MLB free agency is upon us, with the league’s winter meetings held last week in Dallas. The name on everyone’s lips is Juan Soto, but he’s not the only free agent who has a big decision to make this winter.
Here’s a quick look at where things stand so far this offseason:
Juan Soto’s rejected suitors start their Plan Bs
The New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers were all reported to be in on Soto before he chose the New York Mets and their enormous pile of money. It didn’t take long for all four of those teams to get started with Plan B.
The Yankees made the loudest move, with the reported eight-year, $218 million contract for Max Fried, taking one of the top free-agent pitchers off the board.
A day later, the Red Sox struck by acquiring left-handed pitcher Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox. Boston is sending top prospect Kyle Teel to Chicago in the deal, along with outfielder Braden Montgomery, infielder Chase Meidroth and right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez.
The Blue Jays made some noise with a trade for Guardians second baseman Andrés Giménez and pitcher Nick Sandlin. The Guardians received infielder Spencer Horwitz in return, though they promptly sent him to the Pittsburgh Pirates. In that swap, the Guardians received Josh Hartle, Luis Ortiz and Michael Kennedy. The Marlins also traded Jake Burger to the Rangers.
As for the Dodgers, they’ve made some smaller moves with the signings of outfielder Michael Conforto (one year, $17 million) and reliever Blake Treinen (two years, $22 million). The Conforto deal was reached hours before Soto’s, but you’d figure Los Angeles already knew where it stood.
Meanwhile, Soto’s deal went official after he passed his physical.
Trade market active post-winter meetings
Crochet and Giménez aren’t the only names moving this winter.
On Tuesday, the Yankees traded for Cody Bellinger and cash, sending reliever Cody Poteet to the Cubs, according to multiple reports. This comes less than a week after the Cubs made another big move, trading for Kyle Tucker, and sending infielder Isaac Paredes, pitcher Hayden Wesneski and prospect Cam Smith to the Astros. Earlier that day, the New York Yankees replaced Clay Holmes in their bullpen by acquiring Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for starting pitcher Nestor Cortes Jr. and infield prospect Caleb Durbin.
The addition of Williams, plus the return of Jonathan Loáisiga, who is coming off Tommy John surgery, will bolster the Yankees’ bullpen. The question remains whether manager Aaron Boone will use Williams or Luke Weaver as the team’s closer in 2025.
Waiting on Roki Sasaki
Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki was posted Dec. 9 as the winter meetings got underway, according to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi. Sasaki’s posting opened a 45-day window, which began Dec. 10 and runs through 5 p.m. ET Jan. 23. Every MLB team is now allowed to attempt to sway the 23-year-old talent to sign with them when the international amateur signing period opens Jan. 15.
Required reading:
Follow along with Yahoo Sports as we track all the rumors, signings and more during MLB free agency:
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New York Yankees trade for Cubs OF Cody Bellinger as former MVP’s career takes another turn
Cody Bellinger is on his way to New York. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) The New York Yankees have their Juan Soto replacement — or at least a guy who can take Juan Soto’s place on the field.
The team swung a trade with the Chicago Cubs for former MVP Cody Bellinger on Tuesday, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, betting on a talented player to bounce back from a rough couple of years. The Cubs are also sending cash to the Yankees and will receive right-handed reliever Cody Poteet in return.
Soto’s record-setting pact with the New York Mets left the Yankees in dire need of a corner outfielder with enough pop to slide into the middle of the order. Bellinger could fit that bill and was available via trade due to his contract with the Cubs, which gives him player options for 2025 and 2026 that pay him a total of $52.5 million.
It was clear a trade was coming after the Cubs acquired Houston Astros star Kyle Tucker in a blockbuster move, but there were rumors of the team shopping Bellinger even before they succeeded in acquiring Tucker.
Read the full story here.
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Cubs pick up catcher Carson Kelly in second acquisition of the day
Hours after acquiring outfielder Kyle Tucker in a blockbuster trade, the Chicago Cubs made another acquisition. The team signed catcher Carson Kelly to a two-year, $11.5 million contract, per multiple reports.
Kelly, who was a free agent, spent the second half of last season with the Texas Rangers after being traded from the Detroit Tigers. The 30-year-old catcher had a .235 batting average in 102 at-bats in 2024.
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Astros trade All-Star right fielder Kyle Tucker to Cubs in three-for-one exchange
Kyle Tucker is reportedly on his way to Chicago. (Photo by Kevin M. Cox/Getty Images) The Chicago Cubs are bringing in a new offensive weapon, acquiring All-Star right fielder Kyle Tucker in a trade with the Houston Astros on Friday, per multiple reports.
In return, the Astros will reportedly receive three players: infielder Isaac Paredes, pitcher Hayden Wesneski and third-base prospect Cam Smith.
Tucker has played his entire career with the Astros, starting in 2018. He won a World Series with the team in 2022 and has picked up a number of awards the past few seasons, including three All-Star selections, a Gold Glove (2022) and a Silver Slugger (2023). Tucker missed time this season due to a right shin injury but still received his third consecutive All-Star selection.
Read the full story here.
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Juan Soto changed his cell phone number during free agency
On Thursday during his introductory news conference with the Mets, Juan Soto revealed that he hadn’t talked to any of his Yankees teammates throughout the free agency process.
“I haven’t talked to any of those guys,” he said. “We talked to them through the playoffs, at the end of the playoffs. But after that, through this process, I haven’t talked to any of those guys.”
Some interpreted this as a slight against the team or evidence that his relationships with the Yankees clubhouse had broken down. But the real reason might be a little more mundane, per USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.
Nightengale reported Friday that Soto changed his cell phone number during free agency, as he had been receiving a lot of outside calls and wanted some privacy.
The reason there was no communication between Juan Soto and his former Yankee teammates simply is that Soto changed his cell phone number.
He was bombarded by outside calls during his free agency and wanted privacy.
Soto now is reaching out to former Yankee teammates.— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 13, 2024
Now that the dust has settled, Soto is reportedly reaching out to his former Yankees teammates.
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Brewers sending RP Devin Williams to Yankees for SP Nestor Cortes, Caleb Durbin
The New York Yankees have reportedly acquired reliever Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Pitcher Nestor Cortes Jr., second-base prospect Caleb Durbin and some cash are heading to Milwaukee.
The 30-year-old Williams recorded 14 saves in 22 appearances last season with the Brewers. He missed the first three months of the season due to a stress fracture in his back. When he returned, Williams allowed only three earned runs over 21 2/1 innings in the regular season.
The addition of Williams, plus the return of Jonathan Loáisiga, who is coming off Tommy John surgery, will bolster the Yankees’ bullpen. The question remains whether manager Aaron Boone will use Williams or Luke Weaver as the team’s closer in 2025.
Cortes has turned himself into a reliable starter since seeing an increased workload beginning in 2021. He made 84 starts over the past four seasons and ate innings for the Yankees (173 1/3 in 2024), but with the addition of Max Fried, it was clear someone in the New York rotation needed to be moved.
Read more here.
Devin Williams is headed to the Bronx. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) -
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