MLB RUMORS — We made it to the start of the Winter Meetings. May the rumors be exciting and may the transaction be plentiful. Let’s jump right in, because it’s only Monday and there are a lot of table-setting storylines to enjoy.
Kyle Schwarber: Pirates, Reds, Timeline, More
Ken Rosenthal got the MLB Rumors started last night, with the most surprising rumor of the winter so far:
The Pittsburgh Pirates have made free-agent designated hitter Kyle Schwarber a four-year offer, according to people briefed on their discussions. The offer almost certainly is for more than $100 million.
Well, how about that! The Pirates are putting their money where their mouth is, finally offering a free agent pitcher north of $100M. In fact, as Rosenthal points out later in his report, the Pirates’ record free-agent contract is merely $39 million (Francisco Liriano … over 10 years ago). So … yeah, this is a good bit better than that. Unfortunately, nobody believes it will actually work (why would Kyle Schwarber pick the Pirates when he should have similar if not higher offers elsewhere, including his hometown Reds?). So it’s kind of a safe offer for the Pirates to make, seeing as they almost certainly won’t have to pay for it.
To that end, the Reds are “also making a push,” but Rosenthal doesn’t see either of these offers going anywhere, with his money sticking on the Phillies.
So when might this all go down? In a separate article at The Athletic, Rosenthal writes that “Schwarber, according to league sources, could have a resolution within the next two weeks.” Though he adds that the Phillies haven’t really gone with the full court press just yet, instead allowing Kyle Schwarber to explore the market with an implicit agreement that they’d re-engage once he knew what was out there.
That takes a lot of trust in your player and his desire to return to Philadelphia, but it does seem like Schwarber has been happy and successful there, and they’ve routinely demonstrated a willingness to spend around him to make the team better. For all those reasons, I still have the Phillies as the most likely landing spot for our old buddy, as well. An answer could be coming soon.
© Kyle Ross-Imagn ImagesMatt Strahm Available … Cubs?
Although the Phillies have “money to spend” this offseason, they have reportedly also “entertained potential trade proposals for Matt Strahm,” in an effort to reallocate some of their payroll commitments.
Strahm, 34, has been one of the most effective left-handed relievers in baseball for three straight seasons, and that gets me wondering about the Cubs’ potential involvement.
2023: 87.2 IP, 3.29 ERA, 2.0 WAR 2024: 62.2 IP, 1.87 ERA, 2.1 WAR 2025: 62.1 IP, 2.74 ERA, 1.5 WARAmong all left-handed relievers over the last three seasons, Strahm’s 2.46 ERA, 4.98 K/BB, and 4.5 WAR rank second best. His 6.3 barrel% also stands out as a positive (just 4.3% last season!).
So why would the Cubs be involved? Well, for one, we know they need and are seeking impact in the bullpen, and have been willing to go outside of the comfort zone to get it (from their offer to Tanner Scott, to their signing of Phil Maton, to their rumored interest in Ryan Helsley and Devin Williams).
For another, they definitely could use a left-handed reliever (Luke Little is pretty much the only current Cub for that role). So, going after an impact, left-handed reliever could kill two birds with one stone. Strahm wouldn’t be cheap to acquire (in prospect or player capital), but if the Phillies really are more eager to shed his salary in service of something else, maybe there’s a range that can make sense for the Cubs.
The only risk here is that for all of Strahm’s strengths, he’s already 34 years old, just went through a velo drop (~1 MPH lower in 2025 than 2024), and is a serious fly-ball pitcher, which doesn’t always bode well at Wrigley Field.
In any case, there are no fresh rumors there for now. I just want to put him on your radar, as he does check some useful boxes.
NOTE: The initial report actually also includes third baseman Alec Bohm, but I don’t quite see him as a Cubs target, even knowing their interest in adding a third baseman this winter (Kazuma Okamoto, Alex Bregman, Eugenio Suarez, Munetaka Murakami all rumored to be on the Cubs radar).
© Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn ImagesNick Pivetta is Available
In case you were worried that there weren’t already enough starting pitchers mentioned among the latest MLB Rumors, another one just hit the market:
“The Padres have shown a willingness to entertain offers for Nick Pivetta, league sources told The Athletic. A deal involving the right-hander is not considered likely — San Diego would require a steep return in exchange for losing Pivetta — but the team’s options for rebalancing its payroll are limited.”
Would the Cubs be interested? It’s a difficult proposition.
On the one hand, there’s plenty to like about Pivetta, who finally put it all together for the Padres last season, after teasing his potential with the Red Sox for a few years: 2.87 ERA, 3.49 FIP over 31 starts and 181.2 IP (3.7 WAR). And that comes alongside a 26.4% strikeout rate, 6.9 BB%, and a .193 AVG against.
On the other hand, that success, plus his age (going into age-33 season), plus his complicated contract with opt-outs, will make aligning on value extremely difficult.
2025: $1M 2026: $19M 2027: $14M player option $2028: $18M player optionBasically, Pivetta’s salary goes way up this season, and then he has an opt-out following each of the next two years. That’s not a team-friendly contract AT ALL, so the value of his projected success comes at a great cost and a lot of financial uncertainty.
© Denis Poroy-Imagn ImagesOther MLB Rumors:
The New York Mets are reportedly (and surprisngly) “reluctant to hand out long-term offers to this offseason’s top free agent starting pitchers,” people familiar with the club’s thinking told Will Samon at The Athletic. Works for me, says the fan-blogger of a team, the Cubs, who are expected to pursue those very free agent starting pitchers. That said, Sammon does seem to limit that to the highest tier of starters, indicating that other Cubs targets like Zac Gallen and Michael King are still on their board. Jon Morosi reports that Framber Valdez is as likely (if not more) to sign this week than any other free agent starting pitcher. Morosi cites the Giants, Orioles, and Mets as the most aggressive suitors at the moment. Valdez has never really been connected to the Cubs outside of general/educated speculation.Could a Framber Valdez signing happen soon?@jonmorosi says there is “as high or higher of a chance” that Framber Valdez signs this week as any other free agent pitcher ?#MLBNHotStove | @CohnReznick pic.twitter.com/y6mSgs62a0
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) December 8, 2025 We already knew that the Washington Nationals would consider trading starter MacKenzie Gore, a Cubs target this past trade deadline. But Will Samon and Ken Rosenthal add that they’re ALSO getting “pushed aggressively on shortstop CJ Abrams, according to people familiar with their discussions.” That’s probably a product of the lack of free agent shortstops out there – and that’s assuming teams are actually counting Bo Bichette among the shortstop options – but it is going to be a fun one to follow this winter. Those are two big names to be dangled on the trade market, especially from a motivated seller like the Nats. Another one from Jon Morosi (he loves MLB Rumors, man…), who has the Phillies and Mariners as two teams to watch in a Ketel Marte trade:.@jonmorosi mentions two teams to watch in a potential Ketel Marte trade:Philadelphia PhilliesSeattle Mariners#MLBNHotStove | @CohnReznick pic.twitter.com/EhUdIWwzkF
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) December 8, 2025 The Cubs are increasingly connected to Japanese ace Tatsuya Imai, and I really love that for us:Yet Another Report Connects the Cubs to Japanese Ace Tatsuya Imai t.co/91kNvX3BNq
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) December 8, 2025 ICYMI: Brett discusses how Kyle Tucker’s free agency could wind up impacting the Chicago Cubs’ decision at third base. And finally, I don’t see how a team like the Cubs could convince themselves to spend limited dollars on a risky/upside play like Munetaka Murakami … but according to the latest MLB Rumors, they’re reportedly considering it.More on Munetaka Murakami’s Projections and the Cubs’ Involvement t.co/IC77qSuBXw
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) December 8, 2025Hence then, the article about mlb rumors would strahm interest cubs schwarber pivetta mets nats 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 ( MLB Rumors: Would Strahm Interest Cubs? Schwarber, Pivetta, Mets, Nats, More )
Also on site :