Here’s the latest Mets free agency and trade buzz during the 2025-26 MLB offseason…

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Dec. 30, 10:12 a.m.

Japanese ace Tatsuya Imai‘s posting window closes on Jan. 2, which means his potential deal with an MLB club must be official by then.

With the clock ticking, Imai is expected to continue having meetings with interested teams this week, per Will Sammon and Katie Woo of The Athletic. 

SNY MLB Insider Andy Martino reported earlier this offseason that the Mets would be in on Imai, but did not expect it to be a “full-tilt pursuit” as was the case with Yoshinobu Yamamoto two offseasons ago. 

Imai, 27, has been outspoken about his desire to beat the Dodgers — not join them. His market remains a bit of a mystery, though Jack Curry of YES reported last week that the Yankees were not expected to sign him.

In 163.2 innings over 24 starts last season for the Seibu Lions, the right-hander had a 1.92 ERA and 0.89 WHIP while allowing just 101 hits and striking out 178 — a strikeout rate of 9.8 per nine.

Over eight seasons pitching for Nippon Professional Baseball, Imai has a 3.15 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. But he has reached another level over the last four seasons, posting earned run averages of 2.04, 2.45, 2.34, and 1.92.

Imai’s stuff is considered plus. It includes a fastball that sits in the mid-90s and can reach 99 mph. He also has a splitter, slider, and cutter. 

Dec. 27, 11:30 p.m.

The Mets may’ve lost one competitor in the Luis Robert Jr. trade sweepstakes. 

The Reds could potentially be out of the mix on the White Sox outfielder after signing JJ Bleday to a one-year deal and acquiring Dane Myers from the Marlins on Saturday. 

Cincy, of course, was the other team rumored to be in talks with Chicago for the 28-year-old. 

The Mets have long shown interest in Robert, who is coming off another up-and-down campaign but is viewed as a potential change of scenery candidate. 

He hit .293 with a 124 wRC+ in the second half before a hamstring issue ended his season. 

Dec. 26, 8:45 a.m.

Count the Mets – along with the San Francisco Giants and Baltimore Orioles – among the teams that have reportedly met with free-agent starter Framber Valdez, according to The New York Post’s Jon Heyman.

New York’s interest in the left-hander has been a topic of much speculation this winter. Earlier this month, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com said the Mets were “among the favorites” to sign Valdez. However, it has also been reported that the Mets are “reluctant to hand out long-term offers” to the top free agent starting pitchers left on the market.

Valdez, 32 as of November, pitched to a 3.66 ERA and 1.245 WHIP over 31 starts and 192 innings last year. Over the past four seasons, the lefty has been quite a dependable starter for the Houston Astros, tossing 767.2 innings over 121 starts (with eight complete games) while posting a 3.21 ERA.

Dec. 23, 3:00 p.m.

Ketel Marte has been one of the buzzier names on the trade market this winter. 

Numerous teams have expressed interest in the three-time All-Star, and according to reports, the Mets threw their name into the mix after trading Jeff McNeil to the A’s. 

How Marte would fit on New York’s roster is a big question, but whether Arizona would actually move him is another. 

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic said Tuesday on Foul Territory that the team likely won’t deal him unless they receive young pitching in return. 

With that being said, they do seem motivated to find a partner with his 10-and-5 rights looming. 

If that is indeed the case, the Mets certainly would be a fit with so many talented young arms in their system. 

Reports have indicated all winter that Nolan McLean is unavailable, but they’ve been open to listening on Jonah Tong or Brandon Sproat in the right deal.

You’d have to figure the two-time Silver Slugger award winner would be that type of player. 

The big question again, though, is where Marte would fit with Marcus Semien penciled in as the everyday 2B. 

The 31-year-old does have experience in center, but he has mainly played second the past two seasons. 

Dec. 23, 10:41 a.m.

With the Mets reportedly prioritizing a right-handed bat, one option is free agent outfielder Austin Hays.

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Mets have discussed Hays internally, and the team “has some interest” in adding him. 

Hays, 30, had a nice season with Cincinnati in 2025, posting a 105 OPS+ with 15 homers and 64 RBI.

An eight-year MLB veteran, Hays has feasted on left-handed pitching throughout his career, posting an .819 OPS with 25 home runs and 88 RBI against southpaws.

Dec. 22, 8:35 p.m.

The Cincinnati Reds are in trade talks with the Chicago White Sox for slugger Luis Robert Jr., reports the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Gordon Wittenmyer.

The Mets and Chicago have also been “engaged in trade talks” for Robert, Bob Nightengale of USA Today previously reported on Dec. 21.

Robert is under contract for $20 million in 2026 and has a club option worth the same amount for 2027.

The White Sox “are said to be willing to eat maybe half of the 2026 salary” for the center fielder, Wittenmyer notes. 

Robert played just 110 games in 2025 and struggled at the plate when healthy, hitting .223 with 14 home runs, 12 doubles, and 53 RBI. He did steal a career-high 33 bases and had a career-high 40 walks.

Dec. 21, 8:44 p.m.

Any level of interest the Mets expressed in Willson Contreras this winter is now irrelevant, as the St. Louis Cardinals dealt the first baseman to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for three pitchers, as first reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

While rumors linking the Mets to Contreras picked up some speed earlier in the month, The Athletic reported last week that kicking the tires on the three-time All-Star took the back seat amid their free-agent deal with infielder Jorge Polanco, who’s expected to see more work at first base in 2026.

Dec. 21, 11:34 a.m.

The Mets and Reds are engaged in trade talks for White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. and pitching depth would likely be the asking price, reports Bob Nightengale of USA Today.

It’s unclear if a deal will occur, but the White Sox made a big free-agent splash Sunday morning, signing Japanese star and Mets target Munetaka Murakami to a two-year, $34 million deal.

Robert, who turns 29 next season, has yet to flourish as a star slugger. While he produced a career-high 38 home runs across 145 games in 2023, he hit a measly .224 with just 28 homers between 2024 and 2025 (210 total games).

Robert owns a career .259/.313/.455 slash line, however, and offers above-average defense in center field — a position of need for the Mets. He also stole a career-best 33 bags on 41 attempts in 2025.

Slated to earn $20 million this coming season, Robert also has a 2027 club option worth the same amount before he becomes a free agent.

Dec. 21, 10:23 a.m.

Third baseman Munetaka Murakami is in agreement with the Chicago White Sox on a two-year, $34 million contract, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan. 

With Pete Alonso signing in Baltimore, Murakami had become an intriguing corner infield option, given his monster power numbers. Murakami hit 265 career home runs in eight pro seasons in Japan, including 56 big flies in 2022, when he was just 22 years old. 

Murakami has had his issues with strikeouts, though, an issue he’ll look to improve on as he joins a White Sox team that has not won more than 61 games in a season since 2022.

Dec. 16, 12:16 p.m.

The Mets are “very in” on Cody Bellinger, reports Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.

In addition to the Mets, Bellinger has also been heavily linked to the Yankees.

Most projections have Bellinger getting a deal for five or six years.

For the Mets, Bellinger could fit in left field, center field, or at first base — where the newly-acquired Jorge Polanco could be in the mix. 

Bellinger had a strong season for the Yanks in 2025, slashing .272/.334/.480 with 28 homers, 25 doubles, 98 RBI, and 89 runs scored in 152 games.

His defense is viewed as above average in left field — something that would be welcomed following the trade of Brandon Nimmo, whose defense had been regressing. 

Dec. 14, 10:25 a.m.

Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras has been a hot name in Mets rumors of late, but it sounds like the club’s interest in Contreras may not have been as strong as previously thought. 

According to Katie Woo of The Athletic, while the Mets did in fact inquire about the catcher-turned-first-baseman, “their interest was secondary,” with the Jorge Polanco signing reinforcing that point. 

The expectation for the Mets is that Polanco will get most of his at-bats as a first baseman or as a DH, though he has the ability to play every position along the infield. With Polanco’s versatile background, the Mets could still look to add a full-time first baseman.

Dec. 12, 3:19 p.m.

The Red Sox, who recently missed out on both Kyle Schwarber in Pete Alonso, have interest in Mets trade target Willson Contreras, reports Chris Cotillo of MassLive.

Per Cotillo, the Sox also remain interested in free agent Alex Bregman as well as potential trades for Ketel Marte and Isaac Paredes. 

Contreras, who is entering his age-34 season, has two years and $36.5 million remaining on his contract — plus a club option for 2028. 

He was a plus offensive player (123 OPS+) and above average defender at first base (90th percentile, 6 OAA) in 2025. So he certainly fits the mold of what David Stearns is looking for.

As far as what the rebuilding Cardinals would want, it’s fair to believe that they would be seeking a controllable big league player and/or prospects.

Dec. 11, 9:21 p.m.

The Mets have inquired about Chicago White Sox centerfielder Luis Robert Jr. this offseason, per Jon Heyman of The New York Post.

However, a deal for Robert to join New York would require sending prospects to Chicago and for the Mets to surrender prospects, they want money in return to offset Robert’s $20 million salary, per Heyman. 

That could pose a problem, as White Sox owner, Jerry Reinsdorf isn’t seen as a likely candidate to send money to Steve Cohen and the Mets.

After this season, Robert has a club option for the 2027 season worth $20 million before he becomes a free agent. 

The 28-year-old finished the 2025 season with a .223/.297/.364 slash line with 14 home runs and 53 RBI in 110 games. He also added a career-high 33 steals in 41 attempts.

After a phenomenal 2023 season in which he had a .857 OPS and a career-high 38 home runs in 145 games, Robert has had back-to-back underwhelming seasons. Still, in his career, he owns a .259/.313/.455 slash line and is an above-average defender in center, a position of need for New York.

Dec. 10, 3:37 p.m.

The Mets are interested in a reunion with free agent right-hander Tyler Rogers, reports Jon Heyman of The New York Post.

Rogers, 34, performed well for New York late last season after being acquired from the Giants via trade.

In 27.1 innings over 28 games, Rogers had a 2.30 ERA (3.32 FIP) and 1.09 WHIP.

Over seven big league seasons, Rogers — whose funky delivery throws hitters off — has a 2.76 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 420 games.

Dec. 10, 8:24 a.m.

After losing Edwin Diaz to the Dodgers, the Mets remain in need of a reliever who can pitch in the late innings.

To that end, they are one of the “most aggressive suitors” for hard-throwing free agent right-hander Robert Suarez, reports Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, who notes that the Blue Jays and Braves are also after Suarez.

Per Feinsand, Suarez’s market started to heat up after Diaz signed with Los Angeles.

Suarez, who is entering his age-35 season, seems likely to receive a two-or three-year deal.

He had a terrific season in 2025 for San Diego, posting a 2.97 ERA and 0.90 WHIP while striking out 75 batters in 69.2 innings. 

An All-Star the last two years, Suarez’s 40 saves led the National League last season.

Dec. 9, 8:55 p.m.

The Miami Marlins are “progressing” in their efforts to find a trade partner for right-hander Edward Cabrera, The Athletic’s Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal reported on Tuesday.

According to the report, the Marlins are talking with the Baltimore Orioles and other clubs.

Cabrera, who turns 28 in April, pitched to a 3.53 ERA and 1.228 WHIP with 150 strikeouts and 48 walks in 137.2 innings over 26 starts last year. He has a career 4.07 ERA over 89 outings (87 starts) after breaking into the league during the 2021 season. 

The big selling point for the Mets and other interested clubs: He is under team control for three more seasons and is expected to earn a modest salary for the 2026 campaign. That means, of course, that Miami’s asking price is likely going to be so high that a trade may not come to fruition.

Dec. 8, 8:45 p.m.

As the Mets and Yankees continue to look to revamp their bullpen this offseason, they’ve both called the Brewers about reliever Trevor Megill, according to Joel Sherman of the NY Post.

Megill, of course, is the older brother of Mets starter Tylor Megill.

The 32-year-old would be a tremendous boost at the backend for either club, as he has developed into one of the top relievers in baseball over the past few seasons. 

Megill missed time to injury last year, but pitched to a stellar 2.49 ERA and 1.12 WHIP while locking down 30 saves.

Dec. 8, 6:55 p.m.

While baseball’s movers and shakers spend a few days in Orlando at the MLB Winter Meetings, the Mets were still taking meetings with people in absentia. 

The New York Post’s Joel Sherman reported that the club held a “video meeting” with free-agent starter Michael King. 

Sherman added that the Mets were not the only team the right-hander spoke with, but the meeting with the representatives from Queens exemplifies a level of seriousness between the parties.”

King, 30, enters the market after two seasons in San Diego. After a stellar 2024 campaign, last season was marked by two stints on the injured list and some solid pitching when healthy: a 3.44 ERA and 1.200 WHIP across 73.1 innings and 15 starts. King also struck out 76 batters to 26 walks, good for 9.3 strikeouts per nine innings.

Dec. 8, 8:51 a.m.

The Mets are “reluctant to hand out long-term offers” to the top free agent starting pitchers left on the market, reports Will Sammon of The Athletic. 

The consensus top starting pitcher remaining is Framber Valdez, who is entering his age-32 season. 

Other free agent starters include Michael King, Ranger Suarez, Zac Gallen, and Japanese ace Tatsuya Imai.

Imai, whom the Mets have been connected to, is 27 years old, putting him in a different tier than the other available free agents. 

King is coming off an injury-riddled season and seems unlikely to get a long-term deal.

As far as Suarez, his fastball velocity has been steadily declining the last three seasons, making him a risky proposition.

If the Mets don’t add a potential impact starter via free agency, they could turn to a trade market that might include Freddy Peralta, Tarik Skubal, and Edward Cabrera. 

Dec. 5, 5:57 p.m.

The Marlins are reportedly in the market to trade one of their starting pitchers.

Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic report that there’s a “strong possibility” the Marlins end up moving one of their starters, and that Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera continue to attract “serious attention” from other teams. 

While the report doesn’t name teams, the Mets are obviously in the market for front-line starting pitching and have the major league ready arms and bats to facilitate a potential deal with Miami. Cabrera has three years of club control remaining, while Alcantara has a club option (worth $21 million) for 2027. 

The Athletic also reports that young lefty Ryan Weathers has received interest from multiple teams. Weathers, 25, was having a breakout year in 2025 before he missed most of the year with a lat strain. He returned in September and finished with a 3.99 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP across eight starts. The report adds that the Marlins are at least listening in on each of their starters not named Eury Perez.

Dec. 5, 3:10 p.m.

It appears you can scratch three potential Mets trade targets off the board. 

The Twins don’t anticipate trading star CF Byron Buxton, ace Joe Ryan, or right-hander Pablo Lopez this offseason, according to Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic. 

Minnesota intends to hang on to and build around all three, as club officials believe that the team is talented enough to compete in the weak American League Central.

Ryan is someone whom the Mets have shown interest in, according to Jon Heyman of the NY Post, and Minnesota is said to like young right-hander Jonah Tong. 

Rosenthal indicated that the rebuilding Twins would obviously listen if teams continue calling about the trio, however, they’d likely have to be overwhelmed to accept a deal. 

Dec. 5, 11:33 a.m.

The Mets are among the teams “in the mix” for free agent left-hander Ranger Suarez, reports Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.

Feinsand lists the Astros, Cubs, and Orioles as the “most serious” threats to sign Suarez. 

Suarez has been one of the most reliable and effective pitchers in baseball over the last five seasons, posting a 3.25 ERA (3.44 FIP) and 1.24 WHIP in 694.1 innings over 143 games (116 starts).

For the Phillies this past season, he had a 3.20 ERA and 1.22 WHIP while tossing 157.1 innings across 26 starts.

Dec. 1, 7:05 p.m.

Tatsuya Imai, the 27-year-old Japanese right-hander, has reportedly lost at least one potential suitor.

The San Francisco Giants “do not anticipate making the nine-figure investment” required to sign the free-agent pitcher, according to a report Monday from The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly. 

The NL West club, which made big-money commitments to shortstop Willy Adames last year and took on the big contract of Rafael Devers in a June trade, is going to pass over getting involved in the market for big-money starters because of a “number of financial considerations” as they look at more “modestly priced alternatives,” Baggarly reported.

Imai, who was posted by his club (the Seibu Lions) in November, is seen as perhaps having the highest ceiling of the free-agent starters on the market. However, despite his fine season last year (1.92 ERA and 0.89 WHIP with 178 strikeouts in 163.2 innings over 24 starts), he isn’t seen as the same kind of can’t-miss prospect as Yoshinobu Yamamoto was a few years back.

SNY’s MLB Insider Andy Martino reported on Nov. 10 that the Mets “will be in on” the starter, but did not expect it to be a “full-tilt pursuit” as was the case with Yamamoto. 

“Why? Evaluators like Imai but suggest that he is no sure thing to succeed as an MLB starter. His mid-to-high ‘90s fastball might or might not play here; industry opinion on that is mixed,” Martino wrote at the time. “Imai is an interesting option and should prompt conversations with any club in search of pitching, the Mets included.”

Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokić left the team’s 147-123 loss to the Miami Heat early on Monday night with a left knee injury. 

Jokić stepped awkwardly and his left knee buckled while standing in the paint in the final seconds of the first half at the Kesaya Center on Monday. Teammate Spencer Jones stepped back on Jokić’s foot as he was trying to guard Jaime Jaquez Jr., and that’s when Jokić’s knee buckled.

He instantly fell to the ground after the bad step and started rolling around in pain while grabbing his left knee as Kel’el Ware made an easy layup, which tied the game at the break. Jokić eventually stood up and walked to the locker room on his own, but he was limping significantly and barely put any weight on his left leg as he did so.

Jokić did not start the game in the second half, and the team initially said he was questionable to return with a left knee injury. He did not return. He is expected to undergo testing on his knee Tuesday. Further specifics of his injury are not yet known.

“Anybody that gets hurt in this game, it’s kind of gut-wrenching, especially somebody as special as he is,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said. “So we, we’ll find out more tomorrow and we’ll move on as a team.”

Jokić finished the night with 21 points, eight assists and five rebounds. He shot 9-of-14 from the field in the first half, too. The three-time league MVP entered the contest averaging 29.2 points per game while leading the league with both 12.4 rebounds and 11.1 assists per contest.

Without Jokić around, the Heat took off in the second half to grab the easy 24-point win. They jumped up by 11 points after the third quarter, and then opened the final period on a 32-17 run. Their 147 points marked the most they’ve scored in a game this season.

Norman Powell led the Heat with 25 points, and Nikola Jovic added 22 points off the bench after shooting 5-of-8 from behind the arc. Jaquez finished with 20 points and 11 assists. The Heat shot 54% from the field and made 22 3-pointers. The win was their third straight, and got them to 18-15 this season.

Jamal Murray had 20 points and 11 assists for the Nuggets. Both Jones and Tim Hardaway added 16 points each, too. The Nuggets have now lost four of their last six games and fell to 22-10 on the season. The game marked the second of a seven-game road trip.

Jose Alvarado and Mark Williams threw punches in a very heated altercation on the court Saturday night in New Orleans.

Now, both players are facing a suspension.

The NBA suspended Alvarado for two games on Sunday night, and hit Williams with a one-game suspension, after their fight during the Phoenix Suns’ 123-114 win over the Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on Saturday.

Alvarado and Williams got into it late in the third quarter of the contest after Alvarado tried to get around a screen Williams set on him at the 3-point line. Alvarado shoved Williams — who is a good 13 inches taller than him — with both hands to try and get through it, but he was called for a foul.

Alvarado started to complain to the official, but he suddenly turned to then confront Williams. Almost instantly, things escalated to a fistfight. Several punches were thrown by both players, and Alvarado looked like he hit Williams directly in the face before the two were eventually separated.

Both players were ejected from the game.

Williams had 10 points and eight rebounds off the bench when he was ejected. The 24-year-old, who is in his first season with the Suns, entered the game averaging 13.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. Alvarado had seven points and three assists for the Pelicans. He’s in his fifth season with New Orleans, and just signed a two-year, $9 million extension with the team that kicked in before this season.

Though the Pelicans got within a possession late, the Suns led for the entire second half and held on to grab the nine-point win. 

Things got chippy again after the final buzzer sounded. Royce O’Neal appeared to confront Zion Williamson near half-court, though that fizzled out quickly. 

Devin Booker led the Suns with 20 points in the win, which pushed them to 18-13 on the season. They’ve won four of their last five now, including back-to-back wins over the Pelicans in New Orleans. Dillon Brooks added 18 points, and Collin Gillespie finished with 17 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists.

Trey Murphy III led the Pelicans with 24 points after he went 6-of-9 from behind the arc. Williamson added 22 points off the bench, and Derik Queen finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds. New Orleans has lost three straight and sits at 8-25 on the year. 

Alvarado will be eligible to return on Friday night when the Pelicans host the Portland Trail Blazers. Williams will miss Monday night’s game against the Washington Wizards, and will be able to return on Wednesday when the teak takes on the Cleveland Cavaliers.

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There could be a new face patrolling the sidelines as head coach for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2026.

When recently discussing aspects of the franchise’s future, NFL.com and NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport shared his thoughts on whether veteran head coach Pete Carroll would be back at the helm next season, and it was not encouraging for Carroll’s job security.

“We’ll see if Pete Carroll is there for it, I doubt it, but we’ll see,” Rapoport said when talking about the Raiders potentially drafting Fernando Mendoza as their future franchise quarterback.

𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧: Ian Rapoport says it’s “doubtful” that Pete Carroll will be back with the Raiders in 2026.

Could be a one-and-done in Vegas, who will likely have the #1 overall pick. pic.twitter.com/3sKTaDx6pr

— JPA (@jasrifootball) December 29, 2025

The Raiders have limped to a 2-14 record this season, and Carroll has already fired his offensive coordinator and special teams coordinator midseason, with little change. It is just Carroll’s fourth losing season over a 28-year head coaching career that has spanned both the NFL and NCAA levels.

It is Carroll’s first year on the job for the Raiders, as he was brought in after the Raiders followed Antonio Pierce two days after the conclusion of the 2024 season. The franchise, which has three Super Bowl Championships to its name, is looking to get the franchise back on solid footing after just two playoff appearances in the past 20 years. Carroll was meant to provide that stability as a veteran coach with winning experience, but now it appears likely it could be a one-and-done scenario in Las Vegas for the coaching legend.

This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: NFL insider thinks Pete Carroll return to Raiders could be in question