MLB rumors: Mets, Phillies make bullpen upgrades, Bo Bichette willing to move positions, SF eyes infield help
Here's the latest from MLB's hot stove on Dec. 17
By
Mike Axisa
•
4 min read
The 2025-26 MLB offseason is six weeks old and so far 22 of our top 50 free agents have signed and our No. 1 trade candidate has been dealt. Spring training is two months away and there is still a lot of player movement to come between now and then. Here now are Wednesday's hot stove happenings.
Giants pursuing Hoerner
Among the players the Giants are pursuing for their infield is Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner, reports the San Francisco Chronicle. San Francisco is locked into Willy Adames at short and Matt Chapman at third. Hoerner is a standout defender and one of the top contact hitters and baserunners in the sport. His game jibes perfectly with spacious Oracle Park.
Hoerner, 28, is owed $12 million in 2026, his final year before free agency. No player is untouchable, though it would likely take a pretty big haul to pry him loose. Hoerner is an important piece near the top of Chicago's lineup and in their shutdown up-the-middle defense. Hoerner at second, Dansby Swanson at short, and Pete Crow-Armstrong in just a wall, defensively.
Bichette willing to move to second
Free agent Bo Bichette has started telling teams he's willing to move to second base, reports MLB.com. Bichette played second in the World Series and it was his first time playing the position in MLB. He handled about as well as could be expected considering he was coming off a knee injury and still hobbled. We ranked Bichette as the third-best free agent available this offseason.
Still only 27, Bichette's shortstop defense has graded out poorly the last few years, and second base does seem like his ultimate long-term home. If nothing else, the World Series showing is proof of concept that yeah, he can do it. Whichever team signs Bichette will do so for his bat, not his glove, though a willingness to move to second base figures to open up his market a bit.
Mets, Phillies add relievers
Two NL East rivals added to their bullpens Wednesday. The Mets have agreed to a deal with right-hander Luke Weaver and the Phillies have done the same with fellow righty Brad Keller, per the New York Post. Both pitchers received a two-year contract worth $22 million. We ranked Weaver as the 20th-best free agent available this offseason and Keller the 35th-best.
Weaver enjoyed a strong two-year stint across town the Yankees from 2024-25, though he did fade badly down the stretch this past season. The Mets surely believe that was a blip, not a sign of decline.
Keller had an excellent 2025 with the Cubs and, not coincidentally, it was his first season as a full-time reliever and his first healthy season in several years.
Mariners still after Donovan, Marte
After losing Jorge Polanco to free agency, the Mariners are looking for second base help, and they're pursuing Diamondbacks star Ketel Marte and Cardinals do-it-all guy Brendan Donovan, reports The Athletic. Both Marte and Donovan were All-Stars in 2025. Donovan has recent outfield experience, which could be appealing because Seattle has several highly regarded infield prospects coming, namely Colt Emerson.
The Mariners went to Game 7 of the ALCS this past season and have one of the game's best rotations, not to mention Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez in their primes. The team's World Series window is wide open. For that reason, pursuing Marte makes the most sense because he is the best player available on the trade market. He's an impact player who would meaningfully improve the team's World Series odds.
Rangers seeking rotation help
The Rangers are looking to add to their rotation, reports DLLS Sports. Texas has a strong 1-2 punch in Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi, and things really clicked for Jack Leiter in the second half this past season. Kumar Rocker and Jacob Latz are next on the rotation depth chart behind them, hence the club's interest in adding another starter.
It has been a fairly busy offseason for the Rangers, who swapped Marcus Semien for Brandon Nimmo, re-signed late-inning reliever Chris Martin, and added depth players Tyler Alexander, Alexis Díaz, and Danny Jansen. There is a glaring need in the back of the rotation though. Even if Rocker has what feels like a long-awaited breakout, there's room for improvement in the starting staff.
Angels sign Pomeranz, Romano
Late Tuesday night the Angels reinforced their bullpen with lefty Drew Pomeranz and righty Jordan Romano. Pomeranz gets one year and $4 million. Romaro received one year and $2 million. They'll join righty Robert Stephenson in new manager Kurt Suzuki's late-inning mix. Neither Pomeranz nor Romano ranked among our top 50 free agents.
The Angels ranked 28th in bullpen ERA and 27th in bullpen WAR in 2025, and that was with Kenley Jansen have a strong season in the closer's role. Pomeranz had a resurgent 2025 for the Cubs while Romano fits the Halos' offseason M.O. as a recognizable name looking to bounce back next season. Previous additions Vaughn Grissom, Alek Manoah, and Grayson Rodriguez all fit the bill as well.
