2025 MLB free-agent rumors: Nolan Arenado turns down trade to Astros
MLB free agency is here!
Similar to how last winter was defined by the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes, this offseason so far has revolved around another generational superstar: Juan Soto. The 26-year-old slugger is coming off a career year with the New York Yankees, having also helped the Bronx Bombers get back to the World Series for the first time in 15 years.
On Dec. 8, one night before the Winter Meetings officially began in Dallas, Soto decided on his newest destination: the crosstown rival New York Mets. He agreed to a record-breaking 15-year, $765 million deal.
Even with Soto no longer available, there are plenty of other top-tier free agents, including ace pitcher Corbin Burnes and slugging first baseman Pete Alonso.
RELATED: 2025 MLB free-agent signing tracker, trades | 2025 MLB free-agent rankings, team fits: Juan Soto leads top 30
And as Soto himself knows, after being dealt to New York from the San Diego Padres last offseason, there could always be landscape-shifting trades made this offseason.
Follow along below for the latest news and rumors!
Nolan Arenado
Dec. 18: Arenado uses no-trade clause to deny Astros trade
The Houston Astros were a strong candidate to land the St. Louis Cardinals star third baseman, but Arenado has nixed that possibility. Arenado used his no-trade clause to block a possible move to Houston, MLB.com reported Wednesday. Arenado's reasoning for turning down the deal was that he didn't want a decision to be made on his future this early in the offseason, according to The Athletic.
It's unclear what the exact deal involving Arenado would've entailed. However, the Cardinals would've sent the Astros somewhere between $15 million and $20 million to help pay off the remainder of Arenado's contract, according to MLB.com. Arenado is set to earn $74 million over the next three seasons, but previous owed money and deferments bring that number to roughly $60 million. It was previously reported that Arenado would likely be moved this offseason as the Cardinals look to get off his salary while they enter a rebuilding phase.
The Red Sox and Yankees remain possible options for Arenado, though it's believed that both teams have higher priorities at the moment, The Athletic reported. The Phillies and Mets are also viewed as contenders for Arenado, but the Dodgers aren't, according to MLB.com.
Houston became a contender for Arenado amid uncertainty over the future of its long-time third baseman, Alex Bregman. Bregman is a free agent and arguably the top hitter remaining on the open market as there seems to be a hot pursuit for the multi-time All-Star.
Roki Sasaki
Dec. 18: Yankee land meeting with Sasaki
The Yankees are the first known team to secure a meeting with the Japanese pitching phenom. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told reporters at Max Fried's introductory press conference that he and the Yankees will meet with Sasaki's team in California.
Sasaki is arguably the top pitcher available this offseason. The 23-year-old was posted earlier in December, allowing him to sign with a team sometime between Jan. 15 and Jan. 23.
Sasaki's agent Joel Wolfe offered details of the righty's free agency process at the winter meetings. According to FOX Sports writer Rowan Kavner, Wolfe said Sasaki would start meeting with teams soon in a central location.
That same day, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said signing Sasaki was "a major priority," though Wolfe refuted claims that Sasaki was a lock to them or any other team.
Despite Wolfe's claim, MLB executives view a pair of teams as strong favorites to land his client. Eleven of 20 MLB executives polled by MLB.com believe he'll sign with the Dodgers while seven more think he'll end up signing with the Padres. The Rangers and Giants each received a vote in the poll, which was conducted during the winter meetings.
Corbin Burnes
Dec. 10: Red Sox turn their attention to Burnes
With the Yankees locking down Max Fried, the Red Sox are getting their offer ready for Burnes, according to MassLive.com. The Blue Jays and Giants are among the other teams interested in him.
Blue Jays in the mix
Toronto had an in-person meeting with the 2021 Cy Young Award winner, according to MLB Network. The Blue Jays are also reportedly among the finalists to sign Soto, which comes one year after being in the mix for Ohtani. Toronto finished last in the AL East last season at 74-88.
Pair of favorites emerge for Burnes
Baltimore is interested in retaining its ace, but it faces some pretty steep competition. The Dodgers and Orioles are viewed as the teams that "stand above the others" to sign Burnes this offseason, MLB Network reported. Burnes has received "broad interest" around the league as pitching-needy teams like the Red Sox and others have also reportedly expressed interest.
Burnes had another All-Star season in his first year with Baltimore. He went 15-9 with a 2.92 ERA, 181 strikeouts and a 1.10 WHIP, making him a finalist for the AL Cy Young and earning a spot on the All-MLB first team.
The Orioles, who finished second in the AL East in 2024 after winning the division in 2023, would obviously like Burnes back as they traded for him to get a top-of-the-line pitcher. The Dodgers already have a few arms they've heavily invested in, but they dealt with numerous injuries later in the year that caused them to start relievers in playoff games.
Mookie Betts
Dec. 9: Dodgers plan to play Betts at shortstop
At the Winter Meetings, Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes confirmed the team is still committed to moving Betts back to the infield. This time, he said the plan is specifically to play Betts at shortstop, according to FOX Sports writer Rowan Kavner. Superutility man Tommy Edman is expected to play mostly in center field.
Nov. 6: Betts to play in the infield in 2025
The Dodgers plan to return to the experiment of playing Betts in the infield. Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes told reporters at the General Manager Meetings that Betts will play either second base or shortstop in 2025.
"For Mookie, winning is always No. 1," Gomes said. "So I wouldn't be surprised if he's like, ‘Hey, this is the best thing. I'll play wherever.' I think catching is probably out of the realm of possibility, although I'm sure he would be good at that as well.
"But yeah, I think it's a lot of conversations with him as well. I know the toll on the body is less in the infield for him. So you can make arguments on both sides of it. But the beauty of Mookie is [he's] the most selfless superstar we've ever been around. And that permeates through the team."
Betts played shortstop at the start of the 2024 season before suffering a hand injury in June. When he returned from the injured list, Betts moved back to playing right field on a full-time basis.
With Betts moving to the infield, the Dodgers have some flexibility to make moves in the outfield this offseason. Left fielder Teoscar Hernández became a free agent following his All-Star season. The Dodgers have also been rumored to be one of the top suitors for right fielder Juan Soto.
As for the middle infield, the Dodgers will have a surplus with Betts back in the mix, as Tommy Edman, Miguel Rojas and Gavin Lux are all under contract for the 2025 season.
Teoscar Hernández
Dec. 8: The Dodgers are still in the Hernández sweepstakes
The Dodgers reached a one-year deal with outfielder Michael Conforto, but they could still bring back Hernández, according to MLB.com. They remain one of his likeliest destinations, along with the Yankees, Blue Jays and Red Sox.
Nov. 7: A pair of early suitors emerge for Hernández
The Red Sox and Orioles are among the teams that have shown interest in the All-Star outfielder at this week's General Manager Meetings, MLB Network reported.
Hernández is one of the top right-handed hitters on the open market this offseason after having a strong season with the Dodgers. He hit .272 with 33 homers and a .870 OPS, before adding three more homers in the postseason to help the Dodgers win the World Series. He also became a fan favorite in Los Angeles — "re-sign Teo" chants could be heard at the Dodgers' trophy celebration, and both Mookie Betts and Dave Roberts have spoken publicly about Hernández's value to the team last season.
Both the Red Sox and Orioles are in need of right-handed hitting help for 2025. Boston's lineup was lefty dominant in 2023 and its best right-handed hitter from last season, Tyler O'Neill, is a free agent. The Red Sox also expressed interest in Hernández last offseason before he signed a one-year deal with the Dodgers. The Orioles, meanwhile, might lose outfielder Anthony Santander in free agency as Baltimore attempts to maximize its core of young players and reach a third straight postseason.
Alex Bregman
Astros have six-year deal on the table
Houston has offered Bregman a six-year deal worth roughly $156 million, according to MLB.com. That said, the career-long Astro Bregman seeks a deal closer to $200 million, which could reportedly be out of Houston's price range.
Bregman and agent Scott Boras seeking massive deal
As some projections have Boras' top client (Soto) set to receive over $600 million on his deal this offseason, the star agent is potentially seeking a deal worth at least half of that for Bregman. Boras is using the 11-year, $350 million extension Manny Machado signed in 2023 as the potential structure for a deal involving Bregman, FOX Sports MLB insider Ken Rosenthal wrote for The Athletic.
Bregman, 30, is around the same age Machado was when he signed that extension, but his numbers took a dip at the plate in 2024. His .768 OPS was the lowest of his career and his 118 OPS+ was just two points higher than the career-low he recorded as a rookie.
Still, Bregman is among one of the top right-handed hitting infielders in the league, and he's expected to land a nine-figure deal. Boras has also said that Bregman is willing to play second base, which could lead to more potential suitors. The two-time All-Star hit .260 with 26 homers and 75 RBIs last season.
Astros general manager Dana Brown said earlier in November that of the team's top free agents (which includes Yusei Kikuchi and Justin Verlander), they're working the hardest to bring back Bregman.
"We'd love to have Alex Bregman back," Brown told reporters at the GM meetings. "It's our biggest priority."
The Astros, of course, have allowed a handful of homegrown stars walk in free agency in recent years. And even though Brown admitted the team is exploring backup options, he seemed bullish about the club's chances to retain Bregman.
"Our mindset right now is that he's not going elsewhere and we want to sign him," Brown said at the time. "If he ends up going elsewhere, we'll cross that bridge when we get there, but I'm going into this offseason with the thought that we're going to get Bregman back. Hopefully we can do it."
Pete Alonso
Alonso, Yankees marriage on the horizon?
Alonso and the Yankees are believed to have "mutual" interest, according to the New York Post. Such a pairing would come in the wake of Alonso's Mets signing Soto away from the Yankees, while first baseman Anthony Rizzo is a free agent.
Nov. 6: Yankees check in
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman figures to be busy in the coming weeks, as first baseman Anthony Rizzo and second baseman Gleyber Torres are also free agents. With that, Cashman confirmed the Yankees have interest in Pete Alonso, who's available after starring for the Mets the past six seasons.
"There are a lot of high-quality players in this marketplace, and certainly Pete did an amazing job with the Mets," Cashman said. "I had a brief conversation with Scott about a lot of his — he has a lot of free agents, which is normal, and Pete's one of them, so yes."
As for Torres, the Yankees did not extend him a qualifying offer, and Cashman offered a tepid response on whether the former All-Star could return.
"I'm not gonna dissect what he's good at and not as good at," Cashman said. "Obviously, he'll have a lot of conversations with a lot of teams that have a need in that area and that might include us, who knows. But appreciate his efforts while he was here."
Walker Buehler
Athletics have spoken to Buehler
A's manager Mark Kotsay told reporters on Nov. 21 that the team has spoken to Buehler. The right-hander struggled with the Dodgers during the regular season in his return from a nearly two-year absence due to major arm and shoulder injuries, but came alive in the playoffs. Buehler had a 3.60 ERA in three starts during the Dodgers' run to a World Series title, and most famously got the save L.A.'s championship-clinching Game 5 win over the New York Yankees.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Nov. 12: Guerrero unlikely to be traded entering contract year
The Blue Jays have "given no indication" that they're set to trade Guerrero this offseason as he enters his final season of team control, The Athletic reported. The All-Star first baseman had his best season in a few years in 2024, hitting .323 with 30 home runs, 103 RBIs and a .940 OPS.
Toronto is reportedly making a chase for Soto, so moving Guerrero might be counterintuitive to that pursuit. However, a National League general manager told The Athletic that he could see the Blue Jays making Guerrero available later in the offseason if they fail to sign Soto and struggle to come to terms on an extension with their All-Star first baseman, believing the team could receive massive offers after free-agent first basemen Pete Alonso and Christian Walker sign.
Alec Bohm
Nov. 12: Phillies making Bohm available
The standout third baseman is on the trade market as the Phillies are "looking to shake up their team" after their earlier-than-expected playoff exit, ESPN reported. Bohm, 28, had a career year at the plate. He hit .280 with 15 home runs, a .779 OPS and 97 RBIs to earn his first All-Star nod.
Bohm has struggled in the postseason, though. He only had one hit in the NLDS and is a lifetime .214 hitter with just two homers in 34 games in the postseason. Despite his All-Star status, Bohm might be one of the more expendable hitters in the Phillies' lineup as he doesn't have a major contract. He's also under team control for two more seasons.
Bo Bichette
Nov. 6: Bichette not available for trade
With Bo Bichette set to become a free agent after the 2025 season, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins made it clear that the team isn't willing to move on from the shortstop sooner than it has to. He told MLB Network that any trade calls involving Bichette are "an easy no."
Bichette is coming off an underwhelming 2024 campaign, slashing .225/.277/.322 with just four homers in 81 games.
Brent Rooker
Nov. 5: A's keeping All-Star Brent Rooker
Athletics general manager David Frost insisted the A's, who are temporarily relocating to Sacramento beginning next season, will not part with star designated hitter Brent Rooker.
"We're going to keep [Rooker]," Frost told the New York Post.
Rooker was one of the most sought-after players ahead of the trade deadline in 2024. He finished the season with 39 homers and a 165 OPS+.
Ryan Helsley
Cardinals keeping All-Star closer?
MLB teams expect St. Louis to keep Helsley, according to The Athletic. Hesley led MLB with 49 saves last season, while posting a 2.04 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 79 strikeouts across 66.1 innings (65 games). He's a free agent following the 2025 season.
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