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10 Bold MLB Offseason Predictions, including MLB Free Agency and Trades
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- 10 Bold MLB Offseason Predictions, including MLB Free Agency and Trades
Jim Rassol-Imagn Images Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
While October is always an exciting time for baseball fans because of the playoffs, there's always looming anticipation for the MLB offseason. Teams that fell short of winning the World Series go hunting for big moves that could put them over the top, leading to an array of MLB rumors that entice the baseball world.
Ahead of an exciting offseason that features a loaded class of All-Star players in both MLB free agency and on the trade block, we have a few bold predictions for some of the biggest moves that will be made this winter.
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Los Angeles Dodgers Spend Big with Huge Kyle Tucker Contract
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The Chicago Cubs paid a premium to acquire All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker last MLB offseason, and the front office will likely go to great lengths to avoid that being an overpay for a one-year rental. However, the highest bidder is going to win this one and that's the Los Angeles Dodgers . Tucker will slot into right field, pushing Teoscar Hernandez into left, coming off a season where Dodgers' left fielders ranked 17th in OPS ( .703 ). The move will cause even more calls for an MLB salary cap, increasing the inevitability of a lockout in 2027, but the Dodgers have the money to do it and they'll keep spending more to become MLB's biggest dynasty since the New York Yankees ( 1996-2001 ).
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Kyle Tucker contract projection:10 years, $410 million
Related: Highest-Paid MLB Players
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Kyle Schwarber Re-Signs with the Philadelphia Phillies
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Coming off another October heartbreak, the Philadelphia Phillies will try to soften the blow quickly by re-signing Kyle Schwarber. He's averaged 47 home rons, 108 RBI and an .856 OPS since landing in Philadelphia and there's no real way to justify letting him walk. Schwarber won't take a hometown discount, but he'd likely be willing to accept a lower AAV in exchange for an additional year on the deal. It's a long-term risk ownership will be willing to make, especially since it'll still leave the front office with a bit of wiggle room this offseason.
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Kyle Schwarber contract prediction:5 years, $150 million
Related: Phillies Game Today, Phillies Playoff Schedule
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New York Mets Sign Framber Valdez , Trade for Joe Ryan
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In the final two months of the regular season, New York Mets starting pitchers had a 5.65 ERA ( 27th in MLB ). Steve Cohen and David Stearns will address that, just in different ways. For Cohen, it will be allowing Pete Alonso to depart in MLB free agency and then winning the bidding war for Framber Valdez. Coming off his age-31 season, the 5-foot-11 lefty has a 3.21 ERA over the last four seasons, averaging 191.8 innings pitched per year. It's also worth noting that Stearns was the Houston Astros ' assistant general manager when they signed Valdez as an international free agent in 2015.
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Framber Valdez contract prediction:5 years, $150 million
Related: Six Legends the New York Mets Should Add to Coaching Staff
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The Mets' president of baseball operations won't stop there. Stearns will also pursue multiple starters on the trade market, including Freddy Peralta from his former team. In January, though, a deal will ultimately come together with the Minnesota Twins to add Joe Ryan. It will cost several of the Mets' top prospects, but New York will get out of it a front-line starter who is arbitration-eligible through 2027.
Toronto Blue Jays Add Dylan Cease to 2026 Rotation
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The Toronto Blue Jays lineup has demonstrated in October that it has what it takes to make a deep postseason run. To become a perennial World Series contender, though, more starting pitching is needed. Toronto's starters ranked 20th in ERA ( 4.34 ) during the regular season, and while adding Shane Bieber helped, Chris Bassitt and Max Scherzer are about to hit the open market. So, keeping in mind Bieber's durability risk, the Blue Jays will open up the wallet. poaching Dylan Cease from the San Diego Padres .
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Dylan Cease contract prediction:5 years, $135 million
Boston Red Sox Bring Back Alex Bregman
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Alex Bregman is going to opt out of his contract with the Boston Red Sox , if only to secure more long-term money. A $40 million average annual value is out of reach, but something just over $30 million per season is workable for both sides. Bregman has also made it clear that he doesn't want to leave Boston, and the Red Sox front office can't defend itself to the fan base if it loses another All-Star third baseman. The two sides will work things out, allowing Bregman to end his career in Boston.
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Alex Bregman contract prediction:6 years, $195 million
Pete Alonso Signs with the New York Yankees
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A year after the Mets pulled Juan Soto away from the New York Yankees, Brian Cashman will return the favor this MLB offseason. Pete Alonso will step in as the replacement for Paul Goldschmidt , adding even more power to a Yankees' lineup that led MLB in home runs ( 274 ) this season. While there are a few better options available in MLB free agency—Alex Bregman and Munetaka Murakami—the short-term deal will appeal to the Yankees' front office and provide a bit of financial flexibility to go after a top starter.
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Pete Alonso contract prediction:3 years, $84 million with a 2028 player option
San Diego Padres Sign Japanese Superstar Munetaka Murakami
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While we do anticipate the San Diego Padreslosing both Michael Kign and Dylan Cease in MLB free agency, they will spend that money elsewhere. Specifically, coming out on top of a fierce bidding war for Japanese superstar Munetaka Murakami. While he played third base in Japan, his future would be as the starting first baseman in the Padres' lineup. In his age-25 season, he hit 25 home runs and posted a 1.051 OPS in just 220 at-bats . Considering how much San Diego has struggled with run production in the postseason, Murakami would be an ideal replacement for the club and his age makes him a long-term cornerstone for the franchise.
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Munetaka Murakami contract prediction:8 years, $230 million
Sonny Gray Traded to the San Francisco Giants
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The San Francisco Giants need to acquire pitching this winter, but the top arms could be out of their price range after taking on the entirety of the Rafael Devers contract. Instead, Buster Posey can pivot to acquiring a dependable starter from a team who is willing to eat a portion of the contract. That would be the rebuilding St. Louis Cardinals , who have already signaled a willingness to cover some of the $65 million (including a $5 million buyout in 2028) that Sonny Gray is owed over the next two seasons. Gray would move to a team in a pitchers' ballpark, joining a rotation where he can slot in between Logan Webb and Robbie Ray .
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Detroit Tigers Bring in Bo Bichette
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In the final three months of the season, Detroit Tigers ' shortstops ranked 21st in OPS (.705). Realistically, a World Series contender can't count on its top prospect (Kevin McGonigle) filling that void in 2026. So, Detroit goes out and signs Bo Bichette. A two-time All-Star at shortstop, Bichette posted his highest OPS (.840) since 2022 this season in Toronto. However, he hasn't played in 140-plus games in three years. Turning 28 years old in March, Bichette can take a one-year gamble with a high AAV with the hope that he stays healthy after missing this postseason with a knee injury. If all goes well, he'd arguably be the top hitter in MLB free agency a year from now.
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