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Pirates Made Four-Year Offer To Kyle Schwarber

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TODAY: In a follow-up to his original report, Rosenthal specified that the Pirates’ four-year offer was worth roughly $120MM.

DECEMBER 7: 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 $100MM 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

Dodgers Notes: Hernandez, Betts, Edman

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Outfielder Teoscar Hernandez has come up in trade talks recently, though both manager Dave Roberts and general manager Brandon Gomes shot down the notion of moving the veteran. “That doesn’t feel likely,” Gomes told reporters, including Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times. “Obviously, you can never say never on those types of things. I know that’s come up [in reports]. But that’s not something we anticipate at all.”

Hernandez is heading into the second season of a three-year, $66MM deal. He’s coming off a down 2025 campaign in which he provided close to league-average results by wRC+. The veteran slashed .247/.284/.454 with 25 home runs as LA’s primary right fielder. Hernandez posted a decent .788 OPS in the postseason.

The 33-year-old Hernandez spent time in center field early in his Toronto tenure, though those days are long gone. He might be better suited as a DH at this point, but that spot is obviously taken in LA. Hernandez has delivered back-to-back brutal seasons in the field in terms of Outs Above Average, posting a -10 in 2024 and a -9 this past year. Roberts seems to disagree with Statcast’s assessment of Hernandez’s defense, calling his play “at least average” in right field, though he indicated a change could be possible. “I do think that with the versatility [of our roster] and how we potentially shape this roster, there’s some options,” Roberts said. “But right now, he’s our right fielder.”

One player who won’t be an option to replace Hernandez in right field is Mookie Betts. Roberts confirmed the versatile Betts will remain at shortstop next season. “He put a lot of time in at shortstop, a lot of bandwidth, and it certainly worked because he was a lockdown shortstop for us,” Roberts told reporters, including Katie Woo of The Athletic. Betts started 148 games at short last season.

Betts is a six-time Gold Glove award winner in the outfield, but he’s moved to the dirt the past two seasons. He split his time between second base and shortstop in 2024, before moving full-time to the latter spot in 2025. Betts earned modest defensive grades when he first moved to the infield, but posted strong numbers last season. Defensive Runs Saved was especially kind to Betts, giving him a +17 mark.

Some of the roster versatility Roberts mentioned might also take a hit after Gomes provided a health update on Tommy Edman. The GM said Edman recently underwent a debridement procedure to address his ankle injury. Gomes added that the infielder/outfielder would likely be limited heading into Spring Training, and the club doesn’t expect the recovery to “affect a meaningful part of the season.” The phrasing of that timeline cast a bit of doubt on Edman’s availability to start the year.

Edman hit the injured list with ankle inflammation in May. He returned after only missing a few weeks of action, but went down again with an ankle sprain in August. Edman made it back for the final few weeks of the regular season. He started every postseason game for LA, primarily playing second base, along with a couple of starts in center field. Edman also missed significant time in 2024 with a wrist injury.

The surgery could potentially help Edman bounce back offensively next season. He posted a career-worst 81 wRC+ over 97 games in 2025. More concerning, he managed just three steals. After three consecutive seasons of at least 25 thefts with St. Louis, Edman has totaled nine steals across his two years in LA.

Photo courtesy of Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images

White Sox Interested In Pete Fairbanks

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The list of suitors for free agent reliever Pete Fairbanks continues to grow. Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports that the White Sox are interested in the veteran right-hander. Chicago joins the Diamondbacks, Tigers, Marlins, Blue Jays, and Dodgers as teams connected to Fairbanks.

Tampa Bay declined its $11MM option on Fairbanks back in November. The 31-year-old piled up 75 saves over the past three seasons with the club. Fairbanks posted a strong 2.83 ERA over 61 appearances in 2025, setting a career high in innings by 15 frames. The price tag seemed reasonable for Fairbanks given his recent production, though it ended up being too much for the cost-conscious Rays.

Fairbanks cruised through this past season without any health issues for the first time since the shortened 2020 campaign. Over the previous four years, he had missed time with rotator cuff, shoulder, lat, forearm, and hip injuries. Fairbanks also dealt with a nerve-related issue in 2024. After his fastball sat at 99 mph in 2023, it’s been in the 97 mph range over the past two years.

Even with the frequent IL stints, Fairbanks was a valuable member of Tampa Bay’s bullpen during his tenure. He posted a 3.19 ERA over 265 1/3 innings with the club. Fairbanks was virtually unhittable for stretches, including a two-year run from 2022 to 2023 where opponents hit .155 and .163 against him, respectively. Sending Nick Solak to Texas straight up for Fairbanks before the reliever found his footing in the big leagues certainly paid off for Tampa Bay.

The White Sox bullpen had the fifth-worst SIERA and the third-worst xFIP last season. The closer role was a moving target, with nine different relievers recording a save. Jordan Leasure led the way with seven saves and would likely be Chicago’s closer if the season started today, though he would likely be supplanted by Fairbanks or any other notable free agent acquisition. No White Sox reliever has recorded double-digit saves since 2022 (Liam Hendriks with 37).

Chicago shelled out $24MM for Kendall Graveman and $17MM for Joe Kelly ahead of the 2022 season. Since then, the club has been hesitant to spend on relievers (or any other position). The most expensive bullpen addition over the past three seasons was John Brebbia on a one-year, $5.5MM deal in 2024. The White Sox’s only reliever signing last offseason was Bryse Wilson, who got a one-year, $1.05MM pact.

Photo courtesy of Rafael Suanes, Imagn Images

Mariners Not Planning To Trade Luis Castillo

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The Mariners were willing to listen to offers for Luis Castillo at this time last year, but the right-hander ultimately remained with Seattle. The club doesn’t intend to shop Castillo during this year’s winter meetings, reports Adam Jude of the Seattle Times.

The 32-year-old Castillo delivered steady results last season, pitching to a 3.54 ERA over 32 starts. He topped 175 innings for the third straight year. Castillo’s strikeout rate fell to a career-low 21.7%, but he countered the downturn with a career-best 6.2% walk rate. The veteran has now improved his walk rate in each of the past four seasons.

Castillo has two years and $45.5MM remaining on the five-year, $108MM deal he signed with Seattle back in 2023. The contract also includes a vesting option for 2028, which is triggered if Castillo reaches 180 innings in 2027. He’ll easily be the Mariners’ highest-paid player next season, though it’s a reasonable commitment for Castillo’s reliable innings.

Seattle acquired Castillo from Cincinnati at the 2022 trade deadline for a package of Noelvi Marte, Edwin Arroyo, Levi Stoudt, and Andrew Moore. Marte hasn’t completely lived up to his lofty prospect pedigree, but he provided meaningful contributions at the big-league level last season. Arroyo is among the club’s top infield prospects and could reach the majors as soon as 2026. Still, the deal has worked out well for the Mariners.

Castillo has been remarkably consistent with Seattle, recording an ERA between 3.34 and 3.64 in his three full campaigns with the team. His approach has changed significantly as a Mariner, with an increased focus on his fastball/slider instead of the changeup. Castillo boasted one of the more effective changeups in the league while in Cincinnati, and he used it as his primary pitch from 2019 to 2021. With Seattle, he’s pushed the offering behind his four-seamer, sinker, and slider in terms of usage. The changeup has easily been Castillo’s least-effective pitch by Run Value since he joined the Mariners. His fastball has emerged as a dominant pitch, notching a Run Value of at least 12 in four straight years.

Seattle’s standout starting rotation struggled with injuries last season. George Kirby and Logan Gilbert both missed extended stretches. Bryan Woo, who had largely been healthy for the first time, went down in September, but made it back for the ALCS. With Bryce Miller expected to avoid elbow surgery, the group should be back to full strength next year.

The Mariners have been on the offensive this offseason, re-signing Josh Naylor and swapping Harry Ford for Jose A. Ferrer. Even with Ferrer joining the squad, Seattle isn’t done making tweaks to the bullpen, per president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto. “We will continue to add to our bullpen, in all different ways, like we always have,” Dipoto told reporters, including Jude. Dipoto mentioned that the team has been in touch with multiple veteran relievers and expects a deal to get done.

Led by Andres Munoz, the Mariners’ bullpen ranked eighth in SIERA last season. Ferrer will give the team a hard thrower from the left side, joining Matt Brash as a setup option ahead of Munoz. With Emerson Hancock preparing as a starter, Seattle could target a swingman on the open market. Another lefty alongside Ferrer and Gabe Speier could also make sense.

Photo courtesy of Stephen Brashear, Imagn Images

NL East Coaching Notes: Mattingly, Doolittle, Marlins

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Coaching staffs are coming together around the league. The Nationals and Marlins have made recent additions, while the Phillies are close to bringing a former manager back to the division.

  • Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski told reporters, including Lochlahn March of the Philadelphia Inquirer, that the team is looking to hire Don Mattingly as a bench coach. “It’s not official, but we have really focused on speaking with Don and trying to make that happen, and we’re hopeful that it will,” Dombrowski said. Mattingly has been a bench coach in Toronto for the past three seasons. It was reported shortly after the Blue Jays’ World Series loss that he wouldn’t be returning to the team. Mattingly previously spent seven seasons coaching in the NL East, as the Marlins manager from 2016 to 2022.
  • Nationals president of baseball operations Paul Toboni shared details on manager Blake Butera’s coaching staff with reporters, including Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports. The list includes recent additions Corey Ray as first base coach and Grant Anders as bullpen catcher, but one of the more notable names is the lone holdover, Sean Doolittle. Washington is retaining the former closer as an assistant pitching coach. Doolittle came on board with the title of pitching strategist in 2024, shortly after his retirement as a player. The lefty saved 75 games for the Nats across five seasons.
  • The Marlins are expected to hire Blake Butler as an infield coach, reports Isaac Azout of Fish On First. He’s taking over for Tyler Smarslok, who took a gig as field coordinator with the Nationals. Butler has been a minor league coach in Pittsburgh’s system since 2020. He’s managed Single-A Greensboro for the past two seasons.

Photo courtesy of John E. Sokolowski, Imagn Images

Cooper Hummel To Sign With NPB’s Yokohama BayStars

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Former Astros outfielder Cooper Hummel is expected to sign with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league, reports Jon Morosi of MLB Network. It’s a one-year deal with a club option for 2027. Hummel is now represented by GSI, per an Instagram post from the agency in late November. He appeared in 37 games between Baltimore and Houston last season.

The 30-year-old Hummel spent time with four different organizations in 2025, including two stints with the Astros. The club designated him for assignment in late March, and he joined the Yankees on a minor league deal. New York released Hummel in late May, and he latched on with the Orioles. He appeared in one game with the team, striking out in his only at-bat. Hummel was then DFAed and soon found himself back in Houston. He earned semi-regular at-bats with the Astros until he was designated for assignment yet again. Hummel closed the year at Triple-A in the Rays’ system.

Hummel hit just .170 with three home runs and a stolen base at the big-league level last year. He now has a 58 wRC+ across 119 career games. Hummel debuted with the Diamondbacks in 2022. He came to the organization from the Brewers in a trade headlined by Eduardo Escobar. Hummel slashed .176/.274/.307 in 201 plate appearances with Arizona, his most extensive MLB work to date. He also had brief stretches with Seattle in 2023 and Houston in 2024.

Strikeouts have been a consistent issue for Hummel. He posted a 29.5% strikeout rate between the Orioles and Astros last season. He’s at 31.2% for his big-league career. Hummel had better contact numbers in the minors and also showed a tremendous eye at the plate, but has struggled to reproduce those results at the highest level.

Hummel is the latest in a slew of signings for Yokohama. The club also signed infielder Dayan Viciedo and added reliever José Ruiz in recent weeks.

Photo courtesy of Thomas Shea, Imagn Images

Yankees Notes: Bellinger, Williams, Lineup

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Yankees general manager Brian Cashman spoke to reporters on Sunday, offering updates on a few key free agents and discussing plans for the 2026 lineup. Free agent outfielder Cody Bellinger continues to be a popular topic of conversation, and Cashman reiterated that the team wants him back next season.

“Cody Bellinger would be a great fit for us,” Cashman said (h/t Bryan Hoch of MLB.com). “I think he’d be a great fit for anybody. I think he’s a very talented player that can play multiple positions at a high level, and hits lefties, hits righties. He’s a contact guy, and I think our environment was a great one for him.”

Bellinger has been linked to the Yankees all offseason. A report from Jon Heyman of the New York Post suggested the club views fellow free agent Kyle Tucker as a backup plan if they can’t retain Bellinger. For what it’s worth, Cashman said Tucker hasn’t visited the Yankees’ complex in Tampa (relayed by Hoch). The former Cub recently stopped by the Blue Jays’ facility in Dunedin.

The 30-year-old Bellinger opted out of his contract in early November, hitting the open market after a strong first season in the Bronx. He slashed .272/.334/.480 with 29 home runs and 13 stolen bases this past year. Bellinger had one year and $25MM remaining on his deal. Given the widespread interest in his services, he should land a much more lucrative pact.

Bringing back Bellinger might exacerbate a lineup configuration issue addressed by Cashman. The roster skews left-handed at the moment. “That is a problem,” Cashman said (h/t Greg Joyce of the New York Post). Cashman added that the team wouldn’t make a trade just to get a right-handed hitter if they aren’t better than the lefty currently in place.

Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton are the only righties slated for regular at-bats next season. The club’s shortstop will likely also be a righty, with Jose Caballero handling the position until Anthony Volpe is available. After that, it’s a bunch of lefties, with a couple switch-hitters mixed in. The righty/lefty mix might be more of a pressing issue if New York struggled against lefties last season, but that wasn’t the case. The Yankees led the league in OPS, wOBA, and wRC+ vs. left-handed pitching in 2025. They tied the Dodgers for the most home runs off southpaws.

If Cashman is set on rebalancing the lineup, a certain right-handed infield prospect comes to mind. George Lombard Jr., the team’s top prospect, seems to be on the verge of making an impact at the MLB level. Cashman threw cold water on the possibility of Lombard being involved right away, though. “He could play defense in the big leagues right now, but he’s still developing on the hitting side. Exciting, high ceiling talent. But I don’t think he’s ready yet.” (h/t to Hoch)

The stance is in line with Cashman’s previous comments on Lombard’s trajectory. The 2023 first-rounder hit just .215 at Double-A last year, though he was only in his age-20 season. Lombard torched High-A pitching earlier in the year, earning the bump to Somerset. His strikeout rate jumped considerably with the Patriots, exceeding 25% for the first time as a professional. Lombard did manage 24 steals, while chipping in eight home runs. He’s a good bet to repeat Double-A to open next season. A strong performance could force the Yankees’ hand, especially if the Caballero/Volpe combo falters.

While Bellinger might rejoin the team, another reunion fell flat, apparently without an attempt. Cashman said the Yankees never made an offer to free agent reliever Devin Williams (h/t to Chris Kirschner of The Athletic). Williams and his former team were said to have mutual interest in a return, but he ultimately went to the cross-town rival Mets on a three-year, $51MM deal.

Williams came to the Yankees in a December 2024 trade with the Brewers. He lost the closer role a month into the season and needed an injury to Luke Weaver to get back in the mix for saves. He pitched well for a couple of months, but the Yankees went out and acquired David Bednar at the trade deadline. Bednar took over as closer upon arrival, moving Williams to a setup role. The presence of Bednar and fellow trade deadline acquisition Camilo Doval could’ve hindered the Yankees in attracting Williams, who said it “depends on the scenario” regarding whether being the closer would impact his free agency decision. The Mets had an obvious opening with Edwin Diaz opting out and hitting free agency.

Photo courtesy of Vincent Carchietta, Imagn Images

Braves Notes: Ozuna, Holmes, Bullpen

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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

Mariners, Pirates Linked To Ketel Marte

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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

Dodgers, Enrique Hernández Open To Reunion

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The Dodgers have already retained one clubhouse favorite this offseason, re-signing infielder Miguel Rojas to a one-year deal. Utilityman Kiké Hernández could be next on the list. Fabian Ardaya and Katie Woo of The Athletic reported the two sides are interested in a reunion. Hernández is currently recovering from elbow surgery on his non-throwing arm.

Hernández has spent nine of his 12 big-league seasons with the Dodgers. He re-upped with the team on a one-year, $6.5MM deal this past offseason. Hernández has filled a versatile role across multiple stints in LA and has three World Series rings with the club (2020, 2024, 2025).

The 34-year-old is coming off one of his worst offensive seasons, though the elbow issue could’ve played a factor. Hernández hit just .203 across 93 games, while missing most of July and August with the injury. The veteran started every playoff game for the Dodgers, managing a .250 batting average, albeit with an elevated strikeout rate. Hernández accounted for LA’s only run in Game 5 of the World Series when he homered off of Trey Yesavage. He was also in left field for Andy Pages’ season-saving catch in Game 7.

Hernández’s ability to handle several defensive positions is likely the main factor in a return to LA. The defending champs don’t have many major holes, but the roster has some soft spots that could be patched by Hernández. The Dodgers currently have Tommy Edman penciled in at center field, though he struggled with injuries and poor performance last season. Some combination of Hyeseong Kim and Alex Freeland will likely handle second base, but neither has much MLB experience. There’s room for Hernández to carve out a part-time gig again, even if it’s just as a platoon bat spelling Kim and Max Muncy.

RosterResource has LA’s payroll at $337MM for next season. While that’s a massive number, it’s a significant dropoff from last season’s mark, which neared $400MM. The potential commitment to Hernández would likely be similar to the pact he got last offseason. The Dodgers also have luxury tax fees to consider, but Hernández’s deal won’t make much of a dent.

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