We’re only a few days from the Winter Meetings and we’ve started to see a trickle of moves here in the MLB offseason, which means it’s possible things start to pick up a bit. As such, the rumor mill is churning and we’re going to round up the best nuggets of news and rumors here for the day, which is Wednesday, Dec. 3.
Let’s get to it.
The world-champion Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to terms with infielder Miguel Rojas on a one-year, $5.5 million pact, El Extrabase reports. After the 2026 season, Rojas plans to retire and work in a player-development role for the Dodgers.
Earlier in the offseason, CBS Sports ranked Rojas as the No. 42 available free agent in the current class. Here’s part of RJ Anderson’s write-up:
Rojas will celebrate his 36th birthday in the spring and he hasn’t started more than 100 games in either of the past two seasons. In an ideal world, he would continue to serve as a team’s third middle infielder; in this one, he might land a starting role. Rojas remains a plus defender with experience at each of the “skilled” infield spots. His offensive game continues to tilt toward contact, but his overall output has improved since he arrived in Los Angeles and learned to pull the ball more frequently. It would be a mistake to assume his topline results will maintain with more exposure. At the same time, it’s not as though this class offers much in the way of reliable alternatives.
Rojas is coming off a 2025 campaign in which he slashed .262/.318/.397 with seven home runs and a WAR of 2.1 in 114 games for the Dodgers while spending time at every infield position. He also famously hit a game-tying home run in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 7 of the World Series and made a game-ending double play to clinch the title.
Reds re-up with PagánThe Reds have re-signed right-hander Emilio Pagán to a two-year, $20 million contract that will cover the 2026 and 2027 seasons, the Athletic reports. Pagán ranks 37th on CBS Sports’ list of the top 50 free agents of the current offseason. Here’s part of our write-up:
All relievers are volatile, but Pagán is an extreme case. He’s highly dependent on fly-ball contact, to the point where last season represented the fourth time in his career that his batted-ball profile has included more than 70% fly balls and line drives. Pagán nevertheless managed the second best ERA+ of his career by generating an extreme amount of swing and misses on his three-pitch arsenal: both up on his fastball and beneath on his splitter and cutter. There are teams in certain ballparks who just shouldn’t bother; a team with a spacious field, though, could slot him right into the ninth.
Pagán, 34, worked 68 ⅔ innings for Cincy last season, and over that span he pitched to a 2.88 ERA with 81 strikeouts.
Rays sign MullinsThe Tampa Bay Rays have agreed to terms with veteran outfielder and free agent Cedric Mullins on a one-year contract pending the results of a physical, the Tampa Bays Times reports. The deal is worth a reported $7 million.
Earlier in the offseason, CBS Sports ranked Mullins as the No. 41 available free agent in the class of 2025-26. Here’s part off RJ Anderson’s write-up:
Mullins’ play went into the tank after a deadline trade to the Mets. The concerns here are bigger than 40-odd games, though, and have to do with an offensive profile that works best in only a handful of parks. He was able to carve out a career as a league-average hitter (for the most part) behind a lift-and-pull approach that saw him slug more than expected. In turn, Mullins has steadily run a high pop-up rate. When his strikeout rate spiked last season, all the way up to a career-worst 24.1%, he found himself making too many automatic outs to counterbalance. Mullins might be able to make the math work again if he signs with a club with generous right-field dimensions.
In a combined 133 games for the Orioles and Mets in 2025, Mullins had an OPS+ of 94, and he showed declining defense in center field. He’s going into his age-31 season in 2026.
Brewers drawing ‘significant interest’ in PeraltaEarlier this offseason, reports surfaced that the Brewers were not interested in trading ace Freddy Peralta. In fact, as recently as yesterday the reporting was that the Brewers were going to keep him.
Lately, though, according to The Athletic, things might be leaning in the other direction.
Perhaps this was inevitable, but the interest in right-hander Freddy Peralta is so significant, the Milwaukee Brewers are now considering “cracking the door open” for trade discussions, according to a person briefed on their situation.
Peralta is 30 years old next season and is coming off arguably the best year of his career. He was 17-6 with a 2.70 ERA (154 ERA+), 1.08 WHIP, 204 strikeouts in 176 ⅔ innings. He posted a career-high 5.5 WAR. He’s set to make $8 million in 2026 before hitting free agency. If the Brewers think 2025 was the peak for Peralta and that he’ll definitely walk in free agency, you can see the line of thinking to accept huge trade offers here. They previously dealt Corbin Burnes a season before free agency.
Given the conflicting reports of late, it’s safe to assume the situation is fluid with the Brewers listening to trade offers and maybe even considering them while leaning toward keeping Peralta until they’re blown away.
Mariners weighing infield optionsThe Mariners are looking for some infield help as they head to the Winter Meetings. From the team that made it all the way to Game 7 of the ALCS this past season, second baseman Jorge Polanco and third baseman Eugenio Suárez are both free agents. They already brought back first baseman Josh Naylor on a five-year, $92.5 million deal.
Polanco is the “top target” for the Mariners, according to the Seattle Times. While the interest is mutual, the two sides, at this point, are reportedly not “close to a deal.” The Red Sox, Yankees and Pirates are mentioned as other possible suitors for Polanco.
The Mariners have “kept the door open” regarding a reunion with Suárez, too, according to the Times.
As far as any interest the Mariners have in players outside the organization, they have repotedly “expressed interest” in Cardinals utility man Brendan Donovan. He’s under control by the Cardinals, so this would be a trade for Donovan to take over at second base in the event the Mariners can’t come to a deal with Polanco.
Astros looking at pitching depthThe Astros were crushed under the weight of pitching injuries over the last two years, including lengthy absences from the likes of Cristian Javier, Lance McCullers Jr., Luis Garcia, Ronel Blanco and Spencer Arrighetti. What’s more, ace workhorse Framber Valdez is now a free agent.
Knowing all this, it isn’t surprising that the Astros are targeting depth at the Winter Meetings. They don’t “have the financial resources” to a top free agent, per MLB.com, but they have a “desire” to land pitchers who are still under team control via trades. Center fielder Jake Meyers is mentioned as a possibility for the Astros to trade for said pitching.
Marlins not inclined to deal Alcantara or Cabrera?People love talking about trading prospects to the Marlins in order to grab controllable players because, well, look at their history. This time around, the Marlins are apparently trying to hold and maybe even extend some of their own players, according to MLB.com.
Specifically, high-upside Edward Cabrera and former Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara have seen their names bandied about in trade rumors since early last regular season, but the Marlins are repotedly not “actively trying to trade” either, though if that were to change, Christina De Nicola speculated that Cabrera is the more likely of the two to be dealt.
Blue Jays willing to deal BerríosThe Blue Jays have signed starting pitchers Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce so far this offseason. Given that they have Kevin Gausman and Shane Bieber coming back in addition to rookie sensation Trey Yesavage, that’s a full, five-man rotation without getting to veteran and former All-Star José Berríos. Sure enough, they are willing to part with Berríos in a trade, according to The Athletic.
Berríos, 31, was 9-5 with a 4.17 ERA (102 ERA+), 1.30 WHIP and 138 strikeouts in 166 innings along with 1.3 WAR last season. Keep in mind that he’s due over $18 million this season before roughly $24 million in each 2027 and 2028. In light of their recent signings and trying to bring back Bo Bichette, it’s possible the Jays are trying to shed salary in dealing Berríos.
Obviously, teams these days need more than five starting pitchers, but the Jays already have depth beyond their starting five with Eric Lauer and Bowden Francis.
Former GM Byrnes takes Rockies’ GM positionFormer Diamondbacks and Padres general manager Josh Byrnes has been hired as the general manager of the Rockies, the team announced Wednesday. Keep in mind that there’s been a shift in titles over the course of the past decade-plus and that GM isn’t necessarily always the big boss in the front office. Here, Byrnes is second in command under new president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta.
