Free agent right-hander Merrill Kelly, after being dealt by the Diamondbacks to the Texas Rangers at the trade deadline last season, is returning to Arizona on a two-year, $40 million deal, sources confirmed to ESPN amid multiple media reports.

Stay up to date with the MLB free agent market this offseason, including player signings, contract details, and team fits as the 2025-26 Hot Stove heats up.

Throughout 2025, Southwest Airlines announced a number of new partnerships, ranging from foreign airlines to American coffee companies. Now, early in 2026, the Dallas-based budget airline has revealed an agreement with the Chicago Cubs.

Meanwhile, the top four players on Kiley McDaniel's ranking of the top 50 free agents remain unsigned: Kyle Tucker, Framber Valdez, Cody Bellinger and Alex Bregman. Bo Bichette, the No. 7 player on the list, is also still on the market, along with three other players in the top 20 -- Ranger Suarez, Zac Gallen and Eugenio Suarez.

From an MLB Opening Day doubleheader on March 26 to the Wild Card round of the playoffs, NBC Sports’ 2026 schedule delivers wall-to-wall coverage.

Major League Baseball's return to NBC this season will feature a pair of marquee Opening Day matchups, Wild Card Series postseason games, a special "Star-Spangled Sunday" slate on July 5 and the return of Sunday Night Baseball and MLB Sunday Leadoff.

Commissioner Rob Manfred floated the idea of an in-season tournament similar to the NBA Cup. It offers possibilities, and brings challenges.

Obviously, Bazzana is the top prospect in Cleveland’s farm system, having been the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. Bazzana has shown some encouraging development through his first year and a half in the minors and should be in line to make his big-league debut at some point in 2026.