Once the final out was recorded and the Milwaukee Brewers were crowned World Series champs, the Major League Baseball offseason officially began. It is never too early to speculate on which players could be dealt this winter.
The first important date on the offseason calendar is the General Manager Meetings, which begin today and will go through Thursday in Las Vegas. A sense of urgency has been added to this year’s meetings because the Collective Bargaining Agreement will expire on Dec. 1, and an owners’
lockout will take effect.
Subsequent events like the Winter Meetings could be cancelled if labor talks stall. Thus, the GM Meetings might be the only time when teams can discuss potential trades before a work stoppage.
The San Diego Padres are looking to build a quality starting rotation and will be aggressive to secure the best 1-2 tandem in baseball. I will not bore you about the potential suitors for Michael King; I assume he will return to San Diego. At the end of the day, the Padres still need to add another proven starter this offseason.
Tampa Bay Rays Drew Rasmussen: a possible trade option
Offseason media speculation has centered on the Tampa Bay Rays potentially dealing their No. 1 starter, Drew Rasmussen, in the coming months. Team president of baseball operations Eric Neander has refuted the reports and exercised the Rays’ option on Rasmussen’s contract for next season.
The right-hander will earn the highest single-season salary in franchise history ($20 million). Keep in mind, the front office is very budget-conscious when building a roster. Neander and his staff are uncomfortable committing such a high salary to one player. Projections show the franchise’s financial instability will persist until the team moves into its new home in 2029.
Rasmussen went 18-6 with a 2.60 ERA, striking out 205 batters over 202.1 innings pitched. He is eligible to become a free agent next offseason, and the Rays have been down this road before. They traded Tyler Glasnow to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Dec. 2023.
The return could be a minor leaguer who is under team control.
Friars aim to re-sign Ty France
San Diego could be in the market for another bat if Ty France leaves via free agency. Last season, he more than exceeded expectations with his production at the plate (.272 with 21 HR and 72 RBI). France is expected to be a hot commodity in free agency, especially if teams are looking to shore up their infield defense.
In 2025, the Padres’ infield was below-average defensively, but their ranking improved significantly with France anchoring first base. The former Gold Glover doubled his Outs Above Average and Fielding Run Value metric total last season.
The first baseman has made it clear he wants to end his playing career in San Diego. But France has to gauge interest from other clubs before committing to a new deal. However, second-tier free agents like him could struggle to land a lucrative contract.
Jacob deGrom fits as a top rotation trade target
To prepare for a potential salary cap, the Texas Rangers plan to shed big-money contracts and cap their 2027 payroll at $192 million. So, one of their high-priced stars will have to be dealt this offseason.
The most logical candidate is Jacob deGrom, who is owed $37 million next season and has a $20 million team option for 2028. But he holds a full no-trade clause and has vetoed a deal to the Atlanta Braves at last summer’s deadline.
Few teams can take on that amount of money unless the Rangers eat a portion of the salary; the Padres could be a willing trading partner if the price is right. They may only have to give up a low-level minor leaguer in a potential deal.
deGrom is one of the true dominant starting pitchers of his era. In 13 Major League seasons, he is 107-76 with a 2.97 ERA. You cannot argue with success.
After battling through an injury-laden career, the two-time Cy Young winner has rebounded to make 62 starts over the last two seasons. Unfortunately, his ERA jumped to 4.21 in 2026. deGrom can still shut down opposing lineups with an exceptional arsenal. He pairs a high-90s four-seam fastball and a mid-90s slider to keep batters off balance.
A move to San Diego makes sense for both sides. Pitching the majority of his starts at Petco Park could earn him a third Cy Young Award.
No one knows how baseball will look until a new CBA is signed. Big free-agent contract signings may be frowned upon, but the trade market is predicted to boom.
Expect several bold, crazy rumors that will be hard to believe before the Friars actually make a move.
Padres News:
- Jackson Merrill had an up-and-down season in 2026, but he finished the year strong. See what grade he received for those efforts from Lincoln Zdunich of Gaslamp Ball.
- The GM meetings could signal the start of a busy November according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
- Padres broadcaster Gustavo Lopez Moreno has been nominated for Frick Award.
- The Padres are looking to Japan to potentially solve some of their roster needs according to Dennis Lin of The Athletic.
- The rumors of San Diego’s interest in free agent starter Tarik Skubal remain according to a report from MLB Trade Rumors.
Baseball News:
- Kevin McGonigle of the Detroit Tigers and Sal Stewart of the Cincinnati Reds won the Rookie of the Year Awards in their respective leagues.
- Here are some updated rumors heading into Day 1 of the GM Meetings.
