The calendar is about to flip to 2026 and there may be nonetheless a lot that has to occur between now and Opening Day. 5 of the highest six free brokers stay unsigned (plus many others) and there are so many commerce candidates who may transfer. Right here now are Monday’s sizzling range rumors and happenings.
Mariners prepared to maneuver high prospects for Donovan
The Mariners are prepared to commerce a few of their finest prospects for Cardinals tremendous utility man Brendan Donovan, together with switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje, studies the Seattle Occasions. Seattle is wanting so as to add a second baseman after dropping Jorge Polanco to free company, they usually’re aiming excessive. They have been linked to D-backs star Ketel Marte along with Donovan.
Cijntje is probably expendable partly as a result of lefty Kade Anderson, the No. 2 choose in 2025, may make an influence as quickly as subsequent season. Seattle has a deep prospect base and Donovan would match very effectively as a result of he may play the outfield, which would depart a path for infielder and high prospect Colt Emerson when the time comes. That may very well be as quickly as Opening Day.
Tigers ‘lukewarm’ on Bregman
Though the Tigers have curiosity in free agent third baseman Alex Bregman, it’s “lukewarm” at finest, studies the Detroit Free Press. The membership hasn’t budged a lot throughout negotiations. Detroit reportedly supplied Bregman a six-year deal within the $170 million vary final offseason, however he clearly picked the Pink Sox. Bregman and Tigers supervisor A.J. Hinch know one another effectively from their Astros days.
It has been a reasonably quiet offseason for the Tigers, who signed veteran nearer Kenley Jansen and journeyman Drew Anderson to short-term offers. Additionally they re-signed setup man Kyle Finnegan. Colt Keith is at the moment in line to get many of the taking part in time at third base, although Detroit’s roster versatile sufficient so as to add Bregman and nonetheless get Keith loads of at-bats at different positions.
Pink Sox pursuing infielders
The Pink Sox proceed to pursue one other bat for the infield even after buying and selling for Willson Contreras, in accordance with the Boston Globe. Amongst their targets are Cardinals tremendous utility man Brendan Donovan, Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte, Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes, and free brokers Bo Bichette and Alex Bregman. Bregman spent 2025 with Boston.
The BoSox and Rockies are the one groups to not signal a major-league free agent this offseason, although Boston has made important trades to get Contreras, Sonny Grey, and Johan Oviedo. They at the moment have a mix of Romy Gonzalez, Marcelo Mayer, and Nick Sogard in line to play second and third bases, so yeah, there’s room for one more addition on the infield.
Orioles carry again Eflin
The O’s have re-signed veteran right-hander Zach Eflin to a one-year take care of a mutual possibility, the crew introduced late Sunday. Eflin will get a $3 million signing bonus with a $5 million wage in 2026, plus a $2 million buyout on a mutual possibility for 2027, studies FanSided. That provides as much as $10 million assured. There’s one other $4 million in bonuses tied to video games began.
Again hassle and a lat pressure restricted Eflin, 31, to 14 principally ineffective begins in 2025. He was a rock stable mid-rotation starter from 2023-24, nonetheless, one with a knack for limiting walks and exhausting contact. Nabbing him for one yr and $10 million assured is a pleasant roll of the cube for an O’s crew that may nonetheless use one other starter, however is far improved this offseason.
Among the many groups concerned about Japanese first baseman Kazuma Okamoto are the Angels, Padres, and Pirates, studies BeisbolFR. Okamoto’s 45-day posting window closes at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, Jan. 4. There may be some thought he’s extra more likely to hit instantly within the large leagues than Munetaka Murakami, who signed a two-year deal value $34 million with the White Sox final week.
We ranked Okamoto, 29, because the Twenty second-best free agent out there this offseason. He is spent his complete profession with the Yomiuri Giants and hit .322/.411/.581 with 15 house runs in 77 video games round an harm to his non-throwing elbow in 2025. Okamoto has performed third base most of his profession, although he is seen extra motion at first lately, and is anticipated to remain there long-term.
Heaney retires
Veteran left-hander Andrew Heaney introduced his retirement on social media over the weekend. “I’ll miss the sport enormously, however all of my experiences and the lasting relationships have made me a greater particular person,” Heaney wrote. Now 34, Heaney went 56-72 with a 4.57 ERA in components of 12 MLB seasons. He began and received Sport 4 of the 2023 World Collection with the Rangers and in addition appeared in a single regular-season sport with the 2025 World Collection champion Dodgers.
