Could Tarik Skubal sign a record-breaking contract in MLB free agency? Which teams could land him, and who are the best starting pitchers available for the 2027 season?
Derek VanRiper and Eno Sarris rank the Top 25 MLB free agent starting pitchers, breaking down projected value, Stuff+, strikeout rates, injury concerns, possible landing spots and the contracts these pitchers could command.
Skubal sits in a tier of his own, but the rest of the market is much more complicated. How confident should teams be in Trevor Rogers after his transformation in Baltimore? Can Michael King regain his strikeout upside? What makes Sonny Gray and Foster Griffin intriguing options?
Plus, the guys examine Freddy Peralta's declining strikeout rate, potential bounce-back candidates Dustin May and Michael Soroka, and Japanese pitchers Kaima Taira and Hiromi Itoh.
The discussion also turns to some of the biggest questions on the relief market: Could Adrian Morejón get a massive deal? Will a team consider him as a starter? What does David Bednar's future look like, and which other relievers could command significant interest?
Also in this episode: the 2026 MLB Awards, the November 17 qualifying offer deadline, and what the available pitching market tells us about the upcoming offseason.
00:00 MLB Free Agent Pitcher Rankings
00:36 Welcome Back & First Pitch Arizona Recap
05:55 2026 MLB Awards Recap
09:18 Qualifying Offers: Rogers, Morejón & Bednar
10:35 Top Five Free Agent Starters
10:44 Tarik Skubal's Contract & Pitcher AAV Record
13:43 Where Could Skubal Sign?
20:33 Sonny Gray, Michael King & the Second Tier
24:24 Trevor Rogers' Potential Landing Spots
25:43 Break
26:06 Starting Pitchers Ranked 6–10
28:21 Freddy Peralta's Strikeout Concerns
31:27 Shota Imanaga & Potential Fits
36:00 Dustin May's Upside & Injury History
44:39 Kaima Taira: An Intriguing Japanese Pitcher
45:57 Starting Pitchers Ranked 11–15
50:10 Michael Soroka's Bounce-Back Potential
58:30 Starting Pitchers Ranked 16–20
1:05:50 Starting Pitchers Ranked 21–25
1:08:25 Nick Pivetta's Health & Free Agent Value
1:13:35 Bassitt, Woodruff, Gallen & Other Alternatives
1:17:06 Ranking the Available Free Agent Relievers
1:20:44 David Bednar's Future
1:27:19 Could Adrian Morejón Fit With the Cubs?
1:28:15 Final Thoughts & What's Next
Derek VanRiper and Eno Sarris deliver in-depth MLB analysis, baseball analytics, player evaluation, free agency coverage and fantasy baseball insight.
Subscribe to Rates & Barrels for more MLB offseason coverage, rankings, trades, rumors and original analysis from The Athletic.
Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris
Producer: Mac
Follow Rates & Barrels on Instagram: @rates_barrels
#MLBFreeAgency #TarikSkubal #RatesAndBarrels
","author_name":"The Athletic"}