Big question in play: who will sacrifice pitching to improve the long-term outlook? The Marlins are in the mix, and the starting-pitching market is buzzing as the Winter Meetings approach. Boston hasn’t shied away from pulling prospects into trades for arms, and several executives believe this market could be even more active than the July rush, despite the offseason free-agent landscape.
Interest is high in left-hander MacKenzie Gore of the Washington Nationals, under club control for two more years, with more than half of the league having at least kicked the tires on him. Gore isn’t the only hot name; Tarik Skubal (Detroit) and Freddy Peralta (Milwaukee) remain in play, though teams’ intentions remain murky.
The Miami Marlins, much like the Pittsburgh Pirates who previously moved a starter, have depth to deal. There’s strong chatter they could ship one of their top arms, with Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera drawing serious trade attention.
The goal for the Marlins is clear: compete for the 2026 playoffs while building for the long haul. If parting with a pitcher such as Cabrera (three years of club control left) or Alcantara (a 2027 club option at $21 million) accelerates roster development and future flexibility, such a move would be on-brand for their strategy.
Weathers on the radar
Ryan Weathers has drawn interest from multiple clubs, with several teams also checking in on other Marlins starters. The Marlins are listening on nearly all of their rotation options, excluding Eury Pérez, per sources.
For Weathers, teams would need to see a clear path to him becoming a true breakout starter for Miami. At 25, he’s three years from free agency. Injury issues limited him to eight starts and 38 1/3 innings in 2025, though his overall line was a 3.99 ERA with a 22.3% strikeout rate and a 7.2% walk rate.
Boston weighing Bichette
Boston’s priority remains keeping free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman, but Bo Bichette—former Blue Jay and division foe—is an appealing alternative for some in the Sox front office. Bichette, who turns 28 in March, may not match Bregman’s clubhouse leadership, yet his production in recent seasons mirrors Bregman closely. Bichette posted a wRC+ near league average to 21% above it over the past six years, while Bregman’s sits around 24%.
Could Bichette fit in the Red Sox lineup? He’s shown success at Fenway, hitting .329 with a 0.907 OPS in 157 plate appearances, and he could slide in at second base after playing second in the World Series, though he’s mostly been a shortstop for Toronto.
Defensive notes show Bichette’s shortstop metrics aren’t strong, but some teams still view him as viable there. Boston’s management has indicated Trevor Story will stay at short in 2026, so a Bichette addition could shift roles for Marcelo Mayer at third and Bichette at second, if he lands in Boston.
Boston has been tied to Bichette in market chatter, with others like Pete Alonso and Kyle Schwarber on the team’s radar for offseason hitters.
Arraez in Texas? A payroll reality check
Luis Arraez has long intrigued Skip Schumaker since their Miami days, and he could fit Texas given his contact hitting strengths. Yet Texas might not have the payroll flexibility necessary to sign him, and the Rangers continue to target other needs.
The club needs a catcher after non-tendering Jonah Heim, a bullpen makeover, and another starting pitcher, all while trimming costs. Arraez’s appeal is as a top contact hitter who could still fill multiple roles, but even at a potentially bargain price, he may be too costly for Texas.
Around the league
- Kyle Tucker and the Orioles are advancing plans for a new $21 million player-development complex beside the Ed Smith Stadium operations hub in Sarasota. The facility will house pitching and hitting labs, plus offices and locker rooms. Tucker reportedly visited the Blue Jays’ Dunedin complex recently, though it’s unclear whether he’s eyeing a move, and Baltimore remains open to adding another high-end bat alongside their current core.
- The Athletics reportedly plan to increase payroll in anticipation of their Las Vegas move in 2028, though they’re not going overboard. They’re prioritizing a second baseman and a high-cost reliever or two, with a preference for acquiring value without dramatically inflating the ledger.
If the Marlins end up trading Cabrera or Alcantara, the move could reshape both the rotation and the team’s long-term window. Likewise, Bichette’s potential value to Boston could hinge on how the roster reconfigures around him and whether the organization prioritizes veteran leadership or younger upside.
What do you think: which blockbuster trade would shake up the 2026 playoff landscape the most, and should a team sacrifice a top arm now for future depth? Share your take in the comments and tell us which scenarios you’d prioritize if you were running a front office.
