3 popular trade candidates are likely to stay put (report)

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

Dec. 5: Twins reportedly planning to keep Buxton, Ryan, López

After trading 10 players from their Major League roster in the lead-up to the 2025 Trade Deadline, the Twins were expected by many to do more unloading this offseason, with star center fielder Byron Buxton and rotation aces Joe Ryan and Pablo López looking like the most obvious trade candidates.

Rival clubs have reportedly made calls to Minnesota about each of those players, but their efforts may all go for naught. According to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal (subscription required), the Twins don't anticipate trading Buxton, Ryan or López this winter. Instead, they would like to build around those key players in an effort to compete in 2026.

"Rival clubs interested in Ryan, Buxton and López almost certainly will keep pushing to acquire them, as teams always seek to add high-end players," Rosenthal wrote. "The Twins will listen, as clubs in their position are obligated to do. But it likely would take an overwhelming offer for any of the three to be traded."

As far as where they might add, the Twins could use more bullpen help, a first baseman and perhaps a defensive upgrade in the middle infield.

• All eyes on Twins' trade targets with Winter Meetings on horizon

Dec. 4: Will Dodgers trade Teoscar Hernández?

Hernández's name has emerged in trade talks, according to a report from Ken Rosenthal and Patrick Mooney in The Athletic (subscription required), though a deal appears unlikely.

Hernández hit 25 homers last season, plus another five in the postseason as the Dodgers won a second-straight World Series title. While his bat has proven to be a plus in October, his defense has been a shortcoming in general. His minus-9 Outs Above Average ranked 33rd among 36 right fielders in 2025. Still, with a limited number of right-handed bats available this winter, teams could overlook the defense for the potential of a big offensive season. And while his contract is complicated, teams likely wouldn't view it as a deal-breaker, The Athletic reports.

Hernández is set to make $12 million in 2026 and $14.5 million in '27, with $8 million deferred in each season. He also has a $15 million team option for 2028 that includes a $6.5 million buyout. If he has surgery or spends 75 days in the IL for any issue listed in his contract, the '28 option becomes guaranteed and a $15 million team option for 2029 is tacked on.

Dec. 4: Will Giants do what it takes to land Imai? Or will another big market suitor step in?

The Giants "have been repeatedly linked" to Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai, according to ESPN's Buster Olney. But will San Francisco be willing to hand out the kind of deal it will take to land him?

MLB Network insider Ken Rosenthal reports for The Athletic (subscription required) that the Giants might not be inclined to give Imai -- or any other starting pitcher -- a nine-figure contract this offseason.

And although Olney added that the Giants might rather pursue more "modestly priced" options, San Francisco could certainly use another frontline starter as president of baseball operations Buster Posey heads into his second season at the helm with new manager Tony Vitello also now in the fold.

Imai's market remains wide open. The Cubs, Mets, Red Sox and Yankees have also been rumored to be interested in Imai, and Rosenthal suggests Imai would be willing to pitch for any of those teams, or another big-market team like the Phillies.

Other teams that have been linked to Imai include the Blue Jays, who have long been interested in landing a Japanese star. The Dodgers, of course, would normally be seen as a potential suitor for a Japanese star like Imai -- especially since they already feature the trio of Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki. But Imai recently said that he'd rather defeat the Dodgers for a championship than join the two-time defending World Series champs.

Imai was posted by his Nippon Professional Baseball club, the Saitama Seibu Lions, earlier this offseason.

Dec. 4: Cubs showing 'renewed interest' in Bregman (report)

The Cubs reportedly made a four-year offer to third baseman Alex Bregman last offseason before he ultimately signed with the Red Sox. And according to a report in The Athletic (subscription required), the North Siders are showing "renewed interest" in the three-time All-Star. More>

Dec. 4: Dodgers showing interest in Suarez to bolster bullpen (report)

The weak link for the Dodgers during their run to a second consecutive World Series championship this year was the bullpen, which finished in the regular season with a 4.27 ERA, tied with the Phillies for 20th in the Majors. According to a report in The Athletic (subscription required), the two-time defending World Series champs are showing interest in a free-agent reliever who spent the last four seasons with a division rival.

Right-hander Robert Suarez led the NL with 40 saves for the Padres last season, and over a four-year Major League career, he owns a 2.91 ERA. Signing Suarez would be a big step toward bolstering the Dodgers' relief corps while simultaneously keeping him away from the club that has been Los Angeles' biggest threat to divisional supremacy over much of the past several years.

According to the Athletic report, the Dodgers are looking for shorter-term deals when it comes to upgrades in the bullpen. Suarez would check that box as well, as he'll be entering his age-35 campaign in 2026.

Dec. 4: Pirates remain open to trading more starting pitching not named Skenes (report)

The Pirates swung a trade to acquire outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia (ranked as the No. 85 prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline) and right-handed pitcher Jesus Travieso from the Red Sox on Thursday in exchange for right-hander Johan Oviedo and a pair of prospects. According to MLB Network insider Ken Rosenthal in an article for The Athletic (subscription required), Pittsburgh is willing to trade another starting pitcher other than superstar Paul Skenes for an impact bat.

Rosenthal lists several potential hitters on the trade market that the Bucs are considering, including infielders Jorge Polanco, Ryan O’Hearn and Kazuma Okamoto. Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe and Mets second baseman/outfielder Jeff McNeil may also be on Pittsburgh's radar after the Pirates scored the fewest runs in the Majors last season.

Dec. 3: Will these coveted NL starters be traded?

The trade market for starting pitching got stirred up last week when the Red Sox acquired veteran right-hander Sonny Gray from the Cardinals. The buzz around two other coveted starters has grown in recent days. Here's the latest:

• Freddy Peralta: Peralta is attracting significant interest from teams looking to trade for the right-hander, so much so that the Brewers are now considering “cracking the door open” for trade discussions, a person briefed on Milwaukee’s situation told The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal (subscription required).

The interest in the 29-year-old Peralta is not surprising. The right-hander is due to earn $8 million in 2026 -- his final year under team control -- making him a cost-effective alternative to the top starters on the free-agent market. The Blue Jays' deals with Dylan Cease (seven years, $210 million) and Cody Ponce (three years, $30 million) illustrate the type of price tags starting pitchers are commanding in free agency.

The Brewers have shown a willingness in the past to trade away stars nearing free agency. They did it with Josh Hader, Corbin Burnes and Devin Williams. Accordingly, many have expected the Brewers to at least listen on Peralta this winter, especially after fellow starter Brandon Woodruff accepted the club’s one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer.

Peralta’s value as a clubhouse presence and his relatively modest salary for 2026 mean that the Brewers aren’t going to be in a rush to deal him, but there’s certainly a chance another team will come along and make Milwaukee an offer it can’t refuse.

• Mackenzie Gore: ESPN's Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel report that the Nationals have held conversations with multiple teams about a trade involving Gore. Although the specific teams and the Nats' willingness to trade the 26-year-old are unknown, Passan and McDaniel add that rival clubs expect Gore to be in a different uniform by the end of next season. It's just a matter of whether that switch comes during this offseason or ahead of the Trade Deadline.

Gore struck out 185 batters over 159 2/3 innings this past season while making at least 30 starts for the second straight year. Although he has registered a league-average 100 ERA+ since the start of 2023, Gore is one of only nine pitchers to throw at least 450 innings and log a K/9 rate of 10.0 or better during that three-season span. That group includes the likes of Tarik Skubal, Zack Wheeler and Dylan Cease, who just inked a massive deal with Toronto.

Passan and McDaniel write that the asking price for Gore is "understandably high," given the southpaw's stuff and the fact that he is under club control for two more seasons.

Dec. 3: Are the reigning AL champs eyeing a major move?

Kyle Tucker -- the most sought after free agent on the market this offseason -- was reportedly seen visiting the Blue Jays' complex in Florida on Wednesday, a source told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. Tucker's visit was first reported by Robert Murray of FanSided.

Tucker will certainly garner plenty of interest, and the Blue Jays -- who have been perhaps the busiest team across the Majors so far this winter -- appear to be the latest team making their pitch to the four-time All-Star. Toronto already signed starter Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million deal, and more recently agreed to terms with reigning KBO MVP Cody Ponce on a three-year, $30 million deal, according to a source.

Dec. 3: Mets, Yanks among big-market teams 'actively courting' Bellinger (report)

Thanks to his defensive versatility and his strong 2025 season with the Yankees (29 homers, 125 OPS+), Cody Bellinger is one of the most popular players on the free-agent market right now, and he has numerous marquee clubs vying for his services.

MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi said during Wednesday's edition of Hot Stove that no fewer than three big-market teams are pursuing the 30-year-old Bellinger. That includes the Yankees, Mets and potentially the Phillies and World Series champion Dodgers as well. More >

Dec. 3: Rays, Mullins kick off FA outfield market with 1-year deal (source)

The Rays and 2021 All-Star center fielder Cedric Mullins agreed to a one-year deal on Wednesday, a source told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.

Mullins slashed .216/.299/.361 with 17 home runs last season split between the Orioles and Mets. After spending parts of eight seasons with Baltimore, Mullins really struggled once he was traded to New York on July 31, logging a 62 OPS+ in 42 games. However, Mullins, who often makes incredible catches in center, remained a good defender with +4 outs above average at the position in 2025.

Mullins, 31, is the most well-known free-agent outfielder to find a home so far this offseason. It's a relatively thin crop, but two names stand out: Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger. Tucker is drawing interest from, among other clubs, the Blue Jays, who have had a very active offseason thus far. Big-market teams such as the Mets, Yankees, Dodgers and Phillies reportedly covet Bellinger.

With Mullins off the board, perhaps the outfield market will start rolling as we approach next week's Winter Meetings.

Dec. 3: Schwarber's market heating up

The market for Kyle Schwarber is taking shape ahead of baseball’s annual Winter Meetings next week.

Re-signing the 32-year-old slugger is said to be a priority for the Phillies, but sources told MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki last week that no deal was close between the two sides. As a result, the door is open for another club to swoop in, and one of Philadelphia’s biggest rivals has emerged as a possible landing spot.

According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Mets are “in the mix” for Schwarber, who finished second in the voting for the 2025 National League Most Valuable Player Award after hitting 56 homers last season.

The hometown Reds are also in pursuit of Schwarber, multiple sources confirmed to MLB.com.

You can follow the latest buzz on Schwarber here.

Dec. 3: What's next for Blue Jays after landing Cease and KBO star Ponce?

Dylan Cease's seven-year, $210 million deal with the Blue Jays -- the largest free-agent contract in franchise history -- went official on Tuesday. The coveted right-hander slots into a rotation that already features Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage, Shane Bieber, José Berríos and Eric Lauer. But the Blue Jays' rotation remodel didn't end there.

On Tuesday night, the club agreed to a three-year deal with right-handed pitcher Cody Ponce, a source told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. Ponce, who was a second-round Draft pick by the Brewers in 2015, is coming off a tremendous season in Korea. Pitching for the Hanwha Eagles, Ponce made 29 starts and went 17-1 while leading the KBO with a 1.89 ERA and 252 strikeouts in 180 2/3 innings.

Now that the Blue Jays have addressed their rotation not once but twice -- ostensibly filling the voids left by free agents Chris Bassitt and Max Scherzer -- they may focus on upgrading other areas of their roster via trade and free agency. Toronto now has significant pitching depth from which to deal and is willing to listen to trade offers for Berríos, according to Mitch Bannon of The Athletic (subscription required). Berríos, 31, can opt out of his contract following the 2026 season and has two years remaining if he chooses to opt in.

Among free-agent targets, Toronto is looking to add a late-inning arm and has been linked to Pete Fairbanks, per The Athletic (subscription required). The American League champions are also interested in two marquee position players on the market: Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette, according to Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith.

The Blue Jays have been extremely active this offseason, and it may be just a start.

Dec. 3: With Polanco deal not close, Mariners exploring other 2B options (report)

The Mariners acted quickly to re-sign Josh Naylor in free agency, striking a five-year, $92.5 million deal with the first baseman on Nov. 17. Their pursuit of a reunion with second baseman Jorge Polanco hasn’t gone as smoothly.

While a return to Seattle is believed to be Polanco’s preference, the two sides do not appear close to a deal, reports Adam Jude of the Seattle Times.

As a result, the Mariners are exploring a trio of 2025 All-Stars to fill their second-base void: the Cardinals’ Brendan Donovan, the D-backs’ Ketel Marte and the Rays’ Brandon Lowe, per Jude’s report.

As the least expensive of the trio, Donovan could be Seattle's preferred option. He's one of a number of veterans St. Louis is open to moving next, having already traded Sonny Gray to the Red Sox. However, The Athletic (subscription required) reported on Nov. 26 that the Cards would have to be "blown away" by an offer to part with Donovan, who is controllable via arbitration for two more years after earning $2.85 million in 2025.

Marte, who began his career with the Mariners before being traded to the D-backs, is the best player of the three, but Jude considers him an unlikely fit for Seattle. It’s going to take a lot to pry the switch-hitter from the D-backs, and Marte also has a sizable contract. He’s owed $91 million through 2030 and also has an $11.5 million player option for ’31, which would be his age-37 season.

As a result, Lowe may be the most likely of the three to join the Mariners, especially given Seattle's robust trade history with Tampa Bay. He's owed $11.5 million in his final year before free agency.

Dec. 2: McNeil among likeliest trade candidates on the market

With the Mets bringing in Marcus Semien, Jeff McNeil might be one of the likeliest players to get traded this winter.

ESPN's Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel give McNeil an 80% chance of being dealt -- the highest of any of their top 25 players who could be traded this offseason.

Per their report, "The expectation, then, is that McNeil will be dealt, even if New York needs to eat some of his $15.75 million deal (with a $2 million buyout on an option for 2027)."

McNeil has come up as a trade candidate before -- and the Mets have always been hesitant to part with him due to his versatility in the field and generally productive bat. But this offseason could be different. Though McNeil can play both second base and the outfield, Semien taking over at second base for the Mets could still make McNeil an odd man out.

MLB.com's Mark Feinsand also recently listed McNeil as a likely trade candidate for the Mets.

Dec. 2: Tigers, Marlins among teams interested in RHPs King, Fairbanks (reports)

Seeking improvements to their rotation and bullpen, the Tigers are showing interest in free-agent starter Michael King as well as closer Pete Fairbanks, according to the Detroit Free Press' Evan Petzold (subscription required). He adds that there is mutual interest in a reunion with free-agent reliever Kyle Finnegan, who struck out 23 batters and allowed only three earned runs over 18 innings after Detroit acquired him from the Nationals on July 31.

When it comes to King and Fairbanks, however, the Tigers face plenty of competition for each arm. The Marlins have been in talks with King, per The Athletic (subscription required). Miami drafted King in the 12th round in 2016 before trading him to the Yankees one year later. The Yanks and Cubs are a couple of other clubs that have been linked to the 30-year-old starter. Meanwhile, the Athletic also reports that the Marlins and Blue Jays are considering Fairbanks.

Dec. 1: Royals open to trading Ragans?

Could one of the Royals’ top starters be traded this winter? According to general manager J.J. Picollo, the club is open to it if it helps them improve their outfield.

“A lot of teams are looking for starting pitching, so if we have what they may be interested in, and they have an outfielder that would be of interest, then there’s potentially the opportunity to make a deal,” Picollo told the Boston Globe’s Alex Speier (subscription required).

Entering his final year under team control, Kris Bubic is the most obvious trade candidate in Kansas City’s rotation. However, ESPN’s Jeff Passan recently predicted that the offers would be too light for the Royals to deal the lefty after a shoulder injury ended his breakout 2025 season prematurely. The Royals are also reluctant to trade either Seth Lugo or Michael Wacha after the two veterans made a commitment to Kansas City in free agency, Picollo noted.

That brings the focus to Cole Ragans. Though it would be a surprise to see the team trade the ace, who is controllable through 2028, Picollo made it clear that he’s not off limits.

As Speier notes, the Red Sox could be an ideal trade partner for the Royals if Ragans is indeed available, given Boston’s glut of outfielders and Kansas City’s keen interest in Jarren Duran. However, it’s unclear if the Red Sox have the motivation to put together a package strong enough to land a pitcher of Ragans’ caliber. After all, the club already traded for Sonny Gray and is now prioritizing adding a big bat.

Dec. 1: With reliever market heating up, could Mets land two top arms?

A scorching relief market continued its torrid pace when right-hander Devin Williams agreed to a three-year deal with the Mets, a source told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. The club has not confirmed the news, but it appears to be a major deal for New York's bullpen -- and it might not be the only one.

Even after agreeing to terms with Williams, the Mets are still interested in re-signing closer Edwin Díaz, a source told MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. Williams, who saved 18 games for the Yankees in 2025 after being traded from the Brewers, is open to pitching in a setup role.

With the signings of Raisel Iglesias (Braves), Ryan Helsley (Orioles) and Williams, only Díaz and former Padres right-hander Robert Suarez remain from the top tier of free-agent relievers. If the Mets can bring back Díaz after adding Williams, they would enter 2026 in excellent shape in terms of closing out games.

Of course, New York will have competition for Díaz's services. Feinsand tabbed the Yankees another top fit for the electric closer, while the Blue Jays and Tigers were seen as potential fits for Williams and could turn their attention to Díaz.

Dec. 1: Which free-agent arms could Giants target?

The Giants are in the market for pitching this offseason. San Francisco expects to add at least one starting pitcher and add to its bullpen in free agency, according to a report from Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic (subscription required).

If San Francisco does snag a starter, though, it likely won't be Japanese ace Tatsuya Imai. The 27-year-old is expected to command a contract well above $100 million, and according to Baggarly, the right-hander is out of the Giants' price range. Imai, righty Dylan Cease -- who agreed to a seven-year, $210 million deal with the Blue Jays -- and lefties Framber Valdez and Ranger Suárez are the top-tier starting pitchers available in free agency, but there are a host of free-agent arms who should be seeking less costly deals.

The Giants agreed to a one-year, $1.4 million contract with left-handed reliever Sam Hentges on Thursday but are seeking to shore up the back end of their bullpen. They could spend big for closers like Edwin Díaz or Robert Suarez or reunite with right-hander Tyler Rogers, whom they traded to the Mets at the 2025 Trade Deadline.

Nov. 30: Senga told Mets that he wants to remain with club (report)

In what is expected to be a busy offseason for the Mets, one of their main questions has revolved around 32-year-old Kodai Senga.

In a recent report from The Athletic's Will Sammon (subscription required), Senga reportedly informed the Mets that his preference is to stay with the club. Senga has a limited no-trade clause that can block deals to 10 teams, but the Mets are free to trade the right-hander with more than half of the league.

Senga experienced an up-and-down 2025 season that saw him post a 1.39 ERA in 77 2/3 first-half innings before posting a 6.56 ERA in 35 2/3 second-half innings, prompting a demotion to the Minors in early September. This came after an injury-riddled 2024 season when Senga made just one start in July and pitched in three postseason outings. Senga was downright awesome in his rookie season in 2023, finishing second in NL Rookie of the Year voting with a 2.98 ERA in 29 starts.

As Sammon notes in his report, some teams view Senga as an intriguing buy-low candidate. For a Mets team coming off a disappointing 2025 season, however, the club might want more certainty and a more consistent frontline starter. New York is already viewed as one of the clubs that could make a push for Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai and has been linked to Tarik Skubal in the event that the Tigers trade their ace.

Beyond Senga, the Mets have Nolan McLean, Clay Holmes, Sean Manaea and David Peterson as likely rotation options, with Brandon Sproat, Jonah Tong and Christian Scott in the mix.

Nov. 29: Where does closer market stand after Helsley's deal with O's?

Ten days after beefing up their offense with a trade for outfielder Taylor Ward, the Orioles fortified the back end of their bullpen Saturday, agreeing to a two-year deal with Ryan Helsley. The deal includes an opt-out after the 2026 season.

About 15 teams expressed some level of interest in Helsley, according to The Athletic's Katie Woo (subscription required). That includes some teams that reportedly viewed the right-hander as a potential starting pitcher. However, Helsley, a two-time All-Star who saved 49 games for the Cardinals in 2024, is expected to close for Baltimore, which may be without closer Félix Bautista for all of next season following his shoulder surgery.

Helsley joins Raisel Iglesias, who recently re-signed with the Braves, as a couple of free-agent closers who are now off the market. Fortunately for those teams still searching for relief help -- and there are many such clubs -- there are plenty of ninth-inning arms available. That group includes Edwin Díaz, Robert Suarez, Kenley Jansen, Pete Fairbanks, Luke Weaver and others.

Nov. 29: After trading for a hitter and striking a deal with a free-agent closer, what's next for O's?

The Orioles have been one of the most active teams so far this offseason, having traded for Taylor Ward from the Angels and reportedly reaching a deal with free-agent closer Ryan Helsley. What might be next for Baltimore as it tries to bounce back from a rough 2025 campaign and compete in a tough AL East?

The one big remaining need appears to be a frontline starting pitcher. Both the free-agent and trade markets are plentiful in that department -- among the free agent starters out there are Framber Valdez, Ranger Suárez and Michael King, and some of the names rumored to be available in a potential trade include MacKenzie Gore, Freddy Peralta, Joe Ryan, Sandy Alcantara and possibly even reigning two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal.

Following back-to-back postseason appearances in 2023 and '24, the O's went 75-87 last season after a relatively quiet offseason. This time around, it seems Baltimore is taking the opposite approach after the Blue Jays, Red Sox and Yankees each reached the postseason and Toronto came within an out of winning the World Series.

Nov. 27: After big pre-Thanksgiving moves, Red Sox, Blue Jays reportedly targeting top FAs

MLB headed into the Thanksgiving holiday on the back of a couple of big transactions in recent days. First, the Red Sox traded for starting pitcher Sonny Gray on Tuesday. One day later, the Blue Jays boosted their rotation by signing Dylan Cease to a seven-year deal, per a source.

And both teams are still on the hunt for some of this year's top free agents. MLB Network Jon Heyman writes in the New York Post (subscription required) that the Red Sox are eyeing Kyle Schwarber, Pete Alonso, Alex Bregman, J.T. Realmuto and Japanese corner infielder Kazuma Okamoto, and they are considering signing two members from that quintet.

For the Blue Jays, they have been linked to this offseason's top free agent, outfielder Kyle Tucker, but re-signing Bo Bichette "is probably still the No. 1 priority for Toronto," per MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. The reigning American League champions are also interested in a late-inning reliever and are considered "a potentially serious player" for a closer such as Edwin Díaz or Robert Suarez, according to Heyman.