The MLB “hot stove” season is underway, and top baseball executives gathered in Las Vegas for the annual general managers meetings. This is the first opportunity for front offices to discuss their priorities for the offseason. From teams looking to make a big impact in free agency to those with trade decisions to weigh, Alofoke Deportes brings you a summary of what each franchise has in mind for this winter.
Summary by Division
- American League:
- This: Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays.
- Central: Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Guardians, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins.
- West: Athletics, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Angels, Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers.
- National League:
- This: Atlanta Braves, Miami Marlins, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Washington Nationals.
- Central: Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers, Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals.
- West: Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants.
Agent Scott Boras also mentioned prop bets during his media briefing at the general managers’ meetings, noting their potential damage to player integrity, which he considers essential to the sport.“We just want to educate everyone as much as possible,” said Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins. “And MLB is doing an incredible job of providing us with that support.”
Ross Atkins
“Gambling and working in professional baseball,” Orioles general manager Mike Elias said, “is not something that should be mixed.”
Mike Elias
To the East
Baltimore Orioles:
Last offseason, Orioles general manager Mike Elias watched ace Corbin Burnes depart for Arizona and didn’t replace him, instead opting to trust Grayson Rodriguez to take the No. 1 spot and signing veterans Charlie Morton and Tomoyuki Sugano to bolster depth. But the additions struggled, Rodriguez didn’t throw a single ball due to injury, and the formula produced the No. 24 starting ERA in baseball, even though Trevor Rogers became one of the league’s best pitchers in the second half.
This winter, Elias said he was prioritizing the acquisition of a top-of-the-line starting pitcher and is willing to negotiate from his minor league system. His other goals include a closer and an impact bat, preferably an outfielder.Boston Red Sox:
The wish list of Red Sox’s president of baseball operations, Craig Breslow, is ambitious: a top-of-the-line starter to pair with AL Cy Young runner-up Garrett Crochet at the top of Boston’s rotation and a right-handed hitter in the middle of the order.The Red Sox nearly acquired All-Star right-handed pitcher Joe Ryan from Minnesota at the trade deadline and could resume those conversations with the rebuilding Twins. Ryan, 29, posted a 3.42 ERA in a breakout season in 2025 and has two years of club control remaining.“We want someone who can start a playoff game and a bat that can produce in the middle of the order,” Breslow said. “Exactly what form it will take and how it will look, we’ll see.”
Craig Breslow
New York Yankees:
A year ago, the Yankees’ offseason was suspended until Juan Soto made his decision to go to the Mets. Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham are not at Soto’s level, but if the Yankees retain one or both outfielders it will have a significant impact on the rest of their offseason. Bellinger, a free agent after opting out of his contract, could demand a multi-year deal approaching $200 million. Grisham has to decide whether to accept the Yankees’ qualifying offer, which would pay him $22 million next season, or reject it and reach free agency. Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones are internal candidates to replace either or both, should they sign elsewhere, although the Yankees would likely seek another veteran option to join Aaron Judge in the outfield. The Yankees need relievers, as Devin Williams and Luke Weaver will reach free agency. A right-handed catcher, a right-handed first baseman to split time with Ben Rice, and depth in the starting rotation to absorb starting next season with Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, and Clarke Schmidt on the injured list are their other areas of focus.Tampa Bay Rays:
The Rays’ offseason began with the acceptance of options for Brandon Lowe and Taylor Walls, but rejecting an $11 million option for Pete Fairbanks, allowing their best reliever to reach free agency. The decision underscored the financial reality of the franchise as a small-market entity with an uncertain future. Fairbanks will find a lucrative deal elsewhere, is in line for a three-year deal and has no shortage of suitors, and the Rays will presumably find cost-effective ways to replace him in the bullpen. With only $29 million in guaranteed financial commitments for 2026, they will be looking for a catcher and perhaps a utility infielder.Toronto Blue Jays:
The Blue Jays were the underdogs in the World Series, but they are not a small-market franchise with grit. They have money and they spend it. After failing to sign franchise-altering free agents in recent years, including Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto, Toronto invested $500 million to keep Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The question now is whether they also keep Bo Bichette. Bichette reached the majors months after Guerrero in 2019 and, in addition to a 2024 plagued by injuries, has been one of the best hitters in baseball since his debut. He regressed defensively at shortstop in 2025 and may move to another position, but should earn a robust nine-figure contract. If it’s not Bichette, the Blue Jays could allocate a substantial amount of money to Kyle Tucker, the most important free agent according to consensus. The left-handed outfielder would complement right-handed Guerrero in the middle of the order and provide more hits for an offense that was the best in MLB at making contact. Shane Bieber’s surprising decision to accept his $16 million player option cushions the need for help in the rotation, but the Blue Jays will be looking for both starters and relievers this winter.AL Central
Chicago White Sox:
An increase in the 2026 ranking isn’t the most important thing for general manager Chris Getz this offseason, simply because the jumps his young team makes in the season will be the most impactful in the number of additional wins the team gets next year. Instead, the White Sox want to complement what they have, at least with a veteran outfielder and pitcher, to help show the way to the youngsters.Completing the pitching staff will be particularly important, as the team doesn’t want to rush their young but promising arms. Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz will eventually be in Chicago, but in the meantime, picking up veteran innings will be the goal this winter, as well as deciding if the team wants Mike Tauchman as that clubhouse leader again. It was a positive for them in that role last season.“Some of our young players have earned the right to play at the Major League level,” Getz said. “That doesn’t mean there aren’t opportunities to go into free agency and find players to add to the group.”
Chris Getz
Cleveland Guardians:
Chris Antonetti recalled how a baseball season can be turned around even after becoming “dark” and “somber,” as it did for Cleveland in 2025. The Guardians’ late run to the playoffs has only emboldened Antonetti’s desire to improve. But, how will he do it?Cleveland will explore external options, but no one believes this will be a big spending offseason. Antonetti was reminded that there is a correlation between payroll spending and reaching the deepest part of the postseason.“We want to score more runs,” he said. “We are optimistic that we can do it.”
Chris Antonetti
“The system is what it is,” Antonetti said. “Until the system changes, it’s my job to find a way to win a World Series in the system that exists.”
Chris Antonetti
Detroit Tigers:
Relax, Tigers fans. The chances of trading Tarik Skubal this offseason are low. Conversations will be held, but they will likely end there, as a combination for the two-time Cy Young Award winner with another team seems almost impossible.Meanwhile, the Tigers are awaiting infielder Gleyber Torres’ decision on the qualifying offer they extended to him. After two consecutive postseason appearances, Detroit is looking for more this offseason.“Tarik is a Detroit Tiger,” said Tigers general manager Jeff Greenberg. “We know how good he is. We are not going to discuss our players in the context of a trade or an extension. He is a Tiger. We are pleased to have him. Trading our own players is not something we are going to discuss.”
Jeff Greenberg
“That could come through free agency or a trade,” Greenberg said. “Some of that also has to come through internal improvement. We’ll keep an open mind in all those ways to take the next steps in terms of where we’ve been in the last two years.”
Jeff Greenberg
Kansas City Royals:
The Royals missed the postseason in 2025, in part, or perhaps solely, because they finished 28th in runs scored. After signing Salvador Pérez to a two-year extension earlier this month, while watching Bobby Witt Jr. become a superstar in the last two years, their window to win has become even clearer.So, what’s the plan? Finding help in left field, where the Royals finished 29th in OPS, will be a priority.“We know that right now, with a guy like Bobby Witt Jr., we’re not thinking about changing things and building for the future,” said General Manager J.J. Picollo.
J.J. Picollo
If they can fit in the middle of the alignment, even better.“That’s one of our goals,” Picollo said. “Our garden hasn’t been as productive as it needed to be. So we’re back at it again. Left field has been a bit of a revolving door. We have to try to solve that.”
J.J. Picollo
Minnesota Twins:
The Twins have undergone a considerable overhaul in recent months, between trading 10 players from their 40-man roster in July and hiring Derek Shelton to replace Rocco Baldelli as manager after another disappointing season. Derek Falvey, president of baseball operations, said that the bullpen and catcher are areas of need, while improving the team’s defense is also a priority. The starting pitching, with Joe Ryan and Pablo López at the top of the rotation, is a considerable force for Minnesota, potentially one from which they could trade to infuse their farm system with more talent or address weaknesses.“I think we’re going to prioritize maintaining as much depth as possible, because, you know, it’s inevitable,” Falvey said. “You’re not anticipating injury. Guys [may be] a little slow coming into camp. It happens for all baseball teams. At the same time, if the right fit works, we say this with all of our players on the roster, we have to have an open mind to trades that we think make us better.”
Derek Falvey
To the West
Athletics:
The Athletics made a rare appearance near the top of the free agent market around this time last year, and that didn’t go very well. Luis Severino headlined their offseason spending spree, then recorded an ERA of 6.01 at Sutter Health Park, the minor league stadium based in Sacramento that the A’s are calling home while they transition to Las Vegas. The A’s boast a young and exciting offense, but they still desperately need starting pitching, with Severino and Jeffrey Springs as the only established starters entering 2026.“We talked about whether to bring in some experience, another veteran, some consistency, it makes sense,” said A’s general manager David Forst. “It’s what everyone is looking for. It’s not easy to find, and ours is not the easiest park to pitch in for the next few years, I’m aware of that. But it’s definitely on our list.”
David Forst
Houston Astros:
Before reaching free agency this offseason, Framber Valdez accumulated 192 innings last year and 767⅔ innings since 2022, the second-most in Major League Baseball. The main goal for the Houston Astros this offseason, said general manager Dana Brown, is to “get those innings back.” Valdez is possibly the best free agent starting pitcher in this class, and the Astros are not expected to get him back. The hope, Brown said, is that having Cristian Javier for a whole season after he only made 15 starts from 2024 to 2025 will help offset Valdez’s possible departure. Spencer Arrighetti, entering his age-27 season, could also fill part of that void. But the Astros will also be in the market for mid-level starters.Los Angeles Angels:
The Angels’ owner, Arte Moreno, is always prone to changing his mind, but at the moment, the expectation is that he won’t spend much this offseason, especially with the civil trial related to Tyler Skaggs’ death ongoing. That leaves general manager Perry Minasian with few options to fill a variety of holes on his roster, in particular: third base, second base, center field, starting pitching, and the back end of the bullpen. The Angels are one of approximately 30 teams currently seeking pitching depth. However, their offensive needs are more specific: the Angels would like some left-handed bats. At the moment, first baseman Nolan Schanuel is their only hitter capable of providing consistent production from the left side. Free agents Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham would be ideal options, but they are not expected to be in the Angels’ price range. Minasian will have to be creative.Seattle Mariners:
The Mariners haven’t hidden their desire to bring back first baseman Josh Naylor, which fits into a broader plan to retain as much of the 2025 group as possible. The Mariners were painfully close to reaching their first World Series in franchise history earlier this fall, and the hope is to keep building on that momentum.“This year’s group was really special,” said Mariners general manager Justin Hollander. “They connected in a real way. I think the common bonds around the care factor to win, the competitiveness, the work ethic, the preparation, not everyone exhibited it externally in the same way, but I think they are somehow connected inside in many of the same ways. And it was really great to see them experience many victories.”
Justin Hollander
Texas Rangers:
The Rangers powered a high-powered offense to a championship in 2023. Since then, they have ranked 27th in OPS, leading the team to miss the playoffs in consecutive years, including in 2025, when the team boasted the lowest ERA in the majors and still finished nine games behind in the American League West. Now, the expectation across the industry is that the Rangers will reduce the payroll in search of becoming younger under new manager Skip Schumaker, with outfielder Adolis García viewed as a significant trade candidate. But the Rangers downplayed the idea of reducing costs simply for the sake of reducing costs this winter.“We’re going to have a payroll that’s high enough for us to win,” said Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young. “We have a great core group in place, and we’re in a great position where we don’t have to make any moves to accommodate payroll, to buy payroll flexibility so to speak. We expect to win with whatever number we have.”
Chris Young
NL This
Atlanta Braves:
General Manager Alex Anthopoulos isn’t hiding his offseason needs after a very uncharacteristic season for the Braves, finishing outside of playoff contention. They have a core of good players like Ronald Acuña Jr, Matt Olson, Austin Riley, and Michael Harris II. But there are holes. “Shortstop, starting pitcher and many relievers,” Anthopoulos said. “That’s the list.” The Braves took a late-season flight on Ha-Seong Kim, but it’s not clear if he’ll be their shortstop in 2026, as he’s a free agent. It’s also unclear who pitches behind Chris Sale and Spencer Strider, although Hurston Waldrep had a solid debut in 2025. Additions to the rotation are likely to come from outside the organization. The Braves know they are very important in terms of talent and need more depth to navigate a long season.“We have a good starting point, but we have holes,” Anthopoulos said. “We need a starter one way or another.”
Alex Anthopoulos
Miami Marlins:
The Marlins exceeded external expectations with a 79-win season in 2025 and are ready to spend more money than in recent years. Peter Bendix, president of baseball operations, only signed three players with Major League contracts in his first two offseasons at the helm and only has one player, Sandy Alcantara, who is projected to earn more than a few million dollars. As with almost all teams on this list, adding pitching, both in the rotation and in the bullpen, is a priority. Adding an infielder is another potential goal.“I was very pleased with the progress of our Major League team, very pleased with the progress of our entire organization,” Bendix said. “We want to build on that. We believe we can put together a really exciting team for 2026. We believe we are still building towards our goal of being sustainably competitive year after year.”
Peter BendixNew York Mets:
The Mets have important decisions to make, starting with two beloved stars: Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz. Both All-Stars opted out of their contracts. The return of either player to Queens is far from a guarantee. Ultimately, it will depend on how David Stearns, president of baseball operations, values first base and the closer role. Last offseason, Stearns didn’t budge on giving Alonso a long-term contract. He probably won’t this time either. Stearns has reiterated that he wants to improve the club’s race prevention, which means improvements in defense and in the pitching staff. A first-line starter is a priority, as is adding multiple relievers. Stearns shared this week that he sees Kodai Senga as part of the starting rotation, but teams have shown interest in trading the right-handed veteran after an unstable 2025.“I think if a front-line pitcher, a top-tier pitcher is available, we’re going to be involved in those discussions,” Stearns said. “We have the depth and quality of the farm system right now so that we can make a real impact on our Major League team and, potentially, trade some of them to get short-term help, if that’s available.”
David StearnsPhiladelphia Phillies:
Everyone knows what the Phillies are facing this offseason: they could lose three key players…
