Yankees reportedly interested in reunion with coveted FA starter

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

Nov. 14: Yankees reuniting with RHP King 'is a real possibility' (report)

According to The Athletic's Jim Bowden (subscription required), a reunion between the Yankees and free-agent starter Michael King "is a real possibility." However, the Yanks will face competition for the right-hander's services, and per Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney of The Athletic (subscription required), King is someone the Cubs have "on their radar."

King debuted in 2019 and spent his first five big league seasons with the Yankees, operating mostly as a reliever. From 2022-23, he produced a 2.60 ERA over 83 appearances, including nine starts. He was then traded to San Diego prior to the 2024 season as part of the package for Juan Soto and was made a full-time starter. His first season in the rotation was a great one; King struck out 201 batters over 173 2/3 innings, had a 2.95 ERA and finished seventh in the National League Cy Young voting.

This season wasn't as kind to King, who was limited to 73 1/3 innings because of right shoulder and left knee inflammation. But the 30-year-old is still considered one of the top available starting pitchers in this year's class. He did receive the qualifying offer from the Padres, but he is expected to decline the QO by the decision deadline on Tuesday.

Nov. 14: Is there an early frontrunner in the Tucker sweepstakes?

The GM Meetings in Las Vegas wrapped up on Thursday. There weren't any big deals struck, but as far as the teams most interested in Tucker, one club's name kept coming up throughout the week, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand: the Blue Jays.

"You've heard the same teams named all week -- the Yankees, the Phillies, the Dodgers. The one team I heard more than anybody else connected to Tucker was the Blue Jays," Feinsand said during Thursday's edition of MLB Tonight. More >

Nov. 14: Astros showing interest in Donovan to help balance lineup (report)

The Astros, who have a heavily right-handed lineup, are interested in acquiring Cardinals utilityman Brendan Donovan, according to a report in The Athletic (subscription required). Donovan, a left-handed hitter who posted a .287/.353/.422 slash line in 515 plate appearances for St. Louis last season, is a career .282/.361/.411 hitter.

Defensively, Donovan appeared mostly at second base last season, but he also saw time at shortstop and in left field. He has also played first base, third base and right field during his Major League career.

The Cardinals are reportedly open to trade offers for multiple players. If a deal were to happen between the clubs, it would likely necessitate another move by the Astros, whose infield is already at capacity. Could infielders Christian Walker or Isaac Paredes potentially be on the trade block this offseason?

Nov. 14: Which position players are garnering the most trade interest?

A handful of teams are fielding calls regarding some of their most desirable position-player trade candidates. According to The Athletic's Jim Bowden (subscription required), that group includes multiple catchers, headlined by Orioles All-Star backstop Adley Rutschman.

Rutschman made the Midsummer Classic in 2023 and '24, but his production tailed off after the 2024 All-Star break, and he had a career-worst .673 OPS over 365 plate appearances in 2025. He also missed time this year due to right and left oblique strains. Trade rumors regarding Rutschman began to percolate after the Orioles called up catcher Samuel Basallo, MLB's No. 7 prospect, in August and then signed the youngster to an eight-year contract extension.

However, Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias made it clear during his end-of-season press conference on Sept. 29 that the club isn’t looking to move Rutschman, who is under club control for two more seasons.

Other position players being mentioned in trade talks, per Bowden, are Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran, Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan and the Cardinals' Nolan Arenado, Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras, all three of whom have no-trade clauses. MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi reported on Tuesday that the Cardinals could potentially be open to moving Arenado, Gray, infielder Brendan Donovan and first baseman/outfielder Alec Burleson.

Duran, who is under club control through 2028, has been mentioned in trade rumors for a while because Boston has a surplus of high-quality outfielders. Bowden writes that the Red Sox will deal Duran "for the right corner infielder or starting pitcher." He adds that the Guardians are open to trading Kwan "for more power and a better option for center field." Kwan, who has won a Gold Glove following each of his four Major League seasons, is under club control through 2027.

Nov. 14: Could it come down to an all-New York battle for Imai?

Star Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai, who will be posted by Nippon Professional Baseball's Seibu Lions this offseason, is expected to be one of the most sought-after pitchers on this year's free-agent market. The 27-year-old posted a 1.92 ERA over 163 2/3 innings last season in Japan. Over the past three years, his ERA for the Lions was 2.18.

According to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman in an article for the New York Post (subscription required), the Yankees are showing interest in Imai, and other clubs -- including the Mets -- are expected to be in the mix to sign him. Both New York clubs have a history with Japanese pitchers, and according to MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi, at the stage of entry into the Major Leagues, Imai's profile is similar to that of the Mets' Kodai Senga.

There are, of course, other teams reportedly in the running. According to SportsNet LA's David Vassegh, the Phillies, Blue Jays and Padres are also "leading candidates" who will "heavily pursue" the hard-throwing right-hander.

Nov. 13: What are the chances Díaz re-signs with Mets? He says '50-50'

Edwin Díaz, who opted out of his contract earlier this month to become a free agent, said Thursday at the MLB Awards presented by MGM Rewards in Las Vegas that his representatives have had discussions with the Mets about a new contract. However, he put his chances of returning to Queens at “50-50.”

Meanwhile, Díaz’s market is already taking shape. According to a report from The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, Díaz’s reps met with the Blue Jays at the GM Meetings. More >

Nov. 13: Could another All-Star pitcher be on the move?

There may be no shortage of aces available via trade this winter, with rumors already circulating that Freddy Peralta, Joe Ryan and even Tarik Skubal could all be on the move in the coming weeks. But even though those pitchers won't necessarily require a hefty financial investment, they're all likely to cost a proverbial arm and a leg in a trade package.

But the teams in search of a potential ace who are unwilling or unable to part with a host of top prospects may have another option. According to a report from Will Sammon of The Athletic, Royals left-hander Kris Bubic could also be available via trade this offseason, and multiple teams have already expressed interest in such a deal.

Bubic, a 2025 All-Star, is coming off his best season to date in which he went 8-7 with a 2.55 ERA and 116 strikeouts in 116 1/3 innings (20 starts). His campaign ended prematurely in late July due to a rotator cuff strain, a difficult blow for a former first-round pick who had made significant improvements while recovering from Tommy John surgery, a procedure that cost him most of the 2023 and '24 seasons. Despite the existing injury concerns, the 28-year-old's impressive comeback has reportedly drawn interest from rival executives, who could pursue him as an affordable alternative with a relatively high ceiling.

There is, of course, no guarantee Kansas City will make Bubic available. For the Royals, trading any of their starters -- Sammon reports that a trade involving Seth Lugo, Cole Ragans or Michael Wacha is even less likely -- would mean weighing the relative benefits of trading from a place of strength after a season that saw them take a pretty big step back from their return to the postseason in 2024.

Nov. 12: Devin Williams receiving widespread interest (report)

The struggles Devin Williams went through during parts of 2025 don't appear to be deterring potential free-agent suitors. According to The Athletic (subscription required), approximately 12 teams have expressed interest in the two-time National League Reliever of the Year. That includes the Dodgers, Red Sox and Reds.

While Williams had a rocky season with the Yankees -- he had a 4.79 ERA in 62 innings and lost the closer's job -- the underlying numbers suggest he was much better than that. His 3.09 expected ERA and 2.68 FIP were significantly lower than his actual ERA, and he ranked in the 97th percentile or better in chase rate, whiff rate and strikeout rate.

Williams also finished the year strong, recording a 2.50 ERA with a 0.36 FIP and a 17 K/9 over his final 19 appearances in the regular season. That version of Williams more closely resembled the dominant pitcher he was with the Brewers from 2020-24 (1.70 ERA, 14.6 K/9).

Nov. 12: Cherington: 'Skenes is going to be a Pirate in 2026'

Just two seasons into Paul Skenes’ already tremendous career, one question keeps popping up: How long will he remain a member of the Pirates?

Skenes was mentioned briefly in rumors leading up to the 2025 Trade Deadline, and Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Tuesday during the GM Meetings in Las Vegas that teams have continued to ask about the right-handed phenom’s availability. But Cherington said his answer has been consistent: “Paul Skenes is going to be a Pirate in 2026.” More >

Nov. 12: Greene trade 'not on the table' for Reds

During the General Manager Meetings this week, president of baseball operations Nick Krall curbed speculation about whether the club would be willing to use its biggest and best trade chip in Hunter Greene to fill its other needs.

“Look, we're going to try to do what's best for our team. I don't want to rule out anything," Krall told reporters Tuesday at the meetings at Las Vegas, including MLB.com's Thomas Harding. "But that's a hard one to actually say, ‘Hey, we're going to trade the guy who has a chance to be the ace of our staff and a top of the rotation guy going into the postseason.'

"So I'd say that we're looking to figure out how to get better. But right now, that's not on the table.” More >

Nov. 12: D-backs open to Marte trade?

The D-backs’ pitching needs could require the team to get creative this offseason. Might they even dangle one of their best players, second baseman Ketel Marte?

According to a report from The Athletic (subscription required), Arizona is “more open-minded to trading [him] than in the past,” believing that a deal would allow them to address some holes while also opening up payroll flexibility for additional moves. Another factor Arizona will likely consider? Marte is set to gain 10-and-5 rights in April, granting him full no-trade power. The 32-year-old signed a seven-year, $116.5 million extension with the club earlier this year.

At the GM Meetings on Tuesday, D-backs general manager Mike Hazen acknowledged that teams have been calling about Marte but downplayed the chances of a trade.

Nov. 12: Buxton could reconsider no-trade stance (report)

This past summer, Byron Buxton was adamant about his desire to remain with the Twins, both before and after the club’s extensive sale leading up to the 2025 Trade Deadline.

However, The Athletic's Dan Hayes (subscription required) now reports that Buxton could reconsider his stance if the Twins’ continue to sell off pieces, with starters Joe Ryan and Pablo López perhaps the next to go.

The center fielder’s seven-year, $100 million deal, which runs through 2028, includes a full no-trade clause through next season, so Minnesota can't trade him anywhere without his approval. (It becomes a partial no-trade clause for 2027-28.)

The oft-injured Buxton, who turns 32 in December, is coming off his best big league season. He produced 35 homers, 24 steals and an .878 OPS over 126 games. He also remains one of baseball’s fastest players and a superb defender in center field.

Nov. 12: Are Nats likely to trade Gore?

Amid swirling rumors, the Nationals held onto MacKenzie Gore at the Trade Deadline. But now that they have new president of baseball operations Paul Toboni in place, they could accelerate efforts to move the left-handed pitcher, who is controllable through 2027.

Multiple MLB reporters have written about the likelihood of a Gore trade in recent days. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale wrote Sunday that the Nats “are expected to use Gore … as the trade bait to kick-start their new era.”

The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon (subscription required) had a similar assessment on Tuesday, calling Gore "a good bet to go."

Gore had a lackluster 4.17 ERA in 2025, but he was much better than that for a large chunk of the season. Of the 74 earned runs he allowed on the year, 23 came over a rough stretch from July 20-Aug. 5. He had a 3.19 ERA across his other 26 starts and posted an impressive 10.4 K/9 overall.

Nov. 12: Anthopoulos says Braves' top priorities are shortstop, starting pitcher

Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos met with media members at the GM Meetings in Las Vegas on Tuesday and was pretty open about the team's offseason priorities.

“I would say starting pitcher and shortstop are what we’re spending the most time on right now,” Anthopoulos said. More >

Nov. 12: Breslow highlights Boston's 2 biggest goals at GM Meetings

As they look to build on their first postseason appearance since 2021, the Red Sox could be active this offseason.

Speaking with reporters at the GM Meetings this week, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow provided some clues about Boston's goals, mentioning a playoff-caliber starter and a centerpiece run producer as two of its major needs. More >

Nov. 11: Cardinals believed to be 'open for business'

Which team could be the most active in trade talks during this week's GM Meetings in Las Vegas? MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi thinks it is the Cardinals.

"I believe the Cardinals are open for business in terms of potentially moving some of their more veteran players," Morosi said during Tuesday's edition of Hot Stove.

Morosi mentioned four veteran players in particular: third baseman Nolan Arenado, second baseman Brendan Donovan, first baseman/outfielder Alec Burleson and right-handed starter Sonny Gray.

There is a "very strong likelihood" that Arenado has played his last game with St. Louis, per Morosi. The eight-time All-Star was a topic of conversation between the Cards and Astros last offseason, but Arenado would not waive his no-trade clause to go to Houston (per sources). The 34-year-old had a career-worst .666 OPS through 436 plate appearances this season and is due a total of $31 million over the next two seasons.

Morosi said there is "a lot of interest" in Donovan, who was an All-Star in 2025 and won a Gold Glove as a utility player after his 2022 rookie season. He is under club control for two more seasons. Burleson, a newly minted Silver Slugger winner, is controllable through 2028.

Gray, who has already been traded three times in his career, struck out 201 batters over 180 2/3 innings this season, his age-35 campaign. His ERA was 4.28, a seven-year high. But his expected ERA was 3.90, and his FIP was 3.39. Gray also has a full no-trade clause and is due $35 million next season with a $30 million club option for 2027. If Gray's team exercises that option, he can still choose to opt out and become a free agent.

Nov. 11: Could Padres use Miller to fill rotation opening?

The Padres checked the first box on their offseason to-do list, hiring Craig Stammen to be their next manager. Next up? Finding starting pitchers for Stammen to hand the ball to. Sure, every team needs starting pitching. But there aren’t many teams whose need is acute as the Padres. They enter the offseason with at least two openings in their rotation and depleted depth at the upper levels of their farm system.

Could they consider filling one of those vacancies with flamethrower Mason Miller? Miller is perhaps the top relief weapon in all of baseball. But is his ceiling higher as a starter? And if so, is a transition to the rotation worth the risks? It sounds like these are discussions the Padres will finally be having over the next couple weeks. More >

Nov. 11: Multiple teams eyeing Bichette as second baseman or third baseman

Prior to the 2025 World Series, Bo Bichette had never played a position other than shortstop in the Majors. But with a knee injury continuing to limit his mobility after forcing him to miss the first two rounds of Toronto’s playoff run, he spent the Fall Classic playing second base.

Might that have been a glimpse of the future for the 28-year-old free agent? Perhaps. According to MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi, multiple teams that already have an established shortstop on the roster are showing interest in Bichette as either a second baseman or third baseman.

The Dodgers (Mookie Betts), Mets (Francisco Lindor), Phillies (Trea Turner) and Giants (Willy Adames) are among the teams that have a star shortstop but could look to add Bichette at a different infield position.

Changing positions could also benefit Bichette, who has a strong bat but is coming off a season in which he posted -13 Outs Above Average, tied for the worst among shortstops.

Nov. 11: Royals reportedly exploring trade market for outfield help

The Royals added to their outfield depth on Monday, acquiring 27-year-old Kameron Misner in a trade with the Rays. However, Kansas City would like to get an outfielder who can be a middle-of-the-order bat, and Misner, with his .585 OPS through 232 career plate appearances, doesn't fit that description. So, the Royals may not be done dealing.

According to MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi, Kansas City is evaluating the trade market for outfielders during this week's GM Meetings in Las Vegas. Morosi mentions the Angels and Red Sox as two potential trade partners.

Royals outfielders put together a lowly .225/.285/.348 slash line this season. Their 37 home runs as a group were tied for the second fewest of any team's outfielders, and their 73 wRC+ was the worst in MLB.

As far as possible targets go, the Angels' Taylor Ward and Red Sox's Jarren Duran have each been the subject of trade rumors for a while. Ward hit 36 homers in 2025 and is one year away from free agency. Duran, who has recorded at least 70 extra-base hits in each of the past two seasons, is under club control through 2028.

Nov. 10: Senga drawing interest from 'multiple teams'

Mets right-hander Kodai Senga is drawing trade interest from multiple teams as a buy-low candidate, according to a report from The Athletic (subscription required).

Senga, 32, is coming off a Jekyll and Hyde season for the Mets in '25. He began the year pitching like an ace, posting a 1.47 ERA through his first 13 starts. But Senga ultimately ended the season in the Minors, pitching to a 6.56 ERA in eight starts after the All-Star break and losing his rotation spot in the process, even as the Mets fought for a playoff bid.

The Athletic also noted that it's unclear how open the Mets are to the idea of trading Senga, a former All-Star. He is under team control for two more seasons as a part of the original five-year deal he signed with New York in Dec. 2022.

Nov. 10: Dodgers, Blue Jays, Yanks viewed as likely Tucker landing spots; Orioles a team to watch?

With the GM Meetings beginning Monday in Las Vegas, the Hot Stove should start to heat up this week. Even if we don't see a bevy of free-agent signings, there will likely be plenty of rumors and information to glean regarding some of the best players in this year's class.

Tucker is at the head of that class, and many clubs will make their best pitch to the 28-year-old outfielder. Who are the favorites? General managers mentioned three teams to USA Today's Bob Nightengale: the Dodgers, Blue Jays and Yankees. However, multiple team executives also told The Athletic (subscription required) that one under-the-radar team to keep an eye on for Tucker is the Orioles. More >

Nov. 10: Are Astros the favorite to sign RHP Cease?

The Astros have a Framber Valdez-sized void in their starting rotation. But they might not fill it by simply re-signing the left-hander who has been a two-time All-Star for Houston. Instead, the Astros may go after a free-agent pitcher whom they reportedly worked hard to acquire before the 2025 Trade Deadline: Dylan Cease.

MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi said during Monday's edition of Hot Stove that Cease joining the Astros "probably has as much of a chance of happening as any other free-agent prediction out there."

Cease, who will turn 30 next month, produced a 4.55 ERA this season, but he has made at least 32 starts and has racked up more than 200 strikeouts every season since 2021. He led all qualified pitchers in '25 with an 11.5 K/9 rate.

Nov. 10: Will we see a Schwarber signing soon?

This year's top free agents certainly won't rush their possibly life-altering decision of where to sign this winter. But according to MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi, we may see perhaps the best power hitter available not last long on the open market.

"My theory is this, from talking to people around the industry, that if we do see one significant bat sign early that it could be Kyle Schwarber," Morosi said Monday. More >

Nov. 10: Japanese ace Imai set to be posted

The Saitama Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball announced Monday that they will allow right-handed starter Tatsuya Imai to be posted this offseason for MLB teams.

Imai, who is Mark Feinsand’s No. 11 free agent this year, recorded a 1.92 ERA over 163 2/3 innings this season for the Lions. He struck out 178 batters, walked 45 and allowed only six home runs. Some of his 2025 highlights include throwing the first eight innings of a combined no-hitter and striking out 17 batters in a two-hit, complete-game shutout. More >