MLB free agency is upon us, with the league’s winter meetings underway in Dallas this week. The name on everyone’s lips is Juan Soto, but he’s not the only free agent who has a big decision to make this winter.
Here’s a quick look at where things stand so far this offseason:
Yankees lose out on Soto, snag Fried
It was a less than ideal 48 hours for the New York Yankees after the crosstown Mets reportedly agreed to a 15-year, $765 million deal with Juan Soto.
New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Monday at baseball’s winter meetings that he doesn’t regret trading for Juan Soto from the San Diego Padres last offseason.
“Listen, the Mets got a great player, so congratulations to them,” Cashman said Monday, per MLB.com. “Our work continues as we focus on our team and how to reconfigure. Our efforts on a year-in, year-out basis don’t change. We’re always trying to be the best team we possibly can be so we can get into the playoffs and take a shot at the World Series, so we’ll just obviously get back at it.”
A day later, the Yankees made a splash of their own with a reported eight-year, $216 million contract with Max Fried, taking one of the major free-agent pitchers this offseason off the board.
“From the Yankees standpoint, no retreat, no surrender, we get back after it and find a way to put together a roster that our fans are going to be excited about,” Cashman said. “And we want to defend that American League title and get back in the World Series and try to win it.”
The Toronto Blue Jays made some noise on Tuesday with a trade for Guardians second baseman Andrés Giménez and pitcher Nick Sandlin. The Guardians received infielder Spencer Horwitz in return, though they promptly sent him to the Pittsburgh Pirates. In return, the Guardians received Josh Hartle, Luis Ortiz and Michael Kennedy. The Marlins also traded Jake Burger to the Rangers.
On Wednesday, the Red Sox reached a deal to acquire left-handed pitcher Garrett Crochet from the White Sox, according to multiple reports. Per Julian Mack of the Boston Globe, the Red Sox are sending top prospect Kyle Teel to Chicago in the deal, along with outfielder Braden Montgomery, infielder Chase Meidroth and right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez, per The Athletic. There may be more players involved, but Teel is reportedly the only big name prospect changing hands.
Trade speculation is also heating up for Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker, with the Yankees, Cubs, Giants and Phillies reportedly vying for his services, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
Who else has signed?
Since the end of the World Series, the pitching market has been active, headlined by the Dodgers and Blake Snell agreeing to a five-year, $182 million deal.
Elsewhere around the league, the Mets and Frankie Montas are in agreement on a two-year, $34 million deal, while the A’s signed Luis Severino to a three-year, $67 million deal — the largest guaranteed contract in franchise history.
Waiting on Roki Sasaki
Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki was posted Monday morning as the league’s winter meetings got underway, according to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi. Sasaki’s posting opens a 45-day window, which begins Tuesday 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 when the international amateur signing period opens Jan. 15.
Required reading:
Follow along with Yahoo Sports as we track all the rumors, signings and more during MLB free agency:
Live33 updates
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Juan Soto joining Mets on $765M deal
It’s Juan Soto to the New York Mets via the richest known deal in the history of sports.
The New York Yankees slugger received the most anticipated payday of the offseason on Sunday, agreeing to a 15-year, $765 million deal with the Mets, according to multiple reports.
For full details on the record-shattering contract, read here.
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Boras gives pun-free answer on Mets’ future free agent plans
You can tell Boras didn’t plan for this question because he didn’t have a pithy pun to deploy during the answer. So now Mets fans have two reasons to be thrilled.
Scott Boras says the Mets have made it very clear to him and his agency that they are not limited to signing only one great player, and will pursue multiple great players:
“They’re going to be a very steady and heavy commitment to acquiring the best talent” pic.twitter.com/Hcm01pDieh
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) December 11, 2024
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Scott Boras loves SP Corbin Burnes, Elvis, and really bad puns
If free agent starting pitcher Corbin Burnes wants to change agents after this, no one would blame him.
“For Corbin Burnes, it’s kind of like Elvis. He’s got that ‘Burnes-ing Love’ for a number 1 starter. You are really feeling it today, and very early this morning for me I might add.”
– Scott Boras pic.twitter.com/Wow6v6qfbm
— SNY (@SNYtv) December 11, 2024
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Boras compares 3B Alex Bregman to the alphabet?
It’s starting to feel like Boras called in Bruce Vilanch to do punch up on his comments.
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Scott Boras on 1B Pete Alonso’s market
Scott Boras, the most well known MLB agent, is holding his annual Winter Meetings press conference. Boras loves to ham it up for the media with puns about his clients, and we’ll bring you the best (and probably the worst) right here.
Boras kicks off by talking about former Mets 1B Pete Alonso, whose nickname is Polar Bear.
“A lot of market locomotion on Pete. The Polar Bear Express is rolling.” — Scott Boras
Never change, Scott. Never change.
— Tyler Kepner (@TylerKepner) December 11, 2024
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Kyle Tucker trade sweepstakes down to 3-4 teams
According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, four teams have engaged with the Astros with interest in acquiring outfielder Kyle Tucker.
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Yankees
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Cubs
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Giants
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Phillies
Sherman describes the Yankees as a “serious pursuer,” and the Cubs as “strong player” and possibly the most determined team in pursuit of Tucker. The Giants “are also involved in talks,” while the Phillies are one of the teams that “at least inquired and tried to find a package that would work.”
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‘No retreat, no surrender’ from Yankees
After losing out on Juan Soto but buoying their week by agreeing to terms with Max Fried, the Yankees still have their eyes on getting back to the World Series.
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Marlins getting two prospects in return for Jake Burger
The Rangers reportedly acquired Marlins 1B/3B Jake Burger just after midnight on Wednesday. In return for Burger, the Marlins are getting two infield prospects, Echedry Vargas and Max Acosta, and minor league pitcher Brayan Mendoza.
Source: The Marlins are getting two prospects, Echedry Vargas and Max Acosta, and a lefty starter, Brayan Mendoza, from the Rangers in exchange for 1B/3B Jake Burger.
— Alden González (@Alden_Gonzalez) December 11, 2024
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Could the Padres trade Dylan Cease?
The San Diego Padres are in an interesting spot, as both a clear contender and a team trying to cut payroll in the aftermath of owner Peter Seidler’s death. To the latter end, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports the Padres have been engaged in trade talks over starting pitcher Dylan Cease.
The Padres acquired Cease from the Chicago White Sox last season and got a very good pitcher out of it, but also one reportedly due to make around $13 million or $14 million in 2025, his final year of arbitration eligibility. Cease, who posted a 3.47 ERA in 189 1/3 innings last year, would be a huge get for any team, and figures to attract a heavy price if the Padre go this route.
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Jake Burger to the Rangers
The Texas Rangers are ordering one Jake Burger from the Miami Marlins. In four MLB seasons with the Marlins and Chicago White Sox, Burger has been an above-average hitter, leading Miami in home runs last year with 29, and now figures to provide Texas depth at the infield corners and DH.
Burger still has four years of team control left.
The Rangers are acquiring 1B/3B Jake Burger from the Marlins, sources tells @TheAthletic. Return not yet known.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 11, 2024
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Guardians dealing Spencer Horwitz right away
Spencer Horwitz lasted in Cleveland for just a matter of hours. The Guardians dealt Horwitz to the Pirates on Tuesday night after acquiring him from the Blue Jays.
Guardians finalizing trade of 1B/2B Spencer Horwitz to the Pirates, source tells @TheAthletic. Horwitz is part of Guardians’ return from the Blue Jays for Andres Giménez and Nick Sandlin. Return to Guardians for Horwitz not yet known.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 11, 2024
Per sources, the Guardians are getting Hartle, Luis Ortiz and Michael Kennedy from the Pirates in the Horwitz deal.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) December 11, 2024
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Nathan Eovaldi returning to Rangers
The Rangers are bringing back a key part of their 2023 World Series champion team. They reportedly struck a three-year, $75 million deal with right-hander Nathan Eovaldi on Tuesday.
Eovaldi, who spent the past two seasons with the Rangers, went 12-8 in 29 appearances and held a 3.80 ERA last season.
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Nolan Arenado willing to switch from 3B to facilitate trade to a contender
Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said Monday that “it’s my intention to try” to trade eight-time All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado this winter.
Arenado, who has a full no-trade clause, is reportedly ready to facilitate a deal and even willing to change positions if that gets him where he wants to go. This is according to Arenado’s agent, Joel Wolfe, who spoke with reporters Tuesday at the winter meetings in Dallas.
“Nolan’s willing to strongly consider it, if it’s the right place to go, but he’s not going to go just anywhere,” Wolfe said, per ESPN. Wolfe added that Arenado “wants to win.”
Arenado is a 10-time Gold Glove winner at third base, but he apparently has no qualms about a move even to first base if he’s amenable to the destination.
“Nolan was like, ‘I’ll play shortstop. I’ll do whatever. but I’m not insulted to go play first, and I can win a Gold Glove over there,'” Wolfe said.
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More details on Jays-Guardians deal for Andrés Giménez
Let’s try this again: Andres Giménez and reliever Nick Sandlin going to Blue Jays. 1B/2B Spencer Horwitz part of return for Guardians. Apologies.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 10, 2024
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Blue Jays reportedly trading for Guardians 2B Andrés Giménez
Andrés Giménez is on the move.
The Toronto Blue Jays struck a deal to trade for Giménez on Tuesday, sources told Yahoo Sports’ Russell Dorsey. Further specifics of the deal are not yet known. It’s unclear what the Cleveland Guardians will get in return.
Giménez, a three-time Gold Glove winner, has spent the past four seasons with the Guardians after getting his start in the league with the New York Mets in 2020. He had a .252 batting average and nine home runs with 63 RBI last season while helping the Guardians reach the ALCS for the first time since their World Series run in 2016.
Read more here.
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All-Star starting pitcher Max Fried reportedly agrees to $218M deal with Yankees
Max Fried will be wearing pinstripes next season. (Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) Two-time All-Star pitcher Max Fried is joining the New York Yankees on an eight-year, $218 million deal, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports.
Per the report, it’s the largest guaranteed contract for a left-handed pitcher in MLB history. Fried joins the Yankees two days after they reportedly lost a bidding war to the New York Mets for slugger Juan Soto, this winter’s top free-agent prize.
The lefty starter declined a one-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer from the Braves in mid-November, opting to enter free agency. Fried had signed a one-year, $15 million deal with Atlanta heading into the 2024 season.
Read the full story here.
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Yimi García returning to the Blue Jays
Yimi García spent last season with both the Blue Jays and the Seattle Mariners. Now, he’s got a deal to head back to Toronto.
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2B Thairo Estrada heading to the Rockies
The 28-year-old Estrada hit .217 and drove in 47 runs in 96 games and posted a .590 OPS last season with the San Francisco Giants.
The 1-year deal is reportedly worth $3.25 million with a mutual option for 2026 ($750,000 buyout).
A wrist injury affected Estrada’s 2024 season, and in August he was removed from the Giants’ 40-man roster and sent to Triple-A Sacramento.
Thairo Estrada has agreed to a one-year Major League deal with the Rockies, per source.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) December 10, 2024
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Where the pitching market stands
Multiple MLB team execs tell me prices for FA pitchers are high, and relatively few clubs are willing to pay them.
This creates incentives for *contenders* to listen to trade offers on their starting pitchers.
Framber Valdez is one. Dylan Cease is another.@MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 10, 2024
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Shohei Ohtani ‘unlikely’ to be ready to pitch for Dodgers in Japan to open next season
Although it would be an incredible moment, Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is “unlikely” to pitch for the team in its games in Japan to start next season.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Monday that Ohtani, who is still recovering from elbow surgery he underwent at the end of his time with the Los Angeles Angels, almost certainly won’t be ready to pitch in L.A.’s two games against the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo in March, according to The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya. Ohtani is also recovering from shoulder surgery he underwent after the World Series to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder.
Ohtani is expected to be available as a hitter to start the season. Roberts said the team will be “nimble” with Ohtani’s workload and will come up with a plan to ramp him up so he can start pitching again.
Read the full story here.
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Yankees GM Brian Cashman doesn’t ‘regret’ trading for Juan Soto
New York Yankees general manager Brian Cahsman said Monday at baseball’s winter meetings that he doesn’t regret trading for Juan Soto from the San Diego Padres last offseason.
The Yankees lost a free-agent bidding war to the crosstown Mets for Soto’s services on Sunday, leaving the Yankees to go to Plan B for their offseason. Last December, the Yankees traded a package of veterans and prized prospects for a year of Soto’s services.
“Listen, the Mets got a great player, so congratulations to them,” Cashman said Monday, per MLB.com. “Our work continues as we focus on our team and how to reconfigure. Our efforts on a year-in, year-out basis don’t change. We’re always trying to be the best team we possibly can be so we can get into the playoffs and take a shot at the World Series, so we’ll just obviously get back at it.”
As for the trade for Soto? Cashman says the Yankees are sorry only that they couldn’t cash the deal in via a World Series championship. The Yankees lost in the World Series to the Dodgers in five games.
“We went in with eyes wide open,” Cashman said. “We recognized he was a significant talent and he was going to upgrade us, and he did. It’s not a deal we regret.
“He impacted us in a heavy way. I’m just sorry we fell short in the World Series, but he — with others — had a great part in getting us where we did, becoming American League champs in 2024.”
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