Jim Bowden: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Why insider ‘chuckled’ at agents’ winter trade deadline desire

MLB rumors continue to dominate the headlines following this year’s MLB Winter Meetings in Orlando, where several player agents floated one of the more surprising offseason ideas in recent memory.

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Former MLB Executive Floats Bold Free Agency Contract Plan for Reds

It's the offseason, and it feels like a very important one for the Cincinnati Reds, who are looking to make it back to the postseason for the second consecutive year in 2026 for the first time since they made it in 2012 and 2013.

MLB News / New York Yankees on SI / December 6

Yankees Predicted to Land Mets Reliever in Splash Move

The MLB winter meetings are about to begin, and a bold prediction from an insider has the New York Yankees making a surprising move for a reliever in town.

Atlanta Braves News / Atlanta Braves on SI / December 5

MLB Insider Names Braves Fit to Sign All-Star, Return Him to Form

The looming Winter Meetings mean more ideal landing spots are being named. For the Atlanta Braves, they’re deemed a fit, not just to sign an All-Star starting pitcher long term, but to get him back to his high-caliber ways.

Kyle Schwarber News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'Active MLB home run leaders' quiz

How many of the most prolific power hitters in baseball today can you name in 5 minutes?

The 'Last 40-home-run season by MLB team' quiz

The 'MLB All-Star Game MVPs' quiz

The '50-home-run MLB seasons' quiz

Atlanta Braves News / SportsTalkATL / December 5

A hypothetical deal Braves should avoid at the Winter Meetings

The MLB Winter Meetings are set to kick off in a couple of days, which should — hopefully — jumpstart the offseason and spark a flurry of free-agent and trade activity.

Athletics News / Yardbarker

25 MLB players on the brink of stardom in 2026

The stars were out in full force during the 2025 World Series. From Max Scherzer in Toronto to Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, and of course, Shohei Ohtani, in Los Angeles, there was no shortage of the game's best under the brightest lights.

MLB News / Texas Rangers on SI / November 26

Former GM Jim Bowden Declares Early Winner In Rangers-Mets Blockbuster Trade

When a baseball trade is made, it's often difficult to tell right away which team won the deal. One side may have gotten the better player or more talent on paper, but it's impossible to predict the future and know how the trade will actually play out on the field.

Pittsburgh Pirates News / Pittsburgh Pirates on SI / November 17

Pirates Named Fit for Padres Top 30 Free Agent

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates desperately need hitters to make their 2026 season a competitive one and they could go after one of the best of this generation in free agency.

New York Yankees News / Pinstripe Alley / November 15

Yankees news: Outfield, pitching top offseason priority list

The Athletic | Jim Bowden: ($) After this week’s GM meetings in Las Vegas, some of the Yankees’ offseason priorities are coming into focus. Perhaps most

Los Angeles Dodgers News / Los Angeles Dodgers on SI / November 7

Dodgers Linked to Projected $88 Million All-Star Closer in Free Agency

The Athletic's Jim Bowden named the Los Angeles Dodgers as a potential landing spot for All-Star closing pitcher Edwin Diaz this offseason. Diaz opted out of the final couple of seasons of his contract with the New York Mets after the conclusion of the World Series, and will test the free agency market this winter.

New York Mets News / New York Mets on SI / November 7

MLB Insider reveals Mets’ preferred free agency plan

The New York Mets know they have to upgrade their starting rotation this winter and there are a lot of avenues to do so. While the free agent market has

New York Yankees News / Pinstripe Alley / November 6

Yankees news: Early Free Agent Rumors and Predictions

The Athletic | Jim Bowden: (subscription required) Every year, the early days of November bring out a veritable deluge of offseason breakdowns and predictions.

MLB News / Yardbarker

The 25 greatest pitching seasons from the modern MLB era

America's favorite pastime has more memorable performances than any sport. As such, figuring out which pitchers had the best seasons ever is no easy task.

Baltimore Orioles News / Baltimore Orioles on SI / October 31

Orioles should target these starters in free agency

The Baltimore Orioles will have some work to do this offseason if they plan on returning to the MLB postseason next year. Of the improvements the team needs to make, starting pitching sticks out as a glaring need.

San Diego Padres News / San Diego Padres on SI / October 31

Padres Tabbed as Best Fit for Projected $190 Million Pitcher in Free Agency

The San Diego Padres are in the market for a starting pitcher this offseason, and are missing an elite left-hander to slot into their rotation. The Athletic's Jim Bowden believes the Friars can solve their problem in free agency by pursuing the best starting pitcher on the market, the Houston Astros' Framber Valdez.

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Colorado Rockies News / Colorado Rockies on SI / October 29

Rockies Linked to Intriguing American League Infielder in Free Agency

After a historically bad 2025 season, the Colorado Rockies are looking for upgrades anywhere on the roster, in the lineup, in the rotation, or in the bullpen.

Chicago Cubs News / Cubs Insider / October 29

Cubs Could Target Japanese RHP Tatsuya Imai, Who Throws ‘Wrong Way’ Slider

I’ve been looking for the right time to write about Japanese righty Tatsuya Imai ever since seeing Lance Brozdowski’s breakdown of his “wrong way” slider (5:35 mark, clip below), and now I’ve got it.

Minnesota Twins News / Minnesota Twins on SI / October 28

Twins named as best fits for three underwhelming free agents

What are the Twins going to do this offseason? Not to put the cart before the horse (the Twins still have to hire a manager), but there are some free agents who might catch the front office's attention if they're allowed to spend any money this winter.

Athletics News / Pittsburgh Pirates on SI / October 28

Pirates Named Landing Spot for Reds Reliever

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates had a strong bullpen in 2025, but could bolster it with one free agent signing from a divisional rival for 2026. Jim Bowden of The Athletic named Cincinnati Reds right-handed relief pitcher Emilio Pagán as the 33rd best free agent amongst the 50 he ranked.