The Opener

With the first report date for pitchers and catchers just two days away, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world headed into the weekend:

1. Arbitration hearings continue:

According to the Associated Press, the Angels and Luis Rengifo had their arbitration hearing yesterday, with a decision expected to be handed down today. Rengifo filed at $5.95MM while the Angels countered at $5.8MM. Rengifo is coming off a strong but injury shortened season in 2024 where he slashed .300/.347/.417 in 78 games. The Cardinals and outfielder Lars Nootbaar have also had their hearing, with Nootbaar filing at $2.95MM and the Cardinals countering at $2.45MM. That decision is being withheld until Nootbaar’s teammate Brendan Donovan’s arbitration case is either settled or decided, however (as is common for comparable players in the same service class whose hearing results could be relevant to one another). So far, teams have won three out of four arbitration decisions with Angels outfielder Mickey Moniak being the only player to win his case this year.

2. Positional market continues to thin:

Both the outfield and infield markets thinned a bit further yesterday when the Pirates reached an agreement with veteran Tommy Pham while the Angels landed third baseman Yoan Moncada. Both came to terms on one-year deals.

Alex Bregman is the only top-tier free agent remaining on the positional market, but even the market for depth options and second-division starters has been begun to dry up. First base has a handful of notable veterans still available like Justin Turner, Anthony Rizzo, and Mark Canha, but the rest of the infield market is more dire. Paul DeJong is perhaps the best option remaining, with Luis Urias, Jose Iglesias, and Brendan Rodgers also available. In the outfield, Canha is capable of handling a corner alongside Alex Verdugo, David Peralta, Eddie Rosario, and Jason Heyward while Kevin Pillar and Michael A. Taylor are the best options available in center.

3. Marlins FanFest:

The Marlins are the latest team to host their annual FanFest, which is scheduled for tomorrow at loanDepot Park. The event will run from 4pm to 8pm and the festivities will include meet and greets with players, tours of the Marlins clubhouse, as well as live interviews with players in both English and Spanish. Newly hired Marlins manager Clayton McCullough figures to be in attendance for one of his first major events as the team’s skipper. The club is also expected to announce their new City Connect uniforms for the 2025 season at tomorrow’s event. Last year’s event saw president of baseball operations Peter Bendix field questions, though there’s no formal indication he’ll do so in 2025. The FanFest is a free, ticketed event, and interested fans can both claim a free ticket and find more information about the the event on the event’s MLB.com page here.

One free-agent deal is already in the books this morning. Here are three more things to keep an eye out for today:

1. Bregman stands alone:

After slugger Pete Alonso finally agreed to return to the Mets last night, third baseman Alex Bregman stands as the lone top tier bat in free agency. With the start of spring training looming, Bregman’s market has been fairly quiet in recent days. The Tigers reportedly remain in on him even after their deal to re-sign righty Jack Flaherty. The Cubs, Blue Jays, Astros, and Red Sox are all involved in Bregman’s market on at least some level. It seems possible that at least a couple of those suitors have eased off their pursuits of Bregman, however. MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart relayed yesterday that, per GM Dana Brown, the Astros have not recently spoken to Bregman’s camp and that their discussions about a reunion with him “remain internal.” Meanwhile, the Red Sox continued their ongoing talks with the Cardinals about third baseman Nolan Arenado. A Bregman decision could be a catalyst for resolution on the Arenado front, or vice versa.

2. Could a Twins trade be on the horizon?

All winter long, it’s been clear that the Twins were operating at or near their maximum capacity for payroll and wouldn’t be able to make significant additions on the free agent market without clearing payroll via trade. Despite that long-anticipated reality, however, the Twins have made multiple free agent signings in recent days. The additions of center fielder Harrison Bader and southpaw reliever Danny Coulombe are set to cost the Twins $9.25MM, and according to RosterResource that puts them around $18MM over their 2024 payroll. While it’s possible that the front office has simply been provided more financial flexibility than initially believed, it’s worth noting that Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey recently acknowledged an uptick in trade discussions. Could a deal or two that clears payroll space be coming? Minnesota needs to open two 40-man roster spots to finalize their deals with Bader and Coulombe.

3. Several 40-man moves pending:

In addition to that pair of 40-man moves pending for the Twins, there are several other clubs who need to open 40-man spots to finalize agreements of their own. Last night’s Alonso reunion in Queens will force the Mets to open a spot on their 40-man roster that features a number of depth arms on the bubble (e.g. Austin Warren, Tyler Zuber, Max Kranick, Kevin Herget). This morning’s Tommy Pham deal will require the Pirates to jettison someone else from their 40-man, which could prove problematic for offseason DFA pickups like Brett de Geus, Peter Strzelecki or Chase Shugart. The Yankees still need to make roster space for their reunion with southpaw Tim Hill, which could lead to a quick DFA turnaround for recent waiver claims Braden Shewmake or Owen White. Over in Detroit, the Tigers still haven’t announced their deal to re-sign Jack Flaherty, which will prompt a 40-man subtraction in the Motor City as well.

With the start of spring training now just a few days away, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Arenado talks picking back up?

After weeks of radio silence on Nolan Arenado’s trade market, it appears there may be renewed movement on that Cardinals’ top offseason priority. Reporting indicated yesterday that St. Louis has had “recent communication” with the Red Sox regarding Arenado after talks had stalled last month. The Cardinals would surely prefer to move him in the next two weeks and avoid a potentially distracting storyline as the club opens camp. Of course, it remains possible (and perhaps even likely) that Arenado’s market will remain fairly stagnant until Alex Bregman signs somewhere in free agency.

2. Lefty relievers coming off the board:

Yesterday saw two of the top remaining lefty relief arms land contracts as the Twins brought in Danny Coulombe while the Yankees re-signed Tim Hill. For teams looking to add a southpaw to the bullpen, the market is becoming increasingly barren. Veteran lefty Andrew Chafin is the best option still on the board with Colin Poche, Drew Smyly, Jalen Beeks, and Ryan Yarbrough highlighting the remaining depth options. One other notable name on the market is veteran Brooks Raley, who has generally pitched quite well as a late-inning arm since returning to the majors from the KBO in 2020 but will not be ready for Opening Day after undergoing Tommy John surgery last summer.

3. DFA resolution expected today:

One week ago today, the Reds designated right-hander Owen White for assignment to make room for southpaw Taylor Rogers on the 40-man roster after acquiring him from the Giants. The one-week window for a player who’s been designated for assignment to either be moved or clear waivers is closing today, so a resolution can be expected this afternoon. White was placed on waivers by the Rangers earlier this offseason, leading to his claim by the Reds, but has not previously been outrighted in his career. That means that if the right-hander clears waivers, Cincinnati will have the opportunity to outright him to the minors as a non-roster depth option headed into the season.

With spring training just days away, and one free agent deal already in the books this morning, here are three things for MLBTR readers to keep an eye out for today:

1. Will Brasier be traded?

Veteran right-hander Ryan Brasier pitched quite well for the Dodgers last year when healthy, with a 3.54 ERA and 3.31 FIP in 28 innings of work. He was squeezed off the club’s roster due to the addition of Kirby Yates, however, and as such was designated for assignment last week. Brasier’s DFA doesn’t need to be resolved for another two days, but given his solid work out of the bullpen last year and affordable contract it would hardly be surprising if a trade was worked out. Brasier would have to be placed on waivers 48 hours before the end of his DFA window, however, so if he’s going to be traded it’ll very likely have to come together today. Will a deal get done?

2. Blue Jays 40-man move incoming:

Yesterday saw three signings get finalized: Ha-Seong Kim’s two-year deal with the Rays, Jorge Polanco’s one-year pact with the Mariners, and Tim Mayza’s one-year agreement with the Pirates. All three of those moves required a 40-man roster move, and those clubs made space for their new additions by designating Osleivis Basabe, Cade Marlowe, and Alika Williams for assignment, respectively. One other as-of-yet not finalized addition that’s been reported is Max Scherzer’s one-year contract with the Blue Jays.

Toronto’s 40-man roster is full, meaning the club would need to clear a spot in order to officially add Scherzer to the mix. Perhaps that would come in the form of a DFA like the aforementioned trio of corresponding moves did, or maybe the Jays will be able to work out a trade involving a 40-man roster player in the coming days. One other alternative at the club’s disposal would be to wait out the nine days remaining until Toronto’s pitchers and catchers are set to report for spring training, at which point the 60-day IL opens. The Blue Jays are among a number of teams with likely 60-day IL candidates, and they could theoretically take advantage of that status in order to avoid losing a player from their 40-man roster to accommodate Scherzer.

3. MLBTR Chat Today:

With spring training creeping ever closer, we’re nearing the point where the baseball offseason starts to give way to preseason excitement even as major free agents remain unsigned and team needs remain unfulfilled. Whether you have questions about what’s left for your team to do before Opening Day or a trade proposal in the back of your mind, MLBTR’s Steve Adams will be here to answer your questions during a live chat scheduled for 1pm CT. You can click here to ask a question in advance, join in live once the chat begins, or read the transcript once the chat is complete.

With the calendar now flipped to February, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. What’s next for the Tigers?

After catching fire down the stretch in order to win 86 games, make the playoffs, and fight their way to Game 5 of the ALDS against the Guardians, the Tigers have been fairly active this winter as they’ve added Alex Cobb, Gleyber Torres, and Tommy Kahnle. Yesterday they made their biggest splash yet by bringing Jack Flaherty back into the fold on a $35MM guarantee. Flaherty, whom the club traded to the Dodgers ahead of last year’s deadline, will earn $25MM in 2025 and have the opportunity to opt out of one year and $10MM after the season.

With the right-hander rejoining Tarik Skubal at the top of the Tigers’ rotation, is there more in store for Detroit this winter? The Tigers have been one of the teams most frequently connected to third baseman Alex Bregman in free agency this winter, though recent reporting has suggested that talks between the sides are at a “standstill.” Looking beyond Bregman, first baseman Spencer Torkelson appears to be a plausible trade chip given the fact that signing Torres kicked incumbent sec0nd baseman Colt Keith over to first base for the 2025 campaign. MLBTR’s Anthony Franco took a look at plausible landing spots for Torkelson, should the Tigers decide to move him, last week.

2. Will Pivetta’s market begin to move?

Right-hander Nick Pivetta declined a qualifying offer from the Red Sox at the outset of the offseason, but since then there’s been little to say about his market. The Blue Jays were connected to him earlier this offseason, and there’s been some reporting that’s suggested the Padres could have interest if they end up trading Dylan Cease and creating additional budget space. The soon-to-be 32-year-old has hardly been a part of the offseason rumor mill despite being one of the best pitchers remaining on the market since the rush of starting pitching signings during the Winter Meetings. Now that Flaherty has signed and Pivetta is the highest-ranked free agent starter still available on MLBTR’s Top 50 MLB Free Agents list, could his market begin to show signs of life?

3. More arbitration deals on the horizon?

Johan Oviedo and Dennis Santana of the Pirates, Mickey Moniak of the Angels, and Mark Leiter Jr. of the Yankees are the four players to have already gone to an arbitration hearing against their clubs this winter. Of that quartet, only Moniak has emerged victorious. Five players players are still scheduled to face their team in a hearing over the next two weeks: Lars Nootbaar, Brendan Donovan, and Andre Pallante of the Cardinals as well as Nathaniel Lowe of the Nationals and Luis Rengifo of the Angels.

It’s possible, however, that some of those players could agree to deals with their clubs in order to avoid the hearing entirely. Kyle Tucker, Michael King, and William Contreras are among the notable players to avoid arbitration with their clubs in recent weeks, all coming to terms on one-year guarantees after initially exchanging figures with their teams. (King and Contreras have a mutual and club option, respectively.) Will the final five players make it to a hearing, or reach an agreement before then?

As January comes to a close, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world headed into the weekend:

1. Moniak, Angels await arb decision:

The Angels and outfielder Mickey Moniak went to an arbitration hearing yesterday, as noted by the Associated Press. Moniak filed for a $2MM salary in 2025 while the Angels countered at $1.5MM. Moniak appeared to break out with the Angels in 2023 when he hit a strong .280/.307/.495 (114 wRC+) in 85 games, but the former No. 1 pick fell back to Earth in 2024 with a meager .219/.266/.380 (79 wRC+) line in 124 games as his BABIP cratered from an unsustainable .397 to just .272 year-over-year. Moniak is the first position player to go to a hearing this year. Pirates righties Johan Oviedo and Dennis Santana were the first two players to do so. Oviedo lost his case against Pittsburgh, while Santana’s decision is still pending.

2. Yates press conference:

The Dodgers officially signed right-hander Kirby Yates to a one-year deal yesterday, adding him to the 40-man roster at the expense of veteran righty Ryan Brasier. The club will be holding an introductory press conference at 11am local time this morning where Yates and (presumably) members of the Dodgers front office will be available to answer questions. The presser could shed some light on the closer situation in L.A. given that both Yates and fellow offseason signee Tanner Scott are established closers coming off excellent seasons. There’s been no indication which one the Dodgers plan on using in the ninth inning to this point, though one would imagine that the larger contract for Scott signifies that he’ll get the nod most days. Both pitchers have thrived in setup and closing roles, however, so manager Dave Roberts could also opt to use them interchangeably, as the situation dictates.

3. Will Cease’s market heat up?

The Padres have long been expected to make a trade or two this winter in order to free up space in the budget to address the club’s holes around the roster, and yesterday brought some increased chatter in that corner of the market. Specifically, right-hander Dylan Cease has reportedly been the subject of inquiries from both the Cubs and Mets. The Cubs have long been known to be on the hunt for rotation upgrades, even after adding southpaw Matthew Boyd in early December, but their only other addition has been veteran swingman Colin Rea. The Mets, meanwhile, have signed a number of starters this winter but lack impact at the front of their rotation and are already planning on using a six-man staff for 2025 that could make fitting Cease into the mix fairly easy (especially if a starter like David Peterson went the other way — speculatively speaking). A recent poll of MLBTR readers suggested that a slim majority of fans believe that San Diego should trade Cease, whether that be on his own or in addition to fellow rental starter Michael King. Could a deal get done before spring training?

With pitchers and catchers set to start reporting in less than two weeks, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Santana, Pirates await hearing results:

Right-hander Dennis Santana and the Pirates went to an arbitration hearing yesterday, according to a report from the Associated Press. Santana struggled early in the season for the Yankees with a 6.26 ERA in 27 1/3 innings despite a solid 3.93 FIP, but upon be plucked off waivers by Pittsburgh he turned his season around and delivered a 2.44 ERA with an identical FIP while striking out 50 batters in his final 44 1/3 innings of work. The righty filed at $2.1MM while the Pirates countered at $1.4MM, leaving a fairly substantial $700K gap between the sides. The hearing occurred against the backdrop of fellow Pirates righty Johan Oviedo losing to the club in his own hearing; Oviedo will be paid $850K rather than $1.15MM as a result. Players won the majority of cases in 2024 but historically teams have typically come out ahead in arbitration hearings.

2. Reds staying active:

This offseason initially appeared likely to be a very quiet one for the Reds, as right-hander Nick Martinez wound up accepting the club’s qualifying offer and that $21.05MM commitment single-handedly took Cincinnati’s payroll for this back to 2024 levels. They’ve managed to stay busy in spite of that, however. Trades for Gavin Lux and Jose Trevino helped bolster the club’s depth. Most recently the Reds have signed outfielder Austin Hays and lefty starter Wade Miley (on a minor league deal) while swinging a trade with the Giants for southpaw Taylor Rogers to bolster the bullpen.

It’s a solid collection of complementary additions, though RosterResource projects the club for a $116MM payroll in 2025 that might represent the upper limits of their payroll capacity for this year. President of baseball operations Nick Krall indicated earlier this month that the club’s new TV deal for 2025 would allow them to be more active in upgrading the club for the remainder of the winter, but it’s not clear exactly how much more budget space the front office has to work with at this point after $11MM to the payroll in the past week by picking up Hays and Rogers.

3. Relief market movement continues:

Rogers was far from the only notable bullpen arm to change teams yesterday. Free agent right-handers Ryne Stanek, Tommy Kahnle, and Carlos Estevez agreed to deals with the Mets, Tigers, and Royals, respectively. Stanek joins Edwin Diaz, A.J. Minter, and Jose Butto in the Mets bullpen, while both Kahnle and Estevez appear to be strong bets for high-leverage roles with their new teams. Estevez, in particular, seems to be all but certain to lock down the ninth inning in Kansas City with Lucas Erceg likely to shift back into the setup role he held with the A’s ahead of star closer Mason Miller. Even after yesterday’s moves, plenty of notable names remain available such as David Robertson, Kenley Jansen, and Kyle Finnegan. Who will be the next to sign?

With Spring Training rapidly approaching, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Pirates, Oviedo kick off arbitration season:

Right-hander Johan Oviedo and the Pirates went to the first arbitration hearing of the winter yesterday, according to a report from the Associated Press. A decision in that case is expected today after Oviedo argued for a $1.15MM salary in 2025 while the Pirates countered with $850K. As the AP notes, players won the majority of cases last winter with a 9-6 record, making 2024 the first time they won the majority of hearings since 2019. Teams have a massive 353-266 advantage overall throughout the history of arbitration hearings, so will 2025 fall in line with historical norms or join 2024 to create a trend of players starting to win arbitration cases more frequently? There are 11 more arbitration hearings scheduled, though it’s still possible for a late agreement on a multi-year deal (or one-year deal with an option) in those cases.

2. MLB The Show highlights three young stars:

The cover art for MLB The Show 25 dropped yesterday, and while the previous eight installments all highlighted just one player, this year’s edition features a trio of the game’s brightest young stars: Pirates ace Paul Skenes, Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz, and Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson. The trio are on the shortlist for the baseball’s most exciting young talents, with Skenes having won NL Rookie of the Year and been a finalist for the NL Cy Young award in his first pro season last year while De La Cruz swiped 60 bags en route to an eighth-place finish in NL MVP voting. Over in the AL, Henderson was perhaps most impressive of all as he delivered an incredible season that earned him 9.1 bWAR, 8.0 fWAR, and a fourth-place finish in AL MVP voting behind Aaron Judge, Bobby Witt Jr. and Juan Soto.

3. Managerial extensions on the way?

Yesterday, Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner indicated that the club plans to open up extension talks with longtime manager Aaron Boone this spring, ahead of the final season on his contract. Boone took over in the Yankees’ dugout prior to the 2018 season, and while the club has been generally successful in the years since then, his tenure has overlapped with the second-longest World Series drought in franchise history. Boone’s Yankees have posted a 603-429 record overall during the regular season with postseason berths in six of his seven years at the helm, and he’s finished top five in AL Manager of the Year voting four times, including a second-place finish back in 2019.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers have long been expected to work out an extension with Dave Roberts. Roberts has led the club to nine consecutive postseason berths since taking over in 2016, with four World Series appearances and two championships in that time. He also won the NL Manager of the Year award for his work in 2016 with six other top-five finishes. Overall, L.A. has posted an 851-506 record under Roberts. Club GM Brandon Gomes confirmed yesterday during an appearance on The New York Post’s “The Show” podcast with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman that the club plans to discuss an extension with Roberts before the season begins. Will other clubs open extension talks with their skippers and/or front office personnel? Back on New Year’s Eve, MLBTR’s Mark Polishuk ran through a list of managers and baseball operations leaders entering the final season of their contract in 2025.

As spring training nears, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world today:

1. When will the Padres execute a trade?

Over the weekend, it was reported that the Padres might have more payroll capacity this winter than initially believed, allowing them to avoid shedding salary below currently projected levels. With multiple holes in the lineup and rotation, however, making a trade or two still seems all but necessary in order to make budget space available for additions to the roster. Right-hander Dylan Cease has long appeared to be available this winter, with infielder Luis Arraez and closer Robert Suarez among the other pieces that have been under consideration for a trade. The Friars are now also said to have fielded some interest in right-hander Michael King. Given the number of teams still interested in adding to their rotation, dealing Cease or King would bring the largest return of the group. There’s no indication San Diego is expressly shopping either right-hander, but it’s only natural that both would draw wide interest with the Padres willing to entertain the possibility of a trade.

2. DFA resolution incoming:

Last week, the Mariners designated left-hander Tyler Jay for assignment after acquiring right-hander Will Klein in a trade with the A’s. Jay, 31 in April, made his big league debut in 2024 and with 7 2/3 innings of work between the Mets and Brewers. The southpaw was cut from the club’s 40-man a week ago to the day, and as such the one-week window for a DFA’d player to either be moved or clear waivers is closing. There should be an announcement regarding Jay’s future at some point today, whether that’s a waiver claim or him clearing waivers. If Jay clears waivers, he’ll have the opportunity to reject an outright assignment and test free agency after being outrighted earlier in his career.

3. MLBTR Chat Today:

With spring training just a couple of weeks away, we’re nearing the point where the baseball offseason starts to give way to preseason excitement even as major free agents remain unsigned and team needs remain unfulfilled. Whether you have questions about what’s left for your team to do this winter or a trade proposal in the back of your mind, MLBTR’s Steve Adams will be here to answer your questions during a live chat scheduled for 1pm CT. You can click here to ask a question in advance, join in live once the chat begins, or read the transcript once the chat is complete.

With just two weeks until pitchers and catchers begin to report for Spring Training, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Cubs 40-man roster moves incoming:

The Cubs and Astros have reached an agreement on a trade sending veteran reliever Ryan Pressly (and $5.5MM cash) to Chicago in exchange for minor leaguer Juan Bello. Last night, Pressly agreed to waive his no-trade clause, receiving both a new no-trade clause and an assignment bonus (to cover the difference in state taxes) as part of the deal. That trade has not yet been formally announced by the teams, but when it is the Cubs will need to clear space on the 40-man roster. Pressly isn’t the only player the club needs to make room for on the roster. Utilityman Jon Berti agreed to a one-year deal with the Cubs last week. Like the Pressly trade, that signing has also yet to be made official and will require the Cubs to open a 40-man roster spot.

2. Bregman headed home?

Longtime Astros third baseman Alex Bregman was the talk of baseball over the weekend. Late last week, reports began to percolate that the Astros and Bregman had reengaged despite Houston’s acquisitions of Christian Walker and Isaac Paredes to handle the infield corners seemingly signaling a split. The Astros held their annual FanFest over the weekend and, while comments from GM Dana Brown described a Bregman reunion as a “longshot,” franchise face Jose Altuve emphasized the importance of Bregman to the team and made clear he would be willing to move to the outfield if it meant bringing Bregman back into the fold. Will a deal reach the finish line soon, or could another suitor for Bregman like the Tigers or Blue Jays swoop in and get something done instead?

3. DFA resolution incoming:

Last week, the Pirates designated infielder Tristan Gray for assignment to make room for veteran DH Andrew McCutchen on the 40-man roster. Gray, 29 in March, has just 17 games of big league experience under his belt between the Rays, Marlins, and Athletics over the past two seasons but was claimed off waivers by the Pirates back in October as a first base depth option. He’s since been pushed further down the depth chart by the acquisition of Spencer Horwitz, leading the club to cut him from the 40-man roster. That move was a week ago to the day, and as such the one-week window for a DFA’d player to either be moved or clear waivers is closing. There should be an announcement regarding Gray’s future at some point today, whether that’s a waiver claim or him clearing waivers and being outrighted to the minor leagues.