We're keeping track of all the latest free agent and trade rumors.
Dec. 19: After trading Baz and Lowe (source), are Rays a team to watch in Marte trade talks?
The Rays agreed to two trades on Friday that moved four players off their 26-man roster and brought back a huge haul of prospects, possibly putting them in position to make yet another big move.
Tampa Bay traded starting pitcher Shane Baz to the Orioles for four of Baltimore's Top 30 prospects, including outfielder Slater de Brun (Baltimore's No. 6 prospect) and catcher Caden Bodine (No. 10), both of whom were 2025 first-round Draft picks.
The club is also set to receive two of the Astros' top 10 prospects -- outfielder Jacob Melton (No. 2) and right-handed pitcher Anderson Brito (No. 7) -- as part of a three-team deal with the Pirates that would send the Rays' Brandon Lowe, Jake Mangum and Mason Montgomery to Pittsburgh. That swap is pending physicals, a source told MLB.com's Alex Stumpf.
The Rays already had a pretty good farm system -- No. 10 in MLB Pipeline's midseason rankings -- before acquiring six prospects in these two deals. That could give them the resources to complete another big trade this offseason. One notable option is a deal involving D-backs second baseman Ketel Marte.
Parting with Lowe, the longest-tenured Rays player, leaves Tampa Bay with a massive void at the keystone spot. And the Rays are one of the many teams that have been reportedly involved in trade discussions regarding the three-time All-Star. Earlier this month, the Arizona Republic's Nick Piecoro reported (subscription required) that the Rays and D-backs discussed a deal that included Baz and fellow starting pitcher Ryan Pepiot going to Arizona for Marte.
The D-backs are said to want significant pitching in return for Marte. Although Baz is now off the table, Pepiot is still around, and these trades add two pitchers into Tampa Bay's system, including right-hander Michael Forret. He was a part of the Baz deal and is now the Rays' No. 5 prospect.
With this large influx of young talent, Tampa Bay may have what it needs to pull off another headline-grabbing trade.
Dec. 19: O's may not be done adding to rotation after swinging trade for SP Baz
The active and pitching-needy Orioles addressed their starting staff in a big way on Friday, acquiring right-hander Shane Baz from the Rays for four prospects and a 2026 Competitive Balance pick.
It's Baltimore first significant rotation addition this offseason, but it may not be the last. As MLB.com's Jake Rill notes, the Orioles have been in the market for some of the top free-agent starting pitchers, including left-handers Framber Valdez and Ranger Suárez. They might also dip back into the trade market for another starter, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.
According to a recent 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 last week 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.
The Baz move continues a very busy winter in Baltimore. The club has addressed its lineup by signing Pete Alonso and trading for Taylor Ward. It has added relievers Ryan Helsley and Andrew Kittredge. It has now made a splashy move for a starting pitcher and might have another one yet to come.
Dec. 19: The latest on Hoerner and other top 2B trade candidates
The crop of remaining free-agent second basemen isn't too exciting outside of perhaps Bo Bichette. So, teams looking for a boost at the keystone position might be better off trying to swing a trade.
The Pirates are on the verge of doing just that -- a source told MLB.com's Alex Stumpf that Pittsburgh is set to complete a three-team trade involving the Rays and Astros that would send Tampa Bay's Brandon Lowe to the Bucs.
But Lowe isn't the only second baseman who has been generating trade buzz. Here are some of the other star second basemen reportedly being discussed and the teams that have been connected to them.
• Nico Hoerner: Hoerner's name has come up in trade talks, according to Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic (subscription required). They term a deal involving the two-time Gold Glover as "unlikely," but the Giants are one team that has checked in on him, per the San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser (subscription required). Hoerner, who will be a free agent following the 2026 season, has Northern California roots as he was born in Oakland and attended Stanford University.
• Ketel Marte: Undoubtedly the best player in this group, Marte has drawn reported trade interest, per myriad reports, from the Red Sox, Blue Jays, Mariners, Phillies, Tigers, Reds, Pirates, Giants and Rays. However, a couple of those clubs are on Marte's five-team no-trade list. Per The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal (subscription required), the five teams are the Pirates, Giants, A's, Yankees and Cardinals.
• Brendan Donovan: The Giants and Mariners have emerged as the frontrunners for Donovan, according to Katie Woo of The Athletic (subscription required). Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (subscription required) reported last week that those two teams as well as the Royals and Pirates are interested in the versatile left-handed batter. The Red Sox have also discussed a trade for the 2025 All-Star, per The Boston Globe (subscription required). According to The Athletic's report, the Cardinals are seeking multiple top prospects in exchange for Donovan, who is under club control through 2027.
Dec. 16: Could this NL club be a dark-horse contender for Bregman?
A new contender has emerged in the sweepstakes for third baseman Alex Bregman, one of the top free agents on the market. The D-backs have expressed interest in Bregman, according to a report by MLB Network insider Jon Heyman on Tuesday.
The incumbent Red Sox and the Cubs have been the teams most strongly linked to Bregman so far this offseason, but Arizona has a vacancy at third base that the three-time All-Star could fill. Bregman is said to be Boston's "No. 1 target," while Chicago reportedly had a video meeting with Bregman earlier in the offseason.
If Arizona's interest is serious, it remains to be seen how a potential trade involving D-backs second baseman Ketel Marte could impact things. The Red Sox are one of several suitors for Marte, so if Bregman does sign with Arizona, the two star infielders could be swapping sides from 2025. More >
Dec. 16: What García signing means for Phillies
Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said that the Phillies’ outfield is pretty much set after the team finalized a one-year, $10 million deal with Adolis García on Tuesday. Reading between the lines, that likely means that free-agent center fielder Harrison Bader won’t be back.
Philadelphia plans to move forward with García in right, Brandon Marsh in center and prospect Justin Crawford in left, with Otto Kemp and Weston Wilson also in the mix.
The García signing comes after the Phillies reunited with Kyle Schwarber on a five-year, $150 million deal at the Winter Meetings. They also have an offer out to free-agent catcher J.T. Realmuto.
As for their incumbent starting right fielder, Nick Castellanos? The Phillies have said multiple times this offseason that they are trying to find the righty slugger a “change of scenery,” despite having one year and $20 million remaining on his five-year, $100 million contract. Sources told MLB.com's Todd Zolecki that they have found little to no interest on the trade market, even with the club willing to pay millions of Castellanos’ salary.
If Castellanos is traded, one source said it probably won’t happen until late in the offseason. If the Phillies still can’t find a taker, Castellanos will be released.
Dec. 16: This young slugger could be available for trade (report)
The Mets' two-year deal with veteran infielder Jorge Polanco became official on Tuesday, making for a serious logjam in New York's talented infield. Polanco is expected to play first base -- where he has only one brief appearance in his career -- after Pete Alonso's departure for the Orioles in free agency. Trade acquisition Marcus Semien will play second base, Francisco Lindor will hold down shortstop, and Brett Baty is expected to man third base.
That leaves Mark Vientos and Jeff McNeil in competition for the Mets' designated hitter role, although McNeil can also play the outfield. According to Jorge Castillo of ESPN, New York has made both players available on the trade market. Vientos in particular could garner interest after he hit .266 with 27 home runs and an .837 OPS in a breakout 2024, following up the performance with five home runs during the postseason. The 26-year-old took a step back in 2025 with a .233/.289/.413 slash line and 17 dingers, but he is under club control through 2029.
In 2025, McNeil had his best offensive season since his All-Star 2022, compiling a .243/.335/.411 slash line with 12 home runs and 54 RBIs. The 33-year-old played primarily second base (79 appearances) but also played 48 games in the outfield, including 34 in center field. He is under contract for $15.75 million in 2026 with a club option of the same value for 2027.
Dec. 15: D-backs could still trade Marte after signing Kelly
The decisions to sign pitchers Merrill Kelly and Michael Soroka won't keep the D-backs from trading second baseman Ketel Marte, according to reports.
MLB.com's Steve Gilbert has reported that moving Marte is still an option for Arizona, and The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported the same on Monday (subscription required). Rosenthal also reports that the D-backs want MLB-ready talent in exchange for Marte but would also consider prospects who could be used in a future trade.
Various teams are said to be in talks about Marte, including the Red Sox, Blue Jays, Mariners, Tigers, Pirates and Rays.
Marte has a no-trade list of five teams, per Rosenthal: the A's, Yankees, Pirates, Giants and Cardinals.
Dec. 15: Royals still 'open' to trading for Duran (report)
The Royals could still look to acquire another outfielder -- namely Jarren Duran of the Red Sox -- even after signing free agent Lane Thomas and trading with the Brewers for Isaac Collins, according to a report from Ken Rosenthal in The Athletic (subscription required).
Kansas City believes it would likely have to part with lefty Cole Ragans to acquire Duran, Rosenthal reports, though talks are said to still be preliminary. Ragans and Duran are both under team control for three more seasons.
Dec. 13: Giants, Mariners emerge as frontrunners to add 2B Donovan (report)
A popular name on this offseason's trade market has been Brendan Donovan, with the Cardinals' infielder reportedly drawing a lot of interest. According to a report in the Athletic (subscription required), the Giants and Mariners have emerged as frontrunners to acquire Donovan from St. Louis.
With Jorge Polanco reaching a deal to join the Mets, Seattle has a vacancy at second base, which is Donovan's primary position. The Giants could use an upgrade at the keystone position after getting a .616 OPS from their second basemen last season. Donovan was an All-Star for the first time in his career in 2025, and for the season he posted a .287/.353/.422 slash line. He's a versatile player defensively, appearing at shortstop and in left field in addition to second base.
According to the Athletic report, the Cardinals are seeking multiple top prospects in exchange for Donovan, and switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje (the Mariners' No. 7 prospect per MLB Pipeline) and outfielder Lazaro Montes (No. 3) have been discussed. Giants prospects who have been discussed include infielder Gavin Kilen (No. 3) and left-hander Carson Whisenhunt (No. 7).
The Athletic also reports that San Francisco and Seattle "remain engaged in trade talks" with the D-backs about second baseman Ketel Marte.
Dec. 13: Mets land Polanco; Mason Miller, Luis Robert Jr. among reported trade targets
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.
The Mets filled one of their lineup holes on Saturday, reaching a two-year deal with Jorge Polanco. According to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, the club plans to play Polanco mainly at first base and DH. The switch-hitter primarily has been a middle infielder during his career, with some experience at third, too. His only first-base experience came this past season, when he entered as a defensive replacement for one batter in the ninth inning of an April 6 game against the Giants.
With Semien, Polanco, Francisco Lindor, Brett Baty, Mark Vientos, Jett Williams, Ronny Mauricio and Luisangel Acuña all in the mix for playing time, it's possible the Mets won't make another infield addition.
That said, the club is likely to remain active on multiple fronts. Here’s a roundup of the latest:
• The Athletic reports that the Mets and Padres have been engaged in trade talks, though Lindor and Fernando Tatis Jr. have not been involved in those discussions, nor has infielder Jake Cronenworth.
Padres players discussed include starter Nick Pivetta, outfielder Ramón Laureano and relievers Mason Miller, Adrian Morejon and Jeremiah Estrada. San Diego has interest in the Mets’ “young Major Leaguers and all of their top prospects, both pitchers and position players.”
• 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 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.
• Per Heyman, the Mets are one of the teams that have checked in on outfielder Kyle Tucker, the top overall free agent in this year’s class. The Mets also have been tied to fellow free-agent outfielder Cody Bellinger.
• With trade rumors swirling around reigning two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal, who is entering his final season under team control, Heyman reported for the New York Post (subscription required) on Thursday that the Mets have been “debating now whether to go all in with big-time young players for Skubal, or wait until winter and try to do a free-agent deal for what will likely be record bucks.” One high-ranking Mets official told Heyman that Nolan McLean is “off limits,” but Heyman speculates that New York could tempt Detroit with “some combination” of Jonah Tong, Brandon Sproat, Carson Benge and Williams.
• The Mets are believed to be among the many teams that have interest in trading for Brewers right-hander Freddy Peralta, another pending free agent after 2026. A Brewers official told The Athletic that “lots of teams” are calling about Peralta.
• A source told MLB.com's John Denton that the Mets reached out to the Cardinals about first baseman Willson Contreras after Alonso signed with the Orioles. However, their deal with Polanco makes Contreras less of a fit.
Dec. 13: Will Blue Jays make another big splash by signing Tucker?
The industry consensus on Kyle Tucker’s market hasn’t changed much throughout this offseason, with the Blue Jays continuing to be widely viewed as the frontrunners.
The latest link between Tucker and the Blue Jays comes from ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez:
“If there's one team willing and able to give outfielder Kyle Tucker the $400 million he seeks in free agency, it's the Toronto Blue Jays, according to many of the agents, executives and managers at baseball's annual winter meetings this week,” Gonzalez writes. More >
Dec. 13: Red Sox reportedly trying to add multiple impact bats
The Red Sox are aiming to acquire two bats to help their lineup, per The Athletic's Jen McCaffrey (subscription required), and they are apparently leaving no stone unturned in order to accomplish their goal.
Although reported targets Kyle Schwarber, Pete Alonso and Jorge Polanco signed elsewhere, there are still plenty of options in play for Boston. Here’s a breakdown of the players they’ve been linked to:
Alex Bregman: The most likely option for the Red Sox appears to be a reunion with Bregman, who opted out of his contract with Boston in November.
Bo Bichette: Boston recently had a meeting with Bichette, according to a report from Ari Alexander of WHDH 7News in Boston. The meeting, which took place over Zoom, reportedly went well, and Bichette "came away impressed with the Red Sox," Alexander wrote. The Athletic reported last week (subscription required) that Boston views Bichette as an "intriguing alternative" if it can't bring back third baseman Alex Bregman.
Ketel Marte: The Red Sox are one of the many clubs involved in trade talks for the D-backs second baseman.
Eugenio Suárez: Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports that Boston has been in touch with Suárez, but the club's interest in the slugger appears to be "lukewarm" at this point, likely because it is prioritizing Bregman. Alex Speier of The Boston Globe previously reported (subscription required) on the Red Sox's connection to Suárez. Per McCaffrey, Boston tried to acquire Suárez before the 2025 Trade Deadline, with the intent of playing him at first base.
Isaac Paredes: The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal (subscription required) wrote about Boston’s interest in trading for Paredes, noting that the Astros’ asking price for the third baseman "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 and 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.
Munetaka Murakami: The Red Sox are one of the teams MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi mentioned as having interest in Murakami, one of several Japanese stars available this winter.
Kazuma Okamoto: On Wednesday, MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reported that the Red Sox have shown interest in Okamoto, another coveted Japanese slugger.
Corey Seager: The Red Sox have discussed a trade for Seager, 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.
Brendan Donovan: At the Winter Meetings, Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom acknowledged St. Louis has been engaged in trade talks regarding Donovan. The Red Sox are one of the teams that has talked to the Cards about the second baseman/left fielder, the Globe reports.
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.