The MLB offseason is heating up, and the Boston Red Sox are right in the thick of it. After snapping a three-year postseason drought in 2025, the Sox are looking to double down on their momentum - and that starts with bolstering the rotation.
Garrett Crochet was a home run of a pickup last offseason. The lefty stepped into the spotlight and delivered in a big way, anchoring a staff that desperately needed a front-line presence. Now, Boston is reportedly eyeing another young southpaw with front-line potential: Cole Ragans of the Kansas City Royals.
Ragans, 27, was an All-Star in 2024 and finished fourth in AL Cy Young voting that season - a breakout campaign that put him on the national radar. But 2025 didn’t go as planned.
A rotator cuff strain sidelined him for three months, and he never quite regained that dominant form. Still, the Red Sox see enough upside to make a serious push for him, and they’re reportedly willing to part with one of their most productive players to get it done.
That player? Jarren Duran.
Duran has been Boston’s most consistent offensive spark over the last two seasons, bringing speed, pop, and energy to the top of the lineup. But he’s also become a frequent name in trade talks, and this winter might finally be the time the Sox cash in. At 29, Duran still has prime years ahead of him, and he’d be an immediate upgrade for a Royals outfield that could use a jolt of athleticism and production.
From a financial standpoint, the deal could make sense for both sides. Ragans is under contract through 2027 on a three-year, $13.5 million deal - a bargain if he returns to his 2024 form.
He’s set to make $4.5 million in 2026 and $7.5 million in 2027. Duran, meanwhile, has an $8 million team option for next season, giving Kansas City a cost-controlled bat with proven value.
If the deal goes through, Boston would be betting big on Ragans’ ceiling - and banking on their training staff to keep him healthy. For Kansas City, it’s a chance to add a dynamic, everyday player who fits their timeline and fills a clear need.
Elsewhere in the league, the New York Mets made a splash of their own, locking in reliever Devin Williams on a three-year, $45 million deal, plus a $6 million signing bonus spread across the life of the contract. There are no opt-outs or options - a straight-up commitment from both sides.
Williams was electric early in his career, winning NL Rookie of the Year in 2020 and two NL Reliever of the Year awards during his time in Milwaukee. But his lone season in pinstripes didn’t go as planned.
The Yankees brought him in ahead of 2025, but he struggled to find his footing, eventually losing the closer role - twice. His final numbers with the Yankees included a career-worst 4.79 ERA and a -0.3 bWAR, though he did toss four scoreless innings in the postseason.
The Mets are betting that a change of scenery - even if it’s just across town - can help him reset. With Edwin Díaz’s status still up in the air, Williams gives them a high-leverage option who could slide into the closer’s role if needed.
And then there’s the Toronto Blue Jays, who just made the biggest move of the offseason so far. They’ve reportedly agreed to a seven-year, $210 million deal with right-hander Dylan Cease, pending a physical. That’s a massive commitment, but also a clear signal: the defending AL champs are serious about staying on top.
Cease brings elite stuff and frontline pedigree to a rotation that already has plenty of talent. But Toronto’s work isn’t done. Bo Bichette remains a key piece of their offseason puzzle, and according to insider reports, the Cease deal won’t stop them from pursuing other big names.
The Blue Jays are in a strong financial position, and the front office appears willing to keep spending when the right opportunity presents itself. Bichette, who owns a .294/.337/.469 career slash line and has topped 175 hits in four of the last five seasons, is one of those opportunities. After a tough 2024 due to injuries, he bounced back strong in 2025 - and keeping him in Toronto remains a top priority.
Bottom line: the stove is sizzling. Boston’s targeting another high-upside arm, the Mets are retooling their bullpen, and the Blue Jays are swinging big. With winter meetings just around the corner, don’t expect the action to slow down anytime soon.