We're keeping track of all the latest free agent and trade rumors.
Feb. 1: Red Sox trade RHP Hicks; is another deal coming soon?
The Red Sox shed some of their pitching depth on Sunday, trading right-hander Jordan Hicks to the White Sox for Minor League pitcher Gage Ziehl, Chicago's No. 14 prospect in 2025. Boston also included right-hander David Sandlin -- its No. 8 prospect last year -- along with $8 million and two players to be named later. The White Sox will send one player to be named later as well.
For Boston, the move clears two players off of its 40-man roster and creates some financial flexibility as Hicks is owed $25 million through 2027. The Athletic's Jen McCaffrey reported recently (subscription required) that the Red Sox were receiving interest from teams regarding Hicks as well as starters Patrick Sandoval and Brayan Bello.
Even with Hicks gone, the Red Sox could still deal either of those other arms knowing that they have young left-handers Payton Tolle and Connelly Early ready to step into any rotation vacancy. Sandoval is due about $13 million this season while the 26-year-old Bello is entering the third year of a six-year, $55 million extension that is financially backloaded and carries a $21 million club option for 2030. The Red Sox also have a logjam in the outfield and no clear fit for outfielder/DH Masataka Yoshida, who is due $37.2 million total over the next two seasons.
With chief baseball officer Craig Breslow stressing run prevention, and with Marcelo Mayer seemingly likely to fill the void left by Alex Bregman at third base, Boston could use any of the above options in a trade that addresses second base. According to Alex Speier of the Boston Globe (subscription required), the Red Sox have "checked in" with the Cubs regarding infielders Matt Shaw and Nico Hoerner. Shaw was a rookie last season who excelled during the second half. Hoerner, a two-time Gold Glove winner at second base, is under contract for one more season at $12 million.
Jan. 31: Yankees reportedly seeking righty outfield bat; Goldy reunion a possibility?
Even after re-signing Trent Grisham and Cody Bellinger, the Yankees are still on the hunt for outfield help. In particular, the club is searching the free-agent and trade markets for a right-handed bat to supplement a roster that skews left-handed, according to The Athletic's Brandon Kuty (subscription required), who mentions Randal Grichuk as one of many options New York is considering.
Kuty also hears that the Yankees made a Major League offer to Austin Slater earlier this offseason. Slater joined the Yankees at the Trade Deadline but got hurt shortly after joining the team.
Tommy Pham and Starling Marte are among the other righty-hitting outfielders still available. (Austin Hays came off the board on Saturday when he reached a one-year deal with the White Sox.)
The Yankees' current outfield depth consists of Jasson Domínguez, a switch-hitter who is better from the left side, and lefty-hitting prospect Spencer Jones. José Caballero has outfield experience, too, but he'll be needed at shortstop until Anthony Volpe returns from left shoulder surgery.
Signing a righty hitter who can play first base to platoon with Ben Rice is another option the Yankees could pursue, per Kuty.
Paul Goldschmidt would seemingly fit the bill. Jack Curry of the YES Network recently reported that the Yankees have interest in a reunion with Goldschmidt, while MLB Network insider Jon Heyman wrote Thursday for the New York Post that the veteran "seems willing to return," even if it's as a part-time player.
Other right-handed hitters with first-base experience on the free-agent market include Ty France, Justin Turner, Rhys Hoskins, Wilmer Flores and Donovan Solano.
Jan. 30: Latest on SP market as Spring Training looms
With most of the notable position players and relievers already off the board, the starting pitching market stands as the final major piece of unfinished business in free agency less than two weeks before camps begin to open around the Majors.
Four starting pitchers who cracked MLB.com senior national reporter Mark Feinsand’s list of the top free agents at the start of the offseason remain available: Framber Valdez (No. 13), Zac Gallen (No. 20), Chris Bassitt (No. 29) and Lucas Giolito (No. 30). Valdez and Gallen are attached to Draft compensation after turning down qualifying offers from the Astros and D-backs, respectively.
According to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman in an article for the New York Post (subscription required), the Orioles remain one of the most active clubs in pursuit of starting pitching. The O’s have been linked to Valdez, Gallen and Giolito "and seem destined to land one," Heyman writes.
The Braves and Tigers are also considering Giolito, as well as Bassitt, Heyman reports.
A reunion with Arizona is still possible for Gallen, per Heyman. Gallen is reportedly drawing interest from the Cubs, Padres and Angels as well, but unlike those other teams, the D-backs wouldn’t have to surrender a Draft pick to re-sign the righty since they are the ones who issued him the qualifying offer.
Jan. 23: Giants' bid for All-Star SS Abrams turned down (report)
After signing shortstop Willy Adames before the 2025 season and acquiring slugger Rafael Devers in a trade last June, the Giants are seeking another major addition to their infield.
According to Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic (subscription required), San Francisco made a bid to acquire shortstop CJ Abrams from the Nationals but was turned down. The Giants appeared open to including 18-year-old shortstop Josuar Gonzalez, MLB Pipeline's No. 44 overall prospect, but the Nationals reportedly sought a larger return.
The news could indicate that Abrams could be the next Nationals star moved after left-hander MacKenzie Gore was dealt to Texas on Thursday. The Athletic (subscription required) also reported earlier in the week that Nats outfielder Jacob Young is "a popular trade target among teams seeking to upgrade in center field."
The 26-year-old Young has been tremendous defensively and could certainly fit into Washington's plans moving forward, even with other young outfielders such as Dylan Crews establishing themselves in the big leagues. But, as the report notes, the club viewed Gore in a similar way, yet traded him anyway.
Abrams, who made the National League All-Star team in 2024, is under club control through 2028. If the Giants do succeed in acquiring him, either he or Adames would likely need to move to second base or designated hitter.
Jan. 22: Might Scherzer do what Clemens did in '07?
Max Scherzer struggled to a 5.19 ERA during the regular season with the Blue Jays last year, but he demonstrated during the playoffs that he still may have something left in the tank as he seeks to pitch in his 19th Major League season. According to a report in The Athletic (subscription required), there hasn't been much activity surrounding Scherzer this offseason, but that doesn't mean he won't be pitching in the Majors in 2026.
The Athletic report suggests that the decorated 41-year-old right-hander could do something akin to what seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens did back in 2007: sign midseason, when inevitable injuries take their toll on starting pitchers, leading to clubs looking for arms.
The report cites a telephone conversation in which Scherzer said he is "content to wait until after Opening Day for an opening to emerge with one of his preferred clubs," though it is unknown which clubs are "preferred." In 2007, a 44-year-old Clemens signed with the Yankees in early May and made 18 appearances (17 starts) with a 4.18 ERA in what would be his final Major League season.
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.
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: Mets acquire right-hander Peralta, center fielder Robert
The Mets have been busy on the trade front over the past 24 hours or so, acquiring a star right-handed pitcher and a slugging center fielder. And it all came with the introduction of new third baseman Bo Bichette sandwiched in between.
On Wednesday night, New York struck a deal with the Brewers to acquire Freddy Peralta after acquiring center fielder Luis Robert Jr. from the White Sox on Tuesday night.
Peralta, along with right-hander Tobias Myers, heads to the Mets in exchange for prospects Jett Williams (Mets' No. 3 prospect) and Brandon Sproat (Mets' No. 5). Peralta is the bona fide ace New York had been looking for to plug in atop its starting rotation, which currently features Nolan McLean, Sean Manaea, Clay Holmes and David Peterson.
Robert was acquired from the White Sox for infielder Luisangel Acuña and right-handed pitching prospect Truman Pauley, the clubs announced.
Talks regarding Robert had 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.
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.
Rosenthal refers to Verlander as a "fallback" for Baltimore in the event it is unable to land one of those other options.
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).