Five MLB Trades and Signings We’d Love to See Before the Lockout

With 2.5 weeks to go before Major League Baseball owners lock everybody out, it was about time we saw a big transaction.

We didn’t really get a head-turner during the General Managers Meetings, but not even 36 hours after they adjourned, bingo was shouted: Jake Bauers signed with the Boston Red Sox.

It’s a fun result, considering Bauers’ well-known story of retiring from a journeyman career and coming back for health insurance after Lauren Bauers became pregnant. And then helping the Milwaukee Brewers win the World Series in his career year.

What other wonders might the offseason bring? Before owners slam the trunk shut to leverage a salary cap. Here are five more moves that could hold us over until the lockout concludes.

Corey Seager traded to the Dodgers

Who out there doesn’t want to see the Dodgers make a major upgrade at shortstop? It’s something everyone can get behind. In all seriousness, it makes a lot of sense for the Texas Rangers to move Seager, who is set to make $31.5 million in each of the next five seasons.

He turns 33 in April and has spent a lot of time on the injured list in parts of 12 major league seasons. Seager also produces, averaging .284/.358/.503 with 32 home runs every 162 games — which is going to be closer to 100 games in real life. He still ranks well on defense, too.

Seager is a 10-and-5 guy, so he could veto any trade, but he came up with the Dodgers and probably would be OK trying for another World Series with the old club.

Teoscar Hernandez traded to the Blue Jays

Toronto finished dead last in runs scored in 2026, so Hernandez would help there. The Dodgers need to shuffle outfield depth with prospects like Josue De Paula ready to play every day. Hernandez (like Seager) played with the Jays in his 20s, making the All-Star tram in 2021, so a return to Rogers Centre would seem to be agreeable.

Kaima Taira signs with the White Sox

They need starting pitching, they’ve said they will pursue it this offseason, and Taira has been posted by the Seibu Lions of NPB. The White Sox had a lot of success importing Munetaka Murakami a year ago, and Taira is said to be one of the top 15 players available on the free-agent market.

Freddy Peralta signs with the Cubs

Peralta was throwing figurative fire in the postseason, adding mph to his fastball and having success with the Rays — at least until the World Series. A reunion with the NL Central, along with his former manager Craig Counsell, would be a juicy side plot for Cubs-Brewers games. Could Counsell finally get one over on his former team by leveraging Peralta? It’s worth a shot!

Drew Rasmussen signs a contract extension with the Rays

Nobody would see it coming, but how cool would it be for the Rays to keep a player they developed? It’s happened before — like with Evan Longoria — just not frequently. They’ve already exercised a $20 million option for Rasmussen, but he’s slated to be a free agent after next season. Unless the Rays go proactive and buy out some of those seasons. Given his health history, Rasmussen just might be interested in staying for a fair price.

Rasmussen staying also would be a nice companion story to the continued development of the Rays’ next stadium in Tampa.