It has been one week since the 2026-27 Major League Baseball offseason kicked off, and transactions alongside trade chatter are already generating heat. Our team has compiled rankings for the 50 premier free agents as well as the 25 primary trade targets, in addition to creating a schedule detailing critical offseason milestones and cutoffs. Below are the latest updates from Thursday’s hot stove activity.
Phillies seeking a southpaw setup reliever
Philadelphia intends to acquire a left-handed setup specialist during the winter break, according to a report by The Athletic. While the roster currently features Tanner Banks and Tim Mayza, both southpaws typically operate in middle relief rather than late-game pressure scenarios. At present, manager Don Mattingly relies entirely on right-handers for high-leverage late situations, featuring a mix of Jonathan Bowlan, Caleb Kilian, Jhoan Duran, and Alex McFarlane.
Four left-handed bullpen arms featured on our top 50 free-agent list: Adrian Morejon (ranked 2nd), JoJo Romero (ranked 31st), Alex Vesia (ranked 35th), and Kris Bubic (ranked 45th). Both Morejon and Bubic could potentially transition into starting roles in the upcoming campaign. Additional available southpaws in free agency consist of Tim Hill, A.J. Minter, Sean Newcomb, Steven Okert, AJ Puk, along with ex-Phillie Gregory Soto.
Yankees exploring a potential return for Blackburn
New York requires a major overhaul of their relief corps this winter and is contemplating bringing back setup pitcher Paul Blackburn, per reporting from the New York Daily News. The club issued closer David Bednar a qualifying offer worth $23.15 million, with expectations leaning toward retaining him via the offer or through an extended agreement; nevertheless, strengthening their late-inning bridge remains imperative.
Blackburn occupies the 33rd spot on our list of winter free agents. He enjoyed an outstanding 2026 campaign in the Bronx during his initial transition into a dedicated bullpen role. New York has consistently demonstrated a knack for cultivating productive relievers unexpectedly. Their typical pattern involves allowing these players to depart via open market while developing new options to take their place, much like Blackburn did when filling the void left by Luke Weaver.
Marlins searching for rotation, bullpen, and corner position upgrades
Priorities on Miami’s winter wish list involve reinforcing both the starting pitching staff and relief core alongside acquiring an impactful corner hitter, per the Miami Herald. That positional addition might be slotted at first base, third base, or either outfield flank. At present, Sandy Alcantara and Eury Pérez represent the sole guaranteed starters in the rotation, although Max Meyer is expected to return to action next year after suffering a neck issue during the current season.
Although Gold Glove finalist Javier Sanoja performed admirably at hot corner duties this season, his skill set is ideally suited for a versatile utility role covering multiple positions. Miami’s current corner outfield pool consists of Owen Caissie, Griffin Conine, and Heriberto Hernández, while Kyle Stowers transitioned from outfield duties over to first base during 2026. Consequently, numerous avenues exist for the front office to upgrade the roster.
