Happy New Year from MLB Trade Rumors! Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world as we kick off 2026:
1. Imai countdown continues:
The posting window for NPB right-hander Tatsuya Imai is set to close tomorrow at 4pm CT. With just over 30 hours to go before the deadline for Imai to sign a contract, the rumor mill has remained fairly quiet regarding Imai’s market. While early connections were drawn between the right-hander and the Mets, Yankees, Cubs, Phillies, and Orioles, it’s been nearly a month since many of those rumors began percolating with minimal updates from there. Imai reportedly began in-person meetings with teams earlier this week, and while no new rumors have percolated as a result of those meetings, the right-hander figures to be in the final stages of his decision-making process at this point. Where will the 27-year-old righty land? MLBTR’s Anthony Franco took a look at the best fits for Imai in a post for Front Office subscribers yesterday.
2. A’s continue extension talks:
The A’s inked slugger Tyler Soderstrom to a seven-year extension last week that was first reported on Christmas Day. Soderstrom, 24, was a first-round pick by the A’s back in 2020 and is coming off a breakout season where he slashed .276/.346/.474 with 60 extra-base hits (including 25 homers) in 158 games while primarily playing left field for the club. Soderstrom joins Lawrence Butler and Brent Rooker among the players who have already extended with the A’s long-term, but reporting has indicated that they’re not done yet. Extension talks are reportedly ongoing with other players, and while it’s unclear whether those deals will get done or who exactly the team is pursuing a long-term deal with, the idea of signing Jacob Wilson, Nick Kurtz, or Shea Langeliers to a long-term contract is surely exciting for fans of the team. Will any more deals get done?
3. Giants bring in Mahle:
It’s been a relatively quiet offseason for the Giants so far, but yesterday they made a significant addition to their rotation when they signed right-hander Tyler Mahle to a one-year deal. Mahle’s signing has not yet been made official and his salary has not been reported at this point, but the move figures to significantly bolster the team’s rotation headed into 2026. Future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander returned to free agency after one year in San Francisco, leaving little certainty in the Giants’ rotation behind Logan Webb and Robbie Ray. Mahle should help offer some of that certainty alongside fellow righty Adrian Houser, who signed on a two-year deal just two weeks ago.
With Houser and Mahle now in the fold, it seems likely that the Giants are done with rotation additions at this point and will simply fill out the fifth spot in their rotation with internal options like Landen Roupp and Hayden Birdsong. Could they turn towards addressing the lineup next? The club has reportedly shown interest in Cody Bellinger during his free agency, while Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner and Cardinals utility man Brendan Donovan have both caught the club’s attention on the trade market.
Its goung to be someone incredibly obvious like The Giants/Yankees/Cubs, or someone totally off the wall like Colorado,not one of the 24-25 teams in the middle though…….
Imai opinion, he should consider the Padres and Red Sox
I think the padres will be in the mix for both Imai and Okamoto.
Likely on short term deal with opt outs. Question is will someone offer more than they can.
With time ticking on these guys it doesn’t seem like a team has yet.
Seibu Lions.
Come up with a new joke.
All I know is Jed better be working on New Years Day. Since he’s basically been sleeping so far.
Emerson – no kidding. The puns on Imai are so stupid.
What’s the difference between a Hoover and a Harley ?
@Lloyd
Not really a joke. It’s pretty late in the process, so a return is not out of the question if there continue to be no offers as stated earlier.
Mike – Sources are reporting Jed has a massive hangover today after drinking too much sake last night trying to impress Imai.
You don’t like the intelligently spent bullpen? That’s five guys right there. Tied AA with seven free agents so far.
I think Imai might come to the Cubs. Five years, $100 million with no trade clause and an opt out after two years.
old – One sucks and the other leaks oil.
old – Neither of these two players will return to Japan. This is a common tactic by shady salesmen like Boras, drag it out until just before the deadline and then hope a team makes a bad split second decision by overpaying. Teams can’t properly analyze/think when the clock is almost expired and the pressure is on.
It’s the reason why sellers of products and services often say “Hurry, this offer will expire in a few hours”.
I think you’re on to something, Fever.
@fever pitch guy. Maybe teams didn’t want to pay the max posting. Sounds like boras is banking on him going to free agency next year. I also think teams are reluctant to spend this year.
He should have offered the same drink as the Astros did. Lol
Speculating..if he happens to sign in Boston..would that unlock a bello to az deal for marte?
Pool- I don’t think Bello gets Marte. The asking price for him seems to be much higher than any team is willing to pay.
Bello isn’t good enough to headline a package for Marte.
Thighs – The Red Sox are viewed very negatively by Japanese players, Imai won’t sign with them unless it’s a huge overpay ie: Yoshida.
FPG: Interesting comment. Any particulars on why Boston is viewed negatively? Not questioning your opinion. Asking because I’ve not heard about that. Houston signed him.
mab – Despite pursuing numerous Japanese players in free agency the past several years, often making them a top priority, not only did the Red Sox not even come close to signing any of them but they often weren’t even granted in-person meetings during the team selection process. Flights from NYC to Boston are only about 80 minutes, and yet Japanese players visiting NYC teams didn’t bother to visit the Red Sox.
The common perception is the Red Sox do not treat players with respect, especially Japanese players. Many have pointed to Yoshida being disrespected by the Red Sox, not being allowed to play the field and being used sparingly when he was healthy enough to at least hit.
Of course the Red Sox have earned their reputation with all players, not just Japanese ones. They had three homegrown longtime stars on the team, Mookie & Xander & Raffy, and they got rid of all of them within 5 years. All disrespected, with Mookie & Xander receiving lowball offers and Raffy getting traded less than 2 years into a 10-year extension. All were badmouthed after they were gone, which has been a common theme with the organization.
Here’s some examples of the Red Sox being essentially ignored by Japanese players:
“The Boston Red Sox were not among the teams invited to meet in-person with Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki, according to a report.. Sasaki is known to have met in-person with the Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, New York Mets, San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers, and New York Yankees.”
“While the Red Sox are still technically in on free agent Japanese phenom pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto their chances appear to be on life support. Over the weekend, Yamamoto had second meetings in New York with the Mets and Yankees but did not schedule a stop in Boston.”
“During his free agency period, pitcher Kodai Senga did not visit the Boston Red Sox organization, though they had expressed interest and contact with his representatives.
Reports indicated that Senga visited the Mets, Padres, Giants, and Rangers organizations”
FPV:Thanks. Makes sense. Letting Betts, Bogaerts and Devers go elsewhere is also telling.
mab – You’re welcome. The Japanese culture heavily values respect and honor, unfortunately the Red Sox fall near the bottom.
Padres or O’s
AstrO’s
I’m thinking the Mets/yanks on a contract similar to Imanaga. If someone had offered him the big long term deal he would’ve signed by now imo
Im a Padres fan and would love even just 1 of the 2, but I dont know that they can get that done. Plus, the last couple of free agents from Japan and the circus they created in San Diego, false hope, etc, make me take a back seat to this one. Zero reason/desire to get excited……
For sure and if nobody has it could come down to where he wants to be.
Money being near the same my guess is he would select a west coast team.
If I had to take a guess Imai signs with the cubs, Okamoto signs with the Padres or Pirates.
Until they sign I’m gonna hold out hope they both sign with the Padres. Yes, that’s very unlikely but one can hope.
No there not but they may be the team that out bids the others.
I said money being near the same he may choose a west coast team. Cubs can make an offer that’s not near the same. Money generally carries the most weight.
I said the cubs because they have linked to him the most. Obviously any big spender can do the same.
Maybe the Mutts, Phillies, Cubs, White Sox or the Giants. I definitely don’t see the Yankees involved for Imai at all.
The Giants are one of the 24-25 teams in the middle
Astros sign him
Vermont
Nailed it, you did
Astros
The Vegas A’s extension spree is the greatest thing happening in baseball right now. Shame that it took a relocation to get Fisher to move like this.
Yeah I agree. I do like the direction the A’s are headed in. If they can get a couple more extensions done they will have an exciting core locked up offensively.
Prob are gonna have to wait until they are Vegas to figure out the pitching situation. Their current park isn’t attractive to pitchers.
A’s look stacked with good young players. Although the park might not be attractive to pitching, it sure appears to be helping the offensive numbers for these kids. Looking forward to the Vegas years for this team.
Yeah, he should’ve signed Butler, Rooker, and Soderstrom 5 years ago.
I think the comment is in regards to recent players like Mason Miller, Matt Olsen, Matt Chapman, and Sean Murphy, who were all traded away rather than extended. You could look as far back as Zito, Mulder, etc. to see that this has been the A’s way this century.
My money is on Fisher was waiting for the “official” move to start making these deals. I’m sure he was trying to tank to get out of Oakland.
It’s also been a few years since he had extendable talent.
Dramatically increasing ticket prices and having a fire sale after 2021 was no doubt the “tanking/f-attendance” strategy, to A’s fans and those paying attention. Could have not even extended but just kept Chapman/Olson, etc and offered anything reasonable to Semien to stay another year or two and kept an already playoff caliber team. The core they had coming up in 2018/2019 was immensely talented, back when they were “rooted” in Oakland.
It is going to be real interesting if Jacob Lopez and Luis Morales get out to good starts this season. They pitched some good games last season. I watched a game Lopez pitched last season, he struck out six in a row. I was thinking that he isn’t even at his best yet.
Another pitcher the A’s got, Jamie Arnold from Florida State, I think Arnold should have been 1.1 last year, that arm slot is treacherous on righties and lefties for that matter. Arnold could be up soon. Arnold, Lopez, Morales and Jump all under team control through 2032.
This could be an A’s dynasty.
WW: I don’t think the A’s have much of a choice but to spend. They’ll need to be competitive in Las Vegas to get fans in the seats. The A’s have to compete with a plethora of options that Vegas offers to fans.
Happy New Year, PEEPS!
I’m still riding a high off the Stranger Things finale so hoping my Yanks can turn their offseason upside down already! 😉
Yanks and Stranger Things in the same sentence. Hmmm. 😁
Happy New Year to all too. Hope it is a prosperous one for all!
@Salzilla
What are you talking about? The Yankees have already signed 4 free agents this offseason. They’re just crushing the offseason.. by signing elite talent such as Trent Grisham, Ryan Yarbrough, Amed Rosario and Paul Blackburn.
2026 World Series or bust!
Old York: “Elite talent” is a very overstated opinion. I’m not sure any of those guys are “elite”. But if you’re using sarcasm you nailed it.
The later it gets in Imai talks, the more it suggests he hasn’t gotten a deal to his liking, which starts to favor the White Sox on a short-term Mune-esque deal. Not saying they’re the favorites, just that I can see them potentially swooping in again at the last minute.
I agree with the not having gotten the offer part but, SD can offer what Pale hose can offer and they are both competitive and meets the beat LA comment.
Not saying SD gets him but if any team gets him on an opt out deal, I think it’s SD.
I still like Mets on a 3-5 year guaranteed deal with most $$
Long-
Possibly but I don’t see the Mets as the team. They have a bunch of pitches already that predict to have similar results and Imai is predicted to have.
I think the cubs are the most likely landing spot.
Preller I’m sure is beating up some accounting dude to find the money to get a deal done.
At what point does AJ start using the deferral option? I can believe he hasn’t already. I don’t count the unbalanced contracts paying more at end as a true deferral.
Long- I don’t think he does because they still have to pay the money into an account.
Though I would say this is the best time to do so. It would lower the tax hit which they are over. Plus you don’t have to put that money into an account for another year. Which by the could be the next owners problem.
He basically does this buy giving a signing bonus spread out over years and buyouts on player options. That’s been his go to of late. It was give a million years on a contract. He seems to be not doing that anymore.
The fact that is isn’t required to be paid for a year – I think it’s June 30 of the next year so, really about 18 months, and only a % of the amount due to investing gains, I say it makes all the sense in the world. Add in an opt out and thst could really change it before it comes due.
Contracts are falling off after 2026, the possibility of a lockout, time to go for broke with the deferral.
If new owners don’t like it, then 2027 will be bad because all of the vacancies will be filled with AA guys!
IDK. It is Boras after all. He’s going to drag it out as long as he can.
Well Boris’ window to drag it out is very small, as the Physical has to happen before the window closes!!!
Especially if the player needs to travel to do the physical. Though they can prob get it done in LA.
The window is closing fast jaysfan but Boras says it ain’t closed yet.
Well Joe Happy new Year to ya and ya still as usual are wrong, Boras does not control the posting window!!!
The agent’s last name is BORAS.
It appears almost DAILY on MLBTR.
@hyrax. It’s boras trying to drive up the price. He has one of the best fastball grades and a plus slider. I heard its the terms he wants 8 years. Teams are probably going 5 until someone slides in a 6th year.
@Rex Well, looks like both our comments aged poorly, lol.
@hyrax. All of them usually do. I didn’t see 3 years coming. Plus He got less than severino. i would take my chances
It would be interesting for the Braves, but I think Galen or Bassitt seems more like a possibility. Could do a trade w/ PIT for Mitch Keller. Murphy’s year may have screwed up that possibility, though.
Maybe it’s my own wishful thinking, but I have a feeling about Imai to the O’s.
I really feel like the Braves are going to sign Imai. The way his market is developing is exactly the type of market the Braves take advantage of.
If the A’s are being serious, I wonder if they would be in on Imai. Get the guy that probably needs a year to build up his innings properly and would fit the timeline of the organization.
Imai pitched 163 innings last year. I really don’t see him needing to build up with the way pitchers are pampered in today’s game.
Imai is really good but there’s no reason to believe he’ll be spectacularly better and quicker to adjust than Yamamoto, Sasaki, Ohtani, or Kikuchi.
Hopefully Imai signs with Dodgers.
Oh my, it seems like the agent is concerned about Imai getting big bucks or a long term deal with all these articles.
With the salary floor coming in the next CBA, teams would be smart to tie up their young, core MLB players now. Once the new CBA takes effect meh free agents and these young players will be more expensive to sign, IMO.
Just figured out what the “flag” button is for. Holy smokes.
The fanfare for Japanese free agents has gotten a bit overboard, especially when we’ve never seen them play here, but it’s understandable that everyone wants to find the next Ohtani
That glitch with the phone appeared again for me. I can load the website and read and article but can’t reply to anyone or even type a message. I’m back on the good ol’reliable typewriter again…
Re Imai: sometimes nobody’s buying because the product ain’t that good.
Imai to the Astros!
Yeah it seems so
NICK DEEDS —
How you keep missing Landen Roupp as the Giants #3 rotation arm is beyond me. He’s been solid for two years and is part of the rotation. You don’t even mention him.
Better add at least 1 more starter.
Mahle’s middle name is: IL.