With the postseason behind us and the hot stove ready to burn, we're taking a closer look at some of the most prominent players eligible for free agency.

Name: Jake Bauers
Position: First baseman/Outfielder
Team: Milwaukee Brewers
Age (as of Opening Day 2027): 31
2026 stats: 144 games, .266/.389/.484 (.874 OPS), 26 HR, 86 RBI, 11 SB, 93 R, 140 OPS+, 3.7 fWAR

For all of the breakout performers we saw in 2026, none was as unlikely as Jake Bauers.

After playing parts of six seasons in the Majors without making any significant impact, the 31-year-old had a career year this season, helping guide the Brewers to 103 regular-season victories, an NLCS Most Valuable Player Award, and the first World Series title in franchise history.

Bauers, who had a negative fWAR for his career prior to posting a 3.7 figure in 2026, was a consistent force in Milwaukee’s lineup, leading the club in home runs, OPS and OPS+. He ranked in the top 10 percent of the league in average exit velocity, barrel percentage, hard-hit percentage, chase percentage and walk rate, though he also ranked in the lower 20 percent in whiff percentage and strikeout rate.

Was Bauers’ breakout season an anomaly or a sign of things to come? That’s what teams will have to decide as he hits the free-agent market this winter.

Let’s take a look at how Bauers’ offseason might play out:

POTENTIAL SUITORS

BREWERS

Milwaukee led all teams with an .885 OPS from its first basemen, so bringing back Bauers would be an obvious move. Bauers earned $2.7 million last season, but he’s going to be looking for a lot more money (and a multi-year deal), so it remains to be seen whether the Brewers -- who must first decide whether to extend a $23.15 million qualifying offer to Bauers -- will pay what it takes to retain the NLCS MVP.

METS

First base was a disaster for the Mets in 2026, as they never found the right answer to replace Pete Alonso. New York’s .667 OPS at the position ranked 28th in the Majors, and although they have Jorge Polanco signed for one more year, he was unable to stay healthy this season, playing only 37 games. Bauers would be an offensive upgrade if he can repeat his performance from this past season.

TWINS

The Twins will be looking to add bats this winter, especially those that can hit left-handed pitching. Bauers had a .901 OPS against southpaws last season. Minnesota’s .667 OPS at first base ranked 27th in MLB, so unless the Twins believe Royce Lewis is the answer there, they could be on the hunt for a replacement.

PADRES

San Diego struck gold with the Ty France signing last offseason, but like Bauers, France is a free agent this winter. It seems more likely that the Padres would try to retain France on a new contract, but if he signs with another club, Bauers could be a solid candidate to replace him at first base.

DIAMONDBACKS

Arizona ranked last in the Majors with a .636 OPS at first base, while its 15 homers at the position tied for 27th. Ildemaro Vargas had the most at-bats (212) at first base in 2026, but he’s a free agent and may not return. After Vargas, it was Tim Tawa getting the second-most (167), while no other first baseman had more than 69 at-bats. The position feels like a priority for the Diamondbacks this winter, with Bauers as a logical candidate.

BUYER BEWARE

As solid as Bauers’ bat was this season, his glove left something to be desired. Bauers ranked in only the 5th percentile of the league with -8 Outs Above Average, posting negative numbers at both first base and in right field. Any team looking to add Bauers will have to deal with his defensive deficiencies, though his offense is why he will draw significant interest.

EXECUTIVE TAKE

“Bauers is an interesting guy because he’s basically a player who’s had a career year after being essentially a league-average hitter over the course of his career. He’s 31, but the season he put together is really legit; it’s basically the home runs and RBI that he’s put together in the last three or four years combined, and he’s been a huge part of the Brewers’ offensive success this year en route to the World Series.

“He’s still young enough that someone could offer him a three-year deal, though it’s very hard to weigh one year so heavily that he gets $50 million -- but I could see it happening. I think the most impressive part is the way he’s handled left-handed pitching; a wRC+ of 140-plus against both left and right is rare to see, and it’s what could give a team comfort in paying him to be an everyday guy, because prior to that, he was really more 15-20% below league average against lefties. It’s nice that he can theoretically go play in the outfield if you need him to, but realistically he's a guy you should be targeting to play first base, especially as he ages into his thirties.”

FOR COMP'S SAKE

Based on Bauers’ platform season, he comps well with Josh Naylor (five years, $92.5 million) and Christian Walker (three years, $60 million), but those two players had lengthier track records than Bauers brings to free agency. He’s going to find multi-year offers, though the average annual value will likely fall below both Naylor and Walker’s deals.