Luis Arraez (ankle) sits for season finale Sunday

Imai didn’t seem to enjoy his first year in MLB, but changing his situation by either returning to Japan or trying to find another MLB team would have cost him. He’s guaranteed $18 million each of the next two years, and he’ll again have the opportunity to opt out next winter. Imai ended up 6-4 with a 4.93 ERA and a 97/51 K/BB in 76 2/3 innings over 15 starts and eight relief appearances last season. His 2027 salary would have increased by $2 million if he topped 80 innings, which is part of why the Astros barely used him down the stretch.

Rivero had one of the most out-of-nowhere performances of the decade in June, going 5-for-5 with six RBI against the Dodgers. As it turned out, it was his next-to-last major league game of the year, as he suffered a broken hamate bone two days later, and the Angels didn’t have a spot for him once he was ready to return. He and Peralta both figure to become free agents in search of minor league deals.

That’s one option. Another would be to acquire a quality first baseman and simply give Arenado days off when he needs them. Arenado had a terrific rebound campaign in Arizona, but it came with the worst hard-hit rate and highest strikeout rate of his career. A similar followup at age 36 doesn’t seem very likely. Plus, the Diamondbacks need to seriously address first base this winter after Tim Tawa, Ildemaro Vargas and others combined to hit .233/.282/.354 in that spot last season. That .636 OPS was easily the worst in the majors, and the D-backs were just as bad at DH, getting a .630 OPS there.

Eaton was one of the guys expected to be squeezed from Boston’s 40-man this winter. The 29-year-old has hit .221/.294/.307 in 328 plate appearances since debuting in the majors in 2022.

Gil has thrown five scoreless innings between the two outings, though he has walked five. It seems like there’s a pretty good chance the 2024 American League Rookie of the Year will be traded this winter after finishing the season in the minors.

Simon, 26, played in 21 games for the Pirates last season and hit .254/.299/.349. He came in at .334/.426/.472 in Triple-A. It’s hard to say whether that will be enough to keep him on the 40-man roster this winter. Simon offers speed and versatility, but although he’s played a lot of second base and some short and third in the minors, the Pirates only really seem to trust him in the outfield. His bat just isn’t very interesting if he’s primarily going to be used in left or right.

Leclerc struggled to make it back last season after shoulder surgery in 2025 and was released by the Padres in September after amassing a 7.77 ERA in 22 appearances in the minors. The former Rangers closer is still just 32, and he’ll try to get back on the radar of major league teams this winter.

Gonzalez is thriving in Venezuela, having hit .379/.471/.690 with four homers and 16 RBI in 14 games. That Luke Keaschall couldn’t cut it at second base and had to be moved to the outfield is a problem for Gonzalez and fellow prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez as they try to force their way into Minnesota’s lineup. The team’s ideal outfield going forward most likely involves Byron Buxton, Walker Jenkins and Keaschall, though Buxton might be looking at more time at DH. Gonzalez has been playing some first base to open up another possible path to the majors.

Sosa is hitting .308/.471/.564 with three homers in 12 games. His 11 walks rather stand out, given that Sosa has averaged one every 33 plate appearances as a major leaguer. The 26-year-old Sosa was released by the Blue Jays in September after missing more than three months with a wrist injury. He might have to settle for a minor league contract this winter.

Well, it was his first game in a month and his first ever winter league game in his native Venezuela. Alvarez was serving as a DH in the contest. Luis Torrens also plays for Magallanes and went 1-for-4 with an RBI as the team’s first baseman.