The Opener News & Rumors

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

1. Tucker market accelerating:

Kyle Tucker‘s market finally appears to be picking up steam. The Mets have reportedly made a short-term offer with an average annual value as high as $50MM, while the Blue Jays have put forth a long-term offer — the details of which remain unclear. If Tucker is genuinely considering shorter-term offers, the Dodgers will surely be interested as well. Other teams like the Yankees seem to be hanging around the periphery of Tucker’s market, too, although fellow lefty-swinging outfielder Cody Bellinger appears to remain the priority over in the Bronx. With some reports suggesting that Tucker could agree to a deal before the end of the week, where will he land?

2. Cardinals move into post-Arenado era:

The Cardinals finally pulled off their long-awaited trade of likely future Hall of Famer Nolan Arenado yesterday, and in shipping him to the Diamondbacks (and paying down all but $11MM of his contract to do so) they’ll enter the 2026 season without any of the veteran All-Stars they carried in previous years on their roster. For a rebuilding club like St. Louis, that means an opportunity to give significant run to younger players like Nolan Gorman, Thomas Saggese, and top prospect JJ Wetherholt. The question for the Cardinals at this point is whether (or when) some of the club’s arbitration-eligible players, like infielder/outfielder Brendan Donovan or lefty reliever JoJo Romero, will follow Arenado out the door.

3. What’s next in the Bronx and Miami?:

The Yankees pulled off a surprising trade last night when they nabbed hard-throwing lefty Ryan Weathers from the Marlins in exchange for four lower-minors prospects led by outfielder Dillon Lewis. The deal seemingly brings to a close the Yankees’ pursuit of starting pitching help this offseason. Weathers should fortify the rotation with Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon and Clarke Schmidt all opening the season on the injured list.

With Weathers now in the fold, perhaps the Yankees can more fully focus on addressing their lineup, whether that’s with a Bellinger reunion, a pivot toward Tucker or Bo Bichette, or a pursuit of an unexpected target. As for the Marlins, they were already considering adding an innings-eating veteran starter after trading Edward Cabrera to the Cubs last week. That only figures to be become more important now that they’ve taken another valuable arm out of their rotation mix. Zack Littell, Tyler Anderson, Patrick Corbin, Jose Quintana, Tomoyuki Sugano and Chris Paddack are among the many yet-unsigned free agent starters.

Here are three things for MLBTR readers to keep an eye on throughout the day:

1. Bellinger, Yankees negotiations continue:

The Yankees and outfielder Cody Bellinger were recently reported to be at an impasse in contract negotiations. Both sides are interested in a reunion, but Bellinger has interest from other clubs, including the Mets and Dodgers. (The Angels, Phillies and Giants all at least checked in earlier in the offseason as well.) The Yankees have reportedly explored alternatives to Bellinger ranging from free agents like Bo Bichette and Kyle Tucker to trade candidates like Luis Robert Jr. and Nico Hoerner.

While contract length seems to be a sticking point, with Bellinger seeking a longer deal than the Yankees’ five-year offer, New York is reportedly open to bridging the gap by including opt-outs. If structured favorably, that could allow Bellinger to bank significant money over the next couple of years before returning to free agency at a later date. That’s the tactic he ended up taking during his last trip through free agency, when he sought a massive contract but ultimately settled for three years and $80MM from the Cubs.

2. What’s left on the relief market?

The Reds’ weekend deal with right-hander Pierce Johnson took yet another name off the board on a dwindling relief market. For other teams looking to bolster their bullpen, the options are waning. Seranthony Dominguez is among the top names still on the market, and he’s garnered some recent interest from the Twins. Michael Kopech, Jorge Lopez, Jose Leclerc, Paul Sewald, and Tommy Kahnle all remain available as well, but each comes with warts due to some combination of recent injury history and poor results. Lefties Taylor Rogers and Danny Coulombe remain available as interesting options and could be particularly valuable to a team without a quality southpaw for the late innings. Virtually every team could stand to improve its bullpen, but the Twins are joined by the Nationals, Diamondbacks, and Rangers as teams that appear to have a particularly significant need in their relief corps at this point.

3. MLBTR chat today:

Pitchers and catchers will begin reporting in mid-February, but plenty of questions about this offseason remain. Kyle Tucker, Bo Bichette, and Framber Valdez are among the top-flight free agents still available, while the trade market holds intriguing talents like Freddy Peralta and Brendan Donovan who could still be moved. If you’re wondering what’s left for your favorite team to do before pitchers and catchers report or simply looking for the latest hot stove buzz, MLBTR’s Steve Adams has you covered with a live chat scheduled for 1pm CT today. Readers can use this link to ask a question in advance, follow along when the chat begins, and read the transcript after the chat concludes.

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

1. Bichette meeting with the Phillies:

The Phillies are reportedly scheduled to meet with infielder Bo Bichette today. The fit between Bichette and Philadelphia is a complicated one, however. Reporting has indicated that the club would need to not only forgo their pursuit of a reunion with J.T. Realmuto in order to land Bichette, but also trade third baseman Alec Bohm. Perhaps that would all be worthwhile in order to land another impact player to join Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, and Trea Turner in the middle of the team’s lineup, but it’s not the most straightforward fit.

The meeting comes on the heels of Toronto’s recent signing of third baseman Kazuma Okamoto. The Blue Jays’ decision to bring in another infielder doesn’t explicitly rule out a reunion with Bichette, who has long expressed a desire to remain in Toronto, but it arguably made outfielder Kyle Tucker a cleaner fit for them at this point. The meeting between Bichette and the Phillies dovetails nicely into the next item here…

2. What’s next for the Red Sox after missing on Bregman?

The Cubs made a big splash this weekend by inking third baseman Alex Bregman to a five-year deal worth $175MM. Deferred money brings that contract value down to the $150-155MM range, but that was still enough to outbid the Red Sox in their efforts to retain Bregman. Boston reportedly topped out at an offer of $165MM over five years — also with significant deferred money but lacking the no-trade provision the Cubs included.

With Bregman now ticketed for Chicago, the Red Sox will have to pivot. That could mean stepping up their pursuit of Bichette, with whom they reportedly met with over Zoom last month. Bichette was of interest to both the Cubs and Red Sox, so while it hurts him to lose one possible landing spot in Chicago, it also intensifies the need/urgency of another suitor up in Boston. The Red Sox could also look for a shorter-term addition like Eugenio Suarez, and a trade for an established infielder (e.g. Houston’s Isaac Paredes) can’t be ruled out either. One way or another, the Sox ought to have at least one more notable splash in store this winter.

3. Can Yankees, Bellinger bridge the gap?

Elsewhere in the AL East, the Yankees and Cody Bellinger have reportedly reached an impasse in contract negotiations. New York is said to be sticking to its guns with a five-year offer that guarantees Bellinger more than $150MM, while Bellinger’s camp remains steadfast in their desire for a longer-term contract — perhaps as many as seven years. In the meantime, Bellinger figures to draw interest from the Mets and Dodgers. He’s also been connected to the Cubs, though their recent addition of Bregman likely takes them out of that market. MLBTR’s Anthony Franco recently took a look at some other potential landing spots. As for the Yankees, the team has been loosely connected to other high-end players like Bichette and Tucker as potential backup plans to Bellinger, and the trade market could always present alternatives.

Here are three things around the baseball world to keep an eye on headed into the weekend:

1. Will Skubal go to a hearing?

The Tigers and reigning AL Cy Young award winner Tarik Skubal made waves yesterday when they failed to reach an agreement to avoid arbitration prior to the filing deadline. The sides filed at a record-breaking $13MM apart, with the Tigers putting forward a $19MM filing figure while Skubal’s camp countered at $32MM. If the sides end up going to a trial, it would be one of the most impactful decisions ever made at the league’s arbitration hearings. The current record for a pitcher’s salary in arbitration is held by David Price and sits at just $19.75MM. A victory in this case for Skubal would utterly shatter that record, and it’s not hard to see why he might deserve that sort of price tag given his incredible back-to-back Cy Young award winning seasons the past two years. Of course, arbitration hearings don’t begin until the end of the month. That means it’s entirely possible the sides could reach an agreement to avoid arbitration before the hearing, although the “file-and-trial” approach most teams have taken to arbitration in recent years suggests that could be unlikely.

2. What’s next for Bellinger, Yankees?

A reunion between Cody Bellinger and the Yankees has long appeared to be the most likely outcome for the two sides this offseason. That might still be the case, but the two camps appear to be at an impasse for the time being. Reporting has indicated that New York put forward an offer to Bellinger with an average annual value in excess of $30MM, but that the sides remain apart in terms of contract length. That’s an extremely hefty annual salary, and beats the $28MM AAV (on a five year deal guaranteeing $140MM) MLBTR predicted for Bellinger at the outset of the offseason by a healthy margin. With that being said, the length of that contract offer is not yet known and could significant alter the overall value of that contract. A four-year deal with an AAV in the range of even $32MM would fall short of the total guarantee MLBTR projected, after all.

In any case, Bellinger seems to be prioritizing length with his next contract after signing short-term deals in his last two forays through free agency. The outfielder is reportedly seeking a seven-year contract, and that’s seemingly led both sides to evaluate other options. The Cubs are a surprising recent entrant into the Bellinger sweepstakes, while the Yankees could realistically pivot to another big bat on the market like Kyle Tucker or Bo Bichette. Will the sides split up over this gap in negotiations, or will they find a way to bridge it in the coming days and weeks?

3. Red Sox to host Fenway Fest:

January marks the start of Fan Fest season around the league, where teams hold fan conventions and celebrations in advance of the coming season. The first team to do so this year is the Red Sox, who will host their annual Fenway Fest tomorrow. The event runs from 9am to 6pm local time at Fenway Park, and tickets include access to autograph and photo sessions with players and alumni, a handful of panel discussions, and giveaways. Players and alumni in attendance will include Pedro Martinez, Wade Boggs, Carlton Fisk, Roman Anthony, Aroldis Chapman, Marcelo Mayer, and Ceddanne Rafaela. A full list of players, alumni, and coaches in attendance can be found here alongside further details about the day’s festivities.

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

1. Arbitration filing deadline:

Today is a big day on MLB’s offseason calendar, as Thursday marks the deadline for teams and players to exchange figures ahead of salary arbitration. Most of those cases will end in the two parties settling on a salary to avoid arbitration, but any team that still has unsigned players after today will be scheduled for a hearing in front of a three-person arbitration panel. It’s a messy process that can cause discord between player and team. Arb hearings present a difficult balancing act for teams that simultaneously wish to avoid damaging the relationship they have with their players but also are incentivized to hold a firm line on arbitration-level salaries to avoid setting damaging future precedents. The official deadline to reach an agreement is scheduled for noon CT, but teams and players will continue negotiations until the more firm deadline to file figures at 7pm CT this evening. As always, MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz delivered projected arbitration salaries for every eligible player in the game at the outset of the offseason.

2. What’s next for the Cubs?

After what had been a quiet offseason focused mostly on retooling the team’s bullpen, the Cubs made their first big splash yesterday when they swung a trade for talented right-hander Edward Cabrera. Chicago surrendered top outfield prospect Owen Caissie (alongside younger infield prospects Cristian Hernandez and Edgardo De Leon) to the Marlins in exchange for Cabrera’s services. Cabrera is controlled via arbitration for the next three seasons and is projected for a salary of just $3.7MM in 2026. That should give Chicago ample space in the budget to get involved elsewhere in the free agent market. With a rotation that suddenly looks quite deep, that could mean a more aggressive pursuit of top free agent bats. The Cubs have been connected to Alex Bregman throughout the winter, and in recent days have also been tied to Bo Bichette and even old friend Cody Bellinger. A reunion with outgoing star Kyle Tucker still seems unlikely, but could a big free agent splash be in store for the Cubs before the season begins?

3. Will the rotation market keep moving?

Yesterday’s Cabrera trade took another big piece off of the trade market, leaving only a handful of starters left to pursue on that front. Brewers righty Freddy Peralta is perhaps the most talked-about player at this point and could be an impactful rental for an acquiring team, but other players (e.g. Nationals lefty MacKenzie Gore, Mets righty Kodai Senga, Royals lefty Kris Bubic, Reds righty Brady Singer) could all theoretically be available in the right deal. Meanwhile, the lower tiers of the free agent market saw a bit of movement yesterday when the Rockies agreed to a one-year deal with right-hander Michael Lorenzen. Less active has been the high-end rotation market in free agency, where arms like Framber Valdez and Ranger Suarez still remain.

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

1. Movement on Tucker’s market?

Outfielder Kyle Tucker‘s market has moved more slowly than the top free agents of recent offseasons. Players like Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto, and Aaron Judge had all already signed by this point when they were on the open market. There’s been at least some smoke with regard to Tucker of late, however; the Blue Jays have seemingly stepped up their pursuit of the offseason’s top hitter. Adding Tucker would be a crown jewel on a banner offseason for Toronto, transforming the middle of their lineup with the addition of a lefty slugger who can complement Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and balance a lineup that leans heavily right-handed. Toronto isn’t the only known suitor for Tucker. He’s been at least loosely connected to teams like the Mets and Dodgers, although Los Angeles would primarily be interested in a shorter-term deal.

2. DFA resolutions continue:

As we move further from the holiday season, the players who were left in DFA limbo during the league’s holiday pause continue to find resolutions. Yesterday saw Justyn-Henry Malloy traded from the Tigers to the Rays, while the Cardinals scooped up Justin Bruihl from the Guardians. Today figures to see more players’ situations resolved. In particular, lefty Josh Walker, outfielder Wade Meckler, and former top prospect Marco Luciano all appear likely to either be claimed off waivers or outrighted by their current clubs today. They were all designated for assignment two days after Jhonkensy Noel and Joey Wiemer. Noel and Wiemer were both claimed off waivers Monday.

3. Will Bregman find a long-term offer?

After opting out of the final two years and $80MM remaining on his contract with the Red Sox, third baseman Alex Bregman re-entered free agency hoping to land more long-term security this winter. That path worked out for the other big bat from last winter’s class who settled for a short-term deal with an opt-out, as Pete Alonso landed in Baltimore on a healthy five-year guarantee. It’s been unclear if there was something similar in the cards for Bregman throughout the offseason. Bregman was receiving real interest from Toronto, but the team’s recent Kazuma Okamoto signing makes it more difficult to see a fit between the two sides. He’s also drawn varying levels of interest from the Cubs, Tigers and D-backs. Some recent rumors have suggested the Red Sox are getting more aggressive in their pursuit of Bregman. Will that be enough to net him the long-term offer he covets, or will another suitor like Chicago or Arizona need to step up its efforts in order to get him there?

Here are three things for MLBTR readers to keep an eye out for throughout the day:

1. Giants 40-man move incoming:

Yesterday, the Giants officially announced their signing of right-hander Tyler Mahle. One more piece of the puzzle has to be put into place before Mahle’s deal can become official, however: creating a 40-man roster spot for the righty. San Francisco’s roster is currently at capacity, which means one player will need to be removed in order to make room for Mahle. The Giants have not yet announced that transaction. That typically takes the form of a DFA or release, but it’s at least plausible that the team could be working out a trade that creates 40-man roster space, as the Dodgers did just before the new year by shipping Esteury Ruiz to the Marlins. Whatever the corresponding move for Mahle might be, it figures to be announced in the very near future.

2. DFA resolutions on the horizon:

Yesterday saw a pair of players who had been stranded in DFA limbo over the holidays find a new team, as both Joey Wiemer (Nationals) and Jhonkensy Noel (Orioles) were claimed off waivers by new clubs. There are still several unresolved DFAs from over the holidays, however, and each of them figures to reach a conclusion in the coming days. MLBTR’s Darragh McDonald took a look at the players in DFA limbo just before the new year, with former notable prospects like Marco Luciano, Justyn-Henry Malloy, and Ken Waldichuk among the more interesting names who are waiting to find out where they’ll be playing going forward.

3. MLBTR chat today:

With the start of the 2026, we’re now just over a month away from spring training. The offseason is more than half over at this point both in terms of the calendar and impact free agents on the board, with 30 of MLBTR’s Top 50 free agents having signed already. Still, plenty of questions about this offseason remain. Kyle Tucker, Alex Bregman, Bo Bichette, and Framber Valdez are among the number of top-flight free agents still available, while the trade market holds intriguing talents like Edward Cabrera, Freddy Peralta, and Brendan Donovan who could all still be moved. If you’re wondering what’s in store for your favorite team in the new year or simply looking for the latest hot stove buzz, MLBTR’s Steve Adams has you covered with a live chat scheduled for 1pm CT today. Readers can use this link to ask a question in advance, follow along when the chat begins, and read the transcript after the chat concludes.

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

1. Cabrera market heating up?

Right-hander Edward Cabrera has been viewed as a potential trade piece for the Marlins for several years now, but over the weekend the market for Cabrera’s services seemed to heat up somewhat. The Yankees, Giants, Cubs, and Mets were all reported as having interest in Cabrera’s services yesterday, with the Yankees seeming to be involved most heavily. Cabrera is headed into his age-28 campaign and is controlled for the next three seasons via arbitration, making him an affordable addition for virtually any club looking for starting pitching. The talented righty enjoyed a breakout season in 2025, though it was also his first season throwing even 100 innings at the big league level due to a lengthy injury history. The right-hander’s combination of upside and risk make him one of the more intriguing assets on the trade market at the moment.

2. Imai presser today:

The Astros are set to formally introduce right-hander Tatsuya Imai at a press conference later today at Daikin Park, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. The addition of Imai should add a capable and upside-laden arm to the Astros’ rotation, slotting in behind Hunter Brown and helping to offset the loss of Framber Valdez. Houston was a somewhat surprising entrant into the Imai bidding but managed to reel the right-hander in with a three-year deal that guarantees $54MM thanks to a combination of significant incentives and the opportunity to opt out of the deal in each of the next two offseasons. That could set Imai up for a much bigger payday down the road if he can deliver high-end results, but in the meantime Astros fans will get the opportunity to watch one of Japan’s top young starters make the jump to MLB in their uniform.

3. What’s next for the Blue Jays?

After signing a number of pitchers early in the offseason, from Dylan Cease to Tyler Rogers, the Blue Jays made a splash on the position player market by bringing in third baseman Kazuma Okamoto over the weekend. Adding Okamoto to the infield, at least on paper, would fill the hole left on the infield by Bo Bichette‘s departure in free agency. With Okamoto at third, Ernie Clement can move to second base while Andres Gimenez slides to shortstop. However, there’s been no indication that the Blue Jays are done adding. A reunion with Bichette could certainly still be possible (thereby pushing Clement into a utility role), and the team has also been known to be very involved in the market for the offseason’s top free agent, outfielder Kyle Tucker. Will they be able to follow up Okamoto’s signing with an even bigger bat to boost the lineup?

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

1. Posting Windows closing for Okamoto, Takahashi:

The posting windows for infielder Kazuma Okamoto and right-hander Kona Takahashi are both set to reach their conclusion on Sunday at 4pm CT. That means both players will need to sign before then if they’re going to make the jump from NPB to MLB this year. Okamoto is the bigger name of the pair and is all but certain to sign a contract; he’s been connected to the Padres, Angels, Pirates, Cubs, Blue Jays, and Red Sox to this point in the offseason and could make sense for plenty of clubs as a corner infielder who has shown off an impressive blend of power and discipline throughout his NPB career. As for Takahashi, the righty reportedly has at least one MLB offer on the table but might still choose to return to NPB rather than play in the majors, which would be an understandable course of action if said MLB offer is for less than what he would make by remaining in Japan. Takahashi is viewed as more of a back-of-the-rotation arm in the majors, with less upside than countryman Tatsuya Imai.

2. Astros 40-man move incoming:

Speaking of Imai, the right-hander reportedly reached an agreement with the Astros yesterday on a three-year deal that guarantees $54MM and affords him the opportunity to opt out after the 2026 and ’27 seasons. That deal has yet to be made official, but is all but certain to go through later today given that Imai’s posting window closes at 4pm CT. Before the deal can be finalized, however, Houston will need to create room for Imai on the 40-man roster. This could be done by simply designated a player for assignment, and that’s the most likely course of action in order to do so. With that said, however, the Astros could theoretically also try to work out a minor trade that creates 40-man roster space, as the Dodgers did earlier this week when they traded outfielder Esteury Ruiz to the Marlins for a prospect not yet on the 40-man.

3. DFA limbo coming to a close:

The New Year has passed, and the baseball world figures to start kicking back into normal offseason form in the coming days. That means the waiver wire freeze that took place over the holidays should be coming to a close in the near future. As such, ten players who have been in DFA limbo will see their situations resolved in the coming days, whether that’s by way of an outright to the minors, the opportunity to elect free agency, or a waiver claim by another club. MLBTR’s Darragh McDonald took a look at all ten players in limbo last week, including former top prospect Marco Luciano and 2024 Guardians playoff hero Jhonkensy Noel. What’s next for this collection of players?

Happy New Year from MLB Trade Rumors! Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world as we kick off 2026:

1. Imai countdown continues:

The posting window for NPB right-hander Tatsuya Imai is set to close tomorrow at 4pm CT. With just over 30 hours to go before the deadline for Imai to sign a contract, the rumor mill has remained fairly quiet regarding Imai’s market. While early connections were drawn between the right-hander and the Mets, Yankees, Cubs, Phillies, and Orioles, it’s been nearly a month since many of those rumors began percolating with minimal updates from there. Imai reportedly began in-person meetings with teams earlier this week, and while no new rumors have percolated as a result of those meetings, the right-hander figures to be in the final stages of his decision-making process at this point. Where will the 27-year-old righty land? MLBTR’s Anthony Franco took a look at the best fits for Imai in a post for Front Office subscribers yesterday.

2. A’s continue extension talks:

The A’s inked slugger Tyler Soderstrom to a seven-year extension last week that was first reported on Christmas Day. Soderstrom, 24, was a first-round pick by the A’s back in 2020 and is coming off a breakout season where he slashed .276/.346/.474 with 60 extra-base hits (including 25 homers) in 158 games while primarily playing left field for the club. Soderstrom joins Lawrence Butler and Brent Rooker among the players who have already extended with the A’s long-term, but reporting has indicated that they’re not done yet. Extension talks are reportedly ongoing with other players, and while it’s unclear whether those deals will get done or who exactly the team is pursuing a long-term deal with, the idea of signing Jacob Wilson, Nick Kurtz, or Shea Langeliers to a long-term contract is surely exciting for fans of the team. Will any more deals get done?

3. Giants bring in Mahle:

It’s been a relatively quiet offseason for the Giants so far, but yesterday they made a significant addition to their rotation when they signed right-hander Tyler Mahle to a one-year deal. Mahle’s signing has not yet been made official and his salary has not been reported at this point, but the move figures to significantly bolster the team’s rotation headed into 2026. Future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander returned to free agency after one year in San Francisco, leaving little certainty in the Giants’ rotation behind Logan Webb and Robbie Ray. Mahle should help offer some of that certainty alongside fellow righty Adrian Houser, who signed on a two-year deal just two weeks ago.

With Houser and Mahle now in the fold, it seems likely that the Giants are done with rotation additions at this point and will simply fill out the fifth spot in their rotation with internal options like Landen Roupp and Hayden Birdsong. Could they turn towards addressing the lineup next? The club has reportedly shown interest in Cody Bellinger during his free agency, while Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner and Cardinals utility man Brendan Donovan have both caught the club’s attention on the trade market.