Lots of MLB rumors to get to today. Let’s just jump right in!
Pete Alonso Reunion in Queens, After all?
The early word out of Queens this offseason was that the Mets were all but ready to move on from Pete Alonso in an effort to improve their defense/run prevention at first base. And with Alonso, 30, now detached from draft pick compensation, still on the young side for a free agent, and coming off another really excellent offensive season (.272/.347/.524; 141 wRC+ with 38 HRs), it seemed likely that he’d have more, better suitors than he did last winter.
And yet today, Jon Heyman is singing a pretty different tune:
The Mets have opened talks with Pete Alonso, and at least on the surface there seems to be a better feeling around those talks this year than last….Mets baseball president David Stearns said at his media session he’d very much like to have Alonso back, and he’s telling people that Alonso’s presence is important as a terrific producer and also as a protector for superstar Juan Soto. So there’s no confusion about the Mets’ clear interest this year, which seems like a departure from last year when it looked like a split decision among Mets higher-ups and took a last-minute save from owner Steve Cohen to keep Alonso in Queen.
Heyman also lists the Mets, Giants, Red Sox, Mariners, Orioles, Angels, Blue Jays, Yankees, and Phillies (in that order) as his potential suitors.
The Cubs were, at one point long ago, fans of Pete Alonso. But after the emergence of Michael Busch at first base, and the way Seiya Suzuki took to a more power-centric role at DH last year, that has faded. Plus, he was asking for BIG BIG money last offseason, when he was still dead set on playing first and was attached to a qualifying offer.
For what it’s worth, in a separate video, Heyman did call out the Orioles, in particular, as a team that could be surprise suitors for Alonso, though he does seem to think he’ll stick with the Mets.
Red Sox Outfielders on the Market
The Boston Red Sox (led by former Cubs executive Craig Breslow) are fielding offers on their “glut” of outfielders, and sound, to me, like they’re moderately willing trade partners this winter.
You can read the full breakdown at MASS Live, but the short version is that the realistically movable players are Jarren Duran (controlled through 2028) and Wilyer Abreu (through 2029).
Duran, 29, is coming off a much-less impressive (albeit still productive) 2025 campaign, during which he slashed .256/.332/.442 (111 wRC+) with 16 HRs, 24 stolen bases, and 3.9 WAR.
Obviously, still a very good season overall, but a far cry from his monster 2024 season: .285/.342/.492 (131 wRC+); 21 HRs, 34 SBs and 6.8 WAR. Still, he’s a very good outfielder and is capable of playing center field. I still don’t really buy those stray reports that the Cubs are interested in adding another outfielder this offseaso (at least not to this level), but, well, yeah. Duran is obviously a good one.
Wilyer Abreu, 26, is younger and controlled for longer, but has also reached lesser heights. He’s coming off a 110 wRC+, 2.4 WAR, 22 HR season, albeit with very highly rated defense in right.
Again, I don’t think there’s any realistic Cubs overlap here, but it’s interesting to note their availability.
Top-End Relief Market
Sticking with the Red Sox for a second, there’s a new article at The Athletic from Ken Rosenthal, Will Sammon, and Katie Woo suggesting that the Red Sox may be in the market for one of those elite free agent closers, as they look to build a “super pen” alongside Aroldis Chapman and Garrett Whitlock.
The specific reliever of choice appears to be Devin Williams, not Edwin Diaz (who’s seeking BIG BIG money for a reliever). And I just find it a little odd, given that Breslow, as the top pitching exec. in Chicago, never out-voiced his bosses, Carter Hawkins and Jed Hoyer, for this sort of pen building approach.
The Orioles are also in the market for legit closer/relief help. And it’s starting to sound like they might just be active, in general.
“Ideally, we’re going to acquire somebody who has closer experience, that’s good against righties and lefties,” Elias said. “There are a few teams (trying to do) that. Maybe there’s not enough to go around. But it’s at the top of our list.
“We’re being very intentional in talking with those free agents and checking in on trade possibilities. I would really like to get that.
Cardinals Rebuild Beginning and Deepening
Brett mentioned it in the bullets this morning – and this has been a long-time coming in any case – but the Cardinals are getting serious about their rebuild. And it might be deeper than we expected.
Sure, the Cardinals, under new management, won’t say this is a full-on rebuild, but else do you call it when reports suggest “the club will entertain trade offers for several star players as it shifts its focus to player development and homegrown talent.”
That’s like … the definition of a rebuild.
In any case, The Athletic reports that in addition to the expectation that Nolan Arenado is gone, the Cardinals will also entertain offers on Lars Nootbaar, Alec Burleson, Ivan Herrera, Nolan Gorman, Pedro Pages, and even Brendan Donovan.
While the organization holds Donovan in high regard, the argument to move him involves the timing of the Cardinals’ next competitive window. Donovan will turn 29 in January and has two years remaining before free agency.
The Cardinals do not expect to be a fully competitive team within that timeframe, so it would make sense to maximize Donovan when his value is high.
Donovan, 28, is coming off back-to-back ~3 WAR seasons.
I’m not sure why The Athletic didn’t mention Willson Contreras or Sonny Gray, but I’d suspect both are also available and will be open to trades this winter.
None of these players will wind up on the Cubs, who just don’t do deals with the Cardinals (or Brewers). But if the Cardinals do get worse in the short-term over the offseason, that will be a big factor for a Cubs team looking to take back the NL Central in 2026, before losing a bunch of players, themselves.
Trade Candidate Updates: Ketel Marte, Bryon Buxton, Fernando Tatis Jr.
Yesterday, we discussed the possibility of some surprise trade candidates on the market, specifically Fernando Tatis Jr., Byron Buxton, and Ketel Marte. And we have mini-updates on all three.
In case you missed it, last night after the initial rumor broke, some anonymous Padres sources pushed back pretty profusely on the concept of trading Tatis. But then, today, word broke that the Seidlers are looking to sell the team, and those rumors came flooding back in. The short version here is that the Padres have WAY too many back-loaded, expensive contracts on the books, and they might want to clear some of that debt before they attempt, in earnest, to sell the organization. Hopefully, the Cubs would be willing to talk about, because Fernando Tatis Jr. would look pretty freakin’ great in Cubbie blue (… it’s not going to happen, but let a guy dream at the bottom of a lukewarm stove post, would ya?). Ken Rosenthal discussed, at bit, the Byron Buxton angle, with respect to the Braves (who play in his home state of Georgia). And finally, John Gambadoro of 98.7 Arizona Sports reports that at least seven teams have asked Arizona about the availability of Ketel Marte in recent days, which isn’t much of an update, as much as it is additional info and confirmation of the initial report. The Diamondbacks keep saying they’re not shopping him, but I don’t really buy it. There’s a bit too much smoke for there to be no fire at all.Kris Bubic
28-year-old lefty Kris Bubic was one of the Cubs trade targets over the summer, right up until he hurt his shoulder and hit the IL just before the deadline.
But he’s presumably fine again now, as the Royals are fielding trade interest from multiple teams, according to Will Sammon at The Athletic. And more to the point, the Royals are “open” to the possibility of trading Bubic, particularly if they can get some offense back in return.
Here’s some of what Brett had to say about Bubic back in July, because it mostly still applies (well, plus an injury and minus a half-season of control):
For those unfamiliar, which might be most folks, given his career trajectory, Bubic has become an absolute stud this year
Formerly a name prospect, Bubic couldn’t quite break through as a starter in the big leagues, had Tommy John surgery in early 2023, and was converted to relief in 2024 as he came back. That’s when he ditched his curveball, figured out how to better use his fastball, and added a very good slider. With those changes, he became a relief stud.
So, further removed from surgery, the Royals moved him back to the rotation this year, and you can see the results. He’s been one of the best pitchers in the American League.
Bubic is under control via arbitration for one more cheap season after this one. But with the injury and uncertainty, it’s tough to discern exactly what it would take to get him now. At the deadline, before he was hurt, it would’ve been PRICEY.
Other MLB Rumors
Yesterday, the Cubs met with Kyle Tucker’s agent, Casey Close of Excel Sports Management. But I wouldn’t expect anything to come of that. Tucker is as good as gone and Close manages several other relevant clients, including Kyle Schwarber, Brad Keller, and Michael King. Patrick Mooney got the quote at The Athletic: “Our conversations are long,” Hoyer said. “We’ve got a lot of (Excel’s) guys. We’ve had a lot of their guys. We think really highly of (Tucker), and we’ll keep talking with Casey. Nothing’s coming together here in Las Vegas. We’ll just keep talking to them about a bunch of their guys.” Ken Rosenthal covered a whole host of rumors and MLB news in his latest episode of Fair Territory. The Mets might be willing to move Brandon Nimmo this offseason. And, finally, some stuff from here today, in case you missed it:Could the Cubs Have Interest in Signing Max Scherzer This Offseason? t.co/J4MLi9zFe6
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) November 13, 2025Two New, Very Conflicting Reports on How Aggressive the Cubs Will Be in Free Agency t.co/NdbkbKjqpM
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) November 13, 2025The Cubs Would Not Be Afraid to Make a “Huge Investment” on Tatsuya Imai t.co/52BH7CPgxq
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) November 13, 2025Hence then, the article about lukewarm stove alonso back to queens boston ofs available bubic on the block cardinals rebuild 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.
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