Appleton West High School alumnus Danny Jansen, who spent the latter portion of the 2025 season with the Milwaukee Brewers, signed a two-year, $14.5 million deal with the Texas Rangers, a source told MLB.com.
The Rangers reportedly made a flurry of moves Dec. 12, including the signing of another 2025 Brewers player, Tyler Alexander, though the club hadn't confirmed the signings as of the morning of Dec. 13.
Jansen joined the Brewers shortly before the trade deadline, acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays, where he was stationed after signing a one-year offseason deal.
Jansen, 30, batted only .215 last year between his two stops but still posted a highly respectable .779 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) in 25 games with the Brewers, including three home runs. Jansen was often left on the bench with William Contreras handling such a large share of the catching innings; Jansen didn't even appear in the postseason despite his place on the Brewers roster throughout.
Jansen homered and drove in two runs in a 4-2 win over Cincinnati on Sept. 28, a win in the regular-season finale that represented a franchise-record 97th victory for Milwaukee.
Alexander posted a 6.19 earned-run average with the Brewers in 21 games at the start of the 2025 season before the club released him in June, and he finished the year with a 4.26 ERA per 31 games with the White Sox.
Former Brewers reliever Hoby Milner to Cubs
Former Brewers left-handed reliever Hoby Milner is going the opposite direction of Jansen, relocating from Texas back to the Midwest, this time as a member of the rival Cubs.
Milner posted a 3.84 ERA with the Rangers in 2025 over 70 innings of work, his highest career workload. From 2021-24 with the Brewers, Milner posted a 3.64 ERA. He turns 35 in January.
The Philadelphia Phillies have been busy so far this offseason. While the headliner is their extension handed out to Kyle Schwarber worth $150 million, the Phillies have made some other key moves.
Yoniel Curet and Zach McCambley were added at the MLB Winter Meetings to bolster the bullpen and secure two options at very cheap or free price points.
While there are no specifics for this deal, whether it's a Major League or Minor League contract, or what the money is, the Phillies are adding another reliever.
Wilson is a 27-year-old pitcher who's spent the better part of his eight-year MLB career thus far with the Braves and the Brewers. He also spent time with the Pittsburgh Pirates, and most recently in 2025, with the Chicago White Sox.
Wilson had a 6.65 ERA in 20 appearances for the White Sox in 2025, which included five starts and eight games finished. He pitched 47.1 innings with just 28 strikeouts and 11 home runs allowed.
He's far from the best option to sign in free agency, but the Phillies are taking a chance on Wilson to see if he can get back to his 2023 version of himself.
During that season, Wilson pitched in 53 games for the Brewers, and he had an impressive 2.58 ERA with 1.5 bWAR, 61 strikeouts over 76.2 innings pitched, and just nine home runs allowed.
While his FIP was a 4.13, indicating some luck, it was still a season worth investing in. Though he struggled the following season, Wilson is an interesting and likely very cheap free agent pickup for the Phillies.
He made his debut at 20 years old with the Braves back in 2018, and potentially pitching in his ninth season, he could become a long-reliever or spot-starter for the Phillies in 2026.
With uncertainty about Zack Wheeler to begin the year, Wilson, with a strong Spring Training, could crack the Opening Day roster as a key member of the Phillies' pitching staff.
Devin Williams departed the New York Yankees for the New York Mets this offseason, and it seems like not too many people in the Yankees’ brass were upset about it.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, some of those within the Yankees were “relieved” to see Williams depart for the Mets. Williams landed in the Bronx last offseason in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers, and didn’t have quite the season he had hoped for.
In 2025, Williams was 4-6 while sporting a 4.79 ERA with 18 saves, a far fall from his usual All-Star level production. He was taken in and out the closer’s role multiple times, and was never put back in that spot again after the team acquired David Bednar from the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Williams was able to re-discover some of his old magic later in the season as a setup man, but by then the damage had already been done, and it was clear that Williams and the Yankees were not a match.
Williams will now join a Mets team that has just lost Edwin Diaz to the Dodgers, so it’s very possible that he is closing games in New York once again. He’ll look to bounce back after a disastrous time with the Yankees.
That inconsistency showed up again in October. During the 2025 postseason, the Blue Jays’ bullpen posted a 5.52 ERA, with several games turning late after strong starts. It became one of the few soft spots on a team otherwise built to handle playoff pressure, and it’s clearly an area the front office circled heading into the winter.
Rogers’ signing follows a stretch of steady bullpen churn. Late last season, Toronto added Seranthony Dominguez to the relief mix, then made difficult roster decisions this winter, including outrighting Yariel Rodriguez off the 40-man roster as the club worked to reset the group. The goal now appears to be reliability rather than experimentation, especially after seeing how quickly October games can swing.
Put together, the message is consistent. The Blue Jays aren’t standing pat after a playoff run. They’re reinforcing the areas that faltered late, starting with the bullpen, while keeping themselves in position t
The Toronto Blue Jays have been busy this winter. They've been linked to Kyle Tucker, Cody Bellinger, Alex Bregman, and Bo Bichette, among plenty of lineup options, and have already dipped their toes into the pitching market.
Toronto added Dylan Cease on a seven-year, $210 million contract, and also signed Cody Ponce to a $30 million three-year deal. It's been a pitching-focused offseason thus far, and it's only continued to build with their latest move.
Blue Jays sign ex-Mets, Giants reliever to $37 million deal
"Right-handed reliever Tyler Rogers and the Toronto Blue Jays are in agreement on a three-year, $37 million contract with a fourth-year vesting option, a source tells ESPN," Passan reported.
This is a huge move for the Blue Jays. While the additions of Ponce and Cease will help the rotation, the bullpen was in dire need of improvement this winter.
Rogers was being strongly pursued by the Mets this winter, and just like how the Los Angeles Dodgers stole Edwin Diaz from the Mets, the Blue Jays stole Rogers from New York as well.
Rogers is 34 years old and will be 35 at the start of the 2026 season. He's going to be in his eighth season, and he's coming off an incredible year with the Mets and Giants.
Between the two clubs, Rogers appeared in an MLB-best 81 games and finished with an impressive 1.98 ERA across 77.1 innings with 48 strikeouts, four home runs allowed, and just seven walks.
While he might not be the strikeout artist that some other relievers are, his funky, submarine delivery makes hitting his pitches hard difficult.
Rogers is a quality reliever option, and the Blue Jays needed another back-end reliever to complement Louis Varland and Jeff Hoffman.
Now, the Blue Jays have a revitalized bullpen with Rogers in the fold, as Rogers will now get to play at the Rogers Centre for Blue Jays fans as they pursue a return trip to the World Series.
The Atlanta Braves filled their shortstop hole this offseason by trading for Mauricio Dubon, but they could have a chance to get a major upgrade at the position.
Fansided’s Christopher Kline believes the Braves could be the perfect trade candidate for Texas Rangers two-time World Series MVP Corey Seager, as he could boost their offense to be able to challenge their division rival, the Philadelphia Phillies.
“The Texas Rangers are listening on Corey Seager, who is due $186 million over the next six years…Are the Atlanta Braves really prepared to foot the bill on Seager's contract? It wouldn't be the most classically Alex Anthopoulos move, but the Braves need to turn their fortunes around and shortstop in the most glaring hole on the roster. Atlanta can pepper the Rangers with young pitchers and use Seager to seriously challenge Philly atop the division,” Kline wrote.
This past season, Seager slashed .271/373/.487/.860 with 19 doubles, 21 home runs, and 50 RBI in 102 games played. He was a little injury-prone last season, but his normal self produces around 40 homers and almost 100 RBI a season.
If the Braves were to get Seager, it’s not like they have a logjam at shortstop. Dubon is a utility man and could play in the outfield or DH as well.
Hopefully, the Braves consider this, as if they can upgrade their offense as well as they’ve done with their pitching, they could make themselves division favorites.
Over the years, Major League Baseball has pushed teams to bring up their top prospects sooner rather than later. To do this, the Prospect Promotion Incentive pick was created.
If a team has a prospect on their Opening Day roster, and they go on to either win the Rookie of the Year or place in the top three of the MVP or Cy Young Award voting, that team is rewarded an extra first-round draft pick.
Thanks to Hunter Brown's dominance this past season, the Houston Astros have been awarded the No. 28 pick to go along with their 17th overall pick.
Astros projected to take HS arm with PPI pick in early 2026 mock draft
With the draft positions set, we can start thinking about what teams may be targeting which players. Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter recently came out with his early mock draft, and in it, he believes Houston could take a flier on Florida high school pitcher Coleman Borthwick.
Borthwick is a big 6'6" right-handed pitcher who recently committed to Auburn University. He really went up boards this past summer as he had a really good WSBC U-18 World Cup and East Coast Pro Showcase with Team USA.
While he is a two-way player, his future lies on the mound. He can touch 98 mph with his fastball at just 17 years old, and he has a great pitch mix to go along with that.
He has a great feel for generating rotations and relies on his slider to get outs. It has a sharp break and has the ability to miss bats at a good rate.
Borthwick does have some things he needs to clean up, like staying on line, but he has time to do so. He is still developing and filling out his big frame.
The Baltimore Orioles made a big splash, signing Pete Alonso on the final day of the MLB Winter Meetings to a massive $155 million contract over the next five years.
Coming just short on Kyle Schwarber's market, Baltimore quickly pivoted to Alonso and now has a slugger for the next five seasons to comprise a star-studded lineup.
Alonso will wear the number 25 for the Orioles, and in a video shared by the Orioles social media team, the new first baseman shared the heartwarming reason behind his new jersey number with the Orioles.
Orioles' Pete Alonso shares heartwarming reason behind No.25 jersey
"So 2025 is such a special year for me and my family, because we welcomed our son into the world in the year 2025. So, I chose 25 because of him."
This uniform for Alonso holds a special meaning to him and his family, as it represents the year he and his family welcomed their son into the world. It's a switch for Alonso from his Mets number, and there's a great story behind the change.
Alonso wore number 20 with the New York Mets over the last seven seasons, and now is changing his number as he joins the Orioles. 20 was retired for Frank Robinson, so Alonso had to switch his jersey number, and he chose a number with a great reason behind it.
A lot of players in Orioles history have worn number 25, with 60 different players over the long history of the Orioles who've donned the number.
Most recently, Jacob Stalling and Greg Allen wore the number in 2025, while Anthony Santander wore the number from 2017 to 2024. Jim Thome, Derreck Lee, Rafael Palmeiro, Harold Reynolds, and many others have worn 25 for the Orioles.
Frank Waddey, all the way back in 1931, was the first Orioles player to wear 25 for the franchise. He played in just 14 games in his MLB career, recording a .273 average with a .652 OPS in his brief MLB experience.
Now, Alonso will wear number 25, becoming the 61st player to don the number in Orioles history. He had to switch from number 20, and he couldn't have had a better reason for choosing his new number.
Siani's most big league action came in 2024 for the Cardinals, when he played in 124 games, stole 20 bases and batted .228.
In 2025 with the Cardinals, Siani hit .235 in 19 games.
The Braves had already claimed Siani off waivers earlier this offseason, but as 40-man roster movement continues, they chose to designate him for assignment, which put him back on waivers, and allowed the Dodgers to claim him.
L.A., if it keeps Siani heading toward the season, likely views him as a potential defensive-minded option for centerfield off the bench, or organizational depth at Triple-A.
It's a chance for Siani, at least for the moment, to join the back-to-back World Series champions. He'll be hoping he gets a chance to prove what he can do.
The New York Yankees are seemingly always linked to the top players available in free agency and in trade rumors. This winter has been no different, with the Yankees being linked to players like Kyle Tucker, Bo Bichette, and a crop of starters in the trade market.
But, while MacKenzie Gore, Edward Cabrera, and Sandy Alcantara are interesting options, there's a clear top trade candidate in the starting pitching market. That player is Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal.
For Evan Petzold of The Detroit Free Press, the Yankees are one of five potential trade destinations for Skubal this offseason. Petzold put together trade pitches for each of those teams, and for the Yankees, the package is headlined by Jasson Dominguez.
Yankees trade pitch lands Tarik Skubal for Jasson Dominguez, more
"Tigers acquire: OF Jasson Dominguez, RHP Carlos Lagrange, RHP Ben Hess, RHP Cade Smith," Petzold pitched.
This return is headlined by Dominguez, who's one of the Yankees' outfield options for the 2026 season. But Lagrange is the 2nd-ranked Yankees prospect, while Hess is ranked 6th and Smith is ranked 19th.
New York would have one of the best rotations in baseball when fully healthy, with Skubal, Gerrit Cole, Mac Fried, and Carlos Rodon on top of Cam Schlittler, Will Warren, and Clarke Schmidt.
While it might be overkill to have so many starting pitchers, as seen by the Los Angeles Dodgers' World Series title, having too many starters isn't the worst idea.
Sending this package for Skubal is, in a vacuum, a very appealing trade from the Yankees' perspective. However, with Skubal hitting free agency after 2026, this trade could wind up being a rental.
Moving on from Lagrange, Hess, Dominguez, and Smith for one season of Skubal is a very steep price to pay for the two-time Cy Young ace.
But adding Skubal to the Yankees' rotation would not only give New York a great chance of making the postseason, but Skubal would also make them a top World Series contender.
Alonso is bidding goodbye to the New York Mets, where he spent his last seven seasons, becoming one of the league’s biggest stars.
Alonso’s wife, Haley Alonso, couldn’t help but reminisce as she penned a farewell message for New York. She included a picture of the five-time All-Star from his debut game with the Mets in 2019.
“This picture. It encapsulates all that Pete is as a ballplayer. Those who’ve watched him over the years know that it’s undeniable that his love for the game absolutely radiates off him,” wrote Haley on Instagram.
“I hope his legacy with New York is how deeply he cared and how much of himself he poured into this game, this team, and this city.”
She expressed her gratitude to the Big Apple for embracing their family and serving as their home.
“We fell in love with New York City and lived in Manhattan for six years. We fell in love with the fans and their passion. Sometimes glowing, sometimes spirited 😉, but always heartfelt. We loved this team,” added Haley.
The 31-year-old Alonso, who won the Silver Slugger Award this season, exits the Mets as the team’s all-time leader in home runs with 264. He also tallied 951 hits and 712 RBIs.
Pete Alonso bid adieu to New York and Mets fans in an Instagram post on Thursday night.
After Alonso officially left the Mets after seven professional seasons and nine with the organization, the first baseman thanked the city of New York and several people within the franchise in a highlight reel set to his most recent walkup song "Layla" by Eric Clapton.
The mashup featured his first career home run, historic National League Wild Card-clinching blast and his long ball against the Braves that set the new Mets franchise record, before flashing to a photo of him in an Orioles uniform.
New York, thank you. These last few years have shaped me in ways I’ll carry for the rest of my life. This city demands your best and I’m proud to look back knowing I gave everything I had into earning the privilege of wearing that jersey.
I’ve been blessed with incredible teammates, coaches, trainers, staff, and countless people who helped shape me into the player and man I am today. I’m forever grateful for every person who challenged me, supported me and believed in me along the way.
Thank you for the passion. Thank you for the love. Even the tough love that comes with playing for New York. When it came time for first pitch, thank you for being electric through it all. Thank you for getting rowdy every time I stepped up to the plate and made the building shake when the ball found a seat over the wall. Your energy fueled me more than you’ll ever know.
You believed in me, and you made me better.
With love,Polar Bear
The 31-year-old agreed to a five-year, $155 million deal to join the Orioles on the final day of Major League Baseball's Winter Meetings on Wednesday.
Alonso leaves the Mets as its franchise home run leader with 264 blasts and its single-season home run record of 53. His 712 RBI are third-most in Mets history, .857 OPS is tied for sixth and 23.3 bWAR is 10th in franchise history.
The Mets front office has a massive hole to fill in the infield after Alonso supplied five straight seasons with 34 home runs or more. He finished with 38 home runs, 126 RBI and an .871 OPS a season ago while playing all 162 games for the second straight season.
The New York Yankees are shopping around second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. After a strong season in New York in 2025, the dynamic infielder could be donning a different uniform in 2026.
Chisholm was traded to the Yankees at the 2024 trade deadline and has been a revelation for the team. In a season and a half in the Bronx, Chisholm is hitting .251 with 42 home runs and 103 RBIs in 176 games. In 2025, he hit .242 with 31 home runs and 80 RBIs, and was named to his second-career All-Star game.
Now potentially on the trade market, GM Brian Cashman was asked by Bryan Hoch of MLB.com about the possibility of Chisholm being dealt.
“He’s somebody who I think is currently part of the solution, someone that's made us better by getting him two deadlines ago and giving us athleticism. He's above-average. He’s an All-Star second baseman, great defense, steals bags, power — all that stuff. He’s been a good get. We will be open-minded. But again, my default is these are all individually good players. We acquired them for a reason,” Cashman said.
Chisholm has one year remaining on his contract before free agency, and it seems that the Yankees may be trying to squeeze any value out of him rather than risk losing him for nothing.
The Yankees will now see what they can get for Chisholm if they opt to trade him elsewhere. Otherwise, he’ll be an important piece to a Yankees team that is looking to get back to the World Series in 2026.
The San Diego Padres are coming off a trying season. They were able to make the postseason via the Wild Card, but that would be it for them.
San Diego would lose a 2-1 series against the Chicago Cubs, ending their season. Now, the attention is turned toward the future state of the club.
One thing the club needs to improve on is its farm system. They have traded away tons of their top prospects in previous years, but could add to their farm system in next year's draft.
Padres projected to take a top-ranked high school slugger in early 2026 mock draft
San Diego has earned itself the 21st overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. Despite a late pick, there will still be tons of great talent to choose from here.
Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter recently came out with his early 2026 mock draft. In it, he believes that California high school outfielder Blake Bowen could be a good fit.
"The Padres have never been shy about rolling the dice on upside with high school talent, and Bowen offers one of the highest ceilings in the class thanks to his 60-power, 60-speed profile. There are still questions about his hit tool, but he made more consistent contact last summer, and more of the same thing this spring could push him significantly further up draft boards."
Bowen is considered by scouts as someone with raw tools that could still be developed. He is a former football player and relies on pure athleticism in the outfield.
He is also someone that scouts believe could rise on the draft boards if he continues to play well this spring. While he plays center field, he has the arm to transition to right field in the future if needed.
Tarik Skubal has been the most interesting name to monitor on the trade block this winter. While the Detroit Tigers aren't expected to move on from him, there's reason to believe a trade isn't out of the question.
At the MLB Winter Meetings, some buzz sparked back up, with Skubal and the Los Angeles Dodgers being a potential fit. While there's still no indication a trade is close, his trade market is one to keep a very close eye on.
One ESPN MLB insider, Jorge Castillo, was doing just that at the Winter Meetings, where he heard a fascinating trade rumor about Skubal. Castillo's reported trade rumor was that a Skubal trade is not just a possibility, but that it's likely to happen.
Tigers' Tarik Skubal 'likely' to be traded, according to ESPN insider
When asked what the most interesting thing he heard at the Winter Meetings was, Castillo answered, "That a Tarik Skubal trade is likely."
This rumor would be a massive update for Skubal's trade potential this winter. But, Castillo delved into the background of his market and why this rumor shouldn't be taken at face value.
"Trading the best pitcher in baseball when you're trying to compete would upset the fan base," Castillo writes, "but the Tigers, knowing re-signing Skubal next winter is unlikely, appear open to it."
With Skubal's future in Detroit even without a trade looking uncertain, trading him this offseason would be much better for the Tigers' long-term success.
Re-signing Skubal would be ideal, but that doesn't look likely at the moment with how far apart the two sides have been rumored to be.
Tigers' GM Scott Harris also made comments recently that didn't shut down the idea of a Skubal trade. Harris even said that there aren't any "untouchables" on the roster, Skubal included.
If the Tigers weren't entertaining trade offers, then Harris could've shut down any rumors during the MLB Winter Meetings. But, he didn't, and even gave more credence to the idea of a Skubal blockbuster trade.
Castillo heard that a Skubal trade is "likely," and while it might be a bit too early to make such a presumption, it's a noteworthy rumor amid the mounting evidence that the Tigers are open to making a trade involving their two-time Cy Young.
The MLB offseason can sometimes move at a painfully slow pace, but if history is any indication, December will be the busiest month — thanks in part to the Winter Meetings, which can sometimes lead to a flurry of player movement.
The annual congregation of executives, managers, free agents and, of course, agents takes place in Orlando this year, and there is plenty of business to get done.
Names such as Dylan Cease, Pete Alonso and Edwin Díaz are already off the board and headed to new teams. Meanwhile, a number of big names remain unsigned or involved in trade rumors.
Speaking of the trade market, things on that front could be worth watching more closely in the coming days. While a Tarik Skubal trade doesn’t seem imminent or even particularly likely this offseason, Ketel Marte, MacKenzie Gore and Jarren Duran are among the names who have surfaced in rumors.
The Sporting News is tracking all of the latest buzz below, from rumors to signings and trades. Follow along with the latest updates.
Mets starter Jonah Tong is "highly coveted in trade talks," per Heyman, and the team will listen with a high asking price. Nolan McLean is viewed as "off-limits," while Carson Benge "close to that."
Longtime closer Kenley Jansen is signing a one-year deal with Detroit, also with a club option for a second year. Jansen sits at 476 career saves, and will attempt to reach 500 next season with the Tigers.
Padres open to moving Mason Miller, but would need to be 'overwhelmed'
Despite acquiring him at last season's trade deadline, San Diego has received inquires on Mason Miller, but the Padres would "need to be overwhelmed" by an offer, although they will listen to calls, per Heyman.
Per Sammon, the Mets are signing former Mariners infielder Jorge Polanco to a two-year, $40 million deal. Polanco had an .821 OPS and 26 homers for Seattle last season.
Toronto is acquiring RHP Chase Lee from Detroit in exchange for prospect Johan Simon, per Rosenthal. Lee appeared in 32 games for the Tigers in 2025, registering a 4.10 ERA as a reliever.
Right-hander Josiah Gray and the Nationals agreed to a one-year, $1.35 million deal to avoid arbitration, per Passan. Gray did not play in 2025 due to elbow surgery.
Miami is signing former Rays OF/DH Christopher Morel, per Rosenthal, on a one-year contract. He is expected to mostly play first base for the Marlins after hitting .219 with 11 home runs and 33 RBIs for Tampa Bay in 2025.
Garcia is coming off a breakout season, producing an .800 OPS, a 5.8 bWAR and his first All-Star appearance. The 25-year-old is now locked in with Kansas City for the next five years, forming a dynamic pair with SS Bobby Witt Jr.
New York has a vacancy in the outfield after trading Brandon Nimmo earlier in the offseason, and Robert is a possible trade candidate. Heyman mentions that the Mets would likely want the White Sox to eat some of Robert's $20 million salary, and he says that New York is still interested in free agent OF Cody Bellinger.
Baddoo has spent his entire career with the Tigers until this point, but only played in seven games last year. The 27-year-old outfielder now gets a fresh start in Milwaukee.
Braves to sign RP Robert Suarez to three-year, $45 million deal
Suarez was the best reliever on the market after Edwin Diaz and Devin Williams found homes, and the former Padres reliever is now headed to Atlanta. The three-year deal worth $45 million in the a similar range as Williams' and Diaz's contracts, as the reliever joins Raisel Iglesias in the back of Atlanta's bullpen.
Leiter spent the past 1.5 seasons with the Yankees, but was non-tendered during the offseason. He provides the Athletics a reliable bullpen arm that has pitched in big moments before.
Cody Bellinger "could be waiting" for Kyle Tucker to sign
Kuty reports that Bellinger's agent, Scott Boras, may prefer Tucker to be off the board before finalizing a potential Bellinger deal. Bellinger and Tucker represent the top two outfielders on the market, so Boras may feel as though any team that misses on Tucker would then try to pivot to Bellinger.
The Braves made their first major move of the offseason by signing outfielder Mike Yastrzemski to a two-year, $23 million deal. The contract includes a third-year club option.
Orioles remain active, still talking to Framber Valdez
Even after signing Pete Alonso, the Orioles remain active on the free agent market and continue to talk to former Astros SP Framber Valdez, Jon Morosi reports. Baltimore has also been connected to MacKenzie Gore in trade talks.
Eugenio Suarez's market has been quiet, at least publicly, but the Red Sox are showing interest in him, along with a handful of other infielders, Jon Heyman reports.
The Mets never made an offer to Alonso, Joel Sherman reports, noting that they knew the first baseman was receiving offers longer and more expensive than they were comfortable going.
Pete Alonso signing a five-year, $155 million deal with Orioles
Pete Alonso is leaving Queens and heading to the AL East — but not to a team people expected. It is the Orioles that will be the first baseman's new home, as the free agent agreed to a five-year contract $155 million deal with Baltimore. It gives the Orioles a veteran slugger to add to their mix of young studs.
Brian Cashman says Yankees 'not an open blank checkbook'
Speaking to reporters at the Winter Meetings, Yankees GM Brian Cashman said while the franchise is "aggressive," it cannot be an "open blank checkbook" when it comes to spending money. "Everything adds up. Everything counts," Cashman said. The Yankees have had a quiet offseason outside of Trent Grisham accepting his qualifying offer to return in 2026.
The Dodgers would be willing to give OF Kyle Tucker a lucrative deal for three or four years but are reluctant to give out a deal spanning six or seven years, The Athletic reports.
The Red Sox are seen as strong candidates for Ketel Marte compared to the Blue Jays because of their young starting pitching depth, Jon Morosi reports. The Diamondbacks have been known to be targeting young starters in any Marte talks.
The Tigers have agreed to a two-year, $19 million deal to bring back reliever Kyle Finnegan. Acquired from the Nationals at the July deadline, Finnegan impressed with a 1.50 ERA and 11.5 K/9 rate in 16 appearances with the Tigers, putting himself in line for save opportunities in 2026.
The Orioles and Nationals have had "steady communication" about SP MacKenzie Gore, whose name has been floated in trade rumors since the July deadline, Jon Morosi reports.
Tampa Bay's Brandon Lowe is among the names surfacing in trade talks for second basemen, and the chances of a deal this week are "increasing," Jon Morosi reports.
The market for Diamondbacks 2B Ketel Marte is "heating up," Jon Heyman reports, with the Red Sox, Mariners, Blue Jays, Phillies and Rays all believed to be in the mix for the All-Star.
The Red Sox have discussed a Corey Seager trade with the Rangers, the Boston Globe reports, though WEEI's Rob Bradford says the talks don't have momentum at the moment. Seager has been a superstar with the Rangers when healthy, but Texas is on a mission to shed salary this winter and the two-time World Series MVP still has six years remaining on his massive contract.
The Marlins are "engaged" in trade talks involving SP Edward Cabrera with numerous teams, Jon Heyman reports. Cabrera enjoyed a breakout season for Miami in 2025 and was a popular name leading up to the July deadline.
The Pirates have agreed to a one-year, $7.75 million deal with reliever Gregory Soto, who posted a 4.18 ERA and 3.42 FIP between the Orioles and Mets in 2025.
With Kyle Schwarber off the market, and Baltimore being one potential landing spot for him, Morosi reports that the Orioles have spoken with the camp of Kyle Tucker.
Orioles, Reds, Pirates made offers for Schwarber before Phillies reunion
Before Kyle Schwarber agreed to re-sign with the Phillies, Baltimore matched Philadelphia's offer of five years, $150 million, per Rosenthal. The Reds offered Schwarber a five-year deal "in the $125 million range," while the Pirates offered four years and $120 million.
Red Sox viewed as stronger candidate for Ketel Marte than Blue Jays
Per Jon Morosi, within the AL East, the Red Sox are viewed as a stronger trade candidate for star infielder Ketel Marte than the Blue Jays, because of Boston's depth of MLB-ready starters.
Scott Boras expects Pete Alonso's market to heat up
Speaking at the Winter Meetings, agent Scott Boras said he expects 1B Pete Alonso's market to pick up now that Kyle Schwarber has signed. Alonso has reportedly been in and out of the meetings to meet with teams, including the Red Sox and Orioles.
The Tigers have been floated as a potential Alex Bregman suitor, but they also have real interest in SS Ha-Seong Kim, according to the Detroit Free Press. Kim, a terrific defender, landed with the Rays last offseason but missed most of 2025 and finished the year with the Braves. After a healthy September, Kim opted out of his deal.
Mets could be reluctant to go beyond three years for Alonso
The Mets "may be hesitant to go more than three years" on a new deal for 1B Pete Alonso, MLB.com's Mark Feinsand reports, which could complicate the path to a reunion between the two sides. Alonso settled for a short deal last winter but is looking for long-term security this time around after a strong season at the plate.
The Angels are acquiring infielder Vaughn Grissom from the Red Sox, in exchange for OF prospect Isaiah Jackson. Grissom, Boston's one-for-one return for Chris Sale two years ago, struggled in a brief MLB stint in 2024 and spent all of 2025 in the minor leagues, posting a .783 OPS. 2026 will be Grissom's age-25 season.
The Padres and GM A.J. Preller are "shooting big" in trade talks and working on "multiple fronts" to put together significant deals, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
With the Mets' former closer, Edwin Diaz, off the market, New York is now viewed as a suitor for the new top available reliever, Robert Suarez. The Blue Jays are also in the mix, per Jon Morosi.
Former Mets closer Edwin Diaz has agreed to a deal with the Dodgers, according to The Athletic's Will Sammon, bolstering a bullpen that was a rare weakness for much of the regular season in 2025.
Diaz's deal is worth $69 million over three years, per Jeff Passan.
The Phillies have agreed to a five-year, $150 million deal to re-sign DH Kyle Schwarber, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. Schwarber, who was the runner-up for NL MVP in 2025, was also pursued by the Reds, Pirates, Orioles and Mets.
While the Red Sox are taking a look at a bevy of infielders, including Pete Alonso, Bo Bichette and Ketel Marte, a reunion with Alex Bregman remains Boston's "No. 1 target," according to The Athletic. A trade for Isaac Paredes could be a fallback option if a deal can't be reached with Bregman.
Scott Harris says he "doesn't believe in untouchable players" regarding Tarik Skubal
Harris answered a question about Tarik Skubal's trade status, as the executive said he wouldn't be doing his job if he didn't listen. Skubal has one year left on his contract, which could prompt Detroit to trade him before the season begins if the team gets a good deal.
Matz is a former starter who transitioned to the bullpen last season, and found success with the Red Sox late in the year, finishing the season with a 3.05 ERA between St. Louis and Boston. Topkin adds that the deal will span two years.
Brewers RP Trevor Megill drawing interest from Mets, Yankees
Megill was the best relievers on the Brewers last year, but Milwaukee is always exploring different ways to mix up its team. The Yankees have a reliever vacancy after losing Devin Williams to the Mets in free agency, but the Mets also still need to upgrade their bullpen.
According to Rome, no deal is close, but Houston's interest in Baz is real and could be the type of move that the team prefers. Baz is coming off a season where he made a career-high 31 starts for the Rays, but still pitched to a 4.87 ERA.
Yankees have checking in on Nationals SP MacKenzie Gore
Gore is one of several pitchers who could be traded, as the Nats look to build for the future. While Golden also reports the Red Sox and Padres explored a Gore trade at the trade deadline, he specifically names the Yankees as a team that has made a call in recent days.
Mets, Blue Jays, Dodgers among teams interested in Robert Suarez
Suarez is one of the top relievers on the market, and the Mets, Blue Jays and Dodgers are all teams that have shown interest in improving their bullpens. Those three teams have also been linked to top closer Edwin Diaz, which makes Suarez a potential fallback option.
Kyle Schwarber likely the next name to come off the board
Cotillo added that other teams may be waiting for Schwarber to sign before moving on to other players. While the Phillies are believed to be the favorite to retain the DH, but the Red Sox, Mets, Reds and Pirates have all been linked to Schwarber as well.
Diamondbacks targeting starters in Ketel Marte talks
The Diamondbacks are willing to listen on 2B Ketel Marte and are emphasizing MLB-ready starting pitchers in talks, but their asking price remains high, according to Jon Morosi. Marte has been one of the hottest names as the Winter Meetings get underway, indicating teams believe he can be had in a trade, and interested teams reportedly include the Red Sox, Blue Jays and Mariners.
The Orioles are in on free agent starter Ranger Suarez, Jon Heyman reports. Suarez is one of the top free agent arms available, and Baltimore has been connected to starters since the offseason began.
Free agent 1B Pete Alonso is heading to the Winter Meetings to meet with interested suitors, including the Red Sox and Orioles, according to the New York Post. Alonso lives a short drive away from Orlando, so he will meet in-person with interested teams.
Brian Cashman says Yankees are covered in 'most areas'
Yankees GM Brian Cashman said at the Winter Meetings that the organization is "open-minded" but doesn't have to do as much as last winter because of the talent on the roster. "We have really good players on this roster, and we are covered in most all areas that you need to be covered."
The Nationals are receiving heavy interest in SS CJ Abrams in trade talks and are open to dealing him, The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon report. Washington is also talking about deals centered on SP MacKenzie Gore as the new front office looks to shake up the organization.
The Blue Jays are also among teams talking to the Diamondbacks about 2B Ketel Marte, Jon Heyman reports. The Red Sox and Mariners were reported Sunday as potential suitors for Marte, though there doesn't appear to be much traction in talks yet, Heyman reports.
The Diamondbacks have agreed to a one-year, $7.5 million deal with pitcher Michael Soroka. Soroka split the 2025 season with the Nationals and Cubs, posting a 4.87 ERA and 4.16 FIP over 16 starts with Washington before an injury limited him to 8.1 strong innings with Chicago. Soroka could function as either a starter or reliever in Arizona.
Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte is in high demand this offseason, as a number of suitors have pursued the All-Star infielder. The Red Sox, Mariners, Pirates, Rays, Tigers and Jays are all listed as targets by New York Post's Jon Heyman.
One of the top arms available on the market, Valdez has been travelling from coast to coast, as it's reported he's visited Baltimore, New York and San Francisco. The 32-year-old lefty finished his eighth season in Houston last year with a .366 ERA.
The Pirates said they were looking to spend this offseason around Paul Skenes. How about Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber? Pittsburgh has reportedly put a four-year offer in for the free agent, while Red Sox, Cubs, Reds and others remain in the mix.
Mariners send prospect Harry Ford to D.C. for Jose Ferrer
The Mariners have acquire reliever Jose Ferrer from the Nationals, in exchange for catching prospect Harry Ford and pitching prospect Isaac Lyon. The 25-year-old Ferrer has unspectacular raw numbers as a major-leaguer, but a career 3.33 FIP, impressive walk rate and high velocity make him a potential high-leverage reliever for Seattle, while Ford is a consensus top-75 prospect in baseball and could be the Nationals' catcher of the future.
Despite July's firesale, the Minnesota Twins are not planning to trade Joe Ryan, Byron Buxton or Pablo Lopez this winter, The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reports. The Twins discussed a Ryan trade with the Boston Red Sox at the deadline but decided against dealing their young ace.
The Detroit Tigers remain "engaged" with teams on a potential Tarik Skubal trade, according to ESPN's Buster Olney, but they are still unsure about dealing him and have an "enormous" asking price. Skubal, the back-to-back reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, is set to be a free agent after the 2026 season and is reportedly far apart in extension talks with the Tigers.
MLB free agent signings and trades by team
Blue Jays
SP Dylan Cease (7yr/$210M)
SP Cody Ponce (3yr/$30M)
Orioles
OF Taylor Ward (trade)
RP Ryan Helsley (2yr/$28M)
1B Pete Alonso (5yr/$155M)
Rays
OF Cedric Mullins (1yr/$7M)
OF Jake Fraley (1yr/$3M)
P Steven Matz (2yr/$15M)
Red Sox
SP Sonny Gray (trade)
SP Johan Oviedo (trade)
Yankees
P Ryan Yarbrough (re-signed, 1yr/$2.5M)
Guardians
RP Colin Holderman (1yr/$1.5M)
Royals
Tigers
P Drew Anderson (1yr/$7M with $10M option for 2027)
Japanese standouts Tatsuya Imai and Kazuma Okamoto were also posted and are available to MLB teams, making for one of the strongest-ever free agent crops of Japanese talent in one offseason.
After a disappointing 2025 season, the Houston Astros found themselves with higher odds than they have seen in quite some time to take home the first overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft.
They had just a 0.34%, which ultimately did not work out. The first pick went to the Chicago White Sox, who held the highest odds with a 27.35% chance.
Houston will now have the 17th overall pick in the upcoming draft. While that is a bit disappointing, there will still be loads of great talent to choose from.
Astros projected to take one of the top high school arms in early 2026 mock draft
For starters, mock drafts are typically just for fun, and they can change at any moment. There is no telling if any of these MLB prospects will continue to have good seasons or find points of struggle during the spring.
Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter has come out with his early mock draft for the 2026 season. Here, he believes that California high school pitcher Logan Schmidt could fall to them.
"A strong summer showcase circuit vaulted Schmidt into the top tier of prep left-handers, alongside Gio Rojas and Carson Bolemon, and he now fits comfortably into the middle of the first round. With 6'4", 215-pound frame, good command of his three-pitch arsenal and clean mechanics, he offers a nice mix of upside and polish, and he will be just 17 on draft after reclassifying."
Schmidt really started to make a name for himself this past summer when his velocity increased during the Area Code Games. This helped propel him into a much higher tier of draft prospects.
He has great command of all three of his pitches and is still young, so he could continue to develop in the minors and be molded into what Houston wants him to be.
In the wake of signing first baseman Pete Alonso to a five-year, $155 million contract, the Baltimore Orioles announced that catcher Maverick Handley has been designated for assignment.
Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo are now the only two catchers on the Orioles' roster.
Early-season injuries to Rutschman and Gary Sanchez helped Handley receive his first taste of Major League experience in 2025, hitting 0.73/.133/.073 in 47 plate appearances in 16 games. He struck out at a 38.3% clip.
Handley's DFA was the corresponding move to Alonso's new deal with the Orioles, which became official on Thursday afternoon, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
The O's options behind the plate
Following a down year offensively and one that included multiple oblique injuries, Rutschman should still be the leading candidate to be the Orioles' everyday catcher.
Baltimore signed Basallo to an eight-year, $67 million extension, but he could also see time at first base and designated hitter this upcoming season.
Handley could return to the Orioles and or their minor league system if the AL East club cannot find a trade partner or he clears waivers within the next seven days. There's no downside to having depth at the position, but Handley's offensive track record is underwhelming.
“Closer Robert Suarez and the Atlanta Braves are in agreement on a three-year, $45 million contract, sources tell ESPN,” ESPN’s Jeff Passan posted.
Atlanta recognized the need for bullpen help after some struggles appeared during the season. After missing out on Diaz, landing a top reliever became essential, and acquiring Suarez does just that. Adding Suarez to the bullpen alongside a strong rotation already in place makes the Braves’ pitching staff a nightmare for lineups across the MLB.
“Between Robert Suarez and Raisel Iglesias, Atlanta now has two of the five relievers with the most saves over the last two seasons. With a healthy Chris Sale, Spencer Schwellenbach and Spencer Strider, plus a full season of Hurston Waldrep, their pitching could take a huge leap,” Passan wrote.
The New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays were also in on the Suarez sweepstakes, but the Braves didn’t waste any time finalizing a deal.
“Heard Blue Jays and Mets were checking in regularly on Robert Suarez, but didn’t make formal offers because Atlanta moved quickly, landing one of the top relievers available for $45 million over three years,” Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith posted.
The Braves weren’t going to let any team swoop in and take Suarez, so they acted quickly to secure him. The Blue Jays remain an attractive team, having nearly knocked off the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
Anthopoulos is aiming for a big offseason after a disappointing 2025 campaign. Signing Suarez is a strong step forward, but the Braves still need to add another starter and a shortstop with a potent bat. There is more work to be done, but landing Suarez is certainly a major move in the right direction.
Veteran reliever Robert Suarez totaled a National League best 40 saves over 70 appearances last season for the San Diego Padres. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Dec. 11 (UPI) -- The Atlanta Braves signed All-Star closer Robert Suarez to a three-year, $45 million deal, they announced Thursday.
The Braves designated left-handed pitcher Ryan Rolison for assignment in a corresponding transaction to make room for Suarez on their 40-man roster.
Suarez, 34, went 4-6 with a 2.97 ERA and National League-best 40 saves over 70 appearances last season for the San Diego Padres. The veteran right-handed relief pitcher went 9-3 with a 2.77 ERA and 36 saves over 65 appearances in 2024 in route to his first of two All-Star selections.
Braves relief pitchers logged the seventh-worst ERA (4.19) in the National League last off-season. Suarez was part of a Padres bullpen that posted an MLB-best 3.06 ERA.
Suarez is set to make $13 million in 2026 and $16 million in 2027 and 2028. The Braves said he will donate 1% of his salary to the Atlanta Braves Foundation.
He will likely serve as a setup man for Braves closer Raisel Iglesias, who went 4-6 with a 3.21 ERA and 29 saves over 70 appearances last season. Iglesias led the National League with 57 games finished in 2025. He signed a one-year, $16 million deal with the Braves in November.
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