After losing Alonso, will Mets trade for this slugging CF?

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

Dec. 12: Might Mets swing trade for power-hitting Robert to shore up center field?

Already this offseason, the Mets have seen closer Edwin Díaz, slugging first baseman Pete Alonso and stalwart center fielder Brandon Nimmo all depart, with Díaz and Alonso signing free-agent contracts elsewhere and Nimmo being traded to the Rangers for Marcus Semien.

Center field is one of the positions -- along with left field -- where the Mets could use a major offensive upgrade. Could White Sox slugger Luis Robert Jr. be the answer? According to a report in The Athletic (subscription required), the Mets are considering it. Chicago might have to kick in some cash, though, as Robert is owed $20 million for 2026.

Robert has frequently been injured throughout his Major League career, but when he's been healthy, he has proven to be one of the best sluggers in the game. In 2023, the only season in which he has played in more than 110 games, he hit 38 home runs with an .857 OPS and 20 steals in an All-Star campaign.

Dec. 12: Latest on Murakami’s market

It’s almost decision time for one of Japan’s top sluggers. After being posted on Nov. 8, Munetaka Murakami has until Dec. 22 at 5 p.m. ET to reach a deal with an MLB club, or he’ll return to Nippon Professional Baseball for 2026.

As MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi noted Friday, Murakami might be a backup plan for some of the clubs considering other star infielders, be it free agents like Bo Bichette and Alex Bregman or trade candidates like Ketel Marte, but the aforementioned deadline means something will have to give soon.

Morosi names the Red Sox, Mariners, Tigers, Phillies, Mets, Blue Jays and Pirates among the teams that have interest in Murakami.

Dec. 12: Will Braves make a run at Bichette?

The Braves have been busy this week, first signing outfielder Mike Yastrzemski to a two-year deal on Wednesday, then adding reliever Robert Suarez 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.

Given all of the injuries Atlanta’s rotation dealt with in 2025, it might behoove the club to address its starting pitching depth next. To that end, the team is continuing to monitor the market for top free agents such as Zac Gallen, according to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman.

At the same time, MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi reports that the Braves “like the group they’ve got right now” in the rotation and could prioritize a big move at shortstop instead, perhaps even going after the top player available at that position, Bo Bichette. More >

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: 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. 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: 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.