Will Mets make blockbuster move for Skubal or wait until FA?

We're keeping track of all the latest free agent and trade rumors.

Dec. 11: Will Mets trade for Skubal or wait until he's a free agent?

With trade rumors swirling around reigning two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal, the question posed by MLB Network insider Jon Heyman in an article for the New York Post (subscription required) is an intriguing one: Will the Mets try for a blockbuster deal with the Tigers to bring Skubal to Queens, or will New York wait until Skubal is a free agent to consider signing him then?

Heyman notes that the Mets have the prospect capital it might take to pry Skubal away from Detroit, but such a deal would only be for one year of team control over the ace left-hander. The alternative would be to wait until Skubal hits the free-agent market, at which point the Mets could certainly compete with anyone to land him on what could be a record contract for a pitcher.

"The Mets are well-equipped to trade with an outstanding stash of big league ready-prospects," Heyman notes, "but Mets baseball president David Stearns is among the majority of execs who loves prospects and may be loathe to gut his system for a pitcher who could leave after 2026."

On the other hand, Heyman added, the prospect of competing with the likes of the Dodgers in a free-agent bidding war over Skubal could tempt the Mets to go the trade route.

The Mets could certainly use an upgrade in the starting rotation, and needless to say, Skubal would be the best possible candidate, especially after New York lost fan favorites Edwin Díaz and Pete Alonso during the just-completed Winter Meetings.

Dec. 11: Tatis 'untouchable' in any Padres blockbuster

The Padres are reportedly "shooting big" on the trade market this winter. But any blockbuster won't involve the team's superstar, Fernando Tatis Jr., according to general manager A.J. Preller.

"He's somebody that we're not talking about, however you want to say that," Preller told the San Diego Union-Tribune's Kevin Acee at the Winter Meetings (subscription required). "If you want to say that's 'untouchable,' you can say that."

With Preller at the helm, the Padres are always one of the most interesting teams to watch during Hot Stove season. So despite a quiet Winter Meetings for San Diego, anything can still happen. But Tatis should be staying put entering 2026.

Dec. 11: Dodgers' Glasnow reportedly mentioned in trade talks

If everyone is healthy, the Dodgers' 2026 starting rotation looks like the best in the game: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Shohei Ohtani, Roki Sasaki and Tyler Glasnow make up a fearsome quintet. But there might be a change coming to that group before the start of the season.

ESPN's Alden Gonzalez reports that Glasnow's name was mentioned in trade talks during this week's Winter Meetings, and the Dodgers "would not be opposed to moving him."

Glasnow, whom the Dodgers acquired from Tampa Bay before the 2024 season, is due $32.5 million in 2026 and '27, and he has a $30 million club option for 2028. If declined, that club option converts to a $21.5 million player option.

The 32-year-old has the stuff to be a perennial All-Star, like he was in 2024. But he has run into myriad injuries throughout his 10-year career and has never thrown more than 134 innings in a single year. While with Los Angeles, Glasnow missed the final two-plus months of the 2024 season, including the playoffs, due to right elbow tendinitis. He missed about 10 weeks of this past season with right shoulder inflammation.

With Gavin Stone, River Ryan, Emmet Sheehan and others in tow, the Dodgers have starting pitching depth from which to trade. It's unclear what they might want in return for Glasnow, but adding an outfield bat is still on their offseason to-do list.

Dec. 11: What will busy Braves do next after signing RP Suarez, OF Yastrzemski?

Within the past day, the Braves have bolstered their outfield and bullpen. First, they signed Mike Yastrzemski to a two-year deal on Wednesday. Then they added Robert Suarez, the top reliever remaining in free agency, on a three-year deal Thursday.

Suarez, who turned in a 2.97 ERA and an NL-leading 40 saves in 2025, will serve as the setup man for closer Raisel Iglesias, who returned to the Braves on a one-year, $16 million deal in November.

With the high-leverage duties covered, the Braves may now turn their attention to their starting rotation or shortstop. After losing their entire 2025 Opening Day rotation to the injured list throughout the course of the year, Atlanta would like to add another arm to its starting staff and is monitoring top free agents like Zac Gallen.

Braves shortstops have combined for a .586 OPS since the beginning of 2024. It's possible the team will have the versatile Mauricio Dubón, acquired in a trade with the Astros last month, handle the lion's share of the playing time at that position. But the Braves also haven't closed the door on a reunion with free agent Ha-Seong Kim, who played 24 games with Atlanta to end last season. His market isn't expected to fully materialize until Bo Bichette, the best shortstop on the open market, picks a team.

Dec. 11: Market for D-backs' Marte, other top 2Bs heating up (reports)

One month after D-backs general manager Mike Hazen indicated that he was willing to listen to trade inquiries for second baseman Ketel Marte, rumors continue to swirl around the three-time All-Star.

MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reported earlier this week that Marte's market is heating up, with the Red Sox, Blue Jays, Mariners, Rays and possibly the Phillies as potential suitors for the 32-year-old. The Reds are also considering a move for Marte, according to The Athletic (subscription required).

The Rays and D-backs have discussed a deal that would include starting pitchers Ryan Pepiot and Shane Baz going to Arizona, per the Arizona Republic's Nick Piecoro (subscription required). Talks with another club about Marte, per Piecoro, "involved a more high-profile starting pitcher as the starting point of a deal, with other pieces expected to be added."

Marte was excellent yet again in 2025, hitting 28 home runs with an .893 OPS and 4.6 WAR (per FanGraphs) in 126 games. Since 2023, Marte is a top-15 player by both WAR (15.3) and wRC+ (140), with Marte winning a Silver Slugger Award and making the All-Star Game in each of the past two seasons.

Further adding to Marte's appeal is his affordable contract, which will pay him $91 million over the next five seasons, with an $11.5 million player option after the 2030 season. However, the D-backs are understandably seeking a big package in return for him.

If the Rays are able to land Marte, that would ostensibly make a trade involving second baseman Brandon Lowe much more likely, and the chances of a Lowe swap did increase during the Winter Meetings, according to MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi, In November, Tampa Bay picked up Lowe's $11.5 million club option; he will be a free agent after 2026. Cincinnati is reportedly interested in Lowe, and Morosi said on Wednesday that the Pirates have talked to Tampa Bay about a deal.

Teams that miss out on Marte and Lowe could pursue the Cardinals' Brendan Donovan, another popular trade target. Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (subscription required) reported that the Giants, Mariners, Royals and Pirates are interested in Donovan. The Red Sox have also discussed a trade for the 2025 All-Star, per The Boston Globe (subscription required).

Dec. 11: Red Sox reportedly trying to add multiple impact bats

The Red Sox are hoping to augment their offense in a big way.

After coming up short in their pursuits of Pete Alonso and Kyle Schwarber, Boston is aiming to acquire two bats to help its lineup, per The Athletic's Jen McCaffrey (subscription required). The team is apparently leaving no stone unturned in order to accomplish its goal.

While Boston is still hoping to reunite with Alex Bregman and has met with Bo Bichette, it is also one of the many clubs involved in trade talks for D-backs second baseman Ketel Marte. The Red Sox are also showing interest in a couple of other players who could fit at third base: free agent Eugenio Suárez and the Astros' Isaac Paredes.

Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reported (subscription required) on the Red Sox's connection to Suárez, and The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal (subscription required) wrote about their interest in trading for Paredes. McCaffrey adds that Boston tried to acquire Suárez before the 2025 Trade Deadline, with the intent of playing him at first base.

• 6 options for Red Sox after missing out on Schwarber, Alonso

Rosenthal wrote that the asking price for Paredes "likely would be steep." Houston, which is trying to acquire controllable starting pitchers, is specifically interested in one of the Red Sox’s two young left-handers, Payton Tolle or Connelly Early. Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said Monday that he is open to trading some of Boston's pitching depth to upgrade the team elsewhere.

“I think teams have recognized there’s appeal to controllable starting pitching," Breslow said. "If there are opportunities to use some of that depth in order to address other areas of the roster, we’d be willing to do it.”

On Wednesday, MLB Network insider Jon Heyman further reported that the team has also shown interest in free-agent infielders Kazuma Okamoto and Jorge Polanco. The Red Sox have also discussed trades for Rangers shortstop Corey Seager and Cardinals second baseman/outfielder Brendan Donovan, according to the Globe (subscription required).

Seager, signed by the Rangers through 2031, does not seem like an especially likely trade candidate, but the five-time All-Star and two-time World Series MVP would be a huge addition to any lineup. A Donovan deal appears more plausible: At the Winter Meetings, Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom acknowledged St. Louis has been engaged in trade talks regarding Donovan.

Dec. 11: Is Belli more likely to end up with Mets after Alonso's exit?

The Mets and their fans watched franchise icon Pete Alonso depart for the Orioles on Wednesday as he agreed to a five-year deal worth $155 million. Prior to that move, the Mets already had an opening in their outfield following their trade of Brandon Nimmo -- another fan favorite -- earlier this month. Now the Mets must address that position and their new void at first base.

There is only one marquee free agent who can help at either spot: Bellinger. The Mets already had reported interest in the 30-year-old, but in the wake of Alonso's decision, Bellinger is now an even better fit for the Mets, according to MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi. More >

Dec. 11: Might Cubs trade Nico Hoerner?

According to Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic (subscription required), Cubs infielder Nico Hoerner's name has come up in recent trade conversations. However, they term a deal involving the two-time Gold Glover as "unlikely" and state that the talks aren't a sign that the Cubs are actually looking to move Hoerner.

The 28-year-old second baseman is slated to reach free agency following the 2026 season. He was one of MLB's most valuable players in baserunning and fielding this past season while producing a career-best 109 wRC+. Hoerner has produced at least 4.0 FanGraphs WAR in three of the previous four years. In the only outlier year, 2024, his fWAR was 3.9.

Dec. 11: Royals interested in trading for Teoscar (report)

Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said on Monday that a trade involving outfielder Teoscar Hernández is "not something we anticipate at all."

But that doesn't mean a move involving the right-handed slugger won't happen. The team is continuing to "kick the tires" on a possible Hernández trade, according to The Athletic (subscription required). One club that has expressed interest in a deal is the Royals, whose outfielders combined for an MLB-worst 73 wRC+ this past season. By comparison, Hernández's wRC+ was a slightly-above-league-average 102.

The 33-year-old Hernandez is due about $31.6 million over the next two years and has a $15 million club option for 2028. He is not a good defender (minus-9 outs above average in 2025) and just posted a lowly .284 on-base percentage over 546 plate appearances, but he has been a dependable power source, hitting at least 25 home runs in each of the past five seasons.

Dec. 10: Where do the Mets turn after losing Alonso?

The Mets have a Polar Bear-sized hole to fill in their lineup, amid the news that longtime first baseman Pete Alonso reached a five-year, $155 million deal with the Orioles on Wednesday.

After failing to re-sign both Alonso and closer Edwin Díaz in a 25-hour span, the Mets certainly have plenty of money to repurpose elsewhere. But what might that look like? For one, they'll need a middle-of-the-order bat. MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reported earlier on Wednesday that the Mets have checked in on Kyle Tucker. They've also been linked to Cody Bellinger. Either player would help alleviate the loss of Alonso, who hit 38 home runs with a 144 OPS+ last season.

But neither player solves the other problem that the Mets need to address: finding a full-time first baseman, a role that Alonso has held since his MLB debut in 2019. Internally, the most logical option might be Mark Vientos, who started three games at first base last season. An external option could be Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras, who MLB.com's John Denton reports has been the subject of a "query" from the Mets.

Or, maybe the Mets will concentrate their focus on the starting pitching market, shoring up an area of weakness amid the team's second-half collapse. They recently met with free-agent righty Michael King over Zoom, per MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. And, according to MLB Network Insider Jon Paul Morosi, the Mets met with left-hander Framber Valdez at the GM Meetings last month.

Dec. 10: What's next for the Orioles after Alonso splash?

The Orioles narrowly missed out on Kyle Schwarber, matching the five-year, $150 million contract that he accepted from the Phillies, according to a report from The Athletic (subscription required). But it didn't take long for them to pivot, inking first baseman Pete Alonso to a five-year, $155 million deal on Wednesday.

Alonso's presence creates a logjam at first base for the Orioles, though that's certainly a good problem to have. Baltimore now has three right-handed-hitting first basemen, including Coby Mayo and Ryan Mountcastle. Meanwhile, catcher Samuel Basallo -- the organization's No. 1 prospect, per MLB Pipeline -- was also expected to get some time at first base. That likely won't be the case with Alonso in the fold; he's played all 162 games in back-to-back seasons.

Maybe that frees up an asset for the Orioles to use in a trade for a starting pitcher.

According to a report by The Athletic (subscription required), the Orioles are one of the teams interested in trading for Marlins starter Edward Cabrera. MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi reported that the O's have had "steady communication" with the Nationals about lefty starter MacKenzie Gore. Any deal for Gore would be the first trade between the two franchises since an October 2001 swap sending Hall of Famer Tim Raines to Baltimore from the Montreal Expos.

There was also a report from MLB Network insider Jon Heyman tying Baltimore to free-agent starter Ranger Suárez on Monday. According to Andy Kostka of the Baltimore Banner, the Orioles are still interested in Suárez, even after signing Alonso. Morosi also noted that the O's have had talks with another free-agent lefty, Framber Valdez.

Baltimore has been one of the busiest teams this offseason, with money to spend and a desire to return to contention in a hurry after a disappointing 2025 season. In addition to signing Alonso, they've traded for outfielder Taylor Ward and signed both reliever Ryan Helsley and outfielder Leody Taveras.

Dec. 10: Yankees, Red Sox, Giants among teams interested in Peralta (report)

While the Winter Meetings wrapped up and brought many significant moves, there's still much activity to come in the following weeks and months.

That activity could include a trade of Brewers starter Freddy Peralta. According to a report from The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon (subscription required), the Yankees, Red Sox, Giants, Orioles and Astros are among the teams that are interested in Peralta, with other teams like the Mets also believed to be in on the Brewers' righty. A Brewers official told The Athletic that “lots of teams” are calling about Peralta, terming it “a good week.”

That teams are interested in Peralta is hardly surprising. Peralta, who is entering his final year of club control before reaching free agency, has long been viewed as a prime candidate for the Brewers to trade, even after Milwaukee is coming off a franchise-best 97-win season. The 29-year-old Peralta is coming off one of his best seasons, posting a 2.70 ERA with 204 strikeouts in 176 2/3 innings, resulting in a fifth-place finish in NL Cy Young Award voting.

Peralta is projected to make around $8 million next season in his final year of arbitration. Due to the low salary and his high-level performance, the Brewers will certainly seek a big return, even though Peralta only comes with one year of control. More >

Dec. 10: Mets, Yankees among clubs in on Tucker (report)

Kyle Tucker is attracting "most all" big-market teams in free agency, according to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman. The Dodgers like the star outfielder, but only on a shorter-term deal, per The Athletic (subscription required). And the Blue Jays had an in-person meeting with Tucker last week.

Those teams, as well as the Orioles, have been joined in the hunt for this year's top free agent by the Mets and Yankees, per Heyman. More >

Dec. 10: Are Padres planning to make a massive trade?

Two years ago, Padres general manager A.J. Preller was at the center of one of the biggest trades completed during the Winter Meetings: Juan Soto and Trent Grisham to the Yankees for five players, including starting pitcher Michael King.

We won't see a trade that kind of headline-stealing trade go down during this week's Meetings in Orlando, right? Well, not so fast. According to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune (subscription required), Preller is "shooting big" in the trade market. Like, really big.

Acee reported on Monday that the Padres are "working multiple fronts" to consummate a deal that would rival that huge Soto swap. "Another source said Preller’s plans coming to fruition would make the deals he made at the past two Trade Deadlines pale in comparison," Acee wrote.

As a reminder, Preller has acquired top relievers such as Tanner Scott, Jason Adam and Mason Miller ahead of the past two Trade Deadlines. Miller and many of the Padres' other key relievers -- Adrian Morejon, Jeremiah Estrada and David Morgan -- have been the subject of some trade chatter, Acee reported on Tuesday (subscription required). However, he added that the Padres "do not seem inclined to deal from their strength."

San Diego is also listening to trade offers for ace starter Nick Pivetta and infielder Jake Cronenworth, per Dennis Lin of The Athletic (subscription required). However, Acee reports that a Pivetta trade "would only be executed if it were part of what one source termed a “blockbuster” that netted multiple Major League players."

Lin reported that executives around the sport believe that the Padres will eventually have to consider trading big-ticket players such as Fernando Tatis, Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts, who will combine to make more than $90 million in 2027. However, all three have full no-trade clauses, and the Padres are planning to hold onto them "for the foreseeable future," per Lin.

Dec. 10: Will Red Sox reacquire a former top prospect?

Kyle Teel was the biggest name in the Red Sox’s four-player trade package to the White Sox for left-handed ace Garrett Crochet last December. The lefty-hitting catcher was then ranked as MLB Pipeline’s No. 25 prospect. He debuted for Chicago this past summer, playing in 78 games and slashing .273/.375/.411 with eight homers.

But might he have to change his Sox again this offseason? The White Sox are entertaining trade offers for the 23-year-old backstop, and the Red Sox did inquire about a possible reunion with Teel during the season, according to Sean McAdam and Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com.

However, no deal is reportedly close, and the White Sox are seen as more likely to move another young catcher on their roster, Edgar Quero, than Teel. Still, McAdam and Cotillo write that Boston is “open-minded” to adding a catcher to team with 2025 rookie Carlos Narváez and Connor Wong.

Dec. 10: Brenton Doyle drawing trade interest (report)

Rockies outfielder Brenton Doyle is drawing "widespread" trade interest, according to a report from Ari Alexander of WHDH 7News in Boston. Alexander notes that the Padres, Phillies, Mets, and Yankees are among the teams to have called Colorado about Doyle.

A two-time Gold Glove Award winner in center field, Doyle broke onto the scene in 2024. He hit 23 home runs with 30 stolen bases and was worth 3.6 WAR (per FanGraphs). While his defense remained elite in 2025, he took a step backwards at the plate, posting a 72 OPS+.

It's also notable that Doyle is a right-handed hitting outfielder, because, as MLB.com's Mike Petriello wrote earlier this week, it has never been harder to find a good right-handed hitting outfielder. Doyle fit that bill in 2024, and it's not unreasonable to expect a bounce-back season in 2026. He'll turn 28 years old in May.

Dec. 9: Will Dodgers go after Tucker? Don't rule it out (report)

Even after agreeing on a deal to add closer Edwin Díaz to their star-studded roster, the Dodgers might not be done chasing top-flight free agents. According to Ken Rosenthal and Katie Woo of The Athletic (subscription required), Los Angeles could still pursue outfielder Kyle Tucker, the offseason's top free agent.

Rosenthal and Woo reported that the Dodgers likely wouldn't offer Tucker a long-term deal for six or seven years, with a three- or four-year contract more of a possibility. Regardless, Los Angeles -- coming off back-to-back World Series titles -- doesn't seem to be content after signing Díaz to a three-year deal worth a reported $69 million.

Inking Tucker is far from a certainty (MLB.com's Mark Feinsand wrote that he would be “surprised” if either Tucker or Cody Bellinger signed with Los Angeles) but adding a top free-agent bat still appears to be a priority for the Dodgers. MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi reported on Tuesday morning -- before news of the Díaz deal broke -- that Los Angeles is among the clubs interested in shortstop Bo Bichette.

Dec. 9: Cubs had video meeting with Bregman (report)

The Cubs reportedly made a four-year offer to Alex Bregman last offseason before he ultimately signed with the Red Sox, and it seems they are back in the mix for the third baseman.

The Athletic (subscription required) recently reported that the North Siders were showing "renewed interest" in the three-time All-Star, and on Tuesday, FanSided's Robert Murray reported that the Cubs had a Zoom meeting with Bregman several weeks ago. Murray hears that Bregman has had "several" Zoom meetings with other teams. More >

Dec. 9: Trade talks for Edward Cabrera heating up (report)

There are plenty of quality starting pitchers available in free agency this offseason but the trade market could feature plenty of intriguing options, too.

One of those trade options is Marlins starter Edward Cabrera. According to a report by The Athletic (subscription required) on Tuesday, the Marlins are progressing in efforts to trade Cabrera, with the Orioles being one of the teams interested in the 27-year-old right-hander.

Cabrera had a 3.53 ERA and 150 strikeouts in 137 2/3 innings this past season for the Marlins. Cabrera is under club control for three more seasons, which would make him both a fascinating short- and long-term option for other teams. To that point, The Athletic reports that the asking price for Cabrera is high, with some teams believing it'll be too high for him to ultimately be traded.

If Cabrera is indeed available, there should be no shortage of interested suitors. Cabrera has struggled at times with inconsistency and injuries in the past, but the talent is off the chart and he's coming off his best season in the Majors.

Dec. 9: Could Tigers go after this Gold Glove shortstop?

The Tigers have been linked to three-time All-Star Alex Bregman in free agency, but according to Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press, their interest in Bregman is currently "lukewarm." Rather than spend top dollar on Bregman, Detroit could pivot to another free-agent infielder: shortstop Ha-Seong Kim.

Petzold reported that the Tigers have expressed interest in Kim, who declined a $16 million player option with the Braves. The 2023 National League Gold Glove winner as a utility man, Kim signed a two-year, $29 million deal with the Rays before the 2025 season but was claimed off waivers by Atlanta on Sept. 1. Kim's decision to decline his option indicates he is interested in a multiyear deal, which the Tigers could offer if they choose not to pursue Bregman.

Trey Sweeney, Javier Báez and Zach McKinstry split time at shortstop for Detroit in 2025, with McKinstry serving as the Tigers' primary third baseman. Kim has spent the most time at shortstop in his career but is also capable of playing second or third base, although second baseman Gleyber Torres accepted the Tigers' qualifying offer for 2026.

Dec. 9: How will Schwarber's deal impact market?

The first big domino of the Winter Meetings has fallen, with Kyle Schwarber reaching a five-year, $150 million deal to return to the Phillies on Tuesday.

With Schwarber off the board, the focus now turns to the top position players left on the market -- Kyle Tucker, Bo Bichette, Alex Bregman, and Cody Bellinger -- not to mention some of the clubs that fell short in the Schwarber sweepstakes. The Mets, Reds, Red Sox, Pirates and Orioles were the other teams reported to be in the mix for Schwarber.

Read more on the potential impact of the Schwarber deal from MLB.com's Mark Feinsand here.

Dec. 9: Mets open to trading 2025 All-Star Peterson (report)

Teams are showing interest in Mets left-handed starter David Peterson, and New York is open to trading him if it can find the right fit, according to The Athletic (subscription required).

The Mets need a frontline starting pitcher, and although Peterson was a first-time All-Star this past season and their best starter for most of the year, he could help fill the Mets’ current holes in the outfield, at first base and in the bullpen. The 30-year-old southpaw is slated to be a free agent following the 2026 season.

After producing a 2.90 ERA over 21 starts in 2024, Peterson carried a 2.83 ERA and a 3.38 FIP through the first four months of the ‘25 campaign. He allowed 41 earned runs over his final 47 2/3 innings (10 starts), but that stretch also came with a 3.74 FIP, indicating that he might have been the victim of some bad luck.

Dec. 9: At least 5 clubs reportedly interested in Fairbanks

Pete Fairbanks isn’t the top closer available in free agency this year, but he may be the most popular late-inning reliever still on the market. Here’s a quick recap of the teams that have been connected to the right-hander, who turns 32 on Dec. 16.

– A source confirmed to MLB.com's Scott Merkin on Monday that the White Sox have "preliminary interest" in Fairbanks.

-- Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reported earlier this month that the D-backs and Fairbanks “have been engaged in discussions.”

-- The Marlins and Tigers are in on Fairbanks, according to MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi. The same goes for the Blue Jays, per The Athletic (subscription required).

In seven Major League seasons, Fairbanks owns a 3.19 ERA and a 30% strikeout rate, though the K rate has been down significantly the past two seasons. In 2025, the right-hander posted a 2.83 ERA with 27 saves for the Rays.

Dec. 9: After missing out on Schwarber, Pirates expected to make offer to Polanco (source)

The Pirates gave it a shot. They offered Kyle Schwarber a four-year, $125 million contract, a source told MLB.com's Alex Stumpf. But ultimately, Schwarber reunited with the Phillies on a five-year, $150 million pact.

So, the Bucs have to look elsewhere to accomplish their stated goal of improving their offense. One target is free-agent designated hitter/infielder Jorge Polanco. Per Stumpf, the Pirates are expected to make a contract offer to Polanco soon.

The switch-hitter is coming off a rebound season with the Mariners. After injuries hampered his production in 2024, Polanco hit 26 homers and had an .821 OPS over 471 at-bats in '25. A longtime middle infielder with Minnesota and Seattle, the 32-year-old Polanco spent 89 of his 138 games last season at DH.

Dec. 9: Longtime closer Jansen drawing interest from multiple teams (report)

Next season will be Kenley Jansen’s 17th in the Majors. He is 24 saves away from 500 and just three away from leaping over Lee Smith for third place on the all-time saves list. With which team might he reach those milestones in 2026?

According to Ari Alexander WHDH 7News in Boston, the Tigers are interested in the 38-year-old closer, and the Angels have “checked in” with him about a possible reunion.

Jansen spent the 2025 season with the Angels and recorded a 2.59 ERA and 29 saves in 30 opportunities. He has notched at least 25 saves in 13 of the past 14 seasons, with the only outlier being the shortened 2020 season, when he had 11 saves.

However, Jansen’s 24.4% strikeout rate last season was a career worst, and his 44.6% hard-hit rate was a career high. Jansen also benefited from an extremely low (and likely unrepeatable) .195 BABIP.

Dec. 8: Valdez met with Giants, Mets and Orioles at GM Meetings (report)

According MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi, the Giants, Mets and Orioles met with Framber Valdez at last month's GM Meetings. With Dylan Cease off the board after signing with the Blue Jays, Valdez -- who owns a career 3.36 ERA in 1,080 2/3 career innings -- has a good argument for being the top available starting pitcher.

In regards to San Francisco, there has been mixed reporting on whether the Giants will target high-level starters such as Valdez or if they will look for lower-priced free-agent options. Buster Olney of ESPN and Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic (subscription required) have each reported that San Francisco appears to be targeting lower-priced free-agent options rather than the likes of lefties Valdez and Ranger Suárez or Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai. Morosi, meanwhile, reported that the Giants are active on multiple free-agent starters and are "in a good position" to land an upper-tier free agent. The Giants could also be a player in the trade market, with top prospect Bryce Eldridge potentially being an option in a trade, according to Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle (subscription required).

It is also worth questioning whether the Mets will give Valdez -- or any of the top starting pitchers on the open market -- the type of deal they are searching for. Although a true ace is the Mets' biggest need entering this week's Winter Meetings, the team is reluctant to offer a long-term contract to any of this year's best free-agent starters, according to The Athletic's Will Sammon (subscription required). The Mets would reportedly prefer to add to their rotation with someone on a shorter-term contract.

Dec. 8: Cubs among teams showing interest in Japanese star Imai (report)

Could the Cubs add another Japanese star to a roster that already features slugger Seiya Suzuki and pitcher Shota Imanaga? It appears Chicago is going to try. According to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, the Cubs have expressed interest in pitcher Tatsuya Imai, one of the top starters available on the free-agent market.

Imai, 27, has until Jan. 2 to sign with a Major League club. His market appears to be wide open: The Orioles have reportedly shown interest in Imai, and teams like the Mets, Red Sox and Yankees have also been linked to the right-hander.

The Cubs have been linked to starters like Zac Gallen and Michael King, so it stands to reason they could be willing to pursue Imai, who is likely due for a contract over $100 million. Since outfielder Kyle Tucker "probably won't" return to Chicago, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, the North Siders have money to spend.

Dec. 8: King appears to be Mets’ top rotation target

The Mets recently met with free-agent right-hander Michael King via Zoom, a source told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, who notes that King appears to be the Mets' top rotation target.

While the Mets already addressed the bullpen by signing Devin Williams to a three-year deal, they haven't yet done so with the starting rotation.

King missed significant time last season due to knee and shoulder injuries, but he has shown the ability to handle the spotlight in New York after spending five seasons with the Yankees and would likely be amenable to a shorter-term deal.

The latter point is especially important, as the Mets are said to be reluctant to offer a long-term contract to any of this year's best free-agent starters, The Athletic's Will Sammon (subscription required) reports. That could make them an unlikely fit for someone like Framber Valdez. The Mets did meet with Valdez at last month's GM Meetings, per MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi, but that may have just been the club doing its due diligence.

Dec. 8: Yankees showing interest in Gore, Keller, Megill (reports)

The Washington Post (subscription required) is reporting that the Yankees have shown interest in trading for Nationals left-hander MacKenzie Gore. And MLB Network insider Joel Sherman writes in an article for the New York Post (subscription required) that the Yanks are also interested in free-agent right-hander Brad Keller.

In another New York Post article, Sherman reports that the Yankees -- as well as the Mets and several other clubs -- are also looking at Brewers reliever Trevor Megill as a possible trade target to bolster the bullpen.

With ace Gerrit Cole and left-hander Carlos Rodón each recovering from elbow surgery, New York will need rotation reinforcements to open the season. And while they have David Bednar at the back end of the 'pen, the Yankees are also looking to add in the relief department.

Gore had a tremendous first half in 2025, posting a 3.02 ERA and 30.5% strikeout rate by the All-Star break. He struggled to a 6.75 ERA after the break, but his raw stuff -- particularly his slider -- and the fact that he's just 26 years old make him a very attractive trade candidate.

Keller, meanwhile, is coming off a breakout campaign with the Cubs. In 68 appearances (one start) for Chicago last season, the right-hander produced career bests in ERA (2.07) and strikeout rate (27.2%) before posting a 1.59 ERA over five postseason appearances.

Keller, 30, has experience both as a starter and a reliever, and Sherman reports that the Yankees are interested in him as a reliever. But given the projected early-season depth issues in the rotation, he could certainly fill in there before being moved to the bullpen.

Megill, who just turned 32, missed some time late last season with a right flexor strain, but overall he was good for Milwaukee, posting a 2.49 ERA with 30 saves in an All-Star campaign. He struck out 31.3% of the batters he faced and in eight career postseason outings, he owns a 1.23 ERA.

Dec. 8: Astros interested in Baz to bolster rotation (report)

According to a report by The Athletic (subscription required), the Astros are considering Houston native Shane Baz as a possible target to address their top priority -- pitching. Baz, 26, was a 12th overall pick by the Pirates in 2017, and made his Major League debut with the Rays in '21. He made only nine MLB starts from 2021-22, and he then underwent Tommy John surgery in September 2022.

After missing all of the 2023 campaign recovering, he made a successful return in '24, when he pitched to a 3.06 ERA over 14 starts for Tampa Bay. Last season, he took a step back, finishing with a 4.87 ERA over 31 starts. Still, he proved to be durable in 2025, and he is just one year removed from a strong performance.

According to the report, the Astros are looking to stay away from paying what it would take to secure a free-agent starter at the top of the market. Framber Valdez, who anchored Houston's rotation the past few seasons, is one of those high-priced free agents. His potential departure leaves a significant gap that needs to be filled, and it seems the Astros are keen on doing so via trade.

And there seems to be no shortage of potential trade partners. MLB.com's Brian McTaggart reports that with the Astros listening on center fielder Jake Meyers, teams including the Dodgers, Reds, Royals and White Sox are expressing interest.

Dec. 8: Nats SS Abrams receiving heavy trade interest (sources)

The Nationals, who traded relief pitcher Jose A. Ferrer to the Mariners on Saturday and have one of the offseason's most popular trade candidates in starter MacKenzie Gore, are "getting pushed aggressively" by teams in trade talks regarding star shortstop CJ Abrams, according to The Athletic's Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal (subscription required).

The Nationals are reportedly open to holding conversations on Abrams, but as with Gore, "the bar is high" for the club to deal the 25-year-old Abrams. Rival executives believe the left-handed ace is far more likely than the shortstop to be traded this offseason, sources told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.

Abrams had 19 homers, 31 steals and 3.1 FanGraphs WAR this past season and has put up at least 18 homers and 30 steals in each of the past three years. Abrams, who has three years of club control remaining, could be especially attractive to shortstop-needy clubs in a year when that position is thin on game-changing free agents outside of Bo Bichette -- who might garner interest as a second baseman or a third baseman.

However, Abrams has graded out as one of the worst defensive players in baseball over the past three seasons, with a minus-37 OAA and a minus-31 fielding run value.

Dec. 8: Padres reportedly open to trade offers for RHP Pivetta

With Dylan Cease now on the Blue Jays and Michael King a free agent, the Padres' rotation looks pretty thin entering the Winter Meetings. Adding multiple starters is their biggest need this week. But San Diego could still subtract from its current starting staff in a pretty significant way.

According to Dennis Lin of The Athletic (subscription required), the Padres "have shown a willingness to entertain offers" for right-handed ace Nick Pivetta. Granted, a deal is not considered likely, and the team would require a lot in return for the 32-year-old, who had a career-best season in 2025.

Pivetta signed a four-year deal with San Diego prior to this past season, although he has an opt-out available in his contract after the 2026 and '27 campaigns. He ended up logging a 2.87 ERA over 181 2/3 innings. He ranked fifth in the league in pitching run value and finished sixth in the National League Cy Young voting -- his first time receiving votes in his nine years as a big leaguer.

Pivetta looks like San Diego's clear Opening Day starter for next season right now, with Joe Musgrove, Randy Vásquez, JP Sears and others slotting in behind him. However, Lin reports that the Padres could decide to move Pivetta in order to give themselves more payroll flexibility.