Thursday’s final day of the General Manager meetings in Las Vegas has brought the rumor mill to life, and there’s a little bit of everything floating around: outfield help for Seattle, another team jumping into the Alec Bohm sweepstakes, a possible Twins reunion, and a Rays move that could reshape their outfield mix.
The Mariners are among the clubs checking in on free agent left fielder Ian Happ, according to MLB Network. Seattle has a clear opening in left field after Randy Arozarena reached free agency, and the club is looking for offense.
Happ, 32, has spent his entire 10-year MLB career with the Cubs, who drafted him in the first round in 2015. From 2022-25, he was a steady force, averaging 3.9 WAR while posting a .251/.347/.433 line with a 118 OPS+ and winning four Gold Gloves.
Last season was a step back to .218/.326/.412 with a 103 OPS+, but he still cleared 20 homers for the fifth time in the last six years.
Alec Bohm is also drawing more attention than some might have expected. After word surfaced yesterday that the Yankees were interested in the free agent first/third baseman, The Athletic reports the Mets have now joined the chase.
Bohm’s 2026 numbers were modest - .249/.315/.383 with 15 home runs, 88 RBI and -0.2 WAR - but the market isn’t exactly overflowing with right-handed power. He also finished strong, hitting .318/.402/.453 over his final 42 games.
For the Mets, the appeal is obvious: they need help at first base after last year’s rough Jorge Polanco experiment, and Jared Young offered a brief spark there before a September concussion when he collided with a teammate on a play.
Ryan Jeffers is headed toward a decision point, and the Twins still sound like they want him back. Minnesota has already extended the qualifying offer, which means Jeffers must decide by net Tuesday whether to take the one-year, $23.15 million deal or test free agency.
The Minnesota Star-Tribune reports he will decline the QO, but the Twins remain interested in working out a multi-year contract. Jeffers put together a strong season at the plate in 2026, batting .256/.353/.461 with 14 home runs, though a broken hamate cost him several months.
Minnesota does have catching depth in the system, including Vahn Lackey, last year’s No. 3 pick, and Eduardo Tait, who was the headliner in the trade return for Jhoan Duran.
The Rays, meanwhile, may be preparing to play the market in their usual way. Much has been made of the weak 2027 free agent class, especially among position players, where the top names include Jazz Chisholm Jr., Seiya Suzuki, Arozarena and Jeffers.
Tampa Bay has long been willing to hunt for inefficiencies, and The Athletic says one possible move is a trade involving center fielder Jonny DeLuca as the club looks ahead to shifting Victor Mesa Jr. into center. DeLuca, 28, got his most extended run yet in 2026, playing in 112 games and logging 370 plate appearances.
He hit .266/.300/.429 with 11 homers, 50 RBI, 17 steals and 1.7 WAR.
In Other News...
Cole Youngs Rise Could Complicate One Intriguing Mariners Fit
Cole Youngs rise has given the Mariners another layer to think about as they sort through their offseason infield plans, and it has made one possible addition feel a little more complicated. Seattle has been exploring roster fits with an eye toward flexibility, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. has come up as the kind of player who could move around and change the shape of the lineup. With names like Brendan Donovan and Teruaki Sato also in the mix as part of the broader conversation, the Mariners are clearly weighing how much versatility they want to add and where it would best fit.
Chisholms recent playing history only adds to the intrigue, since his value is tied as much to athleticism and positional options as it is to any one spot on the diamond. Luis Arrez also enters the picture as another reference point in the roster-planning discussion, underscoring how many moving parts Seattle is considering before it makes any kind of move. For now, there is no official action, but the possibility of adding a player with Chisholms profile while Young continues to push his way forward is the kind of decision that could ripple through the rest of the Mariners offseason. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners Astros Rivalry Is Suddenly Entering A Very Different Chapter
A familiar division rivalry is about to look a lot different on both sides of the field. Houston has turned to Brad Ausmus as its new manager and brought in Randy Flores as general manager, while still keeping some of its coaching staff in place as the club heads into a season with questions hanging over key pieces of the roster, including Jeremy Pea.
Seattles side of the picture has changed too, with the Mariners hiring Jason Kanzler to lead their dugout. The result is a fresh layer to a rivalry that already carried plenty of edge, and it now comes with new voices, new decision-makers and a few unresolved roster questions that could shape how the next chapter between these clubs unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners Could Be Watching Randy Arozarena Price Himself Out Of Seattle
Randy Arozarenas next contract is shaping up to be one of the more interesting free-agent tests on the market, and the Mariners are watching from a distance after he declined their qualifying offer. The outfielder is expected to land a multi-year deal, which puts Seattle in the familiar spot of weighing whether a player it knows well is moving into a price range that no longer fits cleanly into its plans.
Philadelphia has emerged as a team to watch, but the fit is not simple. The Phillies have interest, yet their luxury-tax situation and the age of their roster make another major commitment a tricky proposition, which is part of why Arozarenas market could take some time to settle. For Seattle, the bigger question is whether the bidding climbs into territory that makes a reunion unrealistic even before the winter really gets going. [Read more 🡒]