The Winter Conferences, baseball’s annual scorching range extravaganza, will happen subsequent week in Orlando. These determine to be the 4 busiest days of the offseason, with trades and free-agent signings and rumors aplenty. Right here now are Thursday’s scorching range rumors to assist tide you over till issues actually decide up subsequent week.

Cubs anticipated to pursue Imai, have ‘renewed curiosity’ in Bregman

The Cubs are anticipated to be among the many groups that pursue Japanese righty Tatsuya Imai, stories 670 The Rating. Chicago was mentioned to be within the operating for Dylan Stop earlier than he signed with the Blue Jays, indicating a willingness to spend a very good amount of cash. Imai’s 45-day posting window ends at 5 p.m. ET on Jan. 2.

MLB free company: What to learn about NPB, KBO gamers to be posted this winter, together with a house run champion

R.J. Anderson

Even with Shota Imanaga accepting the $22.025 million qualifying provide, the Cubs want one other starter in 2026. Imanaga will re-join Matthew Boyd, Cade Horton, and Jameson Taillon within the rotation, with Javier Assad and Colin Rea serving as depth choices. Lefty Justin Steele had elbow surgical procedure in April and isn’t anticipated again till the center of 2026 on the earliest.

Additional, the Cubs — after failing to signal him final offseason — have “renewed curiosity” in All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman, in accordance with The Athletic. Although a quad harm restricted him to 114 video games, Bregman hit .273/.360/.462 with 3.5 WAR final season for the Purple Sox. The Cubs had rookie Matt Shaw at third, the place he performed nice protection whereas hitting .226/.295/.394 with 3.1 WAR. His offense was a lot improved within the second half.

Nonetheless, there’s loads to think about right here. Shaw has additionally performed second base and Nico Hoerner is about to hit free company after the 2026 season, as are nook outfielders Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki. That is to say that including Bregman would assist solidify the position-player facet for the long run and that Shaw’s versatility means he would not needed should be traded if Bregman have been signed.

Tucker visits Blue Jays’ spring facility

Kyle Tucker, the offseason’s No. 1 free agent, visited the Blue Jays’ spring coaching advanced in Dunedin, Fla., on Wednesday, stories FanSided. The go to signifies honest mutual curiosity, although, as Sportsnet notes, it’s a pretty frequent a part of the recruiting course of. Tucker is from close by Tampa and will go to different spring complexes within the space (Phillies and Yankees, most notably).

The defending American League champions have been one of many offseason’s most lively groups already, signing Dylan Stop and Cody Ponce to bolster what was already a robust rotation. The membership might nonetheless re-sign shortstop Bo Bichette, although issues have been pretty quiet on that entrance. Tucker suits Toronto’s contact/energy offensive strategy and would enhance an already sturdy crew protection.

Mets thinking about Ryan, Bellinger

Depend the Mets among the many groups with curiosity in Twins ace Joe Ryan, in accordance with the New York Submit. The membership is thought to be looking for a high-end starter this offseason and the Twins, who offered exhausting on the commerce deadline, determine to take heed to any and all presents for Ryan. New York’s farm system is pretty deep, probably giving them a leg up in commerce discussions.

The Mets, in addition to the crosstown rival Yankees, are additionally actively courting free agent outfielder Cody Bellinger, stories MLB Community. Even earlier than buying and selling away Brandon Nimmo, the Mets wanted an outfielder this offseason, notably one able to enjoying middle discipline. Bellinger qualifies, although his pull-heavy strategy as a lefty hitter is a greater match for Yankee Stadium than Citi Discipline.

Dodgers speaking Hernández commerce, have curiosity in Suarez

Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández has come up in commerce discussions, in accordance with The Athletic, however a commerce is taken into account unlikely. The 2-time defending World Collection champions already want one outfielder this offseason. A Hernández commerce would create an excellent higher want, although it will give the Dodgers an opportunity to get youthful and higher defensively particularly.

Additionally, the Dodgers have expressed curiosity in free-agent nearer Robert Suarez, stories The Athletic. The membership would like a short-term take care of a excessive annual wage for the soon-to-be 35-year-old. The Dodgers haven’t but proven curiosity in fellow free-agent nearer Pete Fairbanks. Bullpen assistance is a precedence this winter, particularly after Tanner Scott’s disappointing 2025 season. 

Purple Sox looking for middle-of-the-order bat

A middle-of-the-order hitter is on the buying listing for the Purple Sox at subsequent week’s Winter Conferences, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow instructed The Athletic just lately. “Somebody who’s a risk who can hit in the course of the order and may lengthen our lineup goes to be one thing we will pursue. That’s completely a path to enhancing our crew,” Breslow mentioned.

Boston completed fifteenth in residence runs in 2025 and their lineup leans left-handed in the mean time. Alex Bregman match very properly each within the lineup and at third base, so including a middle-of-the-order bat might merely imply re-signing Bregman. Pete Alonso would deal with Boston’s energy deficiency higher than Bregman, however not enhance the fitting facet of the infield protection, which was a weak spot in 2025.

D-backs have had talks with Fairbanks

The Diamondbacks have had talks with free-agent nearer Pete Fairbanks, stories the Arizona Republic. Arizona figures to import numerous pitching this offseason, each starters and relievers. Their bullpen ranked twenty seventh in ERA and twenty seventh in WAR in 2025, and their two greatest relievers, righty Justin Martinez and lefty AJ Puk, will miss the beginning of 2026 after having elbow surgical procedure in June.

Unable to discover a commerce accomplice final month, the Rays declined their $11 million membership possibility for Fairbanks and despatched him out into free company. The reliever market is admittedly transferring — Ryan Helsley, Phil Maton, Emilio Pagán, and Devin Williams have all signed inside the final 10 days or so — and a number of other groups have been linked to Fairbanks. Indicators level to him signing pretty quickly.