While the NFL and College Football are dominating the headlines, the MLB “Hot Stove” is burning at a slow, methodical, and high-stakes pace. We are currently in the post-Winter Meetings “lull,” where the biggest dominoes are teetering but haven’t quite fallen yet.
Here is a breakdown of the heat levels across the league as of late December 2025.
The Biggest Signings So Far
Several superstars have already taken the bag and moved to new cities, shifting the balance of power for the 2026 season.
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Pete Alonso (1B) to the Orioles: In a massive move to stabilize their young core, Baltimore landed “Polar Bear” Pete with a 5-year, $155 million deal. The Orioles are clearly done with “rebuilding” and are in full “win-now” mode.
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Dylan Cease (SP) to the Blue Jays: Toronto made the biggest splash on the pitching market, securing the ace for 7 years and $210 million.
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Edwin Díaz (RP) to the Dodgers: After the Mets let their star closer walk, the Dodgers swooped in with a 3-year, $69 million contract to anchor the back of their bullpen.
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Munetaka Murakami (1B/3B) to the White Sox: The Japanese superstar made the jump to MLB on a 2-year, $34 million deal. While it was a smaller guarantee than some expected, he’s the highest-upside gamble of the winter.
The “Freezing” Superstars (Still Unsigned)
The market is currently stalled because the three “megastars” of this class are reportedly waiting for one another to set the high-water mark.
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Kyle Tucker (RF): Expected to be the highest-paid player of the class. Rumors suggest he is looking for a deal in the $500 million range. The Cubs and Phillies are the heavy favorites, but the silence from his camp is deafening.
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Alex Bregman (3B): After a solid year in Boston, Bregman is back on the market. The Tigers have made a “lukewarm” push, while the Cubs and Blue Jays are lurking. He is reportedly looking for a 6+ year deal, but teams are hesitant to go past four for a 32-year-old.
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Bo Bichette (SS): After a massive bounce-back season, Bichette is the premier shortstop available. The Braves and Red Sox are in a bidding war, but some insiders believe a return to Toronto isn’t off the table yet.
Trade Winds & Rumors
If you can’t buy it, trade for it. Several “blockbuster” names are being floated as we approach the New Year.
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The Ketel Marte Sweepstakes: The Mets are reportedly “all-in” on trading for the Diamondbacks star to replace Jeff McNeil (who was traded to Oakland last week). Arizona isn’t shopping him, but they are listening for a haul of young pitching.
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The Cardinals Rebuild: St. Louis officially signaled a fire sale by trading Willson Contreras to the Red Sox for a package of prospects. Expect more veteran names out of St. Louis to be moved by mid-January.
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Tarik Skubal: The Tigers’ ace is the “White Whale” of the trade market. While Detroit says they want to keep him, every contender in baseball is checking in to see if a massive prospect haul could pry the lefty away.
What to Watch for Next
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January 15: The International Signing Period opens. The Mets are already linked to top prospect Wandy Asigen, a deal that might require them to trade for more “bonus pool” money soon.
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The “Imai” Domino: Many believe the starting pitching market for mid-tier arms (like Framber Valdez and Ranger Suárez) is waiting for Japanese star Tatsuya Imai to pick a team. Once he signs, the “panic buying” for rotation help will begin.
