Top News:
Associated Press:
Jack Flaherty, Shane Bieber exercise options for 2026 as more players become free agents, raise total to 162 — NEW YORK — Detroit pitcher Jack Flaherty and Toronto pitcher Shane Bieber exercised their player options for 2026 rather than become eligible for free agency …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, The Athletic, MLive.com and Bless You Boys
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Hoskins, Quintana to become free agents after Brewers decline 2026 options — First baseman Rhys Hoskins and left-hander José Quintana are heading to free agency after the Milwaukee Brewers declined their 2026 mutual options on Tuesday. Milwaukee declined an $18 million option on Hoskins …
Discussion:
MLB.com, NESN.com, Brew Crew Ball and MLB Trade Rumors
Anthony Franco / MLB Trade Rumors:
Cubs Sign Colin Rea To One-Year Extension — 11:05am: The Cubs have officially announced Rea's contract. MLB.com's Jordan Bastian broke down the contract structure, noting that Rea will earn $5.5MM in 2026 with a $1MM buyout on a $7.5MM club option. — 7:24am: The Cubs have hammered …
Discussion:
Chicago Sun Times, Chicago Tribune, Marquee Sports Network, cubsinsider.com and MLB.com
ESPN:
Source: Braves exercise $18M option on Chris Sale for 2026
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, MLB Trade Rumors and Battery Power
Kevin Acee / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Padres hire Craig Stammen as manager — The Padres have hired a new manager. — The choice is outside the box but from inside the organization. He is relatively unknown by many who follow the game but highly respected by many in the game. — Craig Stammen, who spent six years …
Discussion:
UPI, USA Today, New York Post, Federal Baseball, MLB Trade Rumors, Yahoo Sports, The Athletic and Arizona Sports
RELATED:
Kevin Acee / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Victor Rodriguez leaving Padres to become Astros' hitting coach
Discussion:
MLB.com, The Athletic, Gaslamp Ball and MLB Trade Rumors
ESPN:
2025 MLB offseason buzz: Intel on free agency, trade rumors — The MLB hot stove season is here! — As players become free to sign with any team they choose (free agency officially begins Thursday at 5 p.m. ET), we asked our MLB reporters to open their notebooks with all of the intel …
Discussion:
The Athletic, NESN.com, Seattle Sports and CBS Sports
New York Post:
Don Mattingly leaving Blue Jays after World Series heartbreak - with two managing jobs open — Don Mattingly has decided to step away from his Blue Jays bench coach job, but not with the intention of retiring from baseball, The Post has learned. — Mattingly had been with the Blue Jays …
Discussion:
New Jersey Online, The Athletic, MLB Trade Rumors, OnPattison, Bluebird Banter, Sportsnet.ca and Sports Illustrated
Susan Slusser / San Francisco Chronicle:
Giants owner evaluates Buster Posey, hiring Tony Vitello and Bruce Bochy's return to S.F. — Greg Johnson's annual Q & A with the Chronicle took place in the postseason for the first time, better to discuss the big news — Tony Vitello's hiring — but it comes with some new info, too.
Discussion:
The Athletic, NBC Sports Bay Area … and MLB Trade Rumors
Robert Murray / FanSided:
Source: Red Sox in agreement with Cooper Criswell on major-league contract — The offseason is officially here for the Red Sox. — Right-hander Cooper Criswell and the Boston Red Sox are in agreement on a fully guaranteed major-league contract for $800,000, a source familiar with the deal said.
Discussion:
Boston Herald, masslive.com, MLB Trade Rumors and NESN.com
D.J. Short / NBCSports.com:
MLB Free Agent Tracker 2025-26: Latest signings, top players, and biggest offseason deals — The MLB Hot Stove is here, and you can track all of the activity from the 2025-26 MLB offseason with our convenient free agent tracker. — The tracker, which is based on Matthew Pouliot's Top 100 MLB free agents …
Discussion:
TWSN Sports
Associated Press:
Derek Shelton used his time off after the Pirates fired him to present the Twins a better candidate — Derek Shelton spent the first couple of weeks after his firing by the Pittsburgh Pirates in his feelings, bitter about the dismissal just 38 games into his sixth season as manager and defiant about his ability to do the job well.
Discussion:
MLB.com, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Twinkie Town
Associated Press:
Mariners exercise 2026 option on closer Andrés Muñoz — The Seattle Mariners exercised their $6 million club option for 2026 on closer Andrés Muñoz, general manager Justin Hollander announced Tuesday. Muñoz, 26, went 3-3 with a 1.73 ERA and a career-high 38 saves, third-most in the major leagues.
Discussion:
MLB.com, Lookout Landing, Seattle Sports and MLB Trade Rumors
Jorge Castillo / ESPN:
Yankees pick up LHP Hill's '26 option, decline RHP Loaisiga's — The New York Yankees made contract decisions on two relievers for the 2026 season, exercising left-hander Tim Hill's $3 million club option and declining right-hander Jonathan Loaisiga's $5 million club option, the team announced Wednesday.
Discussion:
Forbes, MLB.com and New York Daily News
