December 8, 2025
The New York Yankees are expecting right-hander
Gerrit Cole (elbow) to make his 2026 debut sometime in May or June, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. We already knew that Cole wasn't going to be ready for Opening Day after having Tommy John surgery with an internal-brace procedure on his right elbow back in March. The 35-year-old veteran missed the entire 2025 season. He threw off a bullpen mound at Yankee Stadium last month, but he still has a ways to go in his recovery. The Yankees are hoping that Cole will be able to face live hitters at some point in spring training. Cole is a six-time All-Star and former American League Cy Young winner, but it's fair to wonder how dominant he'll be when he returns next year following a lengthy absence, especially at his age. The Yankees have a clear need in their rotation with Cole, lefty
Carlos Rodon (elbow), and
Clarke Schmidt (elbow) all recovering from elbow procedures.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch
December 8, 2025
Free-agent right-hander
Michael Soroka has agreed to a one-year deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks, pending a physical, sources tell Jesse Rogers and Jeff Passan of ESPN. In 2025, Soroka pitched to a 4.52 ERA (3.78 SIERA) with a career-high 25.1% strikeout rate across 89 2/3 innings for the Washington Nationals and Chicago Cubs. When the 28-year-old first reached the majors, he relied heavily on generating ground balls. But after recovering from multiple injuries, he overhauled his pitch mix and became more of a strikeout-oriented hurler. For fantasy managers, Soroka is a solid late-round dart throw with some upside and will likely be the last pitcher you draft in most leagues.
--Marty TallmanSource: Jesse Rogers and Jeff Passan
December 7, 2025
Second baseman Jeff Kent was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday. The 57-year-old was named on 14 of 16 ballots and still holds the record for home runs (351) by a second baseman. Kent was the only player elected to the HOF this year, with all-time home run leader Barry Bonds, 354-game winner Roger Clemens, Don Mattingly, Dale Murphy, and Gary Sheffield being left out again. Kent played 17 seasons for six different teams, but his best years came with the San Francisco Giants while playing alongside Bonds. He was a five-time All-Star and was named the National League MVP in 2000 with the Giants, when he hit a career-high .334 with 33 home runs and 125 RBI. Of his 377 career home runs, 351 came as a second baseman. Kent had a career slash line of .290/.356/.500 with an .855 OPS.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Bradford Doolittle
December 7, 2025
The Boston Red Sox are among the teams interested in trading for Arizona Diamondbacks superstar second baseman
Ketel Marte, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Other teams that could be potential fits for Marte include the Seattle Mariners, Pittsburgh Pirates, Tampa Bay Rays, Detroit Tigers, and Toronto Blue Jays. Marte has been involved in trade rumors this offseason, but general manager Mike Hazen recently said that it's unlikely Arizona will move the 32-year-old veteran Dominican. The switch-hitting infielder was one of the big reasons why the D-backs were one of the highest-scoring teams in baseball in 2025, as he slashed .283/.376/.517 with an .893 OPS, 28 home runs, 72 RBI, 87 runs, and four steals in 126 games. Marte's 145 wRC+ led all qualified second basemen for the second straight year.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman
December 7, 2025
The Kansas City Royals are looking to upgrade their outfield this offseason, and they are willing to trade a starting pitcher in order to get one, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. The most logical trade candidate could be left-hander
Kris Bubic, who is projected to earn $6 million in his final year of salary arbitration before free agency. The Royals aren't pursuing the most expensive outfield options in
Kyle Tucker and
Cody Bellinger, and they might also be out on
Harrison Bader, who is believed to be seeking a three-year deal. According to people briefed on their talks, KC's preference is to add two outfielders. They may re-sign
Mike Yastrzemski.
Adolis Garcia,
Max Kepler,
Mike Tauchman,
Lane Thomas, and
JJ Bleday are other free-agent options. Bubic missed most of the second half with a left rotator-cuff strain, but he was cleared to begin throwing in early November and should have a normal season in 2026 after avoiding shoulder surgery.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
December 7, 2025
The Los Angeles Angels have already added right-handed starters
Grayson Rodriguez and
Alek Manoah this offseason, but people briefed on the team's plans have told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic that the Angels want to add another starting pitcher. In addition to adding another starting pitcher, the Halos want to address their bullpen, center field, and third base.
Yusei Kikuchi and
Jose Soriano sit at the top of the rotation. Rodriguez and Manoah have not pitched in the majors since 2024 due to injuries, and lefty
Reid Detmers is a bit of an unknown. Rosenthal writes that ideally, the Angels would add another high-end starter and at least one long man/starter type. The Angels acquired Rodriguez from Baltimore in exchange for outfielder
Taylor Ward, and they signed Manoah to a low-risk, one-year deal worth $1.95 million.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
December 7, 2025
The Pittsburgh Pirates have made a four-year offer to free-agent designated hitter
Kyle Schwarber, people briefed on the team's talks told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Rosenthal reports that the offer is almost certainly worth more than $100 million. The Pirates are considered a long shot to land Schwarber, who will most likely end up re-signing with the Philadelphia Phillies. The Boston Red Sox are known to be interested in the left-handed slugger, and Schwarber's hometown team, the Cincinnati Reds, are also making a push. Pittsburgh has only given out one $100 million contract (
Bryan Reynolds), and they have never come close to that number in free agency. Schwarber is one of the best power hitters in baseball and is coming off a career-best 56 home runs. For the Phillies to retain the 32-year-old, they might have to guarantee Schwarber a fifth year.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
December 6, 2025
The Seattle Mariners acquired left-handed reliever
Jose A. Ferrer from the Washington Nationals in exchange for catching prospect
Harry Ford. The 25-year-old has thrown 142 1/3 career innings with a 4.36 ERA (3.24 SIERA), 121 strikeouts, and a 1.26 WHIP. In 2025, he abandoned his four-seam fastball and posted a career-best 21.9% strikeout rate alongside a career-low 4.9% walk rate. Overall, he recorded 11 saves for Washington last season, finishing with a 4.48 ERA across 76 1/3 innings. Seattle apparently felt it needed another left-hander for the back end of its bullpen and paid a steep price to get one. According to MLB Pipeline, Ford is a top-50 prospect and widely regarded as one of the best up-and-coming catchers in the minor leagues.
--Marty TallmanSource: Jeff Passan
December 6, 2025
The Washington Nationals acquired catching prospect
Harry Ford by trading away left-handed reliever
Jose A. Ferrer to the Seattle Mariners. The 22-year-old is an MLB Pipeline top-50 prospect who slashed .283/.408/.460 with 16 home runs, 68 runs, 74 RBI, seven steals, and a 125 wRC+ in 458 plate appearances at AAA last year. The Mariners already have All-Star
Cal Raleigh behind the dish, which apparently made Ford expendable. For the Nationals, they land a top prospect that can quickly take over for
Keibert Ruiz and
Riley Adams. Ruiz hasn't come close to replicating his 2023 breakout season, when he slugged 18 home runs with a .274 xBA and a 10.3% strikeout rate. Last year, Ruiz hit only two home runs in 267 plate appearances while battling symptoms from a concussion he sustained on June 23. Ford was called up at the end of last year and may be the Nationals' starting catcher at some point in 2026.
--Marty TallmanSource: Robert Murray
December 6, 2025
The Texas Rangers traded away their veteran second baseman
Marcus Semien this offseason, leaving a vacancy at the keystone. According to Jeff Wilson of DLLS Sports, the Rangers plan to fill that void internally. The 28-year-old
Josh Smith appears to be the most logical replacement, but there are other candidates on the 40-man roster, such as
Ezequiel Duran and
Cody Freeman. In 2025, Smith slashed .251/.335/.366 with 10 home runs, 70 runs, 35 RBI, 12 stolen bases, and a 100 wRC+. However, Smith has long been profiled as a utility man, and he's most effective when stepping in for an injured starter. Other options are prospects
Justin Foscue and
Sebastian Walcott. Fantasy managers will want to monitor how the Rangers handle this situation over the next few months.
--Marty TallmanSource: Jeff Wilson
December 6, 2025
The Toronto Blue Jays have outrighted right-hander
Yariel Rodriguez off the 40-man roster on Saturday. In 2024, Rodriguez started 21 games for the Jays, pitching to a 4.47 ERA (4.46 SIERA) with 85 strikeouts and a 1.32 WHIP in 86 ⅔ innings. Last year, the 28-year-old made only one start but still delivered a solid 3.08 ERA (4.27 SIERA) and 1.15 WHIP over 73 innings, most of which came out of the bullpen. Whether Rodríguez will be fantasy-relevant next year depends entirely on where he signs, but for now, he can safely be kept off your fantasy radar.
--Marty TallmanSource: Ben Nicholson-Smith
December 6, 2025
The Toronto Blue Jays join the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Boston Red Sox in showing interest in the six-time NPB All-Star third baseman Kazuma Okamoto, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Okamoto has primarily played third base in his time with the Yomiuri Giants but he can also play first base and corner outfielder. The 29-year-old Japanese slugger has had six seasons of 30-plus home runs but hasn't hit that milestone since 2023. In 2025, despite an elbow injury that limited him to 77 games, he slashed .327/.416/.598 with 34 walks and only 36 strikeouts. In MLB, he projects to be a solid right-handed corner infielder or DH-type bat, with 20-25 homerun upside. However, the transition from NPB to MLB is always challenging, so nothing is guaranteed.
--Marty TallmanSource: Jon Heyman
December 6, 2025
The Philadelphia Phillies have interest in free-agent outfielder
Cody Bellinger, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. Although the Phillies' top priority is re-signing
Kyle Schwarber, Bellinger appears to be their best fallback option if they can't reach a deal. Other teams such as the Yankees, Mets, Angels, Dodgers, and Blue Jays have also shown interest in the former NL MVP. Over the last few seasons, Bellinger has had a career renaissance, which may lead to a long-term contract this time around. In 2025, Bellinger slashed .272/.334/.480 with 29 home runs, 89 runs, 98 RBI, 13 stolen bases, and a 125 wRC+. He also had a career-low 13.7 K%. For fantasy managers, Yankee Stadium is an ideal landing spot for the 31-year-old, as the short porch in right field helped him produce his highest home run total since 2019.
--Marty TallmanSource: Jeff Passan
December 6, 2025
There is a perception in a couple of front offices that the Washington Nationals plan to trade left-hander
MacKenzie Gore, according to Buster Olney of ESPN. The 26-year-old got off to a hot start in 2025, posting a 3.02 ERA with 138 strikeouts in 110 1/3 innings before the All-Star break. After the break, however, he struggled mightily to a 6.75 ERA and a 1.70 WHIP in 49 1/3 innings. Gore has always had the stuff to be an ace, but his inability to close out the year strong collides with his lack of control to produce a very risky pitcher to invest in on draft day. Gore is best for leagues with daily lineups, so you can pick and choose which matchups to play him.
--Marty TallmanSource: Buster Olney
December 6, 2025
Free-agent right-hander
Zac Gallen and the Chicago Cubs do not currently have a deal in place and are not close to finalizing one, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. Despite Bob Nightengale's reports, Gallen is still on the market. Gallen struggled last season to a career-high 4.83 ERA (4.24 SIERA) with a career-low 21.5 K-BB% across 192 innings. The 30-year-old is projected for a four-year, $76 million contract and is currently being pursued by the Los Angeles Angels, San Francisco Giants, Detroit Tigers, Baltimore Orioles, and Atlanta Braves. Wherever he lands, he will be a top-three starter on the team and will be depended on to pitch as much as possible. Gallen's 227.10 ADP shows how far his stock has fallen, but at that price, he could be an excellent bounce-back target without costing a premium pick.
--Marty TallmanSource: Jeff Passan
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