50 SPORTS ILLUSTRATED | SI.COM
FOR THE SECOND consecutive year MLB en-
ters a winter of uncertainty. In 2020 the COVID-
19 pandemic clouded the game’s future; now, the
collective bargaining agreement is set to expire
Dec. 1. How negotiations unfold undoubtedly
will be the story of the offseason.
Owners and players have a host of issues
to work out for the new CBA, from the teams’
manipulation of service time to the rules of the
game. The very structure of free agency itself
could also be on the table. Will MLB continue
to push for a salary cap? Will the union demand
an end to arbitration so that players can reach
the open market—and earn much more lucrative
paychecks—earlier in their careers?
Even with the expiring CBA, the free-agency
schedule began as normal: The exclusive win-
dow in which players can negotiate with only
their most recent teams still started the day
after the World Series ended, followed by the
regular unrestricted period f ive days later. But
many prized players may be reluctant to sign
before a new CBA is reached.
That would be too bad, since this year’s free-
agent class is loaded with star shortstops, aces
and intriguing buy-low options. To get the hot
stove cooking—even though it could cool down
quickly—here are the top 50 players on the
market, along with the best fit for each.MLB50