Ranking the Top 3 Offseason Moves for Every MLB Team
With spring training now in full swing and preseason games underway, the MLB offseason is officially in the rearview, and the bulk of roster shuffling has been completed as teams gear up for 2026.
That makes this the perfect time to provide a quick snapshot of each team's wheeling and dealing this winter by ranking their top three moves of the offseason.
For most teams, free-agent signings or trade pickups headline the list, but for rebuilding clubs it's the deal to send out a veteran that grabbed headlines. There are also a handful of extensions worthy of recognition, and more could be coming this spring.
For now, here's a look at every MLB team's top three offseason moves, based on expected impact for the upcoming campaign and long-term ramifications.
Arizona Diamondbacks
1 of 30
Top 3 Offseason Moves
1. Signed SP Merrill Kelly
2. Re-signed SP Zac Gallen
3. Traded for 3B Nolan Arenado
Notes
-Roughly three months after he declined a qualifying offer, Zac Gallen ended up signing a matching one-year, $22.025 million deal to return to the D-backs, though now with $14.025 million deferred.
-The Cardinals included $31 million in the Nolan Arenado trade, which pays down a significant portion of the $42 million he is still owed over the next two seasons. Does the future Hall of Famer have anything left after logging an 87 OPS+ in 2025?
Athletics
2 of 30
Top 3 Offseason Moves
1. Extended SS Jacob Wilson
2. Extended OF Tyler Soderstrom
3. Traded for 2B Jeff McNeil
Notes
-The Athletics continue to lock up offensive core pieces, with Jacob Wilson (7/$70M) and Tyler Soderstrom (7/$86M) joining previously-extended Brent Rooker and Lawrence Butler as lineup pieces that are locked in long-term.
-Veteran starter Aaron Civale could potentially make a bigger impact than Jeff McNeil on his one-year, $6 million deal if he can bring some level of stability to the middle of a questionable starting rotation.
Atlanta Braves
3 of 30
Top 3 Offseason Moves
1. Signed RP Robert Suárez
2. Re-signed RP Raisel Iglesias
3. Signed OF Mike Yastrzemski
Notes
-By re-signing Raisel Iglesias (1/$16M) and adding Robert Suárez (3/$45M), the Braves have assembled a one-two punch at the back of the bullpen that stacks up to any in baseball. They also now have an in-house replacement in the closer's role if the 36-year-old Iglesias decides to hang it up after 2026.
-The No. 3 spot on this list would have belonged to the re-signing of shortstop Ha-Seong Kim (1/$20M) had he not suffered a torn finger tendon that will sideline him to start the year. Meanwhile, Mike Yastrzemski looks like the everyday left fielder, with Jurickson Profar shifting to the primary DH role.
Baltimore Orioles
4 of 30
Top 3 Offseason Moves
1. Signed 1B Pete Alonso
2. Traded for SP Shane Baz
3. Traded for OF Taylor Ward
Notes
-The Orioles addressed their inconsistent middle-of-the-order run production by adding Pete Alonso (144 OPS+, 38 HR) and Taylor Ward (116 OPS+, 36 HR) as part of a busy offseason.
-It cost four quality prospects to pry Shane Baz and his three remaining years of control away from the Rays, and that makes him the top pitching pickup in an offseason. Starters Chris Bassitt (1/$18.5M) and Zach Eflin (1/$10M), along with closer Ryan Helsley (2/$28M), have also been added to the staff.
Boston Red Sox
5 of 30
Top 3 Offseason Moves
1. Signed SP Ranger Suárez
2. Traded for 1B Willson Contreras
3. Traded for SP Sonny Gray
Notes
-The Red Sox pillaged the rebuilding Cardinals roster for a starting first baseman (Willson Contreras) and a No. 2/3 starter (Sonny Gray), and their willingness to take on salary helped limit the prospect cost in both trades.
-The additions of controllable starter Johan Oviedo and infielder Caleb Durbin would have easily cracked the top three for most teams, which shows how busy the Red Sox have been this winter as they try to keep pace in the AL East.
Chicago Cubs
6 of 30
Top 3 Offseason Moves
1. Signed 3B Alex Bregman
2. Traded for SP Edward Cabrera
3. Re-signed SP Shota Imanaga
Notes
-The Cubs have a new face of the franchise after inking Alex Bregman to a five-year, $175 million deal, and he could also have a significant positive impact on the clubhouse and culture of the team.
-When Shota Imanaga made the surprise decision to accept his qualifying offer, it changed the Cubs approach to the offseason, taking them out of the running for the market's top arms. That said, they still managed to bolster the staff with the blockbuster deal to add Edward Cabrera, who has some of the best pure stuff in baseball.
Chicago White Sox
7 of 30
Top 3 Offseason Moves
1. Signed 1B Munetaka Murakami
2. Traded away OF Luis Robert Jr.
3. Signed RP Seranthony Domínguez
Notes
-No one would have guessed the rebuilding White Sox would be the landing spot for Japanese League star Munetaka Murakami when the offseason started, but concerns about his strikeout rate drove his market down to a two-year, $34 million deal. He can opt-out next winter, so a big 2026 season would likely put him back on the market.
-The long-running speculation that Luis Robert Jr. would be traded finally came to fruition, as he was flipped to the Mets for former top prospect Luisangel Acuña, who could end up being his immediate successor in center field. It's officially the end of an era that began with such promise.
Cincinnati Reds
8 of 30
Top 3 Offseason Moves
1. Signed DH Eugenio Suárez
2. Re-signed RP Emilio Pagán
3. Signed OF JJ Bleday
Notes
-The first major move of the offseason for the Reds might have been the most important, as closer Emilio Pagan (2/$20M) was re-signed on the heels of a career-high 32-save season. Without him, the bullpen would be a major question mark.
-While he struggled last year and was non-tendered in November, JJ Bleday is just a year removed from a 20-homer, 2.2-WAR season with the Athletics. The 28-year-old has a chance to provide significant value after signing a one-year, $1.4 million deal, and he is arbitration-eligible through 2028 if he rebounds.
Cleveland Guardians
9 of 30
Top 3 Offseason Moves
1. Extended 3B José Ramírez
2. Signed RP Shawn Armstrong
3. Signed RP Colin Holderman
Notes
-A fresh seven-year, $175 million extension that runs through his age-39 season in 2032 should ensure José Ramírez spends his entire career in a Guardians uniform. With 57.6 WAR and eight top-10 finishes in MVP voting, he is quietly on a Hall of Fame trajectory.
-Outside of the J-Ram extension, the Guardians have had another quiet offseason, with relievers Shawn Armstrong (1/$5.5M), Colin Holderman (1/$1.5M) and Connor Brogdon (1/$900K) the only additions to the 40-man roster, aside from Rule 5 pick Peyton Pallette.
Colorado Rockies
10 of 30
Top 3 Offseason Moves
1. Signed SP Michael Lorenzen
2. Traded for IF Edouard Julien
3. Signed UT Willi Castro
Notes
-It's not often the Rockies are able to convince a competent veteran starter to sign in free agency, but this winter they've managed to add Michael Lorenzen (1/$8M) to serve as co-ace alongside Kyle Freeland, as well as Jose Quintana (1/$6M) and Tomoyuki Sugano (1/$5.1M) as veteran depth.
-Buying low on Edouard Julien and Jake McCarthy could give them two controllable, everyday pieces. Despite lackluster numbers the last two years, Julien is not far removed from posting a 130 OPS+ with 16 home runs and 2.6 WAR in 109 games as a rookie in 2023.
Detroit Tigers
11 of 30
Top 3 Offseason Moves
1. Signed SP Framber Valdez
2. Re-signed 2B Gleyber Torres
3. Signed SP Justin Verlander
Notes
-The arbitration hearing with ace Tarik Skubal might not have gone as hoped, but he's back to front a Detroit rotation that now features Framber Valdez and Justin Verlander behind him. The Verlander addition became even more important after Reese Olson was lost for the year to shoulder surgery.
-With 2.9 WAR and his first All-Star selection since 2019, second baseman Gleyber Torres proved to be a great pickup on a one-year deal last winter, and he's back on another one-year pact after accepting his qualifying offer.
Houston Astros
12 of 30
Top 3 Offseason Moves
1. Signed SP Tatsuya Imai
2. Traded for SP Mike Burrows
3. Traded for OF Joey Loperfido
Notes
-The Astros are banking on Japanese League standout Tatsuya Imai (3/$54M) slotting in as the No. 2/3 starter behind Hunter Brown and alongside Cristian Javier as one of the leaders of the rotation.
-Originally drafted by the Astros in 2021, Joey Loperfido was traded to the Blue Jays at the 2024 deadline in the Yusei Kikuchi deal. After posting a gaudy 140 OPS+ over 104 plate appearances in the majors last season, he was re-acquired in exchange for Jesús Sánchez and will compete for a starting role in a wide open Houston outfield.
Kansas City Royals
13 of 30
Top 3 Offseason Moves
1. Extended 3B Maikel García
2. Traded for OF Isaac Collins
3. Traded for RP Matt Strahm
Notes
-A five-year, $57.7 million extension for Maikel García locks in his entire arbitration window and could stretch into what would have been his first two free agency years if a 2031 club option is exercised. After a 5.8-WAR breakout season in 2025, that could end up being a team-friendly price tag.
-Giving up middle relievers Angel Zerpa and Jonathan Bowlan to add Isaac Collins and Matt Strahm was stellar work by the Kansas City front office, but did they do enough outside those trades to move the needle?
Los Angeles Angels
14 of 30
Top 3 Offseason Moves
1. Traded for SP Grayson Rodriguez
2. Traded for OF Josh Lowe
3. Signed SP Alek Manoah
Notes
-Go back just a few years to the 2022 season, and Alek Manoah was an All-Star and finished third in AL Cy Young voting, while Grayson Rodriguez was the No. 8 prospect in all of baseball. Injuries and inconsistency have derailed their trajectory, but they still offer significant upside for an opportunistic Angels team.
-Outfielder Josh Lowe was acquired in a three-team deal that sent reliever Brock Burke to the Reds, and he will replace Taylor Ward in the outfield after he was used to acquire the aforementioned Rodriguez.
Los Angeles Dodgers
15 of 30
Top 3 Offseason Moves
1. Signed OF Kyle Tucker
2. Signed RP Edwin Díaz
3. Extended 3B Max Muncy
Notes
-The Dodgers have made just two majors moves this winter, but they were big ones, with Kyle Tucker (4/$240M) and Edwin Díaz (3/$69M) addressing arguably the two biggest holes on the roster (left-handed outfield bat and closer) in elite fashion.
-Veteran Max Muncy quietly had a one-year, $10 million extension tacked onto his current deal for the 2027 season, and while he will turn 36 years old in August, he showed no signs of slowing down last year with a 136 OPS+ and 3.6 WAR in 100 games.
Miami Marlins
16 of 30
Top 3 Offseason Moves
1. Traded for OF Owen Caissie
2. Signed RP Pete Fairbanks
3. Signed IF/OF Christopher Morel
Notes
-The Marlins need offense in the worst way, so flipping controllable starter Edward Cabrera to the Cubs for a package built around young outfielder Owen Caissie made perfect sense. The 23-year-old has an .887 OPS with 41 home runs in 226 games at Triple-A the last two years, and he should plug immediately into the starting right field job.
-The intriguing power upside of Christopher Morel (1/$2M) is enough to claim the No. 3 spot, though recent addition Chris Paddack (1/$4M) appears to have an inside track to claim the final spot in the starting rotation over Janson Junk who has experience in relief.
Milwaukee Brewers
17 of 30
Top 3 Offseason Moves
1. Traded away SP Freddy Peralta
2. Re-signed SP Brandon Woodruff
3. Signed 3B Luis Rengifo
Notes
-The surprise decision by Brandon Woodruff to accept his qualifying offer put the budget-conscious Brewers in a tricky spot, and it was likely the last major domino that needed to fall to clinch a Freddy Peralta trade.
-Third baseman Caleb Durbin and outfielder Isaac Collins finished third and fourth in NL Rookie of the Year balloting, but both far exceeded expectations after never appearing on Top 100 prospect lists. The front office decided to sell high, bringing back a collection of controllable pieces.
Minnesota Twins
18 of 30
Top 3 Offseason Moves
1. Signed RP Taylor Rogers
2. Signed 1B Josh Bell
3. Signed C/DH Victor Caratini
Notes
-After gutting the bullpen at the trade deadline, a reunion with former closer Taylor Rogers (1/$2M) gives the Twins a proven late-inning arm to handle the ninth inning. The 35-year-old was an All-Star in 2021, and he tallied 88 saves in six seasons with the Twins at the start of his career.
-The latest in a series of one-year deals to plug a hole at first base and in the middle of the lineup went to Josh Bell (1/$7M), who quietly logged an .857 OPS with 11 home runs in 56 games after the All-Star break last season playing for the Nationals.
New York Mets
19 of 30
Top 3 Offseason Moves
1. Traded for SP Freddy Peralta
2. Signed 3B Bo Bichette
3. Signed RP Devin Williams
Notes
-No team has had a more high-profile offseason than the Mets. The additions of Marcus Semien (via TEX for Brandon Nimmo), Luis Robert Jr. (via CWS for Luisangel Acuña), Jorge Polanco (FA, 2/$40M) and Luke Weaver (2/$22M) would have been marquee moves for any other club.
-The glaring need for a proven ace makes Freddy Peralta the top pickup, while a three-year, $126 million deal for Bo Bichette makes him a cornerstone piece in the prime of his career. The final spot is up for debate, but after Edwin Diaz signed with the Dodgers, stabilizing the back of the bullpen became a top priority and Devin Williams does that, even after a bumpy 2025 season.
New York Yankees
20 of 30
Top 3 Offseason Moves
1. Re-signed OF Cody Bellinger
2. Traded for SP Ryan Weathers
3. Re-signed OF Trent Grisham
Notes
-Reunions with Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham will keep a standout Yankees outfield intact, and Bellinger will again serve as the primary protection for Aaron Judge in the lineup. It also raises the question of how former top prospect Jasson Domínguez fits into the team's plans.
-With Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón and Clarke Schmidt all set to open the season on the injured list, the Yankees had to do something to bolster the starting rotation, and Ryan Weathers brings a first-round pedigree, plus stuff and solid but inconsistent results.
Philadelphia Phillies
21 of 30
Top 3 Offseason Moves
1. Re-signed DH Kyle Schwarber
2. Re-signed C J.T. Realmuto
3. Signed OF Adolis García
Notes
-The top priority for the Phillies was bringing back key veterans Kyle Schwarber (5/$150M) and J.T. Realmuto (3/$45M), and both of those items were eventually checked off the to-do list.
-The bar is extremely low for two-time All-Star Adolis García to be an upgrade over Max Kepler in left field, and even in a down year he was still a 2.7-WAR player in 2025 before being non-tendered by the Rangers. Setup reliever Brad Keller (2/$22M) also deserves a shoutout as a high-leverage addition to the relief corps.
Pittsburgh Pirates
22 of 30
Top 3 Offseason Moves
1. Traded for 2B Brandon Lowe
2. Signed 1B/OF Ryan O'Hearn
3. Signed DH Marcell Ozuna
Notes
-The Pirates ranked 30th in the majors in runs scored (583) and home runs (117) last season, so it's no surprise the focal point of the offseason has been bolstering the offense. In Brandon Lowe, Ryan O'Hearn and Marcell Ozuna they added 69 home runs and 214 RBI worth of production in 2025.
-Lefty reliever Gregory Soto (1/$7.75M) was also a splashy addition by Pirates standards, and he could end up closing games if Dennis Santana regresses from a career year.
San Diego Padres
23 of 30
Top 3 Offseason Moves
1. Re-signed SP Michael King
2. Signed IF Sung-Mun Song
3. Signed DH Miguel Andujar
Notes
-Most expected the Padres to lose both Michael King and Dylan Cease, so the fact that they were able to bring King back on a three-year, $75 million deal helped cushion the blow in the rotation.
-The story of the offseason for the Padres has been casting a wide net of modest veteran signings. Germán Márquez, Walker Buehler, Triston McKenzie and Marco Gonzales are all battling for the No. 5 starter job, while Griffin Canning is also a candidate once healthy. Meanwhile, Nick Castellanos, Ty France and José Miranda are all vying for one bench spot.
San Francisco Giants
24 of 30
Top 3 Offseason Moves
1. Signed SP Tyler Mahle
2. Signed OF Harrison Bader
3. Signed 2B Luis Arraez
Notes
-The Giants signed Tyler Mahle (1/$10M) and Adrian Houser (2/$22M) to shore up the rotation, and it's Mahle who will be tasked with replacing Justin Verlander as the No. 3 guy behind Logan Webb and Robbie Ray. The 31-year-old was terrific when healthy last season, posting a 2.18 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 86.2 innings.
-Harrison Bader offers double-digit upside in both home runs and steals, but it's his glove that figures to make the biggest impact in center field after outfield mates Jung-Hoo Lee and Heliot Ramos graded out as two of the worst defensive outfielders in baseball a year ago.
Seattle Mariners
25 of 30
Top 3 Offseason Moves
1. Re-signed 1B Josh Naylor
2. Traded for IF Brendan Donovan
3. Traded for RP José A. Ferrer
Notes
-Josh Naylor quickly proved to be the perfect fit for both the Mariners lineup and clubhouse after he was acquired from the D-backs last summer, and the front office wasted no time locking him up with a five-year, $92.5 million deal.
-Consensus Top 100 prospect Harry Ford was a steep price to pay for lefty reliever José A. Ferrer in a trade with the Nationals, but Ford lacked a clear path to playing time with Cal Raleigh firmly blocking him on the depth chart.
St. Louis Cardinals
26 of 30
Top 3 Offseason Moves
1. Traded 3B Nolan Arenado
2. Traded SP Sonny Gray
3. Traded 1B Willson Contreras
Notes
-Ideally, this is what the Cardinals offseason would have looked like a year ago, but they have officially kicked off rebuilding efforts by trading away their three high-priced veterans and leaning into a youth movement.
-They also shipped out 2025 All-Star Brendan Donovan, but the clear focus here was shedding salary, and the three guys listed above saved the team more money when they were flipped to contenders.
Tampa Bay Rays
27 of 30
Top 3 Offseason Moves
1. Traded SP Shane Baz
2. Traded 2B Brandon Lowe
3. Traded for 2B Gavin Lux
Notes
-Unlike the Cardinals, two prominent "sell" moves by the Rays was not a sign they are waving the white flag in 2025. Instead, it's an ongoing organizational philosophy where they do a mix of opportunistic selling and high-value buying, and the prospect return they received for three years of Shane Baz significantly bolstered an already deep farm system.
-Aside from acquiring Gavin Lux in a three-team deal that sent Josh Lowe to the Angels, the Rays also added Cedric Mullins in center field, and Steven Matz and Nick Martinez to round out the rotation.
Texas Rangers
28 of 30
Top 3 Offseason Moves
1. Traded for SP MacKenzie Gore
2. Traded for OF Brandon Nimmo
3. Signed C Danny Jansen
Notes
-With aging veterans Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi anchoring the starting staff, the Rangers reshaped the present and future when they parted with five quality prospects to acquire MacKenzie Gore. The 26-year-old is controllable through 2027 and is a prime extension candidate as the "ace-in-waiting" in the rotation.
-The Brandon Nimmo-for-Marcus Semien trade will be an interesting one to monitor in 2025, but it does make logistical sense for the Rangers. They essentially swapped out Semien and Adolis García for Nimmo, while opening up a regular role for standout utility man Josh Smith and saving money in the process.
Toronto Blue Jays
29 of 30
Top 3 Offseason Moves
1. Signed SP Dylan Cease
2. Signed 3B Kazuma Okamoto
3. Signed SP Cody Ponce
Notes
-With Kevin Gausman and Shane Bieber both ticketed for free agency next offseason, the Dylan Cease signing gives the Blue Jays an in-house replacement atop the rotation. The Kazuma Okamoto addition likewise cushions the blow of George Springer's upcoming departure.
-The No. 3 spot might have gone to signing setup reliever Tyler Rogers (3/$37M) in free agency before Bieber landed on the injured list, but now KBO returnee Cody Ponce goes from intriguing flier to the clear No. 5 starter.
Washington Nationals
30 of 30
Top 3 Offseason Moves
1. Traded SP MacKenzie Gore
2. Traded for C Harry Ford
3. Signed SP Foster Griffin
Notes
-There is no question the biggest move of the offseason for the Nationals was cashing in trade chip MacKenzie Gore in a blockbuster deal with the Rangers, and they further padded an improved farm system when they acquired catcher Harry Ford from the Mariners in exchange for José A. Ferrer.
-The No. 3 spot was a debate between the upside of Foster Griffin in his return from the Japanese League and the floor of Miles Mikolas as an innings-eating veteran who looks like the favorite to take the ball on Opening Day. For a rebuilding team, upside wins.
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