The 2026-27 MLB offseason is less than a week old and hot rumors and moves are already coming. We’ve ranked the top 50 free agents and top 25 trade candidates, and created a calendar for you of the important offseason dates and deadlines you need to know. Here are the events of Tuesday. Yankees could pursue Skubal, trade a starter The Yankees are at least considering a run for Tarik Skubal, by far the best free agent available, and then trade another starting pitcher to address needs elsewhere on the roster, ESPN reports. New York is one of the few teams in baseball that legitimately doesn’t need to increase its rotation this offseason, although there is never such a thing as too much pitching. Here’s the club’s rotation depth chart right now: RHP Cam Schlittler RHP Max Fried RHP Gerrit Cole RHP Carlos Rodón RHP Ryan Weathers RHP Will Warren RHP Clarke Schmidt (missed most of 2026 following UCL surgery) RHP Elmer RodríguezSchlittler and high-paid veterans aren’t going anywhere. Warren is the most sensible trading chip. He pitched 156 innings with a 3.92 ERA and solid underhood metrics last season and has four years of team control left. Cheap and controllable casting is the game’s biggest currency. He is always in demand and can provide you with anything you need in a business. The Yankees need help at second and third base this offseason, possibly in center field and also at catcher. Signing Skubal (or another veteran) and trading Warren for help on the position player side is a sensible strategy for New York. Mets focused on improving rotation The Mets are focused on increasing their rotation and are “active everywhere,” according to The Athletic. They’re looking at the top of the market (i.e. Tarik Skubal) as well as the small army of solid veterans occupying the middle tier of the free agent class. The Mets could also explore the trade market, although the team is reportedly not interested in dealing prospects this offseason. At the moment, Nolan McLean and Christian Scott are the only locks for New York’s 2027 rotation. Here’s the team’s starting pitching depth chart: RHP Nolan McLean RHP Christian Scott RHP Zac Thornton RHP Kodai Senga RHP Sean Manaea RHP Tylor Megill (missed 2026 following UCL surgery) RHP Jonah Tong RHP Tobias Myers RHP Justin Hagenman Senga could return to the bullpen after pitching admirably in the closer role later this year. Clearly, the Mets need at least one starter this offseason and could really use more than one, just to lessen their reliance on young pitchers like Thornton and Tong. President of baseball operations David Stearns is unwilling to give pitchers long-term deals, which could put the Mets at a disadvantage for Skubal. The Rangers prioritizing center field Gold Glove finalist Evan Carter underwent right hip surgery last week and will miss the start of the 2027 season, Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young announced Monday. As a result, Texas will prioritize help in center field this offseason. If necessary, the Rangers can play left fielder Wyatt Langford (also a Gold Glove finalist) in center, but Langford is better in left. “There’s no question that we have to be aware that Evan is coming off major surgery and that we’re going to have to find potential replacements if he’s not ready to start the season, or if there are any setbacks,” Young said, via MLB.com. “It doesn’t change our belief in Evan long-term, but it does change our short-term plans that we need to have a backup and someone who can certainly fill in or play a very solid center field and hopefully contribute offensively.” The free agent class doesn’t offer much in center field unless you’re willing to take the risk of injury or age-related decline. Here are the top available free agent center fielders based on FanGraphs’ projected WAR for 2027: Trent Grisham: 2.1 WARLuis Robert Jr.: 1.6 WARDaulton Varsho: 1.3 WARedric Mullins: 1.2 WARyrone Taylor: 0.8 WARJarren Duran (Red Sox) and Steven Kwan (Guardians) stand out as outfield trade candidates central, although Kwan in particular will come at a high price. A cheaper, defense-focused stopgap such as Denzel Clarke (Athletics) or Blake Perkins (Guardians) may be the best short-term option while Carter recovers.
