MLB Rumors — Man, the GM Meetings are absolutely ripping with MLB rumors this year. Much more than usual. That doesn’t mean there’ll be a ton of early movement (I think it’ll just be a normal offseason in that respect). But I had about 50 tabs open this morning with reports and rumors out of Las Vegas.
For your convenience, I’ve collected some of the highlights from those stories, alongside my own perspective, below. Let’s dive in!
Starting Pitcher Trade Market
No surprises here, but Jed Hoyer did suggest that the Chicago Cubs will have an “active offseason” with their “largest focus” to land on pitching (presumably starting pitching, though we all know the bullpen has a lot of work ahead). That generally tracks with our expectations, as well as their intentions at the 2025 MLB Trade Deadline.
Fortuantely, despite Shane Bieber and Jack Flaherty’s disappointing decisions, there are still a ton of free agent starters that make sense for the Cubs this winter. Indeed, we’ve already seen one rumor that the Cubs are expected to pursue Dylan Cease (Bruce Levine) and another that identified Tatsuya Imai as the perfect fit for Chicago (Jeff Passan). Beyond that, several other experts and insiders are connecting the Cubs to pitchers like Framber Valdez and Ranger Suarez.
All good choices.
But at the outset of the offseason, I reminded you that you should expect the Cubs to re-engage teams on the trade market, where four pitchers they targeted at the deadline could be available once again: MacKenzie Gore, Joe Ryan, Edward Cabrera, Sandy Alcantara.
To that end, Ken Rosenthal has an interesting update today on the state of that market, which might not be as frisky as we thought.
According to Rosenthal, MacKenzie Gore is “a good bet to go” this offseason, but the rest (including Ryan, Cabrera, Alcantara, Tarik Skubal, and Freddy Peralta) may not be as available as we thought.
On the Marlins’ starters (Cabrera, Alcantara), Rosenthal writes that Miami was impressed by their 17-win improvement from 2024 to 2025 and has designs on keeping their rotation intact. And that’s not entirely disconnected from reality, given their reluctance to trade either at the deadline and the recent report that they’re looking to spend a little more this offseason.
I really like both Alcantara and Cabrera for the Cubs, so I hope that’s just a little bit of posturing.
On the Twins starters (Joe Ryan, Pablo Lopez), Rosenthal writes that there’s a disconnect between ownership (wants to continue the teardown that began in July) and baseball operations (wants to make the team better now/this offseason), which could impact their willingness to trade either pitcher.
Once again, both guys are exciting potential Cubs targets, so I hope this is about leverage.
As for Skubal and Peralta (and you can throw in Sonny Gray and Hunter Greene), the Cubs aren’t going to be involved. So there’s not too much concern about their availability. Of course, the more options/supply out there (supply), the lower the cost should be.
If you’re looking for more, Jon Heyman did something similar at The New York Post, ranking the top available starters who could be dealt. According to him …
Some MLB execs are convinced the Marlins will trade at least one of Alcantara or Cabrera. The Padres came closest to trading for MacKenzie Gore at the deadline, and that could be reignited this winter. And there’s a “decent chance” Joe Ryan is dealt this winter. Moreover, the Red Sox were offering “top prospects” for him at the deadline, so that might be where things start again this winter. © Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn ImagesCody Bellinger, Pete Alonso, Mets, and 1B
Although I don’t think there’s a world in which the Cubs re-sign Cody Bellinger (again), I do find his market interesting and his potential impact far-reaching.
As a reminder, Bellinger just completed his best season since he was the MVP, slashing .272/.334/.480 (125 wRC+) with 29 home runs, 98 RBI, 13 stolen bases, and 4.9 WAR. Yes, he was playing in a ballpark built especially for him, but he was great, and now he tests free agency as a barely-30-year-old outfielder and first baseman, with a diverse skillset, and detached from draft pick compensation. He’ll get paid.
The question is by whom?
According to Jon Heyman, re-signing Cody Bellinger is the No. 1 Yankees priority this offseason. And frankly, that could really make the most sense for every party. HOWEVER, for the second straight winter, the two NY teams will battle for a premier left-handed hitting outfielder (Juan Soto being the last one).
Because according to both Heyman and Joel Sherman, the Mets are circling Bellinger as a replacement for Pete Alonso (with the added benefit of being able to cover some center field, too).
Alonso is also coming off a great year himself (141 wRC+, 38 HRs), but for whatever reason (defense is the assumption), Mets President David Stearns does not seem eager to bring him back. And that’s where Bellinger could come in.
With that said, Sherman also believes the Yankees plan to keep Cody Bellinger, with the caveat that they’re trying hard to stay below the $300M payroll number (they’re at $265M+ before making a single move).
If Bellinger stays with the Yankees and Alonso does depart the Mets, the Mets could turn their attention to any number of first basemen, in both trade and free agency, including the two “third base” free agents out of Japan, Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto. Both are theoretical options at first base, particularly Murakami.
But there’s also Josh Naylor (free agent), Willson Contreras (trade), Christian Walker (trade), and Isaac Paredes (trade) theoretically available.
© Wendell Cruz-Imagn ImagesElite Closers: Edwin Diaz, Devin Williams
Although the Cubs do have a lot of work to do to rebuild their bullpen this offseason, no one expects them to shop in the deep end of the free agent pool. And allow me to underscore that: For however uncommon it is for the Cubs to shop in the deep end of any free agent position, reliever is probably the least likely.
Their last-minute offer to Tanner Scott last offseason was an outlier and mostly circumstantial (it was very late in the offseason, when greater expected value can be found).
And although I was absolutely beating the drum for Scott last year, the Cubs were fortunate he picked L.A. (4.74 ERA, 10 blown saves in year one … yikes).
To that end, the Dodgers are looking for another free agent closer to accept their millions over 100 years (or whatever), and their attention is being turned toward former Brewers closer Devin Williams.
Here’s the latest from Fabian Ardaya at The Athletic:
The Los Angeles Dodgers will dive into the deep waters of the free-agent relief market for the second consecutive offseason, flexing their massive resources while seeking to upgrade a group that struggled mightily during their World Series run.
The Dodgers are looking to add at least one high-leverage right-handed bullpen arm, league sources told The Athletic.
…Candidates include at least one familiar target already clear at this week’s annual general managers’ meetings in Las Vegas, sources said: two-time All-Star reliever Devin Williams.
Aradaya goes on to suggest that there is already mutual interest between the two sides. He also believes Pete Fairbanks could be an option for the Dodgers, but shuts down the idea of them targeting Edwin Diaz or Robert Suarez.
And Ardaya is not alone, as Jon Heyman also reports that the Dodgers “may not be a big player for Edwin Diaz,” though the Mets “badly want him back.”
As for what he’s looking for in free agency, Ken Rosenthal reports that another 5-year, $102M contract should do the trick:
When Edwin Díaz signed his five-year, $102 million contract with the New York Mets in November 2022, it was the largest in history for a reliever. Díaz, though, reached that agreement before becoming a free agent. By opting out of the final two years and $38 million of that deal, he essentially created his first — and potentially last — chance to test the open market.
Díaz, who turns 32 in March, is coming off one of his best seasons, one in which he produced a 1.63 ERA with a 38 percent strikeout rate and 8.1 percent walk rate in 66 1/3 innings. The deal he wants, according to a person briefed on his wishes, is essentially the same one the Mets gave him the last time.
Again, I don’t believe the Cubs will ever go to those lengths to sign a reliever – any reliever – but perhaps they could land one of the other premier closers if guys like Diaz (Mets) and Williams (Dodgers) otherwise gobble up big money from the biggest spenders.
There are a lot of interesting candidates: Robert Suarez, Ryan Helsley, Pete Fairbanks, Luke Weaver, Raisel Iglesias, etc.
We all applaud the work that went into finding Drew Pomeranz, Brad Keller, Caleb Thielbar, etc. last year, but you can’t build your entire bullpen that way. The Cubs probably need to bring in or bring back at least one established arm (to the extent that applies to relievers).
© Mark Smith-Imagn ImagesPhillies Plans and Waiting Game
Every year, there’s one team (or player) that seems to hold up much of the market. And this year, I think it could be the Phillies.
They are a very big spender, a contender, and a team that could be in play for any variety of additions in both free agency and trade. And yet, they’re reportedly telling teams and free agents that while happy to discuss hypotheticals, they “cannot commit to a path” until they know whether they are re-signing Kyle Schwarber and/or J.T. Realmuto.
At The Athletic, Matt Gelb tells us that the EXPECTATION is that both will re-sign in Philadelphia, but until they do (or don’t), everything is on hold.
“At some point you have to say, ‘Well, we can’t wait any longer,’” Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Tuesday at The Cosmopolitan. “But we’re not anywhere near that at this point.”
Separately, but relatedly, the Phillies are dead-set on trading Nick Castellanos this offseason, and are even willing to eat a large chunk of his remaining salary. Teams prefer they attach a prospect to him, but the Phillies are not eager to do so for obvious reasons. In either case, if they cannot find a trade partner, they are even willing to just release him.
But this goes a layer deeper, because the Phillies are ALSO looking to add a right-handed hitting outfielder this offseason, though they’re not at all alone on that front:
Observation from the GM Meetings:Numerous teams have told me they are looking to add at least one everyday outfielder.If you are a GM with outfield depth, this is the offseason to trade from it. @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 12, 2025The Cubs, for their part, have a lot of outfielders at the moment, even after losing Kyle Tucker: Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Owen Caissie.
But you’re not going to trade PCA, while both Happ and Suzuki have no-trade clauses. As for Owen Caissie, he’s not much of a known quantity, for however much we like him. And if he is going to be dealt, it feels like he’ll be included in a deal for a starter from a less-competitive team.
(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)Other MLB Rumors
According to Gordon Wittenmyer, the Cincinnati Reds are shutting down all requests to trade Hunter Greene this offseason, which I understand. Greene has been pretty electric these last two seasons and is still only 26 years old with four more years of team control. It’s premature for a team like the Reds to trade him away, unless they were absolutely BLOWN AWAY by an offer. And I don’t see that happening in a market with so many pitching options in both free agency and trade. The Padres claim that starting pitching is their top need going into the offseason, which tracks given the exits of Michael King and Dylan Cease, plus the season-ending injury to Yu Darvish. And while the Padres could look to convert one of their elite relievers (Jeremiah Estrada, Mason Miller, Adrian Morejon) into a starter, they will still need to sign one, if not multiple, starters. At the San Diego Union Tribune, Kevin Acee adds that “there is talk that a trade or two might be the more likely route to find a mid-rotation pitcher.” Acee adds that the Padres are also looking for a first baseman, though, according to Robert Murray, the easy path might just be to bring back Luis Arraez. Paul Skenes will not be traded this winter. The Braves want to add at shortstop and starting pitcher this winter. And lastly, could the Cubs be a surprise suitor for someone like Jo Adell? Maybe! Brett has more here:Are the Cubs Interested in Trading for Angels Outfielder Jo Adell? t.co/CMLiO97uEF
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) November 12, 2025Hence then, the article about lukewarm stove tradable starters bellinger asking price on elite closers phillies mets more was published today ( ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Lukewarm Stove: Tradable Starters, Bellinger, Asking Price on Elite Closers, Phillies, Mets, More )
Also on site :