MLB News

The Pittsburgh Pirates have stayed aggressive in their pursuit of a bat this offseason and are among the teams that have inquired about Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe, according to MLB Network's Jon Morosi. Lowe will make $11.5 million in 2026 after Tampa picked up his option. The Pirates were also pursuing designated hitter Kyle Schwarber before he re-signed with the Philadelphia Phillies for five years and $150 million. Lowe, 31, hit .256/.307/.477 with 31 home runs, 83 RBI, and 79 runs scored in 134 games in his eighth big-league season in 2025. The oft-injured left-handed-hitting second baseman had his best season since 2021. Lowe has plenty of pop from the left side, but his fantasy ceiling is limited because of his inability to hit left-handers and his lengthy injury history. But Lowe would be an upgrade for a Pittsburgh team looking to bolster its offense as they look to compete with a young and dominant pitching staff.

The Baltimore Orioles have had talks with free-agent left-hander Framber Valdez, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network. Despite agreeing to a five-year, $155 million contract with first baseman Pete Alonso on Wednesday, the Orioles remain engaged with the top end of the starting pitching market this offseason. Baltimore has reportedly been discussing a potential trade for Washington Nationals left-hander MacKenzie Gore, too. Valdez, 32, is expected to be too expensive for Houston's taste as they search for younger, controllable starting pitchers. The veteran southpaw isn't a big strikeout guy, instead leaning on inducing ground balls, but he's been one of the most consistent starters in baseball since 2020. He's also one of just five pitchers to throw 900 innings in the last four years. A move to the AL East wouldn't be ideal for Valdez's fantasy value, but his penchant for keeping the ball on the ground would certainly help.

The New York Mets never made a formal offer to try and bring first baseman Pete Alonso back, a source told MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. It became clear to the Mets that the bidding for Alonso "was heading to places they weren't interested in going." The Baltimore Orioles landed the 31-year-old All-Star for five years and $155 million on Wednesday. It's been a rough week for the Mets, as they also lost former closer Edwin Diaz to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Alonso had a strong 2025 season in his last year in Queens, slashing .272/.347/.524 with 38 home runs and 126 RBI in a full 162 games. The Polar Bear is an elite source of power for fantasy managers, as he's clubbed 264 round-trippers in seven seasons since entering the league in 2019. We shouldn't expect Alonso to hit for average again in 2026 in Baltimore, but he's a pretty good bet for 30-plus homers and 100-plus RBI with the O's if he stays healthy.

The Baltimore Orioles have had steady communication about Washington Nationals left-hander MacKenzie Gore, sources told Jon Morosi of MLB Network. There is no indication that a deal is close, though. The Orioles have yet to complete a trade with the Nationals since the franchise moved to D.C. ESPN's Buster Olney reportedly recently that there is a perception among several front offices that the Nationals will definitely trade Gore this offseason. The 26-year-old southpaw was heading for a breakout 2025 campaign in the first half before fading in the second half while missing time due to ankle and shoulder injuries. He finished with a 5-15 record, 4.17 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 185 strikeouts, and 64 walks in 30 starts (159 2/3 innings) in his fourth MLB season. It would be quite a splash for the O's, who just signed superstar first baseman Pete Alonso to a five-year, $155 million deal.

Free-agent first baseman Pete Alonso and the Baltimore Orioles are finalizing a five-year, $155 million deal on Wednesday, sources tell ESPN's Jeff Passan. Alonso is leaving the Mets to join the American League East. The 31-year-old right-handed slugger was greeted by a cold market last offseason and eventually re-signed with the Mets for two years and $54 million. Alonso opted out of the final year of the deal after 2025, though, and now he's on the move. The Polar Bear had a career-high .272 batting average in 2025 in his final year with the Mets and added 38 home runs, a league-high 41 doubles, 126 RBI, and 87 runs scored in 162 games played. Alonso isn't the best defensive first baseman, but he makes up for it by being an elite slugger at the plate. He has cleared 30-plus home runs in all six of his full seasons and has topped 40 homers three times. Alonso gives the Orioles some much-needed thump in the middle of their batting order.

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder/designated hitter Anthony Santander (back, shoulder) is "finally feeling normal" after back and shoulder injuries limited him to 54 games in his first year with the team in 2025, according to manager John Schneider. Santander was a first-time All-Star in 2024 with the Orioles and had a career-high 44 home runs and 102 RBI before the Jays made him a high-profile free-agent signing last offseason. He was a massive bust in his first year in Canada, slashing .175/.271/.294 with only six home runs, 18 RBI, a 27.6% strikeout rate, and 16 runs in 221 plate appearances in the regular season. The 31-year-old battled a subluxated shoulder and a nagging lower-back injury. Most fantasy managers are going to be avoiding Santander in 2026, so he'll be very cheap, but he'll be losing outfield eligibility. If he can stay healthy, which is a big if, Santander could have a good shot to return to the 30-homer mark.

The Detroit Tigers and right-handed closer Kyle Finnegan agreed to a two-year, $19 million contract on Tuesday night, pending a physical, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN.com. Finnegan will return to Motown after the Tigers acquired him at last summer's trade deadline from the Washington Nationals. The 34-year-old veteran was outstanding in his 16 relief appearances for Detroit, allowing just three earned runs while walking four and striking out 23 in 18 regular-season innings. He also recorded four saves while sharing closing duties with right-hander Will Vest. Finnegan wasn't nearly as dominant with the Nats before the trade, posting a 4.38 ERA and 1.28 WHIP with 20 saves in 39 innings. He was third in the league in 2024 with a career-high 38 saves in D.C. Finnegan returns to an ascending Tigers club, but a fourth straight 20-save season is far from a lock.

The Pittsburgh Pirates and left-handed reliever Gregory Soto have agreed to a one-year, $7.75 million deal, sources tell Jorge Castillo of ESPN. Soto, 30, posted a 4.18 ERA (3.49 SIERA) with a 25.1% strikeout rate across 60 1/3 innings in 2025. For the Pirates, Soto is expected to serve as a high-leverage reliever and could see opportunities in the closer role, depending on matchups. From a fantasy perspective, Soto will be most valuable in leagues that count holds as a category.

The Boston Red Sox are no longer pursuing free-agent shortstop Bo Bichette unless his market changes, according to Julian McWilliams of CBS Sports. The 27-year-old is projected to command a five-year, $130 million contract this offseason. In 2025, he slashed .311/.357/.483 with 18 home runs, 84 RBI, 78 runs, four stolen bases, and a 134 wRC+ across 628 plate appearances. He also posted a .294 xBA while striking out 14.5% of the time. Bichette is widely regarded as one of the best pure hitters in baseball, and wherever he lands, he is likely to occupy the top of the batting order. From a fantasy perspective, he's an excellent asset to boost your team's batting average while still hitting close to 20 home runs.

The Miami Marlins are in discussions with the Baltimore Orioles about a possible trade involving right-hander Edward Cabrera, according to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic. The 27-year-old remains under club control for three more years and is projected to earn $3.7 million in arbitration for 2026. After dealing Grayson Rodriguez to the Angels, the Orioles are seeking another high-end starter to pair with left-hander Trevor Rogers and right-hander Kyle Bradish. In 2025, Cabrera delivered a strong campaign, posting a 3.53 ERA (3.72 SIERA) with a career-high 17.6 K-BB% across 137 innings. For fantasy, a move out of the pitching-friendly LoanDepot Park could be offset by the potential to win more games in Baltimore.

The Boston Red Sox would be comfortable with Marcelo Mayer as their starting third baseman on Opening Day. The 22-year-old endured a rough rookie season, slashing .228/.272/.402 with four home runs, 10 RBI, 20 runs, and no steals while posting an 80 wRC+. He also struck out at a 30.1% clip across 136 plate appearances. His year ended early after a wrist injury that required surgery in August. Looking ahead to 2026, a fully healthy Mayer projects for roughly 15 home runs, 10 steals, and a .250 batting average. At present, he profiles as a viable middle-infield option in deep 12- or 15-team fantasy leagues.

The price for free-agent first baseman Pete Alonso has "likely" risen in light of Kyle Schwarber's five-year, $150 million contract, per Chris Cotillo and Sean McAdam of MassLive.com. Alonso is now expected to seek a six- or seven-year deal, though it's unclear whether the Boston Red Sox would commit to a contract that would carry him through his age-36 or age-37 season. The 31-year-old slugger bet on himself last year by taking a one-year deal with the Mets, and that decision appears poised to pay off. In 2025, Alonso launched 38 home runs and slashed .272/.347/.524 with a 141 wRC+ across a career-high 709 plate appearances. For fantasy managers, Alonso remains one of the safest sources of home runs in the league, and he's played all 162 games in each of the last two seasons.

The Miami Marlins and Eury Perez are reportedly getting closer to agreeing on a five or six-year extension, according to Craig Mish of the SportsGrid. Earlier this spring, the Marlins opened contract-extension talks with P rez, but the two sides were initially about $15 million apart. That gap now appears to be resolved. The 22-year-old flashed legitimate upside in the majors last season, posting a 4.25 ERA (3.80 SIERA) and a 27.3% strikeout rate across 95 innings. Durability and command have been his main shortcomings, but he reached a career-high 118 innings last year while lowering his walk rate. Looking ahead to 2026, P rez has the ceiling of a fantasy ace, and he won't cost you a top-75 pick.

There is mutual interest in a potential extension for Jakob Marsee and the Miami Marlins, but no formal offer has been made, according to Isaac Azout from Fish On First. The 24-year-old burst onto the scene last year, slashing .292/.363/.478 with five home runs, 33 RBI, 28 runs, 14 stolen bases, and a 133 wRC+ in 234 plate appearances. The young outfielder also showed good plate discipline, posting a 9.4 BB% to a 20.5 K%. For 2026, the speedy lefty is expected to steal between 30-40 bases while putting up 10-15 home runs at the top of Miami's batting order. At his current 152 ADP, he is a safe bet for steals with enough on-base skills and emerging pop to return profit even without a major breakout.

The Kansas City Royals' starting pitchers Noah Cameron, Ryan Bergert, and Stephen Kolek are drawing interest from several teams, according to Anne Rogers of MLB.com. The St. Louis Cardinals have specifically checked in on Cameron, who posted a 2.99 ERA (4.33 SIERA) with a 12.8 K-BB% across 138 1/3 innings last season. While Rogers did not specify which clubs are eyeing Bergert and Kolek, it's reasonable to assume that neither pitcher would fetch a significant return. In 2025, Bergert recorded a 3.66 ERA (4.62 SIERA) with an 11.8 K-BB% over 76 1/3 innings, while Kolek logged a 3.51 ERA (4.39 SIERA) with a 10.0 K-BB% across 112 2/3 innings.

The Boston Red Sox have a stronger chance than the Toronto Blue Jays to acquire Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte, largely because Boston has more MLB-ready starting pitching. The 32-year-old is owed $102.5 million over the next six seasons and is coming off a year where he slashed .283/.376/.517 with 28 home runs and a 145 wRC+. The Red Sox could center a deal around one or both of Payton Tolle and Connelly Early. Tolle impressed in the minors last season, posting a 3.04 ERA, 133 strikeouts, 23 walks, and a 0.99 WHIP across 91 2/3 innings. After a late-summer call-up, he struggled in the majors, recording a 6.06 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP over 16 1/3 innings, but the underlying talent remains evident. Early produced even stronger results. Across AA and AAA, he delivered a 2.60 ERA, 132 strikeouts, and a 1.11 WHIP in 100 1/3 innings. In his brief major-league stint, he was dominant, pitching to a 2.33 ERA with a 36.7% strikeout rate while effectively limiting hard contact. Adding Marte would represent a significant upgrade over Boston's current second baseman, Ceddanne Rafaela, who is better utilized in a super-utility or outfield role.

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.

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.

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.

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.