The 1B market has started to rev up. But who will sign Alonso?

We're keeping track of all the latest free agent and trade rumors.

Dec. 21: With Walker and Goldy off the board and Naylor traded, what does the market for Alonso look like?

Several major dominos have fallen in the first-base market over the past few days, with Christian Walker and the Astros coming to terms on a three-year, $60 million deal Friday (per sources) and Paul Goldschmidt and the Yankees reaching a one-year, $12.5 million contract Saturday (per a source). Just hours after Goldschmidt signed, the Guardians traded Josh Naylor to the D-backs and immediately signed veteran Carlos Santana to replace him (per sources), further fueling the busy first-base market.

With Walker off the board, Pete Alonso stands alone in the elite tier of free-agent first basemen. However, while there are plenty of teams in need of a first baseman, it’s tough to find an obvious fit for his services aside from the Mets, with whom he’s spent his entire career.

“[Alonso] is sort of a man without a market at the moment,” MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand said Friday on MLB Network in the wake of Walker’s agreement with the Astros.

The Mariners were linked to Walker and Goldschmidt, but they likely don’t have room in their budget for Alonso. Ryan Divish and Adam Jude of The Seattle Times (subscription required) have reported that Seattle only has about $15 million available in its 2025 budget.

The Giants and Nationals were mentioned among the teams interested in Goldschmidt as well, but neither team has been seriously connected to Alonso yet.

All of that could bode well for the Mets as they continue to pursue a reunion with the 30-year-old slugger.

Dec. 20: Blue Jays open to trading Bichette; eyeing Bregman (report)

At the beginning of the offseason, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins told MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi that his answer was “an easy no” to any trade inquiries about shortstop Bo Bichette. Less than two months later, the club’s stance on trading the upcoming free agent appears to have softened a bit.

According to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal (subscription required), a Bichette trade is one of three major moves that are “in play” for the Blue Jays as they look to remove some of the uncertainty surrounding their starting lineup. Toronto is also eyeing free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman and talking to first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. about a long-term contract extension. Guerrero, like Bichette, can become a free agent after the 2025 season.

After falling short in their pursuits of Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto in back-to-back offseasons, “[t]he perception within the industry remains that the Jays are desperate to do something big,” Rosenthal writes.

A Bichette trade would clear the way for Andrés Giménez -- acquired from the Guardians during the Winter Meetings -- to take over as the Blue Jays' new starting shortstop and add some more financial flexibility for the team to make another big addition, such as Bregman or ace pitcher Corbin Burnes. Bichette is owed $16.5 million in the final year of the three-year, $33.6 million contract he signed before the 2023 season, covering his final three arbitration years.

That said, a Bichette trade remains unlikely. Rosenthal reports that Toronto is open to moving Bichette, but only for a high price. It’s going to be tough to find a team willing to meet the team’s demands when Bichette has only one year of control remaining and is coming off his worst season, one in which he missed almost three months with a right calf strain and posted a 71 OPS+ with four homers over 81 games.

Dec. 21: Dodgers looking at alternatives for Teoscar (report)

Teoscar Hernández played an integral in the Dodgers' 2024 World Series run. While Los Angeles and Hernández have both shown interest in a return for the current free agent, the Dodgers have reportedly been seeking other options.

According to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal (subscription required), the Dodgers have explored a handful of intriguing right-handed-hitting options, which include Ha-Seong Kim in free agency and Luis Robert Jr. and Seiya Suzuki in trades. More >

Dec. 21: Mets continue to show interest in Bregman (report)

The Mets continue to have interest in signing third baseman Alex Bregman, and the team is seen as "a legitimate potential landing spot" for him, according to Mike Mayer of Metsmerized Online.

The Mets currently have Mark Vientos at third base, but they could decide to move him to first base in order to make room for Bregman. If the Mets do add Bregman and put Vientos at first, would that mean the club is moving on from first baseman Pete Alonso? More >

Dec. 20: Walker's deal with Astros likely closes the door on Bregman reunion

The Astros and free-agent first baseman Christian Walker are in agreement on a contract, a source tells MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. USA Today's Bob Nightengale reports that the deal is for three years at $60 million.

Walker was one of the most coveted first basemen on the open market as the 33-year-old hit 95 home runs over the past three seasons with the D-backs and won a Gold Glove in each of those years. The Astros had a clear need at first, where their top in-house option was Jon Singleton. But his inability to hit left-handed pitching (.457 OPS in 82 PA this past season) leaves him best suited as more of a platoon bat.

Houston pivoted to Walker after third baseman Nolan Arenado used his no-trade clause to block a deal that would have sent him from the Cardinals to the Astros (per sources).

As Feinsand noted Friday on MLB Network, the move to add Walker likely closes the door on the possibility of a reunion with free agent Alex Bregman. Isaac Paredes -- acquired from the Cubs in the Kyle Tucker trade -- is now locked in as the team's new starting third baseman.

"Paredes would have moved over to first if they had gotten Arenado or re-signed Bregman," Feinsand said. "Now Christian Walker takes that first-base spot and you have to assume that means the end of any talks for Arenado or Bregman to come to Houston."

Dec. 20: Sasaki has started meeting with teams

The Roki Sasaki sweepstakes are progressing, as the Japanese phenom has started to meet in person with MLB teams in Los Angeles. Thus far, the following clubs have reportedly met with Sasaki or have a meeting scheduled:

• Yankees More >
• Mets More >
• Cubs More >

Dec. 19: Twins have listened to offers for RHP López (report)

Luis Castillo, Dylan Cease and Jesús Luzardo are among the top names that have been mentioned in recent starting pitcher trade rumors. There might soon be another standout starter who becomes a popular target: Twins right-hander Pablo López.

According to ESPN's Jeff Passan (subscription required), Minnesota has listened to offers for the 2023 All-Star, "and if free-agent pitching prices remain stratospheric, perhaps [the Twins] will go beyond the listening stage."

López, 28, is entering the second year of a four-year contract extension that he signed in '23. He is owed about $65 million through 2027, but his contract's annual average value ($21.75 million) is much lower than Max Fried's new eight-year deal with the Yankees ($27.25 million) and will also likely be far less than the AAV of Corbin Burnes' free-agent deal.

Since being acquired from the Marlins prior to the 2023 season, López has produced a 3.87 ERA (110 ERA+) with 432 strikeouts and 89 walks over 379 1/3 innings. His 21.8% K-BB over the past two years is second-best among qualified starters, trailing only the Phillies' Zack Wheeler (21.9%).

Dec. 17: What's next for O's after signing Sugano?

Facing the prospect of losing ace right-hander Corbin Burnes in free agency, the Orioles have been exploring the market for starting pitching. They made a move to bolster their rotation by signing Japanese right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano to a one-year deal for a reported $13 million on Monday.

Sugano, 35, is one of Japan's most accomplished pitchers. In 12 seasons with the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball, he posted a 2.45 ERA. Though his velocity and strikeout rate have declined as he's aged, he's coming off a season in which he had a 1.67 ERA over 156 2/3 innings.

As The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal noted on the Foul Territory podcast on Tuesday, Baltimore likely isn't done adding to its rotation.

"They entered the offseason looking for two starters. They wanted two," Rosenthal said. "The first one would be, ideally, a top-of-the-rotation guy, a front-of-the-rotation guy, a [No.] 1, 2 or 3 [starter]. The second one, the way it was explained to me, was more of an upside play, someone maybe off the radar a little bit. Well, that's Sugano. It seems to me that this can only be a prelude to a bigger move."

The remaining options, outside of Burnes, for the Orioles to further fortify the rotation include right-handers Jack Flaherty -- who pitched for Baltimore after he was acquired in a 2023 trade with the Cardinals -- and Dylan Cease.

Flaherty is a free agent, and a reunion with the O's is certainly possible after he posted a 3.17 ERA over 28 starts between the Tigers and Dodgers last season. Cease, meanwhile, is also coming off a strong season for San Diego -- he finished with a 3.47 ERA over 33 starts, including the second no-hitter in Padres history.

Both pitchers will be entering their age-29 seasons in 2025. Another possibility is a trade for Luis Castillo of the Mariners, though according to Rosenthal in an article for The Athletic (subscription required), that may be less likely. Rosenthal reported that the Orioles have "at least inquired" about Castillo.

Dec. 16: Giants viewed as possible favorite to sign Burnes

In the wake of Max Fried's reported eight-year, $218 million deal with the Yankees, Corbin Burnes is now in a tier of his own when it comes to free-agent starting pitchers. There are multiple clubs trying to woo the frontline starter, but MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi said during Monday's edition of Hot Stove that the Giants are viewed as "perhaps the frontrunner" to sign Burnes. More >

Dec. 16: Cubs would reportedly "really like" to complete Luzardo trade soon

Bruce Levine of 670 AM The Score in Chicago reported on Saturday that the Cubs are in talks with the Marlins about a possible trade involving left-handed starting pitcher Jesús Luzardo. On Monday, Levine added that a deal for Luzardo is "something [the Cubs] would really like to get done here in the next few days. They've been working on it."

USA Today's Bob Nightengale has also reported on the Cubs' interest in the 27-year-old lefty. More >

Dec. 16: Multiple AL clubs reportedly considering Flaherty

The Orioles view right-handed pitcher Jack Flaherty as a “fallback option” if they are unable to bring back Corbin Burnes, sources told The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal (subscription required). Rosenthal adds that Flaherty could also join the Red Sox, who were interested in him last offseason before he signed on with the Tigers.

Flaherty enjoyed a successful few months with Detroit, logging a 2.95 ERA with 133 strikeouts over 106 2/3 before he was traded to the Dodgers and eventually won a World Series ring.

Unlike Burnes and a couple of other notable names on the free-agent pitching market, Flaherty is not tied to a qualifying offer. That means if a team other than the Dodgers signs him, it won’t have to forfeit a Draft pick as a result. That should make him even more appealing to clubs looking to strengthen their rotation. More >

Dec. 12: Mets remain 'engaged' with Alonso

On the day that the Mets introduced their $765 million man, Juan Soto, after landing the superstar on a record deal, owner Steve Cohen suggested that another slugger -- this one already beloved in Queens -- could return. According to MLB.com's Anthony DiComo, Cohen said that the club is "still engaged" with free-agent first baseman Pete Alonso, and that "hopefully, we'll get there." More >

Dec. 12: Padres 'listening' on most veterans, have gotten inquiries on Cease, Arraez, Bogaerts

One year after trading Juan Soto, could the Padres consider another blockbuster for one of their star players?

It’s a possibility, according to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, who reported Wednesday night in an article for the New York Post that the Friars are "listening on almost all their veterans" and have received inquiries about starter Dylan Cease, infielder Luis Arraez and shortstop Xander Bogaerts.

Cease and Arraez are both eligible for free agency next offseason and could garner substantial interest. Bogaerts will likely be tougher to move, as he’s going into the third year of an 11-year, $280 million contract and is coming off a .688 OPS -- his lowest since 2014.

Cease in particular has been the subject of increased trade chatter in recent days, with MLB.com's Mark Feinsand and MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi reporting on the right-hander's potential availability amid surging prices for free-agent arms.