After some headline-grabbing contracts at last week\u2019s Winter Meetings in Orlando, Florida, MLB\u2019s hot stove action has cooled off. There are still many star players available for big deals, and top prospects have a long way to go to reach the league\u2019s elite.<\/p>\n
With the Winter Meetings behind us, let\u2019s explore the key storylines that will shape the rest of the offseason. FOX Sports MLB reporters Disha Tosar and Rowan Kavner present 10 questions likely to reignite fan excitement.<\/p>\n
1. Which team will sign Kyle Tucker?
\nKyle Tucker, a young and versatile outfielder, may become the biggest beneficiary from the massive deals given to Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso, who secured a combined $305 million. Market action has paused as teams reassess their bids for Tucker, who was initially expected to command around $400 million, but now might fetch up to $425 million. Top contenders to land him remain the , Blue Jays, Yankees, and Mets, making his signing the biggest offseason storyline. \u2014 Tosar<\/p>\n
2. How far will the Blue Jays go?
\nThe starting pitcher market is quiet except for huge contracts. The Blue Jays, having narrowly missed winning their first World Series since 1993, are aggressively bolstering their pitching staff, signing players like Cody Ponce and Tyler Rodgers. Whether they re-sign Bo Bichette or pursue Kyle Tucker remains uncertain, but their commitment to contend in 2026 is clear. \u2014 Kavner<\/p>\n
3. Will the Braves return to prominence?
\nIf the 2026 season started now, the Braves would hold the second-highest payroll thanks to key signings like Robert Suarez, Raisel Iglesias, and Ha Sung Kim. They\u2019ve addressed bullpen and shortstop needs and added depth with Mauricio Dubon and Mike Yastrzemski. The final piece is proven starting pitching to complement a strong rotation. With playoff disappointment last year, big moves might be coming. \u2014 Tosar<\/p>\n
4. Where will top Japanese players sign?
\nPlayers from Japan have a 45-day negotiation window once joining MLB, after which they return to NPB if no deal is agreed. Despite upcoming deadlines for stars like Munetaka Murakami, Tatsuya Imai, and Kazuma Okamoto, there\u2019s little buzz about their MLB destinations. Murakami\u2019s power hitting and age make him an intriguing prospect despite some concerns. \u2014 Kavner<\/p>\n
5. How will the AL East respond to the Jays and Orioles?
\nBaltimore has strengthened its lineup by acquiring Pete Alonso, Tyler Ward, and Ryan Helsley but still needs a frontline starter. Meanwhile, Toronto\u2019s Bo Bichette is a key target in the free-agent market. Other divisional teams like the Red Sox and Yankees have yet to make significant moves, setting the stage for a heated offseason competition. \u2014 Tosar<\/p>\n
6. Will Tarik Skubal or Ketel Marte be traded?
\nTrade rumors are strong, especially regarding Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, who is entering his final contract year. Detroit faces a decision on trading him or attempting to contend in a weak division. Meanwhile, switch-hitter Ketel Marte could move from the Diamondbacks, attracting interest from teams like the Mariners, Giants, and Red Sox. \u2014 Tosar<\/p>\n
7. Where will Scott Boras\u2019 top clients land?
\nPlayers like Pete Alonso, Alex Bregman, and Cody Bellinger missed out on long-term deals last offseason but have renewed chances this winter after opting out of contracts. Alongside Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette, they form the top tier of available position players, seeking big contracts. \u2014 Kavner<\/p>\n
8. How will the Mets manage their offseason?
\nAfter losing fan favorites Alonso, Diaz, and Nimmo, Mets’ operations head David Stearns faces pressure to rebuild a playoff-contending team. Early moves include signing Jorge Polanco, with further additions needed in first base, outfield, and most crucially, starting pitching. \u2014 Tosar<\/p>\n
9. Will small-market teams attract free agents?
\nAlthough Pete Alonso\u2019s deal with Baltimore was a rare surprise, smaller-market teams like the Pirates, Reds, and Marlins have yet to secure top free agents. Generally, these frugal teams face challenges in competing for big-name players, especially with potential labor disputes looming. \u2014 Kavner<\/p>\n
10. Will big moves for starting pitchers come via trade or free agency?
\nFollowing the Cease deal, another substantial contract for starting pitchers seems imminent, but the market remains slow. Teams might prefer trading for pitchers like Tarik Skubal, Freddy Peralta, and Mackenzie Gore, while pitchers such as Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez, and Michael King are also available. \u2014 Kavner<\/p>\n
Fan Take: This offseason is pivotal as teams balance blockbuster signings with trade strategies to build championship contenders. Baseball fans should stay tuned because the moves made now could reshape team dynamics and define the sport\u2019s next era of stars and rivalries.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
After some headline-grabbing contracts at last week\u2019s Winter Meetings in Orlando, Florida, MLB\u2019s hot stove action has cooled off. There are still many star players available for big deals, and top prospects have a long way to go to reach the league\u2019s elite. With the Winter Meetings behind us, let\u2019s explore the key storylines that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":33808,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[16],"class_list":{"0":"post-33807","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-baseball","8":"tag-baseball"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33807","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33807"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33807\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33808"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33807"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33807"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33807"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}