The MLB Hot Stove caught fire this week with several big names coming off the board in free agency. Above that, the trade market is picking up as well as options begin to dwindle. Unpacking the latest across the league.
Tucker to the Dodgers
The rich got richer on Thursday night as Kyle Tucker signed with the Los Angels Dodgers. The Dodgers needed an outfielder and got the best one on the market. This, understandably, sent shockwaves through the baseball community as the Dodgers continue their offseason dominance towards a three peat.
Look, the Dodgers financial muscle is something of envy, but it’s becoming too much (more on that later). The looming CBT negotiations will pit the owners and players firmly against each other for a salary cap and subsequent floor. The Dodgers signing Tucker just solidified a lockout following the 2026 season.
“Baseball fans want to feel like their team has a chance going into the season and right now they don’t..
It’s not just the fans either because I heard from players last night asking how do we beat the Dodgers” ~ @JeffPassan #PMSLive https://t.co/ZkKTJDBKSs pic.twitter.com/yqgEzj7pa7
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 16, 2026
Read more about the Tuckers going to the Dodgers:
Bichette to the Mets
The Mets were left at the alter for Tucker. There is no doubt they went all out to get Tucker’s services, but as the saying goes, if you can’t beat them, join them. The Mets were waiting a desicion, as we all were, on Tucker Thursday, with their owner making that quite clear.
Let me know when you see smoke
— Steven Cohen (@StevenACohen2) January 15, 2026
Now the Mets needed to pivot. On Thursday night, it was almost a foregone conclusion that infielder Bo Bichette was heading down the turnpike to the Philadelphia Phillies. Then the Mets swooped in. The Mets got Bichette on a three year deal, with opt-outs after each season, comparable to the Alex Bregman deal from a year ago.
Infielder Bo Bichette and the New York Mets are in agreement on a three-year, $126 million contract, sources tell ESPN.
After losing the Kyle Tucker sweepstakes, the Mets pivot quickly and get one of the best players left on the market. @WillSammon was first on the deal.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 16, 2026
The Mets getting Bichette is a glass half full, glass half empty situation. Bichette will elevate the Mets lineup that is missing Pete Alonso, Jeff McNeil, and Brandon Nimmo. Bichette has been one of the more clutch hitters in baseball, something the Mets struggled with last season.
The Mets still need an outfielder. The indication is the Mets will look to the trade market to accomplish this. They have internal depth they could use in center field and left if push came to shove, but their lineup could use another bat.
The projected Mets lineup after adding Bo Bichette pic.twitter.com/7MJGrsmaoE
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) January 16, 2026
Next, the Mets need to get pitching. Their rotation was the achilles heal last season, so adding a frontline starter needs to be top of the list for David Sterns.
Read more about the Mets signing Bichette here:
Reds and Elly De La Cruz — the Implications it has on Baseball
This week, a report surfaced that the Reds tried to lock up their young star Elly De La Cruz. The team was willing to sign him to the largest contract in franchise history, and he declined.
“We made Elly an offer that would’ve made him the highest-paid Red ever,” Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall told The Athletic Friday. “That’s not where he is and you respect that. It’s their career. You keep going and you keep working on what you can do today.”
De La Cruz’s agent is Scott Boras.
This goes back to the discussion from earlier about the CBA negotiations. If small-market franchises, like the Reds, are willing to lock up their franchise stars to big money deals, but can’t, that’s a bigger problem. The deal the Reds were offering would have been north of 10 years, $210 million, the Joey Votto contract. The Reds, like others, have to priorities big spending on only the players necessary, and De La Cruz was that. Now, it’s De La Cruz’ right to decline, and Scott Boras clients rarely take extensions, but this is another candidate to leave a small market team and go to a big market team if changes are not made in the CBA.
MLB needs parody in spending. Earlier in the column is a video from ESPN’s Jeff Passan on Friday, and I think he said it best. MLB needs to listen to their fans. Their fans are angry because teams like the Reds go into the season with virtually no chance to compete for a championship. Financial parody is needed so these small market teams can keep their stars in town.
Around the League
- Cody Bellinger and the Yankees are still negotiating. A deal could be nearing completion. Bellinger’s camp was holding out for a “stupid owner” to come in and give him a seven year deal. That is yet to happen.
- The Red Sox are looking for an infielder. This will likely come via trade. They have been linked to the Astro’s Isaac Paredes. That would be a dangerous fit for Fenway Park, given his pull power.
- The Brewers continue to listen on Freddy Peralta. The Yankees, Mets, Dodgers, Giants and Braves are among the teams most involved.
- The Orioles are still in the market for a big time starting pitcher. Them and the Mets have been the two teams most connected to the best free agent starter on the marker, Framber Valdez.
(Top Image Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images)