Matrix Reloaded: January 16, 2026

Lastly, the celebs aligned to get us again on the Friday Matrix Reloaded schedule, and boy did they align! Nos. 1, 2, 8, and 9 on Ben Clemens’ High 50 Free Brokers listing signed since we final checked in, leaving simply two of the highest 10 remaining. We additionally noticed a three-team commerce reported a couple of minute after our high free agent signed, and a few two-teamers of significance, too.

As at all times, you’ll find the colourful Offseason Matrices spreadsheet right here. Let’s get into the occasions of the final 11 days.

Important Signings

Dodgers Signal Kyle Tucker for 4 Years, $240 Million (Current Worth of Roughly $228.4 Million With Deferrals)

Impact on the Dodgers

I discover “the wealthy get richer” to be notably annoying even amongst annoying turns of phrase, however what else might be mentioned concerning the Dodgers at this level? They received the World Sequence, misplaced no one of significance to free company, and added Edwin Díaz to anchor their bullpen. They might’ve seemed like clearly the most effective staff in baseball with out Tucker. With him, they is perhaps the most effective iteration of those Dodgers but.

Assuming Tucker sticks in his accustomed proper area and Teoscar Hernández slides again over to left, the place he performed in 2024, the membership’s beginning 9, all the way down to the positions, seems set. The one query is that if Tommy Edman, who’s projected to begin at second base, will probably be prepared in time for Opening Day after his offseason ankle debridement surgical procedure. If not, Hyeseong Kim and Miguel Rojas can break up time on the keystone.

If there’s a nit I can decide with the Dodgers, it’s the relative age of their roster. That doesn’t imply we should always anticipate a bunch of age-related regression to pull down the staff, however it’s notable that Tucker and middle fielder Andy Pages are the one regulars underneath 30. Within the projected six-man rotation, solely Emmet Sheehan and Roki Sasaki are of their 20s. The Dodgers are nonetheless arrange in addition to any staff in baseball to proceed to win, clearly, and star gamers have farther to fall as they age. However they’re not infallible. It’s baseball; no staff is. They play the video games for a motive.

Impact on Different Groups

The presumed remaining three groups for Tucker had been the Dodgers, Mets, and Blue Jays. Of the three, the Dodgers in fact wanted Tucker the least, however once you’re the richest staff in baseball you possibly can YOLO your approach into Kyle Tucker anyway.

However whereas dropping Tucker stings for the Blue Jays and Mets, the cascading results both received’t occur or already did. An Anthony Santander bounce-back would go a good distance for the Blue Jays and make their lineup full. (At the same time as it’s now, Nathan Lukes, who had a stable yr and hit second towards righties throughout Toronto’s playoff run, is projected to be on the bench.) The Mets in a short time signed Bo Bichette to an enormous deal (far more ink spilled on him under). They’re not the Dodgers, however these are two good groups that also have time to get higher.

Impact on Comparable Gamers

He’s Kyle Tucker. He simply obtained the largest AAV in main league historical past. There wasn’t anybody just like him on this offseason’s market.

Cubs Signal Alex Bregman for 5 Years, $175 Million (Current Worth of Roughly $155 Million With Deferrals)

Impact on the Cubs

I’ll be trustworthy, I didn’t have the Cubs signing a contract of this magnitude on my radar as a definite risk. However now that they’ve, they’ve obtained two points to think about: the pure on-field baseball factor, and the payroll side.

On the baseball aspect, the Cubs first have to determine learn how to allocate taking part in time. Third base wasn’t an apparent place of want for them with Matt Shaw coming off a stable — albeit extraordinarily uneven — rookie marketing campaign. However with Bregman within the fold and set to play on daily basis at third (save for maybe some occasional DH responsibility), Shaw should bounce round to search out taking part in time. Luckily for Shaw, he can play different positions. He was a major shortstop in school earlier than shifting to taking part in principally third base within the execs, and he’s additionally obtained expertise at second base and within the nook outfield.

With Shaw filling in everywhere in the area and sure getting some DH reps towards lefties rather than lefty-swinging Moisés Ballesteros, the Chicago offense seems set. It’ll be Ian Happ, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Seiya Suzuki from left to proper within the outfield; Bregman, Dansby Swanson, Nico Hoerner, and Michael Busch on the 4 infield spots; and Carson Kelly and Miguel Amaya behind the plate. Ballesteros, Shaw, and Tyler Austin ought to all get DH reps, and Austin may platoon with Busch at first base, too.

Now for the nitty-gritty Beckerdom that’s payroll evaluation. As you possibly can see on the payroll web page linked above, we at the moment have the Cubs at juuuuuuuust under the primary $244 million luxurious tax line, and that features placeholder cash for gamers who’re referred to as up throughout the season to cowl for guys on the injured listing. Nonetheless, being brief by underneath $1 million as a contending staff means you might as properly be over it. The Cubs will need to add on the deadline barring disaster, and so they can also be on the hook to pay efficiency incentives to Matthew Boyd, Phil Maton, Hoby Milner, Jacob Webb, and Hunter Harvey. Assuming well being, lots of these incentives will probably be attained. For all intents and functions, the Cubs are over the CBT line, even when they’re not fairly there proper now.

However being simply barely over the CBT line isn’t a sensible plan of action. The Cubs don’t obtain income sharing cash, so the worth of their draft compensation picks would swing wildly relying on in the event that they exceed or don’t attain the tax threshold. In the event that they’re underneath the road and one in all their free brokers who will get a qualifying supply indicators elsewhere, the Cubs would get a draft decide between Aggressive Stability Spherical B and the third spherical of the draft. In the event that they’re over the CBT threshold, the compensation decide would come after the fourth spherical. That distinction of about 60 draft slots is large, and the draft slot change happens whether or not a staff is over by $1 or $1 million or $10 million. Understanding that, and understanding that the Cubs are clearly in win-now mode, they need to decide a lane fairly than straddling the road and never understanding for sure in the event that they’ll be barely over or barely underneath it. With three pending free brokers who should be into consideration for QOs — Happ, Hoerner, and Suzuki — that inflection level is all of the extra essential.

If the Cubs want to be underneath the tax line, they’ve solely two sensible choices: Commerce both second baseman Hoerner (incomes $12 million this yr) or projected fifth starter Jameson Taillon ($18 million). Signing Bregman to maneuver Hoerner makes the Cubs the ill-advised combo of “perhaps barely higher and undoubtedly far more costly,” however as I’ll clarify extra within the Edward Cabrera part down under, Chicago has sufficient pitching depth to cowl for a Taillon commerce.

As for including extra participant payroll to go approach over the tax threshold, this can be a fairly full roster proper now, so it’s doable the Cubs may simply wait till the commerce deadline and never care concerning the dimension of contracts they’re absorbing (inside motive). Alternatively, they might try and signal pre-arbitration gamers like Crow-Armstrong and Cade Horton to extensions, understanding that their real-cash payroll wouldn’t go up a lot, however the common annual worth of these contracts (affecting the posh tax calculation) would kick in instantly.

Impact on Different Groups

It was extra than simply the Cubs vs. the Purple Sox for Bregman (the Diamondbacks and Blue Jays popped up), however the aftermath of his signing targeted virtually completely on these two groups. So now that the Cubs have Bregman, the place do the Purple Sox go from right here with out him?

Boston’s collective displeasure with Bregman’s leaving is palpable, and I’m not one to inform followers learn how to really feel. What I’ll do, although, is remind Purple Sox followers that there are different stable choices each in free company and on the commerce market.

On the Free Agent Matrix, you’ll see the Sox linked to an affect bat in Eugenio Suárez, and so they’ve reportedly expressed curiosity in buying and selling for the Astros’ Isaac Paredes, too. Both of these two would signify what the Purple Sox must take their offseason from “fairly good, however with a bitter style” to “they didn’t actually go away any mission unaccomplished.” I get it, neither of them is Bregman, and it’s little doubt irritating for Purple Sox followers. However that doesn’t imply all is misplaced, particularly when the Ranger Suárez signing (far more on him and the aftereffects of his deal under) opens up much more commerce prospects.

If a profitable Purple Sox offseason could be very narrowly outlined as one during which they introduced again Bregman, then yeah, nothing I simply mentioned within the prior paragraph goes to fulfill you. But when a profitable Purple Sox offseason is outlined as “enhancing upon the staff that made the playoffs final yr,” there are nonetheless paths aplenty for that to occur, if it hasn’t already with the additions of Suárez, Sonny Grey, Willson Contreras, and Johan Oviedo, to not point out a full season of Roman Anthony coming down the pike.

Impact on Comparable Gamers

No matter contract Suárez will get received’t be affected by the signings of Bregman and Bichette, except it forces the Purple Sox to get determined and pay above market fee for him. Suárez is older and much more flawed; the one device of his that’s higher than one in all Bregman’s is uncooked energy, and it’s doable he’s a worse defender at third than Bichette will ever show to be. The Bregman and Bichette signings, although, ought to get his market shifting.

Mets Signal Bo Bichette for Three Years, $142 Million

Impact on the Mets

Whereas David Stearns preached the necessity for higher “run prevention” (pitching and protection) by the Mets heading into this season after their 2025 collapse, the actions his entrance workplace has taken this offseason haven’t precisely backed that up.

Bichette is anticipated to play third base for the Mets, his first publicity to the new nook in his profession. The person catching lots of his throws throughout the diamond will probably be Jorge Polanco, additionally taking part in away from his career-long positions of brief and second. “New place” doesn’t equal “dangerous protection” by any means, and Bichette and Polanco may have ample time to acclimate. However half of your beginning infield being represented by gamers at new spots clearly comes with threat. As such, I didn’t have Bichette being an apparent Tucker pivot for the Mets on my radar.

The offense, although, is simple. The Mets lineup now boasts sturdy depth past the highest 4 of Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, Bichette, and Polanco; Brett Baty and Francisco Alvarez had been quietly excellent final yr, and Mark Vientos completed stronger than he began. And spending “solely” cash on Bichette as a substitute of prospects retains the youth pipeline intact. Carson Benge continues to be the projected starter in left area for now, and Jacob Reimer, Jett Williams, and A.J. Ewing might be up in some unspecified time in the future this yr, too.

The Mets’ consideration now ought to show to the opposite half of run prevention: the pitching. A significant offender of their second-half swoon was the collapse of their beginning pitching, which was a shock brilliant spot early within the season however ran out of steam by the tip of the yr. The necessity for beginning pitching doesn’t imply the Mets don’t have inside choices, and Nolan McLean particularly seems like he has the stuff to anchor a rotation. Maybe they assume that constructive regression and a full season of McLean will probably be sufficient to repair the beginning pitching with out doing something; maybe they’ll resolve to spend massive on Framber Valdez. Because the Bichette deal reveals, making an attempt to guess a staff’s subsequent plan of action can typically show fruitless.

Impact on Different Groups

Shedding out on Bichette because of the division-rival Mets is the worst-case situation for the Phillies, who reportedly thought they’d a take care of Bichette on Thursday night earlier than the Mets introduced the hammer down. Seven years and $200 million is a wonderfully cheap long-term supply, however the Mets’ deal is much better. It permits Bichette the power to decide out after every season, and even when he stays for the total three years, he’ll solely should beat 4 years and $58 million on his subsequent contract to high what he would’ve earned as a Phillie.

Phillies followers don’t appear to be taking properly to J.T. Realmuto’s return being the counter transfer to Bichette’s heading to Queens, and I don’t blame them. Realmuto (extra on him under) is a identified amount and completely good catcher, however operating again a really related staff for the fourth consecutive yr and hoping that that is the yr that issues lastly break their approach doesn’t seem to be the best way to go. Possibly that might work within the AL Central, however not within the NL East.

Impact on Comparable Gamers

That is just like Bregman. There’s no one fairly like (actually, no one even remotely near) Bichette left to be signed, nevertheless it may get Eugenio Suárez’s market percolating much more.

Purple Sox Signal Ranger Suárez for 5 Years, $130 Million

Impact on the Purple Sox

The Purple Sox didn’t get their man in Alex Bregman, however they actually obtained A Dude in Ranger Suárez. The previous Phillies ace is one thing of a throwback, hovering round 90-92 mph and counting on guile/pitchability/instinct/[insert any other pithy word for Guys Who Know How To Pitch here] to get batters out. His stroll fee reached a brand new low in 2025 at a glowing 5.8%, and he additionally allowed the bottom fee of exhausting contact amongst pitchers who threw a minimum of 100 innings. That makes Suárez seem to be a pitcher who should be a lot sturdy, however a protracted listing of accidents — these days, his again has been the principle offender — has prevented him from ever throwing sufficient innings to qualify for fee stat leaderboards. A lot for a throwback.

No matter precisely what number of innings he throws this yr, Suárez provides Boston a humiliation of riches within the rotation, with Garrett Crochet, Sonny Grey, Suárez, and Brayan Bello because the entrance 4. Boston then has a potpourri of arms from which to decide on for the ultimate spot: commerce acquisition Johan Oviedo, harm returnees Patrick Sandoval and Kutter Crawford, and extremely touted prospects Payton Tolle and Connelly Early. That is the place we decide up the thread about what the Sox ought to do now that Bregman has gone elsewhere.

Any of the above-listed contenders for the fifth spot and even Bello may hypothetically be on the transfer in a commerce for a hitter. Whether or not it should line up in the best way the Purple Sox hope stays to be seen, however the commerce market isn’t with out choices. I discussed the Isaac Paredes connection within the Bregman capsule, however he’s not the one affect infielder who might be out there. It could be an attention-grabbing coincidence if Boston had been to amass both Nico Hoerner or Matt Shaw from the Cubs, two gamers who might be moved now that Chicago has Bregman. Spencer Steer of the Reds may also be an excellent participant to focus on, as his place on the Cincinnati roster is perhaps redundant with Sal Stewart round. I believe Paredes is fairly clearly the most effective of the names listed since you don’t should challenge an uptick in efficiency, however as talked about within the Bregman part, Eugenio Suárez is a pleasant third base possibility on the free agent market. Or, the Purple Sox might be higher off taking the other method and holding onto all of their high quality pitchers a minimum of into spring coaching, in order that the staff can take inventory of everybody earlier than dangling depth forward of the deadline.

Impact on Different Groups

Suárez’s market was pretty quiet publicly, uncommon for a Scott Boras consumer. Within the aftermath, nevertheless, it was reported that the division rival Orioles had been very inquisitive about Suárez earlier than he shipped as much as Boston. With Suárez off the board, Framber Valdez is the one free agent starter remaining who’s a giant improve over Baltimore’s projected fifth starter Dean Kremer, except the Orioles assume they know the particular sauce to get Zac Gallen again on observe. Including one other starter would enable the O’s to be extra cautious with Zach Eflin’s return from again surgical procedure.

Impact on Comparable Gamers

Talking of Valdez, he’s obtained to be licking his chops after he noticed what Suárez obtained this late within the offseason. Typically, the later gamers signal, the more serious their contracts are relative to expectations. That’s not the case for Suárez. On the Complete Spending Projection web page, you’ll see the median contract prediction for him was 5 years and $125 million, slightly below what he in the end obtained. For what it’s value, when you had requested me what Suárez would signal for just a few days in the past, I’d have ballparked one thing like 4 years and $90 million or 5 years and $100 million. I at all times recalibrate downward because the offseason drags on.

Valdez is, in fact, not Suárez. He’s higher, however he’s two years older and had the much-maligned cross-up (or “cross-up” when you want) with catcher César Salazar final season. However the willingness for groups to signal giant offers is clearly nonetheless on the market, as evidenced by these late megadeals for Tucker, Bregman, Bichette, and Suárez. If the urge for food for a long-term deal isn’t on the market for Valdez, he may at all times shift to a shorter-term take care of a excessive AAV and decide outs, as Tucker and Bichette did.

Phillies Signal J.T. Realmuto for Three Years, $45 Million

Impact on the Phillies

Whether or not it was Realmuto or someone else, the Phillies wanted a catcher. That it took this lengthy was in all probability a perform of two issues: the Phillies’ specializing in their profitable pursuit of Kyle Schwarber and unsuccessful pursuit of Bichette, and Realmuto’s understanding that he was far and away the most effective catcher available on the market. The great ol’ “You want me greater than I want you” argument.

The Phillies might properly have tried to name Realmuto’s bluff so long as doable (was anybody else actually going to supply him three years at a wholesome AAV, one that features one other $5 million in out there incentives every year?), however dropping him would have left Victor Caratini as the one starting-caliber catcher available on the market for the Phillies to signal. Caratini is okay, however he’s no Realmuto.

Bringing Realmuto again units the beginning 9 for the Phillies, and it’ll be largely the identical because it was to finish 2025. The one adjustments will probably be Justin Crawford (assuming he doesn’t fall flat on his face in spring coaching) taking on for Harrison Bader (nonetheless a free agent) in middle, with Brandon Marsh staying in left area, and Adolis García in proper. The Phillies signed García to take over for Nick Castellanos, who’s nonetheless on the roster however received’t be when Opening Day rolls round. The beginning infield of Alec Bohm, Trea Turner, Bryson Stott, and Bryce Harper stays unchanged.

Impact on Different Groups

Realmuto’s market was fairly quiet earlier than he signed, therefore my speculation that there was a bluff that the Phillies tried to name for so long as doable. The Purple Sox had been reportedly , however that in all probability would’ve been extra of a timeshare with Carlos Narváez than a real beginning job. So, too, had been the Rangers, however they rapidly shifted to Danny Jansen after realizing they wouldn’t have payroll room for Realmuto.

Impact on Comparable Gamers

With Realmuto and Victor Caratini (extra on him under) signed, we’re rapidly all the way down to zero catchers positive to get a significant league deal. Jonah Heim, Elias Díaz, Reese McGuire, and Christian Vázquez may discover jobs quickly now that each Realmuto and Caratini have signed.

Twins Signal Victor Caratini for Two Years, $14 Million

Impact on the Twins

The Twins already had a beginning catcher in Ryan Jeffers and an out-of-options backup in Alex Jackson, so that they weren’t on my radar as a possible match for Caratini. Jeffers shared time with Christian Vázquez throughout the latter’s three-year contract with the Twins and ought to be in an identical association with Caratini, who additionally has expertise at first base. A switch-hitter, Caratini produces properly sufficient on the plate to see a while at DH, too. He’s a lot stronger from the left aspect, which provides the Twins the power to take a seat Jeffers towards particularly robust righties.

Impact on Different Groups

When you’re a staff in want of a catcher, your state of affairs went from OK with the choices available on the market to fairly dire in sooner or later, as Realmuto and Caratini each got here off the board on Friday. The commerce market doesn’t have a lot to supply, both, although Jackson is now extra expendable.

Impact on Comparable Gamers

Similar deal because the Realmuto aftereffects: The catching market dried up in a rush, so there aren’t related gamers left.

Rockies Signal Willi Castro for Two Years, $12.8 Million

Impact on the Rockies

That the Rockies would signal a free agent for a number of years with a brand new entrance workplace in place at first of what might be an arduous rebuild registers as one thing of a shock. After all, there’s nothing stopping the membership from buying and selling the superutilityman at any level within the deal.

Castro’s attraction is his versatility. Sure, he was horrid for the Cubs after the commerce deadline, however he nonetheless crammed in at 5 totally different positions. In signing him, the Rockies don’t should decide to closing themselves off from additional additions at every other place. That’s nice information for me, as a result of I can proceed to wishcast a Luis Arraez signing.

Impact on Different Groups

The switch-hitting Castro was singular in his versatility each within the area and on the plate, however there are nonetheless multi-positional bats out there on the free agent market. Main infielders Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Luis Rengifo each have outfield expertise in any respect three spots; Adam Frazier is primarily a second baseman however can play the outfield corners and third base; and Miguel Andujar is thought far more for his bat, however he can a minimum of stand in any respect 4 corners.

Impact on Comparable Gamers

Apart from Andujar, who may earn a multi-year contract on the heels of a robust season on the dish, I don’t anticipate any of the names listed above to signal for greater than the upcoming season. Like Castro, Rengifo can be getting into his age-29 season and at occasions has been a succesful switch-hitting utilityman. He was pacing for his finest season but in 2024 (118 wRC+ and 1.5 WAR in simply 78 video games) earlier than wrist irritation and finally surgical procedure despatched him to the IL for many of the second half and in the end ended his yr prematurely. Rengifo made it again for Opening Day final yr, however his manufacturing cratered to precisely substitute stage and a 73 wRC+ over 147 video games. It’s fairly doable that some staff may blame his dreadful efficiency on the lingering results of the wrist harm and provides him a wholesome one-year deal hoping for a bounce-back.

Speedy-Hearth One-Yr Offers

Rockies Signal Michael Lorenzen for $8 Million

Lorenzen has accomplished nothing however signal one-year offers within the 5 offseasons since he initially hit free company on the conclusion of the 2021 season — with 5 groups, no much less! Coors Discipline is, in fact, a problem for any pitcher, and it may show to be particularly troublesome on a pitcher like Lorenzen, who doesn’t throw notably exhausting or from any funky arm angles. Nonetheless, he does throw a bevy of pitches, which may assist him maintain hitters off stability.

He’ll slot behind Kyle Freeland within the rotation, with the opposite three spots open season for Chase Dollander, Tanner Gordon, Ryan Feltner, McCade Brown, Antonio Senzatela, and others. With Lorenzen’s beginning spot secured, that leaves only one query about his position: Will he be allowed to hit?

Reds Signal Pierce Johnson for $6.5 Million

The curveball-spamming Johnson (he threw the hook a ridiculous 72% of the time final yr) is the third free agent reliever to signal with the Reds this offseason, together with lefty soft-contact specialist Caleb Ferguson and final yr’s nearer Emilio Pagán, who re-signed with them in early December.

The 34-year-old Johnson has carved out a pleasant profession for himself since getting back from NPB after dominating in his lone season there in 2019, bouncing from the Padres to the Rockies to the Braves and now the Reds. He’s struck out only a hair underneath 30% of batters confronted in these six seasons. He’ll get key center reduction and setup innings in a Cincinnati bullpen that appears deeper now than it did to finish the season, with Johnson, Ferguson, Tony Santillan, Graham Ashcraft, and Connor Phillips all constructing the bridge to Pagán.

Braves Signal Tyler Kinley for $4.25 Million

Kinley turned his season round after being traded from the Rockies to the Braves on the deadline, enhancing from a 5.66 ERA/4.18 FIP/3.82 xERA to a glowing 0.72 ERA/2.74 FIP/2.71 xERA. Regardless of that stark enchancment, Atlanta declined his $5.5 million possibility, paying him a $750,000 buyout earlier than bringing him again for lower than the preliminary possibility’s worth.

The 35-year-old righty’s new deal comes with one other membership possibility for 2027, valued once more at $5.5 million. If he’s something like he was down the stretch, that’ll be a no brainer for the Braves.

Cardinals Signal Ryne Stanek for $3.5 Million

The St. Louis native heads to the Midwest for the primary time in his profession, coming off three seasons during which he’s been barely above substitute stage. However he continues to get main league offers (and this one has a membership possibility for $6 million for 2027) because of his tantalizing stuff. His 116 Stuff+ in 2025 was his finest mark because the metric’s delivery in 2020, along with his splitter and slider each registering scores above 130. It is perhaps smart for him to extend the utilization of each of these pitches and deemphasize his high-90s fastball.

Stanek is amongst a menage of relievers competing for saves in the back of the Cardinals bullpen, together with JoJo Romero (who might be traded, as he’s a free agent after the season), Riley O’Brien, and Matt Svanson.

Diamondbacks Signal Taylor Clarke for $1.55 Million

Clarke returns to the place the place his profession started after three years in Kansas Metropolis, capped off by a pleasant 2025 marketing campaign during which he had a 3.25 ERA and three.97 FIP in 55 1/3 innings. That wasn’t sufficient to stave off a non-tender, nevertheless it did earn him a assured contract. He joins a wide-open competitors for the Diamondbacks nearer’s position, a battle that also needs to embrace Andrew Saalfrank, Ryan Thompson, Kevin Ginkel, and veteran non-roster invitee Jonathan Loáisiga.

Dodgers Signal Andy Ibáñez for $1.2 Million

Ibáñez was a priceless destroyer of lefties for the Tigers in each 2023 and 2024, posting a 118 wRC+ towards southpaws within the former and 129 within the latter, however he regressed to 1% under league common with the platoon benefit in 2025, resulting in his non-tender. The Dodgers are hoping he can bounce again in an identical position this yr, and with two different righty platoon bats in Miguel Rojas and Alex Name on the roster, they’ll decide their spots with Ibáñez much more fastidiously to set him up for achievement. He’s out of choices and has two extra years of arbitration eligibility.

Trades

Cubs Purchase Edward Cabrera from Marlins for Owen Caissie, Cristian Hernandez, and Edgardo De Leon

Impact on the Cubs

It’s no secret that the Cubs have been chasing upside for his or her rotation because the commerce deadline. Once they couldn’t shut the deal there in July — Michael Soroka, a rental, was the one notable add — they spent a lot of this offseason tied to any and each attention-grabbing starter. Cabrera is precisely the kind of pitcher the Cubs have coveted: three years of membership management, elite offspeed and breaking stuff, and loads of room for development with the fastball, which has gotten hit about as exhausting as he throws it.

The righty isn’t with out threat past the poor fastball efficiency. Final yr was his finest season by innings pitched and stroll fee, and people numbers had been simply 137 2/3 and eight.3%, respectively. Whereas he was principally wholesome, the newest harm was essentially the most important: an elbow sprain that the Cubs evidently assume is minor sufficient as to not be a significant problem for the trio of years earlier than he hits free company.

And if that harm (or others) pop up, the Cubs have numerous rotation depth even when they might lack a real top-of-the-rotation arm (although I guess they assume Cabrera or Cade Horton may change into that). Cabrera, Horton, Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga, and Jameson Taillon ought to be Chicago’s beginning 5, with Justin Steele hopefully getting back from elbow surgical procedure round midseason. The Cubs have additionally obtained two swingmen in Colin Rea and Javier Assad, depth arms in Ben Brown and Jordan Wicks, and a top-100 prospect in Jaxon Wiggins.

Impact on the Marlins

If the Cubs had been telegraphing their need for a rotation arm, the Marlins had been doing the inverse: expressing a transparent willingness to maneuver anybody from their rotation not named Eury Pérez. Within the Cubs, they discovered a pure commerce associate, particularly with Caissie on the desk.

Caissie isn’t precisely like Kyle Stowers, who went from Trevor Rogers commerce return to All-Star in underneath a yr, however there are parallels. Each are lefty-swinging nook outfielders with massive pop and make contact with considerations, although Caissie is actually the extra excessive model with a greater energy device and worse hit device than Stowers. Caissie will get the prospect to displace fellow power-over-hit lefty Griffin Conine (paradoxically, an much more excessive model of Caissie, primarily based on their most up-to-date scouting grades), however he’s not going to be assured a roster spot out of camp. Christopher Morel, one other offseason acquisition, may find yourself again within the outfield, although the Marlins are additionally going to strive him at first base. Hernandez’s prospect star has light after a middling 2025 spent repeating Excessive-A; in the meantime, De Leon doesn’t flip 19 till subsequent month and carried out properly within the Advanced League, albeit as a primary baseman with a lot of strikeouts.

Even with Cabrera and Ryan Weathers (extra on him under) gone from the rotation, the Marlins have a panoply of choices behind Sandy Alcantara and Pérez. Braxton Garrett, Max Meyer, and Janson Junk are the arms most strongly within the combine for the ultimate three massive league rotation spots, however high prospects Thomas White and Robby Snelling also needs to consider in some unspecified time in the future this season. They’ve additionally obtained depth choices like Ryan Gusto and Adam Mazur.

Diamondbacks Purchase Nolan Arenado and Money from Cardinals for Jack Martinez

Impact on the Diamondbacks

The Diamondbacks have had a bizarre offseason. It began innocently sufficient with their re-signing of catcher James McCann, the addition of Michael Soroka, and the boomeranging of Merrill Kelly again to Phoenix after buying and selling him to the Rangers on the deadline. From there, properly, it was a bunch of “Will they, or received’t they?” as a substitute of truly doing.

Would they transfer Ketel Marte to restock a farm system mild on upper-level pitching? Would making such a transfer enable them to clear sufficient payroll to signal Bregman? Would they are saying screw it and resolve to maintain Marte and add Bregman? Seems the reply to all three of these questions was a convincing no. Marte has been a minimum of ostensibly pulled off the commerce market, and Bregman is, in fact, a Cub. Enter Arenado, actually a far much less impressed possibility than Bregman, however a far cheaper one. (The Cardinals are overlaying $31 million of the $42 million owed to Arenado over the following two years.)

The eight-time All-Star’s profession has been on an unrelenting decline since he completed third within the MVP voting in 2022, when he amassed 7.2 WAR and posted a 149 wRC+. Since then, he’s worsened every year, with wRC+ numbers of 107, 103, and 84. For $5 million this yr and $6 million subsequent yr, the Diamondbacks don’t must get a lot manufacturing in any respect to make Arenado “value it,” however they’re actually hoping he’s a lot nearer to his 2023-24 self than the place he was final yr as he takes over on the scorching nook.

Arenado’s signing places high prospect Jordan Lawlar in a tricky spot, however he’s a minimum of forward of the curve with getting reps within the outfield. With Arenado, Geraldo Perdomo, and Marte entrenched at third, brief, and second, respectively, there will probably be much more plate appearances out there on the grass (particularly with Jake McCarthy getting traded) than on the dust. However no matter the place Lawlar is taking part in, he has to hit, and it’s one thing he’s but to do within the slightest on the main league stage.

Impact on the Cardinals

The impact on the Cardinals is similar because the impact of their trades of Sonny Grey and Willson Contreras: Delivery the veterans out of city affords them the prospect to try youthful expertise.

The Cardinals at the moment are the one staff within the majors with a projected lineup on RosterResource completely comprised of homegrown expertise, and Arenado’s departure provides extra taking part in time to Nolan Gorman, Thomas Saggese (not homegrown, however younger!), and JJ Wetherholt. It’s not about reducing money (although they’re actually comfortable to a minimum of get some reduction from the Diamondbacks), and it’s not something towards Arenado’s physique of labor as a Cardinal, both. However having Arenado round would have minimize into the event of gamers who really will probably be round for the following good Cardinals staff, whether or not that’s in 2027 or 2028 or past. (I’ll cowl my bases right here by saying it may even be in 2026!)

There’s no one left that the Playing cards ought to really feel like they should commerce — Arenado was actually the one one; it was by no means a assure that Grey and Contreras can be gone — however Brendan Donovan and Lars Nootbaar have been standard in commerce rumors all offseason, so it wouldn’t be a shock to see both or each of them transfer. JoJo Romero is the staff’s one holdover from 2025. He’s a pending free agent, and as such, might be the one likeliest to maneuver.

Yankees Purchase Ryan Weathers from Marlins for Dillon Lewis, Brendan Jones, Dylan Jasso, and Juan Matheus

Impact on the YankeesPrior to the Weathers acquisition, the Yankees’ offseason was outlined by getting the band again collectively. Trent Grisham accepted the qualifying supply, and Amed Rosario, Ryan Yarbrough, and Paul Blackburn had been all introduced again to The Bronx on modest one-year offers. Rule 5 decide Cade Winquest and waiver declare Kaleb Ort had been the one exterior additions till this week’s commerce with Miami.

In Weathers, the Yankees are getting a southpaw lengthy on potential however brief on expertise. Since making his common season debut in 2021 (he’s a member of the unique membership of gamers who debuted within the postseason), he’s thrown simply 281 main league innings because of a mix of ineffectiveness and accidents, with the previous giving technique to the latter lately. He’s been a preferred breakout decide since he upped his common fastball velocity from 93.5 mph in 2022 to 95.1 mph in 2023, and the heater is tougher nonetheless; it averaged a career-best 96.9 mph in his eight main league begins final yr.

Whereas the Yankees aren’t going to let Weathers’ addition preclude them from aiming larger and concentrating on an much more notable beginning pitching addition like Brewers righty Freddy Peralta or Nationals lefty MacKenzie Gore, the rotation does look to be set. Carlos Rodón and Gerrit Cole will begin the yr on the IL, however the staff nonetheless has a quintet of succesful starters in Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Weathers, Will Warren, and Luis Gil. And, contemplating all however Fried might be optioned to the minors, the Yankees have loads of choices for what to do when the 2 frontline starters return from harm.

Impact on the Marlins

All the pieces I mentioned concerning the Marlins rotation within the Cabrera part applies right here, too.

As for the prospects, none of them is kind of as extremely considered Caissie, nor will any of them be anticipated to make a lot of an affect — if any — in 2026. Not one of the 4 has even reached Triple-A, although Jones, essentially the most notable of the quartet, may properly begin the yr in Jacksonville after a robust second half in Double-A.

It’s value noting that within the Cabrera and Weathers trades, the Marlins got here away with seven hitters and no pitchers. It’s unknown whether or not that was intentional or simply circumstance when contemplating the most effective packages out there, nevertheless it is smart for a Marlins system with loads of pitching and a weaker offensive pipeline previous to the trades.

Rays Purchase Gavin Lux from Reds and Chris Clark from Angels; Angels Purchase Josh Lowe from Rays; Reds Purchase Brock Burke from Angels

Impact on the Rays

There have been two three-team trades this offseason, and naturally each concerned the Rays, the league’s preeminent wheelers and sellers. After signing Jake Fraley ($3 million) and Cedric Mullins ($7.5 million) to one-year contracts, the Rays had a glut of lefty-swinging outfielders, with these two, Lowe, and Chandler Simpson. They’re nonetheless loaded in that division, however not overly redundant, and Lux is a much better roster match for the Rays with Brandon Lowe now in Pittsburgh.

Lux had an odd 2025 season, his sole as a Purple. He was completely tremendous on the plate, with a wRC+ of 102 (111 towards righties), however was value simply 0.3 WAR as a result of he was completely horrid within the area. When he performed the sphere (he DH’d 59 video games), he was principally in left, the place he put up a putrid -5 FRV in simply 54 video games. Luckily for him, the Rays can defend him from lefty pitching completely and maintain him off the outfield grass, taking part in him as their second baseman towards righties. He was under common on the keystone in restricted motion in 2025, too, however he’s been roughly common or higher in prior years.

Clark was the Angels’ fifth-round decide in 2023 out of Harvard and pitched to a 4.73 ERA and 4.33 FIP in 144 2/3 innings throughout three ranges final yr. He figures to begin his 2026 in Excessive-A or Double-A.

Impact on the Angels

Maybe no staff making an attempt to contend (properly, to the extent the Angels try and contend) had a extra apparent want within the outfield than the Halos did after they traded Taylor Ward to Baltimore. Regardless of Cody Bellinger and a far cheaper possibility in Bader languishing on the free agent market, the membership elected to fill their emptiness with Lowe.

The lefty swinger seemed like a possible long-term, core piece for the Rays in 2023, when he put up 3.4 WAR in 135 video games with 20 homers and 32 steals. However since then, he’s been value simply 0.9 WAR in 214 video games, placing out 28% of the time. His protection has graded out poorly, too, and it stays to be seen how the Angels will align their outfield. Will Mike Trout be wholesome sufficient to play proper area and even return to middle once in a while? In any other case, he’ll be caught at DH whereas the Angels run out an outfield that includes defensive liabilities Jo Adell, who was value -13 FRV between proper and middle in 2025, and Jorge Soler. Irrespective of the association of our bodies, issues may get ugly.

Impact on the Reds

Burke offers one other totally different search for the rebuilt Reds bullpen, giving the membership a hard-throwing southpaw to go together with soft-contact king Caleb Ferguson. Burke’s strikeout fee plummeted from 2024 to 2025, however so too did his stroll fee, and famend Reds pitching coach Derek Johnson will certainly attempt to work his magic to carry again bat-missing whereas preserving the strike-throwing positive aspects.

The removing of Lux from the roster opens up taking part in time for high prospect Sal Stewart, who confirmed oodles of potential in his first 18 main league video games final yr. For a staff that’s lacked a giant bopper because the days of Joey Votto and Eugenio Suárez, if Stewart may proceed to point out that in-game pop, it might go a good distance towards solidifying the Reds as true contenders as a substitute of peripheral pretenders.

Rockies Purchase Jake McCarthy from Diamondbacks for Josh Grosz

Impact on the Rockies

Watching McCarthy and his 99th-percentile dash pace run across the expansive outfield at Chase Discipline was a lot enjoyable, and he now will get to stage up that have by roaming the huge areas of Coors Discipline. The lefty-swinger fell flat on his face after a breakout 3-WAR 2024, along with his wRC+ practically halving from 110 to 60. Getting on base so little (his OBP was .247) meant he solely stole six bases in 67 video games, too.

Barring any additional strikes, Jordan Beck and Brenton Doyle ought to be set as Colorado’s beginning left and middle fielders, respectively. That leaves McCarthy vying for time in proper with a slew of choices; Mickey Moniak (who graded out horribly defensively however may DH), Tyler Freeman, Zac Veen, Yanquiel Fernández, and Sterlin Thompson are among the many prospects. McCarthy can’t be optioned to the minors, and is underneath management by way of arbitration via 2028.

Impact on the Diamondbacks

The non-Corbin Carroll outfield wasn’t precisely a place of energy for the Diamondbacks earlier than the commerce, nevertheless it was a spot with redundancy from the left aspect. Together with Carroll, Arizona additionally has lefty Alek Thomas as its finest defensive middle fielder and one other out-of-options outfielder, switch-hitter Jorge Barrosa. (Barrosa is listed at 5’6” however might be shorter, making him the one main league participant who may properly be my peak of 5’4”.)

Infielder Blaze Alexander obtained seven video games of a trial run within the outfield final yr and will see extra time there in 2026. Jordan Lawlar (coated in additional depth within the Arenado part) now has a clearer lane to outfield time than infield time. The Diamondbacks even have outfield-capable utilityman Tim Tawa from the proper aspect, and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. ought to return from his torn ACL in some unspecified time in the future throughout the season.

Earlier than flipping him to Arizona, the Rockies had acquired Grosz ultimately yr’s commerce deadline within the take care of the Yankees for Ryan McMahon, and obtained a 5.87 ERA out of him in seven Excessive-A begins. On the time of the McMahon commerce, our prospect staff gave Grosz a 35+ FV.