The Opener

Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Marte talks nearing their conclusion?

Diamondbacks star Ketel Marte has been one of the most talked about players on the trade market this offseason. GM Mike Hazen made waves yesterday in that corner of the market, however, when he noted that he plans to put an end to conversations regarding a Marte trade in the near future. Hazen’s suggestion was that the club simply pulling Marte off the table for negotiations was a more likely outcome than a trade coming together at this point. That’s been Hazen’s stance all throughout the offseason, as he has long said he didn’t foresee Arizona dealing a star player this winter. Even so, a deal remains at least possible as long as Hazen and the Arizona front office continue to be willing to entertain trade talks on Marte.

Whether he’s traded or not, it figures to shake up the market in a big way when Marte ultimately comes off the market. That would leave Cardinals utility man Brendan Donovan as the clear top trade chip on the infield this offseason, barring a surprise deal involving someone like Isaac Paredes or Nico Hoerner. It would also remove an alternative to free agent infielders like Alex Bregman and Eugenio Suarez who have lingered are the market to this point. If Marte is dealt, it would remove a possible suitor for those players but also leave the Diamondbacks hungry for a middle-of-the-order bat to replace him.

2. Angels, Rendon parting ways:

The Angels and veteran infielder Anthony Rendon brought Rendon’s fraught tenure with the organization to an end yesterday when they restructured the final year of his contract ahead of his expected retirement. Rendon technically remains on the roster for the time being but does not figure to resume his playing career, whether for the Angels or another club. While Rendon’s retirement doesn’t change much for the Angels on the field due to his injury history and lack of production, it could still have an impact. The restructured deal takes a large chunk of money off the books for Anaheim headed into 2026, and club officials have made clear their desire to bring in help at third base and in center field this winter. This influx of financial flexibility could allow the team to make a splash at one of those positions, or at the very least add a reliable bat at one or both of those spots in the lineup.

3. Imai meeting with teams:

The sweepstakes for right-hander Tatsuya Imai is nearly at its conclusion. The right-hander has begun conducting in-person interviews with teams in the U.S. and figures to continue talking to teams over the coming days. With just over 48 hours remaining until his posting window closes at 4pm CT on January 2, the right-hander has limited time to find a deal. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Imai’s contract come together sooner rather than later, in order to allow Imai the time needed to undergo a physical with his new club before the impending deadline. The right-hander’s youth and recent track record in NPB have made him one of the more intriguing arms available this offseason in the eyes of both fans and teams. The Yankees, Mets, Cubs, Phillies, and Orioles have all been connected to the righty at one point or another, but it’s certainly possible more teams outside of that group of five could be involved in the righty’s market.

Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Imai’s posting deadline approaches:

NPB right-hander Tatsuya Imai is entering the final days of his posting window and figures to sign with an MLB club any day now. Imai, 27, is among the more intriguing starters on the market this offseason coming off back-to-back seasons for the Seibu Lions where he posted dominant numbers. The righty was connected to the Cubs, Mets, Phillies, and Yankees among other clubs in the early weeks of the offseason but the rumor mill has been relatively quiet in the aftermath of the Winter Meetings earlier this month. How his market has developed in the weeks since that early interest from teams is unclear, but it seems reasonable to expect more information on the bidding for Imai’s services to become available any day now with his posting window set to wrap up at 4pm CT on January 2.

2. Okamoto begins meeting with teams:

The posting deadline for NPB infielder Kazuma Okamoto isn’t coming up quite as soon as Imai’s, as Okamoto doesn’t have to sign until January 4. Even so, rumors regarding the infielder’s future have been far more common in recent weeks as he comes off an elite (albeit injury-shortened) campaign with the Yomiuri Giants in 2025. Okamoto has been tied to the Pirates frequently this offseason, though connections have also been drawn between the 29-year-old and teams like the Angels, Padres, Red Sox, and Blue Jays. The latest reporting on Okamoto indicates that he’s headed to the U.S. for in-person meetings with teams, and a deal figures to come together quickly from there with less than a week remaining in his posting window.

3. Orioles continue to bolster rotation:

The Orioles re-signed right-hander Zach Eflin to a one-year deal over the weekend, and yesterday reporting indicated that a return to the mound by Opening Day is on the table for the righty even after he underwent season-ending back surgery back in August. That’s notable news not only because it suggests Eflin’s recovery from that procedure is going well, but also because it leaves Baltimore with a potential Opening Day rotation of Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers, Shane Baz, Eflin, and Dean Kremer with further depth behind those five arms. That’s a playable rotation that figures to be a significant upgrade over last year’s Opening Day quintet, but it lacks the sort of surefire front-of-the-rotation addition many expected from Baltimore this offseason. The addition of a more proven arm like Framber Valdez or Ranger Suarez from here could certainly still be in the cards, but at this point it’s at least feasible that Baltimore will walk away from the offseason with only modest rotation upgrades and first baseman Pete Alonso as their big addition.

Here are three things MLBTR will be watching for around the sport today:

1. What’s next for the Red Sox?

The Red Sox have already made some of the biggest moves of the offseason, acquiring starting pitcher Sonny Gray and first baseman Willson Contreras in two separate trades with the Cardinals. However, they are the only AL team that has yet to sign a free agent to a major league contract, and there is no reason to think chief baseball officer Craig Breslow is done making moves. According to Alex Speier of the Boston Globe, the Red Sox are still in the market for many of the top available infielders, namely free agents Bo Bichette and Alex Bregman and trade candidates Ketel Marte, Isaac Paredes, and Brendan Donovan. Speier previously linked the Red Sox to Eugenio Suárez as well. Boston has also been connected to some notable free agent relievers, including Seranthony Domínguez, Evan Phillips, and Chris Martin (before he re-signed with the Rangers).

On top of that, it remains more than possible that Breslow could trade from his major league roster. This team has a surplus of young, controllable outfielders, with Jarren Duran’s name the one that has come up the most in trade rumors. What’s more, Triston Casas and Masataka Yoshida have less of a path to playing time now that Contreras is in the fold. Breslow recently told reporters (including Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com) that roster logjams like this “tend to work out,” but one such way these things can work themselves out is through a trade or two.

2. Free agent contracts to be finalized:

Ryan O’Hearn and the Pirates came to terms on the largest free agent contract for a position player in the franchise’s history last week: a two-year, $29MM guarantee. However, the team has not formalized the signing, which means O’Hearn isn’t technically a Pirate just yet. Now that Christmas has passed, fans can expect an announcement from the Pirates any day, although the club will have to free up a space on its 40-man roster before making things official with O’Hearn.

In addition to O’Hearn, Paul Blackburn and Amed Rosario are also waiting for their new contracts to be announced. Both players agreed to re-up with the Yankees this winter on one-year deals; Rosario will make $2.5MM in 2026, while Blackburn’s deal is a $2MM guarantee. Unlike the Pirates, the Yankees have several open spaces on their 40-man roster. They should also be quite familiar with Blackburn and Rosario’s medicals, considering both players finished the 2025 season in the Bronx, so it’s not entirely clear what’s holding up the formal announcement of either signing.

3. Mets trade coming?

Francys Romero of Beisbol FR recently wrote about top international prospect Wandy Asigen, who originally had a deal in place with the Yankees but will now sign a contract worth approximately $3.8MM with the Mets instead. Romero suggests that the Mets could try to trade for more international bonus pool space before the next signing period opens, to facilitate their inking of the 16-year-old shortstop. International bonus pool money can be traded in increments of $250,000, and the Mets’ initial pool for the upcoming signing period was set at $5.44MM as of this past April (per Baseball America). The 2026 international signing period will begin on January 15. So, if the Mets are planning to make a trade to increase their bonus pool, it’s likely going to come together at some point in the next two weeks.

Now that Santa has put away the sleigh for another year, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on today…

1. The Athletics lock up Soderstrom

In a rare bit of major news breaking on Christmas Day, the A’s have agreed to a seven-year, $86MM extension with left fielder Tyler Soderstrom.  Between his increasingly strong numbers at the plate and the successful transition to left field, Soderstrom cemented his place as a building block for an Athletics team as they approach their next era in Las Vegas.  The Soderstrom extension highlights a busy week for the A’s that has also included the Jeff McNeil trade and the Mark Leiter Jr. signed.  The next step might be adding starting pitching, as the A’s have yet to do much to address a rotation that was a weak link in 2025.

2. Imai’s posting deadline approaches

January 2 at 4pm CT marks the end of the 45-day posting window for Tatsuya Imai, as the right-hander will be spending the 2026 season with the Seibu Lions if he can’t finalize a deal with a Major League team within the next week.  Such teams as the Yankees, Phillies, Cubs, Orioles, Giants, and Mets have been linked to Imai’s market, though in the case of the latter two clubs in particular, it remains to be seen if the Giants or Mets are willing to make a long-term commitment to any starting pitcher.  MLB Trade Rumors projected a six-year, $150MM for Imai as he makes the jump from Japan to North American baseball, and given the number of larger-market teams reportedly interested, it would seem like Imai should be able to land a substantial payday.  The Jan. 2 deadline creates a bit of urgency for Imai’s suitors, and his situation might be resolved before other free agent starters (i.e. Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez, Zac Gallen) come off the board.

3. A busy end to 2025?

The final week of the year tends to be relatively quiet in terms of transactions, as many front office executives take the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day as something of an unofficial break.  Of course, as we just saw with Soderstrom’s deal, the hot stove can suddenly heat up at any given time, so you never know when a big extension, trade, or signing might be just around the corner.  A big free agent who spent the holidays weighing offers, for instance, might be ready to make a decision now that Christmas is over.  Besides Imai’s posting period, Kazuma Okamoto’s posting deadline is also coming up on January 4, so that’s another Japanese star whose arrival in MLB could be determined in short order.

As you’re getting ready to hang your stockings by the chimney with care, here are three things to watch for (other than Santa Claus) on Christmas Eve:

1. The corner infield market is heating up:

On Sunday morning, the White Sox came to terms on a two-year, $34MM contract with NPB first baseman/third baseman Munetaka Murakami. Later that day, the Red Sox swung a trade with the Cardinals to acquire a slugging corner infielder of their own, first baseman Willson Contreras. Then, on Tuesday, it was the Pirates who joined in on the fun, coming to terms with Ryan O’Hearn on a two-year, $29MM guarantee.

In addition to those recent moves, corner infielders have overrun the rumor mill lately. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported over the weekend that Blue Jays officials have had “recent contact” with Scott Boras regarding his client Alex Bregman. The star third baseman is the top unsigned corner infield free agent from MLBTR’s Top 50 list. Mariners GM Justin Hollander also reconfirmed his team’s interest in reuniting with third baseman Eugenio Suárez, while Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette noted that, before the Pirates signed O’Hearn, they had “multiple virtual meetings” with Kazuma Okamoto, another All-Star first baseman/third baseman from NBP.

One also has to wonder if more corner infield-related trade rumors are soon to come. One of Ryan Mountcastle or Coby Mayo is likely to be on the trade block now that Pete Alonso is ensconced at first base in Baltimore, and Triston Casas could be on the move after Contreras’s arrival in Boston. What’s more, the fact that the Cardinals have now traded Contreras and Sonny Gray only seems to make a Nolan Arenado deal more likely. While any notable trades and signings probably won’t take place on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, keep an eye out for the next big corner infield transaction that’s surely on its way.

2. DFA resolutions coming for Noel and Wiemer:

Today marks a week since the Guardians and Giants DFA’d outfielders Jhonkensy Noel (also known as Big Christmas) and Joey Wiemer, respectively. There hasn’t been any news about either player since, but that should change today. When a player is designated for assignment, his team has seven days to either trade him or pass him through waivers. If no trade comes together and the player goes unclaimed, his team can send him outright to the minor leagues. Neither Noel nor Wiemer has the necessary service time to reject an outright assignment, so if they do clear waivers, the Guardians and Giants will be able to keep them in their organizations.

3. Last-minute holiday shopping?

Yesterday featured two official major league signings and news of another, with Jacob Webb joining the Cubs, Sean Newcomb joining the White Sox, and O’Hearn reportedly agreeing to terms with the Pirates. Today, however, is likely to be a slow news day around Major League Baseball. Trades and free agent signings are almost as rare on Christmas Eve as they are on Christmas Day. Of course, that doesn’t mean a move is out of the realm of possibility. Just last year, the Twins sent left-handed reliever Jovani Morán to the Red Sox in exchange for catcher/utility man Mickey Gasper on December 24.

Some of the biggest Christmas Eve transactions in MLB history include Mark McGwire re-signing with the Athletics in 1992 (five years, $28MM) and Reggie Jackson returning to the Athletics on December 24, 1986 for what would be his final season. Funnily enough, the A’s are also one of just three teams in the last decade to sign a major league deal with a free agent on Christmas Eve. The Cubs officially signed Drew Smyly in 2022, the Mets came to terms and announced a deal with Dellin Betances in 2019, and the A’s finalized a contract with Mike Fiers on the holiday in 2018. Fiers would go on to throw a no-hitter for Oakland the next May.

Here are three things for MLBTR readers to keep an eye on as the week gets underway…

1. Murakami press conference:

The White Sox will host a press conference to introduce slugger Munetaka Murakami this morning at 11am CT. The two sides didn’t look to be a fit early in the offseason, when industry expectations were that the 25-year-old Murakami would command a long-term deal and when White Sox GM Chris Getz openly spoke about reluctance to commit to free agents beyond the upcoming season. However, when Murakami’s market didn’t develop as hoped, the South Siders opportunistically pounced and landed him on a two-year contract. Murakami has 80-grade raw power but concerns scouts with his struggles against velocity, penchant for whiffing and limited defensive flexibility. Even with those red flags, he could add 30 or 40 home runs to Chicago’s lineup if all goes well. Sox brass will be on hand to discuss where Murakami fits into the puzzle and what’s next on the checklist.

2. Where do the Red Sox go from here?

The Red Sox have operated exclusively on the trade market thus far, adding Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras (in separate trades) from the Cardinals and Johan Oviedo from the Pirates. They’re the only team in the American League that hasn’t signed a free agent to a major league contract this winter and one of just two teams in either league fitting that description (joining the Rockies as the other).

Yesterday’s acquisition of Contreras seemingly sets the Sox at first base and pushes young Triston Casas down the depth chart. Casas, recovering from knee surgery performed last May, could mix in at designated hitter once he’s ready to go, but the Sox also have Masataka Yoshida to consider in that spot. They’d love to shed the remaining two years and $36MM on Yoshida’s contract, but trimming even a decent portion of that sum off the books would be a tall order. Casas has a minor league option remaining, so it’s possible he could head to Triple-A, but there figure to be other clubs looking to buy low.

The Red Sox are still receiving interest in outfielders Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu. They still have plenty of minor league rotation depth to peddle. Casas now feels more expendable. Garrett Crochet and Roman Anthony are the only major salaries on the long-term books. The Sox seem well positioned either for a large free-agent expenditure or another major trade, with third base and the rotation standing as natural areas of focus. Where will they go from here?

3. Last-minute holiday shopping:

The holidays are upon us, and while there’s typically a major slowdown in terms of hot stove activity over the final week of December, there’s also usually a rush to complete some last-minute deals prior to that quiet period. Last year, we saw each of Walker Buehler, Joc Pederson, Sean Manaea and Andrew McCutchen in the final days before Christmas (as can be seen in MLBTR’s Contract Tracker). The year prior, it was Kevin Kiermaier, Mitch Garver, Yuki Matsui and Martin Maldonado (Contract Tracker link). In 2022, names like Michael Conforto, Craig Kimbrel, Taylor Rogers, Tucker Barnhart, Drew Smyly and Wil Myers all signed. There’s no telling exactly who’ll come off the board this week, but expect a handful of free agent deals to wrap up before front offices and players alike pump the brakes in the final days of the year.

Here are three things we’re keeping an eye on going into the final weekend before the holiday break…

1. Last-minute shopping?

The hot stove tends to slow down a bit around the holidays and Christmas is on Thursday next week. Will that spur teams and players to get some things done before the shops close? Already this morning, before this post could even go up, the Padres agreed to a deal with Sung Mun Song and the Phillies traded Matt Strahm to the Royals for Jonathan Bowlan.

2. Rotation market moving?

The starting pitching section of free agency has been moving a bit slower than other segments. The Blue Jays quickly snapped up Dylan Cease but then things went quiet for a few weeks. Things have seemingly picked up a bit, as Michael King, Merrill Kelly, Dustin May and Adrian Houser have come off the board in the past week. Tatsuya Imai, Framber Valdez, Ranger Suárez, Zac Gallen and others are still out there and could perhaps see their markets pick up.

3. Ticking clock for posted players.

Players coming from NPB or KBO who are posted for MLB clubs only have a set amount of time to negotiate deals. Song got a deal done just before his posting window was set to close. Munetaka Murakami is now the one with the least amount of sand in the hourglass, as his posting window closes on December 22nd. Imai and Kazuma Okamoto have until early January but might want to get something done before the holidays.

Photo courtesy of Troy Taormina, Imagn Images

Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world today:

1. How would Bichette’s market change as a second baseman?

Reporting yesterday indicated that star infielder Bo Bichette is open to moving off shortstop and playing second base for interested clubs. That’s not necessarily a surprise, as free agents such as Willy Adames and Alex Bregman have suggested a similar level of positional flexibility in recent free agent classes, and Bichette of course played second base during the World Series after returning from a knee injury. Bichette’s defensive metrics at shortstop have ranged from slightly below average to well below average throughout his career, and a move to the keystone could make him a stronger defender overall.

The market for second base help has been rather hot this winter. Brendan Donovan and Ketel Marte have been two of the most talked-about names on the trade market, and other second basemen like Brandon Lowe and Jazz Chisholm Jr. have also drawn interest. Given the questions about Bichette’s glove at shortstop and the lack of big-spending teams looking for a new starting shortstop, voicing a willingness to play second base should open up Bichette’s market a bit more.

2. High-leverage relievers continue to dwindle:

The relief market has been bustling all winter, and yesterday was no exception. Right-handers Brad Keller and Luke Weaver signed identical two-year, $22MM contracts with NL East clubs as Weaver joined the Mets and Keller joined the Phillies. That leaves precious few high-end relievers available for teams like the Yankees, Cubs, and Marlins to pursue. Pete Fairbanks and Seranthony Dominguez are among the best options remaining on the market at this point, with hurlers like Shawn Armstrong and Pierce Johnson sitting a tier below those two.

3. Big Christmas in DFA limbo:

The Guardians parted ways with Jhonkensy Noel yesterday, designating the outfielder for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for southpaw Justin Bruihl. It’s not necessarily a shock to see Noel lose his roster spot given his brutal 2025 season; the 24-year-old slashed just .162/.183/.297 across 69 games with Cleveland last year. With that said, fans surely remember Noel’s far stronger 2024 campaign where he slugged 13 homers in 67 games with a wRC+ of 118 before going on to hit a game-tying home run against the Yankees in the ALDS. Will any clubs look past Noel’s strikeouts and approach and bet on his immense raw power with a small trade or waiver claim?

Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world today:

1. Giants 40-man roster moves incoming:

The Giants signed right-handers Adrian Houser and Jason Foley to major league deals yesterday, and in doing so created in a logjam on their 40-man roster. San Francisco’s roster was already at capacity before those signings, so they’ll need to make a pair of corresponding moves in order to finalize those additions. Those transactions could be simply designating two other players for assignment, but it’s also possible that the Giants could look to work out a trade of some kind that clears 40-man roster space.

2. Market for lefties heating up:

While the bullpen market has been buzzing virtually the entire offseason, the market for specifically left-handed relief pitching had been a bit quieter until recently. As of early last week, Gregory Soto was most notable lefty to sign, but that dam has broken. Hoby Milner and Tyler Alexander signed late last week, and things picked up further yesterday with a trio of agreements: Caleb Thielbar returned to the Cubs after a strong rebound season, Drew Pomeranz signed with the Angels, and the Reds landed Caleb Ferguson. With that group off the board, the most notable lefties still on the market include Sean Newcomb, Taylor Rogers, Justin Wilson and Danny Coulombe.

3. Posting windows for Song, Murakami nearing their end:

When international players are posted for MLB teams, they’re given a limited window during which to sign. That window lasts 30 days for players coming over from the KBO, while NPB players have 45 days. Two such players are having their windows draw to a close in the next few days: KBO infielder Sung Mun Song, who will need to sign by December 21 at 4pm CT, and NPB slugger Munetaka Murakami, who will need to sign by December 22 at 4pm CT.

Murakami is by far the more well-known player, heralded for his youth and prodigious power despite concerns about his contact ability. He should land a healthy multi-year deal in free agency, though his camp has kept things very quiet to this point. Song hasn’t garnered as much fanfare but is coming off a pair of terrific seasons, wherein he combined to his .327/.397/.524 with a 10.5% walk rate and just a 14.3% strikeout rate.