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At the start of this offseason, the Dodgers signaled a willingness to be patient and methodical in building their roster for 2026.

At the start of this weekâ€s MLB Winter Meetings, at least, the team arrives in Orlando having thus far remained true to form.

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Compared to their whirlwind offseasons the past two winters, the Dodgers have been conspicuously quiet in the wake of their second consecutive World Series championship. Their only free-agent deal has been the re-signing of veteran infielder Miguel Rojas. Their only trade was a swap of minor-league pitchers with the Seattle Mariners. The biggest news, to this point, was their decision to non-tender reliever Evan Phillips (and they could very well wind up bringing him back).

Behind the scenes, there have been efforts for more, of course. The team came up short in pursuit of free-agent relievers Raisel Iglesias and Devin Williams. They have canvassed the trade market and laid potential groundwork for possible future moves.

But for now, exactly what their winter will hold remains a largely unanswered question.

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And, in all likelihood, it could ultimately be dictated by whom theyâ€re willing to part with as they go about re-shaping their roster.

All offseason, the trade market has looked like the Dodgers’ most logical path to upgrading their roster — the place they could most easily shore up their needs in the bullpen and outfield, while still avoiding having to add another long-term contract to their expensive and aging core.

There are targets galore to go after, too, from Brendan Donovan or Lars Nootbaar of the St. Louis Cardinals, to Jarren Duran or Wilyer Abreu of the Boston Red Sox, to potentially even bigger names like Clevelandâ€s Steven Kwan or Minnesotaâ€s Byron Buxton (though the latter is reportedly unlikely to be dealt this offseason).

Oh, and as long as there remains even a slim chance of two-time Cy Young-winning pitching Tarik Skubal getting traded by the Detroit Tigers, you can bet the Dodgers will be monitoring that situation, too.

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For president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and Co., the task will be trying to line up a trade package to pull off on any of those moves.

The Dodgers have plenty of chips to bring to the bargaining table, with ample young pitching depth and a minor-league farm system considered perhaps best in the sport. But balancing it all while finding value is still a challenge. Which is why, as trade rumors fly, donâ€t be surprised to see a potentially wide range of familiar names bandied about in such speculation.

The teamâ€s most obvious trade bait, of course, remains their collection of young talent. They have a crop of highly-touted outfielder prospects they could potentially deal from, including Josue De Paula, Zyhir Hope, Eduardo Quintero and several others. They have a former top prospect in Dalton Rushing, who struggled through his rookie year but still possesses promising raw tools.

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Most of all, they have plenty of young pitchers who could also help fetch a nice return, from ascendant minor-league prospect Jackson Ferris, to returning 2024 breakout rookies River Ryan and Gavin Stone, to potentially even more established big-league names like Justin Wrobleski (a natural starting pitcher who was stuck in more of a swingman role in the bullpen last year) and Emmet Sheehan (who is about at the same stage of his career that former top Dodgers prospect Ryan Pepiot was when he was dealt two winters ago).

The Dodgers, however, are still prioritizing the future. They want to go for a historic three-peat next season. But they also know, at some point in the coming years, they will need to cycle in a new generation of talent to maintain their championship window.

Thus, any young player traded now will come with a potential future cost.

Which could help explain why, in recent weeks, young players have not been the only ones caught up in trade rumors around the team.

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Last month, ESPN cited one anonymous MLB executive who described Tyler Glasnow as a potential “sleeper name†on this yearâ€s trade market. Last week, The Athletic reported that Teoscar Hernándezâ€s name has come up in trade discussions, too.

Granted, the odds of either getting dealt appear low. And for now, they figure to remain key cogs in next yearâ€s pursuit of another World Series title.

At the same time, however, they are also veterans approaching their mid-30s, with significant salaries due over the next several seasons. And if the Dodgers were to find deals to move them — either as a way to shore up other spots of the roster, or to offload money for a potential free-agent signing — itâ€s far from unfeasible that the club could pull the trigger.

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After all, for a front office that is conscious of its rosterâ€s advancing age, and trying to juggle both short- and long-term goals, such considerations reflect the wide net the Dodgers are believed to be casting this offseason; the kind of deliberate, exploratory mode theyâ€ve been in while evaluating potential paths through this winter.

Perhaps this week, the teamâ€s most serious pursuits will become clearer, as they meet with rival clubs during the leagueâ€s annual Winter Meetings at the Signia by Hilton here in Orlando.

But to this point, they are seemingly keeping their options open, content to engage in a slower winter pace as they continue to let both the free-agent and trade market develop around them.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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The winter meetings are just days away, and the tentpole event of the MLB offseason usually provides plenty of movement via trades and free-agent signings.

Going into next weekâ€s events in Orlando, Florida, some teams are under more pressure than others to make a significant move or risk being left on the outside looking in at the offseason action.

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Here are the four teams under the most pressure at this yearâ€s winter meetings.

Chicago Cubs

No one seems to know what the Cubs want to be, including the Cubs themselves. Around this time last year, they were preparing to put a package together to acquire this yearâ€s biggest free agent, Kyle Tucker. Now, after a successful season with Tucker that included winning the NLâ€s top wild-card before being bounced by the Brewers in the NLDS, the expectation is that the outfielderâ€s time in Chicago is over.

If thatâ€s the case, the Cubs are back to where they were last year, with more questions in their lineup than answers. And itâ€s not just their lineup that needs some reinforcements; their rotation needs help as well.

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But beyond the need to add, the pressure on Chicago comes from the fact that the organizationâ€s desire to spend has come into question in recent years, as the ownership group has pulled back from being near the top of the league in payroll. This fall, Cubs fans finally saw their team get back to the NLDS for the first time since 2018, and theyâ€re tired of hearing about the players the team almost signed.

Next week, GM Jed Hoyer and Co. will have all eyes on them, waiting for a big move at the winter meetings.

Bryce Harper’s Phillies and Aaron Judge’s Yankees are among the teams under the most pressure this winter.

(Jonathan Castro/Yahoo Sports)

New York Yankees

Last winter, after losing Juan Soto to the crosstown rival New York Mets, the Yankees pivoted to Cody Bellinger, who filled the void admirably with a strong 2025 campaign. The former MVPâ€s impact on New Yorkâ€s season was significant, as he was not only strong defensively but also provided lineup protection for AL MVP Aaron Judge. This winter, the Yankees could once again lose a pivotal part of their lineup, as Bellinger is one of the best position players available in free agency.

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Beyond the question of bringing back Bellinger, the Yankees need to add a first baseman and reinforcements in the back end of their bullpen. Right-hander Devin Williams signed a three-year, $51 million deal with the Mets earlier this week, and mainstay Luke Weaver is currently a free agent.

The Yankees havenâ€t made any significant moves yet this offseason. GM Brian Cashman was extremely active at the winter meetings in 2024, and it wouldnâ€t be shocking to see his team making moves again this year.

Detroit Tigers

The clock is ticking on the Tigers and their time with two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal. It seems impossible to think Detroit would trade the best pitcher in the world, but reports have indicated that could happen, as theyâ€ve at the very least entertained calls on their ace, who will be a free agent after next season. In that case, the biggest question is how do you get enough value in return for a player of Skubalâ€s caliber, even with just one year of club control remaining?

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After a long rebuild, the Tigers reached the postseason in back-to-back seasons and seem to have a promising future ahead of them. So after all it took to get here, why not extend Skubal? There has been no better pitcher in baseball over the past two years than the Tigers†ace, and no matter the return, you will not be able to replace the type of pitcher Skubal is and the impact he can have on a playoff series. The problem, of course, is money, as the two sides are reportedly more than $100 million apart in extension talks.

If the Tigers know theyâ€re not going to find common ground with Skubal, it would be good business to shop him around and see what other teams might offer. Still, that doesnâ€t feel like the ending either side was hoping for in this situation.

Philadelphia Phillies

On the surface, the Phillies might not seem like a team under a lot of pressure. Over the past five years, theyâ€ve been one of the most aggressive and successful teams in baseball, building a core of talented players on long-term deals and reaching the postseason the past four Octobers. But the Phillies havenâ€t been able to get to the mountaintop, despite advancing to the World Series in 2022 and the NLCS in ‘23.

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Now Philadelphia has real decisions to make regarding the future of its roster, as three major contributors to the teamâ€s recent success are free agents: NL MVP runner-up Kyle Schwarber, left-hander Ranger Suárez and catcher J.T. Realmuto.

The priority for the Phillies this offseason is undoubtedly Schwarber, who is coming off the best season of his career and has been a leader in the Philadelphia clubhouse since he arrived in 2022. It would be devastating for the franchise to lose a guy like that, one of the most respected players in baseball and a fan favorite.

Outside of Schwarber, what moves does president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski have up his sleeve? Even if the Phillies re-sign Schwarber, their roster has some other needs in the lineup and bullpen. The front office has the resources to address them, but theyâ€ll need to work quickly. With the roster getting older and the National League only getting better, Phillyâ€s window could be closing.

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  Buster OlneyDec 3, 2025, 07:00 AM ET

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  • Senior writer ESPN Magazine/ESPN.com
  • Analyst/reporter ESPN television
  • Author of “The Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty”

Major League Baseball’s winter meetings begin next week, and, although we have seen some action already, relatively little has been resolved so far this offseason.

More than 100 relievers are unsigned, major stars from Japan remain up for grabs and many of the best free agent hitters — Kyle Schwarber, Kyle Tucker, Bo Bichette — are still available. Some executives also expect a flurry of trades to be made, as potential dealers account for the possibility of labor strife in 2027 and make moves sooner rather than later, perhaps with the likes of MacKenzie Gore, Joe Ryan and Sandy Alcantara.

“What I’m hearing when I talk to teams is pitching, pitching, pitching,” one agent said. “Everybody is looking for pitching.”

With all that in mind, here are the most glaring needs for some of baseball’s contending teams.

Philly’s everyday lineup has winter potholes.

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There has been a broad assumption around the industry that Schwarber will return to the Phillies because, well, they can’t afford to let him go. To not sign him would be unthinkable, given what he provided in stability (he played in 162 games), power (56 homers and 264 times on base via hit, walk or HBP) and clubhouse presence.

But he’s not under contract yet, and neither is catcher J.T. Realmuto, the leader of the pitching staff. The Phillies also need outfield upgrades and to find a taker for Nick Castellanos.

Their pitching is actually in decent shape, thanks to Cristopher Sanchez & Co., in a winter in which everybody is talking about pitching. But for a team that’s theoretically in its window to win, the Phillies have a lot of work to do within their position player group — and it’s going to cost them.

New York’s signing of closer Devin Williams and trade for Marcus Semien are just the first two of what rival execs and agents expect to be many major moves devoted to run prevention. But all eyes in Mets nation — most notably, those of the owner who has now spent billions trying to win the franchise’s first championship since 1986 — will be on the search for someone to front the rotation.

On one hand, the Mets’ decision to triage their late-season collapse with the rookie pitching trio of Nolan McLean, Jonah Tong and Brandon Sproat was understandable — in that moment, they were the best available options. On the other hand, that one of the highest-spending teams tried this underscored just how thin the Mets were — and still are — in the front of their rotation. This cannot happen again.

It’s very possible that McLean will build on his remarkable late-season performance, and it would be reasonable for the Mets to anticipate a bounce-back year from Sean Manaea. Maybe Tong and/or Sproat will also emerge. And maybe David Peterson will pitch well all the way through the 2026 season, avoiding another late-season slide.

But the Mets need The Guy, and there are candidates in both the trade and free agent markets. Tarik Skubal could be a possibility, although officials with other teams seriously doubt that Mets head of baseball operations David Stearns would give up the vault of prospects needed to acquire Skubal for 2026 and then pay the $400 million-ish cost of his free agency next fall. The Mets could angle for a Joe Ryan trade, although some execs report that Minnesota hasn’t signaled a willingness to deal him. They could target Framber Valdez, maybe the best of the free agent starters.

Whoever it is, they need an ace — badly.

This has been their need for, well, the better part of a decade. Here is how Royals outfielders have ranked in fWAR in the majors over the past five seasons:

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2021: 1.6 fWAR, 29th
2022: 4.4, 19th
2023: 3.3, 23rd
2024: 1.2, 27th
2025: -1.1, 30th

The Royals have 9.4 fWAR from all of their outfielders over the past five seasons combined. Aaron Judge had 10.1 fWAR in 2025 alone.

Jac Caglianone could help to improve these numbers in 2026, but the Royals are likely to also look elsewhere, as they did last winter, when they swapped starting pitching (Brady Singer) for a hitter (Jonathan India). Once again, they can work from their rotation depth to acquire an outfielder at a time when contenders are talking about … pitching, pitching, pitching.

Maybe the Braves already acquired the player who will take the bulk of the playing time at shortstop with the trade for Mauricio Dubon. Maybe they will try to cover the position with a combination of players, rather than chase a star shortstop. But Atlanta needs significantly more from the position than it got in 2025 — 0.5 WAR, which was tied for 28th in MLB. The bar for potential improvement is low, but if the Braves are going to bounce back from the frustrating 76-win season of 2025, they need better — much better — production in this spot.

Bichette might be the best available free agent who has played shortstop, but given the regression in his defensive performance at the position, it’s hard to find evaluators who believe he has a future at shortstop. And history has shown that Braves head of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos does not pay sticker price when signing free agents. He didn’t for his own shortstop, Dansby Swanson, or for other former Braves Max Fried and Freddie Freeman. An Atlanta match with Bichette, whose market value stems from his offensive abilities, seems highly unlikely.

Since the Red Sox allowed Schwarber to walk as a free agent following the 2021 season, there has been major regret within the organization over that decision — not only because of the production that Schwarber provided, but also because of his leadership. Boston faces a similar quandary now with Alex Bregman: After an excellent experience with him in their clubhouse in 2025, the Red Sox know firsthand how he helps other players, especially younger ones.

But retaining Bregman will be expensive, and it’s not clear how much the Red Sox will spend coming off what was a year of progress. If they pay to retain Bregman, they will still need a thumper. At the end of a year in which the division rival Toronto Blue Jays have officially emerged as one of baseball’s money monsters — joining the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Mets and Phillies — will the Red Sox continue to ante up for the rising cost of talent? It’s unclear.

The most notable missed opportunity for any team in the past 15 months was Baltimore squandering its chance to land Garrett Crochet — the Orioles matched up better with the Chicago White Sox than any other team, given their group of position prospects, and the $170 million deal that Crochet signed with Boston wouldn’t have been prohibitive for Baltimore. Crochet went on to lead the Red Sox into the playoffs, and the Orioles finished last in the American League East. Oh, what could have been.

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Baltimore is trying to regain its footing now. The Orioles finally invested a multiyear deal in an arm by signing closer Ryan Helsley to a two-year contract over the weekend. But more is required if they’re going to take advantage of this window when Gunnar Henderson is wearing an O’s uniform.

The Orioles have Trevor Rogers, Kyle Bradish, Dean Kremer, Tyler Wells and Cade Povich among their starting pitchers for next season, but they know firsthand how pitching injuries can derail a season, and they need more rotation options. Nobody expects them to spend like the Yankees, Blue Jays or Red Sox, but Helsley is the only pitcher under contract for 2027. There has to be a greater devotion of resources this winter to this need.

New York Yankees: A veteran outfielder

One rival evaluator said it’s possible that the Yankees could go with what they currently have, now that they’ve retained Trent Grisham to play center alongside Judge in right field. That would mean a full commitment to 22-year-old Jasson Dominguez, who has yet to declare himself an everyday big league player; he had a 101 OPS+ last season and accumulated 0.5 WAR in 381 at-bats. The Yankees could bank on prospect Spencer Jones ascending into their outfield mix in 2026, after he hit 35 homers in Double-A and Triple-A this year (with 179 strikeouts in 506 plate appearances).

But moving in the direction of very young players will be hard to do, given how important veteran Cody Bellinger was to the team in 2025. He was a perfect fit in so many ways — the defense, the positional pliability, the speed, the comfort in the New York market. But some agents and rival evaluators aren’t sure if the Yankees will be willing to pay the price to either retain Bellinger or pursue fellow free agent outfielder Kyle Tucker. If not, they’ll still need to add someone with major league experience — ideally a right-handed hitter who can play center field.

Gleyber Torres was on base a lot for Detroit this past season, accumulating a .358 on-base percentage, and he’ll be back for 2026 after accepting the qualifying offer. The Tigers also have some high-end prospects who will soon manifest in the big leagues, such as shortstop Kevin McGonigle and outfielder Max Clark.

But if they keep Skubal for 2026 — which most rival evaluators believe they will do — in an effort to contend next season before he walks away as a free agent the following winter, they desperately need another masher, somebody who can produce in the No. 3, 4 or 5 spot in Detroit’s lineup and complement Riley Greene and Kerry Carpenter.

Bregman would be a nice fit — just as he would have been last winter, when the Tigers came close to signing him. A hitter like Bichette would also be ideal, but signing him would be expensive — more than the Tigers might be willing to pay to bring in someone who would project as a second baseman or third baseman in the future — and Detroit would have to use some of its payroll flexibility. The only players the Tigers have under contract for 2027 and beyond are Colt Keith and Javier Baez (whose deal expires after the 2027 season).

The Kyle Tucker of April, May and early June transformed this lineup, with his ability to get on base, hit for power and create opportunity. But it’s unclear where the bidding for Tucker’s services will go this winter and whether it’s certain that the Cubs will consider keeping him if he’s out of their price range.

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If the Cubs continue to be conservative with their budgets — and, to date, there’s no reason to think they’ll be big spenders — they’re going to have to offset the loss of Tucker in whatever ways they can. Maybe that’s by loading up on pitching by pursuing the likes of Ryan and trying to make do with an offense that ranked 20th in runs scored in the second half of 2025. Or maybe they pursue a thumper. But they need something.

As he was last winter, Bregman would be a perfect fit in how he plays both defensively and offensively. But signing him was too expensive for the Cubs last winter.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Bullpen help

Let’s be clear: This is hardly a panic situation that requires overpaying. The late-inning hole in the relief corps existed throughout October, and the Dodgers still won their second consecutive World Series title. They also have internal candidates for the closer role — including Tanner Scott, who was signed to a four-year, $72 million deal last winter — and a possible fallback option for 2026 in Roki Sasaki, who demonstrated in the playoffs that he has the ability to be a lockdown force in the late innings.

But the Dodgers still view Sasaki as a future starter — to go with their other cast of rotation stars — and given their desire for a three-peat, it would behoove them to add a reliever who could reliably take the eighth or ninth innings of big games.

Here’s one more great thing about the heights the Dodgers now occupy in the MLB universe: Veteran free agents want to play for them for a chance at a ring, to the point that they might even pass up better offers from other teams. Great players want to play for the Dodgers. At some point, they will bolster their bullpen.

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• Kiley McDaniel

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  Kiley McDaniel

  ESPN MLB Insider

  • ESPN MLB Insider
  • Kiley McDaniel covers MLB prospects, the MLB Draft and more, including trades and free agency.
  • Has worked for three MLB teams.

  Co-author of Author of ‘Future Value’

Dec 2, 2025, 07:00 AM ET

With baseball’s annual winter meetings set to begin next week in Orlando, Florida, and some intriguing moves already stoking the fire of this hot stove season, it’s time to rank the top players who could be included — or at least rumored to move — in trades the rest of the winter.

Baseball’s trade market is constantly evolving, and to keep you updated, we have ranked the top 25 potential trade candidates based on players’ performance — and identified the teams that could be involved in potential deals.

Though some of the players on this list are unlikely to be dealt, they’re at least being discussed in potential deals, and other names could emerge in updates to this list as the offseason plays out.

Note: Players ranked by value for their new team if traded, not likelihood of being dealt.

The buzz:Despite several executives believing Skubal will move, the Tigers have shown no sign of deviating from their position that the back-to-back American League Cy Young winner will stay in Detroit. Though he’s a free agent after 2026 and contract extension discussions have gone nowhere, Skubal is the Tigers’ centerpiece player, and Detroit intends to contend again next season.

The scouting report: After back-to-back AL Cy Young awards, Skubal is the best pitcher in the game, with Paul Skenes on his heels. Like most aces, Skubal tinkered to find an extra gear. Skubal’s changeup was the best in baseball this past season by a significant margin. His usage of the pitch over the past five years went from 12% in 2021 to 15% in 2022 to 24% in 2023 to 27% in 2024 and 31% in 2025, his most-used pitch.

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The velocity of his fastball (+1.8 mph) and changeup (+3.7 mph) has gone up over the past two years with the same, if not better, pitch movement. Skubal throws his slider at a cutter velocity, giving him a third plus pitch to go with durability (190-plus innings in both Cy Young years) and standout control and command. How long can Skubal, who turns 30 after the 2026 season, keep this up?

Predicted chance of getting traded: 10%

Team fits: Mets, Dodgers, Orioles, Yankees, Red Sox, Giants

The buzz:Teams believe they’ll have a better sense after the winter meetings of the Diamondbacks’ seriousness about moving the best second baseman in baseball. Marte has a very reasonable five years and $91 million (plus a sixth-year player option at $11.5 million) remaining on his contract, which means Arizona would want a whale of a return.

The scouting report: Marte is tied for the 13th-best player in baseball by WAR over the past three seasons (15.3 WAR in total). He’s 32 and is an average baserunner and defender at second base, so his value is mostly tied to his bat. That should last for a while, though, as he’s well-rounded at the plate, having better-than-average walk and strikeout rates, power numbers, contact rate and on-base percentage.

Predicted chance of getting traded: 40%

Team fits: Pirates, Giants, Phillies, Mariners, Royals, Athletics, Mets

The buzz:Though many expected a Peralta trade soon after Brandon Woodruff accepted the qualifying offer, the Brewers aren’t approaching the winter focused on dealing their top starter. If they get blown away by an offer, they won’t hesitate, but for now, the plan is to enter the year with Woodruff, Peralta, Jacob Misiorowski and Quinn Priester anchoring their rotation.

The scouting report: Peralta is going into the last season of his extension, making $8 million this year. He is drawing interest despite having just one year left on his deal because he’s a No. 2 starter and has averaged a 3.30 ERA and just under 150 innings per season since 2021, while clearing 165 innings each of the past three seasons. He relies on his fastball in an era where that isn’t en vogue, but it works due to his combination of command and a low release created by extension and a lower slot. His changeup is a plus pitch, and his breaking stuff is good enough to be effective against right-handed hitters.

Predicted chance of getting traded: 25%

Team fits: Mets, Orioles, Rangers, Giants, Astros, Diamondbacks, Padres

The buzz:Cincinnati’s cadre of excellent arms — Greene, Andrew Abbott, Nick Lodolo, Chase Burns, Brady Singer, Rhett Lowder — has opened the door for the best of the bunch to move. Don’t bet on it, though. The Reds have Greene for four more years at $60 million, and in a world where Dylan Cease is getting $210 million over seven years, frontline pitchers on inexpensive contracts are extremely valuable.

The scouting report: Greene’s heater averages 99.4 mph, which was by far the best in baseball among starters. The pitch was effective, too: the second-best fastball among starters on a per-pitch basis.

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Greene has just two other pitches — a slider and splitter — that both sit in the upper-80s. He somehow started throwing his slider 2.9 mph harder in 2025 but with almost exactly the same amount of movement, so it’s now a plus pitch, too. He can work on fine-tuning his splitter locations and/or adding a fourth pitch, along with trying to exceed his career high of 150â…“ innings in a season.

Predicted chance of getting traded: 10%

Team fits: Padres, Giants, Orioles, Mets, Athletics, Diamondbacks

The buzz:Buxton is willing to waive his no-trade clause — and not just for Atlanta (he’s a Georgia native) — which puts the Twins in an interesting position. If the paucity of front-line free agent outfielders prompts a team to make an offer for Buxton, how seriously would Minnesota take it? And if Buxton goes, does that mean the Twins would be open to dealing some of their pitching, too? The Twins are one of the most fascinating teams this winter because of the possibilities at their disposal.

The scouting report: Buxton’s tools have been considered top of the charts since he was drafted No. 2 out of high school in 2012. He’s a top-of-the-scale runner, an above-average defender and he has a solid arm.

At the plate, he has standout bat speed that helps compensate for middling pitch selection. Buxton has the third-best isolated power in the league since 2020 (behind only Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani), but Buxton has roughly half the number of homers as those two in that span because of various injuries that have limited his playing time.

Last season, he had career highs in plate appearances (542) and WAR (5.0). Did Buxton figure something out about his durability at age 31 or did things fall just right? The price is right, with three years of control for just over $15 million per year.

Predicted chance of getting traded: 35%

Team fits: Braves, Mets, Tigers, Reds, Phillies, Royals

6. Joe Ryan, RHP, Minnesota Twins

The buzz:For all the rumors about Ryan at the trade deadline, the Twins never came close to finalizing a deal. If the cost remains high for free agent pitching, teams could turn to trades to fill their rotation holes, at which point Minnesota again would be a match for just about anyone. Having three of the eight best trade candidates is a good place to start a rebuild.

The scouting report: Ryan has an elite fastball, not because of his fringe-average velocity or ordinary movement, but because of his very low release height (big extension + low arm slot = flat plane and thus whiffs) and plus control. Take that key fastball/control combination and add durability (between 135 to 171 innings each of the past four seasons) along with five other solid pitches to keep hitters honest, and you have a solid No. 2 or No. 3 starter. He’s still in his 20s and has two years left of team control, so the asking price will be high.

Predicted chance of getting traded: 50%

Team fits:Red Sox, Mets, Orioles, Rangers, Giants, Astros

The buzz:The Red Sox are valuing Duran more like the seven-win player of 2024 than his 4-win version in 2025. Either way, his addition can instantaneously make a team better, and Boston can hold out for a big return because the Red Sox don’t have to deal him. At some point, though, the Red Sox will have to move Duran or Wilyer Abreu. Keeping full-time-quality players for less than full-time roles rarely works out well.

The scouting report: Duran has elite bat speed and foot speed, along with a good arm, so his physical tools can lead to a return to something like his star performance from 2024. His foot speed pays off in elite baserunning value, ranking third in baseball over the past three seasons combined at +23 runs. His true talent level seems quite close to his 2025 production, which is still one of the top 35 position players in the sport. Duran has a ton of trade value because he’s still in his 20s and has three years of control.

Predicted chance of getting traded: 50%

Team fits: Tigers, Royals, Giants, Pirates, Phillies, Mets, Reds, Diamondbacks

8. Pablo Lopez, RHP, Minnesota Twins

The buzz:With No. 2 starter potential, Lopez would slot into every big league rotation. He is signed for two more years at a reasonable $43 million. Similar to Ryan, he’s eligible for free agency after the 2027 season, and with the coming expiration of the collective bargaining agreement, teams are pricing in the potential of lost games in ’27 to any trade offer, making deals for players with two years of control particularly tricky.

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The scouting report: Lopez’s fastball has long been his standout pitch, with his sweeper emerging as another weapon in the past few seasons. Forearm and shoulder issues limited Lopez to 75â…” innings in 2025 after three seasons averaging 180-plus innings per year. Lopez has gone between a No. 2 and No. 3 starter the past five seasons, but he turns 30 in March, so it’s still a bit of a gamble to expect that to continue.

Predicted chance of getting traded: 50%

Team fits: Mets, Orioles, Giants, Astros, Padres

The buzz:Teams expect Gore to be wearing a different uniform by the end of 2026. They just aren’t sure whether a deal will happen now or at the trade deadline in July. New Washington president of baseball operations Paul Toboni has held discussions with multiple teams about Gore, but the ask is understandably high. Gore’s impending free agency after 2027 complicates things somewhat.

The scouting report: Gore was the No. 3 pick in the 2017 draft but didn’t find big league success until 2024. He has been solid the past two years, ranking 23rd in pitcher WAR in that span, but hasn’t quite made the jump to a frontline starter that some envisioned years ago.

Gore throws at least 80% fastball/slider to lefties and at least 80% fastball/curveball to righties, so developing a fourth viable pitch shape could be the key; the best pitching development clubs excel at this.

Predicted chance of getting traded: 30%

Team fits: Yankees, Orioles, Rangers, Giants, Diamondbacks

The buzz:Though it looked like Kwan would be moved before the July 31 deadline, he remained in Cleveland, and the belief among other executives is that will remain this winter. The Guardians aren’t expected to spend significant money this offseason, and their offense is paltry enough that moving Kwan — when a playoff spot in the AL Central is well within reach — doesn’t make sense.

The scouting report: Kwan is an elite defensive left fielder despite just average raw foot speed and is among the best contact hitters in the sport despite bottom-of-the-scale bat speed. Kwan has a fantastic sense of the strike zone and bat-to-ball ability, and he can make the most of his tools. Even with middling physical tools, he’s a steady 3-to-4 win player because of his incredible feel for the game. He has two years of team control left.

Predicted chance of getting traded: 25%

Team fits:Giants, Pirates, Mets, Phillies, Royals, Tigers, Astros

The buzz:The Cardinals are not eager to trade Donovan, but the market for him is percolating, and a number of teams see the 28-year-old as an option at second base, third base or left field. Because of his excellent bat-to-ball skills and gap power, Donovan can bat leadoff or occupy a middle-of-the-order role on a team with boppers. Almost nobody is off-limits as new president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom retools the Cardinals, and Donovan is the best of the available bunch.

The scouting report: Donovan has two years of control left at very affordable arbitration rates before free agency. He has plus ability to get on base, though the rest of his game is around average. He primarily plays second base, with some versatility, and hits left-handed. Donovan is a steady 3-win player with more value than most fans realize.

Predicted chance of getting traded: 75%

Team fits: Dodgers, Mariners, Yankees, Red Sox, Pirates, Giants, Royals, Guardians

12.CJ Abrams, SS, Washington Nationals

The buzz:Abrams made his first All-Star team in 2024 and followed with a nearly identical 2025. And at just 25, he’s in his prime. So why isn’t he higher on this list? His defense at shortstop is not good, and the Nationals — with a dearth of quality big league players — will not trade one to teams unwilling to pay a premium for his age, position and control.

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The scouting report: Abrams has been the worst defensive shortstop over the past three seasons (-31 runs), with the next-closest player at -15 runs. But he is a solid hitter, with close to average power and on-base figures, and is also an elite baserunner, ranking sixth in baseball over the past three seasons (+18 runs) due in large part to his 109 stolen bases in that span.

If he were to excel defensively in center field while leveling up at the plate, he could still grow into a star, but those are two pretty big ifs.

Predicted chance of getting traded: 35%

Team fits: Pirates, Giants, Royals, Guardians

13. Wilyer Abreu, OF, Boston Red Sox

The buzz:It has long been expected that either Duran or Abreu would be dealt once Roman Anthony arrived, and with Boston seeking big bats on the free agent market, either outfielder could bring back some necessary pitching. Abreu is three years younger than Duran, has won back-to-back Gold Gloves in right field and comes with four years of club control, which makes the high asking price understandable.

The scouting report: Abreu is elite in right field, ranking second in runs saved behind Fernando Tatis Jr., and Abreu also has a plus-plus arm despite average foot speed. At the plate, he’s more good than great, with a power-and-patience approach that produced 22 homers last season. He’s going into his age-27 season this year, which is typically the peak age for most players.

Predicted chance of getting traded: 50%

Team fits: Tigers, Giants, Pirates, Phillies, Mets, Royals, Astros

The buzz:The former first-round pick finally broke out last year, earning an All-Star bid with a sub-3.00 ERA and the peripherals to match. Then, he suffered a shoulder injury and didn’t pitch in August or September. Any deal for Bubic is a bet on his health, and though Kansas City might have to tap into its rotation to get an outfield bat, he is perhaps the best combination of performance and affordability, questions notwithstanding.

The scouting report: Bubic added a slider in 2025 to bridge the gap between his fastball, changeup and sweeper, and it helped him look like a frontline pitcher for 20 starts, even as his fastball velo decreased a tick due to his longer outings. He’s not the same pitcher as fellow Royals lefty Cole Ragans, but a pretty similar situation (transitioning from reliever to starter with Kansas City in 2023) happened with him, and Ragans posted 4.9 WAR in his next season, en route to a fourth-place AL Cy Young finish in 2024.

Predicted chance of getting traded: 30%

Team fits: Mets, Orioles, Rangers, Giants, Diamondbacks, Padres, Angels

The buzz:On a $12 million deal (with a $10 million club option that vests at $13 million with 500 plate appearances next year), Díaz’s contract is very affordable. Whether the Rays are willing to trade him is another question. They’ve got Jonathan Aranda at first base. They’ve got enough DH at-bats to go around. And yet, there’s skepticism that they’ll move Díaz, who has spent the past seven years with the team.

The scouting report: Diaz, 34, doesn’t offer much baserunning or defensive ability, but he’s reliable at the plate. If he can get close to last year’s numbers — .300 average and 25 homers — he’ll be a huge bargain, and his option would be an easy pickup. Given his age, his bat speed could decrease soon.

Predicted chance of getting traded: 25%

Team fits: Padres, Marlins, Reds, Diamondbacks, Pirates

The buzz:Contreras always hits, and even with $41.5 million owed over the next two years (with a club option for a third), teams could use his on-base skills. He has expressed his desire to stay in St. Louis, though, and with a full no-trade clause through the end of 2026, threading the needle on the right deal could be a time suck for a team that needs to spread its bandwidth wisely.

The scouting report: Contreras moved to first base full time in 2025 and was a standout defensively, ranking third in baseball in runs saved. His plate discipline is just OK, but he always does damage at the plate, in large part due to his bat speed, which ranks eighth in baseball. He has posted 2.7 to 3.5 WAR five years in a row, and is a solid bet, especially considering he is a 33-year-old right-handed-hitting first baseman.

Predicted chance of getting traded: 15%

Team fits:Padres, Marlins, Diamondbacks, Pirates

The buzz:A perpetual trade candidate, Lowe is in the final of two option years after a six-year extension. At $11.5 million, his contract is affordable enough that teams with holes at second base could try to wheedle the Rays into moving him. Tampa Bay loathes taking a step back, though, and considering the activity of the Rays’ AL East compatriots, only a strong offer would do the trick.

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The scouting report: Lowe’s defense at second base hovered around average to slightly below for most of his career, but it regressed to -9 runs last season while his baserunning value turned negative for the first time in his career. Lowe, 31, is beginning to regress physically but still has impact in the batter’s box, leading to 31 homers and a .256 average last season.

Predicted chance of getting traded: 25%

Team fits: Pirates, Marlins, Padres, Giants, Royals, Guardians, Mariners

The buzz:The hard-throwing Cabrera exceeded 100 innings for the first time in his career in 2025 and flashed frontline starter ability. Is that enough for teams to try to acquire him? Due to Cabrera’s injury history, his ceiling and three years of control, a deal like this is tough to gauge. The Marlins understandably want premium prospects back, and teams understandably are wary of the red flags.

The scouting report: Even though he averages 97 mph with his four-seam and two-seam fastballs, the shape of Cabrera’s heater is ordinary, and the outcomes are quite bad as a result. On the bright side, his slider, curveball and changeup are all above-average-to-plus pitches, and he has solid control, so it’s a matter of playing into his strengths. Cabrera turns 28 in April and comes with three years of control at arbitration prices and big upside if he can build upon his career high of 137â…” innings.

Predicted chance of getting traded: 40%

Team fits: Yankees, Orioles, Giants, Astros, Diamondbacks, Padres, Rays

The buzz:If Keller, 29, is moved — and the Pirates would like to deal a starter for a bat — the return might be an every-day player with a hefty salary commensurate to Keller’s than a collection of prospects. At $55.7 million for the next three seasons, Keller provides value more as an innings eater than a top-of-the-rotation pitcher.

The scouting report: Keller is reliable, ranking sixth in baseball in innings over the past three seasons (548â…”). Keller’s raw stuff is more good than great, with average velocity on his fastball and sinker, along with a standout sweeper; he’s a steady No. 3 or No. 4 starter.

Predicted chance of getting traded: 60%

Team fits: Rangers, Astros, Angels, Athletics, Mets

The buzz:As the Padres grapple with a rotation that needs three spots filled behind Nick Pivetta and Joe Musgrove, who is returning from Tommy John surgery, their financial state comes into play. They need to move money, and dealing Cronenworth is the easiest route to do so, with his appealing versatility and five years and $60 million remaining on his deal.

The scouting report: Cronenworth doesn’t have big tools or a huge upside, but is a steady player with medium tools and outstanding control of the strike zone. Being average to a touch above across the board while playing second base and hitting from the left side makes him a solid every-day player with a high floor and lots of contractual control.

Predicted chance of getting traded: 25%

Team fits: Mariners,Pirates, Marlins, Royals

The buzz:Now is finally the time, it seems, for Robert to move. The White Sox held on to him after his excellent 2023, hoping to cash in at the deadline in 2024. Then, Robert cratered and took his trade value with him. Though Chicago wouldn’t be giving him away, the combination of two bad years and a substantial salary would limit the return on any potential deal.

The scouting report: The White Sox picked up Robert’s $20 million option for 2026, and they have another $20 million club option for 2027. He still has elite tools — in the 90th or better percentile, per Baseball Savant, for sprint speed, defensive range, and bat speed — but has been inconsistent, injured and unlucky on balls in play over the past two seasons. His 4.9 WAR campaign in 2023 (.264 average, 38 homers, 20 stolen bases, plus defense) is what Chicago or any team that acquires him is banking on seeing again, rather than the combined 1.9 WAR since.

Predicted chance of getting traded: 60%

Team fits: Giants, Phillies, Mets, Reds

The buzz:Alcantara’s return from Tommy John surgery was so-so, and the market for him at the trade deadline reflected that. At $17.3 million this year (with a $21 million club option for next season), teams aren’t clamoring to give Miami the return it would need to give him up. At the same time, with a rotation of Alcantara, Cabrera, Eury Perez, Ryan Weathers, Max Meyer and Braxton Garrett — plus the best left-handed pitcher in the minor leagues, Thomas White, on the doorstep — dealing a pitcher makes sense.

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The scouting report: Alcantara is 30 years old and his 2022 NL Cy Young is in the rearview. He’s back to supplying bulk, with 174â…” innings in an up-and-down 2025 season after having elbow surgery that caused him to miss the 2024 season. Alcantara’s power sinker (averaging 97.2 mph in 2025) has been his best pitch most seasons, but he needs to find an out-pitch to regain his past form; his slider and changeup are the leading options and have shown flashes.

Predicted chance of getting traded: 30%

Team fits: Orioles, Rangers, Giants, Astros, Angels

23. Brady Singer, RHP, Cincinnati Reds

The buzz:If the Reds were to trade a starter, Singer would make much more sense than Greene or Abbott. He’s a free agent after this season, and taking a trade the Reds already won (for Jonathan India last winter) and parlaying it into even more is an ideal scenario.

The scouting report: Singer has one year of control remaining at roughly $12 million, pending arbitration. Singer has thrown between 150 and 180 innings each of the past four seasons but with below-average fastball velocity (92.2 mph, a sinker), so he can be classified as an innings eater. His slider (and sweeper) are his best pitches, delivered from a low release due to his low arm slot and big extension.

Predicted chance of getting traded: 25%

Team fits: Orioles, Rangers, Giants, Astros, Padres, Rays

The buzz:Bohm being dealt could depend on the Phillies’ other moves. If they miss out on Kyle Schwarber and pivot to Alex Bregman, Bohm is as good as gone. If they spend their money elsewhere, they still could move him and either acquire a stopgap at third or run with top prospect Aidan Miller. In a winter of change in Philadelphia, Bohm is among the likeliest of Phillies not to return.

The scouting report: Bohm has one year of control left at roughly $10 million, pending arbitration. His numbers regressed a bit in 2025, with his walk and strikeout rate, along with his power numbers and defensive metrics, all taking a step back. If he could get back to his 2023-24 levels of power (50-plus extra-base hits both seasons), Bohm could be a nice bounce-back candidate.

Predicted chance of getting traded: 50%

Team fits: Brewers, Mariners, Pirates, Angels

The buzz:The acquisition of Marcus Semien took away McNeil’s at-bats at second base, and he’s not a great defensive outfielder, which, for a team looking to shore up its fielding, is suboptimal. The expectation, then, is that McNeil will be dealt, even if New York needs to eat some of his $15.75 million deal (with a $2 million buyout on an option for 2027).

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The scouting report: McNeil is a “nice to have” utility player who can play capably all over the field and hit at a league average or better rate from the left side. He’ll be 34 in April, isn’t an impact type of player and has had some injuries the past few seasons. But he’s a valuable role player on a contender or a nice upgrade for a smaller-market club looking to upgrade its offensive floor.

Predicted chance of getting traded: 80%

Team fits: Pirates, Giants, Royals

15 more who could move

Nolan Arenado, 3B, St. Louis Cardinals

Nick Castellanos, OF, Philadelphia Phillies

Triston Casas, 1B, Boston Red Sox

Jasson Dominguez, OF, New York Yankees

Kyle Freeland, LHP, Colorado Rockies

Nolan Gorman, 2B, St. Louis Cardinals

Ryan Jeffers, C, Minnesota Twins

Jake Meyers, CF, Houston Astros

Ryan Mountcastle, 1B/OF, Baltimore Orioles

JoJo Romero, LHP, St. Louis Cardinals

Kodai Senga, RHP, New York Mets

Luis Severino, RHP, Athletics

Alek Thomas, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks

Mark Vientos, 1B/3B, New York Mets

Christian Walker, 1B, Houston Astros

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Every champion can point to an important move, whether itâ€s a blockbuster trade, a splashy free-agent signing or an under-the-radar pickup whose full impact is only revealed months later. Here is a look back at the biggest addition made by each of the past 31 World Series winners, since the beginning of the Wild Card Era. (This list only includes moves made during the prior offseason; crucial Trade Deadline deals are a different conversation).

2025 Dodgers: Signed LHP Blake Snell
The World Series champion 2024 Dodgers made the biggest possible offseason move (see below). The ‘25 team couldnâ€t match that but they were very active on the Hot Stove in pursuit of a second straight title. Not all of those moves worked, but Snell came as advertised — at least when he was healthy. The two-time Cy Young Award winner missed a large chunk of the season with a shoulder issue but posted a 2.35 ERA over his 11 regular season starts, including three brilliant outings in a row as the team closed out the NL West title. That carried into Snellâ€s first three postseason outings, all of which were wins and two of which featured just one hit allowed. The Blue Jays roughed up Snell in his two World Series starts, but he bounced back for a clutch relief appearance in Game 7.

2024 Dodgers: Signed DH Shohei Ohtani
We say DH, but of course, the Dodgers didnâ€t hand Ohtani a record-breaking contract just to hit. He should be back as a two-way player in 2025. But for the first year of Ohtaniâ€s deal, his bat was plenty. The first 50-50 season in MLB history, on his way, more than likely, to his third MVP Award? Check. Leading the NL in OBP, slugging OPS, OPS+, runs scored, homers and RBIs? Check. An NL West title, his first trip to the postseason, and most importantly, a World Series ring? Check again.

Ohtani was hardly the Dodgers†only significant pickup coming off a second straight shocking NLDS exit at the hands of a division foe. The club also reeled in a pair of high-octane right-handers: Yoshinobu Yamamoto (signed out of Japan for $325 million) and Tyler Glasnow (acquired via trade from the Rays, then signed to a long-term extension). But it was Ohtani who made the biggest splash, then hit a key homer in his playoff debut against the Padres and crushed the Mets in the NLCS (1.185 OPS). While a shoulder injury put something of a damper on Ohtaniâ€s first World Series — though he played through it — he still came away with his first World Series title to cap Year 1 in Dodger Blue.

2023 Rangers: Signed RHP Nathan Eovaldi
Eovaldi had already developed a reputation as a big-game pitcher prior to signing with the Rangers after his time with the Red Sox. He only strengthened that reputation with a dominant 2023 playoff run with Texas. After making the All-Star team in the regular season and pitching to a 3.63 ERA across 144 innings, Eovaldi took it up a notch in the playoffs. The right-hander joined Stephen Strasburg as the only pitcher to go 5-0 in a single postseason and posted a 2.95 ERA in six starts.

He saved his biggest win for last with six scoreless innings in a winning effort that secured the first World Series in Rangers franchise history. It wasn’t Eovaldi’s crispest outing — he allowed nine baserunners — but he navigated through trouble until the Rangers’ offense tacked on late runs, and the legend of Big Game Nate continued.

2022 Astros: Re-signed RHP Justin Verlander
The Astros’ first World Series title came in 2017, and Verlander was a huge reason why after Houston acquired the former MVP and Cy Young Award winner from the Tigers prior to the Trade Deadline. That October, Verlander was named ALCS MVP following a masterful performance against the Yankees. When the veteran right-hander was a free agent following the ’21 campaign, the Astros re-signed him to a one-year contract with a player option for another season. The move paid big dividends despite Verlander missing most of the 2020 campaign and all of the ’21 season due to Tommy John surgery. Verlander posted an MLB-best 1.75 ERA over 28 starts during the ’22 regular season before helping Houston return to the World Series and win it in six games over the Phillies after losing to the Braves in the prior year’s Fall Classic.

2021 Braves: Signed RHP Charlie Morton
Unfortunately for Morton, his 2021 season ended in Game 1 of the World Series, when a comebacker off his right leg fractured his fibula. Still, the veteran played a huge role in Atlantaâ€s first title since 1995, an opportunity that opened up when the Rays declined his $15 million club option for 2021. The Braves quickly snatched him up for that same price, bringing Morton back to the organization that originally drafted him (third round, 2002) and called him up to the Majors (2008) before trading him to the Pirates in June 2009. The right-hander showed he still had plenty left in the tank at age 37, tying for the MLB lead in starts (33), while going 14-6 with a 3.34 ERA and 216 strikeouts — production that was all the more important when Mike Soroka missed the entire season due to injury. This is Mortonâ€s second appearance on this list in a five-year span (see below).

2020 Dodgers: Traded for RF Mookie Betts
If you canâ€t beat him, acquire him. So it went for the Dodgers, who fell to Betts†Red Sox in the 2018 World Series — one of seven straight seasons in which L.A. fell short of a championship after winning the National League West. When Betts became available heading into his final season before free agency, the Dodgers pounced. It took some time, including a three-way deal with the Twins that fell through, but Betts finally wound up in Dodger Blue in February 2020, in exchange for outfielder Alex Verdugo and two prospects. He quickly signed a 12-year extension to stay in L.A. through 2032, then finished as the NL MVP runner-up while leading the Dodgers to their long-awaited first title since 1988.

2019 Nationals: Signed LHP Patrick Corbin
Many times, teams use free agency to address a weakness. But sometimes, fortifying a strength works just as well. Washington already had a Big Two of Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg when it landed Corbin with a six-year, $140 million deal coming off the southpawâ€s breakout 2018 in Arizona. Corbin carried that success to D.C., posting a 3.25 ERA in more than 200 innings. His three scoreless relief innings in Game 7 of the World Series made him the winning pitcher in a championship clincher.

2018 Red Sox: Signed DH/OF J.D. Martinez
After finally signing a five-year, $110 million contract in late February, Martinez slashed .330/.402/.629 with 43 homers and 130 RBIs — good enough to win Silver Slugger Awards at both of his positions in the same year. He kept right on raking in October (.923 OPS, 14 RBIs in 14 games) as the Sox cruised to their fourth championship in 15 years.

2017 Astros: Signed RHP Charlie Morton
Houston exploded out of its deep rebuild in 2015 and by the 2016-17 offseason was looking to put the finishing touches on a championship club. In came catcher Brian McCann, right fielder Josh Reddick and DH Carlos Beltrán. But Morton made the biggest impact, not only during a breakout regular season (3.62 ERA in 25 starts) but also in the postseason. Signed for only $14 million to a two-year deal after missing most of 2016 due to injury, Morton won Game 7 in both the American League Championship Series (with a five-inning start) and the World Series (with a game-ending, four-inning relief outing).

2016 Cubs: Signed 2B/OF Ben Zobrist
Coming off a breakout 2015 playoff run, Chicago signed starter John Lackey and right fielder Jason Heyward away from the rival Cardinals and ultimately re-signed center fielder Dexter Fowler as well. They also landed Zobrist, who got a four-year, $56 million contract to bring his versatility and on-base skills to Wrigley Field. Zobrist capped a successful year by taking World Series MVP honors, after hitting the go-ahead double in the 10th inning of Game 7.

2015 Royals: Signed RHP Edinson Vólquez
Kansas City didnâ€t sit on its heels after coming up just short in Game 7 of the 2014 World Series. The roster saw a few key departures and several additions, including Vólquez, who signed a two-year, $20 million deal to replace James Shields. Vólquez would go on to reach the 200-inning mark in 2015 (3.55 ERA), and his quality starts in Games 1 and 5 of the World Series — right after his fatherâ€s death — helped K.C. win both contests (the latter of which clinched a championship).

2014 Giants: Signed RHP Tim Hudson
San Francisco was looking to supplement Madison Bumgarner, Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum as it sought a third straight even-year championship. So the club inked a two-year, $23 million deal with Hudson, who was heading into his age-38 season after a stellar, nine-year run in Atlanta. The righty responded with his fourth All-Star campaign, delivering a 3.57 ERA over 31 starts.

2013 Red Sox: Signed RF Shane Victorino
This was an extremely eventful offseason in Boston, with John Farrell replacing Bobby Valentine as manager after a last-place finish and then-GM Ben Cherington orchestrating a roster overhaul. (The Sox already had jettisoned Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez in a massive, money-saving deal with the Dodgers in August 2012). Sluggers Mike Napoli and Jonny Gomes, shortstop Stephen Drew and closer Koji Uehara all were savvy additions, but none was bigger than Victorino. Signed for three years and $39 million, he responded with one of his best seasons, hitting .294/.351/.451 with 15 homers, 21 steals and 6 WAR, per Baseball-Reference.

2012 Giants: Traded for CF Ãngel Pagán
San Francisco swung two trades for outfielders that offseason, landing Melky Cabrera from the Royals and Pagán from the Mets, the latter in exchange for fellow outfielder Andres Torres and reliever Ramon Ramirez. Cabrera put up gaudy numbers (.346/.390/.516 in 113 games) but then was hit with a season-ending PED suspension. Meanwhile, Pagán became the Giants†regular center fielder and leadoff hitter, enjoying a great all-around season that included 29 steals and an MLB-best 15 triples.

2011 Cardinals: Signed OF/1B Lance Berkman
St. Louis took a one-year, $8 million shot on the 35-year-old Berkman bouncing back from a disappointing 2010 season. It couldnâ€t have gone much better. The six-time All-Star slashed .301/.412/.547 with 31 homers and 94 RBIs, then posted a 1.093 OPS in the World Series, including a game-tying hit in the 10th inning of Game 6.

2010 Giants: Signed 1B/OF Aubrey Huff
It wasnâ€t the most active offseason for the Giants. Righty Santiago Casilla became a key bullpen arm (1.95 ERA in 52 games) after signing a Minor League deal, but the biggest Hot Stove selection for the club was Huff. Signing for just $3 million after a down year in Baltimore and Detroit, the 33-year-old led San Francisco in OPS (.891), homers (26) and RBIs (86).

2009 Yankees: Signed LHP CC Sabathia and 1B Mark Teixeira
In 2008, the playoffs took place without the Yankees for the first time since 1993. (Oh, the horror!) This would not stand. In response, the Bombers dropped a combined $341 million on Sabathia and Teixeira, not to mention more than $80 million on righty A.J. Burnett. They also swung a trade with the White Sox for outfielder Nick Swisher. All four of those moves paid dividends in 2009, when Sabathia and Teixiera combined for more than 11 WAR, the former leading the AL in wins (19) and the latter in homers (39) and RBIs (122).

2008 Phillies: Traded for RHP Brad Lidge
The year before, Philly had won 89 games and its division but without a great solution at the back of the bullpen. So the club sent outfielder Michael Bourn and two other players to Houston for Lidge and infielder Eric Bruntlett. Lidge hadnâ€t been great from 2006-07, but he recaptured his peak form in ‘08 with a 1.95 ERA, 41 saves and 92 strikeouts. He then put together a scoreless postseason, saving seven of the Phillies†11 wins.

2007 Red Sox: Signed RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka
There was a frenzy for Matsuzakaâ€s services when Japanâ€s Seibu Lions posted the 26-year-old sensation, and Boston spent more than $100 million combined to win that bidding and then work out a six-year contract. While the rightyâ€s MLB career ultimately went awry, he was quite solid in 2007, giving the Sox more than 200 above-average innings (108 ERA+) and notching wins in Game 7 of the ALCS and Game 3 of the World Series.

2006 Cardinals: Signed INF/OF Scott Spiezio
The 2005-06 offseason was more notable for the players the Cardinals lost from the previous seasonâ€s 100-win club than for those they acquired. The most productive of the latter group was Spiezio, a 33-year-old who signed a Minor League deal in February 2006 after going 3-for-47 for Seattle in ‘05. Out of nowhere, Spiezio enjoyed a career year in a part-time role (.862 OPS) and came up with a huge, clutch triple in the NLCS against the Mets.

2005 White Sox: Signed RF Jermaine Dye
The White Sox got a significant makeover heading into manager Ozzie Guillénâ€s second year at the helm. GM Ken Williams acquired four starting position players (Dye, Tadahito Iguchi, A.J. Pierzynski, Scott Podsednik) and three key relievers (Dustin Hermanson, Bobby Jenks, Luis Vizcaíno), in addition to starting pitcher Orlando Hernández. All contributed, with Dye swatting 31 homers and earning World Series MVP honors by batting .438/.526/.688 in a sweep of Houston.

2004 Red Sox: Traded for RHP Curt Schilling
In 2001, Schilling had teamed with Randy Johnson to bring a title to Arizona. Two years later, Boston paired him with Pedro Martinez, acquiring him from the D-backs in exchange for four players. Once again, bringing together two superstar veteran pitchers worked wonders. For his part, Schilling went 21-6 with a 3.26 ERA while tossing 226 2/3 innings, then bolstered his postseason legend.

2003 Marlins: Signed C Ivan Rodriguez
Trades for center-field sparkplug Juan Pierre and lefty Mark Redman also worked out, but signing Pudge to a one-year, $10 million deal in late January was the icing on the cake. Despite questions about his health — heâ€d missed time with a back injury in 2002 — Rodriguez went on to start 134 games behind the plate and post an .843 OPS while guiding a talented young pitching staff. His 10 RBIs against the Cubs helped net him NLCS MVP honors.

2002 Angels: Traded for DH Brad Fullmer
The Halos†improvement from 75 to 99 wins was driven more by a homegrown core than outside help, although veteran pitchers Kevin Appier (acquired from the Mets for Mo Vaughn) and Aaron Sele (signed) provided 58 combined starts. The highlight was probably Fullmer, who came over in a small deal from Toronto and hit .289/.357/.531 with 19 homers, then stole home — as part of a double steal — in the World Series.

2001 D-backs: Signed RF Reggie Sanders
Arizona already had a talented, veteran-laden team in place heading into 2001 and then bolstered it by bringing in the 33-year-old Sanders and 37-year-old first baseman Mark Grace. Both hit well. Sanders — coming off the worst season of his career — slugged .549 and bashed a career-high 33 home runs in just 126 games.

2000 Yankees: Re-signed LHP Mike Stanton
The Yankees already had won two consecutive championships and three of the past four, so itâ€s not as if the roster required major reinforcements. (Stanton, a reliever, had been with the team since 1997). Instead, the Yanks†biggest splash would be a midseason trade for Clevelandâ€s David Justice, who went on to hit 20 homers in just 78 games.

1999 Yankees: Traded for RHP Roger Clemens
The 1998 Yankees had won 114 games before cruising on a championship run that included a World Series sweep of the Padres. Not content to stand pat, they swung a February trade for the Rocket, who had just won back-to-back AL Cy Young Awards with the Blue Jays, prompting owner George Steinbrenner to say, “You can equate this with getting a Michael Jordan.†The 36-year-old Clemens actually took a big step back in 1999, with just a 4.60 ERA (102 ERA+), but he was brilliant in a pair of postseason victories.

1998 Yankees: Traded for 3B Scott Brosius
There were plenty of moves made after New York lost in the 1997 ALDS, including trading for four-time All-Star second baseman Chuck Knoblauch and signing pitcher Orlando “El Duque†Hernández following his defection from Cuba. But the move that made the biggest impact on the team in ‘98 was the Yankees dumping underachieving pitcher Kenny Rogers (and eating $5 million of his remaining salary) in exchange for Brosius, who the year before had posted a .576 OPS for Oakland. Brosius responded by making his only All-Star team, driving in 98 runs with an .843 OPS, and best of all, earning World Series MVP honors.

1997 Marlins: Signed OF Moises Alou
The Marlins went on a shopping spree that also included free agents Alex Fernandez (17-12, 3.59 ERA) and Bobby Bonilla (.846 OPS, 96 RBIs). Then there was Alou, who inked a five-year, $25 million contract and put together an All-Star season that included 115 RBIs and a huge World Series performance (1.101 OPS, three homers, nine RBIs).

1996 Yankees: Traded for 1B Tino Martinez
This was the beginning of a dynasty driven in part by a homegrown core but also supplemented liberally with outside help. Among the additions for 1996: catcher Joe Girardi, second baseman Mariano Duncan, outfielder Tim Raines and starters Kenny Rogers and Dwight Gooden. The biggest acquisition was Martinez, who came over from Seattle with pitchers Jim Mecir and Jeff Nelson to replace the retired Don Mattingly. Nelson was a key reliever in the Bronx, and Martinez collected 25 homers and 117 RBIs.

1995 Braves: Traded for OF Marquis Grissom
A key part of the 1994 Expos team whose title shot was erased by the strike, Grissom was shipped to Atlanta before the delayed start to the ‘95 season. While he had a down year offensively, Grissom still stole 29 bases, won a Gold Glove Award in center field and got red-hot in the postseason (1.012 OPS).

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Even the world champs have an offseason wish list.

The Dodgers might be back-to-back World Series winners, but they still have multiple needs to address before they start their quest for a three-peat in 2026.

Here are three goals for the rest of L.A.’s offseason.

1) Add an impact outfielder

The Dodgers are one of the teams in most need of an outfield upgrade going into 2026. They have Teoscar Hernández, who’s been great in L.A., but after that the situation gets murkier.

Tommy Edman is versatile enough to be a valuable player in the outfield when healthy, but his ankle issues limited his ability to play there for most of the 2025 playoffs. Andy Pages is talented enough to be a difference-maker on offense and defense, but his hot-and-cold streaks are dramatic and he took a lot of uncompetitive at-bats in the postseason. Alex Call didn’t play a whole lot down the stretch after his trade from the Nationals. And Michael Conforto struggled all year, was left off the postseason rosters and is now a free agent.

All that means adding an impact outfielder via free agency or trade should be one of the Dodgers’ top goals for Opening Day 2026.

Kyle Tucker is the marquee free-agent option — the 28-year-old is a four-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger who has an .878 OPS and has averaged 33 home runs per 162 games over the last five seasons. If Tucker commands a longer-term deal than the Dodgers are looking for, given that the team’s top prospects are outfielders who could be ready by 2027, there are other interesting names.

Maybe a reunion with Cody Bellinger is their best bet? The Dodgers’ former MVP has had a resurgent few seasons since leaving L.A., including 29 home runs and an .813 OPS this year with the Yankees.

The Dodgers are reportedly interested in both Tucker and Bellinger. But those two certainly won’t be the only outfielders they get linked to this winter.

This is also a big one. The Dodgers’ bullpen was one of their biggest strengths on their 2024 title run. But it was one of their biggest weaknesses in 2025. Los Angeles scraped by in the playoffs thanks to a historically dominant starting rotation — and by using those starters as relievers.

Roki Sasaki took over as L.A.’s primary playoff closer, but he’s going back to the starting rotation in 2026. And just look at how the Dodgers covered the biggest innings of the season in Game 7 of the World Series, when they turned to Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell and finally Yoshinobu Yamamoto in relief.

So the 2026 Dodger bullpen will have to look a whole lot different. This team needs a closer, particularly after Tanner Scott’s rocky season, and probably more fresh arms on top of that considering the high volatility of the relief corps in 2025.

Luckily, there are plenty of late-inning options out there in free agency, chief among them Edwin Díaz — the Dodgers are generally considered one of the best fits for the three-time All-Star closer — but also big arms like Robert Suarez and Pete Fairbanks and bounceback candidates like Devin Williams and Ryan Helsley. The Dodgers will have their elite starters again next season, but they’ll need to target some of these relievers to build a bullpen like they had in 2024.

3) Inject some youth into the lineup

The Dodgers have a star-studded lineup. But they also had the oldest lineup of any team in 2025, with an average batter age of 30.7 years according to Baseball Reference’s calculations, which are weighted for each hitter’s games played and at-bats.

The Phillies (30.3 years) were the only other team with an average batter age over 30, and the average batter age for an MLB team was 27.9 years.

Essentially all the key hitters in Los Angeles are in their 30s, including Freddie Freeman (36), Max Muncy (35), Mookie Betts (33), Hernández (33), Shohei Ohtani (31), Will Smith (30) and Edman (30). That’s not really a worry, per se — it’s not like these are aging stars who are long past their prime. But the Dodgers still might want to inject a young bat or two into the mix.

MLB is full of young stars these days, and that’s one thing the Dodgers don’t really have, at least on offense.

Now, it’s not like those players grow on trees, especially in free agency, where Tucker, Bo Bichette and Munetaka Murakami are three of the only big-name hitters still in their 20s. So if the Dodgers want to get younger — in a way other than bringing up their own top prospects to the big leagues — they might have to go out and trade for someone.

That could help set them up for World Series contention again in 2026, and also beyond.

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You are allowed to yell at me for what you are about to read here. And many of you probably will.

But the goal of this annual column is not to make friends. The goal is to make trades.

Star-for-prospect swaps? Sure, those are cool.

But in the spirit of the holiday, we are going to overstuff ourselves here.

What follows are big, bold — and, to be abundantly clear, UNLIKELY — trades not only involving names that have been in the rumor mill but, in every instance, involving three teams!

So yell at me, if you must. I can take it. When you concoct fake three-team trades, you run the risk of upsetting three fan bases at once.

Thatâ€s a risk Iâ€m willing to take in the name of conversational content. Because few things are more fun than talking trades. Even fake ones.

1) The most Cys-mic swap of all

Mets get: LHP Tarik Skubal

Tigers get: RHP Paul Skenes

If the Tigers trade Skubal, then the Mets are the perfect fit. But unless the Mets were to move Rookie of the Year candidate Nolan McLean in such a deal, itâ€s hard to see a deal where the Tigers could still be taken seriously as a World Series contender.

Somehow getting Skenes would sure do the trick.

Here, I canâ€t stress enough that weâ€re trying to have some fun with these ideas and that we donâ€t actually expect the Pirates to deal Skenes (Iâ€m also still skeptical the Tigers actually deal Skubal, but weâ€ll see).

This, however, is a scenario in which you could reasonably argue that the Tigers and Pirates are properly taking advantage of the trade value of their respective aces.

The Mets would be getting the bona fide ace their rotation sorely needs, and youâ€d have to like their chances of extending Skubal — perhaps before he even reaches free agency (à la Francisco Lindor).

The Tigers would replace one of the two best pitchers in the sport with … one of the two best pitchers in the sport. And Skenes is under contractual control through 2029 — a timeline that better meshes with their emerging core than what they have currently with Skubal.

The price would be necessarily steep for both squads, but the Mets would be improving their World Series aspirations for 2026 while the Tigers would be maintaining theirs and also better positioning themselves for the future.

As for the Pirates, they might be going into this winter with the intent to spend to amplify their offense for Skenes, who received all of 11 runs of support total in his 10 losses in 2025. But letâ€s be honest: They feel more than a (realistically priced) bat or two away from contention. This trade would give them a healthy stash of prospects (including four Top 100 guys in Williams, Tong, Clark and Rainer) that would make Pittsburgh a much more viable force in 2027 and beyond.

Who says no? Everybody. Although maybe the LSU alum Skenes would enjoy pitching for a team named the Tigers again.

Orioles get: LHP MacKenzie Gore, C Keibert Ruiz

Phillies get: C Adley Rutschman

The Orioles need front-line pitching, and thereâ€s been some buzz this winter about them possibly dealing cornerstone catcher Rutschman after inking his understudy, Samuel Basallo, to a long-term extension.

That buzz is probably premature. Basallo might not be ready to inherit the catching role full-time, and the Oâ€s would be selling low on Rutschman after a down 2025.

But our job here is to trade people!

Here, the Oâ€s get Gore, who is two seasons from free agency and coming off his first All-Star season. While his second half (6.75 ERA) was nowhere near as strong as his first (3.02), Gore is coming off his age-26 season, and his struggles really revolved around a brutal four-start stretch in late July/early August. By and large, he misses a lot of bats, heâ€s made at least 27 starts each of the last three seasons, and thereâ€s reason to believe that a team can unlock the ace potential of this former No. 3 overall Draft pick.

Given the cost of high-upside pitching, Gore is arguably worth more than Rutschman in a trade right now. So in this deal, the Oâ€s take on the contract of Ruiz (owed $36.9M through 2030), who can share the catching duties with Basallo until the youngster is deemed ready for a more pronounced role.

The Phillies, meanwhile, get younger in the lineup and find a strong replacement for 34-year-old free agent J.T. Realmuto. Again, Rutschman is coming off an uninspiring year, but he certainly has the potential to boost the Phillies†lineup and has some demonstrated upside.

In exchange for shoring up the catching spot and getting out from any personality issues and the $20 million owed to Castellanos in 2026 (money that can be applied to re-signing Kyle Schwarber or whatever the Phils wish to do with it), Philadelphia has to fork over a very valuable infield prospect.

As for the Nats, theyâ€d deepen their system considerably and, importantly, they would also be getting out of the long-term entanglement with Ruiz by taking on a short-term entanglement with Castellanos, who can do some DHâ€ing for them until heâ€s cut loose or maybe dealt at the Deadline. This helps free up the books longer term for a new front-office regime.

Who says no? Everybody. Although one would have to imagine thereâ€s some kind of “BaltiGore†marketing to be done with this deal.

Reds get: OF Byron Buxton

Astros get: RHP Brady Singer

Buxton declared himself “a Minnesota Twin for life†last summer, though it has been reported that he might reconsider if the teardown we saw at the Trade Deadline continues. (Buxton has a full no-trade clause, complicating any deal. Again, even fake ones.)

Here, to fulfill my duty to trade as many stars as possible, Iâ€m operating on the assumption that the Minnesota rebuild does continue, even though that might not necessarily be the case.

Buxton would be perfect for a Reds team that could use its pitching depth to address a lineup in need. At roughly $15 million each of the next three seasons, he likely fits their payroll in ways the most prominent free-agent bats do not.

Singer, who is entering his final year of arbitration, does not fit a Twins team in transition but does fit an Astros team that needs an affordable mid-rotation arm.

So the Reds get an All-Star center fielder coming off perhaps his best season, the Astros address a rotation likely to lose Framber Valdez, while the Twins get prospects from each.

Who says no? Everybody … including, possibly, Buxton himself.

4) Call it a mini (Minny?) Mookie trade

Dodgers get: OF Jarren Duran

Red Sox get: RHP Joe Ryan

Well, if weâ€re going to design a rebuilding plan for the Twins, we might as well keep going. This trade reunites the three teams that conspired on the dual 2020 deals that ultimately brought Mookie Betts to the Dodgers.

This deal wouldnâ€t be as big a blockbuster as that one, but itâ€s still a big one.

I had this fake trade sketched out prior to Bostonâ€s deal for Sonny Gray – a trade that improved their rotation but still leaves them in need of a Dude behind Garrett Crochet. The Sox get one here in Ryan, who is under control through 2027 and coming off an All-Star season in which he had a 125 ERA+ (25% better than league average) in 171 innings.

With Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu looking like an elite outfield, Boston possibly has the luxury of moving Duran, who is due to make $8 million in 2026 and is under control through 2028.

Given that control, maybe Duran would appeal to the Twins, but, again, weâ€re operating under the assumption that theyâ€d be going with a full-scale youth movement here.

So instead, we send Duran to the Dodgers, who might stop short of paying top dollar for Kyle Tucker or Cody Bellinger but could surely stand to shore up their outfield with someone of the 29-year-old Duranâ€s power-speed combo caliber.

The Twins get another bounty of prospects here for what would instantly be one of the strongest systems in the sport.

Who says no? Everybody. Although you have to admit this trade would give the Twins some Hope.

Mariners get: UTIL Brendan Donovan

Mets get: 3B Nolan Arenado, RHP/LHP Jurrangelo Cijntje (Mariners†No. 8 prospect)

Cash is a complicating factor in this trade, but letâ€s try it anyway.

The Mariners have highly touted prospects Cole Young and Colt Emerson as long-term options in their infield. But Young did not assert himself in 2025, Emerson has yet to debut and Seattle is clearly in win-now mode. Donovan, who has the ability to play second or third, fits their immediate need in the infield and is under control through 2027.

Seattle and St. Louis could, of course, just work out a swap together. But in this deal, in keeping with our three-team theme, weâ€re going to use the Mariners to help the Cards move some money.

Here, the Mets take on the $37 million owed to Arenado through 2027. While his bat has sagged, Arenadoâ€s glove is a hot corner upgrade for a Mets team clearly focused on run-prevention (as evidenced by their trade for Semien). And to offset some of the financial burden theyâ€re (ably) taking on, the Mets add the intriguing switch-pitcher Cijntje to their system.

Though it only costs them money and a flier of a prospect, Iâ€ll be the first to tell you I donâ€t love this trade for the Mets, but I didnâ€t love the Semien swap, either. At least this move is intellectually consistent with that. It allows Mark Vientos to move to first if the Mets donâ€t re-sign Pete Alonso. And if they do sign Alonso, Vientos is trade bait.

The Cards arenâ€t getting as much back for Donovan as they would in a more straightforward swap of him. But in this deal, that Arenado money is off their books, plus they add the potential power bat of Montes (who could be big league ready as soon as 2026).

Who says no? Everybody except Arenado, who is more open to a trade than ever.

6) Brewing up a blockbuster

Brewers get: 2B Brandon Lowe, 1B/DH Yandy Díaz, LHP Cam Caminiti (Braves†No. 1 prospect), OF Diego Tornes (Braves†No. 14 prospect)

Braves get: RHP Freddy Peralta

Brandon Woodruffâ€s decision to take the qualifying offer wonâ€t necessarily compel the Brewers to move staff ace Peralta a year ahead of his free agency, but it did increase the odds of a deal.

The Brewers obviously had a fantastic season with the lineup as it was, but the postseason was evidence that they need more power. A Peralta trade could help them land it, and here weâ€ve supplied them that in the form of Lowe and Díaz, both of whom are pending free agents on reasonable salaries. Lowe could take over second base, with the Gold Glove-winning Brice Turang able to slide over to short in place of Ortiz, whose bat didnâ€t pan out in 2025. Díaz can play first base, where Rhys Hoskins is a free agent and the magic of Andrew Vaughn may have begun to run out when he went homerless in his last 35 regular-season games.

Acquiring MLB’s No. 72 prospect in Caminiti and a fun lottery ticket in the 17-year-old Cuban native Tornes rounds out a nice package for a Brewers team parting with a year of Peralta and four of Ortiz.

The Braves strengthen their rotation considerably with Peralta, while chipping into Tampa Bayâ€s return. The Rays get a couple prospects and an MLB shortstop option in exchange for two guys on expiring contracts.

Who says no? Everybody. These are three teams particularly prone to surprising us when it comes to transaction activity, so I donâ€t claim to be able to forecast what theyâ€re thinking.

Bonus Blockbuster: Record-breaking bartering!

*Red Sox get: 1B Jake Burger*

*Rangers get: C Ryan Jeffers*

*Marlins get: 1B Triston Casas*

*Diamondbacks get: RHP Sandy Alcantara*

*Guardians get: 3B Alec Bohm*

*Phillies get: CF Alek Thomas, RHP Braylon Doughty (Guardians†No. 8 prospect)*

I was on such a roll constructing bad trades involving more than two teams that I figured I might as well go for the record for most teams involved in a single trade (good or bad).

The current record, as far as I know, is four teams. This seven-team spectacular (?) blows past it … and solves (?) a lot of roster questions in the process.

We start with an assumption that the Red Sox try to re-sign Alex Bregman and therefore are not necessarily deep in the market for Alonso. There would still be a need to improve the run-production. While getting a healthy Casas back by Opening Day would provide upside, perhaps they would be hesitant to go into a season assuming much from him after he posted a .580 OPS prior to a major knee injury.

So Boston gets Burger, who had his own struggles in Texas last year but still managed to produce league-average offense while dealing with a wrist issue that required offseason surgery. He comes with three years of club control and seems a decent bet to provide above-average offense going forward.

That, unfortunately, means selling low on Casas. Given Casas†potential, that might be a faulty proposition that can send this entire house of cards crumbling. But Casas has basically missed two seasons of big-league development due to injuries and might fit better on a team like the Marlins (in his hometown, no less!) thatâ€s trying to build a winner.

In exchange for Burger, the Rangers get catching help in the form of Jeffers, who provides better offensive production at roughly the projected salary of the non-tendered Jonah Heim.

In exchange for Casas†potential, the Marlins are perhaps selling low on Alcantara after his iffy year but also moving the $17.3 million heâ€ll make in his final guaranteed year of control (with a $21 million team option for 2027).

Alcantara goes to a D-backs team in need of starting pitching and might be leery of long-term free-agent pacts given the way recent ones have panned out for them. They punt on Thomas, a center fielder whose well-rounded tools just havenâ€t come to fruition in the big leagues yet and who might benefit from a change of scenery.

The Phillies take on the 26-year-old Thomas for their iffy outfield and clouded center-field picture, hoping that he can blossom within their veteran-laden lineup. And they reinvent themselves a bit by moving on from Bohm, whose final year of club control looks relatively expensive, given his below-average defense at the hot corner and down year at the plate in 2025.

Bohm goes to the Guardians, bringing a needed right-handed stick to a team for whom even league-average production is an upgrade. While he can spell José Ramírez on occasion, Bohmâ€s primary role in Cleveland would be at first base and DH.

The rest of this monstrosity of a trade is rounded out by prospects — the Twins (who I believe we have sufficiently rebuilt in this column) getting a couple back for Jeffers, the Phillies offsetting the downgrade in proven productivity theyâ€re taking on with Thomas.

Who says no? Everybody. Thatâ€s seven teams saying no. Itself a new record!

Now if youâ€ll excuse me, Iâ€m going to mute my notifications and change my email address and identity.

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The Red Sox reached the postseason this year for the first time since 2021, losing to the Yankees in the American League Wild Card Series.

There were many positives that came from the 2025 campaign for Boston, including a sensational performance by ace Garrett Crochet in his first season with the club, as well as a healthy season from shortstop Trevor Story, a successful debut campaign from Roman Anthony and a vintage performance from closer Aroldis Chapman.

But there is much work to do this offseason as the Sox try to build off of their 2025 success and move toward their first World Series championship since 2018. Itâ€s already begun for Boston with a trade to acquire veteran right-hander Sonny Gray to bolster the starting rotation.

Hereâ€s a look at three goals for Boston the rest of the offseason:

The lineup was above average in several categories last season (ranked fourth in the Majors with a .254 batting average, seventh with 786 runs scored and ninth with a .421 slugging percentage). But the Red Sox need more thump in the lineup.

After sending Rafael Devers to San Francisco last season and finishing 15th in baseball with 186 home runs, Boston could use some more slug, and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has emphasized the need for a power bat, particularly given how power can influence postseason results.

Alex Bregman opted out of the remaining two years on his contract with Boston after posting an .821 OPS with 18 home runs last season. Boston could re-sign the veteran third baseman, but the club will need more than what Bregman can offer in the power department.

2. Land another frontline starter

Gray has a proven track record, but could the Red Sox be in the mix for more starting pitching? According to Breslow, the answer is yes — he said that “itâ€s early in the offseason†and that there is still potential for “opportunities materializing.â€

Who might some targets be?

Adding one of those arms could create a three-headed monster at the front of Bostonâ€s rotation.

3. Replenish the â€pen

Bostonâ€s bullpen was tremendous in 2025, with Red Sox relievers posting a second-ranked 3.41 ERA. Chapman was incredible in his age-37 campaign, finishing with a 1.17 ERA, 37.3% strikeout rate and 32 saves. And Garrett Whitlock emerged as a great setup man, pitching to a 2.25 ERA with a 31.1% K rate over 62 appearances.

But middle relievers Steven Matz and Justin Wilson are free agents, and the bridge from the rotation to the back end of the â€pen might need to be replenished.

There are several notable relievers on the free-agent market, particularly veterans who are coming off down years due to injuries or underperformance and looking for a bounce-back performance in 2026. That includes Kirby Yates, Tommy Kahnle and Michael Kopech.

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The Phillies are still chasing a championship. What will it take to get them there?

After their second straight exit in the National League Division Series, the Phillies and their talented core are still seeking their first World Series crown since 2008. To have their best shot in 2026, theyâ€ll have to hit the right notes via free agency and the trade market this offseason to improve their roster.

Here are three goals for the rest of Philadelphiaâ€s offseason.

Retaining Schwarber has been a stated top priority for the Phillies, and it sure makes sense. Bringing back the slugging designated hitter, who finished second in NL MVP Award voting in 2025, would be crucial for a Phillies team hoping to claim its third straight NL East title and make a deep postseason run.

Schwarber — MLB.comâ€s No. 3-ranked free agent — crushed 56 homers in 2025 and averaged 46.75 dingers per season during his four-year deal with Philadelphia from 2022-25. He was a key part of the clubâ€s run to the World Series in 2022 and to the NLCS in 2023, slugging 14 postseason home runs and posting a .930 playoff OPS with the Phils.

Schwarber has said he hopes to return to Philadelphia, although the two sides were not close to a deal as of Tuesday, according to MLB.comâ€s Todd Zolecki. That said, itâ€s only November, and thereâ€s plenty of time to hash out contract details. A reunion between Schwarber and the Phillies makes a ton of sense, and thereâ€s no more immediate priority for Philadelphia this offseason than bringing back its star slugger.

Of course, Schwarber isnâ€t the only key Phillies player hitting free agency this winter: Realmuto and lefty starter Ranger Suárez are also on the open market. The Phillies may not be able to bring back Suárez, but Realmuto is easily the best free-agent option at his position, and retaining him would be a logical move.

A position group that seemed like a strength a few years ago is now a weakness. Schwarber is a full-time DH, Bryce Harperâ€s outfielderâ€s mitt is gathering dust and Nick Castellanos is expected to be traded or released this offseason. Behind Brandon Marsh, the Phillies donâ€t currently have much in the way of MLB-caliber starting outfielders for 2026.

The Phillies†relief corps was far from a strength in 2025, and the clubâ€s main offseason addition was part of the problem. Righty reliever Jordan Romano, a former All-Star with the Blue Jays, signed with the Phils on a 1-year, $8.5 million deal but struggled to an 8.23 ERA in 49 appearances. Key lefty José Alvarado was suspended for 80 games after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance, another reason Philadelphia relievers finished 2025 with a 4.27 ERA, tied for 10th highest in the Majors.

Itâ€s unlikely the Phillies will go after one of the top free-agent relievers in the class (such as Edwin Díaz, Robert Suarez or Devin Williams), but there are plenty of available pitchers who could help. If Philadelphia wants to help out its excellent starting rotation and build toward another postseason push, adding a reliever or two would be appropriate.

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The Mets completed their first major move of the offseason on Monday, trading left fielder Brandon Nimmo — their longest-tenured player — to the Rangers for second baseman Marcus Semien. For New York, the deal could be the first step in a broader plan to reconfigure its roster.

Pete Alonso, the franchiseâ€s all-time home run leader, is a free agent again, and itâ€s unclear how aggressively the Mets will pursue another reunion. They re-signed him last offseason, but only after he lingered on the open market for months and agreed to a short-term deal — two years, $54 million with an opt-out after ’25. This time, heâ€s believed to be aiming for a much longer commitment.

Utility man Jeff McNeil isnâ€t a lock to return, either. Heâ€s under contract for 2026, but his name has surfaced in trade rumors, and Semienâ€s arrival pushes him off his primary position. Yes, Nimmoâ€s departure opens a spot in left field, where McNeil has plenty of experience, but his skill set plays far better at second base than it does on the grass.

In any case, Mondayâ€s swap only adds more intrigue to the Mets†roster puzzle. That said, the clubâ€s biggest goals this winter havenâ€t changed much, if at all. Hereâ€s what the Mets still need to accomplish before the 2026 season.

1. Add a frontline starter

What they donâ€t have, though, is a proven ace, someone they can lean on to provide stability when things are going poorly. They certainly could have used that in the second half of 2025, when McLean was their only reliable starter.

The question is, where will they look to fill their need? President of baseball operations David Stearns typically steers clear of higher-priced pitchers in free agency, and it remains to be seen if heâ€ll break from that mold in a year when all of the best available free-agent starters have their share of question marks.

It could make more sense for Stearns to explore the trade market, though two of the most attractive would-be targets — the Tigers†Tarik Skubal and the Brewers†Freddy Peralta — are uncertain to be moved.

In other words, the clubâ€s relief corps could look quite different in 2026. But maybe that isnâ€t such a bad thing — New York ranked 15th in bullpen ERA (3.93) on the year and tied for fifth with 27 blown saves, even with Edwin Díaz doing an excellent job in the ninth inning.

After Díaz opted out of his contract, finding a closer is a priority for the Mets. But they also need an eighth-inning guy, preferably a right-hander. Huascar Brazobán is their only healthy reliever of note who throws from the right side on the 40-man roster.

3. Re-sign Alonso … or find a comparable replacement

Itâ€s reasonable to question whether signing a first baseman to a long-term deal ahead of his age-31 season would be a wise move. But thereâ€s no debating how important Alonsoâ€s bat has been to the Mets†lineup since his debut in 2019. If they arenâ€t going to re-sign him, theyâ€ll need to replace him with another middle-of-the-order hitter.

In terms of pure power, Kyle Schwarber would also be a viable alternative to Alonso. As a bonus, bringing in Schwarber would deal a blow to the division rival Phillies, who are looking to bring back the slugger. But Schwarber comes with similar drawbacks as a full-time designated hitter who will turn 33 in March. And unlike Alonso, the Mets would have to forfeit Draft picks and international bonus pool money to sign Schwarber after he turned down Philadelphia’s qualifying offer.

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