LAS VEGAS — The MLB offseason is in full swing and as Day 1 of the GM Meetings concluded, there is a big interest in this yearâ€s reliever market that features some of the biggest names in baseball.
The reliever market always moves quickly and this year should be no different, especially with a full caliber of players available. This yearâ€s free-agent reliever class is highlighted by Edwin DÃaz, Devin Williams, Pete Fairbanks and Robert Suarez at the top of the market. Industry sources believe the market for the group will also be competitive.
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Teams that have serious needs for high-leverage arms include the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, San Diego Padresand Toronto Blue Jays.
DÃaz had the best year of the group with a 1.63 ERA with 28 saves. Unlike the other three relievers, he is the only player who has a qualifying offer. So if another team ultimately signs the three-time All-Star, it would have to forfeit a draft pick and the Mets would receive draft-pick compensation.
Suarez became a free agent for the first time after opting out of the remaining two years and $16 million of his deal with the Padres. The right-hander went 4-6 with a 2.97 ERA and a NL-leading 40 saves. His 76 saves since 2024 are the most in MLB in that span.
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Williams, 31, had the most interesting season of the group, spending his final season prior to free agency with the Yankees. While the overall numbers donâ€t stand out as the right-hander pitched to a 4.79 ERA in 67 appearances in 2025, underlying numbers tell a different story that could soften the fact that he lost his closer role in the Bronx in late April. Williams owned a 2.68 FIP in 2025 and an eye-popping 0.36 FIP over the final six weeks of the season.
Last but not least is Fairbanks, who might be one of the most consistent relievers in baseball over the past three seasons. The former Tampa closer has at least 23 saves each of the past three seasons and had a career-high 27 saves in 2025.
All eyes on Brewers as decision with trade-target Freddy Peralta looms
The clock has begun on the Milwaukee Brewers as several teams wait to see what the fate of ace Freddy Peralta will be. Peralta, 29, is entering his final year of club control prior to becoming a free agent next offseason and could be one the biggest names to be traded this winter.
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Sources tell Yahoo Sports that a trade for Peralta is “likely,†and unlike other names, like Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, the right-hander is indeed a realistic candidate to be moved.
Brewers ace Freddy Peralta could be on the move as he enters the final season of his deal in Milwaukee. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
(Mary DeCicco via Getty Images)
“Clearly, thereâ€s a lot of interest in Freddy,†Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold said Tuesday. “He means a lot to our group but certainly a ton of interest there. And I’ve said before, we can never shut the door on anything with anybody in our market. We’ve had to make some very tough decisions over the years. … I mean, we want to try to compete next year, and I think he could be a really big part of that like he has for a long time.â€
Peralta is coming off the best season of his career in 2025, with an NL-leading 17 wins and a career-best 2.70 ERA with 204 strikeouts in 33 starts. Milwaukeeâ€s ace has a career 3.59 ERA in 162 starts over eight seasons with the Brewers.
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Nationals make another addition to new-look staff
The Washington Nationals have hired Simon Mathews to be their new pitching coach, the team announced Tuesday. Mathews, 30, has been with the Cincinnati Reds since 2021 and was serving as the teamâ€s assistant pitching coach under Derek Johnson. Mathewâ€s hiring, which was first reported by Yahoo Sports, is unique as he becomes the youngest pitching coach in the big leagues.
Nationals president Paul Toboni, 35, has been turning over Washingtonâ€s front office and coaching staff since he was hired in October and there has been a clear eye on youth. Toboni hired 33-year-old Blake Butera to be the teamâ€s next manager, making him the youngest manager in MLB and the youngest in the last 50 years.
While hiring youth has been the direction the Nationals have taken, Toboni says itâ€s not a requirement to be on Washingtonâ€s staff.
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“I thought about it a lot and one of the ways I think about it is, ‘Let’s just evaluate this person. Completely remove age from the equation,†Toboni told Yahoo Sports after the announcement of Mathewâ€s hire. “Let’s evaluate this person and evaluate on their merits and their knowledge, their intelligence and space and their leadership traits. Like, are they the best fit?
“I almost think about it from a player perspective. Do we talk about the playerâ€s ages at the basic level or do we just say, ‘Hey, can this guy play and produce or can he not play and produce?†And so I view our staff in the same set of ways. Are these guys stud leaders? Are they going to do a really good job creating a culture that we want?â€
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