#free-agency

#free-agency

With their chances of trading 3B Isaac Paredes diminishing, the Astros have expressed interest in free agent OF Michael Conforto, a source tells MLB. com. A LH hitter, the 32-year-old slashed .199/.305/.333 last year with 12 homers and 36 RBIs in 128 games for the Dodgers.- Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) February 18, 2026 They have tried to trade infielder Isaac Paredes - the odd man out in a crowded infield - in search of a left-handed bat.

The odds of the Miami Heat losing Andrew Wiggins for nothing this offseason just might've grown exponentially. The Heat's decision to keep Andrew Wiggins on the roster beyond the NBA Trade Deadline only looks worse after a recent rumor. According to ESPN's Dave McMenamin, the Los Angeles Lakers are already having discussions about targeting Wiggins in free agency. This type of backchanneling could make way for Wiggins opting to test free agency in an attempt to secure a multi-year contract,

When the Washington Commanders gave wide receiver Treylon Burks a second chance after his abrupt departure from the Tennessee Titans, nobody was expecting too much. He's never come close to reaching his first-round billing. The injuries that eventually led to Burks' release from the Titans only further tempered expectations. Burks flashed brief moments of promise, but nothing more. That puts the Commanders in a dilemma with the wideout before he gets the chance to test free agency.

With the Lakers, we get a lot of rumors,

Before the season was all said-and-done, Clowney was the best pass rusher in the building, and not simply because others struggled mightily to consistently get to the opposing quarterback. Clowney had a very good season by any contextual measurement, and in multiple categories. The 32-year-old notched a team-high in sacks (8.5), also this second-highest tally in the past four seasons,

Former Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler signed a minor league deal with the San Diego Padres on Monday. Buehler pitched for the Dodgers from 2017-24, missing the 2023 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. The right-hander turned down a $20 million offer from the Dodgers after entering free agency at the end of the 2024 season, and ultimately joined the Boston Red Sox. They released him midway through the season, and he finished the year with the Philadelphia Phillies.

While re-signing both could be possible, extending Gausman should be the preferred choice if it ends up being one or the other situation. Very few starting pitchers in the game are as consistent as Gausman. He's made at least 31 starts each of the past five seasons with an ERA of 3.83 or better. All signs point to him putting up strong numbers again after showing no signs of slowing down in 2025.

Veterans bring clarity to a defense by being able to be the calming force in a sometimes hectic game. A veteran doesn't have to necessarily be the most vocal, but must let their game speak for itself. That sets the tone for younger players trying to adjust to the NFL. A good free agent pickup can reduce mental mistakes, stabilize alignments, and allow younger players to develop, which is the key to a successful defense.

Everyone within the Washington Commanders seems to be in agreement about what the most pressing offseason need is to get this franchise back among the contenders. General manager Adam Peters must fix the pass rush, and he must do it urgently. Peters took heat from fans last year for not prioritizing the defensive edge. He kept faith with the options available while adding aging veterans to one-year deals.

The Padres have made no secret of their desire to add another starter and one more complementary bat before Opening Day. President of baseball operations A.J. Preller reiterated those goals from Spring Training (link via AJ Cassavell of MLB.com). There are still a handful of free agent starters who could make an impact (e.g. , Lucas Giolito, Zack Littell, Griffin Canning). San Diego seems to be working with tight payroll restrictions, however. That could point to a reclamation candidate like Walker Buehler or Germán Márquez if they address that via free agency.

We wouldn't be in the position that we're in right now if he didn't help us win games... His care factor's really high and he wanted to do whatever it takes to win. That's what I'll remember him for.

The Maple Leafs have four pending free agents, while Matias Maccelli and Nick Robertson are becoming restricted free agents. One player that the Maple Leafs could target is Darren Raddysh. NHL insider Nick Kypreos stated in the Toronto Star, "If there is a team that needs him more than Toronto, please let me know. He's a right-handed shot with a bomb and would be a perfect upgrade for an ongoing issue on their power-play."

I don't know that it needed to be Suarez specifically, but Orioles president of baseball operations and GM Mike Elias has thus far failed to add a front of the rotation starting pitcher. is probably good for 2 WAR and still has breakout potential. But (likely) better pitchers such as Suarez, Dylan Cease, , Framber Valdez, Michael King, MacKenzie Gore, and Freddy Peralta were available this winter and the Orioles didn't add any of them.

Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson won his arbitration hearing against the team, reports Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer. He'll earn the $6.8MM figure submitted by his reps at ACES rather than the $6.55MM figure submitted by the team.

One key player who is set to be a free agent this offseason is K'Lavon Chaisson, who joined the Patriots on a bargain deal worth just $3 million and had a crazy year in New England. The 20th overall pick in the 2020 draft spent four years in Jacksonville before signing with the Raiders for a year and then the Patriots. His one year in New England was a good one, as he tallied 7.5 sacks and 18 QB hits during the regular season.