As 2025 continues, the season is nearing a close. Free agency and the offseason are starting to become a stirring topic, with many teams clearly needing to get better. The 2025-26 offseason, however, will be quite different from others.
Potential Blockbuster Moves in the Offseason
Kyle Tucker to Yankees, Bellinger Moves On
As the 2025 season continues, it is evident that the New York Yankees lack consistency. The Yankees don’t look like a team made for a playoff run and are barely hanging on to a wild-card spot. The Yankees will likely make the playoffs, but recent seasons have shown that New York needs something to break its cycle of inconsistency.
In 2024, that was Juan Soto, but in 2026, this will probably be Kyle Tucker. With several recent free agency losses, the Yankees could bounce back by signing coveted free agent Kyle Tucker. Tucker could bring another superstar in pinstripes to help Aaron Judge and others. Defensively, the Yankees definitely want to get better, but for now, Tucker seems like a perfect fit. Tucker hasn’t been very good in 2025, but past seasons show that Tucker is capable of lifting teams single-handedly. The Yankees need to stop relying solely on Judge and would massively benefit from Tucker. Unfortunately, this would probably mean the loss of Cody Bellinger, but that may be a risk the Yanks are willing to take.
Alonso and Mullins Stay Put in Queens, Mets Acquire Dylan Cease
Although many believe Pete Alonso won’t stay in Queens, the New York Mets won’t disappoint, likely. The Mets know that the underrated “Polar Bear” deserves a long-term contract and will keep the offensive juggernaut in Queens. Alonso isn’t even that bad offensively, and with another great offensive season, there isn’t much to keep the Mets from re-signing him.
As for Cedric Mullins, the Mets must decide entirely whether or not players like Carson Benge are ready for the big leagues. In center, either the Mets will re-sign Mullins or rely on their young players, who they have plenty of. What the Amazins’ need mostly in the offseason is to keep the team together, especially since so much of the team is made up of young and inconsistent players waiting to break out.
However, to bolster their playoff expectations, even with multiple young starter pitchers and still more veterans, the Mets will probably sign a big free-agent starting pitcher. A couple of pitchers that come to mind are Dylan Cease and Zac Gallen. Many of the starters on the market have had bad seasons, so signing them is taking a big risk.
However, with many of those pitchers having good pasts, the Mets may take those risks anyway. New York could also just rely on the current rotation, which could also go very well for New York, with over 10 pitchers on their current roster, IL, or minor league system capable of starting in 2026.
Joe Ryan and Other Aces Traded
With so many inconsistent starting pitchers being free agents, it would make a lot of sense for many aces to be traded. This includes Joe Ryan, Sandy Alcantara (and other Marlins), and Mackenzie Gore. Many of these teams are seeking to get out of deep slumps, including the injury-ridden Minnesota Twins, the inconsistent Miami Marlins, and the still rebuilding Washington Nationals.
Many teams will probably be looking to upgrade their rotation and looking to the trade market instead of the free agent market. These teams include the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, and even the Mets. The offseason will include a lot of free agent deals for pitchers, but a more realistic and better option for some teams could be to trade for these players.
All in all, the 2026 offseason will definitely be exciting. With so many players slumping in 2025, including Tucker, Alcantara, and others, many teams may look to other options to get better. One thing is for sure: the 2026 offseason will be something to see.
Main Image: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images
