Overview
- MLB’s Winter Meetings kicked off in Orlando with heavy rumor traffic after early headline moves, including Dylan Cease’s seven-year, $210 million deal with Toronto, the Mets’ Nimmo-for-Semien trade, and New York’s signing of closer Devin Williams.
- The Mets have been linked to free-agent slugger Kyle Schwarber, per multiple reports, as Pittsburgh’s reported four-year, $100 million offer helps set the bat market and New York weighs options at designated hitter.
- Reporting from The Athletic indicates the Mets prefer shorter contracts for starting pitchers, a stance that could keep them out of the running for top-tier arms expected to command six-to-eight-year deals.
- Insiders say the Blue Jays are prioritizing a top closer, with interest in Edwin Díaz and Robert Suárez and widespread expectation that Toronto and the Mets could split the top two stoppers on the market.
- A highly ranked executive told ESPN’s Buster Olney that Detroit could be persuaded to trade Tarik Skubal by an overwhelming offer, as broader trade buzz centers on Ketel Marte and Nationals lefty MacKenzie Gore.