MLB free agency is cruising right along, with many of the big names, including Juan Soto, off the board. But some impact players are still available, and the trade market has been active.
Here’s a quick look at where things stand so far this offseason:
Roki Sasaki announces he’s signing with Dodgers
Roki Sasaki, the No. 2 player on Yahoo Sports’ Top 50 free-agent rankings, is headed to Los Angeles. He announced his decision on his Instagram on Friday. Sasaki’s other finalists were the Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres, New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers.
According to The Athletic, the Blue Jays hosted Sasaki for a visit last week, and the Dodgers hosted him for another visit that included star players. Apparently, the latter meeting was more successful.
Dodgers stay active with Gavin Lux trade, Hyeseong Kim signing
The Dodgers traded second baseman Gavin Lux to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for outfield prospect Mike Sirota and a Competitive Balance Round A pick (around No. 37). The move came a few days after Los Angeles signed former KBO infielder Hyeseong Kim to a three-year deal with $12.5 million guaranteed. The contract has a two-year option for the 2028 and 2029 seasons that could allow the deal to be worth as much as $22 million.
The 25-year-old Kim, who played the past six seasons with the KBO’s Kiwoom Heroes, was the first player from South Korea and Japan to be posted this offseason and has been training in Los Angeles for the past month.
Corbin Burnes signing with Diamondbacks
Corbin Burnes is headed to the Arizona Diamondbacks, and it wasn’t cheap.
The 2021 Cy Young Award winner agreed to a six-year, $210 million deal with the Diamondbacks, which includes an opt-out for Burnes after two seasons.
Because Burnes, Yahoo Sports’ No. 3-ranked free agent, turned down a qualifying offer from Baltimore, the Orioles will receive draft pick compensation from his new team.
The contract is the largest in Diamondbacks history. Burnes, who lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, will pitch for the local team after reportedly turning down offers from the San Francisco Giants and Toronto Blue Jays.
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Roki Sasaki gives Dodgers monster Japanese trio in rotation
Roki Sasaki was expected by many to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers. They were right.
The flame-throwing right-hander from Japan agreed to a deal with the Dodgers on Friday, according to a post on his Instagram account.
The Dodgers beat out basically all of MLB for Sasaki, who met with several teams to evaluate what they could bring to the table beyond money. The Dodgers, San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays were reported to be the finalists, with the Dodgers and Padres seen as the co-favorites for most of the process.
After receiving the signing bonus, Sasaki will have the same status as any other MLB rookie once he makes his debut, going through pre-arbitration and arbitration years before he hits free agency after six years of MLB service time.
Meanwhile, Sasaki’s NPB team, the Chiba Lotte Marines, will receive a posting fee worth 20% of the signing bonus. In four seasons with the Marines, Sasaki posted a 2.02 ERA and 0.883 WHIP with 524 strikeouts in 414 2/3 innings.
The 31-year-old Leclerc has pitched eight seasons in MLB, all with the Texas Rangers. In 2024, he made 64 appearances, striking out 89 batters and recording a 4.32 ERA and 1.32 WHIP in 66 2/3 innings pitched.
Mets agree to 2-year, $22 million contract with lefty reliever A.J. Minter
The New York Mets keep growing their bullpen, adding left-handed reliever A.J. Minter on Friday, per multiple reports. Minter and the Mets agreed on a two-year, $22 million deal that includes an opt-out in the first season.
Minter, who spent the first eight seasons of his MLB career with the Atlanta Braves, threw 35 strikeouts in 34 1/3 innings for the Braves last season, recording a 2.62 ERA and 1.02 WHIP.
Red Sox, Jarren Duran agree on 1-year, $3.85M deal
The #RedSox today signed OF Jarren Duran to a one-year contract for the 2025 season, with a club option for 2026.
Boston has no remaining players eligible for salary arbitration.
Outfielder Jarren Duran and the Boston Red Sox are in agreement on a one-year, $3.85 million deal that includes a club option for $8 million in 2026, sources tell ESPN. The deal avoids an arbitration hearing, where the Red Sox had filed at $3.5 million and Duran at $4 million.
Jack Flaherty is waiting on Roki Sasaki just like the rest of us …
Blue Jays trade for outfielder Myles Straw
Per Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith, Toronto also received $2 million in international bonus signing pool space in the trade, indicating they could still be in on Roki Sasaki.
OFFICIAL: We’ve acquired OF Myles Straw, cash, and international bonus signing pool space for the 2025 period from the Guardians in exchange for a player to be named later or cash.
The Padres are reportedly beginning to focus on other international free agents, indicating that they could be out on prized Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki.
Cubs, Kyle Tucker avoid arbitration, agree on $16.5 million deal
Breaking News: The Cubs and OF Kyle Tucker have agreed on a $16.5 mil contract for 2025, sources tell ESPN. The sides avoid an arbitration hearing and Tucker will be in Chicago for the team’s fan convention this weekend.
Mets re-sign outfielder Jesse Winker to one-year deal reportedly worth up to $9 million
The New York Mets are bringing back Jesse Winker for another year, signing the 31-year-old outfielder to a one-year deal that is reportedly worth up to $9 million. Winker joined the team in July 2024 via trade from the Washington Nationals and was a key part of the team’s postseason run.
The move also hints at the Mets’ tactics on first baseman Pete Alonso, who is one of the top free agents this offseason. With talks to bring back Alonso stalled, and with the first baseman reportedly receiving significant interest from other teams, re-signing Winker might be a signal that the Mets are not expecting Alonso to return and are starting to look at other options.
Yankees make a trade
The New York Yankees today announced that they have acquired minor league right-handed pitcher Michael Arias from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for cash considerations.
A process that began in earnest when his NPB team, the Chiba Lotte Marines, posted him on Dec. 10 has gradually unfolded over the past month, with the entire baseball industry eagerly awaiting his decision and the potential fallout. With his window to sign officially opening Wednesday and extending through Jan. 23, Sasaki has reportedly narrowed the field to three finalists: the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays.
If you haven’t been tracking each and every plot point of Sasaki’s free agency along the way, don’t fret — it’s not too late to get caught up and prepare for his entrance into the MLB universe as one of the most intriguing characters of the upcoming season.
The Roki Sasaki sweepstakes are down to just three teams: the Dodgers, Padres and Blue Jays. According to The Athletic, the Dodgers are getting one more meeting with Sasaki on Tuesday, which will reportedly involve “several of their star” players.
The Roki Sasaki sweepstakes is down to just three teams. The Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays are the three finalists to land the Japanese star once the international signing period opens on Wednesday. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, we should have his decision shortly.
The finalists for Japanese star right-hander Roki Sasaki are the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays, sources tell ESPN. Sasaki will decide on his team by the closing of his posting window Jan. 23.
With the international signing period opening Wednesday, Roki Sasaki is narrowing down his options. His camp has reportedly informed the Mets and Rangers that he will not be signing with them.
The Mets have been told they are out on Roki Sasaki.
According to a report from The Athletic, the Blue Jays hosted prized free agent Roki Sasaki for a meeting in Toronto ahead of his impending signing deadline.
The international signing period opens Wednesday, at which point Sasaki is free to sign with an MLB team. He has until Jan. 23 to make his decision. The Dodgers, Rangers, Cubs, Mets, Padres and Mariners are also believed to be in the running for Sasaki’s services.
Reliever Jorge López joins Nationals
López had an eventful 2024 season, as he was DFA’d by the New York Mets after he was ejected from a game and threw his glove into the crowd.
He moved on to the Chicago Cubs and had a solid finish to the 2024 season, recording a 2.03 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 26 2/3 innings pitched with the Cubs.
