. He has a mid-90s fastball and a forkball-like slider he delivers from a low release point. He could end up with the New York Mets or Yankees, or the Chicago Cubs.
J.T. Realmuto, Philadelphia Phillies, Catcher
J. T. Realmuto can most likely no longer be considered one of the game’s elite catchers, but even at his age and his diminished state, he ought to attract a good amount of attention thanks to his offensive track record. It is also the case that few catchers are available. His underlying statistics suggest he is still a league-average hitter. He also has a strong and accurate arm to deter base runners.
The other components of his defensive game have not aged as well as his throwing. Realmuto is a subpar goalie and a well-below-average framer, suggesting he will not appeal to teams who prioritize fielding. He could land back with the Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Angels, or San Diego Padres.
Eugenio Suárez, Third Baseman, Seattle Mariners
Euginio Suárez is an elite power hitter. In 2025, he batted only .228, but he hit 49 home runs and drove in 118 runs. He also takes his share of walks, and he does not swing and miss that much. Although his weakness is on pitches located up and in. He will be 35 in July and does not play great defense. However, with his power, Suárez ought to find a home in the middle of a lineup. He could end up with the Los Angeles Angels, San Diego Padres, or Chicago Cubs.
Edwin Díaz, New York Mets, Right-Handed Closer
Edwin Díaz struck out 98 batters in just 66.1 innings pitched. He suffered a ruptured patellar tendon during the 2023 World Baseball Classic. His fastball still sits at 97 miles per hour, which is down a couple of ticks from his pre-injury norm of 99 miles per hour.
Díaz’s slider remains elite, with opponents hitting just .179 against it with a .269 slugging percentage and a 44% whiff rate. He is going to get paid well for a reliever again, and he ought to remain a well-above-average closer for at least a few more seasons. He could end up with almost every team that has a shot to make the playoffs.
Conclusion
Teams can still find some good value in this third group of free agents, headed by Cease. He is a right-handed starting pitcher, and so is a Japanese import, Imai. There is a closer in this grouping, along with an aging slugger and catcher.
