The World Series is over, but the drama is just getting started. In this episode, “Major League Baseball Offseason News and Rumors,” Baseball Podcast takes you inside the chaos of the 2026 hot stove, where every opt-out, trade rumor, and free agent meeting has the power to reshape the entire league.The hosts start by resetting the board after a wild 2025 season, walking through the major award winners and what they signal about the sport’s future. You’ll hear how Aaron Judge captured his third AL MVP in a razor-thin race over Cal Raleigh, why Shohei Ohtani’s fourth MVP with the Dodgers puts him in truly historic company, and how Cy Young winners Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal just became the pitching pillars their franchises will build around. They also break down Rookie of the Year honors for Nick Kurtz and Drake Baldwin, explaining how Baldwin’s win triggers a valuable Prospect Promotion Incentive draft pick for the Braves, and why that rule is quietly changing how teams handle top prospects.From there, the episode pivots to the emotional fallout of the World Series itself. The Dodgers’ title run and the Blue Jays’ heartbreak set the tone for two very different approaches to the winter. On the L.A. side, the hosts spotlight veteran infielder Miguel Rojas and his game-tying homer in Game 7 as a masterclass in the underrated value of utility players, and explain why his free agency decision suddenly matters so much for their depth chart. On the Toronto side, they trace how Ernie Clement went from scrap-heap pickup to World Series hero hitting .411 in October, and how breakout arm Treya Savage just gave the Jays a cost-controlled rotation anchor who frees up money for a big bat.Then it’s on to the biggest names on the market. The show digs into Max Scherzer’s next move at age 41 and why a one-year reunion with Detroit makes sense, before turning to the contract battles that will define the winter. You’ll get a full breakdown of Pete Alonso’s opt-out from the Mets, the tension between his elite production and long-term defensive concerns, and the very real possibility he ends up launching homers for a rival like the Yankees, Red Sox, Phillies, or Orioles. The hosts also examine Toronto’s aggressive pursuit of Kyle Tucker, explain why the Yankees and Mets may sit that one out, and walk through Alex Bregman’s bold decision to walk away from $80 million in Boston—complete with David Ortiz publicly lobbying for him to return.No offseason episode would be complete without pitching, and this one delivers. The conversation covers Edwin Díaz’s bid to reset the closer market with a five-year, $100 million deal, the Dodgers’ and Blue Jays’ interest, and why Raisel Iglesias has become the “Plan B” that might actually be smarter value. The hosts widen the lens to the global arms race, profiling Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai as a high-floor mid-rotation prize without draft-pick penalties, and breaking down why the Cubs are so fixated on trading for Dylan Cease after Shota Imanaga’s departure.Front office strategy is a recurring theme throughout. You’ll hear how the Mets’ pursuit of an ace is boxed in by brutal qualified free agent penalties, why the Mariners are prioritizing keeping Josh Naylor and Jorge Polanco over big external splashes, and how a thin catching market could force the Phillies to choose steady defensive excellence from J.T. Realmuto over Kyle Schwarber’s 56-homer power. The show also hits on the Pirates’ rumored $30 million payroll bump around Paul Skenes, the Twins’ delicate Rule 5 roster juggling with prospects like Gabriel Gonzalez, ownership uncertainty in San Diego, the Orioles’ quiet coaching upgrade with Miguel Cairo, and Erasmo Ramirez’s attempt to reinvent himself as a swingman for 2026.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/baseball-podcast--680951