We’re keeping track of all the latest free agent and trade rumors.

Nov. 5: Yamamoto officially coming to MLB; now where will he sign?

The Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball announced Sunday that they will allow right-handed pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto to sign with a Major League team via the posting system. This step was long expected but a big one nonetheless as Yamamoto is considered the No. 2 free agent in this year’s class and will have no shortage of teams competing for his services.

On Saturday, in his final start before coming to the big leagues, Yamamoto struck out 14 and didn’t issue a walk in a complete-game masterpiece against the Hanshin Tigers in the Japan Series, NPB’s equivalent of the World Series.

There were probably more than a few MLB teams keeping track of Yamamoto’s outing. According to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, at least eight clubs have been linked to the 25-year-old hurler: the Mets, Red Sox, Cardinals, Dodgers, D-backs, Tigers, Cubs and Yankees. 

Yamamoto has won the Sawamura Award, NPB’s equivalent to the Cy Young Award, for three years straight. Over that span, he owns a 1.44 ERA with more than five times as many strikeouts (580) as walks (110) across 550 2/3 innings. His pitch mix includes a high-90s fastball, a wipeout splitter and a high-arcing curveball. He also doesn’t have much of an injury history.

Nov. 5: Mets ‘said to be enamored with’ Yamamoto

Kodai Senga turned in an All-Star season in his first year with the Mets. Might he be joined by a fellow Japanese ace in 2024? According to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, the Mets “are said to be enamored with” 25-year-old right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who is on his way to the big leagues this offseason. More >

Nov. 5: Will Cubs consider trade for Alonso, Soto?

The Cubs have said they would like to re-sign Cody Bellinger this winter. But if the open-market price for Bellinger becomes too exorbitant, Chicago might have to pivot elsewhere to fill a gigantic hole in its lineup. That could open the possibility for a trade involving a star hitter, such as the Mets’ Pete Alonso or the Padres’ Juan Soto. More >

Nov. 5: These AL clubs could have interest in Bellinger

Following a tremendous bounceback season in Chicago, Cody Bellinger may be the best position player available in free agency this offseason. The 28-year-old unsurprisingly declined his mutual option with the Cubs on Friday. That doesn’t rule out a possible return to Chicago’s North Side, but the Cubs should face plenty of competition for Bellinger’s services. Two American League clubs stand out as possible contenders for the slugger. More >

Nov. 5: Does it make sense for Rangers to bring back Montgomery?

Jordan Montgomery had a strong run with the World Series champion Rangers after a midseason trade, but Texas might be hard-pressed to sign the left-hander to a big free agent contract. The Rangers already have Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom set to make $40 million or more in 2023, while Nathan Eovaldi, Jon Gray and Dane Dunning are under contract — as is Andrew Heaney, who picked up his $13 million player option Saturday. With the players they have and the money they’ve invested, the Rangers could be better off letting Montgomery sign elsewhere. More >

Nov. 5: 8 potential suitors for Ohtani

There are a lot of impactful free agents out there this year, but there is obviously no one who can match up with Shohei Ohtani. His journey through free agency will be the story of the offseason. Where will he end up? Probably with one of these eight teams as identified by MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. More >

Nov. 4: E-Rod, Stroman join expanding FA pitching pool

Saturday was a good day for clubs who will be looking to bolster their starting rotations on the open market this winter. An already deep pool of starters gained two more quality arms as Eduardo Rodriguez and Marcus Stroman became free agents.

A source told MLB.com that Rodriguez exercised his opt-out clause with three years and $49 million remaining on his deal with the Tigers. Stroman declined his $21 million player option, per sources. And now a class of free agent starters that already included Shohei Ohtani (who is recovering from Tommy John surgery), Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto, NL Cy Young candidate Blake Snell, World Series champion Jordan Montgomery, 2023 All-Star Sonny Gray and Phillies workhorse Aaron Nola gains another 2023 All-Star in Stroman and a lefty who pitched like one for most of the year in Rodriguez.

Rodriguez instantly becomes one of the top pitchers and better players on the market. MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand has Rodriguez as the No. 12 free agent in his top 25 rankings and listed the Reds, Orioles and a reunion with the Tigers as possible fits for the 30-year-old. Signing with the O’s would represent a reunion of sorts as well for Rodriguez, who was signed by Baltimore as an international free agent before he was dealt to the Red Sox in 2014.

MLB Network insider Jon Heyman predicts that Rodriguez will land a deal for $90 million over five years, while two unnamed industry sources the insider spoke with both think the lefty will sign for $100 million or more.

Stroman, 32, faltered during the second half of the season, which included a six-week stint on the injured list with right hip inflammation. But he earned his second All-Star nod by carrying a 2.47 ERA and a .556 opponents’ OPS into July. He was one of the more popular names in the trade rumor mill leading up to the Deadline, but the Cubs decided to hang on to Stroman in an effort to make a push for the postseason.

Even with his lackluster finish, Stroman has proven his worth as a solidly above-average starter. He has ended each of his past four seasons with an ERA+ no worse than 113.

Both hurlers should garner interest from many clubs in the days and weeks ahead.

Nov. 4: As Bellinger, Stroman reach free agency, what will Cubs do?

Two of the Cubs’ most impactful players from the 2023 season are headed to free agency. Slugger Cody Bellinger declined his mutual option on Friday in wake of his resurgent year. Then, starting pitcher Marcus Stroman decided to opt out of the final year of his three-year deal Saturday, sources told MLB.com.

Nov. 3: Who are some of the top trade candidates this offseason?

Aside from a few notable deals, MLB’s trade market was largely dormant a year ago. That could change this offseason, with a number of star players among the candidates to be moved.

The Padres are in a precarious position, as they are reportedly planning to trim payroll, though they also need to replace key free agents such as Blake Snell, Josh Hader and Seth Lugo, not to mention replenish a farm system that has been decimated by trades over the past few years.

Dealing Soto could be the best way to free up some payroll space to address other needs and bring young, controllable assets into the organization. The 25-year-old is due to receive another raise in his final year of arbitration after earning $23 million in 2023.

Axisa ranks Rays ace Tyler Glasnow third on his list, pointing to his $25 million salary in 2024 as the leading reason why the team might move him. Including projected salaries for arbitration-eligible players,  Cot’s Contracts puts Tampa Bay’s estimated payroll at approximately $122 million for ’24, which would be a sizable increase over its number (roughly $73 million on Opening Day) from ’23.

Axisa also has three other high-end starting pitchers in his Top 10: the Brewers’ Corbin Burnes (controllable through 2024), the Guardians’ Shane Bieber (controllable through 2024) and the White Sox Dylan Cease (controllable through 2025).

Nov. 3: What Kershaw’s injury means for Dodgers’ rotation plans

Retooling their rotation was always going to be a priority for the Dodgers this offseason. With Clayton Kershaw entering free agency, Walker Buehler coming back from Tommy John surgery and Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin both sidelined following their own arm procedures, Los Angeles’ starting staff is extremely thin, as presently constructed.

That said, Friday’s news that Kershaw underwent left shoulder surgery and is expected to be out until at least next summer may nonetheless impact how the Dodgers proceed this offseason.

It now seems more likely that Los Angeles will need to make a serious run at one of the top starters on the free-agent market.

Of course, there’s also the matter of the Dodgers’ expected pursuit of Shohei Ohtani. It remains to be seen if the club has the financial appetite to dole out a nine-figure deal for a starting pitcher and a record contract for Ohtani in the same offseason. More >

Nov. 3: Ohtani sweepstakes could be a 10-team race

While every team would benefit from adding Shohei Ohtani in free agency, not every club has the budget to sign him. ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez (subscription required) thinks Ohtani’s market can be narrowed down to 10 teams: the Angels, Dodgers, Giants, Red Sox, Cubs, Mets, Yankees, Mariners, Rangers and Blue Jays. More >

Nov. 3: Biggest offseason storylines to watch

Hot Stove season has arrived, and there will be a number of interesting storylines to follow as free agency kicks into high gear next week.

In a story for MLB.com, Mark Feinsand broke down 12 storylines we’ll be watching this offseason, including the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes, a strong starting pitching market and Juan Soto potentially getting traded as the Padres try to reset. More >

Nov. 3: NPB and KBO stars set to impact MLB free agency

This offseason is expected to see an influx of talented players from Japan and Korea, headlined by Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto, whom some predict will sign a contract worth at least $200 million.

Korean outfielder Jung Hoo Lee and Japanese pitcher Shōta Imanaga are two of the other big names expected to garner considerable interest from big league clubs, but that’s not all. In an article for MLB.com on Friday, MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi broke down the key NPB and KBO players you need to know. More >

Nov. 2: What’s next for Rangers after FA-driven World Series championship

Given how freely Texas’ ownership has spent over the past two years, signing marquee names such as Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, Nathan Eovaldi and Jacob deGrom, it will be interesting to see how the team proceeds after securing the first World Series title in franchise history.

Jordan Montgomery is the most notable name among the Rangers’ own free agents. The left-hander is expected to draw significant interest on the open market after an outstanding 2023 season in which he posted a 3.20 ERA over 188 2/3 innings during the regular season and went 3-1 with a 2.90 ERA over six games (five starts) in the playoffs.

The Rangers will likely make a bid to re-sign Montgomery after he played an important role in their World Series run, but it remains to be seen how aggressive they’ll be.

Though deGrom is slated to miss 2024 following Tommy John surgery, Texas’ rotation is in decent shape heading into next season. Eovaldi, Max Scherzer, Jon Gray and Dane Dunning will all be back, and Andrew Heaney could return as well if he doesn’t opt out of his deal.

That said, deGrom and Gray are the only Rangers starters signed to guaranteed deals beyond 2024, so a long-term deal with Montgomery would provide some rotation insurance down the road.

It’s also possible the Rangers will move on from Montgomery and conserve their resources to pursue a bigger free-agent fish. The club has been linked to Shohei Ohtani, with MLB Network insider Jon Heyman naming Texas as one of the favorites to sign the two-way superstar.

Ohtani won’t pitch in 2024 after undergoing elbow surgery, but he’d fill the DH vacancy in Texas’ lineup left by fellow free agent Mitch Garver and give the Rangers another potential frontline starter to pair with deGrom starting in 2025.

Nov. 2: Boras shares expectations for Alonso’s next contract

As usual, agent Scott Boras represents a number of top free agents this offseason, including Blake Snell, Cody Bellinger, Matt Chapman and Jordan Montgomery. Meanwhile, two other big-name Boras clients, Juan Soto and Pete Alonso, will be looking to cash in a year from now.

In an appearance on “The Show” podcast with MLB Network insiders Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman, Boras provided a glimpse at his expectations for Alonso’s next contract, explaining that he’s not necessarily looking at fellow first baseman Freddie Freeman’s six-year, $162 million deal with the Dodgers as a target for Alonso. More >

Nov. 2: Qualifying offer set at $20.325 million

The qualifying offer has been set at $20.325 million for 2024.

Teams can extend qualifying offers to select free agents each offseason. Players who accept are signed with their teams for the next season at the designated value. Those who don’t accept remain free agents, and if a new team signs them, their old team receives Draft pick compensation.

Click here for a look at the top candidates to receive a qualifying offer this offseason, along with a list of notable players who aren’t eligible for a QO and information on the Draft compensation tied to the QO.

Nov. 1: Is Yamamoto primed for $200+ million deal?

As anticipation continues to build for Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s expected run at MLB free agency, the right-hander’s potential value has started to come into focus.

MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand ranked Yamamoto second only to Shohei Ohtani among this year’s free agents. The Athletic’s Jim Bowden (subscription required) did the same and offered up a robust contract prediction: seven years, $211 million.

The Athletic’s Tim Britton (subscription required) also crossed the $200 million threshold with his prediction for Yamamoto: seven years, $203 million. That doesn’t include the posting fee that will need to be paid to the Orix Buffaloes, Yamamoto’s team in Nippon Professional Baseball, to sign the 25-year-old.

Reporting from Mike Puma of the New York Post (subscription required) suggests that neither prediction is far fetched. Puma spoke to someone connected to the front office of a team that may pursue Yamamoto, and they indicated the “bidding will start somewhere in the $200 million range for six or seven years.”

If Yamamoto signs a deal for $200 million or more, he’d shatter the record for a player coming over from NPB. Masahiro Tanaka holds the current record — he signed with the Yankees for $155 million after the 2013 season.

With question marks surrounding the other top pitchers on the free-agent market this offseason, Yamamoto is expected to attract interest from a long list of clubs when he’s posted. Bowden named the Mets, Yankees, Dodgers, Phillies, Rangers, Cardinals, Giants, Red Sox and Cubs as potential suitors.

The right-hander has won the Sawamura Award, annually bestowed upon the top starting pitcher in NPB, in each of the past three seasons. He finished 2023 with a microscopic 1.16 ERA and 176 strikeouts over 171 innings.

Oct. 31: Dodgers eyeing trade for Burnes?

The Dodgers are expected to be involved in the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes this offseason, but with Ohtani not planning to pitch until 2025 after undergoing elbow surgery, signing the two-way superstar wouldn’t solve what is arguably Los Angeles’ biggest issue heading into 2024: its rotation.

The Dodgers could pursue some of the top arms on the free-agent market, including Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Aaron Nola, Jordan Montgomery and Sonny Gray. However, if they invest a ton of money into Ohtani on a long-term deal, it’s possible they won’t want to do the same with a pitcher. That could make the trade market a more palatable option for Los Angeles.

One possible target? Brewers ace Corbin Burnes, who is entering his final year before free agency.

Oct. 31: Cobb’s hip surgery increases Giants’ need for top SP

The Giants were already expected to be contenders for some of the top pitchers on the free-agent market this offseason, and their need for a frontline rotation piece to pair with Logan Webb has only increased with the news that Alex Cobb will need to undergo left hip surgery. Cobb’s timeline to return to the mound is six months, making it likely he’ll miss all of April next season.

Although he battled through injuries in 2023, Cobb was one of the Giants’ best starters, posting a 3.87 ERA with 131 K’s in 151 1/3 innings. San Francisco has a $10 million club option ($2 million buyout) on Cobb for 2024. President of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi said earlier this month that the team intends to exercise his option.

Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto is believed to be a priority target for the Giants, with Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic (subscription required) previously reporting that the sense within the industry is that the Giants won’t allow another team to outbid them.

Baggarly suggested Monday that San Francisco could also pursue likely NL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell. Other notable free-agent starters include Aaron Nola, Jordan Montgomery and Sonny Gray.

Oct. 31: Has Montgomery leapfrogged Snell and Nola on FA market?

While Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto is shaping up to be the No. 1 pitcher on the free-agent market (non-Shohei Ohtani division) this offseason, the choice for No. 2 may be a matter of preference. 

Likely NL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell and longtime Phillies starter Aaron Nola are the most obvious picks for that spot, but another pitcher has emerged as a popular free-agent target due in large part to his performance during the postseason.

That would be Rangers lefty Jordan Montgomery, who surprisingly earned the No. 3 ranking on the list of the Top 40 free agents Jim Bowden compiled for The Athletic (subscription required).

The 30-year-old lefty posted a 3.20 ERA with 166 K’s over 188 2/3 innings — all career bests — between the Cardinals and Rangers during the regular season and has been even better in the playoffs. Over six appearances (five starts) during Texas’ postseason run, Montgomery owns a 2.90 ERA across 31 innings — including 14 innings with a 1.29 ERA against the Astros in the ALCS. 

“Most teams I’ve talked with rank Montgomery above Blake Snell even though the Padres lefty is expected to win the National League Cy Young Award this year; that tells you how much Montgomery’s value has risen,” Bowden writes.

However, there doesn’t appear to be much separation between Montgomery, Snell and Nola. Bowden predicts similar five-year contracts for all three — $127 million for Montgomery, $125 million for Nola and $122 million for Snell.

Oct. 28: Yankees, Cubs could be trade fits for Juan Soto

According to a report from SNY’s Andy Martino, the Yankees and Padres have had a preliminary conversation about Juan Soto. The 25-year-old Soto is entering his final season before free agency in what could result in one of the largest contracts handed out in baseball and sports history the following offseason. Based on reporting from Martino, the expectation is that Soto would be “available in the right deal”. Furthermore, he added that while the Padres aren’t actively shopping Soto, they’re also not “actively ruling him out either”.

The Yanks aren’t alone in their interest in Soto, as Bruce Levine of 670 The Score reports that the Cubs are also expected to be involved in the trade sweepstakes for the 24-year-old. More >