MLB Trade Rumors
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The Opener: MVPs, Phillips
Awards season wraps up with Pete Crow‑Armstrong (Cubs) clinching the NL MVP after a historic 40/40 campaign, earning 9.8–10.6 WAR and leading the league in runs. In the AL, Yordan Alvarez (Astros) dominates as unanimous MVP, posting a .316/.432/.601 slash line, 42 homers, 100+ RBIs and a 181 wRC+. Down‑ballot votes feature names like Jake Bauers, Ty France, James Wood, CJ Abrams, Junior Caminero and Bobby Witt Jr. Meanwhile, the Braves bolster their bullpen by signing former Dodger reliever Evan Phillips, who returned from Tommy John surgery with a 3.46 ERA and a 31.1% strikeout rate.
Braves Sign Evan Phillips To Three-Year Deal
The Atlanta Braves announce a three‑year, $35 million deal for right‑hander Evan Phillips, paying $11 million in 2027‑28 and $13 million in 2029. The 32‑year‑old, originally a 2015 17th‑round pick, returns after a standout stint with the Dodgers, where he posted a 2.14 ERA, 45 saves and 36 holds from 2022‑25 before Tommy John surgery. Phillips joins a bullpen already featuring Robert Suarez and rising arms like Dylan Lee and Ray Kerr, potentially reshaping the closing role as Raisel Iglesias heads into free agency. The signing reflects Alex Anthopoulos’ strategy of early, high‑impact free‑agent moves.
Latest On Jazz Chisholm’s Market
Jazz Chisholm Jr. hits free agency as a versatile 29‑year‑old with a .231/.312/.399 line after a 30‑30 season last year. The Yankees used him at second base in 2026, but he’s open to multi‑positional roles, having logged 3,300+ infield innings, 73 games at third, and 186 starts in center field for Miami. Defensive metrics are mixed, yet Statcast rates his range positively. Roc Nation has opened talks with over a third of MLB clubs, with the Blue Jays and Padres reportedly interested. San Diego could use his speed but has limited positional openings.
KBO’s Ja-Wook Koo Interested In Potential MLB Move
Samsung Lions outfielder Ja‑Wook Koo, 33, hires Mako Sports to explore a move to MLB after winning the Korean Series MVP. The left‑handed slugger posts a career slash line of .322/.392/.518 with 201 homers, and posted a .371/.458/.581 line with 15 homers in the 2026 season despite a late hamstring injury. With his KBO contract expired and free from the posting system, Koo can negotiate domestically or internationally, though his age and the league's lower competition level may temper major‑league interest. He remains open to a minor‑league deal, even amid the December 2 transaction freeze.
Rangers Interested In Teruaki Sato
The Texas Rangers are reportedly eyeing NPB power hitter Teruaki Sato, though a deal would be a long shot given his projected five‑year, $80 million contract and posting fee. Sato, 28, slugged 39 homers with a .306/.383/.609 line for the Hanshin Tigers but struck out at a 26.7% rate, raising concerns about MLB strikeout percentages. While the Rangers face payroll constraints—estimated $192.8 M in 2026 and similar next‑year projections—and have multiple roster needs, they could free modest cash by moving players like MacKenzie Gore and Jake Burger. Sato’s posting window closes Dec. 1, so Texas may only monitor his market in case it drops.
Kurt Suzuki Remaining With Angels As Special Assistant
Kurt Suzuki stays with the Los Angeles Angels as a special assistant after the club declined his one‑year manager option. Interim GM John Mozeliak announced the move during the GM Meetings, noting that the Angels, who fell from a 72‑90 record to a franchise‑worst 100 losses, are amid a pending ownership sale and will soon hire a permanent GM. Suzuki, a former All‑Star catcher who previously served in the same role, may still seek future coaching or managerial jobs, having been interviewed for the San Francisco Giants vacancy last fall.
Multiple Teams Interested In Dustin May
Former Brewers right‑hander Dustin May draws interest from four clubs as a free agent, according to Jon Morosi (MLB Network). The Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox are linked to the 29‑year‑old, who posted a rough 5.65 ERA in 36⅔ innings for Milwaukee after a season split between the Dodgers and Red Sox. May previously signed a one‑year, $12.5 million deal with St. Louis and delivered a mid‑3.00s stretch and a complete‑game shutout before back issues resurfaced. All four suitors have clear rotation holes to fill heading into the 2027 season.
Pete Crow-Armstrong Wins NL MVP Award
The Baseball Writers Association of America unanimously names Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong the National League MVP on November 13, 2026, ending Shohei Ohtani’s three‑year streak. The 24‑year‑old posted a historic 40‑40 season, tying for the league lead with 45 homers, adding 31 doubles, eight triples, 41 steals and a .570 slugging percentage. He led MLB with 119 runs, posted a .280/.372/.570 slash line over 726 plate appearances, and topped the NL with 84 extra‑base hits. Defensively, Crow-Armstrong earned his second Gold Glove, the NL Platinum Glove, and a league‑best +25 Outs Above Average. His 9.8 fWAR makes the season one of the top 40 ever for a position player.
Pete Crow-Amstrong Wins NL MVP Award
Cubs center fielder Pete Crow‑Armstrong shatters expectations to claim the National League MVP, earning every first‑place vote and breaking Shohei Ohtani’s three‑year streak. The 24‑year‑old posted a historic 40‑40 season—45 homers (tied for MLB lead), 31 doubles, eight triples, 41 steals, a .570 slugging percentage and a .943 OPS—while leading the majors with 119 runs and ranking third in NL RBIs. Defensively, he captured a second straight Gold Glove, the NL Platinum Glove and logged 16 Defensive Runs Saved with a league‑best +25 Outs Above Average. His 9.8 fWAR ranks among the top 40 positional seasons ever, making him the Cubs’ first MVP since Kris Bryant (2016).
Padres Have Received Interest In Freddy Fermin, Luis Campusano
The Padres are fielding offers for catchers Freddy Fermin and Luis Campusano as they consider a trade this offseason, according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union‑Tribune. Both veterans become expendable with 20‑year‑old Ethan Salas emerging as the franchise’s future catcher after a .296/.374/.448 debut and postseason starts. Fermin provides elite defense but a weak .203/.274/.315 bat, while Campusano posted a solid .265/.363/.433 line with eight homers in 248 PA despite lingering defensive flaws. With Fermin’s $2.6M arbitration salary and Campusano’s $1.7M projected cost, several clubs—including the Yankees, Twins and Marlins—are reportedly scouting the backup catcher market.
Yordan Alvarez Wins AL MVP Award
Yordan Alvarez clinches the 2026 American League MVP unanimously, earning all 30 first‑place votes. The 29‑year‑old Astros star posted a .316/.432/.601 slash line with 42 homers, 105 runs and 106 RBIs in 692 plate appearances, leading the league in every major offensive metric and also capturing the AL Comeback Player of the Year award. Junior Caminero (Rays) and Bobby Witt Jr. (Royals) finished second and third. Alvarez becomes the third Astro MVP after Jeff Bagwell and José Altuve, and remains under a two‑year, $26 million per‑year contract. The article also details the voting breakdown and highlights other top candidates.
Mets, Yankees Met With Alec Bohm At GM Meetings
Free‑agent infielder Alec Bohm met with both the Yankees and Mets at the recent GM meetings in Las Vegas, according to The Athletic. The Mets view him as a potential first‑base option, noting his limited third‑base defense (‑58 DRS, the worst among active third basemen) and recent improvements at first (‑4 DRS, above‑average in 2025‑26). Offensively, Bohm posts a career .273/.325/.410 line, excelling as a right‑handed platoon hitter with a 130 wRC+ versus lefties. The Mets could pair him with left‑handed first‑baser Jared Young for a platoon combo, while also scouting reliever Jonathan Loáisiga and other bullpen upgrades. The article weighs Bohm’s fit amid a thin free‑agent class and the Mets’ bullpen rebuilding needs.
Giants Hire James Rowson As Offensive Coordinator
The San Francisco Giants are set to bring former Yankees hitting coach James Rowson onto the big‑league staff as offensive coordinator, according to Robert Murray and Jon Heyman. Rowson leaves New York after three seasons in which the Yankees ranked in the top ten in scoring and led the league with 849 runs in 2025. He replaces departing hitting coach Hunter Mense, who joined the Royals. The Giants, who posted the fifth‑fewest runs and ranked near the bottom in wOBA, OPS and wRC+ last season, hope Rowson can spark a turnaround. The article also notes Taira Uematsu’s historic promotion to first‑base coach and retains Ron Washington and Gary Pettis on staff.
Brewers To Have Fourth Option On Jeferson Quero
The Brewers secure a rare fourth option year for catcher Jeferson Quero in 2027, giving Milwaukee extra roster flexibility after he burned his three standard options in 2024‑26. Quero, a former top‑50 prospect who debuted in one MLB game this March, missed most of 2024 due to shoulder surgery and posted a sub‑average .245/.315/.397 slash line at Triple‑A last season. The additional option lets the club keep him in the minors while they weigh his development and the looming free‑agency decision on catcher William Contreras, whose potential trade may be less urgent with Quero available as a backup option. The move underscores Milwaukee’s strategy to manage depth without rushing roster cuts.
Yankees Notes: Infield, Catcher, Bullpen
Yankees GM Brian Cashman says the club is in "business as usual" while owner Hal Steinbrenner weighs a potential salary cap. Reports from Jon Heyman reveal New York has probed the Rangers about shortstop Corey Seager and checked in with free agents Luis Arraez, Brandon Lowe and catcher Carson Kelly. Seager, a 33‑year‑old on a $31 M, five‑year deal, carries injury concerns and a no‑trade clause, making a trade pricey for the Yanks. Lowe, a 35‑home‑run power second baseman, would net a three‑year, $69 M guarantee but requires forfeiting draft picks due to a qualifying offer. Arraez, a .310 contact hitter, targets a three‑year, $48 M pact. The Yankees must decide before the Dec. 2 lockout, balancing roster needs with looming cap talks.
Rangers To Hire Tommy Joseph As Assistant Hitting Coach
The Texas Rangers plan to add former MLB player Tommy Joseph as an assistant hitting coach, joining lead hitting coach Justin Viele and fellow assistant Eric Dorton. Joseph, who began coaching in the Mets' minor league system in 2021, has held similar roles with the Giants (2023), Mariners (2024) and most recently the Orioles. Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young praised Viele’s 2026 work, noting the club’s offensive struggles—ranked 25th in runs and 20th in OPS last season. While Brandon Nimmo and Joc Pederson performed well, injuries limited Corey Seager, Wyatt Langford and Josh Jung. The 2027 roster remains largely unchanged aside from Pederson’s departure, with top prospect Sebastian Walcott poised to return from elbow surgery.
Brandon Marsh Underwent Hand Surgery At End Of Season
Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh underwent left‑hand surgery just after the 2026 season, a procedure that explains his dramatic drop-off—from a .301/.339/.490 line before the All‑Star break to .184/.243/.259 afterward. The injury, which he apparently played through for months, also coincided with declining hard‑hit rates and exit velocity. Marsh finished the year at .260/.304/.408 with 90 wRC+, well below his recent 115 wRC+ average, and enters his final season of club control before free agency, with a projected $8.3 million salary for 2027. The Phillies are openly exploring trade options for him amid a reshuffling outfield that includes Justin Crawford, Adolis García’s departure, and speculation about free‑agent targets.
Dodgers Notes: Hernandez, Vesia, Phillips, Infielders
The Dodgers face trade buzz for veteran outfielder Teoscar Hernández as the market for right‑handed outfielders thins. Heading into the final year of his three‑year deal, Hernández earns $14.5 M in 2026 with a $15 M club option for 2028; he posted a 110 wRC+ with 16 homers despite a mid‑season hamstring setback. Prospects like Josué De Paula, who hit .500 in an 11‑game stint, could soften the blow, but his defensive readiness remains uncertain. Meanwhile, reliever Alex Vesia attracts interest after a 2.64 ERA, and Evan Phillips re‑signs on a one‑year, $6.5 M deal. Dodgers also scout a right‑handed middle infielder to replace retired Miguel Rojas.
Braves, Tyler Freeman Agree To Minor League Deal
The Atlanta Braves have signed utilityman Tyler Freeman to a minor‑league deal, making him a non‑roster invitee to spring training for the 2027 season. Freeman, the former No. 71 overall pick by Cleveland, is coming off back surgery performed in October and is expected to be game‑ready by late March. In five MLB seasons he posts a .247/.323/.336 line and has struggled defensively across the infield and outfield, with recent speed and range declines tied to injuries. With a remaining minor‑league option year, Atlanta views Freeman as depth while they search for a long‑term shortstop solution.
Nationals Unlikely To Trade CJ Abrams
The Nationals plan to keep shortstop CJ Abrams for 2027, according to The Athletic’s Spencer Nusbaum. Despite lingering trade chatter, league executives at this week’s GM meetings say Washington isn’t actively fielding offers. Abrams, the former No. 6 overall pick, posted career‑best numbers in 2026—a .261/.336/.497 slash line, 33 homers and a 124 wRC+—and has begun transitioning to second base, where his defense improves. With only two years of control left, his salary could jump to $10.2 million next season, but the Nats view his upgraded performance and a stronger 2026 roster as reasons to retain him.
Mets To Hire Derek Johnson
The New York Mets are poised to add former Brewers and Reds pitching coach Derek Johnson as an advisor, according to MLB Trade Rumors. Johnson, who spent a decade as a big‑league pitching coach and most recently served as the Reds’ director of pitching before leaving for personal reasons, joins a Mets staff that already includes pitching coach Justin Willard and assistant Dan McKinney. The move comes as Andy Green prepares to lead the team full‑time, with a rotation anchored by Nolan McLean and Christian Scott while veterans like Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea fight for roles.
Blue Jays Notes: Infield, Outfield, Rotation, Bullpen, Barger
The Blue Jays are actively scouting upgrades across the roster ahead of the 2027 season. With middle‑infielder Ernie Clement’s 2026 decline, Toronto weighs a platot at shortstop/second base or a utility role, while still eyeing free agents like Brandon Lowe and Jazz Chisholm Jr. Trade chatter links the Jays to Jeremy Peña, Zach Neto, CJ Abrams, Willy Adames and second‑base star Ketel Marte, though each deal faces hurdles such as contract size, no‑trade clauses, or front‑office uncertainty. GM Ross Atkins signals no immediate moves were made at the deadline, but offseason pursuits remain wide‑ranging from infield to outfield, rotation and bullpen options.
Red Sox Rumors: Suzuki, Jeffers, Duran, Breslow
The Red Sox are weighing free‑agent right‑handed power options, scouting outfielder Seiya Suzuki and catcher Ryan Jeffers. Suzuki, a 31‑year‑old who hit 26 homers in 2026 and boasts a career‑high .270/.353/.480 slash line, could fill a corner‑outfield or DH role but would demand a $25 million‑plus four‑year deal and trigger costly draft penalties. Jeffers, a solid bat at .254/.342/.440, could back up Adley Rutschman and eventually transition to first base, likely for a three‑year contract after rejecting his qualifying offer. Both moves hinge on Boston’s willingness to move Jarren Duran and Masataka Yoshida, who may become trade or release candidates as the Sox aim to balance a left‑handed heavy lineup.
Guardians Planning To Raise Payroll, Exploring Rotation Market
The Cleveland Guardians plan to raise their 2027 payroll after a $75 million base in 2026, targeting starting pitching and possibly left‑hander Tim Hill. While Tanner Bibee’s contract climbs to $7 million, a 13‑player arbitration class—including Steven Kwan, Gavin Williams, Cade Smith and Brayan Rocchio—will cost over $40 million, with Kwan and Adell projected at $20.9 million combined. Free‑agent departures (Foster Griffin, Nathaniel Lowe, Rhys Hoskins, Austin Hedges) create gaps at first base and backup catcher, though prospect Ralphy Velazquez may fill the former. The rotation, praised for health in 2026, now likely features Williams, Parker Messick, Bibee, Joey Cantillo and Logan Allen, with the club eyeing lower‑cost veteran starters and trade options.
MLB Preparing For Possibility That MLBPA Opts For Disclaimer Of Interest During Lockout
With the current CBA set to expire in less than three weeks, MLB is poised to lock out players on December 1, and the league is already planning for a worst‑case scenario: the MLBPA could file a disclaimer of interest, temporarily shedding its union status. This “nuclear option” would end collective bargaining, strip players of labor‑law protections, and allow them to sue MLB under antitrust law—a tactic previously used by the NFLPA in the 1990s. While the move remains theoretical, experts warn it could push negotiations deep into the lockout, making a new agreement even harder to achieve.
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