We're keeping track of all the latest free agent and trade rumors.
Feb. 6: Red Sox still looking to trade for bat (report)
The Red Sox have seemingly spent the entire offseason looking for ways to upgrade their infield. They continued to do so even after acquiring first baseman Willson Contreras from the Cardinals in December, reportedly staying engaged with the trade market and trying to re-sign third baseman Alex Bregman until he struck a deal with the Cubs in January.
While Boston subsequently spent $130 million on starter Ranger Suárez in a pivot move after losing Bregman and is set to hold its first spring workout in a matter of days, it appears the club hasn’t ended its search.
Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe heard from multiple sources who said the Red Sox are still trying to make a prospect-based trade for a “legit” bat. Abraham didn’t specify on the position, but given their outfield depth, it’s safe to assume the Red Sox still have their attention on the infield market, with a specific focus on adding either a second baseman or a third baseman.
Boston could look to trade from the starting pitching surplus created by the acquisitions of Suárez, Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo, perhaps putting together a trade package centered around Payton Tolle or Connelly Early.
Potential trade partners include the Astros (Isaac Paredes), the Cubs (Nico Hoerner and Matt Shaw), the Nationals (CJ Abrams) and the Mets (Brett Baty and Mark Vientos).
Feb. 5: After winning arbitration case, will Skubal still be with Tigers come Opening Day?
Tigers ace Tarik Skubal won his arbitration hearing and was awarded $32 million, a source told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand on Thursday. It's the largest salary awarded to any player via the arbitration process, besting Juan Soto's $31 million salary from 2024.
The news also comes one day after the Tigers agreed to a three-year, $115 million contract with free-agent left-hander Framber Valdez, per Feinsand. That contract, which has an opt-out after the 2027 season, carries the ninth-largest average annual value in MLB history.
Considering the size of that commitment to Valdez and the fact that Skubal will make $32 million before he is slated to reach free agency next winter, is it now more likely that Detroit will trade the reigning two-time American League Cy Young Award winner before Opening Day?
The answer is no, according to a report by The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal (subscription required).
"The Tigers have insisted all offseason they want to win in what could be their final season with [Skubal]," Rosenthal wrote. "And while plans in baseball are subject to change, the Tigers do not appear to be wavering."
If the Tigers stand pat, Skubal and Valdez will front a stellar rotation that also includes Jack Flaherty, Casey Mize, Reese Olson and KBO success story Drew Anderson. Detroit is looking to make the playoffs for a third consecutive season in 2026, something the franchise has accomplished just twice before: 2011-14 and 1907-09.
Feb. 4: The best remaining FA starters after Valdez signs with Detroit
Framber Valdez agreed to a three-year, $115 million deal with the Tigers, removing another quality starter from the free-agent market as Spring Training nears. With Valdez off the board, who are the best remaining starting pitchers?
Zac Gallen: The 30-year-old right-hander is the top remaining starting pitcher when looking at both career performance (3.58 ERA in 176 career starts) and durability (third-most innings thrown since 2022). While his numbers have trended downwards -- his 4.83 ERA last season was a career-worst mark by a wide margin -- he's the only remaining pitcher who has pitched like a frontline starter recently and throws tons of innings. Gallen has been linked to many teams, with a return to the D-backs still a possibility.
Chris Bassitt: The veteran right-hander has remained a good and consistent starter into his late 30s. Bassitt, who turns 37 later this month, has thrown at least 170 innings in four straight seasons, with an ERA between 3.42 and 4.16 in each year during that time. At his age, Bassitt might not be a surefire playoff starter, but as we saw last October with the Blue Jays, he makes for an effective reliever come playoff time.
Lucas Giolito: After missing all of 2024 following Tommy John surgery, Giolito returned with a 3.41 ERA in 26 starts last season. While many ERA indicators pegged him for a much higher ERA, Giolito represents an intriguing pitcher who has had fluctuating ERAs but an ability to throw plenty of innings (he's thrown 140 or more innings six times).
Zack Littell: The right-handed Littell transitioned to the rotation with the Rays in the middle of 2023 and has turned into a quality starting pitcher. In each of the last two seasons, Littell has thrown more than 150 innings with a sub-4 ERA. For teams looking for a quality backend starter who can chew up innings, Littell represents a solid option.
Justin Verlander / Max Scherzer: Grouping these two likely future Hall of Famers together feels appropriate. MLB's Mark Feinsand recently looked at why both pitchers are still on the market and why there's a consensus that Verlander and Scherzer still have something to offer in 2026. The 41-year-old Scherzer and Verlander, who turns 43 this month, likely won't sign with a rebuilding team at this point, so both pitchers could wait until the right opporunity arises.
Feb. 3: Gallen hopes to stay with D-backs
Starter Zac Gallen remains a free agent, but the right-hander would welcome a return to the D-backs.
Gallen told Blake Niemann of FOX 10 in Phoenix that staying in Arizona "would be awesome," and that the New Jersey native considers the Phoenix area his "home base." D-backs fans have apparently echoed the sentiment.
"People have been like, 'Hey, we'd really love for you to come back,'" Gallen said.
Gallen, the No. 20-ranked free agent in Mark Feinsand's original Top 30, is one of the top pitchers left on the open market, After making his debut for the Marlins in 2019, he was traded to the D-backs for Jazz Chisholm Jr. at the Trade Deadline and spent the past six full seasons with Arizona.
The D-backs have been active this offseason, agreeing to a deal for free-agent first baseman Carlos Santana on Tuesday a few weeks after acquiring third baseman Nolan Arenado in a trade with the Cardinals. Arizona also brought back starter Merrill Kelly, whom the D-backs had traded to the Rangers at the 2025 Trade Deadline, on a two-year deal. If he and his incumbent club can work out a deal, Gallen could be the next pitcher to stay in the desert.
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.