‘Growing sense’ this 8-time All-Star will be traded

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

According to a report in The New York Post from MLB Network insider Joel Sherman, there could be a surprise starter on the free-agent market. Multiple teams — including the Mets, per Sherman’s reporting — have been asking about Holmes making the leap from the bullpen to the starting rotation in the same vein as Jordan Hicks, who was signed by the Giants to a four-year deal last offseason and started 20 games for them after spending the previous three seasons exclusively as a reliever.

Holmes made 114 starts in the Minors — 40 of them in Triple-A — after being drafted in the 9th round of the 2011 Draft by the Pirates, but he has not started a Major League game since his first season in 2018, when he made four starts for Pittsburgh. Since then he has been used in a variety of roles out of the bullpen, including as the closer for the Yankees for much of the past three seasons.

Teams looking at Holmes in this role would be seeking to replicate the recent success of bullpen converts like Hicks, AL Cy Young Award finalist Seth Lugo and Reynaldo López. Sherman writes that Jeff Hoffman is another free-agent reliever who is drawing interest as a potential starter.

The Astros are “staying in contact” with free agent Willy Adames as a contingency plan in case they are unable to come to terms with Alex Bregman, according to a report from The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal (subscription required).

Adames is a natural shortstop, but he is reportedly open to moving to third base for the right team and contract, potentially making him a fit for Houston. MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi has also linked Adames to the Astros.

Per Rosenthal, Jorge Polanco is another fallback option for Houston in free agency, though the team is continuing its efforts to re-sign Bregman, who has spent his entire nine-year career with the Astros.

Don’t overlook the Blue Jays in the Juan Soto sweepstakes. Although SportsNet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith wrote last week that Toronto was seen as a “dark horse, at best,” in the race for Soto, SNY’s Andy Martino reported Monday that “there is a widespread belief among bidders that Toronto will come in with the highest offer.”

Jim Duquette echoed that sentiment on MLB Network Radio, saying that he’s heard from many people who think that the Blue Jays are going to be the top bidder. More >

The Rays were one of the most active Trade Deadline sellers this past summer, dealing away Randy Arozarena, Zach Eflin, Isaac Paredes, Aaron Civale, Phil Maton, Jason Adam, Amed Rosario and Shawn Armstrong.

Tampa Bay made another trade in November, sending center fielder Jose Siri to the Mets, and there might be more deals to follow. According to MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi, starting pitcher Jeffrey Springs and reliever Pete Fairbanks have been generating trade interest in the past several days.

Given their contracts, Springs and Fairbanks could both be attractive trade options for clubs that don’t want to pay the requisite price for free-agent pitching.

Springs has two years left on a four-year, $31 million deal, with a $15 million club option for 2027. The lefty is owed $10.5 million in each of the next two years, which is a good deal less than the average annual values of the deals struck by mid-tier starters Yusei Kikuchi ($21 million AAV), Frankie Montas ($16 million AAV) and Matthew Boyd ($14.5 million AAV) in free agency this offseason.

Springs, 32, looked like a potentially elite starter before undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023, recording a 2.26 ERA with a 4.8 K/BB ratio in 151 1/3 innings across 2022-23. He returned to post a 3.27 ERA over seven starts in 2024 before being shut down in September with arm fatigue.

Fairbanks has also dealt with his share of injuries and saw his strikeout rate plummet in 2024 (23.8%), but he is under contract for a reasonable $3.667 million salary next year and has a $7 million club option for 2026. The hard-throwing righty pitched to a 2.66 ERA with 38 saves and a 34.8% K-rate across 2020-23.

According to a source, the Mets agreed to terms late Sunday with right-hander Frankie Montas on a two-year, $34 million contract. The deal, which the Mets have not confirmed because it’s pending a physical, includes an opt-out after 2025.

President of baseball operations David Stearns has said he expects to add multiple starters on big league deals this winter, meaning the Mets won’t be done after signing Montas. But based on how Stearns has operated since he was hired, a move for an elite free-agent starter such as Corbin Burnes might be unlikely.

In the wake of the Montas deal, MLB Network insider Joel Sherman reported Monday in an article for Post Sports+ (subscription required) that he heard from a “plugged-in agent” over the past few weeks who said his sense was that the Mets were not playing at the top of the free-agent pitching market.

As Sherman notes, the Stearns-led Mets front office is developing a pattern for how it views free-agent starters, preferring to focus on short-term deals with upside. Montas’ deal fits that mold.

Per Sherman, the Mets have also inquired on former Dodgers starter Walker Buehler, who would fit that pattern as well. More >

The Cubs and free-agent left hander Matthew Boyd reached an agreement on a two-year deal on Monday, a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand.

More pitching moves could be coming for the Cubs, who are “one of the most active teams in the industry on bullpen arms,” according to MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi. More >

The Cardinals have reportedly put star third baseman Nolan Arenado on the trade market, and according to NJ.com’s Randy Miller, both of this year’s World Series participants might look to swing a deal for the eight-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove Award winner.

“One guy that could be a possibility [for the Yankees] is Arenado from St. Louis,” Miller said on WFAN Radio on Saturday. “I think the Cardinals are trying to trade him, St. Louis would have to pick up some of the money and maybe the Yankees could have a deal where they trade some prospects. … I keep hearing it’s going to be either the Yankees or the Dodgers — I think he’s a West Coast guy that would prefer to go to the Dodgers and I think the Dodgers want him.”

According to NJ.com Yankees reporter Randy Miller in an appearance on New York’s WFAN Radio on Saturday, the Red Sox and Mets are the most likely landing spots for Soto, with the Blue Jays “all in” on the superstar slugger and the Yankees likely to “finish fourth” in the Soto sweepstakes. More >

The Blue Jays are reportedly one of five teams that have made an offer to superstar free agent Juan Soto, but they clearly aren’t putting all of their eggs in the Soto basket this offseason.

With Toronto seen as a “dark horse, at best,” in the Soto sweepstakes, SportsNet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith reports that the club is showing interest in third baseman Alex Bregman, outfielder Anthony Santander, left-hander Max Fried and right-hander Luis Severino.

This is a pivotal offseason for the Blue Jays, who are coming off a disappointing 2024 campaign. While Toronto moved a number of players at the Trade Deadline, the club opted to hold onto most of its top trade candidates with an eye on contending in 2025 — the final year Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette are under club control.

However, the team is likely going to need an influx of talent to do so after posting the fourth-worst record (74-88) in the American League last season.

Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro said in early October that he was expecting the team’s 2025 payroll to be similar to what it was in 2024, when Toronto had an estimated Opening Day payroll of $225 million (per Cot’s Baseball Contracts).

Including projected salaries for arbitration-eligible players, Cot’s puts Toronto’s current payroll at roughly $184 million, which could leave the team with around $41 million to spend. According to Nicholson-Smith, the Blue Jays could stretch beyond their budget “for a special or unique opportunity” such as Soto.

Losing Blake Snell is tough for the Giants, but losing him to the Dodgers? That has to sting L.A.’s longtime rival. San Francisco now has a massive void to fill in its rotation. There are a handful of high-quality starting pitchers left on the free-agent market, and the Giants might look toward the very top of it to find their Snell replacement.

The Yankees increased their initial offer to Juan Soto in recent days, per a report from MLB Network insider Jon Heyman — but they’ve also checked in on some other top free agents.

Heyman wrote for the New York Post that the Yanks have also touched base with Corbin Burnes and Max Fried, though the club has not yet extended an offer to either player. More >

Writing in the New York Post on Tuesday, Mark W. Sanchez and MLB Network insider Jon Heyman said the Red Sox “are increasingly seen as a legitimate contender in the sweepstakes for the generational slugger as word is they are stepping up efforts to lure the superstar hitter away from their historic AL East nemesis.”

The Red Sox are also continuing their search for a frontline starter. Per a report from the Boston Globe (subscription required), the Red Sox are looking to add one even if they can seal the deal with Soto.

According to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, the Red Sox were in on Blake Snell before he reached a five-year deal with the Dodgers on Tuesday. Boston is believed to be seeking a left-handed starter, so it could turn its focus to Max Fried now that Snell is off the market. The Red Sox are also a team to watch in the trade market for White Sox lefty Garrett Crochet. More >

The Yankees and Red Sox are two of the top contenders in the Juan Soto sweepstakes, but might the two storied rivals also find themselves embroiled in a bidding war for another big-name free agent?

MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand hears that the Yankees and Red Sox are both looking for a left-handed starter and were interested in Blake Snell before he reached a five-year, $182 million deal with the Dodgers on Tuesday. Feinsand suggests that New York and Boston could now zero in on Max Fried, the top remaining southpaw on the free-agent market.

However, there’s a lot of competition for Fried, especially now that Snell is off the board. Three of the Yankees’ AL East rivals — the Red Sox, Orioles and Blue Jays — have also been connected to Fried, but they are far from the only teams looking for starters.

The Dodgers have been considered the favorite by many to sign Sasaki once he is posted for MLB clubs. Even with Blake Snell joining the Dodgers, L.A.’s interest in the 23-year-old Japanese right-hander seemingly hasn’t waned.

During his Wednesday chat on Bleacher Report, MLB Network insider Jon Heyman indicated that the Dodgers remain involved for Sasaki. Yet there is one other team that has “a true shot” of signing him, according to Heyman: the Padres. More >

Few contenders have a greater need for a top starting pitcher than the Orioles, who are at risk of losing Corbin Burnes to free agency. O’s general manager Mike Elias made it clear at the beginning of the offseason that the team’s new ownership group was enabling him to explore the market for frontline arms, though Burnes may wind up being out of the club’s price range.

The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal (subscription required) reported on Nov. 21 that the Orioles appeared “more focused” on other options than they were on bringing back Burnes. However, one of their reported targets, Blake Snell, is now off the market after reaching a five-year, $182 million deal with the Dodgers on Tuesday.

While it’s possible Baltimore will pivot to the next best southpaw on the free-agent market, Max Fried, the club is also in the mix for some lower-cost alternatives.

The Orioles could face competition for Eovaldi from Fried’s former team, the Braves. MLB.com’s Mark Bowman reported on Nov. 5 that the Braves had Eovaldi near the top of their offseason wish list, and Morosi hears that Atlanta still has interest in him.

Jack Flaherty was born and raised in Southern California. He grew up a Dodgers fan. He said during the team’s 2024 World Series championship parade that he never wants to leave Los Angeles.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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