Author: rincon

You can’t have enough great relievers, and New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz is arguably the best one on the open market this offseason.

A two-time National League Reliever of the Year, Diaz is among the more overpowering closers in MLB, hitting triple digits with his four-seamer and making hitters look silly with his slider. Diaz, who opted out of the final two seasons of a five-year, $102 million deal and figures to seek a similar pact, is a plug-and-play closer and in the prime of his career. The Mets will likely make a considerable effort to keep Diaz, but they’ll have plenty of company to secure his services.

Here are the three best fits for Diaz should he depart Queens.

The Tigers could use an impact bat (Eugenio Suarez? Alex Bregman?), but they could also use a boost in their bullpen, and adding Diaz would certainly qualify as such a jolt.

Detroit’s bullpen was 26th in MLB in strikeouts (533), 17th in ERA (4.05) and tied for 16th in WHIP (1.30) last season. Will Vest held his own in his first season as a full-time closer, but he still blew seven save opportunities, and Diaz is more proven in that regard.

Diaz could become the Tigers’ new closer, sliding Vest into a setup role. Furthermore, all of Detroit’s midseason bullpen acquisitions – Kyle Finnegan, Rafael Montero and Paul Sewald – are each free agents, making it incumbent upon the Tigers to add depth in the later innings. Last season, Diaz posted a 1.63 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 98 strikeouts and a 248 ERA+ in 66.1 innings pitched. He would add stability to manager A.J. Hinch’s bullpen.

All that said, Detroit could feel that it can bank on Vest, Brenan Hanifee and Brant Hurter making a collective jump and/or re-sign Finnegan, opting to save money and spend it primarily on an impact hitter.

The Blue Jays were on the precipice of a World Series triumph. But Miguel Rojas‘ solo home run with one out in the top of the ninth inning of Game 7 tied the game and the Dodgers went on to win in the 11th. Toronto needs to use that heartbreak as an excuse to throw haymakers this offseason to shore up its pitching staff, which signing Diaz would qualify as doing.

In the regular season, Toronto’s bullpen was 16th in ERA (3.98) and tied for 13th in WHIP (1.28). To boot, it boasted a 4.44 postseason ERA. Offseason pickup Jeff Hoffman – who was an All-Star in 2024 – underwhelmed, posting a 4.37 ERA, blowing seven save opportunities and, unfortunately for the right-hander’s sake, was the one who surrendered the game-tying home run to Rojas in Game 7 of the World Series.

Enter Diaz, who has posted an ERA below two in four of the last seven seasons that he has pitched (Diaz missed the 2023 season due to a knee injury). Diaz would give Toronto another reliever who posts strikeouts at a high rate and become its new closer, with Hoffman moving back into a setup role, which was his primary niche before joining the Blue Jays. 

What could stop Toronto from forking over a top-line contract for Diaz or any reliever for that matter, though, is it potentially viewing adding an ace as higher up on the list of needs (the Blue Jays’ starting rotation was 20th in MLB with a 4.34 ERA in the 2025 regular season) – and a proven closer being exactly what another team needs.

Yes, the Dodgers just won the World Series – again. But for the sake of having as close to a perfect roster as possible, Diaz is exactly what the Dodgers need.

In the regular season, the Dodgers’ bullpen was tied for 20th in ERA (4.27), a mark which was also 11th out of 12 playoff teams. Moreover, they were tied for 20th in WHIP (1.33), which was last among playoff teams. Left-hander Tanner Scott, who was signed to a four-year, $72 million deal last offseason, recorded a 4.74 ERA and led MLB with 10 blown saves; Kirby Yates, who was signed to a one-year, $13 million deal last offseason, posted a 5.23 ERA.

While, more often than not, Los Angeles was able to evade trouble in the postseason, it finished the playoffs with a 1.57 bullpen WHIP, with the unit being aided by starter Roki Sasaki becoming a fixture in the late innings. To avoid entering the postseason with a shaky bullpen, getting a new closer should be priority No. 1 for the Dodgers this offseason.

Diaz would become manager Dave Roberts’ new closer, giving him an established All-Star-caliber reliever who has also shut the door in postseason games. If Scott gets back on track and/or the Dodgers have an internal development, the more, the merrier. But they can’t take any chances.

The Dodgers have the money, as a $350 million payroll in 2025 showed, and the need. They’re the perfect fit for Diaz.

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Now that the confetti is clear from the Dodgers’ World Series victory parade, it’s time to start looking ahead to the World Baseball Classic.

Airing on FOX and its affiliate networks in March 2026, the sixth iteration of this tournament will feature 20 countries and territories whose best players will compete to prove that their country is the crème de la crème of professional baseball.

With that in mind, let’s dive into the early odds at DraftKings Sportsbook as of Nov. 18.

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World Baseball Classic 2026

USA: +160 (bet $10 to win $26 total)
Japan: +290 (bet $10 to win $39 total)
Dominican Republic: +425 (bet $10 to win $52.50 total)
Puerto Rico: +900 (bet $10 to win $100 total)
Venezuela: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)
Mexico: +1800 (bet $10 to win $190 total)
South Korea: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total)
Netherlands: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)
Italy: +4000 (bet $10 to win $410 total)
Cuba: +4000 (bet $10 to win $410 total)
Canada: +4000 (bet $10 to win $410 total)
Colombia: +4000 (bet $10 to win $410 total)
Panama: +6000 (bet $10 to win $610 total)
Israel: +8000 (bet $10 to win $810 total)
Australia: +8000 (bet $10 to win $810 total)
Chinese Taipei: +8000 (bet $10 to win $810 total)
Great Britain: +10000 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)
Czech Republic: +10000 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)
Nicaragua: +10000 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)
Brazil: +10000 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)

Here is what to know about the WBC oddsboard:

WBC Favorites: The USA is the early favorite to take the crown in next year’s premier global event, followed closely by Japan at +290. In 2023, the United States finished as runner-up to Japan, losing 3-2. The final at-bat of the thrilling championship game featured Shohei Ohtani pitching to Mike Trout. The two were teammates at the time on the Angels. Ohtani was able to strike out Trout in that final at-bat, lifting his home country to victory and earning Japan’s third World Baseball Classic title in the process. The USA has one piece of WBC hardware in its trophy case, last winning the event in 2017 after defeating Puerto Rico. Neither the USA nor Japan roster has been finalized, but chances are a trio of Dodger teammates — Ohtani, World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Dodgers closer Roki Sasaki — will represent the Japanese. For the USA, Aaron Judge, Paul Skenes and Cal Raleigh, among others, have committed to play.

Familial Territory: Speaking of Puerto Rico, at +900, the U.S. territory is fourth on the board. In addition to finishing as runner-up to the USA in 2017, P.R. was runner-up to the Dominican Republic in 2013. Unfortunately for Puerto Rico, the team will likely have to compete in the classic without one of its biggest stars, Kiké Hernández. The Dodgers’ utility player announced that he underwent left elbow surgery recently which will prevent him from playing in the tournament next spring.

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The Women’s Pro Baseball League will play its inaugural season at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois.

The WPBL plans to begin play on Aug. 1. The Women’s Baseball World Cup is being held in Rockford — about three hours north of Springfield — from July 22-26.

Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and Boston are the four teams for the league’s 2026 season. San Francisco will pick first in a snake-style draft on Thursday night, followed by Los Angeles, New York and Boston. The WPBL said there will be six rounds, with each team selecting five players per round.

Former Little League star Mo’ne Davis, USA Baseball’s Kelsie Whitmore and Japanese pitcher Ayami Sato are among the top players expected to be selected in the draft.

The WPBL said Robin Roberts Stadium “offers a central location” among its four founding clubs. Springfield also hosted one of the earliest paid women’s games in 1875, according to a WPBL news release.

The ballpark has a seating capacity of 5,200, and it recently installed a LED videoboard.

The upstart WPBL was co-founded by Justine Siegal, the first woman to coach for an MLB team, the Oakland Athletics, in 2015. When it debuts, it will be the first pro league for women since the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League — immortalized in the film “A League of Their Own” — dissolved in 1954.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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Right-hander Tatsuya Imai is entering Major League Baseball’s posting system and will be available to teams to sign as a free agent from Wednesday through Jan. 2.

He joins power-hitting corner infielder Munetaka Murakami, whose 45-day window to sign expires Dec. 22.

A 27-year-old right-hander, Imai went 10-5 with a 1.92 ERA this season with the Pacific League’s Seibu Lions. He struck out 178 batters in 163 2/3 innings.

Imai is 58-45 with a 3.15 ERA in eight seasons with Seibu, with 907 strikeouts in 963 2/3 innings. He is a three-time All-Star.

Imai pitched eight innings of a combined no-hitter against Fukuoka on April 18. He struck out 17 against Yokohama on June 17, breaking Daisuke Matsuzaka’s previous team record of 16 from 2004.

Per a report from Nikkan Sports, Tokyo Giants infielder Kazuma Okamoto is also set to be made available through the posting system on Wednesday. Like with Imai, Okamoto is represented by agent Scott Boras, and was brought through the initial stages of the process at the same time.

Okamoto, 29, has spent 11 seasons in NPB, and batted .327/.416/.598 in an injury-shortened 2025. He had appeared in at least 140 games in each of the previous four seasons, before a wrist injury cut this past campaign short. Okamoto still hit 15 home runs in 293 plate appearances, however, and 37 extra-base hits overall.

FOX Sports MLB analyst Rowan Kavner ranked Imai the No. 17 free agent this offseason in his top-30 list, and Okamoto No. 22. For the former he wrote that, “Imai continues to get better every year, seeing his strikeout rate rise and his walk rate decline precipitously,” while for the latter, “Okamoto is four years older than Murakami and doesn’t have the same raw power or star ceiling, but he also doesn’t strike out nearly as often and might have the higher floor.”

Under MLB’s posting agreement with Nippon Professional Baseball, the posting fee would be 20% of the first $25 million of a major league contract, including earned bonuses and options. The percentage drops to 17.5% of the next $25 million and 15% of any amount over $50 million. There would be a supplemental fee of 15% of any earned bonuses, salary escalators and exercised options.

How does the posting process work? Here’s a primer.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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If a team is looking for power, third baseman Eugenio Suarez fits the bill and then some.

Last season, which Suarez split between the Seattle Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks, he uncorked 49 home runs and posted a .526 slugging percentage. Suarez would be a great fit in Seattle for the foreseeable future, as the 34-year-old would fill a position of need for a Mariners team that was one win away from reaching their first-ever World Series.

However, any team in need of a third baseman will likely see what it costs to sign Suarez. And with that, here are the three best free agent fits for Suarez should he depart Seattle.

In theory, the Yankees’ 2026 starting lineup comes internally from one-to-nine, assuming that they re-sign one of outfielders Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham. But that lineup doesn’t have to be written with a Sharpie; Suarez would be a high-voltage pickup for New York.

Excluding the 2020 MLB season, Suarez has averaged 35.1 home runs per season over the last seven years. He would add another impact bat to a Yankees’ offense that led MLB with 274 home runs last season and be an overall upgrade at third base.

So, why make a move at third base? New York appears married to Anthony Volpe at shortstop, with Jose Caballero pushing him; Jazz Chisholm Jr. is the everyday second baseman; Ben Rice likely replaces Paul Goldschmidt at first base. Sure, Ryan McMahon is due $32 million over the next two seasons and is a great third baseman. At the same time, he hit just .214 last season and has extensive experience starting at second base, too. Suarez can take over at third base with McMahon moving into a utility role. 

All that said, the Yankees may refrain from backing up the truck for Suarez, instead preferring to get a third baseman who hasn’t entered their prime (Munetaka Murakami?) or at least one with a better defensive track record (Suarez posted -6 DRS at third base last season) should they entertain upgrading from McMahon.

Suarez is precisely what the 2026 Tigers need, and they don’t have to trade any prospects to get him.

Detroit shuffled several players at third base last season, including Zach McKinstry, Colt Keith and Andy Ibanez, among others. Signing Suarez would end the ever-fluid situation for the Tigers at the hot corner. Suarez, who ranked in the 89th percentile of MLB in barrel percentage last season (14.3%), would not only give the Mariners a proven third baseman but also a right-handed hitter with mammoth power.

While Detroit’s offense was a plausible unit, it ranked eighth out of 12 playoff teams in slugging percentage (.413). Suarez would fill a loose end and concurrently provide a power jolt to an offense that’s ready to roll. A lineup that features Riley Greene, Kerry Carpenter, Spencer Torkelson and Suarez is one that would be one of the best power units in MLB. Suarez fits the Tigers’ timeline, as they’ve made the playoffs in back-to-back years and are coming off a grueling, first-round playoff series loss to the Mariners.

So, why isn’t Detroit the No. 1 team for Suarez?

Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said that the Pirates have “more flexibility than [they’ve] had in other offseasons.” It’s time for the Pirates to put their money where their mouth is.

Last season, Pittsburgh was last in MLB in runs (583), home runs (117) and slugging percentage (.350), and 28th in hits (1,244). In summation, the Pirates’ positional depth chart needs help across the board. Suarez would be a firm solution at third base for the coming years, adding a proven commodity to the corner infield position and desperately needed power.

The Pirates would likely have to be the top bidder for Suarez and make a concerted effort to improve their roster elsewhere to convince the veteran third baseman to hop aboard, but he’d fill a void and represent a step in the right direction. As for the rest of their infield, the Pirates could objectively hope that one of infielders Nick Gonzales – the No. 7 pick in the 2020 MLB Draft – and Jared Triolo come into their own. But if Pittsburgh’s offense could be a middle-of-the-pack unit, it would have a fighting chance at being a wild-card team.

Paul Skenes is arguably the best starting pitcher in baseball, but Pittsburgh’s starting rotation goes well beyond just the 2025 National League Cy Young Award winner. Last season, the Pirates’ starting rotation was sixth in ERA (3.71) and tied for sixth in WHIP (1.19). Mike Burrows and Carmen Mlodzinski flashed the potential to be rotation fixtures; esteemed pitching prospect Bubba Chandler made his big-league debut; Mitch Keller is a solid, rotation fixture; the Pirates selected right-hander Seth Hernandez with the No. 6 pick in the 2025 MLB Draft; prior to suffering a torn UCL, right-hander Jared Jones showcased the ability to be a strikeout pitcher and top-of-the-rotation force in 2024.

If now isn’t the time for the Pirates, who haven’t had a winning season since 2018, to spend and make a jump, then when is? 

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Cole Hamels, Ryan Braun and Matt Kemp are among 12 newcomers on the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released Monday, and Carlos Beltrán heads 15 holdovers after falling 19 votes shy in 2025 balloting.

Howie Kendrick, Daniel Murphy and Rick Porcello also are among the first-time eligibles, joined by Shin-Soo Choo, Edwin Encarnación, Gio González, Alex Gordon, Nick Markakis and Hunter Pence.

Beltrán received 277 of 394 votes for 70.3% in the 2025 balloting, when Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner were elected.

A nine-time All-Star, Beltrán hit .279 with 435 homers and 1,587 RBIs over 17 seasons with Kansas City (1999-2004), Houston (2004, ’17), the New York Mets (2005-11), San Francisco (2011), St. Louis (2012-13), the New York Yankees (20014-16) and Texas (2016).

He received 46.5% support in his first ballot appearance in 2023, then rose to 57.1% in his second.

Beltrán was the only player cited by name in baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred’s 2020 report concluding the Astros used electronics in violation of rules to steal signs during Houston’s run to the 2017 World Series title and again in the 2018 season. Three days after the report was issued, the New York Mets said Beltrán was out as their manager, just 2 1/2 months after he was hired.

Other holdovers include steroids-tainted stars Alex Rodriguez (146 votes, 37.1%) and Manny Ramirez (135, 34.3%) along with Andruw Jones (261, 66.2%), Chase Utley (157, 39.8%), Andy Pettitte (110, 27.9%), Félix Hernández (81, 20.6%), Bobby Abreu (77, 19.5%), Jimmy Rollins (71, 18%), Omar Vizquel (70, 17.8%), Dustin Pedroia (47, 11.9%), Mark Buehrle (45, 11.4%), Francisco Rodríguez (40, 10.2%), David Wright (32, 8.1%) and Torii Hunter (20, 5.1%).

Pettitte is on the ballot for the eighth time after doubling support from 13.5% in 2024. A player can appear on the ballot up to 10 times.

BBWAA members with 10 or more consecutive years of membership are eligible to vote. Ballots must be postmarked by Dec. 31 and results will be announced Jan. 20. Anyone elected will be inducted on July 26 along with anyone chosen Dec. 7 by the hall’s contemporary baseball era committee ballot considering eight players whose greatest contributions to the sport were from 1980 on.

Hamels, a four-time All-Star, was 163-122 with a 3.43 ERA for Philadelphia (2006-15), Texas (2015-18), the Chicago Cubs (2018-19) and Atlanta (2020), pitching a no-hitter from the Phillies against the Cubs on July 25, 2015. He was MVP of the 2008 NL Championship Series and World Series as Philadelphia won its second title, its first since 1980.

Braun, the 2011 MVP and a six-time All-Star, hit .296 with 352 homers and 1,154 RBIs for Milwaukee from 2007-20. He was suspended for the final 65 games of the 2013 season for violations of baseball’s drug program and labor contract. A 50-game suspension for an alleged positive test in 2011 was overturned after Braun challenged the chain of custody of the urine sample.

Kemp, a three-time All-Star, batted .284 with 287 homers and 1,031 RBIs for the Los Angeles Dodgers (2006-14, ’18), San Diego (2015-16), Atlanta (2016-17), Cincinnati (2019) and Colorado (2020).

Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Don Mattingly and Dale Murphy are being considered by the contemporary era committee along with Carlos Delgado, Jeff Kent, Gary Sheffield and Fernando Valenzuela.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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A star second baseman in his prime and on a team-friendly contract. That’s what any team is getting in Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte.

In the wake of a disappointing season that saw Arizona miss the playoffs and be sellers at the MLB trade deadline, the switch-hitting Marte could very well be the next All-Star-caliber player moved by the franchise. Any team that needs a second baseman can talk themselves into making a move for the two-time Silver Slugger this offseason, but we’re narrowing the list. 

Here are the three best trade fits among playoff-caliber teams for Marte.

The Red Sox are close, but they need a little more oomph, and adding Marte would be a profound way to find it.

Marte, who posted 10 DRS at second base in 2024, would give Boston a surefire answer at second base (645 MLB starts) and somebody who can bounce to shortstop (256 MLB starts) or center field (160 MLB starts), when needed. The 32-year-old, who would form a stable, double-play duo with fellow veteran Trevor Story, is due just $92 million over the next five seasons and has a player option for the 2031 MLB season, an overall contract that’s one of the best values in the sport.

Marte would be a veteran star complement to a Red Sox offense that has an emerging core of young players like Roman Anthony, Romy Gonzalez and Wilyer Abreu. He can hit near the top of Boston’s lineup, generating offense for the meat of the order and having the lethal swing from both sides of the plate to do damage on his own. Marte would put the Red Sox on the same wavelength as the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees in the American League East next season even without internal growth. The Red Sox could send infielder and former first-rounder Mikey Romero, right-hander Hunter Dobbins and outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia to the Diamondbacks for Marte.

All that said, Boston may prefer to let Gonzalez or Marcelo Mayer be its everyday second baseman in 2026 with a healthy Triston Casas at first base, refraining from a move in the middle infield – though, it would be for an impact player.

How about going back to where it all began to give the team that brought Marte into the sport its first championship?

Marte, who spent the first two seasons of his MLB career in Seattle (2015-16), would be the team’s permanent answer at second base, a position that was a revolving door for the Mariners last season. This is a Seattle team that was one win away from reaching the World Series. Want somebody who thrives in the clutch? Marte was exceptional with the bat en route to the Diamondbacks winning the NL pennant in 2023, totaling two home runs and 11 RBIs while posting a .329/.380/.534 slash line in 17 postseason games.

The 32-year-old Marte would add a well-balanced hitter to a Mariners’ offense that, while third in MLB in home runs (238), was just 17th in hits (1,345) last season. Seattle could center its offer to Arizona for Marte around second baseman Cole Young and right-hander Emerson Hancock, who are each former first-round picks.

What could halt a Marte pursuit for the Mariners, though, is them potentially preferring to focus on re-signing their starting infielders (Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suarez) and also keep and move Jorge Polanco – who was primarily Seattle’s designated hitter last season – to second base. In that scenario, the Mariners preserve their roster depth and/or use it for a different trade.

Trading for Marte would be a slick move by Detroit.

Yes, Gleyber Torres just put together a respectable season for the Tigers, but Marte would be an upgrade for them at second base, specifically with the bat, and allow Detroit to spend elsewhere in free agency (maybe a third baseman?). While Detroit’s offense made strides last season, it was still just 16th in MLB in hits (1,346), 14th in on-base percentage (.316) and collectively posted a mere .207/.290/.317 slash line in the postseason. Marte would give manager A.J. Hinch a proven hitter who can swing the bat for both contact and power, adding another integral piece to the long-term puzzle.

Prior to blowing a 15.5-game lead in the AL Central to the Cleveland Guardians – granted, Detroit beat Cleveland on the road in the Wild Card Series – the Tigers looked like the best team in the AL. Their starting rotation was stellar, their bullpen held its own and their offense was a well-oiled machine. The Tigers still have the pieces to get back to being that team, but to do something with it, they need to take a swing this offseason.

Detroit could base a trade package for Marte around outfielder and 2023 No. 3 overall pick Max Clark and versatile infielder Colt Keith, among other young players.

Marte would fit with any team he’s potentially traded to. But for a Tigers’ team whose time to contend for the World Series is the present, Marte could be the piece that puts them over the top.

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According to Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington, superstar right-hander Paul Skenes won’t be traded … for now.

At some point, if Pittsburgh can’t field a contending team, it will be forced to consider trade offers for arguably the best right-handed pitcher in MLB when he gets within three years of free agency – or risk losing him for nothing on the open market. That said, if Pittsburgh would actually listen to historic trade offers for the 2024 National League Rookie of the Year and 2025 NL Cy Young Award winner this offseason, which teams make the most sense to pull off a deal?

Here are the three best trade fits for Skenes (as a basis, we’ll presume that any trade offer would have to include at least five top prospects/former first-round picks).

Any team that wishes to acquire Skenes has to meet three requirements: 1) they have a proven roster that the right-hander would put over the top, 2) they have a reputable farm system and 3) they have a resume of developing young players. The Braves check all three of those boxes.

Through his first 55 MLB starts, Skenes has posted a combined 1.96 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 386 strikeouts and 13.5 wins above replacement in 320.2 innings pitched. He keeps runners off the basepaths, pitches deep into games and would become the ace of an already talented Atlanta pitching staff at full strength.

One could argue that Skenes would be Atlanta’s best starting pitcher since its historic rotation trio of Greg Maddux, John Smoltz and Tom Glavine. Anchoring a rotation that includes Spencer Strider, Chris Sale, a healthy Reynaldo Lopez and one of Spencer Schwellenbach and Grant Holmes – for this exercise, one of them is traded for Skenes – Skenes would give Atlanta a top-five starting rotation.

Coming off a season that saw Atlanta miss the playoffs for the first time in eight years – and it still having not won a playoff series since the 2021 World Series – there should be a sense of urgency to get back on track. Worst-case scenario, the numbers get too high for Atlanta’s liking on a potential extension with Skenes, and it tries to capitalize on the five full seasons that it has him. In the meantime, the Braves have the track record of producing homegrown players across the board to build back up the depth they’d surrender to Pittsburgh for Skenes.

The only factor that could hinder a Skenes chase for the Braves is them already having Strider and potentially viewing healthy versions of Sale and Lopez as giving them enough top-of-the-rotation depth to not have to make a move of such substantial magnitude. 

The Astros just missed the playoffs for the first time in nine years and haven’t won a playoff series since 2023. It feels like Houston is losing its place as an AL powerhouse. Making a seismic move for Skenes erases any such doubt.

Last season, Houston’s starting rotation was tied for 13th in MLB in ERA (3.97). While respectable, this is a unit that has been thrown on its axis of late, especially with veteran Lance McCullers Jr. continuing to deal with elbow woes, among other injuries. Moreover, ace Framber Valdez is a free agent this offseason. Even if Valdez is retained, another proven arm would do wonders for this staff.

Enter Skenes, who throws an overpowering four-seamer and deploys a sweeper, split-fingered fastball, changeup and sinker – among other pitches – as part of his arsenal. The hard-throwing ace would become the new backbone of manager Joe Espada’s rotation. Combine Skenes with burgeoning star Hunter Brown, and the Astros have as potent of a one-two pitching punch as any in the sport. If Valdez re-signs, the more, the merrier, and that’s without mentioning the possibility of one of Spencer Arrighetti and Colton Gordon potentially making a jump.

Houston continues to replace outgoing veteran hitters internally and through trades (e.g. Yordan Alvarez, Jeremy Pena, Yainer Diaz and Isaac Paredes). It needs to pick up the pace elsewhere if it aspires to return to being the dominant force of the American League West. Acquiring Skenes would make the Astros the best team in the division.

Why aren’t the Astros No. 1 for a Skenes trade? Because there’s a team that Skenes would fill a glaring void for, and that franchise is one that won’t be outbid by any team for a player it covets.

The Mets are the team to make a Paul Skenes trade.

While there are a handful of blossoming (Nolan McLean) and/or reputable pitchers (when healthy, Kodai Senga is a force and David Peterson has the potential to be a consistent one) in New York’s rotation, it doesn’t have a proven ace. The Mets’ starting staff finished last season with a 4.13 ERA, good for 18th in the sport. Skenes would fill the Mets’ ace void for the next decade.

The reality of MLB is that one-sixth of the sport is willing and able to spend at a different level than the field, and the Mets are one of those teams, which they put on display by signing outfielder Juan Soto to a record-shattering, $765 million contract last offseason. Under owner Steve Cohen, the Mets, without question, won’t be outbid for Skenes should he hit the open market down the road and there be determination to sign him.

That said, if half the sport is going after Skenes in a trade beforehand (for instance, this offseason), the Mets have the luxury of most of their significant transactions of late having been free-agent signings, rather than trades. This means that they’re in position to drain the top of their farm system for a player they deem worth doing so; Skenes certainly fits the bill. 

The Mets, who missed the playoffs last season, need a Cy Young-caliber arm to rise to contention and stay there for the long haul. Acquiring a 23-year-old who already has a case for being the best pitcher in the game and is nowhere near his prime would certainly be one effective way to do so.

If New York pulls off acquiring Skenes, it would make every season a World Series-or-bust mentality for the franchise, similar to the Los Angeles Dodgers – who are the only other team with a payroll exceeding $300 million. 

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Texas Rangers pitcher Jacob deGrom was voted American League Comeback Player of the Year and Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. earned the National League honor Thursday night.

Edwin Diaz of the New York Mets was selected as the Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of the Year and Aroldis Chapman of the Boston Red Sox was picked as the Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year.

Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers won the Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award for the fifth straight year, matching the record Ortiz set from 2003-07, and Ohtani and the New York Yankees‘ Aaron Judge won their third Hank Aaron Awards as the most outstanding offensive performers.

Milwaukee general manager Matt Arnold became the first repeat winner of MLB’s Executive of the Year award.

DeGrom, a 37-year-old right-hander, had Tommy John surgery in June 2023, made three starts near the end of the 2024 season and went 12-8 with a 2.97 ERA and 185 strikeouts in 172 2/3 innings this year, earning his fifth All-Star selection.

Acuña, 27, tore his left ACL on May 26, 2024, and returned to the Braves this past May 23 and made his fifth All-Star team. He hit .290 with 21 home runs, 42 RBIs and nine stolen bases.

Also receiving AL votes were Baltimore pitcher Trevor Rogers, Toronto outfielder George Springer and shortstop Bo Bichette, Boston shortstop Trevor Story and right-hander Lucas Giolito and New York Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham. Others getting NL votes included San Francisco left-hander Robbie Ray, Philadelphia left-hander Jesus Luzardo, Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw, Milwaukee right-hander Brandon Woodruff and Chicago Cubs catcher Carson Kelly.

Díaz also earned the reliever award in 2018 and 2022, and he became the second three-time winner along with Josh Hader. The 31-year-old right-hander was 6-3 with a 1.63 ERA, 28 saves in 31 chances and 98 strikeouts in 66 1/3 innings.

The 37-year-old Chapman, an eight-time All-Star, was 5-3 with a 1.17 ERA, 32 saves in 34 chances and 85 strikeouts in 61 1/3 innings. The left-hander did not allow a hit to 50 consecutive batters from July 23 through Sept. 7. Chapman also won the award in 2019.

Chapman’s win boosted the price of his 2027 mutual option by $1 million to $14 million. The option would become guaranteed if he pitches 40 or more innings next year and is found to be healthy enough for the 2027 opening day roster. Seattle’s Andres Munoz earned $100,000 for finishing second and Kansas City’s Carlos Estévez $50,000 for third.

Ohtani, 31, hit .282 with 55 homers, 102 RBIs, 20 steals, 109 walks and 146 runs. He joined Alex Rodriguez from 2001-03 as winners of three straight Hank Aaron Awards. He was named NL MVP earlier Thursday.

Judge, 33, also won Hank Aaron Awards in 2022 and 2024. He led the major leagues with a .331 average and had 53 homers and 114 RBIs to win AL MVP honors.

Arnold’s Brewers won their third straight NL Central title in the league’s smallest market. The 46-year-old joined the Brewers as vice president and assistant general manager in 2015. He was promoted to general manager in November 2020. When David Stearns stepped down as president of baseball operations after the 2022 season, Arnold took over.

Past winners and distinguished players voted on the Hank Aaron Awards, while the DH honor is selected by club beat writers, broadcasters and public relations departments. The executive award is voted on by executives from all 30 MLB teams before the postseason.

The players for the All-MLB First and Second Teams were also announced on Thursday. 

First Team

Catcher — Cal Raleigh, Seattle

First Base — Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto

Second Base — Ketel Marte, Arizona

Third Base — José Ramírez, Cleveland

Shortstop — Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City

Outfielders — Aaron Judge, N.Y. Yankees; Juan Soto, N.Y. Mets; Julio Rodriguez, Seattle.

Designated Hitter — Shohei Ohtani, L.A. Dodgers

Starting Pitchers — Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh; Tarik Skubal, Detroit; Garrett Crochet, Boston; Yoshinobu Yamamoto, L.A. Dodgers; Max Fried, N.Y. Yankees.

Relief Pitchers — Aroldis Chapman, Boston; Jhoan Duran, Philadelphia.

Second Team

Catcher — Will Smith, L.A. Dodgers

First Base — Nick Kurtz, Athletics

Second Base — Brice Turang, Milwaukee

Third Base — Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay

Shortstop — Bo Bichette, Toronto

Outfielders — Cody Bellinger, N.Y. Yankees; Corbin Carroll, Arizona; Pete Crow-Armstrong Chicago Cubs.

Designated Hitter — Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia

Starting Pitchers — Cristopher Sánchez, Philadelphia; Freddy Peralta, Milwaukee; Bryan Woo, Seattle; Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia; Hunter Brown, Houston.

Relief Pitchers — Edwin Díaz, N.Y. Mets; Andrés Muñoz, Seattle.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Shohei Ohtani has won the fourth Most Valuable Player Award of his storied career, which is an achievement stuffed inside another achievement.

Ohtani is just the second player in MLB history to win more than three MVPs, with Barry Bonds — who stands atop the mountain with seven MVPs.

Here are three other ways Ohtani’s MVP is historically significant — not just in baseball, but in all North American sports:

1. Four MVPs

Ohtani joins an elite group across the major North American sports with his fourth MVP, as well. In the NBA, only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (six), Michael Jordan (five), Bill Russell (five), LeBron James (four) and Wilt Chamberlain have as many or more MVPs as Ohtani. 

In the NFL, it’s just quaterback legends Peyton Manning (five) and Aaron Rodgers (four) who have managed to collect at least as many year-end honors.

Wayne Gretzky was named NHL MVP nine times, with Gordie Howe earning the award on six occasions and Eddie Shore four times. And in the WNBA, A’ja Wilson’s most recent MVP season broke her out of a tie for what had been the most in league history, and into the same company as Ohtani with four.

2. Unanimous greatness

While Bonds, Abdul-Jabbar, Jordan, Russell, Manning and Gretzky have won more MVPs in their respective leagues than Ohtani has, he has managed something none of them have: he has won four MVP awards unanimously. 

MLB has had MVP awards in both leagues since 1931, and on just 24 occasions has a player received every possible first-place vote. Four of those seasons belong to Ohtani, who also happens to be the only MLB player to unanimously win the MVP more than once.

This is not just an MLB rarity, but rare in North American sports. Warriors superstar guard Stephen Curry is the only unanimous MVP in NBA history, achieving as much for his 2015-2016 season. LeBron James, while with the Miami Heat, fell short of a unanimous vote in 2012-2013, while Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O’Neal missed out by a single vote in 1999-2000. In the NFL, Tom Brady’s 2010 win as the New England Patriots quarterback provided a unanimous MVP decision, while Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson received every first-place vote in 2019 … and just missed a second unanimous MVP win in 2024 by one vote.

Wayne Gretzky’s 1981-1982 MVP with the Edmonton Oilers and Connor McDavid’s 2020-2021 MVP — also with the Oilers — are the NHL’s two unanimous campaigns. The WNBA’s inaugural MVP in 1997, Cynthia Cooper, was a unanimous selection for her season with the Houston Comets, while A’ja Wilson’s 2024 season with the Las Vegas Aces was just the second in league history. And MLS has never had a unanimously chosen MVP.

Which is to say that Ohtani has more unanimous nods than every other major sports league in North America has managed.

3. Three-peat

Ohtani has also now earned three straight MVP awards, which included the 2024 season in which he became the first in MLB history to win as a full-time designated hitter. That puts him just one shy of Bonds in at least this regard, as the Giants’ slugger won four in a row from 2001 through 2004. 

But Ohtani is now tied with the NFL’s Brett Favre and the three NBA legends – Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird and Bill Russell. 

Favre won the MVP in 1995, 1996 and 1997 with the Green Bay Packers; Chamberlain was named MVP in the 1965-66, 1966-67 and 1967-68 seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers; Bill Russell won in 1961-62, 1962-63 and 1963-64 for the Boston Celtics, while Larry Bird matched the both those records in the 1983-84, 1984-85 and 1985-86 seasons. 

Wayne Gretzky is on an island here: of his nine MVPs, he won eight of them in a row, starting with the 1979-80 season, and ending in 1986-87.

All that is to stay that Ohtani still has worlds to conquer.

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