ORLANDO, Fla. – The trade market is generating buzz, and most of this year’s marquee free agents are still fielding offers and waiting to sign.
As execs, agents and managers gather at Major League Baseball’s annual Winter Meetings, there is plenty to keep tabs on. We got you covered with what is happening on the ground.
Padres ‘Leaning Toward’ Mason Miller Remaining in Relief
Reliever or starter? The Padres seemingly have made a decision for Mason Miller. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Chicago Cubs/Getty Images)
Padres star reliever Mason Miller is expected to stay in the bullpen.
Miller, All-Star reliever Adrián Morejón and right-hander David Morgan had all been discussed as potential options to stretch out and bolster San Diego’s thin rotation, but right now the team is “leaning toward” all three remaining in their current roles, according to manager Craig Stammen.
Miller will slot in as the team’s primary closer if Robert Suarez goes elsewhere in free agency. The Padres’ bullpen led MLB in ERA (3.06) and WHIP (1.15) last year, and Miller had the highest strikeout rate of any qualified MLB reliever (44%).
“When you take someone that’s the best at what they do and put them in a completely different role, you don’t know if they’re still going to be the best or they’re going to be a shell of themselves or somewhere in between,” Stammen said. “It’s a risky proposition, one, health-wise and just performance wise. I think using those guys strategically in the bullpen is probably what’s best for us. It’s best for them, also.” –Kavner
Pete Alonso Scouting Winter Meetings
Pete Alonso is one of the buzzworthy free agents. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
Free-agent first baseman Pete Alonso is making the 90-minute drive from Tampa, where he lives, to Orlando sometime this week to talk to interested teams face-to-face. How do the Mets feel about that?
“I think Pete knows us really well, and I think we know Pete really well,” Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said on Monday. “I think he’ll take the time to perhaps meet with organizations he doesn’t know quite as well. And I’m sure we’ll be in touch.”
Even though Stearns characterized re-signing Alonso as a “priority,” it’s at least interesting that the Mets will take a step back and take a more detached approach as their all-time franchise home-run leader shops other teams. Last year, when Alonso was exploring free agency, he said there was a disconnect between his camp and the Mets in terms of feeling wanted by the organization. This offseason, the Mets, at least publicly, seem to be taking a similar approach. Stearns has maintained that the Mets would love to have Alonso back in Queens, but he also respects Alonso’s right to scout what other offers are out there.
Alonso, repped by agent Scott Boras, is said to be seeking a long-term deal that could exceed four years. From his perspective, it’s a smart move to make the short drive to the Winter Meetings so that teams can get to know him a little better. Whereas the Mets know Alonso well through his seven years playing in New York, it’s possible the industry at large doesn’t have a full understanding of his character, personality, drive to win, and overall work ethic. There wasn’t a robust market for Alonso at this time last year, but that could’ve been because he was attached to a qualifying offer. This year, it makes sense for Alonso to put himself out there in an attempt to secure his big pay day. — Thosar
Brian Cashman Dishes on Yankees
New York’s longtime general manager dropped some hints late Sunday night regarding his plans to improve the team this offseason. In general though, Cashman said there isn’t too much work to do, and the roster is in good shape – indicating the Yankees may not make a ton of splashy additions. They’re primarily focused on re-signing free-agent outfielder Cody Bellinger – even though he’s left-handed.
Cashman knows the Yankees lineup is too left-handed (Jazz Chisholm, Trent Grisham, Austin Wells, Ben Rice and Ryan McMahon are all lefties), and they need more balance one-through-nine. That being said, Bellinger recorded a 1.016 OPS against southpaws this year. The 30-year-old’s reverse splits — plus a .909 OPS and 18 home runs at home, compared to a .715 OPS and 11 homers away — are attractive to the Yankees. Besides Bellinger, the Yankees have to focus on filling out their desolate bullpen.
As far as payroll, Cashman has continued to expel the notion that the Yankees have to stay under $300 million. Owner Hal Steinbrenner said last month that it would be “ideal” if the Yankees lowered their payroll from $319 million they spent on 2025’s roster. But it’s hard to believe the Bronx Bombers will be a better team in 2026 if they stay under $300 million — unless they swing a few blockbuster trades. For that reason, it seems more likely the Yankees will be more active on the trade market than in free agency. — Thosar
Trade Chatter Picking up Steam
Is Tigers ace Tarik Skubal a realistic option for be traded? (Getty)
On the eve of last year’s winter meetings, Juan Soto exceeded every estimate imaginable when he signed the largest contract in MLB history. There was no such action leading into this year’s winter meetings, and there is no one of Soto’s caliber available this time around. Instead, teams are scouring the trade market in hopes of finding impact talent, particularly after most of the top arms on non-contending teams stayed put at the trade deadline.
We’ve already seen Sonny Gray go to the Red Sox, a swap of Marcus Semien and Brandon Nimmo and another swap of Taylor Ward and Grayson Rodriguez. Expect bigger moves ahead. Among the top names to watch are Nationals starter MacKenzie Gore and shortstop C.J. Abrams, Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte and Marlins starters Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera. The biggest question still looming: Will the Tigers trade Tarik Skubal in his final year under team control? The most likely course of action is that they wait to see how they’re doing at the deadline before making that call, even if they don’t think they can extend him, but a blockbuster offer could be enticing. — Kavner
Quiet So Far at the Top of the Market
Outside the players who accepted qualifying offers, there have only been three major free-agent moves entering Monday: Dylan Cease to the Blue Jays, Devin Williams to the Mets and Josh Naylor back to the Mariners. Almost all of the top free agents remain available.
If a top free-agent does move early this week, the most buzz currently centers on Kyle Schwarber, who reportedly received a multi-year offer from a Pirates team typically unwilling to spend on premium free agents. His hometown Reds have also shown interest. Both teams will have a hard time outbidding a Phillies team that understands the value he brings both with his bat and in the clubhouse and has a lot of work to do to retool the roster this winter. For that reason, a return to Philadelphia still appears to be the most likely course of action. But they will have a lot of competition for the top bat on the market. Schwarber will be entering his age-33 season, but he’s coming off a career year and would immediately upgrade any lineup that has a DH spot available. If he does sign soon, that could help ignite the free-agent market. — Kavner
Ranking all 30 Teams Ahead of Winter Meetings
All-Star sluggers like outfielder Kyle Tucker, third baseman Alex Bregman, outfielder Kyle Schwarber, infielder Bo Bichette, first baseman Pete Alonso, outfielder Cody Bellinger and others will make their decisions. But as we wait to see how rosters take shape over the coming weeks and months, here’s where all 30 teams stand right now. – Kavner
10 Biggest Storylines at Winter Meetings
Looming labor battle? How will the Dodgers re-tool as they aim for a three-peat? Where will the next wave of Japanese stars? This week will set the tone for the rest of the MLB offseason and provide a clearer picture of which teams will be major players in trade talks and free agency. Here are the 10 biggest storylines of the meetings. – Thosar/Kavner
Deesha Thosar covers Major League Baseball as a reporter and columnist for FOX Sports. She previously covered the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Long Island and now lives in Queens. Follow her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.
Rowan Kavner is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. He previously covered the L.A. Dodgers, LA Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, grew up in Texas, then moved back to the West Coast in 2014. Follow him on X at @RowanKavner.
