December 2, 2025
With outfielder
Kyle Tucker expected to depart in free agency this offseason, the Chicago Cubs are projecting regular playing time for outfielder
Owen Caissie, a consensus top-100 prospect whose name was prominently mentioned in trade talks last offseason, and again during the July 31 trade deadline. The 23-year-old left-handed slugger doesn't have anything left to prove at Triple-A Iowa after posting an .887 OPS and 277 strikeouts in almost 1,000 Triple-A plate appearances in the last two seasons. The Cubs want to see what they have in Caissie while letting him develop and improve at the big-league level. Caissie could be in a battle for regular playing time with fellow prospect
Moises Ballesteros. In his first 12 major-league games in 2025, Caissie went 5-for-26 (.192) with a homer, four RBI, and 11 strikeouts. He has plenty of power upside, but the strikeouts are a concern.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Patrick Mooney
December 2, 2025
The St. Louis Cardinals are not necessarily looking to trade infielder
Brendan Donovan, but ESPN's Jeff Passan reports that the "market for him is percolating." Several teams see Donovan as an option at second base, third base, or left field. The 28-year-old left-handed hitter gives teams options, as he can hit leadoff or bat in the middle of the order because of his elite bat-to-ball skills and gap power. He has two years of club control left and is very affordable in arbitration before he reaches free agency. The Cardinals are retooling under new president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom, and almost nobody on the roster is off limits. For fantasy purposes, outside of Donovan's excellent contact and on-base skills and positional versatility, he doesn't bring much intrigue. The Dodgers, Mariners, Yankees, Red Sox, Pirates, Giants, Royals, and Guardians are teams that could come calling for Donovan.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
December 2, 2025
ESPN's Jeff Passan writes that "now is finally the time, it seems," for Chicago White Sox outfielder
Luis Robert Jr. to be traded. Robert had a career year in 2023, hitting .264/.315/.542 with an .857 OPS, career-high 38 home runs, 80 RBI, 90 runs scored, and 20 stolen bases in 145 games played. The White Sox hung onto him and were hoping to trade him at peak value in 2024, but he once again struggled to stay healthy and played in only 100 games. The 28-year-old Cuban has hit a combined 28 homers the last two years, and the combination of his last two down seasons and a hefty salary will limit the return for the Pale Hose on any potential deal. Robert is still in the 90th percentile or better for sprint speed, defensive range, and bat speed, but he's been injured and unlucky the last two years. Passan lists the Giants, Phillies, Mets, and Reds as potential landing spots for Robert if he's finally dealt.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
December 2, 2025
ESPN's Jeff Passan writes that the Boston Red Sox are valuing outfielder
Jarren Duran more like the seven-win player of 2024 than the four-win version in 2025. The Red Sox "can hold out for a big return" because they don't have to trade him. Although the 29-year-old isn't the best defensive asset, he has plenty of trade value because he's still in his 20s and has three years of club control. Duran also has elite bat and foot speed, and a good arm. He has ranked third in baseball the last three years at plus-23 runs due to his elite baserunning skills. Duran might have had a bit of a down year in 2025, slashing .256/.332/.442 with 16 home runs, 84 RBI, 86 runs scored, and 24 steals in 620 at-bats, but he's still one of the top all-around position players in the league. Passan predicts a 50% chance Duran will be dealt this offseason, with the Tigers, Royals, Giants, Pirates, Phillies, Mets, Reds, and Diamondbacks all being potential suitors.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
December 2, 2025
The San Francisco Giants are among the teams that have checked in on free-agent outfielder/designated hitter
Kyle Schwarber, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network. The elite left-handed slugger is going to receive plenty of interest on the open market this offseason after leading the league in home runs (56) and RBI (132) in a career-high 162 games played in 2025. Schwarber also slashed .240/.365/.563 with a career-best .928 OPS, 111 runs scored, and a career-high-tying 10 stolen bases in 724 plate appearances for the Philadelphia Phillies. As expected, the 32-year-old veteran declined Philly's one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer, which means the Phils will receive draft-pick compensation if he signs with another team this offseason. Schwarber finished second in the National League MVP voting and has at least 32 home runs in each of the last six full seasons. He has 40-plus homers in three of the last four seasons.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB Network - Jon Morosi
December 2, 2025
The Athletic's Katie Woo reports that St. Louis Cardinals first baseman
Willson Contreras is open to trade offers this offseason and has "become more willing to waive his full no-trade clause." Woo goes on to explain that it won't necessarily change the Cardinals' order of operations, but they are "open to shopping Contreras." The top priority of the winter will be to trade veteran third baseman
Nolan Arenado and one of their left-handed hitters. Outfielder
Lars Nootbaar and infielder
Brendan Donovan continue to receive interest from other clubs. Contreras handled himself very well defensively in his first season as a full-time first baseman, and although his plate discipline isn't anything special, his elite bat speed allows him to do plenty of damage as a hitter. The 33-year-old is owed $41.5 million over the next two years (with a team option for a third season). Teams such as the Padres, Marlins, Diamondbacks, and Pirates could be interested in landing Contreras.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Katie Woo
December 1, 2025
The New York Mets are still interested in re-signing right-handed closer
Edwin Diaz even after agreeing to a three-year contract with right-handed reliever
Devin Williams on Monday night, a source told Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Williams, who struggled to an ERA over 4.00 in his lone season with the New York Yankees in 2025, is open to pitching in a setup role as he looks to bounce back from a down campaign. The 31-year-old Diaz turned down the Mets' one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer, as expected, after opting out of the final two years and $38 million remaining on his contract. Diaz will have plenty of suitors on the open market, but it remains to be seen if New York will give him the contract he's looking for. The Puerto Rican has an elite 14.5 K/9 mark and 253 saves in his nine-year big-league career, which puts him at the top of the reliever market.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
December 1, 2025
Free-agent right-handed reliever
Devin Williams and the New York Mets agreed to a three-year contract on Monday that guarantees more than $50 million, sources tell ESPN's Jeff Passan. The New York Yankees acquired Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers last December, but he struggled to a career-worst 4.79 ERA in 67 relief appearances in the Bronx. The 31-year-old will stay in the Big Apple and join the Mets, where he figures to take over closing duties if
Edwin Diaz leaves in free agency. Williams got off to a rough start in pinstripes in 2025 and ended up sharing the closer's role for much of the season. Before his rough campaign with the Yanks, Williams established himself as one of the most dominant high-leverage relievers in Milwaukee, and he'll be looking to return to that form in 2026. He had four blown saves in 22 chances in his first and only year with the Yankees.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
December 1, 2025
There is mutual interest in the Detroit Tigers re-signing right-handed reliever
Kyle Finnegan this offseason, according to the Detroit Free Press' Evan Petzold. Finnegan was really good in Detroit after the Tigers acquired him from the Washington Nationals at the July 31 trade deadline, and both sides are now interested in a reunion in 2026 and possibly beyond. The 34-year-old veteran mixed in for save chances in the second half in Detroit and had a stingy 1.50 ERA, 0.72 WHIP, four saves, and a 23:4 K:BB ratio in 18 regular-season innings. An adductor strain sidelined Finnegan for much of the final month of the regular season, but he should be fully healthy for the start of spring training. If he returns to the Tigers, he should once again share save duties with right-hander
Will Vest. Finnegan had a 3.47 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 24 saves in 57 total innings last year with Detroit and Washington.
--Keith HernandezSource: Detroit Free Press - Evan Petzold
December 1, 2025
The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Katie Woo report that Houston Astros center fielder
Jake Meyers is drawing some trade interest this offseason after coming off a modest offensive breakout in 2025. The Astros are open to moving him for a controllable major-league starter, according to people briefed on their talks. Meyers is projected to earn $3.5 million in the first of his two years remaining of club control, and the interest in him has been considerable. The 29-year-old has a great glove, but Houston could be skeptical of him repeating his offensive performance in 2025, in which he slashed .292/.354/.373 with only three homers, 24 RBI, 53 runs, and 16 steals in 343 at-bats. He played in only 104 games due to right-calf issues. In almost 1,200 prior plate appearances before this year, Meyers hit only .228 with a .662 OPS. The Phillies, Mets, Rays, Orioles, Diamondbacks, and Royals are among the teams looking for upgrades in center field.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal and Katie Woo
December 1, 2025
The Toronto Blue Jays and Miami Marlins are among the teams interested in free-agent closer
Pete Fairbanks, industry sources briefed on the market told The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Katie Woo.
Ryan Helsley just signed with the Orioles, and Fairbanks could be the next closer to sign this offseason. Toronto already signed right-handed starter
Dylan Cease to a seven-year deal, but now they are pursuing late-inning relievers after
Jeff Hoffman blew a save in Game 7 of the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 31-year-old Fairbanks held Toronto hitters to a .130 average and .468 OPS in 27 career innings against them, and he's familiar with Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix, who was with the Rays from 2009-21. Tampa declined Fairbanks' $11 million option for 2026. He finished with a 2.83 ERA and a career-high 27 saves in 60 innings in 2025 in his third season with the Rays.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal and Katie Woo
December 1, 2025
The Boston Red Sox are keeping a close eye on Kansas City Royals left-hander
Cole Ragans this offseason and are interested in acquiring him in a trade, according to Alex Speier of The Boston Globe. Boston already acquired veteran right-hander
Sonny Gray from the St. Louis Cardinals this offseason to pair at the top of their starting rotation with left-hander
Garrett Crochet, but it appears they might not be done. To land Ragans, it's going to take a "big return," but the Royals and Red Sox could be a match, as Boston is looking to unload an outfielder, potentially
Jarren Duran.
Connelly Early or
Payton Tolle might be involved in a potential deal, which is nothing more than a rumor for now. Ragans was a first-time All-Star in 2024, but the 27-year-old southpaw was limited to only 13 starts due to injury and finished with a 4.67 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 61 2/3 innings. However, he finished the year strong after returning from injury, and his high-strikeout upside makes him a nice fantasy target for a rebound in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Boston Globe - Alex Speier
November 29, 2025
Philadelphia Phillies right-hander
Zack Wheeler's (shoulder) 2025 season was cut short when he was put on the injured list in August with a blood clot in his right upper extremity. He had a successful thrombolysis removal surgery a day later. It was a disappointing end to another strong season, as Wheeler had a 10-5 record, 2.71 ERA, an elite 195:33 K:BB ratio, and a 0.94 WHIP in 24 starts. On Sept. 23, he had vascular thoracic outlet syndrome surgery. The type of surgery Wheeler had has produced stronger outcomes than the neuronic version that derailed
Stephen Strasburg's career. Wheeler is unlikely to be ready by Opening Day next year, but president of baseball operations David Dombrowski said last month that Wheeler is likely to return near the end of May. Wheeler has been a constant at the top of Philly's starting rotation since 2020, but fantasy managers will be skeptical of a pitcher who will turn 36 on May 30 and who is coming off a major surgery.
--Keith HernandezSource: NBC Sports Philadelphia - Cole Weintraub
November 29, 2025
Free-agent right-hander
Ryan Helsley agreed to a two-year, $28 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday, a source told Katie Woo of The Athletic. Helsely will have the ability to opt out of the deal after his first season in Baltimore. Reports suggested that interested MLB teams were looking at making the 31-year-old veteran into a starting pitcher for next season, but the O's will keep him as a reliever. A dreadful two-month period with the New York Mets in 2025 did little to deter interest in him around the league, as around 15 teams checked in on him this offseason, including the Detroit Tigers. Helsley was an All-Star in 2024 with the St. Louis Cardinals, when he led baseball with 49 saves. He converted 21 of 26 save chances for St. Louis this past season, but he had a 7.20 ERA in 22 outings after being traded to the Mets. He was struggling with predictability issues and pitch tipping.
Felix Bautista (shoulder) isn't expected to be ready until late next season, so Helsley should be Baltimore's primary closer for most of 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Katie Woo
November 29, 2025
The New York Mets' trade of long-time outfielder
Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers might have cleared a lane for outfield prospect
Carson Benge to become the team's starting center fielder on Opening Day in 2026, according to Sam Dykstra of MLB.com. Benge, the team's No. 2 prospect and the No. 21 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline, climbed three levels in the minors in his first full season in 2025. He has a real shot to not only make the big-league roster out of spring training, but also win starting center-field duties now that Nimmo is gone. The 22-year-old was drafted 19th overall in 2024 as a two-way player out of Oklahoma State. Benge has since become a full-time outfielder and hit .281/.385/.472 with 15 homers and 22 steals in 116 games over three minor-league levels. Benge has great bat-to-ball skills, developing power, and above-average speed. His primary competition in center field in spring training will be with
Tyrone Taylor.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Sam Dykstra
RADIO
