'Growing sense' this 8-time All-Star will be traded (2024)

We're keeping track of all the latest free agent and trade rumors.

Nov. 26: ‘Growing sense’ Arenado will be traded (report)

According to a report from The Athletic's Katie Woo (subscription required), the Cardinals have been exploring the potential trade market for third baseman Nolan Arenado over the past few weeks.

Multiple teams have expressed interest thus far, and while talks haven’t yielded any substantive progress, there’s a “growing sense throughout the industry” that the 33-year-old will eventually be dealt. Discussions are likely to intensify as the Winter Meetings approach.

Per Woo, Arenado is even open to playing more at first base to create roster flexibility for a potential new team, though it’s believed he would only be willing to waive his full no-trade clause to join a club set up to contend for multiple seasons.

Arenado is coming off a down season with the bat (16 homers, 101 OPS+), but he was still worth 3.1 WAR (per FanGraphs) thanks in part to his plus defense at the hot corner.

Arenado could be an attractive alternative to the top third-base options on the free-agent market -- Alex Bregman and Willy Adames, both of whom are expected to command a nine-figure deal and are tied to Draft compensation after declining a qualifying offer. Arenado has three years and $74 million left on his contract, but $10 million of that will be paid by the Rockies.

Nov. 26: How does Snell's deal with Dodgers impact the SP market?

Blake Snell is the first elite free agent to come off the board this offseason. The two-time Cy Young Award winner has agreed to a five-year, $182 million deal with the World Series champion Dodgers, a source told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.

Feinsand also reported that the Yankees, Red Sox and Orioles were in on Snell before he agreed to join the Dodgers. The left-hander had also been linked to the Blue Jays and the Giants, for whom he pitched this past season.

The good news for those teams? There are still a good number of impactful starting pitchers still available. That list is topped by Corbin Burnes and Max Fried, with many of the aforementioned clubs also interested in those two hurlers. Snell's addition may hint that the Dodgers are moving on from Jack Flaherty, but MLB Network insider Jon Morosi recently identified teams such as the Yankees, Padres and Angels as other possible landing spots for the 2024 world champion. Granted, Morosi's report came before the Angels reportedly came to terms on a three-year deal with lefty Yusei Kikuchi.

A couple of Japanese pitchers -- 35-year-old Tomoyuki Sugano and 23-year-old Roki Sasaki -- are on many teams' radars. The Dodgers have long been considered one of the favorites to get Sasaki, although he isn't expected to sign with an MLB club until Jan. 15, when the 2025 international signing period begins.

There are also trade possibilities out there for teams looking to upgrade their rotation. The most talked about candidate is White Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet, who has been linked to a bunch of clubs, including the Phillies, Dodgers, Orioles and Red Sox.

Nov. 26: Five teams submit offers to Soto (source); decision coming soon?

To this point, Juan Soto's free agency has been about meeting with teams and hearing their general pitches -- but that has changed according to MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi, who reports that five teams have submitted contract offers to the 26-year-old superstar. Those teams are the Dodgers, Mets, Yankees and Blue Jays as well as the Red Sox, who are reportedly "stepping up efforts" to sign Soto.

That is obviously a significant step in the process, especially since MLB.com's Mark Feinsand has said that "the feeling around the industry" is that Soto's decision could be made before the annual Winter Meetings get underway on Dec. 9 in Dallas. On Tuesday, Sean McAdam of MassLive.com also reported that there is a "very good" chance Soto's decision comes before the Meetings begin. More >

Nov. 26: Phillies could go after Bregman or Adames (report)

If the Phillies trade Bohm and create a void at third base, Nightengale adds that Philadelphia "is expected to make a strong play" for Alex Bregman or Willy Adames.

Bregman has also drawn interest from the Tigers and Red Sox. Adames has spent his entire seven-year Major League career at shortstop and hasn't played third base since 2013, his first year as a pro. However, he is reportedly open to moving to the hot corner "for the right deal and the right team," according to MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi. Morosi said Tuesday that the Astros are also interested in Adames as a third baseman. Houston would have a clear need at the position if it can't re-sign Bregman.

Adames, who received some down-ballot MVP votes this year, has been a plus defender at shortstop over each of the past three seasons, judging by outs above average. His talent on both sides of the ball and apparent willingness to accommodate a team by moving to third base has created "broad" interest in the 29-year-old, per Morosi.

Nov. 26: Breaking down the Kikuchi deal from all sides

The Angels have been the most aggressive club in free agency this offseason and kept it up with their first big splash, agreeing to terms with lefty Yusei Kikuchi early Monday on a three-year, $63 million deal, a source told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.

Here is a breakdown of this move from all angles, via MLB.com experts. More >

Nov. 25: Phillies, White Sox have had 'extensive talks' about Crochet (report)

The Phillies and White Sox have discussed potential trade packages for left-handed ace Garrett Crochet that include Phillies All-Star third baseman Alec Bohm and highly touted outfield prospect Justin Crawford, per a report from USA Today's Bob Nightengale. More >

Nov. 25: Braves might look to add OF

The Braves could look to add an outfielder in free agency after non-tendering Ramón Laureano last week, Ken Rosenthal reports for The Athletic (subscription required).

According to Rosenthal, the Braves would prefer a left-handed hitting outfielder, because their only current lefty bats are Michael Harris II, Jarred Kelenic, Matt Olson and switch-hitter Ozzie Albies. But they would also be willing to pursue a right-handed hitter.

Even though Atlanta's outfield depth is currently thin, Rosenthal writes that the Braves don't necessarily need to go after one of the top-of-the-market outfielders -- Juan Soto, Anthony Santander, Teoscar Hernández and Jurickson Profar -- because Ronald Acuña Jr. is expected to return from his torn ACL a month or two into the 2025 season.

The next tier of left-handed-hitting free-agent outfielders that the Braves could pursue includes Michael Conforto, Ben Gamel, Jason Heyward, Travis Jankowski, Max Kepler, David Peralta, Mike Tauchman, Alex Verdugo and Jesse Winker.

Right-handed-hitting free-agent outfielders include Mark Canha, Randal Grichuk, Austin Hays, Connor Joe, Manuel Margot, Andrew McCutchen, Tyler O'Neill, Tommy Pham and Michael A. Taylor.

Nov. 25: Veteran FA first basemen could be in demand

The veteran first basemen on the free-agent market could be in demand among teams looking for a more affordable option than Pete Alonso or Christian Walker.

The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reports (subscription required) that the Pirates, Mariners, D-backs and Tigers all could be looking to upgrade at first base, but not for the price tag that Alonso and Walker will likely command. The Nationals could also join that list, although they still might pursue Alonso or Walker.

Rosenthal believes that means there could be plenty of demand for first basemen like Paul Goldschmidt, Carlos Santana, Anthony Rizzo, Josh Bell and Justin Turner.

Nov. 22: Could Bregman reunite with former manager Hinch in Detroit?

The Tigers are interested in free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman, according to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman in an article for the New York Post. Heyman adds that the only club Bregman has played for in the Major Leagues, the Astros, have submitted a contract offer in an effort to re-sign the two-time All-Star, and that the Red Sox have "inquired and could be a fit for Bregman if they move Rafael Devers to first."

If Bregman was to sign with Detroit, it would reunite him with his former manager in Houston, A.J. Hinch. Hinch was the manager when Bregman and the Astros won the franchise's first World Series title in 2017.

Nov. 22: Which teams are most interested in Crochet?

With Garrett Crochet headlining the list of potential trade candidates this offseason, MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reports in the New York Post that four clubs -- the Orioles, Red Sox, Dodgers and Phillies -- are showing the most interest in acquiring the White Sox left-hander. More >

Nov. 22: 'Mutual interest' between Yankees, RHP Buehler (report)

Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler threw the final pitch of this season at Yankee Stadium, closing out Game 5 of the World Series in the Bronx.

Might Yankee Stadium also be where Buehler throws his first pitch in 2025? MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi has been told that there is "some mutual interest" between Buehler and the Yankees, who are looking to augment their starting rotation this offseason. More >

Nov. 22: Royals send RHP Singer to Reds for 2B India, OF Wiemer

The Royals and Reds completed a trade Friday headlined by former college teammates, right-handed pitcher Brady Singer and second baseman Jonathan India, heading in opposite directions.

The Reds bolster their rotation with Singer, who pitched to a 3.71 ERA over a career-high 179 2/3 innings this season. India, the 2021 National League Rookie of the Year, addresses one of Kansas City's top priorities for this offseason: adding more offense. The Royals also received 25-year-old outfielder Joey Wiemer, who hasn't hit much in his limited time in the big leagues but did record eight outs above average while playing for the Brewers in 2023.

Nov. 22: Will Red Sox go after Teoscar if they miss out on Soto?

The Red Sox are definitely one of the teams vying for Juan Soto. However, will this year's No. 1 free agent actually end up with Boston? MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi said Friday that he will be "surprised" if that happens.

If Soto does sign elsewhere, the Red Sox will have to pivot to some of the other big bats on the market, and Morosi considers Boston to be one of the top candidates to sign Teoscar Hernández. More >

Nov. 22: Sugano drawing interest from multiple West Coast teams (reports)

Roki Sasaki isn't the only marquee Japanese pitcher who is expected to make the jump to the Majors this offseason. The 35-year-old Tomoyuki Sugano doesn't possess Sasaki's top-notch velocity, but as a two-time winner of the Sawamura Award -- the Japanese equivalent to the Cy Young Award -- Sugano should have his fair share of suitors.

MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi has identified two of them this week: the Angels and the Giants. More >

Nov. 22: Are these 4 teams the top contenders to sign Flaherty?

During Friday's edition of Hot Stove, MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi mentioned four possible landing spots for Jack Flaherty this offseason: The Dodgers, Yankees, Padres and Angels. More >

Nov. 21: Cubs want to trade Bellinger (report)

Although outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger exercised his player option for 2025, it’s not a guarantee that he’ll be with the Cubs on Opening Day.

According to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal (subscription required), rival executives say that the Cubs want to trade the 29-year-old. More >

Nov. 20: Sasaki not expected to sign with MLB team until Jan. 15

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said Wednesday that Sasaki is expected to be part of the 2025 international amateur signing class, which means the Japanese right-hander likely won't sign with a club before Jan. 15.

Nov. 19: 12 decline qualifying offer; N. Martinez accepts

Thirteen players were tendered a qualifying offer (a one-year, $21.05 million deal for 2025) this offseason, but Reds right-hander Nick Martinez was the only one who accepted prior to Tuesday's 4 p.m. ET deadline.

The following 12 players rejected the qualifying offer and will remain free agents:

Since the system was implemented in 2012, only 14 players to receive a QO have accepted it.

You can read more about year's QO decisions here.