Nov 9, 2026, 4:08 PM ET

Left-hander Tarik Skubal, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, is arguably the best overall pitcher in baseball and is without a doubt the top free agent available this winter. Entering his age-30 season in 2027, Skubal will be the most sought-after player in baseball this offseason, and MLB Network's Jon Heyman believes that the New York Mets are the current favorites to eventually sign him. The Los Angeles Dodgers, who acquired Skubal from the Detroit Tigers at the trade deadline in early August, are also a strong bet to bring Skubal back after he went 5-2 with a 2.61 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 70:13 K:BB in 62 innings over 10 regular-season starts for the Blue in the second half. There are unsurprisingly a lot of teams involved in the Skubal sweepstakes, but few teams have the kind of financial resources that the Mets and Dodgers do. The reason Heyman slightly favors the Mets is that he thinks they are more desperate for a turnaround after missing out on the postseason in each of the last two years. Heyman also mentions the San Diego Padres (with new ownership), the San Francisco Giants, the Philadelphia Phillies, and the Toronto Blue Jays as some other teams that could seriously get involved. Regardless of where Skubal lands this offseason, he should be one of the top fantasy targets among starting pitchers in 2027.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB Network - Jon Heyman

Nov 9, 2026, 11:47 AM ET

Since his breakout season in 2024, Kansas City Royals left-hander Cole Ragans (elbow) has basically been a non-factor for fantasy managers. The 28-year-old pitched just 35 1/3 innings (eight starts) in 2026 before hitting the injured list with triceps and elbow soreness. Ragans initially attempted to rehab his arm, but he suffered a setback in June and ultimately underwent an internal brace procedure in July. As a result, Ragans missed the remainder of the 2026 season and will likely miss a significant chunk of 2027 as well. On the bright side, Ragans may finally be able to work his way back to full health and regain his peak form while he rehabs from the surgery. However, the talented southpaw is tough for fantasy managers to trust until he gets back on the mound and proves he can stay healthy for an extended stretch of time.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

Nov 9, 2026, 11:22 AM ET

After initially opening the season in Triple-A, Boston Red Sox left-hander Payton Tolle emerged as arguably his team's best starting pitcher in 2026. Across 148 2/3 innings (26 starts) in the big leagues, Tolle recorded a 9-6 record with a 3.03 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 171 strikeouts. The 24-year-old averaged 96.2 miles per hour on his fastball and struck out 28.4% of the batters he faced while allowing just a 6.6% walk rate. Tolle also only allowed a .624 OPS against right-handed hitters, which will be key for him to continue as he makes his home starts in front of the Green Monster at Fenway Park. Heading into 2027, Tolle has all the makings of a fantasy ace, and he will likely come off the board very early in most drafts.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

Nov 9, 2026, 11:14 AM ET

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryan Woo had a disappointing year relative to expectations in 2026, recording a 12-10 record with a 4.01 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 175 strikeouts across 173 innings (30 starts). The 26-year-old's production dropped off across the board relative to his 2025 campaign, when he finished fifth in the American League Cy Young Award voting. However, there's plenty of reason for fantasy managers to believe in Woo's ability to bounce back in 2027. Much of Woo's ERA increase can be attributed to his 66.2% strand rate, which was significantly below his 73.4% career mark. Even in a down year, the young right-hander remained an excellent source of WHIP and a solid source of strikeouts, and he's also now logged back-to-back 30-start seasons. Heading into 2027, fantasy managers may want to look to buy low on Woo.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

Nov 9, 2026, 10:18 AM ET

The Chicago Cubs' priority this offseason is starting pitching, but The Athletic's Sahadev Sharma writes that it is unlikely that the Cubs will enter a bidding war for two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal. The Cubs were aggressive in adding third baseman Alex Bregman to a five-year, $175 million deal last offseason, but they have shied away from the very top of the free-agent market in recent offseasons. Chicago has "shown no interest" in spending like the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets, and it will not be an exception this winter, when labor negotiations will muddy the waters for teams and their finances. The Cubs will, however, check in on other pitches, as they have just one pitcher with legitimate starting experience on their roster who is set to enter 2027 healthy. The goal for the Cubs is likely to bring in three starting pitchers. After their starters allowed the third-most home runs (142) in 2026, the Cubs will target pitchers with high ground-ball rates and/or a high strikeout rate. This means they will most likely attempt to bring back right-hander Clay Holmes, who led baseball with a 60.7% ground-ball rate. Two other potential free-agent fits could be Freddy Peralta and Michael King. For Skubal, it is going to take a large sum of money to secure his services long-term, and the Dodgers and Mets will be the front-runners.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - Sahadev Sharma

Nov 4, 2026, 10:30 PM ET

Future Hall of Fame first baseman Albert Pujols will interview for the Houston Astros' managerial vacancy on Thursday, sources told Alden Gonzalez of ESPN. The Astros named former St. Louis Cardinals executive Randy Flores as their new general manager five days ago. Flores spent eight years in the big leagues before joining St. Louis' front office, with five of those years spent as Pujols' teammate in St. Louis, including a World Series championship in 2006. Pujols has made it clear that he has a desire to manage in the big leagues, and he won a championship in the Dominican winter league in his first season leading the Leones del Escogido in January of 2025 while also serving as the skipper for the Dominican Republic in this year's World Baseball Classic, where his squad lost to the United States in the semifinals. Pujols was a finalist for the managerial openings in the last hiring cycle with the Los Angeles Angels and San Diego Padres. New York Yankees bench coach Brad Ausmus is also among those being considered by the Astros for their managerial position.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Alden Gonzalez

Nov 3, 2026, 8:26 PM ET

Major League Baseball proposed postponing the implementation of a salary cap until the 2028 season on Tuesday, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan, as the current collective bargaining agreement approaches its Dec. 1 expiration. The league has pressed forward with its pursuit of a cap and floor despite the Players Association voicing its objection to any cap. The $258.2 million cap and $180.2 million floor that MLB projected for 2028 were higher than the $245.3 million and $171.2 million numbers that the league proposed as its original cap-and-floor offer for 2027. MLB also proposed giving $282 million in competitive balance tax proceeds to players in cash payments, according to sources. Union officials have said that players would lose more than $1 billion over the life of the league's proposal if they agreed to a cap. The last time MLB formally proposed a cap-and-floor system in 1994, players went on strike for 232 days, and the World Series was canceled. Under the 2028 cap-and-floor projections, 12 teams, including the World Series champion Milwaukee Brewers, would need to increase their payrolls to reach the floor. Eight teams carried payrolls that would have been in excess of the ceiling. The MLBPA has proposed maintaining the current framework of the league's financial system while increasing spending, and the union has also asked for a surge in the minimum salary from $780,000 to $1.5 million and free agency for players 30 and older after five years of major-league service, not six.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan

Nov 3, 2026, 2:10 PM ET

The Seattle Mariners are hiring former Chicago Cubs' director of player development Jason Kanzler as their new manager, a source told Alden Gonzalez of ESPN. Houston Astros manager Joe Espada had been among the finalists to land the job in Seattle, but it will instead go to Kanzler in an unconventional move by the Mariners. Kanzler, 36, will be replacing Dan Wilson after he was fired following the team's disappointing 2026 season. Kanzler has never managed at any level, but he will be inheriting one of the league's deepest, most talented rosters. Seattle has stars in outfielder Julio Rodriguez and catcher Cal Raleigh, not to mention some of the best starting-pitching depth in baseball. Kanzler is a former outfielder who was drafted in the 20th round in 2013. He previously spent five years with the Houston Astros, serving as a major-league coach in 2022 and 2023. He was hired by the Cubs as their director of player development at the start of the 2024 campaign. Kanzler will be the third skipper to serve under general manager Jerry Dipoto, who was brought in near the end of the 2015 season.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Alden Gonzalez

Nov 2, 2026, 8:43 PM ET

Left-hander Tarik Skubal is far and away the best player in this year's free-agent class, and the expectation is that he will sign before the Dec. 1 lockout. ESPN's Jeff Passan writes that the Chicago Cubs "badly" want Skubal, but they are also skeptical that they will be willing to compete at the sort of dollars Skubal is expected to get -- well in excess of $300 million, and potentially in the $400 million range. The two most obvious suitors are the two teams with the highest payrolls in the game: the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets. The San Diego Padres, who could lose both starting pitchers Michael King and Nick Pivetta, could be a darkhorse candidate to consider. ESPN's Alden Gonzalez gets the sense that Skubal would "love" to return to the Dodgers after enjoying the culture in Hollywood. Skubal became "best buddies" with fellow lefty Blake Snell and "seemed to fit in seamlessly." Despite having arthroscopic surgery on his left elbow in 2026, Skubal did not miss a beat as one of the best all-around starting pitchers in the game, going a combined 12-7 with a 2.72 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and 186 strikeouts in 158 2/3 innings over 26 starts with L.A. and the Detroit Tigers. Regardless of where he lands in free agency, Skubal will be a top-tier, elite fantasy SP1.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan

Nov 1, 2026, 10:58 PM ET

Right-hander Dustin May declined his 2027 mutual option with the Milwaukee Brewers and will enter free agency, per the MLBPA. May would have made $20 million had both he and Milwaukee picked up the option, but instead he will search for more long-term security this winter. The 29-year-old recorded a 7-9 record with a 4.70 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, and 144 strikeouts across 145 2/3 innings (31 starts) split between the Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals in 2026. May struggled down the stretch after being traded to Milwaukee, posting a 5.65 ERA across 10 starts. The hard-throwing right-hander has flashed upside at points in his career, but he's struggled to put together extended stretches of both high-end production and health. Depending on where he ends up in 2027, May could be a capable innings-eater for deep-league fantasy managers.--Will Brady
Source: MLB Players Association

Nov 1, 2026, 10:34 PM ET

Baltimore Orioles right-hander Zach Eflin (elbow) had his $25 million mutual option for the 2027 season declined, per the MLBPA. Eflin is now a free agent. Declining the pricey option was a no-brainer decision for Baltimore, as Eflin underwent Tommy John surgery in April and is likely to miss most or all of the 2027 season as a result. The 32-year-old made just one appearance in 2026 before suffering the season-ending elbow injury. Eflin also battled through an injury-marred 2025 campaign, recording a 6-5 record with a 5.93 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, and 50 strikeouts across 71 1/3 innings (14 starts). The veteran right-hander could find a home with a team that wants to have him rehab in their facilities with an eye toward 2028. However, he's unlikely to factor for fantasy managers in 2027.--Will Brady
Source: MLB Players Association

Nov 1, 2026, 10:18 PM ET

The Minnesota Twins are declining their half of a 2027 mutual option for starting pitcher Joe Ryan, per Dan Hayes of The Athletic. However, Hayes notes that Ryan remains under team control via arbitration for 2027. Thus, this is a cost-cutting maneuver for Minnesota, as Ryan's $9.6 million arbitration projection comes in below the value of the $13 million option. Ryan dealt with some injury issues in 2026 but still put together a productive season, recording a 7-10 record with a 3.79 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 159 strikeouts across 144 2/3 innings (27 starts). If declining the mutual option signals that Minnesota is not looking to sign Ryan Long-term, the 30-year-old could be a trade candidate this winter ahead of his final season of team control.--Will Brady
Source: The Athletic - Dan Hayes

Nov 1, 2026, 9:28 PM ET

The San Diego Padres declined the $14 million 2027 option on right-hander Nick Pivetta's contract on Saturday, making him a free agent, according to Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune. After a breakout 2025 campaign in his first season in San Diego, Pivetta injured his right forearm/elbow early on in 2026 and ended up making only eight starts (34 2/3 innings) during the regular season in his 10th year in the big leagues. Pivetta was strong when available to the Friars, though, going 3-2 with a 2.86 ERA (2.21 FIP), 1.01 WHIP, and 42:8 K:BB. In his two postseason starts versus the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers, Pivetta gave up three earned runs on eight hits (one homer) while walking two and striking out eight in 7 2/3 innings. The Padres may have declined Pivetta's 2027 option, but they should be very interested in signing him to a lesser deal coming off his injury, especially since right-hander Michael King is now on the open market. Acee writes that there is still some concern about Pivetta's elbow, but the Padres could work out a deal that protects the team if he gets hurt again while also rewarding Pivetta if he stays healthy.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune - Kevin Acee

Nov 1, 2026, 9:19 PM ET

The Tampa Bay Rays announced on Saturday that they exercised their $20 million 2027 option on right-hander Drew Rasmussen, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Rasmussen's option went from $8 million to $20 million for next year after he made 30 starts during the regular season and spent fewer than 45 days on the injured list. It was a successful season for the 31-year-old, who has a lengthy history of arm injuries. Despite the increase in the value of his 2027 option, the Rays will bring Rasmussen back after he went 16-5 with a 2.67 ERA (2.82 FIP) and a league-leading 0.91 WHIP with a career-high 174 strikeouts and 32 walks in 172 innings pitched across his 30 regular-season starts. It was his second straight season making the All-Star team at the top of Tampa's starting rotation. Rasmussen kept it going in the postseason to help the Rays reach the World Series, where they were defeated in five games by the Milwaukee Brewers. In five starts during the playoffs, he allowed seven earned runs (2.20 ERA) and 21 hits (two homers) with only five walks and 21 strikeouts in 28 2/3 innings pitched.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin