Thursday’s final day of the General Manager meetings in Las Vegas has brought a familiar kind of offseason buzz: not blockbuster news, but plenty of smoke. With executives and reporters all in one place, the rumor mill has been working overtime, and several teams have surfaced in the latest round of chatter.
One of the more interesting names floating around is Ian Happ. MLB Network reports that the Mariners have shown interest in the free agent left fielder, and the fit is easy to see. Seattle has a hole in left field after Randy Arozarena reached free agency, and the club is clearly looking for offense.
Happ, 32, has spent his entire 10-year 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 hitting .251/.347/.433 with a 118 OPS+ and collecting four Gold Gloves. Last season was a step down at .218/.326/.412 with a 103 OPS+ and 2.7 WAR, but he still cleared 20 home runs for the fifth time in the last six years.
At the infield corner, Alec Bohm is drawing more attention than some might expect. The Yankees’ interest in the free agent first/third baseman was reported yesterday, and The Athletic says 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 there are reasons teams are circling. Right-handed power is thin on the market, and Bohm finished strong, batting .318/.402/.453 over his final 42 games.
The Mets also have a clear need at first base after last year’s rough Jorge Polanco experiment. Jared Young offered a brief spark there before a concussion in September ended his season after a collision with a teammate on a play.
In Minnesota, catcher Ryan Jeffers is expected to decline the qualifying offer from the Twins, but that does not mean the door is closed on a return. The Twins have extended the one-year, $23.15 million offer, and Jeffers has until net Tuesday to decide whether to take it or test free agency. The Minnesota Star-Tribune reports that he will decline the QO, while the Twins remain interested in a multi-year deal.
Jeffers put together a strong season at the plate in 2026, hitting .256/.353/.461 with 14 home runs, though he missed several months because of a broken hamate. Minnesota does have catching depth in the system, including Vahn Lackey, the No. 3 pick in last year’s draft, and Eduardo Tait, who was the headliner in the Jhoan Duran trade return.
The Rays, as usual, are looking for a way to stay ahead of the market. With the 2027 free agent class shaping up as a weak one, especially among position players, Tampa Bay may look to the trade market instead. The Athletic reports that center fielder Jonny DeLuca could be moved as part of that plan, with Victor Mesa Jr. potentially sliding into center.
DeLuca, 28, got his biggest opportunity yet in 2026, playing in 112 games and logging 370 plate appearances. He hit .266/.300/.429 with a 101 OPS+, added 11 home runs, 50 RBI, 17 steals and finished with 1.7 WAR.
In Other News...
Rays Just Earned The Kind Of Recognition Fans Will Love
The Rays picked up a wave of national recognition that speaks to both the present and the bigger picture, with Bryan Baker earning the Mariano Rivera award as the top American League reliever and Erik Neander being named MLB Executive of the Year. It was the kind of honors haul that reflects how much attention Tampa Bays pitching and front office drew across the sport, even as the seasons awards conversation kept moving.
Junior Camineros rise was rewarded with a spot on the All-MLB First Team at third base, while Drew Rasmussen landed on the All-MLB Second Team rotation after also finishing fourth in AL Cy Young voting. Bakers season had already put him in the mix among the leagues best relievers, and Rasmussens recognition only adds to the sense that the Rays have more than one arm and one bat shaping the conversation heading into what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Rays Just Got League-Wide Validation For How They Keep Winning
The Rays front office just picked up another piece of league-wide respect for the way it keeps the club in contention year after year. Erik Neander was named Executive of the Year, a recognition that followed a season in which Tampa Bay turned an unexpected division title into the best record in the American League and added another pennant to its recent run of success.
Kevin Cash also came up just short in the American League Manager of the Year voting, finishing second after guiding a roster that once again outperformed expectations. For a franchise that has built its identity on finding edges others miss, the honors only reinforced how much of the Rays staying power comes from the people steering the operation as much as the players on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Rays May Be Ready To Answer A Huge Spending Question
The Rays may be staring at a familiar kind of decision, only this one carries more weight than most. According to The Athletic, the club is interested in locking up its pitcher beyond the 2027 season, a sign that Tampa Bay could be willing to think bigger than its usual short-term roster planning. The pitcher is already under contract for one year at $20 million, so any extension would represent a meaningful commitment for a franchise that has long balanced competitiveness with caution.
What makes the idea notable is the price tag attached to it. The proposed deal would likely cost more than his current annual salary, and possibly well beyond it, which would put the Rays in a very different spending conversation than the one they usually occupy. The club has not confirmed any such plans, so for now it remains a speculative but revealing glimpse at how seriously Tampa Bay may be weighing the value of keeping him in place for the long haul. [Read more 🡒]