Overview
- Dylan Cease’s seven-year, $210 million agreement with Toronto set the tone for starter spending early in the offseason.
- The Athletic reports the Blue Jays are pursuing late-inning relievers and are among the teams interested in former Rays closer Pete Fairbanks after being in the mix for Ryan Helsley, Raisel Iglesias and Phil Maton.
- The Orioles reached a confirmed two-year, $28 million agreement with Helsley that includes an opt-out after one year, positioning him to handle ninth-inning duties.
- Cubs president Jed Hoyer said pitching is the club’s offseason priority and that Chicago will explore both free agency and trades after durability concerns exposed a need for more rotation depth.
- Jeff Passan says the Mets are in the mix for free agent Kyle Schwarber and suggests a deal could come by the end of the Winter Meetings, while other reports link the Dodgers as a potential landing spot for free-agent closer Edwin Díaz.