December 9, 2025
The Philadelphia Phillies announced on Tuesday that they have extended the contract of manager Rob Thomson through the 2027 season. The announcement came shortly after the Phillies announced that they re-signed designated hitter
Kyle Schwarber to a five-year, $150 million deal on Tuesday. The 62-year-old Thomson has the second-most wins (346) and second-best winning percentage (.580) by a manager in Phillies history. He has guided the Phillies to the playoffs in each season since he replaced Joe Girardi on June 3 of 2022, including National League East titles in each of the last two years. The Phillies won the NL pennant in 2022 but lost in the World Series to the Houston Astros. Thomson has joined Dave Roberts, Aaron Boone, and Mike Matheny as the only managers in MLB history to make the postseason in each of their first four years at the helm.
--Keith HernandezSource: Philadelphia Phillies
December 9, 2025
The Detroit Tigers are interested in signing free-agent reliever
Kenley Jansen, according to Ari Alexander. According to sources, the Los Angeles Angels have checked in on Jansen for a potential reunion. Right-hander
Will Vest is currently the favorite for saves in Detroit as things currently stand, but the Tigers are also interested in bringing
Kyle Finnegan back, so it seems likely that Vest will be in a co-closer situation for the start of 2026. The 38-year-old Jansen had a pretty solid season in his first season with the Angels in 2025, going 5-4 with a 2.59 ERA (3.98 FIP), 0.95 WHIP, 29 saves, 57 strikeouts, and 19 walks in 59 relief innings. Fantasy managers can't really expect Jansen to be much better than he was in 2025, though, after a 59.1% fly-ball rate and a career-low 24.4% strikeout rate. Jansen should still receive save chances somewhere in 2026, but it might be in more of a committee role, which is what he'd be in if he lands in Motown.
--Keith HernandezSource: Ari Alexander
December 9, 2025
Free-agent right-hander
Michael King appears to be the New York Mets' top rotation target this offseason, a source confirmed to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. King recently held a Zoom meeting with the Mets. President of baseball operations David Stearns is hesitant to sign a starting pitcher to a long-term deal of five or more years, according to sources, which could take them out of the market for other top starters this year, such as
Framber Valdez,
Ranger Suarez, and Tatsuya Imai. The 30-year-old King was excellent in his first year with the San Diego Padres in 2024, posting a 2.95 ERA in 173 2/3 innings, but injuries limited him to only 15 starts in 2025. King doesn't have the same reliable track record as other starters on the market, which is why he may not require a deal of at least five years. One talent evaluator said that King "may be the most talented starter on the market." For fantasy baseball managers, King will be a pretty big risk/reward in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Mark Feinsand
December 9, 2025
The Los Angeles Angels are acquiring infielder
Vaughn Grissom from the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday in exchange for outfielder Isaiah Jackson, sources told Chris Cotillo of Mass Live. The Red Sox acquired Grissom in the trade that sent left-hander
Chris Sale to the Braves. The 24-year-old middle infielder was expected to eventually become Boston's primary second baseman, but that never happened. Grissom spent all of the 2025 campaign toiling at Triple-A Worcester after hitting .190/.246/.219 with no home runs in 31 games at the big-league level in 2024. He is out of minor-league options at this point. The former 11th-round pick by Atlanta in 2019 will have a chance to carve out a spot at either second or third base in Anaheim in spring training. Grissom has dabbled in left field, but most of his experience comes at the keystone.
--Keith HernandezSource: MassLive.com - Chris Cotillo
December 9, 2025
Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss said that he's open to moving outfielder
Ronald Acuna Jr. back to the leadoff spot next season, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. The vast majority of Acuna's big-league plate appearances have come in the leadoff spot for Atlanta. This year's National League Comeback Player of the Year has hit .294/.387/.535 with a .921 OPS in 3,091 plate appearances in the No. 1 spot in the batting order in Atlanta. The 27-year-old former MVP was limited to 412 plate appearances in 2025 while recovering from the second torn ACL of his career, and he also missed some time late in the year with a calf injury. Acuna was his usual outstanding self when he was on the field, slashing .290/.417/.518 with 21 home runs, but he stole just nine bases. When healthy, Acuna remains one of the top all-around players in the game, but he has played 100 games in a season just twice in the last five years. A move back to leadoff would be ideal for his fantasy upside.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
December 9, 2025
The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reports that the Houston Astros have spoken to the Pittsburgh Pirates about right-hander
Mike Burrows. However, those talks have cooled since the Pirates acquired outfield prospect
Jhostynxon Garcia from the Boston Red Sox recently. Houston is seeking controllable young starting pitchers and could offer center fielder
Jake Meyers in return. Burrows, 26, is coming off his second major-league season with the Pirates in 2025. In 96 innings pitched, he went 2-4 with a 3.94 ERA (4.00 FIP) and 1.24 WHIP with 97 strikeouts and 31 walks in 23 appearances (19 starts). He mostly features a fastball, changeup, and a slider, with all three pitches getting plenty of swings and misses. Burrows has been overshadowed in Pittsburgh by all their talented young arms, but he could become an intriguing flier in fantasy leagues in 2026 if he's moved to the Astros and joins their starting rotation.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
December 9, 2025
The Boston Red Sox really want to bring veteran third baseman
Alex Bregman back after a strong first season in Boston in 2025. However, they are also pricing every available option in case Bregman goes elsewhere, which includes a potential trade for Houston Astros third baseman
Isaac Paredes, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. The BoSox could still trade for Paredes and play him at first base if Bregman re-signs. Paredes is projected to earn $9.3 million in 2026 and is under club control for two more years. The price for the 26-year-old is likely to be steep, though, with Houston looking for controllable starting pitchers. The Astros are interested in young lefties
Payton Tolle and
Connelly Early. If Paredes is dealt, the Astros could shift
Carlos Correa to the hot corner. Paredes was limited to 102 games with a hamstring injury in 2025, but his fly-ball tendencies as a right-handed hitter could play very nicely at Fenway Park. In limited time, he still managed 20 homers in his first year in Houston.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
December 9, 2025
The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal writes that a trade of Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star second baseman
Ketel Marte might take time for teams to warm to Arizona's asking price, which one rival executive described as a "superstar-type return." Marte is owed a reasonable $102.5 million over the next six seasons, with $41 million deferred and the payouts not starting until 10 years after the money is earned. Any interested team would need to be comfortable with Marte's clubhouse fit and the acquisition cost. Rosenthal adds that the D-backs might need the market to play out for "clubs to become more desperate." The Boston Red Sox are among the teams interested in the switch-hitter, with three unidentified teams also in the mix. Arizona is seeking young pitching, and trading Marte would allow them to clear payroll and inject talent. After the 10th day of the 2026 season, Marte will gain full no-trade protection, so if he's dealt, it will most likely be before the start of next season.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
December 9, 2025
Chicago White Sox outfielder
Luis Robert Jr. is being linked to the San Diego Padres by Bruce Levine of 670 The Score. Meanwhile, the White Sox are being linked to right-hander
Dustin May, reliever
Pete Fairbanks, and hitters
Mike Tauchman,
Ryan O'Hearn, and
Jake Meyers. This offseason could finally be the time that the White Sox trade Robert after picking up his $20 million option for the 2026 season in early November. The 28-year-old Cuban has elite physical skills both on offense and defense, but staying healthy has been an issue. Robert was unable to play more than 98 games in his first three years in the majors, and he's only played over 100 games in two of his six seasons. He has slashed just .223/.288/.372 while dealing with injuries the last two years, but his 38-homer, 20-steal season in 2023 continues to tempt teams. A trade to SD might only be possible if the Friars do the unthinkable and send
Fernando Tatis Jr. packing.
--Keith HernandezSource: 670 The Score - Bruce Levine
December 9, 2025
Besides the New York Yankees, the New York Mets, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Angels, Cincinnati Reds, and Los Angeles Dodgers are interested in signing free-agent outfielder
Cody Bellinger, according to his agent, Scott Boras. The Phillies just re-signed designated hitter
Kyle Schwarber to a five-year, $150 million deal, so the Phillies are probably off the table for Bellinger. The 30-year-old's market is robust following a strong year in the Bronx in 2025, in which he hit .272/.334/.480 with an .813 OPS, 29 home runs, 98 RBI, 89 runs scored, and 13 stolen bases in 152 regular-season games. His 29 dingers were the most he's hit since his MVP campaign with the Dodgers in 2019. Moving away from Yankee Stadium won't be ideal for his 2026 fantasy value, but Bellinger is still a five-category asset that doesn't strike out often despite his big swing.
--Keith HernandezSource: Newsday - Erik Boland
December 9, 2025
Free-agent shortstop
Bo Bichette and the Boston Red Sox recently had a Zoom meeting, with Bichette coming away impressed with the team, sources told Ari Alexander. The Red Sox have made it known that they are very interested in signing Bichette, who is by far the top shortstop available on the open market this offseason. The 27-year-old might be a fallback option for Boston if they cannot re-sign
Alex Bregman following his strong 2025 season in Beantown. The 27-year-old Bichette has played only shortstop in the big leagues with Toronto when fully healthy, but teams that are interested in him this winter could move him to second base. If Boston were to sign Bichette, they could push him to the keystone, which would allow young infielder
Marcelo Mayer to play third if Bregman isn't brought back. Although a knee sprain late in the regular season caused him to miss time, Bichette's 2025 season was a big bounce-back campaign after an injury-plagued 2024. Since he became a full-time starter, he's hit .292 while averaging 19 homers and 10 stolen bases.
--Keith HernandezSource: Ari Alexander
December 9, 2025
New York Mets left-hander
David Peterson is generating interest in a "pretty active" trade market this offseason, and the Mets are open to moving the 2025 All-Star if they can find the right fit in a need-for-need type of trade, league sources told Tim Britton and Will Sammon of The Athletic. The Mets are in the market for an outfielder to replace
Brandon Nimmo, who was traded to the Texas Rangers for second baseman
Marcus Semien. They are also looking for a first baseman, designated hitter, and relief help. New York has a high asking price for Peterson, who has an affordable salary next season after two strong seasons. The 30-year-old southpaw might have struggled down the stretch in 2025, but he was the Mets' most reliable starter for the majority of the year, and he's posted a 3.67 ERA in 51 starts since coming back from hip surgery after the 2023 season. Peterson is entering his final season of team control and is projected to make $7.6 million in salary arbitration.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Tim Britton and Will Sammon
December 9, 2025
Free-agent reliever
Edwin Diaz and the Los Angeles Dodgers are in agreement on an undisclosed deal on Tuesday, a league source tells Will Sammon of The Athletic. A year after signing lefty closer
Tanner Scott to beef up their bullpen, the Dodgers will pry the top closer on the market away from the New York Mets. The 31-year-old Diaz, who was already a high-end closing option in fantasy baseball, will now be the clear No. 1 option with a Dodgers team looking to three-peat in 2026. Diaz isn't getting younger, but he remains one of the most dominant high-leverage relievers in the sport after posting a 1.63 ERA and 0.87 WHIP with 98 strikeouts and 21 walks in 66 1/3 innings for the Mets in 2025. The Puerto Rican fireman had 28 saves this past season and has 253 in his nine-year career. Diaz had a ridiculous 33-game stretch in which he gave up just one run while fanning 50 batters and walking 11 in 33 2/3 innings.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Will Sammon
December 9, 2025
Left-handed designated hitter
Kyle Schwarber and the Philadelphia Phillies are finalizing a five-year, $150 million deal on Tuesday, sources tell ESPN's Jeff Passan. The New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Cincinnati Reds, and even the Pittsburgh Pirates tried to lure Schwarber away in free agency, but ultimately, the reigning National League home run leader decided to return to Philly. The 32-year-old finished second in MVP voting in 2025 after slashing .240/.365/.563 with 56 home runs and an NL-leading 132 RBI. He has slugged at least 38 home runs in each of his four seasons with the Phillies, and he played in all 162 regular-season games in 2025 for the first time in his career. Schwarber became the 21st player in history to hit four homers in a game, and he was also one of five players with at least 100 walks. He has also been an important clubhouse leader and a clutch performer in the postseason, hitting 14 homers in 38 playoff games the last four years with the Phillies.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
December 9, 2025
The Tampa Bay Rays have reached an undisclosed two-year deal with free-agent left-hander
Steven Matz on Monday night, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Matz has pitched parts of 11 seasons in the big leagues with the New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays, St. Louis Cardinals, and Boston Red Sox. The veteran southpaw has a career record of 60-62 with a 4.19 ERA. The 34-year-old veteran spent the 2025 campaign with the Cardinals and Red Sox, going a combined 5-2 with a 3.05 ERA (3.46 FIP), 1.09 WHIP, and 59:11 K:BB ratio in 53 appearances (two starts) over 76 2/3 innings pitched. Matz saved the first two games of his career this year and is expected to continue being used in a relief role in Tampa, potentially in high-leverage situations. Unless Matz is used as the Rays' primary closer, which is unlikely, he'll mostly be a non-factor in fantasy with a career 21.9% strikeout rate.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Times - Jon Heyman
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