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MLB Winter Meetings ended Wednesday without any of the top free agent starters signing contracts. Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez, Michael King and Zac Gallen and others remain available to all 30 MLB teams. Valdez, Suarez, King and Gallen could take as long as they need to make a deal
with a team. Tatsuya Imai, who is the top international free agent pitcher has until Jan. 2 to make his decision on his MLB home.
Dylan Cease set the market for proven MLB starters with his contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, agreeing to a seven-year, $210 million deal. Cease attended the winter meetings with his agent Scott Boras and was officially introduced as a Blue Jay.
The San Diego Padres are in desperate need of starting pitching and that is evident to all of baseball. Throughout the winter meetings the Padres were included in trade rumors, but were rarely mentioned on the free agent front, especially when it came to the top pitchers. However, there was a report that San Diego had interest in Imai, but he is an unknown in MLB.
The lack of conversation involving the Padres and free agents surely stems from the reported financial constraints that have been the topic of discussion surrounding the team each of the past two offseasons. It also provides insight as to why San Diego is reportedly extremely active in trade conversations.
If one or more of the trades come to fruition and somehow San Diego is able to create financial flexibility, maybe they will make a run at Valdez, Suarez, King or Gallen – if they are still available at that time. After all, the Padres waited until Spring Training was about to start before signing their 2025 ace Nick Pivetta. Given those choices, which starter would you like to see San Diego add to the 2026 rotation?
