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Giants Have Interest In Harrison Bader

By Mark Polishuk | December 7, 2025 at 11:10pm CDT

Harrison Bader is coming off the best offensive season of his career, and this well-timed surge at the plate set up the former Gold Glover nicely as he enters free agency. The Phillies are known to be open to reuniting with Bader after he performed so well for Philadelphia following a deadline trade from the Twins, and the San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser writes that Bader also “piques the Giants’ interest” as the team explores the outfield market.

Bader’s chief calling card is his glove, as public defensive metrics indicate consistently good-to-great numbers for Bader over his nine big league seasons. 2025 was no exception, as he received +6 Defensive Runs Saved and +3 Outs Above Average over 568 2/3 innings as a center fielder, and +7 DRS and +3 OAA for 496 innings as a left fielder. Last season marked the first time that Bader saw any work in the corner outfield slots since 2018, as he probably would’ve gotten more looks up the middle in Minnesota if Byron Buxton hadn’t stayed healthy.

The offensive production has been much more of a roller-coaster for Bader, as while he posted some above-average numbers with the Cardinals earlier in his career, he had just an 80 wRC+ over 1094 plate appearances across the 2022-24 seasons. It seemed as though Bader was destined for a fourth-outfielder role for the remainder of his career, but his bat came to life in 2025. Bader hit .277/.347/.449 with 17 homers over 501 PA for the Twins and Phillies, for a personal best of 122 wRC+.

It’s a fair question to wonder if this production can carry over into 2026 and beyond, as Bader had a .359 BABIP and a host of subpar Statcast metrics undermining last season’s numbers. MLB Trade Rumors still ranked Bader 31st on our list of the winter’s top 50 free agents, but with a fairly modest projection of a two-year, $26MM contract. Bader is helped by the fact that the pickings are quite slim in this year’s center field market, and the list has been further thinned since Trent Grisham accepted the Yankees’ qualifying offer, Cedric Mullins signed with the Rays, and the Twins don’t appear to have any interest in dealing Buxton.

At the very least, a team signing Bader can count on superb defense, and that has natural appeal for the Giants at spacious Oracle Park. Jung Hoo Lee has posted brutal defensive numbers (-20 DRS, -6 OAA) over his two Major League seasons as San Francisco’s center fielder, and Lee’s strong throwing arm perhaps makes right field a better fit. Since left fielder Heliot Ramos is also a below-average defender, adding a defensive ace like Bader into the mix is a clear and obvious way for the Giants to upgrade their glovework on the grass.

Braves Notes: Ozuna, Holmes, Bullpen

By Charlie Wright | December 7, 2025 at 10:34pm CDT

Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos spoke to reporters today, including David O’Brien of The Athletic, covering a variety of topics. The head man in Atlanta offered details on the club’s plans at DH, along with some health updates on a couple of pitchers.

While Anthopoulos didn’t rule out bringing back Marcell Ozuna, he said the team prefers to leave DH open and split the role among multiple players. Ozuna has been Atlanta’s primary DH since the 2023 season. He’s made just two appearances in the field the past three years.

Ozuna lost his stranglehold on the position midway through last season, with the Braves looking to get both Sean Murphy and Drake Baldwin in the lineup. The downturn in playing time, along with Ozuna’s pending free agency, led to frequent trade rumors in July. He ultimately remained with the team through the trade deadline. He socked five home runs in the first two weeks of August, but hit just one more the rest of the season.

The 35-year-old Ozuna has spent the last six seasons with the Braves. He led the National League in home runs and RBI in the shortened 2020 season. Ozuna struggled with injuries and poor performance over the next two campaigns. He bounced back to deliver some of the best results of his career in 2023 and 2024, totaling 79 home runs with 100+ RBI in each year.

Baldwin, the reigning NL Rookie of the Year, will be a fixture in the middle of the lineup next season. Murphy struggled to hit for average last year, but provided solid power numbers and strong defensive stats. He’ll likely earn the majority of the work behind the plate.

On the pitching side, Anthopoulos said Grant Holmes hasn’t had any setbacks in his recovery from a partial UCL tear and will be treated like a healthy pitcher this offseason. That update likely puts Holmes on track for the start of the 2026 season. The right-hander went down with right elbow inflammation in late July and was ominously placed directly on the 60-day IL. He went the rest-and-recovery route with the elbow injury and seems to have ducked surgery, given his progression thus far.

Holmes will be on the periphery of the starting rotation to open the season, but he’s likely the next man up if anyone goes down, which is exactly what happened last year. Spencer Strider hit the IL shortly before the season began, thrusting Holmes into a starting role. He came through with decent production at the back of the rotation, posting a 3.99 ERA over 22 appearances (21 starts). Holmes struck out more than a batter per inning, though his walk rate ballooned to 11%. Free passes hadn’t been much of an issue for Holmes, including in his swingman role in 2024, so perhaps the elbow injury played a role there.

Atlanta’s rotation will be headlined by Chris Sale, Spencer Schwellenbach, and Strider. Hurston Waldrep impressed late last season with a revamped arsenal, so he’ll likely retain a spot. Reynaldo Lopez missed nearly all of 2025 with a shoulder injury, though he should be back to begin next season. The Braves have given extra off days to their starters in recent seasons, particularly for Sale, so Holmes could find his way to starts even with everyone healthy.

The health update wasn’t as positive for Joe Jimenez. The reliever missed all of last season after undergoing knee surgery in March. Anthopoulos said Jimenez recently had a “cleanup” procedure on the knee. Anthopoulos added that the club isn’t counting on Jimenez until he ramps up throwing and proves he’s healthy.

Atlanta acquired Jimenez in a December 2022 trade that sent Justyn-Henry Malloy and Jake Higginbotham to the Tigers. He was a crucial part of the late-inning mix in 2024, racking up 27 holds and three saves. Jimenez cleaned up the walk issues that plagued him at times in Detroit, while maintaining substantial strikeout numbers.

The Braves have already been active on the free agent reliever market, re-signing Raisel Iglesias and Joel Payamps. Jimenez’s troublesome knee could lead to another addition, specifically from the right side. The club’s other high-leverage arms, Dylan Lee and Aaron Bummer, are both left-handed.

Photo courtesy of Brad Mills, Imagn Images

Giants Could Make Bryce Eldridge Available In Trade Talks

By Nick Deeds | December 7, 2025 at 10:33pm CDT

10:33PM: The Mariners and Red Sox are two teams known to have interest in Eldridge, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle writes. It isn’t known if Seattle’s interest has continued now that Josh Naylor has re-signed and locked up the first base position for the next five years, though the M’s could conceivably use Naylor and Eldridge in the same first base/DH mixture that the Giants currently have planned for Devers and Eldridge.

1:59PM: Top prospect Bryce Eldridge made his big league debut with the Giants in 2025, and while that cup of coffee in the majors last just ten games with lackluster results he still figures to be a major part of the San Francisco offense next with with the roster as presently constructed. Even with Eldridge’s on-paper importance to the future of the lineup, however, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reported earlier today that Eldridge “isn’t off the table” in trade talks as the front office heads into this year’s Winter Meetings.

That, of course, doesn’t necessarily make a trade of Eldridge particularly likely. It’s somewhat rare for players and prospects to be completely unavailable in trade talks as the majority of modern front offices have developed a willingness to listen on virtually any player. With that being said, it’s not often that a prospect with Eldridge’s pedigree winds up moving. The 21-year-old was San Francisco’s first-round pick in the 2023 draft and is a consensus top-20 prospect in the entire sport at this point. The slugger crushed 25 homers in just 102 games between Double- and Triple-A this year while hitting .260/.333/.510 overall across both levels. Few up-and-coming youngsters possess the raw power potential of Eldridge, who is listed at 6’7” and 240 pounds.

Virtually any team would be naturally intrigued at the idea of adding him to the middle of their lineup, and that should include the Giants. With that being said, Eldridge isn’t without his flaws. He struck out at a 30.8% clip at the Triple-A level this past year, raising concerns about his ability to make consistent contact against MLB-caliber pitching. Even aside from those concerns, however, it’s worth remember that the Giants’ midsummer trade for Rafael Devers gave them their first baseman of the future for the better part of the next decade. It would certainly be possible for the Giants to squeeze Eldridge into their lineup, doing so would substantially limit the club’s flexibility by locking down both first base and DH long-term.

The combination of Eldridge’s imperfect fit with the Giants’ roster after they brought in Devers as well as the team’s noted desire to avoid longer-term contracts this winter when looking to upgrade their pitching staff have made Eldridge a logical trade candidate. Even so, the argument for simply keeping an extremely gifted slugger whose service time clock has barely been started is certainly a strong one. 51% of respondents to a poll of MLBTR readers earlier this week believed that the Giants should hold onto Eldridge, and just 23% of respondents believed that the Giants should consider trading him without bringing in another impactful bat to make up for his absence from the 2026 lineup.

Of course, an acknowledgment that trading Eldridge isn’t entirely off the table remains far from the same as actively shopping him. It’s entirely possible that the Giants would only consider including Eldridge in a deal for a high-end player like Hunter Greene or Tarik Skubal who may not be entirely available in trade talks themselves. Rubin noted that while players of that caliber have been floated as potentially available, the specifics of this winter’s market are not yet set in stone. That too goes for the Giants’ level of involvement, per Rubin, which would lend credence to the idea that the Giants might only consider dealing Eldridge for certain impact players.

With that said, there’s a number of enticing trade candidates that have been bandied about this winter, even with players like Joe Ryan and Pablo Lopez likely to be off the market. Edward Cabrera, MacKenzie Gore, Freddy Peralta, Kodai Senga, and Mitch Keller are all on the list of names that could at least theoretically be had on the trade market this winter. While the Giants surely wouldn’t be interested in parting ways with Eldridge for many of those players it’s far from impossible to see a team with a controllable, cost-controlled starter like Cabrera or Gore being able to convince the Giants to part with Eldridge in order to add another high-end arm to a rotation that already includes Logan Webb and Robbie Ray but is in major need of reinforcements.

Mets, Giants Met With Framber Valdez In November

By Mark Polishuk | December 7, 2025 at 9:57pm CDT

The Orioles are the only team publicly linked to Framber Valdez’s market this winter, and MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reports that Valdez and his reps indeed met with officials from the O’s at the GM Meetings in November. Around that same time, however, the Giants and Mets also spoke with Valdez’s camp, which fits given how both teams are known to be looking for starting pitching help.

Valdez ranked sixth on MLBTR’s list of the offseason’s top 50 free agents, with a predicted contract of five years and $150MM. This projection makes San Francisco’s interest all the more intriguing, since both GM Zack Minasian and team chairman Greg Johnson have each stated since the GM Meetings that the Giants prefer to add pitchers on shorter-term contracts. Valdez is entering his age-32 season, which may raise the risk level even further about making a big commitment to the left-hander now that he is past what are generally considered a player’s prime years.

The Giants’ stance doesn’t technically preclude a pursuit of Valdez, if the team perhaps offered the southpaw a short-term contract with a higher average annual value. That said, Valdez’s age might make such a consideration unlikely on his end, as surely he wants to strike as lengthy and lucrative a deal as possible now that he has reached the open market. Despite his age, Valdez is a workhorse who has tossed 767 2/3 innings over the last four seasons, and he has 85 more innings under his belt on his career postseason resume.

Valdez is a grounder specialist who doesn’t miss many bats, but that skillset would work just fine with Matt Chapman and Willy Adames backing him up in the San Francisco infield. More pressingly, Valdez’s ability to eat up innings with quality work is a nice fit in a Giants rotation that has plenty of question marks beyond ace Logan Webb.

Robbie Ray and Landen Roupp project as the next two starters, and Ray is a free agent next winter while Roupp had a solid 2025 season but is an overall unproven commodity over the long term. A collection of other younger and unproven arms (Hayden Birdsong, Trevor McDonald, Blade Tidwell, Carson Whisenhunt, Kai-Wei Teng, Keaton Winn) are currently in the mix for the fourth and fifth spots. Signing Valdez would do a ton to solidify this group, as the Giants would have a very strong top three of Webb-Ray-Valdez that could easily line up as a playoff rotation, and Valdez would be the replacement for Ray if the former Cy Young Award winner went elsewhere after the 2026 campaign.

That said, it could all be a moot point if the Giants aren’t willing to splurge on a long-term pitching contract. It could be that the Giants checked in with Valdez and other pitchers to get an early gauge on their expectations, and without much hope of finding a bargain, the team is now being open about its preference to stick with smaller (and presumably less-expensive) contracts.

Mets president of baseball David Stearns shares a similar view on starting pitching contracts, yet New York’s decision to stick to such deals with the likes of Sean Manaea, Frankie Montas, and Clay Holmes last winter backfired badly on the team. These three pitchers and the other members of the rotation simply seemed to break down last season, leading to the team’s collapse in the second half as an influx of pitching prospects couldn’t stop the downward spiral.

Between the veterans (Manaea, Holmes, Kodai Senga, David Peterson) and the youngsters (Nolan McLean, Jonah Tong, Brandon Sproat, Christian Scott), the Mets have plenty of pitchers on hand, yet adding a durable frontline starter like Valdez would be a huge boost to this group. In the wake of last year’s collapse, Stearns expressed regret over not doing more to reinforce the pitching staff, and owner Steve Cohen surely couldn’t have pleased with how things played out.

The Amazins’ interest in upgrading their rotation has been evident by the many big names on their radar this winter. Valdez joins the likes of Tatsuya Imai, Michael King, Ranger Suarez, Joe Ryan, and Tarik Skubal as free agents and trade candidates who have been liked to the Mets in some fashion. It might be safe to guess at this point that the Mets will head into Opening Day with at least one big new arm at the front of their rotation, and it’s just a matter of whether the club will obtain their rotation help via trades or pricey signings.

MLBTR Chat Transcript

By Mark Polishuk | December 7, 2025 at 9:14pm CDT

Mark P

The Winter Meetings are about to begin, so there’s plenty to discuss! Let’s take a minute for the questions to pile up, and then launch the Weekend Chat…

Tim

We going to see alot more signings and trades the next few days?

Mark P

Oh heck yeah. While the Winter Meetings aren’t the epicenter of offseason activity, it will be very busy over the next few days

Zach

If the Rangers were to trade Jung and a couple of lower level prospects to the pirates could they get Joey Bart and some RP?

Mark P

I don’t think the asking price for Bart would be all that high, but a Jung/Bart swap would be interesting given their shared history as top prospects.

Every fan in Cincinnati

We are all dying to know what the Reds will realistically do this week. Any clues? Is Schwarber going to shock everyone and come hit 60 plus bombs each year?

Mark P

As fun as it would be to see Schwarber return to his hometown team, it would be stunning to see him leave Philadelphia.
I do think the Reds will add at least one reliable, everyday-ish type of hitter to the lineup. Whether that add comes in the next week or two months from now, who knows, but some kind of an upgrade would be immensely helpful.
For teams like the Reds and Pirates who might be willing to stretch the budget for Schwarber, they should still be willing to spend that money but spread around over multiple players (assuming Schwarber goes elsewhere).

Dave

Now that the Mariners traded Harry Ford, who is the backup catcher? Would they consider a reunion with Garver and/or Murphy, and if so, who is more likely to come back?

Mark P

Either of these guys or another clear-cut backup type is possible. Frankly, a backup catcher in Seattle is likely to play infrequently enough that it might not be a priority for the team right now.

guest

how series are the red sox in their pursuit of Bichette and Marte?

Mark P

Marte seems more likely just because there have been rumblings that the Sox are being wary about spending. Y’know, since the BOSTON RED SOX might not turn a profit if player payroll is too high.
Now that I’m done scoffing, this doesn’t mean Marte is a likely add, but just that he’s perhaps “more” likely than Bichette. The Red Sox now have built up some rotation depth and might be more open to moving pitching for Marte

Giants Fan

Do you see the Giants really signing Kyle Shwarber and trading Bryce Eldridge?

Mark P

No to the first, maybe to the second

Nolan

Hello, if you were Scott Harris, would you deal Skubal this offseason? I worry our fanbase would be calling for him to be fired, even though I think he has done a good job so far for the Tigers.

Mark P

I’d keep him, since it’s a lot easier to win the World Series when you’ve got a star ace at the front of your pitching staff.

RoyalsCenter2024

With the news of royals wanting to sign Adam Frazier and Yaz is it understandable for fans to worry that might be all they do for the outfield? Or should the Royals not be worried?

Mark P

I find it hard to believe that KC would consider Yaz/Frazier to be a suitable answer to their outfield problems. Bringing back one to address one OF slot and then obtaining a bigger everyday type for another OF slot would be far more helpful.

Hagen

Do you think the dodgers could work a trade for Ketel Marte? Why or why not? What would be a ideal trade?

Mark P

If Marte is dealt at all, it sure won’t be to the Dodgers, of all teams.

RocktheRed

Now that Harry Ford is a Nat, what happens to Kilbert Ruiz?

Mark P

Ruiz’s trade value is pretty low right now, given his contract and his lack of production. What I could see the Nats doing is shopping him as part of an unwelcome contract swap, or perhaps as salary offset as part of a larger trade. Like, a catcher-needy team sends a big contract or two to the Washington along with some prospect depth, and the Nats move Ruiz out as part of the return to help even out the money.

Walter

is there a world where the Jays sign Tucker AND Bo Bichette?

Mark P

That seems a bridge too far, even considering how aggressive the Jays have been about spending. They’d have to figure out some way to unload at least one other big contract (i.e. Santander, Berrios) to make that feasible.

Matt S

Would you have voted for Jeff Kent for the Hall of Fame? I’m disappointed Murphy and Mattingly didn’t make it.

Mark P

Kent, Delgado, Bonds, and Clemens were the four of the eight candidates that clear the HOF bar in my book.
In terms of actual votes, it’s more of a “read the room” situation. Remember, each member of this committee can only vote for as many as three candidates. So if I’m at the meeting and hear like eight or nine people openly say they’re not voting for Bonds/Clemens, then I’m probably not going to bother putting both on my list, since neither are getting elected. At most I’d vote for one, then spend two votes on Kent and Delgado.

Sox Fan

Would Mayer straight up be enough to get Joe Ryan?

Mark P

The Twins might want a couple of low-level lottery ticket guys included just so the pressure isn’t entirely on Mayer, but if he’s the centerpiece, I think Minnesota leans towards saying yes

mcg

Will we have more Breaking News tonight besides Kent going into Hallmto.

Mark P

From past experience, the first night of the Winter Meetings is usually not very busy news-wise, as everyone is getting there and settling into the hotel. Not wanting to step on the HOF announcement is also a factor, possibly.
Now, as I write this, watch some big blockbuster trade happen, lol. Good thing Charlie Wright and I are both on MLBTR duty tonight, giving me some flexibility to run this chat!

Bill B

What can the Phillies reasonably expect to receive for trading Castelanos and Bohm

Mark P

Barring a bad contract swap, I think the Phils will end up just releasing Castellanos and eating the money. Bohm could bring back a decent but unspectacular return, like a reliever or something.

Dana Brown 4 Advice

Can I get a catcher in the Rule 5?

Mark P

Taking a catcher in the R5 is an added risk because since you can’t send him down to the minors, you’re putting a lot of faith in an unproven player if your starter ends up getting hurt.
Yainer is a pretty good starting option already, so the Astros are much more likely to play it safe and just sign a veteran backup

Guardians fan

Chances Guards sign Alonso or Bellinger with how little they have committed in payroll?

Mark P

As much as this makes sense, the Guardians simply aren’t willing to make those financial splashes in free agency. It would take a real market collapse for either of those guys to get into Cleveland’s price range.

Dr. socks

No clue why pirates bothered to offer schwarbs a contract. Maybe to make it look like they are actually trying

Mark P

To be fair, you can’t criticize the Pirates for not trying to spend on bigger free agents and then turn around and roll your eyes when they do make the attempt. It doesn’t seem likely that Schwarber will end up in Pittsburgh, but it costs the Bucs nothing to ask, or make an offer.

fascinating

Are teams allowed to negotiate with players on other teams prior to making a trade agreement? I seem to remember the Dodgers conditional agreement to trade for Glasnow was dependent on whether or not he would sign an extension. Is this permitted? Thinking about my Giants trading Eldridge for someone on a one year deal like Peralta but only making the move of Freddy agrees to an extension first.

Mark P

This is allowed, under certain circumstances like the one you mentioned.

Paxton

Does Mitch Keller to the D-Backs for Ketel Marte makes sense for both team?

Mark P

Keller is a perfectly decent starter, but the D’Backs would want way more than “perfectly decent” back in exchange for Marte

Boras

Do you think Alonso will hold out until near or spring training this year like he did last year? It sounded like larger offers kept disappearing that were below what his expectations were as the offseason went on and had to settle for the mets deal which was lower than what was originally offered earlier in the offseason.

Mark P

Knowing Boras, he’s got a new game plan in place given how last offseason went, and he has more of an idea about how the market as a whole evaluates Alonso. And, that market may have changed since Alonso is no longer tied to a qualifying offer, and because he’s coming off a much better platform year.

Troy

is Otto Lopez a trade option for the Braves at SS? They could even pursue Sandy in a package deal. Thoughts?

Mark P

The Marlins probably aren’t trading Alcantara at all, and if they did, it definitely won’t be to a division rival.
Secondly, this is the first time I’ve heard Alcantara described as an add-on in The Otto Lopez Trade, lol

Tiger Lover

Do you think the Tigers will make any moves at the meetings, or, is it all smoke we are hearing?

Mark P

This is true of the Tigers and every other team, but if they don’t do anything major (or at all) over the next four days, their offseason isn’t a bust. There are still months to make transactions.
Undoubtedly the Tigers will explore some things at the Meetings, but if they don’t close on a notable move, it isn’t the end of the world.

TheHurricaneBen

Do you think the Cardinals will make a trade this week? Lot of smoke around Donovan and KC

Mark P

Derrick Goold made the interesting point in a recent piece that the Cards, Rays, and D’Backs are all shopping second basemen to some extent, leaving the market a little clogged.
Now, that doesn’t mean St. Louis wouldn’t or couldn’t be the first to make a trade here, since there’s so much interest in Donovan that the Cards have probably already received a few interesting offers….it’s just a question of whether any of these offers are deemed enough, or if Chaim Blooms thinks more than be found in a counter-offer, or from another team entirely.

Cashman

am I finally going to make a real move this offseason

Mark P

Fried, Bellinger, Devin Williams, and the umpteen other huge moves Cashman has made over his long career aren’t “real moves”?

Pete

Are the Giants really not interested in committing big money to top free agent SPs or is just a bargaining strategy

Mark P

Every team would prefer to not sign pitchers to long-term deals, since the majority of them turn out to be poor investments. That said, just enough of them turn out great that several teams still feel willing to take the plunge.
I don’t doubt that the Giants would so big on a starting pitcher if they’re really particularly keen on a guy, but maybe nobody in this year’s market strikes their fancy.

buhlake

Would it make sense for the Rangers to try and bring back Garcia for much less if they can’t find another outfielder?

Mark P

I think the ship has sailed on Garcia in Texas.

I keep seeing suggestions on MacKenzie Gore to the Orioles trades…are the Nats and O’s likely to hook up on any trade, much less for someone like Gore?

Mark P

Highly unlikely. Even after the ownership change, there’s way too much bad blood between the two organizations.

Mariners

Why do you think that Harry ford’s value was so comparatively low? He was traded, along with someone else, for a young, intriguing but unproven reliever, and not even to be a closer. Do you think the could have gotten more for ford?

Mark P

It was a fascinating trade, since I agree with you that it seemed like the M’s would be able to get a lot more back for Ford. That said, perhaps it’s a sign of just how much the market value controllable relievers with Ferrer’s stuff. Plus, the Mariners are certainly in “last piece of the puzzle” mode. A LH reliever was a clear need for them, so perhaps they felt giving up Ford was worth it to land a pitcher like Ferrer they so clearly coveted

Dbacks Fan

Since Ketel is an MVP level player and on a defeated team friendly deal for only a few more years, is any return good enough to actually trade him? I know the Snakes need pitching but can the return include a controllable mlb established arm and a quality bat at the corner infield?

Mark P

It feels like that unless there’s a lot of smoke behind those reports of clubhouse discontent, there’s no reason for Arizona to move a star player like Marte. And like I said earlier, I doubt they send him anywhere unless they receive an absurd trade offer.
It costs the D’Backs nothing to at least listen to trade offers, even if they aren’t actually shopping Marte themselves.

Ruiz for Cronenworth?

Mark P

San Diego did some to mind when I was floating that Ruiz scenario earlier. But, Cronenworth is still a useful player, if overpaid within SD’s payroll limitations. Ruiz can’t be relied on as a starting catcher, so he wouldn’t be much of an answer to the Padres’ search

Pete

Super bowl predictions?

Mark P

Rams over Broncos

Mr. Red

Is there a player who, when signed, would be the first “domino” and other signings would quickly follow? How about the same for a traded player? Or does it even work like that?

Mark P

This is pretty common in many offseasons. This year, Schwarber leaving the market will get a lot of teams turning their attention more fully to other hitters.

Kyle

Coulda package of Donovan and Arenado make sense for Boston, assuming STL takes on enough of the money? Donovan and Mayer have both had their injury issues, and Arenado wouldn’t be the worst backup option. Would STL even consider moving both in the same deal?

Mark P

There’s no way the Cards are diminishing the return on Donovan by linking him to Arenado. If they were in the same deal, the Cardinals also aren’t eating any of Arenado’s salary….but by the same token, STL isn’t moving Donovan just to unload Arenado’s money

Marky Mark

Mark, you’ve been ignoring me buddy! Weekend Chat Nation want to know – what’s on your playlist?

Mark P

(Fast) Slow Disco, by St. Vincent

Cubs Fan

What are the chances of Imai to the Cubs?

Mark P

Seems like a distinct possibility. The Cubs have a good history of signing Japanese players, and Imai’s price tag is expected to fall within the range Chicago is comfortable paying

Ivy Walls

Any idea how much of the Cubs rumored interest is legitimate and how much is agents and media trying to generate interest?

Mark P

No reason to doubt the Cubs aren’t making calls or checking in on a wide range of players. Only the front office knows which players are highest on their target list, and which are being contacted out of due diligence.

Will the Rays sign a big name free agent or at least extend caminero?

Mark P

1. No way
2. They hadn’t any talks with Caminero as of last August, as per his agent Rafa Nieves. Certainly you’d think Tampa would have interest in locking Junior up, but as Nieves pointed out, the triple factors of the team sale/the ballpark mess/Wander Franco’s contract may have kept the Rays from delving into extension talks

Dallas

How often does a team make a move that even the MLBTR writers can’t understand or endorse?

Mark P

Happens every once in a while. As someone who couldn’t fathom for about a year why the Orioles made that Trevor Rogers trade, we’ll often find ourselves eating our words!

Guest

Any substance to trade talks involving Barger, or is it pure speculation on the media’s part?

Mark P

Between Barger’s breakout at the plate and his roster value in being able to capably play both 3B and RF, I would be very surprised if the Blue Jays moved him
I don’t doubt that tons of teams are asking the Jays about Barger, but expect him in Toronto on Opening Day

Guest

What was the reasoning behind optioning Yariel given that the 40 man wasn’t full?

Mark P

I think the Jays have a few things percolating and may need multiple 40-man roster spots soon. That’s what makes the timing of the Yariel outright so intriguing.

Nick Krall

Should I send Brady Singer packing for a middle of the order hitter if I can’t sign Schwarber?

Mark P

Not sure if Singer can bring back such a quality bat, but yeah, he’d probably the most expendable member of the Reds staff

Gavin Cordes

could the padres get a return on Conenworth or is it just a salary dump if they trade him?

Mark P

It wouldn’t be a salary dump, since as mentioned earlier, Cronenworth is a decent player. (He had an under-the-radar 117 wRC+ last year.). I think Preller is creative enough to work out some kind of undesirable contract swap that addresses another team’s needs while perhaps bringing back some pitching to San Diego

Billings

Did Delgado’s performance in this year’s HOF voting bode well for him getting in eventually?

Mark P

I wonder how many people looked at Delgado’s numbers and went “man, he was really good! Who knew?!” It seemed like Delgado was overshadowed because he played in the steroid era, yet he might now be getting his day in the sun via these Era Committee votes. Hard to imagine he won’t be included on the next ballot in 2028 after getting nine votes this time.

Angels Fan

Can Okamoto realistically play 3B long term for us?

Mark P

Okamoto isn’t considered to be Scott Rolen or anything, but it seems like the majority of scouts feel he’s at least a decent third baseman. So in terms of fielding, the Angels shouldn’t have any huge concerns.

George

What free agent do you think is worth Atlanta giving up the PPI pick?

Mark P

Of the nine QO free agents, Cease is already signed, and we can safely rule out Tucker, Schwarber, and Diaz.
That leaves Suarez, Valdez, King, Gallen, and Bichette. Any of the pitchers would help stabilize Atlanta’s rotation, and obviously Bichette fills the shortstop hole in a big way if the Braves are okay with his shaky defense. From a pure need standpoint, Bichette seems like the best fit, but frankly, I doubt the Braves are going to be splurging for any of these guys. Maybe Gallen or King since their markets could be more limited.

JustanotherAstrosfan

Do you see the Astros at least throwing a “good faith” offer at Framber like we did with Bregman and Correa before they left? Like 5/175? That would be the largest contract Jim Crane ever handed out and if so, chances he takes it?

Mark P

We only had Valdez at five years/$150MM on our top 50 list, so if the Astros made that offer, I suspect he’d happily take it.
But, it seems like there just hasn’t been any real buzz linking Valdez back with Houston. It seems like when the Astros want to keep a guy, they lock him up earlier, not let him hit the open market.

Miles Smiles

Best Hitchcock film: Vertigo, Psycho, the Birds, North by Northwest, or Rear Window?

Mark P

I’m not a huge Hitchcock guy, but Rear Window is one of the best movies ever made

Byron Buxton

How likely do you think it is, really, that I am in Minnesota next year?

Mark P

I think it’s very likely. The Twins seem to be holding off on moving Buxton, Ryan, and Lopez, plus Buxton had reservations anyway about waiving his no-trade clause

Jayvion

Why is Lou Whitaker not a hall of famer already? Why was he left off the ballot entirely?

Mark P

Great question.  It’s inexplicable to me that Whitaker isn’t already in.
Alan Trammell was one of the members of this year’s Era Committee, and it’s funny to imagine him loudly complaining about Whitaker whenever every candidate is mentioned.

“Jeff Kent, great second baseman, eh?  Hey, you know who’s also a great second baseman?!”
“Bonds and Clemens, eh?  Hey, you know who’s a great player that didn’t take PEDs?”
“Murphy and Mattingly, great stars of the 80’s, eh?  Hey, you know who was also a great star in the 80’s and who actually won a World Series?”

Richard

why does it seem like the ms do not want to start Cole Young? Just because he is young? He was a top prospect and still full of potential. This is what good teams do draft and bring up prospects ……. What am i missing?

Mark P

The Mariners think they can win the World Series next year. Having Polanco or a more established 2B in the lineup gives the M’s a better chance at that goal than rolling the dice on Young as a reliable everyday player.
And, who’s to say Young won’t end up being a big part of Seattle’s 2026 plans? It’s still early.

Arte Moreno

Do you think with Ryne Sandberg and now Jeff Kent getting into the HOF that it paves the path for Bobby Grich and Lou Whitaker? Both have higher WAR and JAWS rankings

Mark P

Grich is another guy who is overdue for Cooperstown. Hopefully he shows up on the next “Classic Baseball” ballot.
Also, man, it makes me feel old that everything before 1980 is considered “Classic Baseball”

Brew Crew

Did Woodruff accepting the QO throw a curve ball to the Brewers offseason plans?

Mark P

Teams don’t issue a QO unless they’re prepared for a scenario where the player could accept. Especially if you’re a team like the Brewers who are operating with a limited budget. They know Woodruff better than anyone and they must’ve thought there was a real chance he would accept.

Mr Red Leg

When I first saw that the Reds were interested in Schwarber, admittedly I just rolled my eyes. I’ve been a Reds fan for a long time, and they aren’t likely to spend that kind of money. However, after thinking about it, I actually think that they have a legitimate chance of pulling it off. If there was ever a time that ownership would sign off on extra spending, I think it would be for Shwarber. This is their time to strike. He seems to want to go there, considering that he is from the area. They wouldn’t have to outbid other teams to get him to sign. I think that if their offer was competitive, he would accept. Also, they have some ways that they could shed some payroll by trading Singer, Lux, Trevino, etc. They could even defer some money, as they have done before. I think attendance would get a big boost and the image of the ownership group would get a boost as well. Am I crazy for thinking that this is feasible?

Mark P

They will have to outbid other teams, namely one specific team in the Phillies. If the Phils are willing to top basically any offer Schwarber receives, the Reds are out of luck.
It does seem like Schwarber is a special case for the Reds due to his hometown ties. Unfortunately for them, Schwarber probably isn’t likely to take a hometown discount since he also loved his time in Philly

Guest

Do you think it’s a possibility the Orioles use Jordan Westburg to acquire a center fielder or a starting pitcher?

Mark P

Feels like Westburg is someone Baltimore sees as a building block, not a trade chip
Time to wrap things up for the evening. Thanks so much for all of your questions, and let’s all strap in for what might be a very fun and newsworthy Winter Meetings!
If you’re interested in more baseball Q&A, one of the many benefits of our Trade Rumors Front Office subscription is the exclusive weekly live chats. The more limited field means you’re about 10 times more likely to get a question answered, as opposed to battling for space with hundreds of other questions in today’s chat. For more on our memberships, check out this link:
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Pirates Make Four-Year Offer To Kyle Schwarber

By Charlie Wright | December 7, 2025 at 8:42pm CDT

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported the Pirates have made a four-year offer to free agent slugger Kyle Schwarber. Rosenthal adds that the proposal is likely worth more than $100MM.

The club has been mentioned multiple times as Schwarber’s market takes shape this offseason. He’s not the only big bat they’ve been in on, as they also pursued Josh Naylor before he re-signed with Seattle. Rosenthal notes the Pirates remain an unlikely landing spot for Schwarber, though GM Ben Cherington previously said the team has “more [financial] flexibility” than they’ve had in prior offseasons.

Schwarber had a career year at just the right time. As a pending free agent, he launched 56 home runs to lead the National League. He posted a career-high 152 wRC+, which ranked behind only Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto in the NL. Schwarber had a strong case for NL MVP if not for the two-way dominance of Ohtani.

While the free agent market features prodigious power hitters like Pete Alonso and Eugenio Suarez, plus high-upside thumpers like Munetaka Murakami, it’s hard to find an available slugger who matches Schwarber’s consistency. The 32-year-old has hit at least 38 home runs in all four seasons with Philadelphia. He’s topped 100 runs in each campaign, while averaging more than 108 RBI per year. Schwarber had a minimum stint on the IL for a hamstring strain in 2024, but has otherwise been healthy, reaching 150 games every season in Philly.

The note that the Pirates’ offer to Schwarber is in the nine figures isn’t a surprise. We had him getting $135MM over five years in our Top 50 Free Agents article. If Pittsburgh were to lure Schwarber on that kind of commitment, it would be a historic deal for the franchise. As Rosenthal points out, the club’s record free agent contract is $39MM to Francisco Liriano back in 2014. Cherington and his cohorts did give Bryan Reynolds a $106.75MM deal, though it was a contract extension.

Pittsburgh’s largest outlay in free agency last offseason was $5.25MM to Andrew Heaney. The club has spent more than $10MM just once this decade, giving Aroldis Chapman $10.5MM prior to the 2024 season. The Pirates haven’t handed out a multi-year contract in free agency since re-signing Ivan Nova for three years and $26MM ahead of the 2017 season. They also grabbed Daniel Hudson for two years and $11MM that offseason.

RosterResource has Pittsburgh’s payroll at $64MM for 2026. The team was at $87MM in each of the past two seasons. Nearly half of next year’s payroll will be going to Reynolds and Mitch Keller, who signed a five-year, $77MM extension in 2024.

A return to Philadelphia is among the most likely outcomes for Schwarber, though the two sides aren’t on the same page just yet. Boston, Baltimore, and San Francisco have also been mentioned as possible destinations. Cincinnati, Schwarber’s hometown team, is said to be in the mix.

Photo courtesy of Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images

Jeff Kent Elected To Baseball Hall Of Fame

By Mark Polishuk | December 7, 2025 at 7:04pm CDT

Jeff Kent was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, as revealed by the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee tonight. Kent received 14 of a possible 16 votes from the Era Committee, easily topping the 75% (12 of 16) threshold needed for induction to Cooperstown. Of the other seven candidates under consideration, Carlos Delgado was the next-closest candidate with nine votes, and Dale Murphy and Don Mattingly each received six votes. Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Gary Sheffield, and Fernando Valenzuela all received less than five votes.

A veteran of 17 Major League seasons with the Blue Jays, Mets, Indians, Giants, Astros, and Dodgers from 1992-2008, Kent hit more homers as a second baseman than any other player in history, going yard 351 times from the position. His resume includes four Silver Slugger awards and five All-Star nods, as well as the 2000 NL MVP Award when Kent was a member of the Giants.

Kent is primarily remembered for his six seasons in San Francisco and five seasons with the Mets. Beginning his career as a well-regarded prospect in the Blue Jays’ farm system, Roberto Alomar’s presence in Toronto made Kent expendable, and the Jays dealt Kent for David Cone in August 1992. Cone’s presence helped the Blue Jays capture the 1992 World Series, while Kent went onto establish himself as a solid regular during his time in New York.

The 1996 trade deadline saw Kent again on the move, this time to Cleveland. During the 1996-97 offseason, the Tribe flipped Kent to San Francisco, where he truly rose to stardom. Kent hit .297/.368/.535 with 175 homers over 3903 plate appearances and an even 900 games with the Giants from 1997-2002, teaming with Bonds to form a devastating one-two punch in the lineup. The 2002 Giants reached the World Series for Kent’s only appearance in the Fall Classic, as the team fell just short in a seven-game loss to the Angels. For his career in the postseason, Kent hit a solid .276/.340/.500 over 189 PA.

Kent spent his final six seasons with the Astros (2003-04) and Dodgers (05-08), and remained an offensive force at the plate until his production finally trailed off in his 17th and final MLB season. Over 2298 career games and 9537 PA, Kent hit .290/.356/.500 with 377 home runs, 1518 RBI, and 1320 runs scored.

Despite his impressive career numbers, Kent didn’t gain much traction during his 10 years on the writers’ ballot, as he never received more than 46.5% of the vote. A crowded ballot during Kent’s era didn’t help, yet his subpar defense and surly reputation probably also didn’t help curry much favor with voters. Clubhouse controversy followed Kent during his time with the Mets and Giants, and his stint in San Francisco included a well-publicized feud with Bonds. There is some irony, therefore, in the fact that Kent is finally making it into Cooperstown while on the same Era Committee ballot as his former Giants teammate.

Formerly known as the Veterans Committee, the Era Committee is the latest incarnation of the process that for decades has given some fresh evaluation and a second chance to players initially overlooked on the writers’ ballot. This year’s version of the Era Committee focused on players whose greatest contributions came during the “Contemporary Baseball” (1980-present) era. Next year’s ballot will focus on managers, executives, and umpires from the Contemporary Baseball era, and the 2027 ballot will consider candidates from the “Classic Baseball” era (prior to 1980) before Contemporary Players are again considered in 2028.

A rule change introduced this year added an extra layer of intrigue (or even controversy) to this year’s proceedings. Because they received less than five votes on this year’s ballot, Bonds, Clemens, Sheffield, and Valenzuela must be omitted from the next voting cycle, and can’t return to the Contemporary Players ballot until at least 2031. If any of these four players then don’t receive at least five votes in 2031 or on any future ballot, they are no longer eligible for inclusion on any Contemporary Players ballot.

The aim of this new rule is to allow more candidates to be included on Era Committee ballots on a regular basis. The concept of permanent disqualification from ballots, however, has been viewed by some as a way for the Hall of Fame to sidestep the ongoing controversy about Bonds, Clemens, Sheffield, or other prominent superstars (i.e. Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro) who were linked to PEDs. While obviously Era Committee rules could again be altered down the road, for now, the path to Cooperstown has gotten even narrower for Bonds, Clemens, or Sheffield.

The results of the writers’ ballot will be announced on January 20, with such players as Carlos Beltran and Andruw Jones seen as strong candidates to finally get over the 75% threshold after multiple years on the ballot (nine years for Jones, four years for Beltran). Any players elected on January 20 will join Kent in being officially inducted into the Hall of Fame on July 26 in Cooperstown.

The 16 members of this year’s Era Committee could vote for as many as three players, and as few as zero players. This year’s Era Committee was comprised of seven Hall of Famers (Ferguson Jenkins, Jim Kaat, Juan Marichal, Tony Perez, Ozzie Smith, Alan Trammell, Robin Yount), four former MLB general managers (Doug Melvin, Kim Ng, Tony Reagins, Terry Ryan), two current MLB owners (the Brewers’ Mark Attansio and the Angels’ Arte Moreno), two media members (the Athletic’s Tyler Kepner and Jayson Stark), and historian Steve Hirdt.

Mariners, Pirates Linked To Ketel Marte

By Charlie Wright | December 7, 2025 at 6:53pm CDT

The list of teams connected to Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte continues to grow. Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that the Mariners and Pirates are among the teams interested in dealing for the three-time All-Star.

Heyman also linked the Red Sox, Rays, and Tigers to Marte, echoing this morning’s report from USA Today’s Bob Nightengale. Those squads join the Phillies and Blue Jays, who reportedly inquired about Marte last month. John Gambadoro of 98.7 Arizona Sports noted in mid-November that at least seven teams had checked in on Marte’s availability, though he didn’t mention any by name. It’s unclear if this group comprises the seven teams Gambadoro was referencing, but we’ve now reached that number across the various reports.

With Jorge Polanco and Eugenio Suárez heading into free agency, Seattle has some vacancies to fill in the infield. A reunion with either player is an option, and there are also a handful of internal candidates to fill those spots, though a deal for Marte would be a desirable route. The 32-year-old has been one of the most productive players at his position over the past decade. Marte finished fourth in NL MVP voting in 2019 and came in third in 2024. He’s won the Silver Slugger award in back-to-back seasons.

Marte slashed .283/.376/.517 this past season. He topped 25 home runs for the third straight year. Various injuries and absences led to Marte playing just 126 games, but he exceeded 550 plate appearances for the fourth consecutive year. Outside of recurring hamstring problems in 2021, Marte has been remarkably durable during his nine seasons in Arizona.

It would be quite the full-circle moment if Seattle were able to acquire Marte. The club signed him as an international free agent in 2011. He debuted with the Mariners in 2015, posting a 112 wRC+ over 57 games. He struggled in a bigger role the following season, while also missing time with a thumb sprain and mononucleosis. Seattle shipped Marte and Taijuan Walker to Arizona following the 2016 season in a blockbuster deal that brought back Jean Segura, Mitch Haniger, and Zac Curtis. Segura and Haniger had productive tenures with the Mariners, but didn’t reach anywhere near the heights that Marte has in Arizona.

Seattle already used one of their primary trade chips this offseason, sending Harry Ford to Washington for Jose A. Ferrer, but the organization has plenty more exciting prospects to include in a potential Marte deal. MLB.com ranked the Mariners’ farm system behind only the Twins and Dodgers in its 2025 midseason update.

Pittsburgh has also executed a notable trade this offseason, acquiring Jhostynxon Garcia and a pitching prospect for Johan Oviedo and a couple of minor leaguers. Garcia will join the outfield mix alongside fixtures Oneil Cruz and Bryan Reynolds, but the club could still use some additions in the infield.

The Pirates shuffled through a litany of players at second base this past season, with Nick Gonzales (359 plate appearances) and Adam Frazier (189 plate appearances) earning the most reps at the position. Frazier was shipped to Kansas City at the trade deadline, and Gonzales could slot in at shortstop next season. That leaves Nick Yorke and Tsung-Che Cheng as the current top candidates to handle the keystone in 2026. Recent waiver claim Marco Luciano could also factor into the infield calculus, though he strictly played outfield and DH last season.

Pittsburgh ranked 23rd in OPS at second base last year. The club didn’t have much success at the other positions either, finishing dead last in scoring. The Pirates have been bottom 10 in runs for seven straight seasons. They’ve been the lowest-scoring team three times in that span. Moving Oviedo for Garcia is a step toward addressing that weakness, but a Marte deal would obviously provide a massive jolt to the offense. Pittsburgh slotted in at ninth in the aforementioned farm system rankings on MLB.com. It would likely take significant prospect capital to pry Marte away from Arizona.

Photo courtesy of Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images

Cardinals Notes: Nootbaar, Cameron, Pitching

By Mark Polishuk | December 7, 2025 at 5:34pm CDT

As one of the few teams in baseball in true rebuild mode, the Cardinals are open to offers on most players on their roster, yet some of the Cards’ most-cited trade candidates may be a little more available than others. Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch hears from sources on rival teams that the Cardinals don’t seem to be “actively seeking to trade” outfielder Lars Nootbaar. This doesn’t necessarily mean that Nootbaar won’t be dealt, of course, but there are also some obvious reasons why the Cardinals might want to wait until beyond this offseason to move the 28-year-old.

Injuries have been a subplot of Nootbaar’s career, and while he hit new career highs in games played (135) and plate appearances (583) in 2025, he underwent surgery in October on both of his heels. The surgery was meant to address Haglund’s deformities, which are bone spurs that develop on the heel bone near the base of the Achilles tendon. It seems likely that playing through this discomfort led to Nootbaar’s underwhelming numbers in 2025, and it isn’t yet known if the recovery from the procedure will allow Nootbaar to be ready for Opening Day.

Between the health question mark and Nootbaar’s 96 wRC+ (from 13 homers and a .234/.325/.361 slash line), St. Louis would probably be selling low if Nootbaar was traded this winter. As such, it makes sense that the Cardinals would hang onto Nootbaar for now and see if he’s able to bounce back in the first half of the 2026 season, so a trade deadline move might be more realistic.

Trading Sonny Gray to the Red Sox cleared $20MM off of the Cardinals’ payroll ledger for 2026, and the team would also save a lot of money if Nolan Arenado or Willson Contreras were traded. There isn’t any similar financial pressure involved with a potential Nootbaar trade, as he is projected to earn $5.7MM this winter in the second of three trips through the arbitration process. That extra year of control gives the Cards more flexibility in allowing Nootbaar to get fully healthy before more properly shopping him to any interested teams.

President of baseball operations Chaim Bloom has been open about his team’s desire to add starting pitching, whether it’s younger arms or (likely on short-term deals) more experienced hurlers. The Gray trade brought Richard Fitts and prospect Brandon Clarke into the fold, and St. Louis is expected to seek out more pitchers in other trades or in free agency. Whether or not the Cards explore free agent pitchers will hinge on what they can land on the trade front, Goold writes, so it may be yet be a while before the Cardinals look too deeply at signings given how much interest they’re getting in their various trade chips.

Other teams’ trade endeavors could also delay matters. For instance, Goold notes that some teams interested in Brendan Donovan for their second base vacancy also have interest in the Rays’ Brandon Lowe or even the Diamondbacks’ Ketel Marte. If one of those players is dealt elsewhere, that eliminates one Donovan suitor, but also puts more pressure on other interested teams to up their offers to St. Louis in order to land a second baseman (though Donovan’s versatility also doesn’t limit his market just to keystone-needy teams).

Perhaps related to both the Cardinals’ pitching search and the Royals’ known interest in Donovan, Goold reports that the Cards “have had interest before in” Kansas City’s Noah Cameron. The 26-year-old southpaw is coming off an impressive debut season that saw Cameron finish fourth in AL Rookie of the Year voting after posting a 2.99 ERA over 138 1/3 innings.

Between Cameron’s ability and multiple remaining years of team control, it would take a whole lot to pry the left-hander away from the Royals. While K.C. president of baseball operations J.J. Picollo has discussed his team’s openness to trading from its pitching depth for much-needed outfield help, Cameron would likely be one of the last arms the Royals would prefer to move. That said, adding a real impact bat to the lineup might require an impact pitcher in return, and Donovan’s market has been so crowded that the Royals might make to make a special offer to break away from the pack.

Rays Interested In Zack Littell

By Mark Polishuk | December 7, 2025 at 4:12pm CDT

The Rays are known to be looking to add some veteran depth to their rotation, and such former Tampa players as Zach Eflin and Adrian Houser are known to be on the team’s radar. Yet another ex-Ray is also being eyed for a reunion, as Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports that Zack Littell is also drawing interest from the club.

Littell first arrived in Tampa in May 2023, after the Rays claimed the right-hander off waivers from the Red Sox. At the time, Littell had started only four of his 147 career games in parts of six Major League seasons, and had delivered inconsistent results as a reliever. However, in yet another win for the Rays’ excellent pitching development staff, Littell went from a multi-inning reliever to a proper starter by season’s end, and he then became a rotation staple over the next two seasons.

Over 376 2/3 innings in a Tampa Bay uniform, Littell posted a 3.68 ERA, 19.39% strikeout rate, and a superb 3.92% walk rate. Littell has had trouble keeping the ball in the park and he doesn’t miss many bats, but his elite control and durability made his transition to the rotation a very successful one. With the Rays falling out of contention at the deadline, Littell was dealt to the Reds as part of a three-team trade that also involved the Dodgers, and Littell had a 4.39 ERA over 53 1/3 innings to help Cincinnati reach the playoffs.

Only ten pitchers in all of baseball topped Littell’s 186 2/3 innings pitched in 2025. These ability to eat innings would be a major help to any rotation, but especially a Tampa Bay staff that has a few question marks behind Drew Rasmussen and Ryan Pepiot. Shane Baz was only so-so in his first full MLB season, Ian Seymour looked good as a rookie but has only 57 big league innings under his belt, and Shane McClanahan hasn’t pitched in over two years due to injury. Topkin’s piece includes the positive note that McClanahan is having “a somewhat normal offseason” throwing progression as he recovers from the nerve issue that sidelined him for all of 2025, and the next checkpoint will come when McClanahan starts throwing off a mound in mid-January.

MLB Trade Rumors ranked Littell 35th on our list of the winter’s top 50 free agents, and projected the righty for a two-year, $24MM contract. A three-year deal isn’t out of the question since Littell is entering his age-30 season and there’s plenty of value in a durable arm who can reliably cover innings, yet in terms of average annual value, Littell’s asking price should remain within the Rays’ limited spending range.

In comparison to the other known pitching targets, Littell will cost more than Eflin or Houser, but also brings more to the table in terms of reliability. This could make the front office more willing to make what counts as a significant financial plunge for the Rays, though more money could be freed up by trading other players off the current roster.

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