The MLB free agent class of 2027 was already looking thin—but after Tarik Skubal's latest elbow injury, it just got a whole lot weaker.
News broke Monday that the two-time Cy Young winner needs surgery to remove loose bodies from his elbow. While the exact recovery timeline remains unclear, early estimates suggest he'll miss two to three months. That's a tough blow for a pitcher who was supposed to be the undisputed headliner of next winter's free-agent market.
Skubal still tops the class—but now, everything is uncertain. Will he return this season? If so, for how long? And when he does come back, will he still be the dominant ace we've come to expect? Even in a best-case scenario where he pitches lights-out in the second half, teams will have to weigh that against two elbow surgeries in four years.
To be clear: nobody should count Skubal out. When healthy, he's one of the best in the game. But the reality is that his free-agent value has taken a hit—even if it's just a small one.
Unfortunately, the rest of the 2027 class isn't exactly stepping up to fill the void. Let's take a quick look at how the top names have fared so far in 2026.
The headliner remains Skubal, but his elbow issues could cap his earning potential. How much? That's the million-dollar question—literally.
Another big name is hitting just .236/.273/.313 (67 OPS+) with a $42 million player option for next season. At this rate, he'd be wise to exercise that option and skip free agency altogether.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. has been a mixed bag. He's slashing .213/.302/.328 (76 OPS+) with 11 steals, but the defense hasn't been sharp, and his WAR sits at 0.0. It's been a rough start, and it's hard to see him commanding a huge payday.
Freddy Peralta hasn't been terrible—but he hasn't been great either. He's 1-3 with a 3.52 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP over 38⅓ innings. After a career-high 5.4 WAR last season, he's on pace for just 1.4. You know what they say: never trade for a pitcher in a contract year.
With Skubal's status up in the air and other top names struggling, this free-agent class is shaping up to be one teams might approach with caution—and maybe a little creativity.