Red Sox Free-Agent Targets, Pending Contracts and Mets Outlook

The MLB offseason keeps rolling with plenty of intrigue. Teams are still hunting for deals in the free-agent and trade markets, even though official announcements have been scarce.

Let’s look at the curious case of stalled signings, roster shuffling, and a little strategic patience. The Boston Red Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Yankees, and New York Mets are all taking their own approach as they build for the season ahead.

Red Sox Staying Busy Without Signing a Free Agent

Boston pulled off trades for Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras, but they haven’t signed a free agent to a major-league deal. They’re actually the only American League team in that boat right now.

That stat jumps out, but it doesn’t mean Boston’s just sitting around. Behind the scenes, the front office is deep in talks that could shake up the roster in a big way.

President of baseball operations Craig Breslow has talked about the team’s crowded roster, especially among position players. He’s said these logjams “tend to work out,” but he’s also hinted at possible trades or creative moves to get things balanced.

Infield Targets and Trade Possibilities

Boston keeps popping up in rumors tied to top infielders, both in free agency and trade chatter. Names like Bo Bichette and Alex Bregman are still floating around.

Other trade targets include Ketel Marte, Isaac Paredes, and Brendan Donovan. They also checked in on Eugenio Suárez earlier, showing they’re serious about upgrading the infield.

Roster Logjams and Trade Chips

Bringing in Contreras shakes up the lineup. Triston Casas and Masataka Yoshida might see less playing time, which could force some moves.

Boston’s got a bunch of young, controllable outfielders, so they’ve got options. Jarren Duran keeps coming up in trade rumors, not because Boston wants to move him, but because other teams like his skills and contract.

Trading an outfielder could help Boston fill more than one need at once.

Bullpen Reinforcements Still in Play

The Red Sox are looking at bullpen upgrades, too. They’ve been linked to relievers like Seranthony Domínguez and Evan Phillips, both of whom could steady things late in games.

They were also interested in Chris Martin, but he ended up going back to the Texas Rangers. Relief pitching is always a wild market, and Boston’s still poking around for help.

Pirates, Yankees, and Unannounced Deals

Across the league, a few deals are still unofficial even though everyone knows about them. The Pittsburgh Pirates reportedly agreed to a two-year, $29 million deal with Ryan O’Hearn, the biggest free-agent position-player contract in team history.

But the Pirates haven’t announced it, even after opening a spot on the 40-man roster. The New York Yankees are in a similar spot. They reached one-year deals with:

They’ve got the roster space, but neither signing is official yet. Not sure what the holdup is there.

Mets Focused on International Market

The New York Mets are going a different way, diving into the international amateur market. They’re heavily linked to Wandy Asigen, who’s seen as the top international prospect in this class.

Asigen is expected to get a bonus around $3.8 million after he flipped his commitment from the Yankees. The Mets seem all-in on this one.

Bonus Pool Maneuvering Ahead of Deadline

To finalize the Asigen signing, the Mets might need more international bonus pool money. That could spark a handful of trades in $250,000 chunks over the next two weeks, right before the January 15, 2026 signing period.

These deals usually slip by unnoticed, but they’re often key to landing top young talent.

 
Here is the source article for this story: The Opener: Red Sox, Pending Free Agent Contracts, Mets