The annual Winter Conferences start Sunday in Orlando and they’re usually the 4 busiest days of the offseason, with trades and free-agent signings and rumors aplenty. Listed here are Sunday’s sizzling range rumors to get you prepared for the week forward.
Pirates make provide to Schwarber
This is one we weren’t anticipating to see: The Pirates have provided free agent designated hitter Kyle Schwarber a four-year deal probably price greater than $100 million, based on The Athletic. It’s unclear how way more than $100 million the Pirates provided, however they regardless reportedly stay a “longshot” to land the slugger.
The Pirates had been one of many least highly effective groups final season. Their crew chief in house runs was Oneil Cruz with 20. They solely hit 117 house runs, rating lifeless final within the majors by a big margin. The Cardinals had been twenty ninth in homers with 148. Unsurprisingly, the Pirates had been additionally lifeless final in slugging proportion at .350.
Schwarber, 32, his 56 house runs with 132 RBI and a .563 slugging proportion.
Cubs to be aggressive?
The Cubs play in one of many largest markets in baseball, however sat within the teenagers in payroll final season and have not been enormous spenders in free company for practically a decade. Would possibly issues change this offseason? Through The Athletic, “the Chicago Cubs are focusing on the next stage of the free-agent market and signaling an openness to spending for sure gamers, based on crew and league sources briefed on the membership’s deliberations.”
The Cubs had been reportedly in on Dylan Stop earlier than he signed a seven-year, $210 million contract with the Blue Jays and are actually apparently concerned in talks with big-ticket free brokers like Alex Bregman, Michael King and Tatsuya Imai.
It stays to be seen if the Cubs can land any of those massive targets, however to see them related to a few of these gamers in rumors is a little bit of a change.
A number of groups enthusiastic about Donovan
Cardinals tremendous utility man Brendan Donovan is a well-liked commerce goal this offseason. A number of contenders, together with the Astros, Dodgers, Guardians, Royals, and Yankees have checked in him this offseason, experiences the St. Louis Publish-Dispatch. St. Louis must clear an infield spot for prime prospect JJ Wetherholt sooner relatively than later, therefore Donovan’s reported availability.
It’s no secret the Cardinals are taking a step again and never prioritizing short-term competition. In that case Donovan, 29 in January and with two years of crew management, would not match properly with their timeline. He’s a contact/plate self-discipline hitter who has performed each place besides pitcher, catcher, and heart area within the massive leagues, although Donovan suits greatest at second base today.
Giants not making Eldridge off-limits
Giants’ prime prospect Bryce Eldridge will not be thought of off-limits this offseason, based on the San Francisco Chronicle. That doesn’t imply they’re purchasing him or are keen to maneuver him, simply that, in the correct deal, the Giants are prepared to debate Eldridge, who went 3 for 28 (.107) throughout his temporary big-league debut this previous September.
Nonetheless solely 21, Eldridge is a slugging first baseman/DH. The Giants, in the meantime, are locked into Rafael Devers by way of 2033. It solely is smart then to see whether or not Eldridge might be extra helpful as a commerce chip for pitching or maybe a second baseman. He could also be most precious to San Francisco as a commerce chip than as a primary base/DH caddy with Devers long-term.
A number of groups have checked in on Marte
The Rays, Crimson Sox, and Tigers have checked in with the Diamondbacks about All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte, experiences USA Immediately. Marte has a five-team no-trade record, although he’ll choose up 10-and-5 rights on the tenth day of the 2026 season. Which means he’ll achieve full no-trade safety as a participant with 10 years of service time, together with the final 5 years with the identical crew.
Arizona wants pitching this offseason, each starters and relievers, and buying and selling Marte for a number of arms might be their greatest path so as to add low cost younger pitching to the group. Marte, 32, is owed $102.5 million from 2026-31 and, together with his 10-and-5 rights looming, this offseason is the D-backs’ final alternative to commerce him with out worrying about Marte doubtlessly vetoing a deal.
Royals enthusiastic about Yastrzemski
The Royals have curiosity in re-signing outfielder Mike Yastrzemski, based on the Kansas Metropolis Star. Yastrzemski joined the Royals in a deadline commerce with the Giants this previous summer time and was fairly productive down the stretch, hitting .237/.339/.500 with 9 house runs in 50 video games with Kansas Metropolis. We ranked Yastrzemski because the Thirty second-best free agent accessible this offseason.
Upgrading the outfield is a should for the Royals this offseason. Their outfield collectively hit .225/.285/.348 with 37 house runs and an MLB-worst minus-1.1 WAR in 2025. That’s untenable. Kyle Isbel is a succesful gloveman in heart and backside of the order hitter, however bettering the corners is crucial. Yastrzemski or in any other case, the Royals want bona fide outfield bats this winter.
A number of groups enthusiastic about King
As anticipated, Michael King is a well-liked free agent. Along with the aforementioned Cubs, the Mets, Crimson Sox, and Tigers are among the many groups with curiosity within the right-hander, based on the New York Publish. King, 30, missed time with shoulder and knee accidents in 2025, although he confirmed prime of the rotation potential in 2024 and has late-inning reduction expertise. We ranked King because the Seventeenth-best free agent accessible this winter.
King declined the $22.025 million qualifying provide final month, which means the crew that indicators him should give up a draft choose(s) to take action. Boston has already added two starters this offseason (Sonny Grey and Johan Oviedo) they usually have younger arms on the prepared (Connelly Early and Payton Tolle), however there’s by no means any hurt in including extra pitching, particularly somebody like King.
Rays might not transfer high-priced participant?
Regardless of their historical past of buying and selling their highest-paid gamers every offseason, the Rays might maintain on to Yandy Díaz and Brandon Lowe, experiences the Tampa Bay Occasions. Tampa declined their $11 million membership choice for nearer Pete Fairbanks final month, presumably after being unable to discover a commerce match. Díaz ($12 million in 2026) and Lowe ($11.5 million) are the membership’s two highest-paid gamers.
Together with arbitration projections, the Rays have about $85 million on the books for 2026, a contact larger than their $79 million payroll in 2025. The membership is claimed to be in search of a beginning pitcher, with former Ray Zach Eflin reportedly of curiosity. The Rays have new possession, although all indications are the crew is not going to see a big payroll enhance, a minimum of not within the short-term.
Marlins will not commerce Pérez
The Marlins are prepared to debate all their beginning pitchers in a commerce besides Eury Pérez, experiences The Athletic. Which means Sandy Alcantara, Edward Cabrera, and Ryan Weathers can all be pried free for the correct value. Miami reportedly approached Pérez a few long-term extension earlier this offseason, although these talks have but to end in a contract.
Alcantara, who started to look extra like his Cy Younger self late within the season, is owed $17 million in 2026 with a $21 million membership choice for 2027. Even when he is not an ace, these are greater than cheap salaries for a pitcher together with his expertise. Cabrera has three years of crew management remaining. He and Alcantara are two of the offseason’s most evident commerce candidates.
Dodgers, Hernández enthusiastic about reunion
In maybe the least shocking information of the offseason, the two-time World Sequence champion Dodgers and utility man Enrique Hernández have mutual curiosity in a reunion, based on The Athletic. Hernández had surgical procedure on his non-throwing elbow final month and can miss the World Baseball Traditional. His standing for Opening Day is unknown.
Though his offense leaves a lot to be desired today, Hernández is a useful utility participant who can play each place besides catcher, and he is a wonderful clubhouse man. It needs to be famous Hernández didn’t signal with Los Angeles till after spring coaching opened the final two offseasons. This seemingly inevitable transfer might not occur till February once more.
Mariners open to re-signing Garver
The Mariners have curiosity in re-signing Mitch Garver after buying and selling catcher Harry Ford to the Nationals on Saturday, experiences the Seattle Occasions. With Cal Raleigh entrenched behind the plate, Ford was an apparent commerce chip, although Seattle does want a backup catcher. Raleigh is the one catcher on Seattle’s 40-man roster for the time being.
Garver, 35 subsequent month, spent the final two seasons with the Mariners, hitting .187/.290/.341 with 24 house runs and suspect defensive numbers. The Mariners initially signed Garver to be their most-of-the-time DH, although he finally settled into extra of a backup catcher/platoon DH position. We didn’t rank Garver amongst our prime 50 free brokers.
