This is an important week for baseball schedule. Above all, it’s awards week. Kevin McGonigle and Sal Stewart were named rookie of the year on Monday. The Managers of the Year will be announced on Tuesday, the Cy Youngs and Relievers of the Year will be announced on Wednesday, and finally the MVPs will be announced on Thursday.
Additionally, the GM meetings are taking place this week in Las Vegas. The GM Meetings are not the Winter Meetings in terms of volume of rumors and transactions, but they generally provide news. There could be more than usual this year given the near certainty of a lockout on December 1, which would also mean no winter meetings. This may be the only time everyone is in the same room this winter. The three weeks between now and December 1 could be very active.
We’ve already ranked the top 50 free agents and top 25 trade prospects.
With that in mind, here are Tuesday’s hot rumors.
The Mets will meet Skubal
The Mets have a meeting scheduled with two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, the top free agent available this offseason, later this week, the New York Post reports. Skubal will meet with teams in California, likely at the offices of agent Scott Boras. Owner Steve Cohen is expected to push for Skubal, according to SNY; President of baseball operations David Stearns has long been reluctant to sign long-term, big-ticket deals for pitchers, although pitchers of Skubal’s caliber are rarely available. The Mets are also looking for first base help and reinforcements in the bullpen.
Nolan McLean and Christian Scott are currently the only locks for New York’s 2027 rotation. Justin Hagenman, Sean Manaea, Kodai Senga, Zac Thornton and Jonah Tong are next on the list. Tylor Megill is also expected to return from Tommy John surgery early next year. The Mets have some depth but clearly need more impact.
Blue Jays interested in Lowe
The Blue Jays are among the teams interested in free agent second baseman Brandon Lowe, according to Sportsnet. Ernie Clement, Toronto’s primary second baseman in 2026, crashed heavily in the second half and has still adapted better as a super utility man who regularly plays different positions. Josh Smith is the team’s other second base option.
Lowe would bring needed power to a team that finished last in home runs last season and had just one player, Kazuma Okamoto (33), who hit 15 home runs. Only four Blue Jays have hit even 10 home runs. Additionally, Toronto’s roster is primarily right-handed. Lowe would add power and also a left-handed bat to provide balance. We ranked him as the 13th best available free agent.
Rotation is a ‘top priority’ for White Sox
Adding rotation help is a “top priority,” White Sox general manager Chris Getz said Tuesday during an interview on MLB Network radio. “We’re going to exhaust the rookie market, whether it’s free agency – we’ll take a look at that – and trades. That’s our top priority,” Getz said. He also confirmed that Grant Taylor, the team’s playoff closer, will enter the rotation. Hagen Smith will remain in the bullpen.
The White Sox have solid enough rotation depth, with Taylor joining Sean Burke, Luis Castillo, Anthony Kay, Davis Martin, David Sandlin, Noah Schultz and perhaps Shane Smith and Drew Thorpe. There is room for improvement, however, particularly at the top. Chicago could use a true ace, even if one is not easily acquired or abundantly available.
The Padres have expressed interest in Skubal
Add the Padres to the list of teams that have expressed interest in Skubal, MLB Network reports. San Diego has a major need in the rotation — Joe Musgrove, who hasn’t started since the 2024 playoffs, and Randy Vásquez are their only rotation locks — and a new ownership group that appears ready to spend in its first offseason.
Skubal is by far the best free agent of the offseason. He is also a client of Scott Boras, and historically Boras’ primary clients accept the largest contract offer regardless of the team’s situation. That’s not to say the Padres are in a bad situation. No way. They are a very good team that makes the playoffs most years and plays in San Diego. Who doesn’t love San Diego?
The Padres are also linked to several Japanese players, according to The Athletic. This includes MLB free agents Seiya Suzuki and Shota Imanaga, as well as players coming over from Nippon Professional Baseball, such as third baseman Teruaki Sato.
MLB free agency: Six international players to know for the 2026-27 offseason
Mike Axisa
Morejon prefers to stay in the bullpen
Free agent left-hander Adrian Morejon is attracting interest as a starting pitcher, but he prefers to stay in the bullpen, according to The Athletic. Even during the season, rumors swirled that Morejon would like a chance to start in 2027. He played through the minors as a starter and only stayed in the bullpen because he was so dominant late innings.
We ranked Morejon as the second best free agent of the offseason. on the idea that he would enter the rotation. The belief in the game is that he has a chance to be a great starter, not just a background piece. Regardless, Morejon is a very good pitcher, and at 28 years old, he is also one of the youngest free agents available. He should have several peak years left.
Cubs hope to add three starters
Even if they are not inclined to pursue Tarik SkubalThe Cubs hope to add three established starting pitchers this offseason, The Athletic reports. Of the nine pitchers who will have made at least nine starts for Chicago in 2027, seven are free agents. Only Ben Brown, who recently underwent neck surgery (according to ESPN), and Edward Cabrera, who had a 5.96 ERA and was demoted to the bullpen, remain.
Left-hander Justin Steele is expected to return from UCL surgery next year, although he suffered a setback in the summer and was unable to return as hoped in September. Others, like Javier Assad and Jordan Wicks, are more depth options than full-time rotation pieces. This free agent class offers plenty of second- and third-level starters. This is where the Cubs are supposed to shop.
The Mets are not interested in a major overhaul
Unlike last offseason, the Mets are not interested in a major overhaul despite their disappointing year, MLB.com reports. The Mets went 74-88 and finished in last place in 2026. The only silver lining to this disappointing season was the ability to give a long runway to rookies like Carson Benge and Nolan McLean, who both finished in the top four in Rookie of the Year voting.
The Mets went 83-79 in 2025 and missed the playoffs on the final day of the season. They made significant changes last winter, including jettisoning mainstays Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo, then had a worse season in 2026. In September, president of baseball operations David Stearns admitted that significant turnover had created an “uncapped downside scenario,” which is exec-speak for “there was too much risk.”
The brave will not move Acuña
Unsurprisingly, the Braves are not interested in moving former National League MVP Ronald Acuña Jr., according to MLB Network. It feels like Atlanta’s offense has become stale and they could move a key piece, but it won’t be Acuña, and probably Drake Baldwin, Michael Harris II or Matt Olson. Ozzie Albies and Austin Riley are the most obvious players to move. Albies is entering the final season of his extremely team-friendly contract. Riley has six years left on his contract, making the decision difficult.
The Red Sox will not commit to history in brief
On Monday, Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow declined to sign Trevor Story as the starting shortstop next season. “We still have a lot of confidence in Trevor, but any decision like that is going to be between Trevor and I long before I speak publicly about anything,” Breslow told reporters, including the Boston Globe. Boston has one of the best prospects in the minors to shortstop Franklin Arias, who will most likely debut early next year. Arias could push Story into a utility role or off the team entirely.
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