8 biggest questions for the rest of the offseason: Where will Kyle Tucker land? What about Alex Bregman and Bo Bichette?

While the Jays loom as a logical landing spot for Tucker, that seems to have as much to do with their being one of the few teams willing to dole out the kind of megadeal he’s seeking as it does with their roster being the cleanest fit for his services. Toronto is clearing ready to spend, having made the biggest splash of this offseason so far by signing right-hander Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million deal, but it’s unclear if the team’s interest in Tucker supersedes its goal of retaining homegrown star Bo Bichette, another top free agent still unsigned. 

Look beyond Toronto, and it’s not clear which other clubs are eager to splurge on Tucker as a franchise anchor. The Cubs don’t seem especially keen on a reunion, even after paying a hefty price to acquire Tucker from Houston a year ago. The Dodgers have room in their outfield but limited appetite to hand out a deal of significant length. The Phillies’ outfield doesn’t project particularly favorably, but they seem content with their addition of Adolis Garcia and are ready to give top prospect Justin Crawford some playing time. The Giants have a clear opening in right field but reportedly aren’t eager to spend at the top of the market. 

For as cloudy as the outlook is now, a suitor will eventually emerge. And no matter which team ultimately signs him, Tucker’s deal promises to impact the rest of the market.

2. When will the starting pitching market shake loose?

Besides Toronto moving quickly and aggressively to sign Cease, we’ve yet to see many starting pitchers find homes in new rotations, either in free agency or via trade. The largest non-Cease deals for starters so far have involved pitchers staying put, including Michael King re-signing with San Diego, Brandon Woodruff and Shota Imanaga accepting qualifying offers, and Merrill Kelly returning to Arizona after a brief cameo with Texas. We’ve also seen some pitchers return from Asian leagues to sign major-league deals, including Cody Ponce (Blue Jays), Anthony Kay (White Sox), Ryan Weiss (Astros) and Foster Griffin (Nationals), plus a few lower-profile arms changing threads in Adrian Houser (Giants) and Dustin May (Cardinals). 

But several intriguing rotation options remain unsigned, including 12 of the 18 starting pitchers on our Top 50. That group is headlined by left-handers Framber Valdez and Ranger Suarez, and it includes accomplished right-handers Zac Gallen and Lucas Giolito, who could certainly strengthen a starting staff. Giolito recently spoke to how quiet the market has been thus far in his experience, but based on the number of notable arms unsigned, it seems he’s not alone. One domino that could help kickstart some movement is Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai, whose deadline to sign with an MLB club is 5 p.m. ET Friday. His landing spot should help clarify which clubs are still looking to add starting pitching in the weeks to come.

The trade market for starting pitchers has been a bit more active, with Sonny Gray (Red Sox), Shane Baz (Orioles), Johan Oviedo (Red Sox), Mike Burrows (Astros) and Grayson Rodriguez (Angels) dealt already this winter. That said, there are several more impact arms who could be on the move before Opening Day. Miami’s pair of veteran right-handers, Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera, have been in trade rumors for more than a year. Perhaps the new front office in Washington will deal MacKenzie Gore for a hefty prospect package.Maybe Milwaukee will trade Freddy Peralta with a year left on his contract, as they did with Corbin Burnes. And speaking of expiring contracts, there’s spicy speculation surrounding Tigers superace Tarik Skubal and whether Detroit would have the stomach to trade the best pitcher on the planet before he reaches free agency next winter.

Whether or not we see a seismic swap involving Skubal or some lesser exchanges league-wide, once free-agent starters start to come off the board, don’t be surprised to see a series of trades to address rotations still in need of reinforcements.

3. When will the New York Yankees wake up and do something?

It has been a stunningly quiet offseason in the Bronx, with New York’s lone external addition being Rule 5 pick Cade Winquest from St. Louis. While Winquest’s selection is notable in that New York hadn’t taken a player in the Rule 5 Draft since 2011, that’s not exactly the genre of transaction that Yankees fans are used to buzzing about this time of year. Trent Grisham accepting the qualifying offer set an odd tone for the Yankees’ offseason plans, as many expected him to decline the one-year deal in search of a longer pact elsewhere; instead, a sizable salary was committed to Grisham. A trio of unsexy re-signings soon followed, with the returns of utilityman Amed Rosario and pitchers Ryan Yarbrough and Paul Blackburn.

The Yankees’ top offseason priority is yet another in-house name, with free-agent outfielder Cody Bellinger reportedly New York’s top target after a fantastic first season in the Bronx. But even if the Yankees are able to re-sign Bellinger and run it back with what was baseball’s most productive outfield in 2025, alongside Grisham and MVP Aaron Judge, is that really all New York is going to do coming off an ALDS exit at the hands of Toronto? And if Bellinger lands elsewhere, how will general manager Brian Cashman pivot in an effort to meaningfully improve the roster? 

How the Yankees proceed from here will hinge on owner Hal Steinbrenner’s willingness to push the payroll to new heights. Any amount of penny-pinching at this point is likely to result in Bellinger departing and/or a roster that looks almost entirely unchanged from 2025. And it’s difficult to imagine that being received particularly well among Yankees fans.

4. Do the Orioles have another big move in them?

While the Yankees have stayed on the hot stove sidelines, the rest of the AL East has been plenty active. The Blue Jays have spent more than any other club in free agency ($277M) and are looking to add more. The Rays have made a couple of major trades to shake up their roster and bolster their farm system. The Red Sox haven’t signed any free agents but have added three big-league pieces via trades for starters Gray and Oviedo and a big bat in Willson Contreras. 

And perhaps no team in baseball has been busier than the Baltimore Orioles, who have handed out the largest contract to a free-agent hitter thus far (Pete Alonso, $155M) and parted with the largest prospect package so far in a trade to land Shane Baz from Tampa Bay. Add the acquisition of slugger Taylor Ward to co-star with Alonso in the heart of the order, the signing of closer Ryan Helsley and the return of right-hander Zach Eflin, and it’s clear that Baltimore is focused on retooling the roster to ensure better results after a miserably disappointing 2025. 

Yet for all the Orioles have done this offseason, it’s hard not to wonder if there’s more to come before the club opens camp in Sarasota. Adding an impact starting pitcher was a stated priority for president of baseball operations Mike Elias at the outset of the offseason, and while Baz could become that caliber of pitcher with the right tweaks, he doesn’t quite fit the bill of what Baltimore seemed to be searching for. As mentioned above, several starters with gaudier résumés than Baz’s remain available on the free agent and trade markets, and the O’s remain an ideal landing spot for one of those arms. It has already been an exciting winter in Birdland, but reeling in one more top-tier rotation arm would be the perfect finishing touch for Elias and Co.

5. Will Ketel Marte be traded?

If the D-backs decide to trade Ketel Marte — comfortably the best second baseman in baseball — that would obviously be a humongous transaction that could fundamentally alter his new club’s outlook entering 2026 (not to mention what would be an enormous return for the Snakes). The latest reports out of Arizona suggest that a resolution one way or another is expected soon, with general manager Mike Hazen preferring to move on with the rest of the club’s offseason rather than stay stuck in the haze of uncertainty. That’s an understandable sentiment considering the state of Arizona’s pitching staff: considerably undermanned relative to the team’s stout position-player group and in need of an addition. If upgrades aren’t going to come via a Marte trade, it’s important for the Snakes to add on the mound via other avenues sooner rather than later.

In the event that Marte stays put, who will be the best hitter traded this offseason? Contreras, Ward, Brandon Lowe, Jeff McNeil, Brandon Nimmo and Marcus Semien represent the most significant position players dealt so far, but there’s bound to be a few more major bats traded before Opening Day. Beyond Marte, St. Louis’ Brendan Donovan represents an exciting alternative for teams seeking a second baseman and could net a major return.

The Cardinals are also still trying to trade Nolan Arenado, just as they were a year ago. It would make plenty of sense for the Red Sox to trade from their surplus of outfielders, making Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu names to watch. Chicago center fielder Luis Robert Jr. remains an enticing target for his upside, but the White Sox seem to be keeping his price quite high. Of course, the most fun trades are the ones that none of us sees coming, so maybe there will be another high-profile hitter on the move in the coming weeks.

Bruno Rouby/Yahoo Sports

6. How will the Mets fill out their new-look roster?

Having dramatically purged four of the franchise’s most prominent players from the past decade — Pete Alonso, Edwin Diaz, Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil, all through varying means of baseball breakups — the Mets are seemingly in the early stages of reshaping their roster. So far, those player exits are carrying notably more weight than the additions the team has made. 

Now, it’s worth noting that the Mets have added four major leaguers projected to play key roles in Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, Marcus Semien and Jorge Polanco — very few other teams have added as much to their major-league roster this offseason. But because such a staggering amount of talent has departed from Queens, it feels like the Mets haven’t taken a meaningful step forward yet.

Given how much of a disaster 2025 was, it’s understandable, if even logical, for president of baseball operations David Stearns to want to shake up the roster in a serious way around franchise anchors Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto. But now it’s on Stearns and owner Steve Cohen to chart an appropriately aggressive path forward to ensure that a club with a payroll in excess of $300 million doesn’t miss the postseason in consecutive years. There’s still impact talent available in free agency and on the trade market for the Mets to improve their squad and reenergize an emotionally spent fan base.

7. Will Alex Bregman and Bo Bichette find new homes?

Beyond Tucker in the top spot, Bregman and Bichette are the top free-agent hitters who remain unsigned into the new year. But unlike Tucker, who is widely expected to leave the Cubs after his one year on the North Side, these two infielders entered the winter under the assumption that their incumbent clubs would be aggressive in trying to retain them, considering their outsized importance to their respective franchises.

Bichette has spent nearly a decade in the Blue Jays’ organization and has been vocal about his desire to stay in Toronto and chase a championship with his close friend Vladimir Guerrero Jr., a dream that was nearly realized in 2025 thanks to the co-stars’ epic efforts against the Dodgers in the World Series. Seeing Bichette in a different uniform would be as jarring as any free-agent move this winter (though Alonso rocking an Orioles jersey is the clear leader in that clubhouse for now). With far more teams needing second basemen than shortstops this offseason, Bichette has reportedly expressed a willingness to move to second, where his defense profiles better long-term. If that’s relevant in the event he stays in Toronto or the Jays revert to the alignment that had Bichette at short remains to be seen, but it’s Bichette’s bat that matters most, whether atop Toronto’s lineup or strengthening another contender’s offense.

Bregman’s sample of impact in Boston is far shorter than Bichette’s in Toronto, but he was exactly what Boston was looking for both on and off the field after signing as a free agent a year ago and could fill a crucial role in the infield if he remains. But Bregman reportedly has several suitors, including the D-backs, Cubs and, intriguingly, the Blue Jays, which means his landing spot could influence Bichette’s and vice versa (especially with Boston reportedly eyeing Bichette as a Bregman backup plan). Also worth considering: Will Bregman be comfortable with his free agency stretching into spring training the way it did last year? Perhaps a speedier decision this time around could jump-start the rest of the market for free-agent hitters.

8. Can any team do enough to dethrone the Dodgers as preseason favorites?

The champs went into the winter with one clear goal — improving their bullpen — and swiftly did so with the signing of star closer Edwin Diaz to a three-year, $69 million deal. While some uncertainty remains at second base and in the outfield, which could open the door for another impact addition, it’s quite possible that Diaz represents the Dodgers’ biggest move of the offseason, with the team having boldly addressed their most glaring weakness with the best option available. If that’s the case and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and Co. are essentially finished shopping this winter, is there anything another contender can do between now and Opening Day to put themselves on equal footing with L.A. from a pure roster talent standpoint?

FanGraphs’ Depth Charts currently project the Dodgers’ roster with a roughly 5-WAR cushion over the next three best teams (Yankees, Blue Jays, Braves), with another group of contenders (Mariners, Mets, Phillies, Red Sox) just below them. This an imperfect measure of roster quality, but it’s a solid approximation of how much talent each club possesses, and it paints an accurate picture of Los Angeles’ superior position relative to the field. 

The Blue Jays remain the most alluring candidates to climb into the Dodgers’ tier, having just pushed L.A. to seven games in the World Series and exhibited a willingness to spend boldly this winter, with more additions seemingly on the way. If the Yankees decide to change course and add aggressively, they too could rise closer to what the Dodgers have on paper. Boston and Philadelphia might each be one or two impact additions away from a championship-caliber roster. Maybe the Mets start spending wildly to dig themselves out of the hole they’ve dug and emerge with a World Series-worthy roster and a payroll larger than the Dodgers’. 

The point is, there’s plenty of time left this offseason for other contending clubs to upgrade their rosters and become compelling challengers to the defending champs. But the Dodgers have set the bar quite high and might not be finished adding themselves.