NEW YORK, NY — Major League Baseball’s 2025-2026 offseason has officially gotten underway with a few notable moves and some qualifying offers already being accepted.
The most notable out of the Bronx was from New York Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham, who accepted his qualifying offer for one-year at $22.05 million. Another outfielder that the Bronx Bombers are hoping to retain is Cody Bellinger or New York could take a big swing at the top free agent in Kyle Tucker.
Cody Bellinger hit 29 home runs as a New York Yankee in 2025 across 152 games played – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
On the pitching front, with right-handed relievers Devin Williams and Luke Weaver on the open market, the Yankees could be in pursuit of a top Japanese talent in Tatsuya Imai. A reunion with free agent Michael King is also possible, or they could go the trade route.
Former Yankee Gleyber Torres, one of four players accepting the qualifying offer, will return to the Detroit Tigers on a one-year deal, the same money figure as Grisham. A quick re-signing came out of Atlanta with the Braves bringing back Cuban reliever Rasiel Iglesias, a two-time LatinoMVP Reliever of the Year, on a one-year deal worth $16 million.
Earlier this week, the Braves re-signed Raisel Iglesias to a one-year deal worth $16 million – Image Credit: Simon Lindenblatt/Latino Sports
Furthermore, the Seattle Mariners re-signed first baseman Josh Naylor to a team friendly contract of five-years at $92.5 million. Free agent Pete Alonso will be looking to top that total, but it remains to be seen if that will come from the New York Mets.
With the Mets, not much has happened yet, but they are hungry to return to the postseason after a disappointing 2025. The other question that remains is if they will bring back their lights out closer Edwin Díaz, who like Iglesias, is a two-time LatinoMVP Reliever of the Year?
Edwin Díaz, posting a 1.63 ERA in 2025, with 48 saves since 2024, is projected to receive a $90 million+ contract on the open market this offseason – Image Credit: George Napolitano/Latino Sports
Now, to make the start of the offseason interesting, with several big name free agents available, I will give it my best shot at predicting where each will land.
Will Bo Bichette get re-signed by the Blue Jays after spending his entire seven-year MLB career in Toronto and coming up big in the 2025 World Series? The Mariners brought back Eugenio Suárez for his second stint at MLB’s trade deadline this past July and now he could follow Naylor’s footsteps by taking a team friendly deal to return.
It will be tough for the Marines to also re-sign Jorge Polanco, but surely, they will give it their best effort.
Will the Seattle Mariners bring one of their 2025 postseason heroes in Jorge Polanco back to T-Mobile Park for the 2026 season? – Image Credit: Francisco Rodriguez/Latino Sports
In contrast, Dominican southpaw Framber Valdez (Palenque, D.R.) is arguably the top free agent pitcher on the market after eight strong seasons with the Houston Astros that included a World Series title in 2022. Ranger Suárez of Pie de Cuesta, Venezuela, spending eight years in Philadelphia, headlines the list of the secondary tier of starting pitching free agents while fellow Venezuelan Robert Suárez (Bolivar, Venezuela) stands out with Díaz as the two marquee free agent relievers after saving 40 games last season for the San Diego Padres.
Top 1-12
OF Kyle Tucker – Blue Jays – 10 years/$400M
INF Bo Bichette – Blue Jays re-sign at $200M for 8 years
SP Framber Valdez – Mets – 6 years/$170M
INF Alex Bregman – Mets – 5 years/$165M
OF Kyle Schwarber – Phillies re-sign at $130M for 4 years
OF/1B Cody Bellinger – Yankees re-sign at $130M for 5 years
1B Pete Alonso – Red Sox – 4 years/$125M
3B Eugenio Suárez – Mariners re-sign at $66M for 3 years
RP Edwin Díaz – Mets re-sign at $90M for 4 years
RP Robert Suárez- Phillies – 2 years/$38M
RP Devin Williams – Yankees re-sign at $45M for 3 years
SP Ranger Suárez – Orioles – 5 years/$100M
Japanese Talent and Top 13-15
SP Tatsuya Imai – Yankees – 7 years/$160M
1B/3B Munetaka Murakami – Dodgers – 6 years/$150M
1B/3B Kazuma Okamoto – Padres – 5 years/$95M
Top 16-25
SP Zac Gallen – Angels – 3 years/$86M
SP Dylan Cease – Cubs – 4 years/$84M
SP Michael King – Tigers – 2 years/$50M
2B Jorge Polanco – Angels – 3 years/$48M
RP Pete Fairbanks – Dodgers – 2 years/$20M
INF Luis Arráez – Padres re-sign at $25M for 2 years
C J.T. Realmuto – Yankees – 2 years/$24M
SP Chris Bassitt – Braves – 1 year/$14M
DH Marcel Ozuna – Reds – 1 year/$11M
SP/RP Nick Martinez – Guardians – 1 year/$10M
Trade Predictions
Besides free agency, the trade market has already been extremely active with Grayson Rodriguez being traded by the Baltimore Orioles to the Los Angeles Angels for outfielder Taylor Ward in the most stunning move of the offseason.
There are eight standout Latino players who could be on the trade market this offseason according to several reports, headlined by Arizona Diamondbacks star second baseman Ketel Marte and Milwaukee Brewers ace Freddy Peralta, who won the 2024 National League LatinoMVP Starting Pitcher of the Year.
Several reports have Freddy Peralta of the Brewers and Ketel Marte of the Diamondbacks listed as the two marquee names to get dealt this offseason – Image Credit: Bill Menzel and Francisco Rodriguez/Latino Sports
Below are my predictions of where I think they could end up this offseason.
Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte returns to the Seattle Mariners, where he made his MLB debut, in a blockbuster trade
Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Yandy Díaz, winning the AL Batting title in 2023, gets traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates
Philadelphia Phillies acquire third baseman Nolan Arenado, a 10-time Gold Glover, from the St. Louis Cardinals
San Diego Padres land left-handed hitting outfielder Jarren Duran in a deal with the Boston Red Sox
Milwaukee Brewers trade 2024 NL LatinoMVP Pitcher of the Year Freddy Peralta to the New York Mets
Baltimore Orioles acquire 2022 NL LatinoMVP Pitcher of the Year Sandy Alcántara in a surprising trade with the Miami Marlins
Minnesota Twins RHP Pablo López, an AL All-Star in 2023, gets dealt to the Athletics
Athletics land López then trade RHP Luis Severino (2018 AL LatinoMVP Pitcher of the Year) to the San Diego Padres
What To Watch For
It will be an exciting offseason to see how both teams out of New York and other contenders try to close the gap on the Blue Jays and back-to-back champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
28 MLB franchises will look to close the gap this offseason on the NL champion Los Angeles Dodgers and AL champion Toronto Blue Jays – Image Credit: Bill Menzel and George Napolitano/Latino Sports
The non-tender deadline for MLB teams is Friday, November 21st at 8:00PM EST and this will result in several notable players getting released across the league.
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