The MLB offseason is heating up, and the Boston Red Sox are wasting no time trying to build on their return to the postseason in 2025. After snapping a three-year playoff drought, Boston’s front office is clearly in go mode-and the focus is once again on the starting rotation.
Last offseason, the Red Sox made a splash by acquiring Garrett Crochet, a move that paid off in a big way. Crochet emerged as a key piece in the rotation, helping stabilize a pitching staff that had struggled for consistency in recent years. Now, Boston is reportedly eyeing another young left-hander: Kansas City Royals starter Cole Ragans.
According to reports, the Red Sox are exploring a trade for Ragans, who was an All-Star in 2024 and finished fourth in the AL Cy Young voting that season. That version of Ragans was electric-mixing mid-90s heat with a wipeout slider and showing the kind of command that makes scouts and front offices alike sit up and take notice.
But 2025 was a different story. A rotator cuff strain sidelined him for three months, and when he returned, he wasn’t quite the same.
Still, Boston appears undeterred. The belief in Ragans’ upside is strong enough that the Red Sox are reportedly willing to part with a significant trade package to land him-and that package could include outfielder Jarren Duran.
Duran has been one of Boston’s most productive players over the past two seasons, bringing speed, energy, and offensive punch to the top of the lineup. But despite his value, his name keeps surfacing in trade talks.
That’s partly because he’s one of the few assets the Red Sox can afford to move without completely gutting their core. And for a team looking to add a controllable, high-upside arm like Ragans, Duran may be the price of doing business.
From the Royals’ perspective, Duran would be a major boost to their outfield production. The 29-year-old brings a dynamic element to the top of the order and fits well with Kansas City’s youth movement. If the deal comes together, it could be a win-win: Boston bolsters its rotation with a potential frontline starter, and Kansas City adds a proven bat to its lineup.
Financially, the move could be savvy for Boston as well. Ragans is on a team-friendly deal-he signed a three-year, $13.5 million contract with the Royals before the 2025 season, and he’s set to earn $4.5 million in 2026 and $7.5 million in 2027.
Duran, meanwhile, has an $8 million team option for next year. So from a payroll standpoint, the Red Sox would be getting a potential ace at a bargain price.
While Boston works the trade market, other teams are making major moves of their own.
The New York Mets landed one of the top bullpen arms available, signing reliever Devin Williams to a three-year, $45 million deal. The contract includes a $6 million signing bonus spread out over the life of the deal, and notably, there are no opt-outs or options attached.
Williams is no stranger to high-leverage moments. He burst onto the scene in 2020, winning NL Rookie of the Year with the Brewers and quickly establishing himself as one of the most dominant relievers in the game. He added two NL Reliever of the Year awards to his résumé during his six seasons in Milwaukee.
But 2025 was a rough ride. After joining the Yankees in what was supposed to be a final showcase season before free agency, Williams struggled to find his rhythm.
He was demoted from the closer role, regained it midseason, then lost it again. He finished the year with a career-worst 4.79 ERA and a -0.3 bWAR.
That performance likely cost him a bigger payday, but the Mets are betting on a bounce-back.
If Edwin Díaz isn’t ready to reclaim the closer role, Williams gives the Mets a proven option to step in. And if he returns to form, this deal could look like a steal.
Meanwhile, the Toronto Blue Jays made the biggest splash of the offseason so far, reportedly signing right-hander Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million deal, pending a physical. That’s a massive commitment, but Cease has the kind of stuff that justifies it-elite velocity, a nasty breaking ball, and the ability to dominate on any given night.
Toronto, fresh off an AL pennant, is clearly pushing all-in. But even after locking up Cease, they’re not done. The Blue Jays are still looking to address other key areas, including the future of shortstop Bo Bichette.
There’s been plenty of chatter around Bichette’s status, especially after an injury-plagued 2024. But he bounced back strong in 2025, and his career numbers speak for themselves: a .294/.337/.469 slash line over seven seasons, with at least 175 hits in four of the last five years. He’s the kind of player you build around, and Toronto seems intent on keeping him in the fold.
According to reports, the Cease deal doesn’t limit Toronto’s flexibility. The organization is in a strong financial position, and the front office appears ready to keep spending if the right opportunities arise. With a few more moves, the Blue Jays could be even more dangerous heading into 2026.
So, with the Winter Meetings looming, the MLB hot stove is already burning bright. The Red Sox are chasing another young arm, the Mets are reloading their bullpen, and the Blue Jays are making power moves with their eyes firmly set on another deep October run. Buckle up-this offseason is just getting started.