Happy New Year from MLB Trade Rumors! Here are three things we’ll be looking at around the world of baseball as we begin 2026:
1. The Imai countdown continues:
Right hand NPB posting window Tatsuya Imai closes tomorrow at 4pm CT. With more than 30 hours left before the deadline for Imai to sign a contract, the rumor mill has been silent on Imai’s market. While early connections were drawn between the right-hander and the Mets, Yankees, Cubs, Phillies, and Orioles, it’s been about a month since most of those rumors began to be heard with little updates from there. It is reported that Imai personally began meetings with the teams earlier this week, and while no new rumors have spread as a result of those meetings, the right-hander figures to be in the final stages of decision-making at this time. Where will the 27 year old righty live? MLBTR’s Anthony Franco looked at Imai’s best fit in yesterday’s Front Office subscriber post.
2. UA continues negotiations to expand:
IA’s ink slugger Tyler Soderstrom in a seven-year extension last week that was first reported on Christmas Day. Soderstrom, 24, was a first-round pick by the A’s back in 2020 and is coming off a first season in which he slashed .276/.346/.474 with 60 RBIs (including 25 homers) in 158 games while playing primarily for the club. Soderstrom joins Lawrence Butler again Brent Rooker among players who have been with the A’s for a long time, but reporting has shown that they are not done yet. Promotion talks are reportedly ongoing with other players, and while it is not yet clear whether those deals will be done or who the team is pursuing a long-term deal with, the idea is to sign. Jacob Wilson, Nick Kurtzor Shea Langeliers The long-term contract is exciting for the club’s fans. Will more deals be made?
3. Bigs bring good:
It’s been a quiet season for the Giants so far, but yesterday they made a significant addition to their rotation when they signed a right-hander. Tyler Mahle on a one-year contract. Mahle’s signing has not been officially confirmed and his salary has not yet been reported, but the figures have strongly strengthened the club’s transfer window towards 2026. Future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander returned to free agency after one year in San Francisco, leaving little certainty in the Giants’ rotation behind Logan Webb again Robbie Ray. Mahle should help provide that confidence and the right partner Adrian Houserwho signed a two-year contract two weeks ago.
With Houser and Mahle already in place, it appears the Giants are done with additions in the rotation at this point and will simply fill the fifth spot in their rotation with in-house options such as Landen Roupp again Hayden Birdsong. Would they turn to talking to the list next? It is said that this group has shown interest Cody Bellinger during free agency, while the Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner and Cardinals utility man Brendan Donovan both have caught the club’s attention on the trade market.
