Author: Deesha Thosar Rowan Kavner

Coming up with the top-10 moments over the past year was not easy for 2025.

Baseball hit a boom period this past year, with history being made throughout the season at MLB’s biggest events. The World Series was one to remember, and the All-Star Game finished with a swing-off for the first time ever.

Here is the best of the best from 2025:

Honorable mention: A trio of four-homer games

Major League Baseball went seven straight seasons without a four-homer game when Eugenio Suarez changed that on April 26 against the Braves, becoming the 19th MLB player to accomplish the feat. Stunningly, two more players would join him on the exclusive list before season’s end. 

A’s rookie Nick Kurtz became the first rookie in MLB history with a four-homer game when he went 6-for-6 in Houston on July 25, joining Shawn Green (2002) as the only players ever with six hits and four homers in a single game. One month later, Kyle Schwarber became the 21st member of the club in a career year for the Phillies slugger, who led the National League with 56 home runs. 

Prior to the 2025 season, the last player to record a four-homer game was J.D. Martinez in September 2017. — Kavner

10. Clayton Kershaw gets his 3,000th strikeout, then goes out on top

Kershaw’s first career strikeout came when he was 20 years old on May 25, 2008, on a fastball to Skip Schumaker. Seventeen years later, in front of a sold-out crowd of 53,536 fans at Dodger Stadium who went to see history on July 2, 2025, the Dodgers’ all-time strikeout leader threw a slider to Vinny Capra that dotted the outside corner to become the 20th member of the 3,000-strikeout club. It’s possible, given the way that pitching has changed, that he’s also the last member of that exclusive list. It was just the latest feat in a career full of them for the former MVP, three-time Cy Young Award winner and future Hall of Famer, who went out a champion in 2025 with his third World Series ring. — Kavner

9. Denzel Clarke makes the catch of the year

If you still don’t know who Denzel Clarke is, get used to stuff like this from the A’s 25-year-old outfielder. This was, without question, the catch of the year. It might also go down as the greatest home run robbery ever (though I’m partial to the Gary Matthews Jr. grab). Clarke nearly fell over the left-center wall to make the catch. His waist was on top of the fence as he robbed Nolan Schanuel, who seemed to be in disbelief. A’s pitcher Grant Holman put his hands on his head in disbelief, who gazed incredulously out toward center-field.

It should come as no surprise that Clarke’s defense and sprint speed are both elite. Clarke ranked fifth among all MLB center fielders in outs above average (13), despite playing in just 47 games. — Kavner

8. Cy Young Skubal’s 13-strikeout complete game shutout (and a Maddux)

Tarik Skubal, in a late-May matchup against the Cleveland Guardians, was one out away from recording his first career complete game, and he had the chance to pull off a Maddux — a complete-game shutout on fewer than 100 pitches. Not only did Skubal strikeout Guardians shortstop Gabriel Arias to complete the feat, Skubal’s final pitch of the afternoon, an 0-2 fastball, clocked in at 103 mph — the hardest pitch thrown by a Tiger in the Statcast era, which dates back to 2015, and the fastest strikeout pitch thrown by an MLB starter since pitch tracking began in 2008. The final out represented the 13th strikeout of the game from Skubal, who celebrated by smiling and clapping his glove atop the mound.

Afterward, Skubal’s teammates had only three words to describe their ace: “He’s the best.” The southpaw’s electric performance was one of many that, months later, helped Skubal win the AL Cy Young award for the second consecutive year, becoming the first AL pitcher since Pedro Martinez (1999-2000) to achieve back-to-back wins. — Thosar

7. The first All-Star Game swing-off

Good luck trying to top the 2025 All-Star Game, because this one went down in the history books. After the AL offense tied the game off Edwin Diaz and the NL in the ninth inning, the All-Star Game went to a swing-off for the first time in history. Even though players didn’t know this at the time, the rule had been in place since 2022: if the All-Star Game was in a tie after nine innings, the game wouldn’t be decided in extra innings, but by dingers. So it went to a Home Run Derby-like six-man swing-off, and who else but Kyle Schwarber emerged as the slugger nobody could beat.

Schwarber went deep with all three of his allotted swings to give the NL the lead and the AL couldn’t keep up. For the AL, Brent Rooker homered twice, Randy Arozarena left the yard once, and Jonathan Aranda came up empty. In addition to Schwarber’s three dingers, the NL padded its lead with a Kyle Stowers home run. The NL outhomered the AL, 4-3, in the first ever swing-off, which resulted in a 7-6 win for the NL. — Thosar

6. Vladdy’s legendary go-ahead homer off Ohtani in Game 4 of World Series

The comeback kids authored another rally, as they had done all year, but this one, facing Los Angeles and Shohei Ohtani in the Fall Classic, turned the series on its head. The Blue Jays, playing on the road at Chavez Ravine, trailed the Dodgers by one run in the third inning when Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the ALCS MVP, crushed a go-ahead two-run blast off the two-way unicorn to even the Series at 2-2 and send it back to the Rogers Centre.

Just one day prior, in Game 3, Toronto had suffered a physically and emotionally draining loss over the course of six hours and 39 minutes. But it didn’t break them. Guerrero’s seventh home run of the postseason set a new Blue Jays franchise record and re-energized a fan base that started to believe the World Series would go the distance. — Thosar

5. World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto goes the distance

Eleven days after becoming the first Dodgers starter to throw a complete game in the postseason since Jose Lima in 2004, Yamamoto did it again on the game’s biggest stage when he went the distance against the Blue Jays and retired the last 20 batters he faced in Game 2 of the World Series to even the Fall Classic at a game apiece. He became the first pitcher to throw back-to-back postseason complete games since Curt Schilling in 2001.

As was the case with Schilling’s Diamondbacks, Yamamoto’s Dodgers also went on to win the World Series. Yamamoto played a vital role in the outcome. Coming off a 96-pitch outing in Game 6 that kept the Dodgers’ season alive, he triumphantly fired 34 more pitches one day later to close out the World Series in Game 7. — Kavner

4. ‘Big Dumper’ hits 60th home run

Cal Raleigh ultimately wasn’t named the MVP, but the 2025 MLB season will still be remembered as the year of “Big Dumper”. Raleigh gave Aaron Judge a run for his money for MLB’s top honor by leading the league with 60 home runs, setting single-season records for homers by a primary catcher (passing Salvador Perez’s mark of 48), homers by a switch-hitter (passing Mickey Mantle’s mark of 55) and homers by a Mariners player (passing Ken Griffey Jr.’s mark of 56). 

The list of players to hit 60 home runs is a short one: Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Judge, Roger Maris, Babe Ruth and now Raleigh, who not only was an All-Star for the first time in his career but also won the Home Run Derby and helped lead the Mariners to their first division title (and ALCS appearance) in 24 years. — Kavner

3. George Springer sends Blue Jays to World Series for the first time since 1993

What better way for Toronto to go back to the Fall Classic for the first time in 32 years than this swing from George Springer? With nine outs remaining in Game 7 of the ALCS, the Jays trailed the Mariners by two runs when Seattle right-hander Eduard Bazardo’s sinker leaked over the plate. Springer, the postseason hero in so many October classics, hobbling on a sore right knee, outdid himself. With runners on second and third, Springer sent Bazardo’s sinker to the left-field seats and Canada into pandemonium.

The Rogers Centre roof threatened to come off as Springer touched the bases, screaming and celebrating Toronto’s comeback that sent it to a World Series showdown against the Dodgers. It was Springer’s 23rd career playoff home run, tied for the third-most in MLB postseason history. It was the biggest home run of Springer’s life. It was legendary. — Thosar

2. Showcasing two-way talents, Shohei Ohtani puts together the best game ever

Every year, the expectations for Ohtani are so far beyond the comprehension of what most once deemed possible for a single player. And every year, he somehow surpasses them. A year after he created the 50/50 club as MLB’s first player ever with 50 home runs and 50 steals, he made a new one, becoming the first player ever with 50 homers as a hitter and 50 strikeouts as a pitcher in the same season.

The two-way greatness of Ohtani, who was named MVP for the fourth time in his career, culminated in arguably the single greatest game ever played. In Game 4 of the National League Championship Series against the Brewers, he went 3-for-3 with three home runs and a walk as a hitter and fired six scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts as a pitcher to send the Dodgers to the World Series. Decades from now, when someone wants to understand Ohtani’s greatness, this is the game they will show. — Kavner

1. Epic Game 7 World Series crowns the Dodgers as the first repeat champions in 25 years

From Miguel Rojas’ game-tying ninth-inning home run, to Andy Pages’ jaw-dropping catch at the base of the left-field wall, there was no shortage of iconic plays in a World Series Game 7 that we wish, especially in a long and cold offseason, we could be reliving right now. Alright, maybe Blue Jays fans don’t want to relive Rojas cutting down Isiah Kiner-Falefa at home in the ninth. And Canada definitely doesn’t miss the feeling of impending doom after Yoshinobu Yamamoto took the mound, again and again and again. 

Between all the hoopla, it was actually easy to overlook that Game 7 even featured a benches-clearing incident after Justin Wrobleski hit Andres Gimenez with a pitch. But who could forget Bo Bichette’s iconic three-run home run off Shohei Ohtani that knocked him out of the game in the third inning, right after the Dodgers made the mistake of intentionally walking Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in front of him? 

Game 7 had a little bit of everything before Will Smith blasted the game-winning home run in the 11th inning, and the Dodgers shut the door on the Jays to become the first repeat champions in 25 years. Nothing is topping that finale to the 2025 season. — Thosar

Deesha Thosar is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. She previously covered the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Long Island and now lives in Queens. Follow her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.

Rowan Kavner is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. He previously covered the L.A. Dodgers, LA Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, grew up in Texas, then moved back to the West Coast in 2014. Follow him on Twitter at @RowanKavner.

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The MLB hot stove has returned to being lukewarm after a few splashy signings made headlines at last week’s Winter Meetings in Orlando, Fla. That means there are plenty of stars still waiting to sign blockbuster deals, and a lot of work to be done for top contenders to keep up with the biggest players in the league.

Now that the Winter Meetings are behind us, let’s check in on the major storylines that will dominate the rest of the offseason. Here are 10 burning questions from FOX Sports’ MLB reporters Deesha Thosar and Rowan Kavner that, when answered, will make the stove sizzle:

1. Who lands Kyle Tucker?

Perhaps no free-agent position player will benefit more from the lucrative deals awarded to Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso at last week’s Winter Meetings than outfielder Kyle Tucker, who is younger and more well-rounded than both sluggers — and they managed to land a combined $305 million for their services. The market has been in a lull since those signings, as top executives are no doubt rethinking what it will take to sign Tucker. He was already projected to earn a multi-year contract in the range of $400 million, but after the deals that Schwarber and Alonso accepted, it wouldn’t be surprising if Tucker went even higher, with a possible ceiling of $425 million. The likeliest destinations for the top player in this year’s free-agent class remain the same: big-market teams including the Dodgers, Blue Jays, Yankees, and Mets remain the favorites to ink a long-term deal with Tucker. The bidding war for one of the best hitters in the league remains the biggest topic of the offseason. — Thosar

2. The Blue Jays aren’t going anywhere. How much further do they push?

The starting-pitching market hasn’t gotten going yet, save for one massive nine-figure commitment. After coming two outs (and one slide) away from winning their first World Series since 1993, the Blue Jays are clearly moving forward with the intention of doing everything they can to put themselves in the best position to finish the job in 2026. If $210 million for Dylan Cease wasn’t enough, they’ve also given $30 million to KBO MVP Cody Ponce and $37 million to reliever Tyler Rogers in an effort to patch up their pitching staff. And it doesn’t sound like they’re done shopping at the top of the free-agent market. Will Bo Bichette return? Will the Blue Jays outspend everyone for top free agent Kyle Tucker? It all seems to be in play. — Kavner

3. Are the Braves back?

If the 2026 season started today, the Braves would have the second-highest active payroll in MLB after acquiring top free-agent reliever Robert Suarez (three years, $45 million), bringing back closer Raisel Iglesias (one year, $16 million), and re-signing shortstop Ha-Seong Kim (one year, $20 million). Atlanta has already addressed two out of three of their biggest needs this offseason, including bolstering the bullpen and filling the hole at shortstop. The roster depth also looks solid after the additions of infielder Mauricio Dubon and outfielder Mike Yastrzemski. The final piece of the puzzle this winter is adding a proven starting pitcher to a rotation that includes Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach, and Reynaldo Lopez. If the Braves are determined to flash a top-five payroll in baseball when all is said and done, they might as well swing big after missing the playoffs this year. — Thosar

4. Where will Japanese standouts land as deadlines approach?

When a player from Japan gets posted, there’s a 45-day window to negotiate with MLB teams, after which the player returns to his NPB club if no deal is reached.  Considering those deadlines are fast approaching, there has been surprisingly little chatter about their potential destinations. Most notably, infielder Munetaka Murakami’s window ends on Dec. 22, followed by starting pitcher Tatsuya Imai on Jan. 2 and infielder Kazuma Okamoto on Jan. 4. Murakami has boom-bust potential considering his high strikeout rate and defensive limitations, but the raw power could be enough for a team to take a swing. He hit 22 home runs in 56 NPB games this year and will be 26 years old when the 2026 season begins. — Kavner

5. How will the AL East respond to the Jays and O’s?

Baltimore is advertising one of the filthiest lineups in baseball after signing slugger Pete Alonso, and that came after bolstering their outfield and bullpen with the acquisitions of Tyler Ward and Ryan Helsley. The Orioles still need a frontline starting pitcher to complete their successful offseason — with free-agent arms like Framber Valdez, Michael King, and Ranger Suarez still in the mix. And then there are the reigning American League champions, who have been major players in free agency, with Bo Bichette remaining Toronto’s biggest remaining target. While the O’s and Jays have gotten stronger, the rest of the AL East is facing pressure to keep up. The Red Sox’s biggest move of the winter so far was the trade for 36-year-old Sonny Gray. The Yankees haven’t made any noise since outfielder Trent Grisham accepted his qualifying offer to return to the Bronx on a one-year deal. Keep an eye out for the longtime AL East rivals to wake up with at least one splashy move each this offseason. — Thosar

6. Will Tarik Skubal or Ketel Marte get dealt?

There is a widespread industry belief that the trade market is robust and ready to explode, and those conversations start and end with whether Tigers ace Tarik Skubal will actually get traded. That speculation only grew after Scott Harris, Detroit’s president of baseball operations, said last week that “nobody is untouchable,” including the back-to-back reigning AL Cy Young winner. Skubal is on the cusp of his final year of team control before hitting free agency next offseason, so the prospect haul for any top contender to acquire the ace would have to be significant. At the same time, the Tigers know they have a strong chance at winning a weaker AL Central division with Skubal, and they can push the decision to deal him to July before the trade deadline. A trade with the Diamondbacks for second baseman Ketel Marte would also be expensive, as the switch-hitter’s name has been floated in trade talks this offseason. But the 32-year-old is the type of productive hitter (.887 OPS from 2023 to ’25) that could help out contending teams like the Mariners, Giants, and Red Sox. It would take major-league-ready talent to get it done, and Arizona is reportedly still open to moving Marte. — Thosar

7. Where do the rest of the top Boras clients go?

The past few offseasons didn’t yield the long-term deals that Pete Alonso, Alex Bregman and Cody Bellinger desired. But as the start to this winter demonstrated, all it takes is one team to believe. Alonso’s five-year, $155 million deal with the Orioles came after he opted out of the final year of a two-year, $54 million he signed with the Mets last offseason when his market didn’t materialize. The belief in himself paid off. Now, Bregman and Bellinger are hoping for something similar. After enjoying his first All-Star campaign since 2019, Bregman opted out of the final two years of his three-year, $120 million deal. Bellinger, meanwhile, opted out of the final year of his three-year, $80 million deal after a bounceback season in his first year in pinstripes. Along with Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette, they’re the top position players available. — Kavner

8. How do the Mets save their offseason?

After breaking up the Mets core and unceremoniously parting ways with fan-favorites Pete Alonso, Edwin Diaz, and Brandon Nimmo, president of baseball operations David Stearns is under a ton of pressure to execute a successful offseason and get New York back in the playoffs. His first move to help soothe the fan base was signing infielder Jorge Polanco to a two-year, $40 million deal. That’s a solid pickup if Polanco is the Mets’ primary DH. The club can work to save its offseason by acquiring a first baseman (Munataka Murakami? Ryan O’Hearn?), sign an impact bat in the outfield (Cody Bellinger? Kyle Tucker?) and, most importantly, upgrade the starting rotation, which has so far gone unaddressed. That has to change. — Thosar

9. Does a small-market team make a free-agent splash?

Alonso’s five-year, $155 million deal with the Orioles could come as a surprise, but for the most part it’s been the usual suitors participating at the high end of this year’s free-agent market. As much talk as there was about the Pirates, Reds, Marlins or one of the usually frugal franchises making a splash, we’re still firmly in “I’ll believe it when I see it” territory. The reported offers for Kyle Schwarber weren’t going to be enough to entice him to leave Philadelphia. Teams with annually low payrolls, especially those who don’t currently look equipped to contend for a championship, need to go above and beyond to land a top free agent. There are plenty of difference-making free agents still on the board, but with a potential labor battle ahead, I’m not holding my breath that we’ll see it. — Kavner

10. Will the biggest starting pitching move come via free agency or trade?

Following Cease’s signing, we’re sure to see more nine-figure deals ahead for the starting pitchers left on the market. But the lack of action with that position group could be a reflection both of teams’ hesitancy to spend lavishly on the available starters — Framber Valdez, Ranger Suárez, Tatsuya Imai and Michael King could all potentially start postseason games for contenders but don’t quite have the track record of the top free-agent pitchers in recent years — and their desire to aim higher on the trade market with Tarik Skubal, Freddy Peralta, MacKenzie Gore and Edward Cabrera potentially available for the right price. — Kavner

Deesha Thosar covers Major League Baseball as a reporter and columnist for FOX Sports. She previously covered the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Long Island and now lives in Queens. Follow her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.

Rowan Kavner is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. He previously covered the L.A. Dodgers, LA Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, grew up in Texas, then moved back to the West Coast in 2014. Follow him on X at @RowanKavner.

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ORLANDO, Fla. – The trade market is generating buzz, and most of this year’s marquee free agents are still fielding offers and waiting to sign. 

As execs, agents and managers gather at Major League Baseball’s annual Winter Meetings, there is plenty to keep tabs on. We got you covered with what is happening on the ground. 

Brian Cashman Dishes on Yankees

New York’s longtime general manager dropped some hints late Sunday night regarding his plans to improve the team this offseason. In general though, Cashman said there isn’t too much work to do, and the roster is in good shape – indicating the Yankees may not make a ton of splashy additions. They’re primarily focused on re-signing free-agent outfielder Cody Bellinger – even though he’s left-handed. 

Cashman knows the Yankees lineup is too left-handed (Jazz Chisholm, Trent Grisham, Austin Wells, Ben Rice and Ryan McMahon are all lefties), and they need more balance one-through-nine. That being said, Bellinger recorded a 1.016 OPS against southpaws this year. The 30-year-old’s reverse splits — plus a .909 OPS and 18 home runs at home, compared to a .715 OPS and 11 homers away — are attractive to the Yankees. Besides Bellinger, the Yankees have to focus on filling out their desolate bullpen.

As far as payroll, Cashman has continued to expel the notion that the Yankees have to stay under $300 million. Owner Hal Steinbrenner said last month that it would be “ideal” if the Yankees lowered their payroll from $319 million they spent on 2025’s roster. But it’s hard to believe the Bronx Bombers will be a better team in 2026 if they stay under $300 million — unless they swing a few blockbuster trades. For that reason, it seems more likely the Yankees will be more active on the trade market than in free agency. —Thosar

Trade Chatter Picking up Steam 

On the eve of last year’s winter meetings, Juan Soto exceeded every estimate imaginable when he signed the largest contract in MLB history. There was no such action leading into this year’s winter meetings, and there is no one of Soto’s caliber available this time around. Instead, teams are scouring the trade market in hopes of finding impact talent, particularly after most of the top arms on non-contending teams stayed put at the trade deadline. 

We’ve already seen Sonny Gray go to the Red Sox, a swap of Marcus Semien and Brandon Nimmo and another swap of Taylor Ward and Grayson Rodriguez. Expect bigger moves ahead. Among the top names to watch are Nationals starter MacKenzie Gore and shortstop C.J. Abrams, Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte and Marlins starters Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera. The biggest question still looming: Will the Tigers trade Tarik Skubal in his final year under team control? The most likely course of action is that they wait to see how they’re doing at the deadline before making that call, even if they don’t think they can extend him, but a blockbuster offer could be enticing. — Kavner 

Quiet So Far at the Top of the Market  

Outside of the players who accepted qualifying offers, there have only been three major free-agent moves entering Monday: Dylan Cease to the Blue Jays, Devin Williams to the Mets and Josh Naylor back to the Mariners. Almost all of the top free agents remain available. 

If a top free-agent does move early this week, the most buzz currently centers on Kyle Schwarber, who reportedly received a multi-year offer from a Pirates team typically unwilling to spend on premium free agents. His hometown Reds have also shown interest. Both teams will have a hard time outbidding a Phillies team that understands the value he brings both with his bat and in the clubhouse and has a lot of work to do to retool the roster this winter. For that reason, a return to Philadelphia still appears to be the most likely course of action. But they will have a lot of competition for the top bat on the market. Schwarber will be entering his age-33 season, but he’s coming off a career year and would immediately upgrade any lineup that has a DH spot available. If he does sign soon, that could help ignite the free-agent market. — Kavner 

Ranking all 30 Teams Ahead of Winter Meetings

All-Star sluggers like outfielder Kyle Tucker, third baseman Alex Bregman, outfielder Kyle Schwarber, infielder Bo Bichette, first baseman Pete Alonso, outfielder Cody Bellinger and others will make their decisions. But as we wait to see how rosters take shape over the coming weeks and months, here’s where all 30 teams stand right now. – Kavner

10 Biggest Storylines at Winter Meetings

Looming labor battle? How will the Dodgers re-tool as they aim for a three-peat? Where will the next wave of Japanese stars? This week will set the tone for the rest of the MLB offseason and provide a clearer picture of which teams will be major players in trade talks and free agency. Here are the 10 biggest storylines of the meetings. – Thosar/Kavner

Deesha Thosar covers Major League Baseball as a reporter and columnist for FOX Sports. She previously covered the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Long Island and now lives in Queens. Follow her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.

Rowan Kavner is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. He previously covered the L.A. Dodgers, LA Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, grew up in Texas, then moved back to the West Coast in 2014. Follow him on X at @RowanKavner.

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