We're keeping track of all the latest free agent and trade rumors.
Jan. 13: Giants 'aggressively pursuing' second basemen (report)
After signing Adrian Houser and Tyler Mahle to strengthen their rotation earlier in the offseason, the Giants are shifting their attention to the infield.
According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, San Francisco is "aggressively pursuing" a second baseman and has been engaged in trade talks with the Cubs regarding Nico Hoerner and the Cardinals regarding Brendan Donovan.
Second base is a clear area of need for the Giants, who are projected to have the third-worst production from second base in the Majors. Right now, Casey Schmitt -- who owns a carer 101 OPS+ and posted a -4 Outs Above Average last season -- is slated to receive the bulk of the playing time.
A trade for Hoerner or Donovan would certainly change that. After signing third baseman Alex Bregman, the Cubs have an infield logjam, with five infielders for four starting spots. Hoerner is coming off his best season with the bat (114 OPS+) and won his second Gold Glove award.
Then there's Donovan, whose name has popped up in trade talks throughout the offseason. In December, Katie Woo of The Athletic (subscription required) reported that the Giants and the Mariners had emerged as the frontrunners for Donovan, a first-time All-Star in 2025.
Jan. 13: The latest on Tucker and the Mets
League sources suggested to The Athletic's Will Sammon (subscription required) that the Mets are in the range of offering $120 million to $140 million for three years to Kyle Tucker, who has met with the club via video twice over the past week.
The Mets are believed to be one of three main teams involved in the race to sign Tucker, along with the Blue Jays and Dodgers. It's unknown if Tucker has an offer in hand from the other two clubs, or if he's been extended a formal offer from the Mets yet, but Sammon's sources suggested that Tucker's decision could come as soon as this week. More >
Jan. 13: Bichette meets with Phillies (sources)
The Phillies and Bo Bichette met virtually on Monday.
Two sources confirmed the meeting to MLB.com, though the club has not commented publicly. The Athletic first reported late last week that the Phillies and Bichette planned to talk.
The Phillies’ interest in Bichette is real. Sources said they believe there is a path to a deal, but several challenges must be met. More >
Jan. 13: D-backs acquire Arenado from Cardinals
The D-backs have completed a trade with the Cardinals for veteran third baseman Nolan Arenado.
St. Louis is receiving 22-year-old right-hander Jack Martinez -- an eighth-round pick from the 2025 MLB Draft out of Arizona State -- in return. More >
Jan. 13: As Bellinger talks continue, Yankees considering alternatives (report)
The Yankees aren't closing the door on a reunion with Bellinger just yet. According to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, the Bronx Bombers continue to negotiate with the outfielder and have enhanced their latest offer in an attempt to bridge the gap between the two sides.
As Heyman previously reported, the length of a potential deal has been a sticking point in contract talks. The Yankees reportedly offered a five-year deal worth around $155 million, but Bellinger is said to be seeking a seven-year contract.
Heyman noted Monday that the Yankees are considering the other two top free-agent hitters, Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette, and discussing trades for several other stars, including Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner and White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr., as backup plans.
After the Cubs reportedly agreed to a five-year deal with third baseman Alex Bregman on Saturday, Hoerner could be the odd man out in the infield. Robert will play in 2026 on a $20 million club option and has another club option for 2027.
If Bellinger doesn't end up with the Yankees, Heyman mentioned the Dodgers, Giants, Mets, Cubs and Blue Jays as other potential suitors.
Jan. 12: Where might Red Sox turn after losing out on Bregman?
The Red Sox made it known that they wanted Alex Bregman back in Boston and reportedly made him an "aggressive offer." Alas, they now have a hole to fill on their infield after Bregman agreed to a five-year deal with the Cubs on Saturday, per sources.
Boston might have an in-house solution at third base in Marcelo Mayer. The No. 4 overall pick in the 2021 Draft said on Saturday -- before the Bregman news broke -- that he was mentally and physically preparing himself to play either second or third base, depending on how the rest of the roster filled out.
After missing out on Bregman, the Red Sox could turn to another free-agent infielder: slugger Eugenio Suárez. The Red Sox are interested in Súarez, according to Sean McAdam and Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com, although he could fit best at designated hitter for Boston. Free agent Bo Bichette could play second base, but he may not be the best fit for the club.
McAdam and Cotillo reported that the Red Sox have been "at least considering" a pivot toward focusing on adding pitching, even after trading for starters Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo during the offseason. Left-handers Framber Valdez and Ranger Suárez and right-hander Zac Gallen are the top free-agent starters available, but Boston could also swing a trade for a starting pitcher. The Red Sox are also reportedly still in the market for bullpen arms and have been in touch with several left-handed relievers.
Jan. 11: After signing Bregman (per sources), are Cubs prepping to make another trade?
One of the big four remaining free-agent position players is no longer on the market. Alex Bregman agreed to a five-year, $175 million contract with the Cubs on Saturday, multiple sources told MLB.com. It's the third-largest deal in Cubs history in terms of total value, and it gives Chicago a stacked infield, with Bregman at third base, Dansby Swanson at shortstop, Nico Hoerner at second and Michael Busch at first.
It also leaves the Cubs with an infield surplus. Matt Shaw, coming off a solid rookie season, was slated to enter the year at the hot corner, but with Bregman now in town, Shaw could become a super-utility player capable of playing multiple infield positions. Or the Cubs could entertain trade offers for either him or Hoerner, who will be a free agent after the 2026 season. Hoerner's name has come up in trade rumors throughout the winter, and with Shaw able to shift over to second base if needed, Chicago could further explore Hoerner's market and try to get something for him before he potentially leaves via free agency.
The Cubs completed a splashy trade just a few days ago, acquiring starting pitcher Edward Cabrera from the Marlins for three prospects. As MLB.com's Mark Feinsand wrote, it’s entirely possible that the Cubs will enter next season with Shaw and Hoerner on their roster. But adding Bregman gives them the flexibility to construct another notable trade if they so desire.
Jan. 10: Are the Mets in the best position to trade for Peralta?
A bevy of teams are reportedly interested in trading for Brewers All-Star right-hander Freddy Peralta, who is entering his final season before free agency and is due a relatively low $8 million in 2026. That group of suitors includes the Yankees, Dodgers, Braves and Red Sox, but the team that might have the best chance of striking a deal for Peralta is the Mets.
That's because the Brewers would like a "young, Major League-ready replacement" as part of their return for Peralta, according to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic (subscription required). While all of those clubs have enticing pitching prospects, the Mets' depth in that area is unmatched; three of their top five prospects -- Nolan McLean, Jonah Tong and Brandon Sproat -- already have MLB experience. McLean (No. 11) and Tong (No. 46) are also among MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects.
Plus, the Mets have another option in Christian Scott, a right-hander who was fantastic in the Minors in 2023 and '24, debuted in the bigs during that latter year and is nearing the end of his rehab from Tommy John surgery.
Although the Mets have also been linked to top free-agent starters Framber Valdez and Ranger Suárez -- ESPN’s Buster Olney has gone so far as to call it “inevitable” that New York will land one of the two -- a trade for a lower-cost starter such as Peralta could be the preferred option for Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns, who has historically shied away from signing pitchers to long-term contracts.
Jan. 10: Tigers targeting veteran starters Giolito, Bassitt (report)
The Tigers have made one addition to their starting rotation so far this offseason, signing right-hander Drew Anderson after he had two dominant seasons in Korea. But Detroit would like to keep adding to its starting staff and has been in talks with, among others, veteran starters Lucas Giolito and Chris Bassitt, according to The Athletic (subscription required).
The 31-year-old Giolito, a high school teammate of current Tigers starter Jack Flaherty, had a solid 2025 season for the Red Sox, posting a 3.41 ERA over 145 innings before an elbow injury in September cut his year short. Bassitt, 36, had a 3.96 ERA over 170 1/3 innings for the Blue Jays last year. He has pitched at least 170 innings in each of the past four seasons.
Jan. 8: Yankees exploring trade market for starting pitcher
Yankees starters Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón and Clarke Schmidt are all slated to be sidelined past Opening Day as they recover from their respective elbow surgeries, which is why general manager Brian Cashman has said he would “love to add a starter” to the current group.
To that end, Cashman has been exploring the trade market for rotation help. One of New York's reported targets, Edward Cabrera, was dealt from the Marlins to the Cubs on Wednesday, but the Bronx Bombers remained engaged with other available options. Here's the latest from MLB.com's Bryan Hoch. More >
Jan. 8: What's holding up the Cardinals from trading away more veterans?
The Cardinals have long since set their course for the 2026 season, plotting the franchise’s first full-scale rebuild in more than three decades after trading established veterans Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras for a haul mostly of prospect pitchers.
Why then, Cardinals fans must wonder, hasn’t the club already swung deals with their biggest name (Nolan Arenado) and their biggest assets (Brendan Donovan and JoJo Romero) with the start of Spring Training about a month away? MLB.com's John Denton has the latest on those three players. More >
Jan. 7: Competition for Peralta could heat up after Cabrera trade
The Cubs and Marlins finalized a trade Wednesday that sent right-handed starter Edward Cabrera to Chicago for three prospects. It's a move that takes another option off the board for clubs working the trade market for a starting pitcher.
With Cabrera on his way to Chicago, the focus now turns to another starter generating a lot of trade buzz lately, Brewers righty Freddy Peralta. The Athletic (subscription required) reported Monday that Peralta trade talks were expected to “resume in earnest” as business began to pick back up after the holiday season.
Per the report, the Yankees, Mets, Dodgers, Braves and Red Sox are among the clubs that have been showing interest in Peralta, who is signed for $8 million in 2026 -- a relative pittance compared to the going rate for a starter of his caliber in free agency. The Yankees, Mets and Giants were also linked to Cabrera before the Cubs deal.
Though Peralta has only one year of control remaining, the Brewers’ asking price remains high.
Jan. 5: Orioles 'strongly in' on LHP Suárez (report)
The Orioles have been extremely active in remaking their roster this offseason. Picking up an ace starter might be the final order of business for the O's, who have been connected throughout the winter to left-handed starters Framber Valdez and Ranger Suárez. But it appears they favor the latter over the former.
MLB Network Radio's Jim Bowden said during Monday's edition of Foul Territory that Baltimore is "strongly in" on Suárez and has been "very aggressive" in its pursuit of the 29-year-old.
"They haven't been able to close the deal [with Suárez], but they kind of feel like they have a chance," Bowden said.
The Orioles have already helped their rotation this winter by trading for Shane Baz and re-signing Zach Eflin. It sounds like they are aiming to complete an even higher-profile move for a starter before the end of the offseason.
Jan. 5: Astros likely to trade a position player
After bolstering their rotation with the additions of Tatsuya Imai, Mike Burrows and Ryan Weiss, the Astros’ top offseason priority is complete. However, the club still needs to sort out its starting lineup. The problem? Too many players, not enough spots.
With Yordan Alvarez expected to spend 2026 as Houston’s regular DH, the Astros currently don’t have room to give both Isaac Paredes and Christian Walker everyday playing time. As a result, it is becoming “increasingly likely” that the Astros will make a trade to alleviate the logjam, The Athletic (subscription required) reports.
Walker’s salary -- he has two years left on his three-year, $60 million deal -- and limited no-trade clause will make the first baseman more difficult to move, so Paredes seems more likely to go. His name has already surfaced in trade buzz, with the Red Sox reportedly showing interest in him.
Trading outfielder Jesús Sánchez is another option for Houston, but doing so wouldn’t address the team’s infield surplus, unless the club is open to the idea of Paredes playing the outfield.
Jan. 5: Pirates reportedly showing interest in Suárez
Although they’ve added Brandon Lowe, Ryan O’Hearn, Jhostynxon García and Jake Mangum this offseason, the Pirates are still hunting for another bat. Kazuma Okamoto was reportedly a prime target, but the Japanese slugger joined the Blue Jays on a four-year deal, becoming the latest free agent to spurn Pittsburgh after Kyle Schwarber, Josh Naylor and Jorge Polanco did the same.
With Okamoto off the board, the Pirates are expected to turn their focus to third baseman Eugenio Suárez, according to a report from Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Coming off a 49-homer season, Suárez is a logical fit for the Pirates, who finished last in MLB with 117 home runs and a .350 slugging percentage in 2025 and have an opening at third base after trading Ke’Bryan Hayes during the summer.