Major League Baseball’s offseason is likely to hit a lull over the coming days, as front office personnel around the league observe the holiday season. But there’s still enough time left for teams to cross some last-minute items off their list. Sunday alone saw the White Sox ink Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami and the Red Sox acquire first baseman Willson Contreras in a four-player trade. What will Monday bring? Below, CBS Sports has compiled all the day’s news and moves in one place.
Reds, White Sox talking Robert
The Reds and White Sox are again discussing a trade that would send center fielder Luis Robert Jr. to Cincinnati, reports the Cincinnati Enquirer. Chicago is said to be willing to eat money, perhaps as much as half the $20 million Robert is owed in 2026, to facilitate a trade. The Reds are deep in young pitching, something the White Sox are said to want in return.
Robert, 28, has had back-to-back disappointing years at the plate, though he remains a strong defender and top-flight baserunner. He’s two years removed from hitting 38 home runs, and center fielders who can do that are rare. The Reds and White Sox have previously discussed a Robert trade on several occasions, including last offseason and again at the July trade deadline.
We ranked Robert as the No. 22 trade candidate entering the offseason.
Mariners bring in Refsnyder
Platoon corner outfielder Rob Refsnyder is joining the Mariners on a one-year contract, the team announced. The deal is worth $6.25 million, per The Athletic. Refsnyder, 34, has spent the last four years as a lefty masher with the Red Sox, posting a .923 OPS against southpaws from 2022-25. That figured dropped to a .670 OPS against righties.
The Mariners have three right-handed hitting outfielders (Randy Arozarena, Victor Robles, Julio RodrÃguez), though Dominic Canzone is expected to get most of the DH at-bats, and he’s a left-handed hitter. Barring additional moves, Refsnyder is in line to platoon with Canzone and get at-bats spread around DH and the two corner outfield spots.Â
We ranked Refsnyder as the 43rd-best free agent available this offseason.
Red Sox still want Bregman back
The Red Sox intend to add more offense to their roster even after the aforementioned Contreras acquisition — and retaining third baseman Alex Bregman continues to be a priority, per The Athletic.Â
Bregman, 31, posted a 128 OPS+ and 3.5 Wins Above Replacement last season in 114 games with the Red Sox. He then opted out of what was technically a three-year pact but spiritually a series of one-year arrangements. Bregman would slot back in at third base, with the Red Sox sorting through their collection of young infielders to determine their second baseman.Â
Bregman is also of interest to the Diamondbacks, Blue Jays, Cubs, and Tigers.
Pirates chasing more bats after Lowe trade
The Red Sox aren’t alone in trying to double-dip on bats. The Pirates added second baseman Brandon Lowe on Friday, and yet that hasn’t stopped them from chasing after more bats. Instead, they have had several virtual meetings with Japanese infielder Kazuma Okamoto, per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
CBS Sports ranked Okamoto as the 22nd-best free agent available this winter. Here’s what we wrote:
Okamoto isn’t as famous or as exciting as his countryman Munetaka Murakami, but he has a better hit tool and he should find a MLB home after hitting .327/.416/.598 with 15 home runs and as many walks as strikeouts in 69 games. There are always concerns about how NPB batters will fare against MLB-caliber velocity. Okamoto is no exception in that regard. Add in the possibility that he’s viewed as just a first baseman (a right-handed-hitting one at that) and he could have a limited market. Still, it’s worth acknowledging that some models, like this component-based one created by former Marlins front office analyst Bradley Woodrum, have Okamoto as the best bet among NPB bats to hit in MLB.
Okamoto’s posting window is set to close on Jan. 4.