Author: rincon

Cooperstown is gaining two outfielders. 

Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2026, it was announced on Tuesday. 

Beltran was a nine-time All-Star and one of the greatest hitters of his generation. He logged 2,725 hits, 435 home runs and 312 stolen bases over his 20-year career. Beltran capped off his 20-year career by winning his first and only World Series title during his second stint with the Houston Astros in 2017. Beltran also played for the Kansas City Royals, New York Mets, San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees and Texas Rangers. 

Beltrán, making his fourth appearance on the ballot, received 358 of 425 votes for 84.2% from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, 39 above the 319 needed for the 75% threshold. Beltrán moved up steadily from 46.5% in 2023 to 57.1% the following year and 70.3% in 2025, when he fell 19 votes short as Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner were elected.

Jones, meanwhile, was a five-time All-Star in his 17-year career. He was a key piece to the Atlanta Braves teams that won 11 straight NL East titles from 1995 to 2006, helping them win the National League pennant twice during his tenure with the team. Jones was also regarded as one of the game’s top outfielders, winning 10 straight Gold Glove Awards (1998-2007). Jones, who hit .254 with 434 home runs and 152 home runs in his career, also played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Rangers, Chicago White Sox and Yankees. 

Jones, in the ninth of 10 possible appearances, was picked on 333 ballots for 78.4% of the vote. Jones received just 7.3% in his first appearance in 2018 and didn’t get half the total until receiving 58.1% in 2023. He increased to 61.6% and 66.2%, falling 35 votes short last year.

They will be inducted at Cooperstown, New York, on July 26 along with second baseman Jeff Kent, voted in last month by the contemporary era committee.

BBWAA members with 10 or more consecutive years in the organization were eligible to vote.

Chase Utley (59.1%) was the only other candidate to get at least half the vote, improving from 39.8% last year. He was followed by Andy Pettitte at 48.5%, an increase from 27.9% last year, and Félix Hernández at 46.1%, up from 20.6%.

Cole Hamels topped first-time candidates at 23.8%. The other first-time players were all under 5% and will be dropped from future votes.

Steroids-tainted players again were kept from the hall. Alex Rodriguez received 40% in his fifth appearance, up from 7.1%, and Manny Ramirez 38.8% in his 10th and final appearance.

David Wright increased to 14.8% from 8.1%.

There were 11 blank ballots.

Beltrán was the 1999 AL Rookie of the Year and won three Gold Gloves, also hitting .307 in the postseason with 16 homers and 42 RBIs in 65 games.

Jones’ batting average is the second-lowest for a position player voted to the Hall of Fame, just above the .253 of Ray Schalk, a superior defensive catcher, and just below the .256 of Harmon Killebrew, who hit 573 homers.

A five-time All-Star, Jones earned 10 Gold Gloves. He joins Braves teammates Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz and Chipper Jones in the hall along with manager Bobby Cox.

In the 1996 World Series opener at Yankee Stadium, Jones at 19 years, 5 months, became the youngest player to homer in a Series game, beating Mickey Mantle’s old mark by 18 months. Going deep against Pettitte in the second inning and Brian Boehringer in the third of a 12-1 rout, Jones became the second player to homer in his first two Series at-bats after Gene Tenace in 1972.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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Want a three-time batting champion who can play two positions and is in the prime of his career? Hello, Luis Arráez!

The San Diego Padres‘ first baseman — who also has extensive experience playing second base — is among the best remaining MLB free agents. While Arráez could easily slide back into the corner infield position for the Padres in the wake of Ryan O’Hearn‘s free agent departure, Jake Cronenworth could also return to being the team’s everyday first baseman. Plus, the 28-year-old Arráez figures to have outside opportunities.

Here are three ideal fits for Arráez should he depart San Diego.

The Nationals have some compelling young position players (e.g., James Wood, CJ Abrams and Daylen Lile). What they don’t have are veteran complements for that young core, and Arráez would be a slick pickup for first-year manager Blake Butera’s depth chart.

In all likelihood, Arráez would be Washington’s Opening Day first baseman, as the Nationals don’t currently possess a proven first baseman after designating veteran Nathaniel Lowe for assignment in August. Hitting at or near the top of the order, Arráez would set the table for Abrams, Wood and others to do damage, providing an elite contact hitter who seldom strikes out to an offense that was just 21st in MLB in hits last season (1,313).

Plus, Arráez, who started his career as a primary second baseman, can move to the middle infield position should second baseman Luis Garcia get hurt and/or there’s an emergence at first base for the franchise. Arráez provides defensive versatility and is a consistent, left-handed hitter who gets on base, serving as an enhancement to an overall young lineup. At the same time, the Nationals could very well sign Arráez to a short-term deal just to flip him for a combination of touted prospects, continuing to add organizational depth to a franchise that has posted six consecutive losing seasons; he likely prefers to play for a contender.

It’s all about the present for the Mariners, and Arráez fits that aim.

A two-time Silver Slugger, Arráez would likely start at second base for the Mariners given them re-signing first baseman Josh Naylor on a five-year deal. If there was one thing Seattle did well in 2025, it was hit the long ball (the Mariners were third in MLB with 238 regular-season home runs). The other side of that? They were sixth in MLB in strikeouts (1,446). Arráez has 215 career strikeouts. That’s not a misprint.

Arráez, who has led the National League in hits in each of the last two seasons, would make an impact anywhere in Seattle’s order, setting the table for those behind him and creating traffic on the basepath. Yes, the Mariners may want former first-rounder Cole Young or Leo Rivas to get their chance to be the starting second baseman. That said, Rivas has played multiple infield positions — making him tailor-made for a utility role — and a short-term deal for Arráez doesn’t terminate the chances of either Rivas or Young being an everyday player in the near future. He would balance out the Mariners’ lineup and give them a better chance to win next season. The only hindrance to Arráez potentially joining the Mariners would be that his presence at second base is written in Sharpie, given Naylor is locked in at first base; there’s minimal wiggle room for Arráez in Seattle outside of being its designated hitter.

Arráez and the Guardians are a match. Sure, Cleveland has a handful of middle infielders — Brayan Rocchio, Daniel Schneemann and Gabriel Arias — who have had their moments, but none of these individuals are as impactful at the plate as Arráez. A three-time All-Star, Arráez would give Cleveland a quintessential contact hitter and form an electric one-two punch with Steven Kwan at the top of manager Stephen Vogt’s order. The pair of quick hitters would provide more RBI opportunities for Jose Ramirez and Kyle Manzardo.

Arráez could work at either first or second base for Cleveland. Granted, Arráez playing second base is more likely at the outset, given the Guardians could put Manzardo at first base on a full-time basis (Manzardo served as Cleveland’s designated hitter for 68 games in the regular season).

The Guardians were last in hits (1,199), 29th in batting average (.226) and on-base percentage (.296) and 28th in runs (643) last season. Despite those damning facts, Cleveland still won the AL Central and was one win away from advancing to the AL Division Series. Arráez helps the Guardians in all those respects, is a proven commodity and wouldn’t block 2024 No. 1 overall pick Travis Bazzana from playing second base at the MLB level (Arráez could move to first base or serve as the Guardians’ designated hitter).

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Well, it happened again.

The First Order — sorry, the Los Angeles Dodgers — reportedly agreed to a four-year, $240 million deal with star outfielder Kyle Tucker on Thursday night, a move that shoots the Dodgers’ 2026 payroll north of $400 million. What makes the contract layered, though, is that it includes deferrals.

Here are the details of how Tucker’s contract is structured.

What does it mean to defer a contract?

MLB teams have the ability to defer part of a contract, should the player agree to the terms, which means that a player can receive a portion of the money beyond the duration of the deal. For example, a player could agree to a deal that sees them receive $1 million per year for five years after their contract expires.

Kyle Tucker contract details

Tucker has an opt-out in his contract after Years 2 and 3 of the deal and a $64 million signing bonus.

When does Tucker get his money?

Of the $240 million, $30 million is deferred. Given the deferrals, the average annual salary on Tucker’s contract is an MLB-record $57.1 million, compared to $60 million had it been a traditional contract, per ESPN. This also lessens the Dodgers’ luxury tax hit.

What else the Dodgers fork over to sign Tucker

Since Tucker was offered — and rejected — a qualifying offer from the Chicago Cubs, whom he played for last season, the Dodgers surrendered their third- and sixth-highest selections in the 2026 MLB Draft to sign him.

Earlier this offseason, the Dodgers signed former New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz, which came at the expense of losing their second- and fifth-highest selections in the 2026 MLB Draft and $1 million in international bonus pool money since the right-handed reliever was extended a qualifying offer. 

By the way, who is Kyle Tucker?

Tucker spent the first seven seasons of his MLB career with the Houston Astros (2018-24) before being traded to the Cubs following the 2024 MLB offseason.

Over the last two years, the primary right fielder has been held back by calf and shin injuries. That said, Tucker still posted 4.7 wins above replacement across 78 regular-season games in 2024 and 4.6 wins above replacement across 136 regular-season games in 2025.

Tucker, who earned a Gold Glove honor in 2022, is a two-time Silver Slugger and a four-time All-Star. He led the American League with 112 RBIs in 2023 and boasts a career 140 OPS+.

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Arguably the best starting pitcher that hit the open market this offseason remains for the taking: former Houston Astros left-hander Framber Valdez.

Regardless of why he remains a free agent, Valdez is a proven, top-of-the-rotation force who pitches deep into games and is a consistent force who would be the ace for half of the teams in the sport.

Here are three ideal free agent destinations for Valdez.

It’s difficult to gauge how the Giants view themselves, but they’ve shown a clear willingness to make bold moves under president Buster Posey (e.g. Willy Adames and Rafael Devers); Valdez would be a shrewd signing for San Francisco and fit its recent tendencies.

Yes, the Giants have added veteran right-handers Adrian Houser and Tyler Mahle. With that said, neither pitcher is starting Game 1 or Game 2 of a playoff series and veteran Justin Verlander is a free agent. Valdez, who primarily leans on his sinker and curveball while mixing in a chanegup, bolsters the Giants’ staff in a profound way. The southpaw is among the best left-handed pitchers in the sport, would add veteran pedigree and boost a starting staff that was 17th in MLB in ERA (4.10) and tied for 23rd in WHIP (1.34) last season.

In the Giants’ own division, the National League West, the Los Angeles Dodgers continue to create a historically stacked roster, their latest move being signing star outfielder Kyle Tucker, and the San Diego Padres are a perpetual force. Realistically, the Giants can’t match the Dodgers’ offensive firepower, but they can try to neutralize it. Valdez and Logan Webb would form a potent duo at the top of first-time MLB manager and former Tennessee skipper Tony Vitello’s rotation.

If Landen Roupp or Hayden Birdsong make the jump, the more, the merrier. But to be a legitimate playoff threat, the Giants need more oomph, and an accomplished left-handed starter fits the bill. 

There’s no downside to how Valdez would fit in San Francisco. The Giants’ issue is that while Valdez would put them in the wild-card mix, he likely doesn’t make them a contender for the NL pennant.

The Orioles have been aggressive in adding slugging this offseason, signing star first baseman Pete Alonso and trading for Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward, but they still need to make an impact move — if not two — to their rotation to return to the playoffs. Enter Valdez.

The 32-year-old Valdez would fill a void in the Orioles’ rotation that was created by the departure of Corbin Burnes last offseason: an ace. As for last year, the Orioles’ starting rotation was 24th in ERA (4.65) and 21st in WHIP (1.32).

Valdez, who led the American League with 201.1 innings pitched in 2022, works through trouble, provides length and is accustomed to pitching in the postseason; he has thrown eight complete games since 2022 and made 16 postseason starts with the Astros. In 2022, Valdez posted a 1.44 ERA and 0.88 WHIP across four postseason starts (and 25 innings pitched) en route to the Astros winning the World Series. Valdez would, unequivocally, be the most reliable pitcher in Baltimore’s rotation and the backbone of its entire pitching staff. 

Moreover, Valdez would form a dynamic duo at the top of the rotation with fellow southpaw Trevor Rogers, who posted a 1.81 ERA and 0.90 WHIP in 18 starts down the stretch of the 2025 regular season. As currently constructed, the Orioles are too reliant on bounce-back and healthy seasons from Dean Kremer and Cade Povich. Adding Valdez takes some of the burden off the aforementioned right-handers to blossom, as well as Rogers to build on his spectacular finish to 2025.

The Orioles, who won 96 games per season from 2023-24, are a great fit for Valdez. There’s just a franchise with more urgency to be a contender than Baltimore.

Valdez is exactly what the Mets need.

Yes, New York has signed infielders Bo Bichette and Jorge Polanco and proven relievers in Devin Williams and Luke Weaver this offseason. At the same time, the gaping hole in the Mets remains: they don’t have a proven ace. Valdez would become that pitcher.

Valdez beefs the Mets’ pitching staff across the board. He would become their Opening Day starting pitcher, providing much-needed length to a rotation that was 27th in innings pitched in 2025 (796) and a proven commodity without a “what-if” or questions about his development. He’s a sure thing.

When healthy, Kodai Senga is a force to be reckoned with; Nolan McLean shined in his first career MLB action last season (2.08 ERA in eight starts); Clay Holmes held his own in his first stint as a full-time MLB starting pitcher (3.53 ERA in 31 starts). If Senga and/or Tylor Megill are healthy and one or even both of McLean and Holmes build on their 2025 success, that’s a boon for the Mets, but it’s not ensuring that they make the playoffs.

After holding the best record in MLB at 45-23, the Mets proceeded to miss the playoffs last season. Getting complacent in the form of relying on internal growth for a starting rotation that was 18th in ERA (4.13) and tied for 26th in WHIP (1.35) would be unwise. Valdez offers a definitive answer.

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Veteran catcher J.T. Realmuto agreed to a $45 million, three-year contract to stay with the Philadelphia Phillies, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Friday.

The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced.

Realmuto can earn an additional $5 million annually in bonuses, the person said.

A three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner, Realmuto made his decision a month after designated hitter Kyle Schwarber also chose to remain with the Phillies, agreeing to a $150 million, five-year deal.

Realmuto, who turns 35 in March, hit .257 with 12 homers and 52 RBIs in 134 games last year, when he tied for the major league lead with 132 games at catcher. He was in the final season of a $115.5 million, five-year contract.

Realmuto has a .270 career batting average with 180 homers and 677 RBIs in 12 seasons with the Miami Marlins (2014-18) and Phillies.

Philadelphia also reached deals this offseason with right-hander Brad Keller ($22 million for two years) and outfielder Adolis Garcia ($10 million for one year).

Reporting by The Associated Press. 

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The New York Mets have struck.

New York has signed former Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette to a three-year, $126 million deal, per multiple reports. Bichette is expected to play third base for the Mets and has a no-trade clause in his contract, according to The Athletic.

This signing comes one day after star outfielder Kyle Tucker, who the Mets reportedly pursued, signed a four-year, $240 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Bichette, who led the American League in hits in both 2021 and 2022, totaled 18 home runs, 94 RBIs and 3.5 wins above replacement across 139 regular-season games in 2025, while posting a .311/.357/.483 slash line. He missed the last month of the regular season due to a knee injury and played second base when he returned for the 2025 World Series.

Bichette, a two-time All-Star, has never appeared at third base in an MLB game, having made 713 regular-season starts at shortstop. He joins a Mets team that missed the playoffs last season at 83-79.

Elsewhere, New York has signed former New York Yankees relievers Devin Williams (three-year, $51 million deal) and Luke Weaver (two-year, $22 million deal) and former Seattle Mariners infielder Jorge Polanco (two-year, $40 million deal) this offseason. The Mets also traded outfielder Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers for second baseman Marcus Semien in November.

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The rich get richer.

Star outfielder Kyle Tucker has agreed to a contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in free agency, according to a report from ESPN on Thursday.  Tucker took meetings with the Dodgers, New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays before deciding to sign with the two-time defending champions. 

Tucker spent the 2025 season with the Chicago Cubs, where he hit 22 home runs and slashed .266/.377/.464 in 136 regular-season games. He spent two stints on the injured list — for a left calf strain in September and a right-hand hairline fracture in June that tanked his much stronger start to the year, which had earned him an All-Star berth. He, ultimately, returned from the latter injury but played through pain during the last three games of the regular season and in the postseason for the Cubs. Chicago’s year ended in the National League Division Series, losing in five games to the Milwaukee Brewers. 

Before a one-year stint with the Cubs, Tucker spent the first seven years of his career with the Houston Astros; he was part of their 2022 World Series triumph. Tucker earned three All-Star nods, totaled an American League-best 112 RBIs in 2023 and had two 30-plus-home run seasons in 2021 and 2022. Following the 2024 season, the Astros traded Tucker to the Cubs for infielder Isaac Paredes, outfielder Cam Smith and right-hander Hayden Wesneski. 

Tucker has averaged over 5 wins above replacement per year since becoming a full-time player in 2021, owing to his combination of power, patience and defense: Tucker has won both Silver Sluggers and a Gold Glove. Despite that level of success, he will now play his age-29 season for his third team in the last three years. 

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We know the countries in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Now, we know their respective caps.

On Thursday, the hats for all 20 countries in the 2026 World Baseball Classic were unveiled.

FOX is the exclusive home of the 2026 World Baseball Classic – where you can see all of these hats in action – which begins on March 5, as Chinese Taipei takes on Australia and Czechia faces off against the Republic of Korea; Japan beat Team USA in the 2023 WBC Championship.

The 20 countries are split up into four pools:

Pool A: Cuba, Panama, Colombia, Canada and Puerto Rico

Pool B: USA, Mexico, Italy, Great Britain and Brazil

Pool C: Chinese Taipei, Czechia, Japan, Republic of Korea and Australia

Pool D: Netherlands, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Israel

On the USA front, former Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, new Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman and Toronto Blue Jays infielder Ernie Clement are among the recent additions to the American roster.

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Clayton Kershaw isn’t done pitching just yet, agreeing Thursday to join the U.S. team for this year’s World Baseball Classic.

A left-hander who turns 38 two days after the March 17 championship game, Kershaw announced last September that he was retiring at the end of the season, his 18th in a stellar career for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He won his third World Series title and finished 223-96 with a 2.53 ERA and 3,052 strikeouts.

The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner wanted to pitch for the Americans in the 2023 tournament but was prevented because of insurance issues at a time he had a $20 million, one-year contract with the Dodgers.

Later Thursday, new Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman announced he will join the U.S. team.

Kershaw joins a U.S. pitching staff that includes right-handers David Bednar, Clay Holmes, Griffin Jax, Nolan McLean, Mason Miller, Joe Ryan, Paul Skenes and Logan Webb along with left-handers Tarik Skubal and Gave Speier.

The American roster also includes catchers Cal Raleigh and Will Smith; infielders Ernie Clement, Gunnar Henderson, Brice Turang and Bobby Witt Jr.; outfielders Byron Buxton, Corbin Carroll, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Aaron Judge; and designated hitter Kyle Schwarber.

The U.S., which lost the 2023 championship game to Japan, opens March 6 against Brazil at Houston, part of a group that also includes Brazil, Britain, Italy and Mexico.

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We all remember the epic championship game of the 2023 World Baseball Classic when Shohei Ohtani struck out Team USA slugger Mike Trout to give Team Japan its third title in five editions of the tournament. 

Now we are gearing up for the 2026 WBC, which will see Ohtani and Japan try to defend their title in the 20-team competition that includes a stacked USA squad seeking redemption. Among the players committed to Team USA include Yankees superstar Aaron Judge, Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber, and Tigers ace Tarik Skubal.

We are counting down until the opening pitch of the tournament and bringing you the latest news and updates as rosters get announced. 

When is the World Baseball Classic? 

The 2026 World Baseball Classic will be held from March 5–17. Twenty teams have been placed into four pools with the top two teams from each pool advancing to the quarterfinals. 

Pool A games will be played at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Pool B games will be played at Daikin Park, home of the Houston Astros. Pool C games will be played at the Tokyo Dome in Japan. Pool D games will be played at LoanDepot Park, home of the Miami Marlins. 

Pool Play: March 5-11
Quarterfinals: March 13–14 (Daikin Park, Houston; LoanDepot Park, Miami)
Semifinals: March 15 (LoanDepot Park, Miami)
Final: March 17 (LoanDepot Park, Miami)

Jan. 13

Clement Will Play for USA

Ernie Clement will play for Team USA at the 2026 World Baseball Classic. The 29-year-old infielder helped the Toronto Blue Jays reach the World Series while also setting a postseason record with his 30 hits. Clement finished the postseason with a .411 average, one homer, six doubles, nine RBIs, 13 runs scored and a .977 OPS.

Jan. 12

Buxton Joins Team USA

All-Star slugger Byron Buxton will join Team USA for the World Baseball Classic. The 32-year-old outfielder had a career season with the Twins, producing homers (35), RBIs (83) and runs scored (97). Buxton also earned his first Silver Slugger of his career.

Jan. 11 

Freeman Withdraws from Team Canada

Team Canada will be without its star player as Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman has reportedly withdrawn from the World Baseball Classic, according to Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi.

With the 36-year-old sitting out the tournament after helping the Dodgers win back-to-back World Series title, the Canadians will lean on Mariners slugger Josh Naylor at first base.

In other Team Canada news, Los Angeles Angels reliever Jordan Romano has also reportedly pulled out, while Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jameson Taillon will take part. 

Dec. 23

Harper Will Play for USA

Phillies slugger Bryce Harper will play for Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic after missing out on the 2023 edition due to surgery. 

The 33-year-old Harper hit 27 home runs and recorded an .844 OPS in 2025 as the Phillies won the NL East. It will be Harper’s first time playing at the World Baseball Classic, although he has represented Team USA at junior competitions in the past. 

Nov. 24

Ohtani Back for Team Japan 

Shohei Ohtani will play for Team Japan in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, he announced on social media.

Japan will be looking to repeat after winning gold in the 2023 Classic. Ohtani was named the tournament’s MVP and memorably struck out former Angels teammate Mike Trout for the final out of the final against Team USA. Ohtani helped the Dodgers win the second straight World Series title while earning his fourth MVP award earlier this month.

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