MLB free agency is cruising right along, with most of the big names, including Juan Soto, off the board. But some impact players are still available, and the trade market has been active.
Here’s a quick look at where things stand so far this offseason:
First base market moves quickly after slow start
The market for free-agent first basemen was noticeably slow until last week.
The Houston Astros struck first with a reported three-year, $60 million deal to acquire free-agent first baseman Christian Walker, previously a standout bat for the Arizona Diamondbacks. That triggered a chain of moves, as the D-Backs opted to replace Walker by trading for Cleveland Guardians All-Star Josh Naylor on Saturday, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
Minutes later, the Guardians reportedly signed old friend Carlos Santana for his third stint with the team. Santana spent last season with the Minnesota Twins, so we’ll see if the Twins do anything to respond. Meanwhile, the New York Yankees picked up former MVP Paul Goldschmidt on a one-year, $12.5 million deal.
The first base market isn’t close to done, as Pete Alonso and others remain available.
Nolan Arenado rejects trade to Astros
Before the Walker deal, the Astros were interested in trading for Nolan Arenado of the St. Louis Cardinals. The feeling apparently wasn’t mutual, as the All-Star informed his club that he would not waive his no-trade clause for a move to Houston, according to MLB.com.
The Cardinals were reportedly willing to send $15-20 million to the Astros to help cover the $64 million in salary that Houston would have to take on (the Colorado Rockies are on the hook for $10 million of the $74 million remaining on Arenado’s deal), but they also needed Arenado’s approval.
With Walker aboard and no Arenado incoming, the Astros are now set to feature Walker at first and Isaac Paredes, the crown jewel of their return in the Kyle Tucker trade, at third, with Alex Bregman all but gone in free agency.
Yankees executing Plan B after losing Juan Soto
Losing a 26-year-old future Hall of Famer is a blow for any team, but the New York Yankees have been active since their former right fielder Juan Soto put pen to paper with the New York Mets.
Through a series of moves, they haven’t replaced Soto, but they have certainly offset some losses. Here are four positions with a notable departure and their replacement:
Starting pitcher: Nestor Cortes out, Max Fried in
Reliever: Clay Holmes out, Devin Williams in
Outfield: Juan Soto out, Cody Bellinger in
First base: Anthony Rizzo out, Paul Goldschmidt in
The collective 2024 bWAR of the quartet going out: 11.4 The total of the quartet coming in: 8.4. It’s not a perfect replacement, but replacing a player like Soto is hard to do.
Nationals land Nathaniel Lowe
The Washington Nationals struck a deal to land Nathaniel Lowe on Sunday night, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Lowe, who won his first Gold Glove award and helped lead the Rangers to their World Series win in 2023, held a .265 batting average with 69 RBI and 16 home runs.
The Rangers will get left-handed reliever Robert Garcia as part of the deal. Garcia held a 4.32 ERA in 72 games and nearly 53 innings with the Nationals last season.
Waiting on Roki Sasaki
Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki was posted Dec. 9 as the winter meetings got underway, according to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi. Sasaki’s posting opened a 45-day window, which began Dec. 10 and runs through 5 p.m. ET Jan. 23. Every MLB team is now allowed to attempt to sway the 23-year-old talent to sign with them when the international amateur signing period opens Jan. 15.
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Red Sox, RHP Walker Buehler agree to 1-year, $21.05 million deal: Sources
The Boston Red Sox have landed a major piece in their quest to remake their starting rotation. According to Yahoo Sports’ Russel Dorsey, the Red Sox and right-hander Walker Buehler are in agreement on a one-year, $21.05 million deal. The deal includes incentives and is pending a physical.
Buehler, 30, is a two-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion with the Los Angeles Dodgers, which is the only team he’s played for over his seven-year career.
Buehler, who did not receive a qualifying offer from the Dodgers, essentially gets one from the Red Sox. Coming off a strong showing this postseason, he’ll now get to pitch a full season healthy with an opportunity to re-enter the free-agent market again next winter. https://t.co/JMZBpPmc6d
Mets reportedly reunite with Sean Manaea on 3-year, $75 million deal following career year
The New York Mets have made a move to solidify their starting rotation. In the wee hours of Monday morning, they reportedly agreed to reunite with left-hander Sean Manaea on a three-year, $75 million deal.
Manaea, who will be 33 in February, had a career year with the Mets in 2024. He had a 3.47 ERA and 184 strikeouts over 32 starts and 181 2/3 innings. That’s the lowest ERA of his career, maintained over the most innings he’s ever pitched, and anchored by the second-most strikeouts he’s ever thrown. Before the 2024 season, his best numbers came with the Athletics in 2018, when he had a 3.59 ERA over 160 1/3 innings.
The Nationals and Rangers struck a deal to swap Nathaniel Lowe and left-handed reliever Robert Garcia on Sunday night. Lowe won his first Gold Glove award and helped lead the Rangers to a World Series win in 2023.
Left-handed reliever Robert Garcia is headed from the Nationals to the Rangers in the Nathaniel Lowe trade, sources tell ESPN.
A’s sign free agent third baseman Gio Urshela to a one-year deal
Urshela signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Tigers in February, but was released by the team in August. Urshela then signed with the Atlanta Braves, and played in 36 games for the team, finishing with a batting average of .265.
Phillies pick up lefty starter Jesús Luzardo in trade with Marlins
The Philadelphia Phillies have added another weapon to their starting rotation, picking up pitcher Jesús Luzardo in a trade with the Miami Marlins, the team announced Sunday.
The Philles also received minor-league catcher Paul McIntosh in the trade, while Miami got prospects Starlyn Caba and Emaarion Boyd in return.
Luzardo is coming off an injury-filled 2024, but will be a big boost to the Phillies rotation if he can stay healthy.
(Photo by Kelly Gavin/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Guardians replace Josh Naylor with signing of Carlos Santana
Just a few minutes after news of the Josh Naylor trade hit, the Cleveland Guardians found their own first base replacement by bringing back veteran Carlos Santana, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
It will be Santana’s third stint in Cleveland, where he is second on the franchise’s all-time walks list and sixth in home runs.
First baseman Carlos Santana and the Cleveland Guardians are in agreement on a one-year, $12 million contract, pending physical, sources tell ESPN. The Guardians traded Josh Naylor, and now they bring the 39-year-old Santana back for his third stint with the organization.
Going back to Cleveland will be pitcher Slade Cecconi and a competitive balance Round B draft pick. Naylor is coming off his first career All-Star selection and hit .243/.320/.456 with 31 homers for a team that emerged on top in the AL Central.
1B Paul Goldschmidt signs 1-year deal with Yankees
The deal is worth a reported $12.5 million, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
Last season with the Cardinals, the 37-year-old Goldschmidt batted .245 with 22 home runs and 65 RBI.
Paul Goldschmidt will sign a 1-year deal with the Yankees. The 37-year old has won 4 Gold Gloves and was the 2022 MVP. While he had a .716 OPS with 22 HRs & 65 RBI last year, he had solid numbers vs LHP and also performed better in the second half. Savvy, short-term signing.
Reds were looking for a catcher who could help their young pitching staff alongside Tyler Stephenson, and Trevino fits the bill. Cruz is a strikeout machine whose ERA far exceeds his FIP, so Yankees hope he can be a high-leverage arm. Jackson is a defense-first veteran backup.
Cruz, 34, struck out 109 batters in 66 2/3 innings with a 4.86 ERA in 69 appearances. His strikeout total ranked fourth among MLB relievers last season. Trevino, 31, appeared in 73 games for the Yankees as the backup to Austin Wells. He batted .215 with a .642 OPS, eight home runs and 28 RBI.
Christian Walker reportedly agrees to deal with Astros
According to multiple reports, first baseman Christian Walker has agreed to a deal with the Astros. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reports the deal is for three years and $60 million.
LHP Patrick Sandoval joins Red Sox on 2-year, $18.25M deal
Sandoval made 16 starts last season with the Los Angeles Angels — a season that ended in June after he underwent Tommy John surgery. The 28-year-old is expected back at some point during the second half of the 2025 season.
Left-hander Patrick Sandoval and the Boston Red Sox are in agreement on a two-year, $18.25 million contract, sources tell ESPN. Sandoval, 28, is coming off Tommy John surgery and expects to return in the second half. He gets a strong deal with Boston looking toward 2026 as well.
After 10 seasons with the Twins ranging from acceptable to good, Max Kepler is headed to the Phillies.
Outfielder Max Kepler and the Philadlephia Philies are in agreement on a one-year, $10 million contract, sources tell ESPN. The deal, which is pending a physical, will give the Phillies a new corner outfielder in the 31-year-old Kepler. First on the scene: @Feinsand/@ToddZolecki.
The 27-year-old Soroka went 0-10 last season with the Chicago White Sox, recording a 4.74 ERA and 1.38 WHIP in 25 appearances.
Free-agent pitcher Mike Soroka and the Washington Nationals are in agreement on a one-year, $9 million contract, according to a source familiar with the deal. Soroka will be a starter with the Nats. First: @Ken_Rosenthal.
Market for star back-end relievers finally starting to percolate — Estevez, Scott, Yates and Hoffman. More good pen pieces still out there too: Jansen, Minter, Robertson, Leclerc, Kahnle, Maton, Stanek, Coulombe, Sewald, Kittredge, Hill, Chafin, Neris, Raley, Hill, Moore, more
With Luis Severino, Sean Manaea and Jose Quintana all free agents after throwing at least 170 innings for the Mets in 2024, New York entered this offseason with some major work to do, even in the non-Juan Soto department.
They’ve responded with an “Island of Misfit Toys” approach to the rotation. They signed Frankie Montas to a two-year, $34 million deal after a down season with the Reds and Brewers and agreed with former Yankees closer Clay Holmes on a three-year, $38 million deal, with the plan to convert him from reliever to starter.
Their latest addition: Angels starter Griffin Canning, a former top prospect, on a one-year, $4.25 million deal, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. Canning holds a 4.78 career ERA and should slide into the back of the rotation.
Cody Bellinger could play multiple positions with Yankees
There were reports after the New York Yankees’ trade for Cody Bellinger that the former MVP was told he would play center field on his new team, but Yankees manager Aaron Boone poured cold water on that idea Wednesday.
Center field, left field and first base are all in play for Bellinger, who is a solid defender at each position. That makes sense for the Yankees, who have spots open in both outfield corners and at first. Aaron Judge played center field in 2024 but would likely move to right if Bellinger is available to take center.
Nolan Arenado reportedly spikes trade to Astros
Nolan Arenado is one of the biggest names on the trade market, though not necessarily the most valuable, and we now know he probably won’t be going to the Houston Astros. The St. Louis Cardinals third baseman has informed his club he will not waive his no-trade clause for a move to Houston, according to MLB.com.
The Cardinals were reportedly willing to spend $15-20 million to the Astros to cover the $64 million in salary that Houston would have to take on (the Colorado Rockies are already on the hook for $10 million of the $74 million remaining on Arenado’s deal), but they also needed Arenado’s approval.
A player invoking his no-trade clause doesn’t always mean a trade is dead — often, the move is a ploy to shake some extra dollars out of his new team — but the Astros are reportedly not hopeful about a change. The team also already has a likely starting third baseman in Isaac Paredes, acquired from the Chicago Cubs in the Kyle Tucker trade.
New York Yankees trade for Cubs OF Cody Bellinger as former MVP’s career takes another turn
Cody Bellinger is on his way to New York. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The New York Yankees have their Juan Soto replacement — or at least a guy who can take Juan Soto’s place on the field.
The team swung a trade with the Chicago Cubs for former MVP Cody Bellinger on Tuesday, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, betting on a talented player to bounce back from a rough couple of years. The Cubs are also sending cash to the Yankees and will receive right-handed reliever Cody Poteet in return.
Soto’s record-setting pact with the New York Mets left the Yankees in dire need of a corner outfielder with enough pop to slide into the middle of the order. Bellinger could fit that bill and was available via trade due to his contract with the Cubs, which gives him player options for 2025 and 2026 that pay him a total of $52.5 million.
It was clear a trade was coming after the Cubs acquired Houston Astros star Kyle Tucker in a blockbuster move, but there were rumors of the team shopping Bellinger even before they succeeded in acquiring Tucker.
