NEW YORK — The New York Yankees acquired left-hander Ryan Weathers from the Miami Marlins on Tuesday for four prospects, a move to bolster a rotation that will be missing Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón when the season starts.
Miami received outfielders Brendan Jones and Dillon Lewis and infielders Dylan Jasso and Juan Matheus, all of whom are 21 to 23 years old.
Weathers, 26, was 2-2 with a 3.99 ERA in eight starts last year in his second straight injury-shortened season. He missed time with a strained left flexor, made his season debut on May 14, then didn’t pitch for Miami between June 7 and Sept. 11 because of a left lat strain.
He was 5-6 with a 3.63 ERA over 16 starts in 2024, when he was sidelined by a strained left index finger. He is a son of former Yankee David Weathers; they are the fifth father-son pair to play for the Yankees, including Yogi and Dale Berra and Clay and Cody Bellinger.
Eligible for arbitration for the first time, Weathers agreed last week to a one-year, $1.35 million contract. He is on track to become eligible for free agency after the 2028 World Series.
New York’s rotation projects to include Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren and Luis Gil.
Cole is expected to return to the Yankees in May or June following Tommy John surgery last spring, and Rodón is projected back in late April or May after surgery this offseason to remove loose bodies in his left elbow and shave a bone spur.
The Yankees re-signed Ryan Yarbrough for pitching depth and have a pending agreement to re-sign Paul Blackburn.
Lewis, 22, is a 13th-round draft pick who batted .237 with 22 homers and 79 RBIs in Class A last season. Jones, 23, is a 12th-rounder who hit .245 with 11 homers and 69 RBIs in Class A and Double-A. Jasso, 23, an undrafted free agent, batted .257 with 13 homers and 76 RBIs with Double-A Somerset. Matheus, 21, is a native of Venezuela who signed as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and batted .275 with three homers and 56 RBIs for Class A Tampa last season.
The Yankees have acquired left-hander Ryan Weathers from the Marlins.
As first reported by YES Network's Jack Curry, New York will send four minor leaguers to Miami for the southpaw in a move that will fortify the rotation in 2026 and beyond.
The minor leaguers the Yankees will send include outfielders Dillon Lewis, Brendan Jones, and infielders Dillon Jasso and Juan Matheus, according to multiple reports.
Jones is the No. 15 Yankees prospect according to MLB Pipeline, while Lewis (16) and Jasso (23) round out the prospects in the organization's top 30 prospects.
Weathers, 26, is coming off an injury-laden season where he made just eight starts due to flexor and lat strains. In limited time on the field in 2025, Weathers pitched to a 3.99 ERA with a K9 of 8.7 and a WHIP of 1.27.
In two-plus seasons with the Marlins, Weathers was 7-10 in 27 appearances (26 starts) while pitching to a 4.57 ERA. He was traded to Miami from the Padres in a deal that was headlined by first baseman Garrett Cooper in 2023. Before landing in South Beach, Weathers made 43 appearances (29 starts) and pitched to a 5.73 ERA with San Diego from 2021-23.
Weathers will make $1.35 million this season and is arbitration-eligible for two more seasons, giving the Yankees control of the southpaw until 2029.
While not as splashy a move, the Yankees can use Weathers -- whose father David pitched for the Bombers in 1996 and 1997 -- to give the rotation some healthy bodies until Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon and Clarke Schmidt return from injury. Currently, the Yankees' rotation will include Max Fried, Luis Gil, Cam Schlittler and Will Warren. Ryan Yarbrough is also slated to take a few starts as a swing man.
It’s been an offseason of seismic changes for the Mets, and while there are still plenty of moves to be made between now and the Opening Day, president of baseball operations David Stearns sat down with reporters on Tuesday to discuss where things currently stand with the club.
The Mets have already said goodbye to Edwin Diaz, Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, and Jeff McNeil this offseason, but Stearns believes the organization is in a very good spot, and with good reasoning.
"We’ve said goodbye to players who have performed really well here, people we care a lot about, players that out fans care a lot about who have meshed well with our community, who have done what we as organization have asked them to do for a long time, and that’s really tough and we all recognize that," Stearns said. "And we’re doing all of that because we are committed universally, from ownership down, to ensure that the next five years of the Mets are better, and that we win more games and meet the lofty expectations that we have for ourselves, than what we’ve done previously. What we’ve done previously has not been good enough. We all know that, I certainly know that, and we’ve got to do better. And we’re committed to doing that.
"We have tremendous ownership support to do that. We have elite talent at the top of our major league roster. We’ve got a very good farm system, and we’ve got a very good present-day major league team as we sit here today that’s going to get better before we get to Opening Day."
Stearns added that the Mets currently have a mix of “truly elite talent on our major league team, combined with some young players who have already established themselves at the major league level and are ready to take that next step."
"We have this pretty unique combination right now of MVP-caliber talent up top, players who have already established themselves at the major league level who are at that point of their career where there is the potential – not the certainty, but the potential – for a jump, and really exciting premium young prospects who are about to hit the major league level," Stearns said. "That is an enviable place for any organization to be."
Losing fan-favorite pieces like Diaz and Alonso hasn't been an easy pill to swallow, but potentially adding Tucker, the best position player available via free agency this year, would completely change the narrative for the Mets.
And Stearns is committed to doing whatever it takes to achieve the ultimate goal.
“I certainly understand that there have been points this offseason that have been frustrating for our fan base. We’re not blind to that at all," Stearns said. "I’m certainly not blind to that. I hear it, I recognize it. I hear it from my friends and family at times. I’m also very convicted that what we are doing is the right thing for our franchise going forward to accomplish our goals of creating a consistent playoff team, a team that year after year is a true World Series contender, and ultimately a team that does what we are all here to do, which is to win a World Series. And that’s why we are doing all of this."
PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired eight-time All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado from St. Louis for minor league pitcher Jack Martinez in a trade Tuesday in which the Cardinals are also including $31 million.
A 10-time Gold Glove winner, Arenado has played for the Cardinals the past five seasons and was shopped extensively after the 2024 season by a rebuilding team. The 34-year-old isn’t the offensive force he used to be but will still provide a veteran presence at the position after the D-backs traded slugger Eugenio Suárez at last season’s trade deadline.
Arenado batted. .237 with 12 homers and 52 RBIs last season. He has two years remaining on his contract worth $42 million, with salaries of $27 million this year and $15 million in 2027. The Cardinals will be sending Arizona $22 million to offset this year’s salary and $9 million to offset next year’s pay.
“We are grateful for Nolan’s five years as a Cardinal, on and off the field — for his drive, his competitiveness, and for all of the memories he gave us,” Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said in a statement. “
“As we continue to move forward, we are pleased to add another intriguing pitching prospect to our organization, and excited for the opportunity this move creates for a number of our players to step up and further establish themselves at the big league level,” Bloom added.
Martinez was an eighth-round pick by the D-backs out of Arizona State in 2025.
Arenado is a career .282 hitter and has 353 homers over 13 seasons with the Cardinals and Rockies.
The Mets' pursuit of star free agent outfielder Kyle Tucker could be nearing a conclusion.
Per Will Sammon of The Athletic, the Mets are offering Tucker a deal "in the range" of $120 million to $140 million for three years and have had multiple video meetings with him over the last week.
A contract to Tucker worth $150 million over three years would give him an average annual value of $50 million, right underJuan Soto's AAV of $51 million.
As far as when Tucker could decide on a team, Sammon reports that "multiple industry sources suggested" that could happen as early as this week.
In addition to the Mets, the Blue Jays and Dodgers have been heavily connected to Tucker, with Jon Heyman of The New York Post reporting on Monday that the Yankees were "on the periphery."
Sammon did not note whether the Mets' offer to Tucker includes deferrals.
As far as the Dodgers, they have seemingly unlimited spending power.
If the Mets are able to land Tucker, it stands to reason that he will be asked to shift to left field while Soto remains in right field.
Tucker has played only right field and designated hitter over the last five seasons, but got extensive time in left field for the Astros in 2020 -- starting 40 games there and being a positive defender.
Tucker's addition to the Mets' lineup would be enormous.
After subtracting Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo while adding Jorge Polanco and Marcus Semien, New York has a glaring need for another significant bat to bolster a group led by Soto and Francisco Lindor.
Tucker, like Soto, is an elite hitter who mixes power with a tremendous eye and a discerning approach at the plate.
During his eight-year career, Tucker has slashed .273/.358/.507 with an .865 OPS. He has never struck out more than 95 times in a season.
On Tuesday, the club announced they acquired right-handed reliever Chase Shugart from the Pirates in exchange for minor league infielder Francisco Loreto.
Shugart, 29, is coming off a strong 2025 season out of Pittsburgh’s bullpen. He posted a 3.40 ERA over 45 innings, registering a 1.11 WHIP while working exclusively in relief.
The Texas native was originally selected by the Red Sox in the 12th round of the 2018 draft out of the University of Texas. He made six big league appearances with Boston before being designated for assignment last January.
Shugart features a five-pitch mix but primarily relies on a sweeper, cutter and sinker. His fastball averages around 95 mph. While he did not qualify for Statcast leaderboards last season, he limited hard contact at an above-average rate, reflected in a strong hard-hit profile.
He was especially tough on right-handed hitters, who posted just a .618 OPS. Opponents fared slightly better with runners in scoring position, managing a .631 OPS.
The 5-foot-11 right-hander has one minor league option remaining, giving the Phillies added flexibility as they sort through bullpen roles this spring.
Loreto, 18, signed with the Phillies as an amateur free agent out of Venezuela in early 2024. He has appeared in parts of two seasons, reaching the Florida Complex League, where he slashed .234/.341/.371 across 77 professional games. He was not ranked among the organization’s top 30 prospects by MLB.com.
The Giants might not be done making moves this offseason.
After adding to the starting rotation and the bullpen this winter, San Francisco is looking for an upgrade in the infield and is “aggressively” pursuing either Chicago Cubs’ Nico Hoerner and St. Louis Cardinals’ Brendan Donovan, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported Tuesday, citing sources.
The San Francisco Giants are aggressively pursuing a second baseman and have been engaged with Chicago on Nico Hoerner and St. Louis on Brendan Donovan, sources tell ESPN. An infield of Matt Chapman, Willy Adames, Donovan or Hoerner and Rafael Devers would be among MLB's best.
The Giants reportedly have had interest in Donovan throughout the offseason, and recently have been connected to Hoerner after Chicago agreed to a five-year, $175 million free-agent contract with star third baseman Alex Bregman last week, a move that many believe could make the long-time Cubs infielder expendable.
Hoerner, a two-time Gold Glove Award winner, batted .297/.345/.394 with seven home runs, 61 RBI and 29 stolen bases in 156 games last season with Chicago.
The 28-year-old also is a Bay Area native, born in Oakland.
Donovan, 28, is a former All-Star and Gold Glove Award winner, and batted .287/.353/.422 with 10 home runs and 50 RBI in 118 games with St. Louis last season.
The Giants saw improvement from infielder Casey Schmitt last season, who was the team’s primary second baseman down the stretch, and while they might feel comfortable with their in-house options, it’s clear they are on the hunt for a potential upgrade.
Jun 1966; Unknown location, USA; FILE PHOTO; Houston Astros pitcher Dave Giusti in action during the 1966 season. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-Imagn Images
Malcolm Emmons-Imagn Images
PITTSBURGH — Dave Giusti, a reliable reliever who spent 15 years in the majors and helped the Pittsburgh Pirates win the 1971 World Series title, has died. He was 86.
The club, citing Giusti’s family, said he died on Sunday.
The right-hander went 100-93 with a 3.60 ERA in 668 career appearances for five clubs from 1962-77. He began his career as a starter in Houston but had his greatest success with the Pirates, who acquired him from St. Louis in October 1969 and then moved him to the bullpen full-time.
Giusti led the National League with 30 saves in 1971, then added 10 2/3 scoreless innings in the playoffs as the Pirates beat the Giants in the NLCS and then the Baltimore Orioles in seven games in the World Series.
Giusti made his lone All-Star appearance in 1973. He played seven seasons for Pittsburgh, registering 133 saves, which ranks third in franchise history. He split time between Oakland and the Chicago Cubs in 1977 before retiring.
A native of Seneca Falls, New York, Giusti played collegiately at Syracuse before being signed by Houston, then an expansion team known as the Colt .45s, as an amateur free agent. He appeared in 22 games as a rookie in 1962, spent all of 1963 in the minors before returning to the majors for good after being called up during the 1964 season.
Giusti is survived by his wife, two daughters and four grandchildren.
The Mets announced on their Player Development X account on Monday that top prospect Elian Peña has been added to the Domestic Reserve List.
Peña is officially in line to make his stateside debut during the 2026 season.
The 18-year-old infielder signed with the Mets for a franchise-record $5 million last January.
He started his career in a brutal 0-for-26 stretch, but finally was able to find his footing and finished the season hitting a strong .292 with 24 extra base-hits and a .949 OPS over 55 DSL games.
Peña also stole 21 bases in 25 attempts and had as many walks as strikeouts (36).
DeMayo writes: “From a tools standpoint, Peña possesses strong bat-to-ball skills with a compact, quick swing and an advanced knowledge of the zone. This dates to prior to him turning pro at either showcases or in BP, where he would refuse to swing at pitches he deemed outside the zone as not to make a habit out of it.
“From a power perspective, scouts project him to be above-average with a chance for more as he physically matures. There have been public comparisons to multi-time All-Star Rafael Devers.”
It wouldn't surprise anyone to see Peña skyrocket up prospect rankings with a successful season.
MLB Pipeline released their updated Top 10 right-handed pitching prospects heading into the 2026 season on Monday, and unsurprisingly two of the Mets’ young arms made the cut.
Nolan McLean topped the list, and Jonah Tong came in at No. 7.
Both youngsters are coming off tremendous seasons in which they cruised through the minors and found themselves pitching in big games at the big-league level down the stretch.
McLean enjoyed a bit more success in the majors than Tong, though.
The Oklahoma State product finished 11th in NL Rookie of the Year voting after pitching to a 2.06 ERA and 1.04 WHIP with 57 strikeouts over his first eight career outings.
He’s in line to play a huge role in the Mets’ rotation out of the gate this season.
Tong, on the other hand, was more of a mixed bag.
The 22-year-old showed flashes of the potential that helped him secure Mets Minor League Pitcher of the Year, but ultimately struggled to a 7.71 ERA over his five outings.
It’ll be interesting to see how things play out for Tong to begin this season.
The righty certainly could use more time in the minors, but whether or not that’ll be with the Mets remains to be seen, as he is said to be “highly coveted” in trade talks this winter.
While they are listening, New York reportedly values Tong highly, so they likely wouldn't actually move him unless they are receiving a top-tier talent in return.
If he sticks around, he could play a role in the majors at some point this season.
With Alex Bregman joining the Chicago Cubs in free agency, the Boston Red Sox’ offseason has gone from underwhelming to unmitigated disaster.
Bregman signed a five-year, $175 million contract with the Cubs on Saturday, two months after opting out of the final two years of his Red Sox pact. Boston’s offer was reportedly $165 million over five years with significant deferrals and worth $2 million less in average annual value than Chicago’s deal, which also includes a full no-trade clause.
The Red Sox’ failure to re-sign Bregman has left the club with a massive question mark at third base. One year after signing Bregman — a deal that ultimately led to Rafael Devers being shipped to San Francisco — Boston will enter the 2026 campaign with neither star player. It’s the worst-case scenario for Boston and a major letdown after an encouraging 2025 season.
So, where do the Red Sox go from here? It’s still possible to rebound from Bregman’s departure, but the options are dwindling.
Below are Boston’s four options for replacing Bregman, plus a “rating” and “likelihood” for each on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the best). The higher the rating, the more the move makes sense. The higher the likelihood, the more we can picture the move happening.
Option No. 1 – Sign Bo Bichette
Rating: 9/10
Likelihood: 4/10
Bichette is the no-brainer Plan B, but it’s hard to imagine the Red Sox spending big for the 27-year-old. They’ve shown zero willingness to overextend themselves for top-tier free agents, and Bichette is reportedly seeking a deal worth around $300 million. If his market is anywhere near that figure, that’s a non-starter.
Still, the Red Sox should be aggressive for Bichette as he’s the only truly appealing option left. He’d give Boston the right-handed infield bat it desperately needs while stabilizing what has been a revolving door at the second base position. With Bichette at second, Boston could comfortably roll with former top prospect Marcelo Mayer at third.
Suarez’s right-handed power at Fenway Park would be fun to watch, but it sure would be ironic to sign one of the worst defensive third basemen in the league right after shipping Devers out of town.
Infield defense has been a consistent problem for Boston in recent years, and putting Suarez at the hot corner would only worsen those issues. Sure, he might hit 40-plus homers, but the soon-to-be 35-year-old will also strike out in about 30 percent of his plate appearances. For a lineup that already strikes out at a high clip — and one that added another strikeout-prone hitter in Willson Contreras — Suarez simply isn’t the right fit.
Option No. 3 – Trade for a second or third baseman
Rating: 7/10
Likelihood: 4/10
The Red Sox haven’t spent a cent on a big-league free agent this offseason, but they’ve added payroll with a handful of trades. Will Breslow stay active on the trade market to fill the infield void?
If Boston pursues another trade, St. Louis Cardinals utility man Brendan Donovan and Chicago Cubs infielder Nico Hoerner stand out as potential options. The Red Sox reportedly showed interest in Donovan earlier in the offseason, and Hoerner emerged as a trade candidate after Chicago landed Bregman.
Neither profiles as the big bat the Red Sox need, but beggars can’t be choosers at this point. The problem is Breslow doesn’t have many valuable trade chips at his disposal outside of young lefties Peyton Tolle and Connelly Early, and parting ways with either of them for Donovan or a similar option would be foolish.
Option No. 4 – Stick with internal options, upgrade elsewhere
Rating: 3/10
Likelihood: 8/10
It’s beginning to look like Breslow and the Red Sox are ready to roll into spring training with their current infield group and hope for the best. That would likely mean Mayer at third base with a combination, David Hamilton, Romy Gonzalez, and Ceddanne Rafaela at second. Perhaps former top prospect Kristian Campbell could spend some time at second as well, but he exclusively played outfield and DH while playing winter ball in Puerto Rico.
If this is the route the Red Sox decide to go, they could allocate their resources toward talented players who don’t necessarily fill a position of need. For example, outfielder Kyle Tucker remains on the market as the No. 1 free agent in this year’s class. Boston’s outfield logjam makes such a move improbable, but Breslow could theoretically add Tucker and trade Jarren Duran and/or Wilyer Abreu for a haul. Again, this scenario is extremely unlikely.
Boston could also shift its focus back to improving the pitching staff. The starting rotation is already solid, but Framber Valdez and Ranger Suarez are still out there in free agency. The Red Sox have also reportedly shown interest in acquiring Milwaukee Brewers righty Freddy Peralta, who would immediately slot in as the club’s No. 2 starter.
Hall-of-Famer Rogers Hornsby once delivered what might be the ultimate offseason baseball quote, saying "People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball. I’ll tell you what I do: I stare out the window and wait for spring."
We feel you, Rajah. In our modern times (Hornsby played from 1915-1937 and batted .358), the offseason usually brings some distraction via free agency, trades, and other moves. But it’s been slow going recently. So we stare at our computer screens and wait for the hot stove to flare again.
With that in mind, here are 10 predictions for the rest of this chilly baseball winter. Some may differ from some of our earlier prognostications – hey, the offseason evolves as it goes, depending on what players sign where.
Five of the first 10 players on MLB Trade Rumors’ thorough list of the top 50 free agents are still out there, and 10 of the top 30. A team or two could be vastly different by the time spring camps open.
So, even if you’re unsatisfied with your favorite team’s offseason (you know who you are), there’s still plenty of time to enjoy this winter.
Tuck(er) everlasting
Yes, Kyle Tucker gets his long-term deal and it’s with the Blue Jays. Why not? They’ve already had a huge winter and one more mega move could put them in a Dodgers-esque stratosphere. In all the chatter out there on Tucker, the Mets and Dodgers have profiled as teams looking to give him a shorter pact. Toronto’s been believed to have interest in a longer one. That’s the difference.
Back to Belli
We admit, the staredown between the Yankees and Cody Bellinger (and Scott Boras) is mildly amusing. But this signing still feels inevitable, even if the Yanks are looking into the other big free agents still remaining. Bellinger just fits perfectly in the Bronx, thanks to his lefty swing, versatility and the contact skills the club needs so badly.
Met life
So much online handwringing over the Mets winter, eh? It’s not over yet and, at least in the top-of-the-rotation part of the market, waiting and giving a shorter-term deal works. Hello, Framber Valdez! Since 2022, only Logan Webb has thrown more innings than Valdez and the Mets sure need reliable length considering how, um, unreliable their rotation was last season. Valdez, 32, gets tons of ground balls, which melds nicely with David Stearns’ run-prevention dictum.
Houston Astros pitcher Framber Valdez (59) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers in game one of the Wild Card round for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Minute Maid Park. / Troy Taormina - Imagn Images
Speaking of run prevention…
The Mets also sign free agent outfielder Harrison Bader, who certainly fits. He’s a spectacular defender and this is the Met winter of, well, you know. Bader can play center field while the Mets see if prospect Carson Benge really is ready to take over a big league gig. If Benge earns a job, Bader could play some left field, be a defensive replacement, and a righty bench bat. He had career-bests in homers and OPS last season.
Bo knows LA
The Dodgers are two-time defending champs and already addressed one weakness by adding Edwin Díaz. They only got a .649 OPS from their second basemen last season, so they sign Bo Bichette to fix another flaw. It puts Bichette at a position he’s better suited for and adds a nifty contact bat to their lineup. Could be a short-term deal, which Bichette, who turns 28 in March, might consider because it’d put him back on the market while still in his prime. Three-peat, anyone?
Swap meet
The Yankees have some intriguing prospect arms. But it’s unlikely they all bloom into big league stars. So Brian Cashman and his front office look to use a few to dive into the trade market and acquire lefty MacKenzie Gore, who will be 27 in February, from the Nationals and infielder Nico Hoerner from the Cubs. Gore provides high-end rotation depth and a talented arm that they could develop further. Hoerner, 28, would provide up-the-middle versatility, some on-base skills, and speed.
Rotation lions
Wait, all our predictions don’t come true? Huh. In that case, we offer this Yankee contingency: If they deem the prospect price too dear for Gore, they pivot to a cash-only deal and sign either Justin Verlander or Max Scherzer to provide the rotation insurance they need with both Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón starting the season on the shelf. Fun to think about one of the two future Hall-of-Famers donning pinstripes for one last October romp.
Giant addition
Can’t stress this enough – if you are in a division with the Dodgers, you must load up. So the Giants, who have already done some pitching work this winter, add another arm by signing Ranger Suárez. He goes into their rotation mix behind Webb and Robbie Ray. For whatever it’s worth, Suárez got a playoff win against the Dodgers last October and has a 3.64 ERA against them.
Make contact
Maybe we’re just trying to write this one into existence, but here goes: The Yankees sign Luis Arráez, the bat-to-ball Jedi. We know contact is his lone skill and that he’s not a good defender, doesn’t have power, yadda, yadda. He’s a lefty, too. So it’s got a few rough edges, roster construction-wise. But after the baseball world watched the Blue Jays set a postseason record for hits last October, it might be worth adding a little contact to the homer-happy Yankees. Arráez owns three batting titles and has led his league in hits twice, including last season.
Bass(itt) fishing
You still have hard feelings over Chris Bassitt’s poor outing for the Mets in Game 3 of the 2022 Wild Card Series against the Padres? Get over it. He can help the Mets now and exudes a toughness that, frankly, the current group could use. Bassitt pitched brilliantly out of the bullpen for Toronto last October (1.04 ERA in seven games) and provided reliable innings as a starter in three years there. Teams love versatility! So the Mets sign him as a hybrid pitcher.
Outfielders Cody Bellinger, left, and Kyle Tucker, right, are two of the most highly sought MLB free agents this offseason. (Associated Press)
Spring training is only a month away, yet an abundance of top-flight names remain on the MLB free-agent market. This is nothing out of the ordinary, but it calls for a reset of likely destinations and contract value for the most coveted players.
Two recent signings reached average annual values (AAV) of at least $30 million, noteworthy because both players are older than 30 and add little to zero value with their gloves. First baseman Pete Alonso, 31, signed a five-year, $155-million deal with the Orioles and designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, who turns 33 in March, signed a five-year, $150-million deal with the Phillies.
Juan Soto ($51 million AAV), Aaron Judge ($40 million) and Mike Trout ($35.5 million) are the only outfielders paid more than $30 million a year, although all three make significantly more. Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger are expected to join the exclusive club this offseason.
The longest contract for a pitcher is the seven-year, $210 million deal Dylan Cease got from the Blue Jays. Japanese import Tatsuya Imai landed the highest AAV when the Astros signed him for $63 million over three years.
The Dodgers can't be counted out on the biggest names, but their strategy after winning back-to-back World Series appears to prize patience over aggressive spending.
Position Players
NAME, AGE, POSITION, 2025 bWAR, CAREER bWAR
Kyle Tucker, 29, OF, 4.5, 27.3: Although the market for the left-handed hitting slugger has been guarded, Tucker should still command the highest sticker price in this free-agent class. Early projections of $400 million might be a long shot, but an AAV of more than $30 million is a near certainty, and Tucker is seeking a 10-year contract. The Dodgers are considered a suitor because they need a productive corner outfielder. However, they are content to wait and see how far Tucker's market drops before jumping in.
Cody Bellinger, 30, OF/1B, 5.0, 30.4: A Dodgers reunion is a popular topic on L.A. talk radio, but it still feels like a reach because of the stomach-churning roller-coaster ride Bellinger and the team endured during his six-year stint that ended in 2022. Bellinger has gradually rehabilitated his on-field reputation with three excellent seasons — two with the Cubs and one with the Yankees. The Athletic reported that the Yankees have offered Bellinger a deal worth more than $30 million a year, but he is holding firm with his desire for seven years.
Bo Bichette, 28, SS, 3.4, 20.8: Bichette displayed his toughness to the Dodgers by playing effectively in the World Series despite a lingering knee injury. He accumulated more than 175 hits in four of the last five seasons with above-average power — and can play any infield position. Third base would be his home should he sign with the Cubs, who appear determined to add a slugger who can play that position. The Dodgers have Max Muncy under contract for one more season, but could sign Bichette if he is willing to take a shorter deal at a high AAV.
Eugenio Suárez, 34, 3B, 3.6, 26.8: Suárez is in an enviable position even though he is older than fellow infielders Bregman and Bichette. Splitting the season between the Diamondbacks and Mariners, Suarez tied a career high with 49 home runs and drove in 118 runs. Teams that miss out on Bregman or Bichette could turn to Suárez as a short-term solution at third.
Harrison Bader, 31, OF, 3.9, 17.3: Bader declined his player option for $6.5 million after posting a stellar second half with the Phillies, who acquired him from the Twins at the trade deadline. His combined numbers were his best since 2021, and given the fact that he is a Gold Glove center fielder, Bader has suitors that include the Phillies and two other teams whose uniforms he already has worn — the Yankees and Mets.
Pitchers
NAME, AGE, POSITION, 2025 bWAR, CAREER bWAR
Framber Valdez, 32, SP, 3.8, 18.8: Valdez was impressively consistent for the Astros and should be able to choose between several multi-year offers. His age works against a long-term deal, but Sportrac estimated his AAV at $33.3 million, easily the highest among free-agent pitchers.
Ranger Suárez, 30, SP, 4.7, 18.1: The left-handed Suárez is younger than most other free-agent starters and is coming off an excellent season. He has a 1.48 ERA over 11 postseason appearances. He is well-positioned to command a lucrative contract of up to six years. Expect him to sign with one of the teams with a high payroll.
Zac Gallen, 30, SP, 1.1, 20.8: On the plus side, Gallen posted 56 wins over 126 starts the last four years for the Diamondbacks and he's only 30. On the negative side, his ERA has risen each of those four years, peaking in 2025 at 4.83. The right-hander should be looking at a multi-year deal with an AAV of about $18 million.
Nick Martinez, 35, SP, 2.3, 11.2: Martinez is a swingman who has pined for the workload and pay of a full-time starter. The Reds gave him that opportunity in 2025 and he was moderately successful, posting a 4.45 ERA in a career-high 165 2/3 innings while earning $21 million. He'll likely get another one-year deal for less money.
Chris Bassitt, 37, SP, 2.1, 18.1: Bassitt has been a dependable mid-rotation arm, making at least 30 starts four years in a row with league-average results. He is coming off a three-year, $63-million contract with the Blue Jays, but at 37 he might not be able to replicate that deal.
Justin Verlander, 43, SP, 1.2, 81.7: Alas, Verlander's dogged pursuit of 300 wins wasn't helped by a 4-11 season with the Giants. He deserved better, posting a 3.85 ERA in 29 starts. The future first-ballot Hall of Famer made $15 million, and a one-year deal at two-thirds of that number seems reasonable. No financial worries: Verlander has been paid $419 million over 20 years.
Lucas Giolito, 31, SP, 2.1, 14.4: Giolito has been an effective starter for nine seasons, with a 1-6 record and 6.89 ERA in six starts with the Angels in 2023 the most glaring blemish. The right-hander from Harvard Westlake High missed the 2024 season because of elbow surgery but rebounded to go 10-4 with a 3.41 ERA in 26 starts for the Red Sox in 2025.
Tyler Anderson, 36, SP, 2.0, 16.8: The dependable former Angels and Dodgers starter is coming off a three-year, $39-million contract. Anderson's 2025 season ended in August because of an oblique strain, and he was 2-8 with a 4.56 ERA in 26 starts. A two-year deal at a reduced AAV isn't out of the question.
Max Scherzer, 41, SP, 0.2, 75.6: The future Hall of Famer has no intention of retiring, even after posting a 5.19 ERA and giving up 19 home runs in 85 innings for the Blue Jays. Scherzer might take a steep pay cut from the $15.5 million he made in 2025, but he's already been paid $366.5 million in his 18-year career. Dodgers fans remember him as a 2021 trade-deadline acquisition going 7-0 with a 1.98 ERA in 11 regular-season starts but bowing out of a start in the NLCS.
One of the biggest remaining dominoes of MLB free agency fell on Saturday night when third baseman Alex Bregman agreed to a five-year, $175 million contract with the Chicago Cubs. The soon-to-be-32-year-old gets a full no-trade clause and a contract with no opt-outs. Although, the deferred money, about $70 million, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, makes the contract a little more palatable for the Cubs.
Exact net present-day value is not known, but expected to be in range of $30M-$31M per season, source says.
The Cubs love players with a strong sense of the strike zone and good contact ability. They could have an entire infield of players like that with Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner.
Bregman has a career strikeout rate of 13.4% and had a 91.5% zone contact rate last season, another elite rate. In his only season with the Red Sox, Bregman hit .273/.360/.462 with 18 home runs, 64 runs scored, and 62 RBI in 114 games as he battled a quad injury. That's strong production for the Cubs in the middle of their lineup, and Bregman's contact ability (along with Swanson and Hoerner) will help to offset some of the swing and miss from guys like Michael Busch and Seiya Suzuki.
Bregman also played solid defense again at third base, posting an Outs Above Average of 3 and an OAA of 8 in 2024 with the Astros. Him on the left side of the infield next to Swanson is a huge boost for the Cubs' pitching staff and the team as a whole.
There are some injury concerns here with Bregman. He has not played over 145 games in either of the last two seasons and has been under that mark in three of his last five. He will be 32 years old when the contract begins, and since there are no opt-outs and a full no-trade clause, Bregman will be the Cubs' third baseman until he's 37 years old. That's a bit of a gamble.
The other domino that will fall from this is what the Cubs do with Matt Shaw. The 24-year-old was one of the top 20 prospects in all of baseball heading into last season, but struggled to a .226/.295/.394 slash line with 13 home runs and 17 steals in 126 games. Shaw is still young and can slide over to second base, so the Cubs could opt to move him there and trade away Nico Hoerner, who hit .297/.345/.394 with seven home runs and 29 steals in 156 games last season.
Hoerner is the better defender and makes far more contact, but he is also signed to a three-year, $35 million contract and doesn't quite have the upside that Shaw does if everything breaks right for the young Cubs infielder. The team will have to decide whether to roll the dice on the upside and settle for the safe floor in 2026.
Lastly, while this is a great signing for the Cubs, remember that Kyle Tucker remains a free agent. If the Cubs don't re-sign Tucker, they will essentially be swapping Tucker for Bregman, which is a clear offensive downgrade for this lineup. As a team last season, the Cubs were 5th in runs scored, 6th in strikeout rate, 6th in wRC+, and 7th in OPS. Even without Tucker, they would likely remain a top ten offense thanks to the Bregman signing, but we'd expect a small step backwards.
What does this mean for the Red Sox?
Many people assumed that Bregman would return to the Red Sox, where he was lauded for his leadership and relationship to young stars like Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer. In fact, MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported that the Red Sox offered up to $160 million for Bregman but were simply outbid by the Cubs.
With Bregman off the market, the Red Sox will likely pivot to Bo Bichette, who they would slot in at second base and then keep Marcelo Mayer at third base. In many ways, that would be just as good a move for the Red Sox. Alex Bregman, Bichette is a plus contact hitter with pull-side power and would likely be an above-average defender at second base. Bichette hit .311 last season with 18 home runs and would likely put up 20+ home runs in Fenway Park.
The issue is that many people assume Bichette is destined to land in Philadelphia with his old bench coach, Don Mattingly.
If that were to happen, the Red Sox would need to turn their attention to Eugenio Suarez or trade for Isaac Paredes, who they have been linked to all offseason. They could also perhaps take a shot and trade for Matt Shaw to pair with other young players like Anthony, Mayer, and Kristian Campbell.
Fantasy fallout
On one hand, Alex Bregman is moving from one solid lineup to another. He should be in another good spot for RBI production and runs scored, assuming he hits near the top of this Cubs' order. On the other hand, this is a clear park downgrade for him. Last season, Bregman posted a 47.4% pull rate while playing his home games at Fenway Park with the Green Monster. He's now moving to Wrigley Field, which is 40 feet deeper down the left field line than Fenway Park. Over his last three seasons, Bregman has only eight home runs that were NOT on pulled fly balls.
Once you add in the winds that tend to rear their ugly heads at Wrigley, you could see a power decline from Bregman next season. You would be looking at a guy who hits 20-22 home runs while hitting .265-.270 in a good lineup. That's obviously a solid fantasy asset, but maybe not a game-breaking one.
The other fallout here will be from Matt Shaw or Nico Hoerner, whomever loses their starting position. Right now, it's too early to make a call on that position battle, but it's certainly something to watch as the season unfolds.
