The offseason is barely underway, but the rumor mill is already moving fast. With the 2026-27 Major League Baseball winter now here and the threat of a Dec. 1 lockout hanging over everything, clubs may be pushed to act sooner rather than later. That kind of pressure can speed up trades and free-agent deals, and it’s part of why the first wave of chatter is already taking shape.
At the top of the market sits Tarik Skubal, and the bidding figures to get loud. The back-to-back American League Cy Young winner is viewed as the premier free agent in the class, and he’s expected to land a deal north of $300 million, with a real chance to set the record for the biggest contract ever given to a pitcher.
According to ESPN, the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets and Chicago Cubs are shaping up as the main teams to watch. The Dodgers, who acquired Skubal from the Detroit Tigers in a deadline trade, are in the mix, but the Cubs may not be prepared to push as high as the Dodgers and Mets. Of those two, the Mets are currently seen as the more aggressive suitor.
Elsewhere, the Houston Astros are beginning their search for a new manager after Joe Espada’s contract was not renewed following three seasons. With Randy Flores now in place as general manager, attention has shifted to the dugout, and one name that has surfaced is Brad Ausmus.
MLB.com reports that Ausmus, now the Yankees’ bench coach, recently visited Daikin Park and could be a candidate for the job. The 57-year-old previously managed the Tigers from 2014-17 and the Angels in 2019, going 314-322 overall.
His only postseason berth as a manager came in his first year in Detroit. He also has a deep Houston tie, having spent 10 of his 18 major league seasons as the Astros’ catcher.
Houston won the American League West in 2026, but the season ended with an 81-81 record, a negative run differential and a sweep in the opening round of the playoffs.
In Other News...
Christian Walker Just Gave Astros Fans Another Big Infield Question
Christian Walkers first season at first base for Houston ended with a familiar kind of hardware, even if the setting was new. He won a Rawlings Gold Glove for the fourth time in his career and the first time in the American League, a fitting cap to a year in which he led AL first basemen in fielding percentage and put together a 121-game errorless streak while handling the position for the Astros every day.
What makes the award more interesting for Houston is where it leaves the position going forward. Walker appeared in 154 games at first base and now heads into the final year of his contract in 2027, which only adds to the sense that the Astros have another infield decision looming. For a club that values stability on the dirt, the question is no longer whether Walker can defend the spot, but how long he will be around to keep doing it. [Read more 🡒]
Astros Manager Search Suddenly Puts A Familiar Name In Focus
The Astros offseason overhaul has already taken a familiar turn, with Randy Flores hired as the new general manager and the search now on for Joe Espadas replacement. Around Houston, the conversation has quickly shifted to names with old ties to the organization, and Brad Ausmus is among the most recognizable. A former Astros catcher who later built up managerial experience elsewhere, Ausmus fits the kind of profile teams often circle back to when they want someone who knows the market and the expectations.
Flores is set to be introduced at a press conference, but the bigger task waiting for him is finding the right voice to lead the club on the field. The Astros are expected to keep working through their list during next weeks General Managers Meetings in Las Vegas, where the process should start to pick up speed. For now, the search has a distinctly Houston feel to it, with former players like Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina and Morgan Ensberg also in the mix as the front office starts narrowing the field. [Read more 🡒]
Astros Face A Tough Joey Dixon Decision They May Regret
Joey Dixons strong fall in Arizona has only sharpened the Astros dilemma. The pitching prospect has spent much of his professional career fighting through injuries, which has kept his innings total light, but the flashes he has shown in the Arizona Fall League have reminded Houston why he remains an intriguing arm in the system.
Now the organization has to weigh upside against uncertainty. Protecting Dixon from the Rule 5 Draft would mean using a spot on the 40-man roster, a move that would signal real belief in his future while also carrying the risk that his health and limited workload still leave plenty of unanswered questions. For a club trying to manage both present depth and long-term talent, it is the kind of call that can look obvious only after it is made. [Read more 🡒]