Is an Astros-Bregman reunion still on the table?

We're keeping track of all the latest free agent and trade rumors.

Jan. 23: A Bregman reunion with the Astros still on the table?

Multiple reports suggested on Thursday that the Astros are still open to a reunion with star third baseman Alex Bregman, who is a free agent for the first time after spending the first nine seasons of his MLB career with Houston. And according to a report in The Athletic (subscription required), talks between the two sides have resumed in recent days.

When the Astros acquired third baseman Isaac Paredes in the trade that sent Kyle Tucker to the Cubs earlier in the offseason, and later signed slugging first baseman Christian Walker, it appeared that the window for a possible reunion with Bregman had closed significantly, if not completely.

But according to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, Houston could trade veteran reliever Ryan Pressly to add money for a Bregman signing -- Pressly has been the subject of trade rumors, with the Cubs and other interested clubs, but the right-hander has a full no-trade clause that he would need to waive in order for a deal to come to fruition.

If the Astros were to re-sign Bregman, the question of where to move Paredes would naturally arise. Paredes has also played first base and second base in the Majors, but Jose Altuve is entrenched at second base and Walker was signed to play first.

Options include trading Paredes, perhaps for outfield help (MLB.com's Mark Feinsand reports that Houston was in the mix for Jurickson Profar before he reached a three-year deal with the Braves), or moving slugging designated hitter Yordan Alvarez to left field and slotting Paredes into the DH spot. But according to the report in The Athletic (subscription required), the Astros would consider moving Altuve to left field and Paredes to second base if the club re-signed Bregman.

Jan. 23: Twins showing interest in Cease (report)

Two of this offseason's least active clubs -- the Twins and Padres -- are reportedly involved in trade talks with one another as they explore ways to improve their rosters.

According to a report from The Athletic (subscription required), the Twins are among the clubs showing interest in Padres right-hander Dylan Cease. The Padres, meanwhile, are reportedly targeting veteran catcher Christian Vázquez in trade talks with the Twins.

Cease, a pending free agent, has been involved in trade rumblings for much of the offseason. The Friars would like to keep him, but with the club lacking the payroll flexibility to address its needs, some rival officials believe general manager A.J. Preller will have no choice but to move the right-hander, per The Athletic's report. Cease is owed $13.75 million in 2025.

After losing Kyle Higashioka to the Rangers in free agency, adding a new primary catcher is one of San Diego’s top priorities. According to The Athletic, the team views Vázquez as an upgrade over Luis Campusano, who is currently penciled in as the Padres’ starting catcher. However, the two sides are divided over how much of Vázquez’s $10 million salary San Diego would absorb in a potential trade.

Trading Cease would also leave a major hole in the Padres' rotation, creating another significant need that the club would have to address. Parting with Cease would have been easier for the Padres if they were able to seal the deal with Roki Sasaki, but the Japanese phenom chose to sign with the rival Dodgers.

Jan. 23: What’s next for Blue Jays after landing Santander?

Although they signed Anthony Santander to a five-year, $92.5 million deal on Monday, the Blue Jays still have room to spend and are exploring a number of avenues to further upgrade their roster.

Here’s a look at some of the targets they are reportedly considering:

1B Pete Alonso: There was some speculation that Toronto’s deal with Santander could take the club out of the mix for Alonso, but MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reported Tuesday that the Blue Jays are "still working hard [and] trying for" Alonso. SNY's Andy Martino reported that talks between the two sides are "advancing." But on Thursday, Sportsnet's Shi Davidi reported that discussions between Toronto and Alonso's camp are "not gaining momentum."

The Blue Jays were linked to outfielder Jurickson Profar as well, but he signed a three-year deal with the Braves on Thursday.

SP Max Scherzer: After missing out on Roki Sasaki, the Blue Jays remain involved in the starting pitching market. Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith reported Sunday that the Blue Jays are showing interest in Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, but he and Davidi reported on Thursday that as with Alonso, talks with Scherzer's camp are "not gaining momentum."

RP Carlos Estévez: Toronto has already added Jeff Hoffman and Yimi García this offseason, but the team is still shopping for bullpen help. After Tanner Scott reached a four-year, $72 million deal with the Dodgers, the Blue Jays are among the clubs pursuing Estévez, according to MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi.

The Blue Jays are also still trying to work out a contract extension with first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who is eligible to test free agency at the end of the 2025 season. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported on Jan. 7 that the two sides were more than $100 million apart, with Guerrero seeking at least $450 million.

Jan. 21: Yates, Dodgers in talks (reports)

The Dodgers apparently aren't done making moves just yet. After recently adding Roki Sasaki and reaching a deal with reliever Tanner Scott (per a source), the club is "looking very likely" to bring in two-time All-Star reliever Kirby Yates, per MLB Network insider Jon Heyman. A potential agreement was first reported by USA Today's Bob Nightengale. More >

Jan. 19: Who are the top closers still available in free agency?

Just two days after winning the Roki Sasaki sweepstakes, the Dodgers have struck again. The defending World Series champions have reached a four-year, $72 million deal with the top closer on the free-agent market, Tanner Scott, a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand.

Scott’s deal, which comes a little over a week after the Blue Jays signed Jeff Hoffman to a three-year, $33 million contract, further narrows the market for teams in need of a high-leverage relief option.

With Scott off the board, here’s a look at the best closers still available in free agency.

Carlos Estévez: Estévez doesn’t post gaudy strikeout numbers, but he had a career year in 2024, notching a 2.45 ERA with a 4.17 K/BB ratio over 54 appearances between the Angels and Phillies. He has converted 57 saves since the beginning of 2023.

According to MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi, both the Cubs and Blue Jays are in pursuit of Estévez after missing out on Scott.

Kirby Yates: Yates will turn 38 in March, but he was one of the most dominant relievers in baseball last season, recording a 1.17 ERA with 33 saves and a 12.4 K/9 over 61 2/3 innings for the Rangers.

Kenley Jansen: Though Jansen is no longer the overpowering pitcher he was in his heyday, he’s still getting the job done at the age of 37. Jansen, who ranks fourth all time with 447 saves, had a 3.29 ERA with 27 saves and a 10.2 K/9 over 54 games for the Red Sox in 2024.

David Robertson: With Yates locking down closing duties for the Rangers in 2024, Robertson settled into a setup role and had a 3.00 ERA with 99 K’s over 72 innings for Texas in his age-39 campaign.

Kyle Finnegan: A free agent after being non-tendered by the Nationals in December, Finnegan ranks fourth in the Majors with 66 saves since the beginning of 2023, albeit with an unremarkable 3.72 ERA and 8.3 K/9.

Jan. 19: Are Bregman, Arenado still on Red Sox's radar?

The Red Sox saw one of their top bullpen targets come off the board Sunday as left-handed reliever Tanner Scott agreed to a four-year deal with the Dodgers. While Boston is still surveying the bullpen market, that position is a secondary priority for the club right now. According to MassLive's Chris Cotillo, the Red Sox's No. 1 priority is adding a right-handed bat.

To that end, Cotillo writes that free agent Alex Bregman and trade candidate Alex Bregman "remain the two big-name -- yet imperfect -- fits the Red Sox have considered." More >

Jan. 18: Trading Arenado remains top priority for Cardinals

Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said Saturday at the team’s Winter Warm-Up event that trading third baseman Nolan Arenado remains “priority one, two and three” for St. Louis. However, Mozeliak acknowledged that the club remains in a holding pattern with Arenado due to the free-agent market, where fellow third baseman Alex Bregman is still unsigned.

Mozeliak added that he’s “hopeful” that a trade will come to fruition but characterized the chances of Arenado being dealt as “a flip of the coin.” The Cardinals are looking to add to their bullpen and potentially acquire a right-handed bat, but Mozeliak indicated they won’t act until Arenado’s future is resolved.

The Cards thought they had a deal to send Arenado to the Astros in mid-December, but Arenado exercised his full no-trade clause to block the trade. Houston subsequently signed first baseman Christian Walker, locking in Isaac Paredes as its starting third baseman and taking the club out of the mix for a potential Arenado trade.

According to Katie Woo of The Athletic (subscription required), the Yankees were also among the small number of teams to inquire about Arenado in December, but they balked at St. Louis' demands, with the Cardinals unwilling to eat a large portion of his remaining contract -- three years, $74 million ($10 million of which will be paid by the Rockies) -- just to move him.

As of Jan. 7, there had been “next to no traction in [Arenado] trade talks” since the Cardinals’ deal with the Astros fell through, with Arenado’s small list of preferred destinations complicating St. Louis’ ability to trade him, per Woo's report.

Multiple league sources told Woo that they thought the Red Sox represented Arenado’s last chance of being traded before the start of the 2025 campaign. Chris Cotillo and Sean McAdam of MassLive.com reported on Jan. 5 that Boston is "a preferred destination -- if not the preferred destination" for Arenado, but the club's level of interest in the third baseman is unclear. The Red Sox also have been linked to Bregman, along with the Blue Jays, Tigers and Cubs.