The championship series concluded 18 days prior, and the offseason is now fully underway. Recent days have brought the initial noteworthy free-agent agreement of the winter (Josh Naylor returning to the Mariners) and a player exchange (Grayson Rodriguez for Taylor Ward), with more activity anticipated. Presented below are the current hot stove rumors for this Wednesday.
Braves Bring Back Iglesias
The Braves have re-signed relief pitcher Raisel Iglesias to a one-year contract valued at $16 million.
Iglesias, aged 35, will be back for a fifth season playing for Atlanta. During the previous year, he achieved a 3.21 ERA (130 ERA+) and a 4.56 strikeout-to-walk ratio over the course of 67 innings pitched. His efforts contributed approximately 1.3 Wins Above Replacement, although he also accumulated 11 meltdowns, as determined by FanGraphs’ metrics.
Iglesias is projected to resume his role in the later innings for the Braves’ bullpen, which also features the return of Joe Jiménez and Aaron Bummer, among others.
Yankees Favored for Bellinger?
The Yankees’ interest in acquiring Cody Bellinger is well-known, and they are presently considered the frontrunners to secure his services, according to MLB.com. At last week’s GM Meetings, General Manager Brian Cashman stated that the Yankees would persist in their pursuit of Bellinger, even if Trent Grisham accepted the $22.025 million qualifying offer, which Grisham accepted by Tuesday’s deadline.
“We feel at ease. The outfield market is quite limited. Should he decline the offer, it would indicate a significant number of teams seeking outfield assistance,” Cashman commented regarding Grisham and the qualifying offer during the GM Meetings (as reported by SNY). “He performed exceptionally well for us last year, significantly contributing to our success, and we would gladly welcome him back if he accepts.”
The Yankees possess a complete outfield lineup, featuring Grisham alongside the American League’s Most Valuable Player, Aaron Judge, and the formerly highly-regarded prospect, Jasson Domínguez, despite the rotation of Bellinger, Domínguez, and Grisham for the majority of 2025. Additionally, the designated hitter role will be available at times. Re-signing Bellinger could potentially position Domínguez as a trade option. Bellinger was ranked as the sixth-best free agent available during this offseason.
Peralta Trade Unconfirmed for Brewers
The Brewers, who are the champions of the NL Central, do not consider Brandon Woodruff accepting the qualifying offer as a precursor to trading Freddy Peralta, according to owner Mark Attanasio, as reported by The Athletic. Attanasio stated that decisions would be made independently by Matt Arnold (the president of baseball operations) and his team, adding that they are presently excited about their pitching rotation.
Woodruff’s salary of $22.025 million in 2026 will represent the highest amount ever paid to a pitcher in the team’s history.
Peralta, aged 29, is one year away from becoming a free agent, which is typically the point at which Milwaukee trades its top players (such as Corbin Burnes and Devin Williams), although this is not always the case. The Brewers retained Willy Adames until the conclusion of his years under team control and subsequently received a draft pick when he departed as a free agent. Peralta was listed as one of the top trade candidates in the offseason.
