St. Louis Cardinals Slugger And All-Star Just Rejected Contract Offer And Confirm He Went To Leave The Club

St. Louis Cardinals Slugger And All-Star Just Rejected Contract Offer And Confirm He Went To Leave The Club

MLB Free Agency Rumors, Buzz: Toronto Blue Jays Slugger Out Most of 2026

We’re now into the hot stove season with MLB free agency and big offseason trades expected to happen.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays played a World Series classic, and the winter meetings have passed.

Now we’re keeping track of players who may be on the move, manager comings and goings, and other buzz from around the majors.

Feb. 11
Anthony Santander out for foreseeable future
The switch-hitting outfielder will miss the next five-to-six months due to left labral surgery, Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider announced. Santander, who’s entering the second season of a five-year, $92.5 million deal with the Blue Jays, was limited to just 59 combined games in 2025 (regular season plus postseason) due to a shoulder injury. In the regular season, he totaled just six home runs, 18 RBIs and -1 wins above replacement, while posting a .175/.271/.294 slash line.

The season prior (2024), Santander was an All-Star for the Baltimore Orioles, hitting a career-high 44 home runs and averaging 35 home runs and 95.3 RBIs per season from 2022-24.

Feb. 10
Rays sign Nick Martinez
The Tampa Bay Rays and starting pitcher Nick Martinez finalized a one-year contract, worth $13 million on Tuesday. The 35-year-old pitcher gets a $9 million salary this season, and the deal includes a $20 million mutual option for 2027 with a $4 million buyout payable on Dec. 15. Martinez went 11-14 with a 4.45 ERA in 26 starts and 14 relief appearances for Cincinnati last year. The right-hander threw a career-high 165 2/3 innings.

Martinez is 48-59 with a 4.16 ERA in 151 relief appearances and 129 starts over eight years in the majors. He had his best season in 2024, when he went 10-7 with a career-low 3.10 ERA in 42 games with the Reds.

Juan Soto changing positions
Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns announced that Soto will be shifting from right field to left field next season. Soto has extensive experience at both corner outfield positions but has primarily started in right field over the last two years. Last season was Soto’s first with the Mets and saw him total -7 defensive runs saved in right field. At the same time, the six-time Silver Slugger totaled a career-high 43 home runs, 105 RBIs, a National League-high 38 stolen bases and 6.2 wins above replacement, while posting a

Francisco Lindor may need surgery
Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns revealed that Lindor is being evaluated for a stress reaction in his left hamate bone and could need surgery. If the four-time Silver Slugger indeed needs surgery, it could keep the shortstop off the field for roughly six weeks. The 32-year-old Lindor had elbow surgery in October. Last season, Lindor, a five-time All-Star, totaled 31 home runs, 86 RBIs, 31 stolen bases and 5.9 wins above replacement, while posting a  slash line.