UPDATED Nov. 12 at 5:00 p.m. ET
The Major League Baseball offseason doesn’t really begin with the Winter Meetings. It’s starting in Las Vegas, where I’m on the ground with team executives, agents and scouts for the GM Meetings.
It’s where the groundwork is laid for trades, free agency feelers and the biggest offseason narratives that will dominate the next few months. I’ll share the intel I’m hearing from Vegas that will help shape a very busy offseason.
Day 1 of the MLB GM Meetings tends to be a bit of a dud, but executives met with the media on Day 2 and Day 3, leading to far more intriguing conversations and quotes we'll be happy to deliver to you, the reader. Our running notebook includes the latest news and rumors around Kyle Tucker, Paul Skenes, Freddy Peralta, Kyle Schwarber and more.
Nov. 12, 12:50 p.m. ET: Inside the Braves offseason plan
Alex Anthopoulos is usually tight-lipped about the Braves offseason, and he maintained that reputation at the GM Meetings. However, Anthopoulos did provide just a little bit of insight as to what the Braves are looking for this winter.
The Braves will be looking for shortstop, starting pitchers and “a lot of relievers,” Anthopoulos said.
On an earnings call, Braves chairman Terry McGuirk said he'd like the team to have a top-five payroll in 2026. Last season, Atlanta ranked eighth, which gives Anthopoulos a little wiggle room this winter.
Nov. 12, 12:42 p.m. ET: Padres want to keep Luis Arraez
The Padres have a complicated offseason ahead. While they have a lot of money tied up in long-term contracts, including Fernando Tatis Jr., Xander Bogaerts and more, that won't stop them from shopping, or keeping some of their own talent around. This includes free-agent infielder Luis Arraez, who general manager AJ Preller made a point to call out at the GM Meetings.
Arraez is known for his bat and is coming off a season in which he hit .292/.327/.392 with a .719 OPS, eight home runs and 61 RBI. ESPN projects Arraez to receive a two-year, $17 million deal this winter, which won't break the bank for the Padres.
Nov. 12, 10:30 a.m. ET: What the Chicago Cubs said about Kyle Tucker
When pressed about the Chicago Cubs plan regarding Kyle Tucker, Jed Hoyer responded thusly: “He’s a great player, we had a really good experience with him, and we’ll be talking to (his agent) Casey (Close).”
Hoyer added, “When we were at our best, he was at his best. We had a great offense in the first half of the season. Kyle was leading the charge. That wasn’t an accident. As he struggled, we struggled a little bit. That’s the nature of it. We have a great player that’s getting on base at a great clip and driving in runs. It makes a huge difference. That’s something that we’ve noted.”
The Cubs are prioritizing their pitching staff this winter. Should they loose Tucker, they'll have even more capital to spend at a position of need.
Nov. 12, 10:00 a.m. ET: Pirates aren't trading Paul Skenes this winter
If there were any doubt about the Pirates intentions with Paul Skenes, Ben Cherington put those to bed on Tuesday, saying that "he is going to be a Pirate in 2026." In fact, Cherington indicated that the Pirates “more flexibility than we’ve had in other offseasons than I’ve been in Pittsburgh,” which is great news for this long-suffering fanbase.
Skenes is under contract for much of the next half-decade. As long as the Pirates sit in cellar of the NL Central, they will receive inquiries about his services. Skenes could win his first NL Cy Young in just a few days.
Nov. 11, 12:36 p.m. ET: Brewers will listen on ace Freddy Peralta
Tarik Skubal is the best player on the trade market this winter, but it's unclear if the Tigers are willing to listen. Detroit's asking price would be, per various reports, a lot. For any teams interested in upgrading at the top end of their rotation but not paying a Skubal asking price, Freddy Peralta could make a lot more sense.
The Brewers will listen on Peralta, but it will take a ton to acquire him. It feels a lot like the Willy Adames situation: they listen but probably hold onto him because he’s so valuable pitching and in the clubhouse. Not to mention, Peralta will make just $8 million in 2026.
For more news and rumors, check out MLB Insider Robert Murray’s work on The Baseball Insiders podcast, subscribe to The Moonshot, our weekly MLB newsletter, and join the discord to get the inside scoop during the MLB offseason.
Nov. 11, 12:00 p.m. ET: INF David Fletcher retires from baseball
David Fletcher did everything in his power to extend his big-league career. Fletcher came up with the Angels and eventually signed a contract extension in 2021. Angels president of baseball operations Perry Minasian praised Fletcher when he came up through the organization back in 2018.
“He’s one of those players where before I took this job when I was preparing for interviews, I watched a lot of video,” Minasian said at the time. “We obviously have some big names on this team, but the guy that stood out over and over was Fletch. … This is the type of guy, the type of DNA we want in this organization.”
Unfortunately, father time eventually caught up with Fletcher. He was traded to the Braves back in 2021, and never really played up to expectation. He even tried becoming a starting pitcher in the Atlanta system, an experiment that ultimately fell short. Fletcher played seven big-league seasons.
Nov. 10, 10:18 p.m. ET: Diamondbacks aren't shopping star 2B Ketel Marte
USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported on Monday morning that the Diamondbacks "are definitely motivated in moving" star second baseman Ketel Marte.
My feeling on Marte is that the Diamondbacks will listen to trade inquiries, but are not motivated to trade the star infielder.
Marte, 32, has been one of the best second basemen in baseball, and is due $71 million from the Diamondbacks through the 2030 season. However, after a tumultuous season with Arizona, and with a no-trade clause from 10-5 rights kicking in early in the 2026 season, a trade would've made some sense. The club does not, for now, appear to be active in trying to move Marte, but for a player of his caliber whose bat (.887 OPS over the last three seasons) outshines almost all of his peers at the position, Arizona accepting calls will likely still have their phones ringing.
Nov. 10, 12:53 p.m. ET: The Red Sox are a team to watch for Kyle Schwarber
Talk to anyone around baseball and they’ll tell you the same thing: they love Kyle Schwarber. While he only played in 41 regular season games in Boston, Schwarber made an impression on the organization. During the season, manager Alex Cora said he was “very intrigued” by the sluggers upcoming free agency.
A reunion for Schwarber in Boston makes sense. It’s something that rival executives are monitoring as a possibility this offseason. The competition for Schwarber will be immense this winter – I anticipate the Phillies doing whatever possible to retain him – which figures to only drive up the price tag. Schwarber's connection to Phillies hitting coach Kevin Long gives them an edge, but ultimately, their offer will do far more convincing than any coach or front office executive ever could. Is Philadelphia willing to pay Schwarber an immense asking price for a DH? We'll have to wait and see.
Should the Phillies balk, expect Boston to be waiting in the wings, but they won't be alone.
We'll have more live updates from the MLB GM Meetings as they occur.