Everything to know from the 2025 MLB Winter Meetings Monday: Plenty of rumors, almost no action

Monday was surprisingly quiet in terms of transactions, but there was plenty of buzz

The first full day of the 2025 MLB Winter Meetings was a relative dud, at least if you were hoping for some player movement. There were no major trades or signings, but we were treated to a bevy of juicy rumors. 

Free agent Kyle Schwarber appears to be holding up the market as teams like the Phillies, Mets, Reds, Red Sox and Pirates dance around the slugger. Past that, the Nationals are reportedly open to offers for starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore and shortstop CJ Abrams (new president of baseball operations Paul Toboni said it would be "kind of negligent to just not entertain it"), while the Brewers are listening on pitchers Freddy Peralta and Trevor Megill. Free-agent first baseman Pete Alonso whispers are aplenty as well and he's said to be meeting with interested teams in Orlando. Trade rumors continue to circulate about Diamondbacks All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte too, though it's unclear how serious Arizona is about moving on.

• Follow live updates from Day 2 of the MLB Winter Meetings. See the action from Day 1 below.

Dylan Cease is the only top free agent to sign thus far, inking a seven-year, $210 million deal with the Blue Jays last week. Eyes will also be on two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal if the Tigers are open to a deal, though it sure seems like they'd have to receive an absolutely monstrous offer. Will Kyle Tucker, Bo Bichette, Framber Valdez or other top FAs make a deal at the Winter Meetings? Alex Bregman has had buzz too, but nothing concrete. Will the Cardinals (finally) find a team for a Nolan Arenado trade? What about the Marlins' Sandy Alcantara or Edward Cabrera?

Here are our top 50 free agents and our top 25 trade candidates.

See below for CBS Sports MLB experts' updates and analysis from all the hot stove happenings Monday at the Winter Meetings.

[Dec 8, 2025 at 11:02 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

The Rays have a two-year deal with left-hander Steven Matz, according to multiple reports (The Athletic). 

Matz, 34, had a 3.05 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 59 strikeouts in 76 ⅔ innings over the course of 53 appearances (two starts) for the Cardinals and Red Sox. He was once upon a time a full-time starter, but has found a home in the bullpen now. He is ranked 50th in CBS Sports' top 50 free agents for this offseason.

[Dec 8, 2025 at 8:41 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

The Brewers are reportedly listening to trade offers for ace Freddy Peralta, but they are also taking calls with inquiries on All-Star reliever Trevor Megill, according to the New York Post, with the Yankees and Mets being named as two suitors for the top reliever. 

Megill, 32, had a 2.49 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 60 strikeouts in 47 innings last season, closing 30 of his 36 save chances. 

The Mets have already signed Devin Williams in free agency, but with Edwin Díaz hitting free agency, there's no reason that they couldn't grab Megill to pair with Williams in the late innings. The Yankees have seen both Williams and Luke Weaver hit free agency.

[Dec 8, 2025 at 8:30 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

Slugging designated hitter Kyle Schwarber "might be the first of the superstar" free-agent hitters to make a decision and sign, per ESPN. The Phillies are obviously still involved, but the Mets, Reds, Pirates and others have been linked as well. 

Buster Olney also lists the Orioles, who make sense as long as they're willing to pay what it takes. They had zero players reach 20 home runs last season. Schwarber hit 56 after seasons of 46, 47 and 38, respectively. 

[Dec 8, 2025 at 8:07 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

The Nationals are said to be asking for a lot in return if they were to trade either frontline starter MacKenzie Gore or shortstop CJ Abrams, but that's not scaring off some clubs The Yankees have discussed a possible Gore deal with the Nats, among other teams, according to the Washington Post. Earlier Monday, when speaking with media, Nationals president of baseball operations Paul Toboni said, on possibly dealing either Gore or Abrams, "it would just be kind of negligent to just not entertain it. So CJ or otherwise, we'll have our ears open. ... The worst thing that can happen is we say no and we go back to having our regularly scheduled programming."

The Nationals went 66-96 last season. Abrams and Gore were good, they just didn't have much help, outside of James Wood. Wood is there for the long haul, but the rationale behind trading either Gore or Abrams is their timelines. Gore is hitting free agency after the 2027 season and it could be argued that the Nationals won't contend in the next two years. Abrams is under team control through 2028. 

[Dec 8, 2025 at 7:31 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

We noted earlier that the focus for the Astros' front office is on starting pitching, notably due to Framber Valdez hitting free agency. A name has emerged in the trade rumor mill and it's Rays right-hander Shane Baz. Via The Athletic: 

The Astros have expressed interest in Tampa Bay Rays starter and Houston native Shane Baz, according to multiple league sources. A deal is not believed to be close and some league sources characterized moving Baz as unlikely. Others, however, indicated the two teams have at least discussed the framework of a potential trade.

Baz, 26, is close to getting expensive and we know how the Rays operate. He'll hit arbitration for the first time this offseason and is under team control through the 2028 season. In 31 starts last season, he was 10-12 with a 4.87 ERA (84 ERA+), 1.34 WHIP and 176 strikeouts in 166 ⅓ innings. The Rays being forced to play home games during the regular-season in a spring training/minor-league park didn't do Baz any favors. He had a 3.86 ERA on the road and 5.90 at home.

[Dec 8, 2025 at 6:53 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

There have been a few rumors bouncing around that the Dodgers could trade Teoscar Hernández -- along with them then turning around to sign Kyle Tucker, for example -- but Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes seemed to shoot that down on Monday. 

"Obviously, you can never say never on those kinds of things," he said (via the Los Angeles Times). "But that's not something we anticipate at all."  

Hernández, 33, is signed through 2027 with options through 2029. In 134 games last season, he hit .247/.284/.454 (103 OPS+) with 25 home runs, 89 RBI and 1.5 WAR.

[Dec 8, 2025 at 6:42 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer was asked about trade rumors revolving around young third baseman Matt Shaw. The root of these rumors would be the Cubs' connection in rumors to free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman. If the Cubs landed Bregman, they could use Shaw in a trade to grab a needed frontline starter. It's just a connecting of the dots here, speculatively. 

"Honestly, I've been surprised by the number of media reports that link us to different guys," Hoyer said (via the Chicago Tribune). "There's zero lack of confidence in Matt. Actually, I would say the opposite."  

Of course, this is exactly the answer Hoyer has to give. If the Cubs fail to land Bregman or someone else from outside the organization, the team can say it had its third baseman all along in Shaw. If they do land Bregman, they can still say they like Shaw a lot and dangle him in trade talks or simply hold onto him as a utility backup.

[Dec 8, 2025 at 6:39 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

Rumors of the Tigers possibly looking to trade two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal won't die and Tigers president Scott Harris addressed them on Monday. 

"I can't do my job without listening, without exploring anything that may or may not have legs," he said (via the Detroit Free Press). "Some are going to be very likely moves, some are going to be extremely unlikely, but you can't vet those opportunities unless you listen."

Harris is correct here. Of course the Tigers should listen to any trade offer because it's always possible a team might blow them away with a franchise-altering trade package. Just listening to trade offers doesn't mean the team is actively trying to trade Skubal.

Skubal, 29, was 13-6 with a 2.21 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 241 strikeouts in 195 ⅓ innings last season, winning his second consecutive Cy Young. He's set to hit free agency after the 2026 season.

[Dec 8, 2025 at 6:07 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

Phillies general manager Preston Mattingly said during an MLB Network Radio appearance on Monday that he's actively trying to trade veteran outfielder Nick Castellanos in order to provide him with a "change of scenery." 

Castellanos, owed $20 million next season, is coming off the worst offensive showing of his career. He also raised eyebrows with some public criticism of manager Rob Thomson in advance of the Phillies' postseason appearance. 

[Dec 8, 2025 at 5:33 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

The Mets had a video meeting with free agent starting pitcher Michael King, per the New York Post. King is, of course, a former Yankee, so he has plenty of familiarity with New York. Since he was traded to the Padres, he converted to a full-time starter with good success. In 46 appearances (45 starts) with the Padres, King was 18-12 with a 3.10 ERA and 277 strikeouts in 247 innings. 

The Mets, at present, have a good number of in-house rotation options in veterans David Peterson, Clay Holmes, Sean Manaea and Kodai Senga along with youngsters Nolan McLean, Jonah Tong and Brandon Sproat. 

Mets president David Stearns said Monday, via SNY, "I think we'd like to be able to add a starter. We are also really comfortable, like our young starters that are emerging. We saw that last year with Nolan McLean, but certainly, we're going to be canvassing where we can to bring in a starting pitcher and help stabilize the staff."

[Dec 8, 2025 at 5:29 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

The Baltimore Orioles have been frugal under the watch of club president Mike Elias, but perhaps this winter will be different. Elias told reporters (MLB.com) that the Orioles have been talking to "a whole bunch" of free agent hitters and that the ballclub has the "payroll flexibility" to add both a frontline starting pitcher and a top bat from the free agency pool. 

[Dec 8, 2025 at 5:11 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

New Rockies president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta is "meeting with agents" of available first basemen, according to the Denver Post. There's no word on what level of free agents are on the shopping list, so there's a wide variance of possibilities here. The top of the market would be Pete Alonso or Cody Bellinger (though he's much more valuable in the outfield) along with NPB import Munetaka Murakami. Lesser options include the likes of Luis Arraez, Josh Bell, Ty France, Rhys Hoskins, Paul Goldschmidt and Ryan O'Hearn. Rockies first basemen last season were pitiful at the plate, combining to slash .211/.268/.372 on the year.

[Dec 8, 2025 at 5:10 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

Earlier, we noted that free-agent first baseman Pete Alonso will attend the Winter Meetings on Tuesday to meet with interested clubs, including the Red Sox and the Orioles. That won't include the Mets, top baseball operations executive David Stearns said on Monday.

Stearns said a meeting isn't needed since both sides know one another, but did call Alonso a priority and said the two sides will be in touch.

[Dec 8, 2025 at 4:37 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

The Astros' top priority this offseason is still starting pitching, whether via free agency or a trade or two, general manager Dana Brown told reporters (including MLB.com). Frontline starter Framber Valdez is a free agent, so the Astros' remaining rotation at this time is Hunter Brown, Cristian Javier, Lance McCullers Jr., Jason Alexander and KBO import Ryan Weiss. 

[Dec 8, 2025 at 4:17 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

The Padres announced on Monday that they've signed right-hander Daison Acosta to a big-league contract.

Acosta, 27, has never pitched in the majors but that should change in 2026. He throws a mid-90s fastball as well as a splitter and a slider that each generated nearly 40% whiffs last season. 

Acosta has reliably struggled with his command throughout his professional career, and that remains the main reason he hasn't established himself as a fixture in someone's bullpen.

[Dec 8, 2025 at 4:01 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

The Diamondbacks, who previously said that a trade involving second baseman Ketel Marte is unlikely, are willing to listen to inquiries at this stage in the winter. Yet their asking price is, predictably, quite high and is focused on near-ready starting pitchers, according to MLB Network's Jon Morosi. 

Marte, 32, is under contract through the 2030 season at minimum. He's been one of Arizona's most productive players over most of the past decade, but he ruffled feathers last summer with an absence after the All-Star Game and his general requests for time off following a home burglary.

[Dec 8, 2025 at 3:42 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

The Padres will not attempt to convert three of their top relievers -- Mason Miller, Adrian Morejón, and David Morgan -- to the rotation next season, manager Craig Stammen told reporters on Monday. 

As such, count San Diego as being on the hunt for starters. The Padres have already lost Dylan Cease to free agency and are also rumored to be shopping starter Nick Pivetta as a means of freeing up funds to use elsewhere. 

[Dec 8, 2025 at 3:36 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

The Mets remain interested in free-agent slugger Kyle Schwarber, according to the New York Post. It's not the cleanest fit on paper, as Schwarber is limited defensively and would have to co-exist for a few years with Juan Soto, but that pairing would give the Mets one of the fiercest one-two offensive punches in the majors. Of course, the Mets being in the bidding could be a tactic to drive up Schwarber's asking price and force the Phillies to spend more to retain him, too.

[Dec 8, 2025 at 2:16 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

The Blue Jays continue to seek relief help. One name on their radar: free-agent closer Robert Suarez, according to Sportsnet. Suarez, formerly of the Padres, is one of the top free-agent relievers left on the market.

[Dec 8, 2025 at 2:08 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

Kyle Schwarber, one of the most popular free agents on the market, is drawing interest from a varied bunch that includes the Phillies, Mets, and Pirates. He's expected to reach an agreement with some team or another within the next two weeks, according to The Athletic. 

[Dec 8, 2025 at 1:45 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

Free-agent first baseman Pete Alonso will attend the Winter Meetings on Tuesday to meet with interested teams, according to the New York Post. That group includes two American League squads, in the Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox. It's unclear if Alonso will also meet with the New York Mets, his only employer to date.

[Dec 8, 2025 at 1:45 pm ET · Dayn Perry]

Bear in mind that already this offseason, we've seen a couple of major trades (the Marcus Semien-Brandon Nimmo swap between the Rangers and Red Sox and the Sonny Gray deal mentioned below) and a major signing (Dylan Cease to the Blue Jays). Despite what you hear about certain free agents or trade candidates "clogging up" the markets, there's never really any telling when things will go down.

[Dec 8, 2025 at 12:33 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

The Cardinals, in their first winter under Chaim Bloom's guidance, have already sent Sonny Gray packing. They have a lot of other potential business to conduct over the coming days as they enter a transition phase. 

That may include shipping out utility player Brendan Donovan (a fit for virtually every contender) and lefty reliever JoJo Romero, among others. The Cardinals could also try to find a new home for corner infielders Nolan Arenado and Willson Contreras. 

[Dec 8, 2025 at 12:18 pm ET · Dayn Perry]

Right-hander Tatsuya Imai, who's looking to make the leap to MLB from Japan, is of interest to the Cubs, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. Imai is ranked 12th on our countdown of the top 50 free agents. Here's part of RJ Anderson's write-up: 

Relative to how front offices view hitters transferring from NPB, pitchers are a near-certain quantity. There are too many success stories to fixate on the differences in the ball and the schedule or to suggest it'll have a devastating effect on the talent in question. That's good news for Imai's stock. He's fresh off a dominant season that saw him post a 1.92 ERA and a 3.96 strikeout-to-walk ratio across 163 innings. He possesses mid-90s velocity and a forkball-like slider he delivers from a low release point. Imai isn't far removed from struggling with his command (it took until his seventh professional season for him to walk fewer than four batters per nine innings), but teams confident in his strikethrowing ability could envision him being at least a No. 3 starter as soon as next spring.

[Dec 8, 2025 at 12:05 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

The Nationals, under new management, are listening to teams on both lefty MacKenzie Gore and shortstop CJ Abrams, per The Athletic. Gore's name has been on the trade market for a minute, but Abrams (under team control through the 2028 season) is a new entrant on the rumor mill.

Abrams, 25, just posted a career-high 111 OPS+. The lack of compelling free-agent shortstop options (beyond Bo Bichette) should make him an intriguing candidate for contenders seeking an upgrade at the position. 

Some of the other front offices I've talked with have been surprised at the Nationals' willingness to trade long-term pieces, citing how James Wood and Dylan Crews are already in place. That the new front office is open to moving Gore and Abrams suggests they may this as a necessary overhaul.

[Dec 8, 2025 at 11:45 am ET · Dayn Perry]

Presumably, the Padres are still in contending mode, but at the same time the post-Peter Seidler ownership group continues to push for payroll reductions. In related matters, the Padres are at least willing to listen on trade offers for right-hander Nick Pivetta, Dennis Lin of the Athletic reports. 

Pivetta, who turns 33 in February and is signed through 2028, is coming off a career year in 2025 in terms of both WAR (5.3) and FIP (3.49): 

The Padres are already dealing with the free agent loss of Dylan Cease (signed with the Blue Jays) and the likely free agent loss of Michael King. Trading away Pivetta in light of those realities would do serious harm to the team's hopes in 2026. 

[Dec 8, 2025 at 11:45 am ET · R.J. Anderson]

The Rule 5 draft will take place later this week. Here are 10 names worth knowing:

MLB Rule 5 Draft: 10 names to watch, including former Florida star and a Clayton Kershaw impersonator

R.J. Anderson

[Dec 8, 2025 at 11:42 am ET · R.J. Anderson]

The Tigers, along with the Red Sox and the Cubs, are considered to be some of the favorites to land free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman. Yet Detroit's interest in Bregman to date has been "lukewarm," according to the Detroit Free Press, who add that the Tigers' likelihood of signing Bregman went down when Gleyber Torres accepted his qualifying offer. The Tigers, in turn, may prioritize a downmarket free-agent infielder -- someone like shortstop Ha-Seong Kim.

[Dec 8, 2025 at 11:35 am ET · R.J. Anderson]

Top baseball operation executive Andrew Friedman told reporters (including the Orange County Register) that the Dodgers don't have "as much heavy lifting" to do this offseason, and that the club is being careful about fielding a roster that's too old -- or, more importantly, too close to a collective decline. That second consideration may keep the Dodgers from signing any free agent who requires an extra long term. 

[Dec 8, 2025 at 11:03 am ET · Dayn Perry]

Diamondbacks infielder Ketel Marte -- a three-time All-Star and owner of a 35.6 career WAR across parts of 11 MLB seasons -- has been the subject of trade speculation for some time now. He's one of the most compelling names available this offseason, and that goes for the trade and free agent markets. Not surprisingly, multiple teams have interest in at least cursory discussions for Marte's services, and according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post that list of teams includes the Blue Jays and Red Sox. Presumably such interest would reflect the possibility that, respectively, Bo Bichette and Alex Bregman sign elsewhere this offseason.