We're keeping track of all the latest free agent and trade rumors.
Jan. 21: What’s left for Yankees to do after Bellinger’s return?
From the start of the offseason, the Yankees made no secret that bringing back Cody Bellinger was their top priority. They finally accomplished that goal on Wednesday, reaching a five-year deal with the outfielder, a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand.
The Yankees previously re-signed outfielder Trent Grisham, infielder Amed Rosario and pitchers Ryan Yarbrough and Paul Blackburn. They also traded for pitcher Ryan Weathers and signed infielder Paul DeJong to a Minor League deal. With Bellinger returning as well, much of the Yankees’ offseason work is now complete, though another trade for a starter can’t be ruled out.
With Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón set to miss Opening Day, the Yankees have been frequently linked to Brewers ace Freddy Peralta, even after they acquired Weathers from the Marlins.
Bellinger’s deal will put the Yankees over the fourth Competitive Balance Tax threshold of $304 million, but with Peralta earning just $8 million in 2026 (his final year before free agency), they may still have room in their budget for the righty.
Bellinger’s return could also give the Yankees more latitude to move one of their young outfielders in a trade, be it Jasson Domínguez or prospect Spencer Jones.
Jan. 21: Latest on Peralta’s market
While a few solid options remain unsigned, the market for free-agent position players is largely settled after Cody Bellinger returned to the Yankees on Wednesday, putting the focus squarely on the starting-pitching market as Spring Training looms.
Teams in search of rotation help can still turn to free agency, with Framber Valdez and Zac Gallen among those seeking deals. But perhaps no starter has generated as much buzz lately as the Brewers’ Freddy Peralta, who is available via trade.
MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reported over the weekend that Milwaukee was continuing to field offers for Peralta. Per Heyman, the righty has been drawing interest from a long list of teams, including the Yankees, Mets, Dodgers, Giants and Braves. That’s hardly a surprise, given Peralta’s strong track record and modest $8 million salary for 2026, his final year before free agency.
Now that Bellinger’s situation is settled, it’s possible that the Yankees will ramp up their efforts to acquire Peralta. The same goes for the Mets, who were in on Bellinger before landing center fielder Luis Robert Jr. from the White Sox on Tuesday night in a move that addressed a glaring weakness.
The Dodgers also can’t be ruled out, even though the club already has a strong rotation and has fortified its roster with the additions of Kyle Tucker and Edwin Díaz. The Athletic's Katie Woo (subscription required) reported Tuesday afternoon that Los Angeles remains interested in trading for Peralta, in part because of the injury questions surrounding many of the team’s starters.
Jan. 21: The latest on the top remaining free agents
Another top free agent came off the board on Wednesday, as Cody Bellinger reached a five-year deal to return to the Yankees (per a source).
Bellinger's deal means that there are just six free agents who are still available from the top 30 list MLB.com's Mark Feinsand released at the start of the offseason. Here's what we know about those six players.
Framber Valdez and Zac Gallen: Both of these free-agent starters -- like Dylan Cease and Ranger Suárez before them -- were extended a qualifying offer early in the offseason. That means if they sign with a new team, that club has to surrender some level of Draft pick compensation to their old team (the Astros and D-backs, respectively, in this case). It's unclear if that has been a factor in their extended stay on the open market. Valdez has been linked to the Mets, Orioles, Giants and Cubs. The left-hander reportedly met with the Blue Jays during the GM Meetings in November, but that was before Toronto signed Cease to a $210 million contract.
Gallen is looking to bounce back following a year in which he posted a 4.83 ERA and a career-low 21.5% strikeout rate. Last month, Feinsand listed the Angels, Giants, Tigers, Orioles, Braves and Cubs as having some interest in the 30-year-old. Bruce Levine of 670 AM The Score in Chicago reported Monday that conversations between the Cubs and Gallen are "ongoing."
Eugenio Suárez: The 34-year-old third baseman hit 49 home runs last season, and although he struggled at the plate after being traded to the Mariners ahead of the Deadline (.189 average, .683 OPS, 35.9% K rate), Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said in December that the club is open to bringing Suárez back for a third stint in Seattle. The Pirates have also checked in on Suárez.
Luis Arraez: Does any team want a three-time batting champ? One of this offseason's most interesting free agents, Arraez was linked to the Rangers earlier this winter. Texas is now managed by Skip Schumaker, who was his manager with the Marlins from 2023-24. There has been very little buzz surrounding Arraez, who could ultimately end up back with the Padres as they still have a need at first base.
Chris Bassitt and Lucas Giolito: The last two players on Feinsand's top 30, these two right-handers are at the head of a cluster of serviceable rotation arms who are still unsigned. It would make sense to assume that pitching-needy teams such as the Orioles and Mets could also be interested in these veteran hurlers. The Athletic recently reported (subscription required) that the Tigers have been in talks with both Bassitt and Giolito.
Jan. 21: Mets acquire center fielder Robert from White Sox
The Mets made a major move to finalize their outfield late Tuesday night, acquiring center fielder Luis Robert Jr. from the White Sox for infielder Luisangel Acuña and right-handed pitching prospect Truman Pauley, the clubs announced.
Talks regarding Robert have been ongoing since the Trade Deadline in 2024. There were even times, specifically Spring Training prior to the 2025 season, when Robert didn’t seem to believe he would be with the White Sox by Opening Day. But the center fielder stayed put until this offseason. More >
Jan. 16: Verlander garnering interest from several clubs (report)
Veteran right-hander Justin Verlander is "receiving interest from several clubs," according to a report by Ken Rosenthal in the Athletic (subscription required). A specific team Rosenthal mentions is the Orioles, who are looking to add to their starting rotation.
While Verlander finished with a 3.85 ERA in his age-42 campaign last year, he posted a 2.60 ERA over his final 13 starts for the Giants, showing that he certainly might have something left in the tank as he seeks to pitch in a 21st Major League season.
Baltimore's current rotation features Shane Baz (acquired in a trade with the Rays earlier this offseason), Trevor Rogers, Kyle Bradish, Zach Eflin (signed as a free agent) and Dean Kremer. The O's have also been linked to free-agent left-hander Framber Valdez, and there are some potential options on the trade market, such as the Brewers' Freddy Peralta and perhaps even reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal of the Tigers -- though a serious bid for either would likely require a hefty return of top prospects.
Rosenthal refers to Verlander as a "fallback" for Baltimore in the event it is unable to land one of those other options.
Jan. 16: Are the Mets primed for a trade after signing Bichette?
The Mets didn't waste any time in their pivot after losing out on Kyle Tucker. A source told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand that the club agreed to a three-year, $126 million deal with infielder Bo Bichette. The deal reportedly includes two opt-outs.
In inking Bichette, the Mets land the sort of high-impact bat that they coveted throughout the offseason. According to a report from The Athletic (subscription required), Bichette is expected to play third base. He is the third veteran infielder to join the Mets within the past two months, alongside second baseman Marcus Semien and Jorge Polanco, who is expected to see a lot of time at first base.
That leaves the Mets with a glut of infielders, which could help them address another glaring need: starting pitching. New York's rotation became one of its biggest weaknesses last season, and that same unit is mostly intact. Could the Mets flip one of their younger infielders for a starting pitcher? Mark Vientos, who the team explored moving at the Trade Deadline, doesn't have a clear path to consistent playing time. With the addition of Bichette, neither does Brett Baty, who was previously expected to be the club's everyday third baseman.
Among popular starting pitcher targets, the Mets have been linked to Brewers ace Freddy Peralta, who will be a free agent after the 2026 season. The Nationals have also been listening on All-Star left-hander MacKenzie Gore.
Jan. 16: Phillies quickly pivot after losing out on Bichette, bring back Realmuto (source)
The Phillies met with infielder Bo Bichette this week and reportedly made him an aggressive offer with the hopes that he would join the likes of Bryce Harper and Trea Turner on their infield. Alas, Bichette ultimately decided to join the Mets on a three-year deal Friday, per a source.
It didn't take long for Philly to close the deal with its next target. A source told MLB.com on Friday that the club has agreed to bring back catcher J.T. Realmuto on a three-year, $45 million contract with a possible $5 million more in incentives per season. The top catcher in this year's free agent class, Realmuto spent the past seven seasons with the Phillies, making two All-Star teams and winning two Gold Gloves in the process.
This is likely the Phillies' last headline move of the offseason, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. But they could still make minor additions to the club. The Phils could target some rotation depth and/or seek a right-handed bat to platoon with Brandon Marsh in left field, per The Athletic's Matt Gelb (subscription required).
Jan. 15: What’s next for Red Sox after landing Suárez?
Much of the chatter surrounding the Red Sox lately has been about their pursuit of an infielder and how they’ll respond to the loss of Alex Bregman, who signed a five-year, $175 million deal with the Cubs. On Wednesday, though, they made a surprising move to further bolster their rotation, landing Ranger Suárez on a five-year, $130 million deal in free agency (per a source).
With Suárez joining holdovers Garrett Crochet and Brayan Bello and fellow newcomers Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo on Boston’s staff, the Red Sox could have one of the game’s best rotations.
They also have plenty of starting pitching to offer in a trade for an infielder. A team source suggested to The Athletic's Jen McCaffrey (subscription required) that the Red Sox will still be exploring free-agent bats in addition to the trade market.
Having Kutter Crawford and Patrick Sandoval on hand to provide veteran depth could allow Boston to dangle either Payton Tolle (MLB Pipeline’s No. 28 overall prospect) or Connelly Early (Red Sox’s No. 4 prospect) as trade bait. Bello, who signed a six-year extension with Boston in March 2024, is another trade candidate. The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported in December that Boston had been "quietly" shopping him.
Although the D-backs have pulled reported Boston target Ketel Marte off the trade market, McCaffrey suggests the Red Sox could try to reignite conversations with Arizona, offering Tolle or Early along with either Jarren Duran or Ceddanne Rafaela.
Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner, Cardinals second baseman Brendan Donovan and Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes are among the other options the Red Sox could consider. However, it's questionable whether the Red Sox would move Tolle or Early for any of those veterans.
Jan. 14: Assessing starting pitching market in wake of Suárez deal with Red Sox
One of the top available starting pitchers has come off the board, with the Red Sox and free-agent lefty Ranger Suárez reaching an agreement on Wednesday.
That leaves Framber Valdez as the last remaining hurler from the clearly defined quintet that sat at the top of the starting pitching market at the start of the offseason, with Dylan Cease (Blue Jays), Michael King (Padres) and Tatsuya Imai (Astros) also in that group along with Valdez and Suárez. Valdez has been most often linked to the Mets and Orioles.
Meanwhile, Brewers right-hander Freddy Peralta continues to loom as an attractive trade target, given his recent performance and modest salary for 2026 ($8 million), which will be his final year before free agency. MLB Network insider Jon Heyman linked the Yankees, Mets, Dodgers, Giants and Braves to Peralta on Wednesday.
With a Tarik Skubal trade still considered a long shot -- despite the sizable gap in arbitration figures between the lefty and the Tigers -- and the Twins reportedly not planning to move Joe Ryan or Pablo López, we could see interest in the Nationals’ MacKenzie Gore start to pick up as well.
Zac Gallen, Chris Bassitt, Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer and Lucas Giolito are among the other notable options left in free agency.
Jan. 13: Giants 'aggressively pursuing' second basemen (report)
After signing Adrian Houser and Tyler Mahle to strengthen their rotation earlier in the offseason, the Giants are shifting their attention to the infield.
According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, San Francisco is "aggressively pursuing" a second baseman and has been engaged in trade talks with the Cubs regarding Nico Hoerner and the Cardinals regarding Brendan Donovan.
Second base is a clear area of need for the Giants, who are projected to have the third-worst production from second base in the Majors. Right now, Casey Schmitt -- who owns a carer 101 OPS+ and posted a -4 Outs Above Average last season -- is slated to receive the bulk of the playing time. More >
Jan. 13: D-backs acquire Arenado from Cardinals
The D-backs have completed a trade with the Cardinals for veteran third baseman Nolan Arenado.
St. Louis is receiving 22-year-old right-hander Jack Martinez -- an eighth-round pick from the 2025 MLB Draft out of Arizona State -- in return. More >
Jan. 13: Yankees acquire LHP Weathers from Marlins for 4 prospects
The Yankees moved to bolster a rotation that projects to be compromised in the early months of the upcoming season, as the club announced Tuesday it has acquired left-hander Ryan Weathers from the Marlins for a four-player prospect package.
Miami is receiving outfielder Brendan Jones, outfielder Dillon Lewis, infielder Dylan Jasso and infielder Juan Matheus in the trade.
Jones (No. 15), Lewis (No. 16) and Jasso (No. 23) were all ranked among the Yankees’ top 30 prospects, according to MLB Pipeline. More >
Jan. 11: After signing Bregman, are Cubs prepping to make another trade?
One of the big four remaining free-agent position players is no longer on the market. Alex Bregman agreed to a five-year, $175 million contract with the Cubs on Saturday. It's the third-largest deal in Cubs history in terms of total value, and it gives Chicago a stacked infield, with Bregman at third base, Dansby Swanson at shortstop, Nico Hoerner at second and Michael Busch at first.
It also leaves the Cubs with an infield surplus. Matt Shaw, coming off a solid rookie season, was slated to enter the year at the hot corner, but with Bregman now in town, Shaw could become a super-utility player capable of playing multiple infield positions. Or the Cubs could entertain trade offers for either him or Hoerner, who will be a free agent after the 2026 season. Hoerner's name has come up in trade rumors throughout the winter, and with Shaw able to shift over to second base if needed, Chicago could further explore Hoerner's market and try to get something for him before he potentially leaves via free agency.
The Cubs completed a splashy trade just a few days ago, acquiring starting pitcher Edward Cabrera from the Marlins for three prospects. As MLB.com's Mark Feinsand wrote, it’s entirely possible that the Cubs will enter next season with Shaw and Hoerner on their roster. But adding Bregman gives them the flexibility to construct another notable trade if they so desire.
Jan. 10: Tigers targeting veteran starters Giolito, Bassitt (report)
The Tigers have made one addition to their starting rotation so far this offseason, signing right-hander Drew Anderson after he had two dominant seasons in Korea. But Detroit would like to keep adding to its starting staff and has been in talks with, among others, veteran starters Lucas Giolito and Chris Bassitt, according to The Athletic (subscription required).
The 31-year-old Giolito, a high school teammate of current Tigers starter Jack Flaherty, had a solid 2025 season for the Red Sox, posting a 3.41 ERA over 145 innings before an elbow injury in September cut his year short. Bassitt, 36, had a 3.96 ERA over 170 1/3 innings for the Blue Jays last year. He has pitched at least 170 innings in each of the past four seasons.