2025-26 MLB Offseason: Japanese Stars, Big Trades & More

The 2025-26 MLB offseason is in full swing, and the action since mid-December has been nonstop! We’re covering every major signing, trade, and rumor that’s reshaping rosters ahead of Spring Training. Japanese aces and sluggers are making big splashes stateside: right-hander Tatsuya Imai inks a 3-year, $54M deal with the Houston Astros to bolster their rotation alongside Hunter Brown, while power-hitting first baseman Kazuma Okamoto signs a 4-year, $60M contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, adding serious thump to a lineup already featuring Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Reliever Pete Fairbanks cashes in with a 1-year, $13M pillow contract with the Miami Marlins as he looks to rebound and hit free agency again next winter. On the trade front, the deals are flying: the Tampa Bay Rays send second baseman Brandon Lowe to the Pittsburgh Pirates for prospects, giving the Bucs a much-needed lefty bat. The Rays continue their reload by shipping young starter Shane Baz to the Baltimore Orioles in a separate move. In one of the biggest shocks, the St. Louis Cardinals trade veteran catcher Willson Contreras to the Boston Red Sox, instantly upgrading Boston’s offense behind the plate.