Author: Rowan Kavner

A week before pitchers and catchers report to spring training, the top starter on the market is finally off the board. 

On the same day the Tigers and ace Tarik Skubal underwent their historic arbitration hearing, the results of which have yet to be announced as of Wednesday night, Detroit added another former All-Star to pair alongside its Cy Young Award winner as they agreed to a three-year, $115 million contract with Framber Valdez. 

The deal, which also pairs Valdez back with his former Astros manager, A.J. Hinch, reportedly includes an opt-out after the second season. 

While Valdez didn’t get the number of years initially expected for a 32-year-old workhorse with three top-10 Cy Young Award finishes over the last four years, the $38.3 million average annual value represents a record for a left-handed pitcher. Valdez also had a qualifying offer attached, which means the Tigers will have to surrender a draft pick to sign him. 

It’s the biggest deal Scott Harris has made since taking over as the Tigers’ president of baseball operations in September 2022 as he attempts to capitalize on what could be Skubal’s final season in Detroit and give the Tigers a rotation formidable enough to get beyond the ALDS, where they’ve fallen each of the last two seasons. 

Last year, the Tigers got the eighth-fewest innings from their starters in MLB. Only three of their starters threw at least 100 innings. Of those three, only Skubal had an ERA under 3.80. Valdez, an All-Star in 2022 and 2023, should help across the board. He has thrown more than 175 innings in each of the last four seasons, has tallied an ERA under 3.70 each of the last six seasons and has the highest groundball rate of any pitcher with at least 100 starts since his debut season in 2018. 

Since 2020, when Valdez became a full-time starter for Houston, he and Zack Wheeler are the only MLB starters to make at least 150 starts with an ERA under 3.30. Valdez’s 2022 season in Houston, when he went 17-6 with a 2.82 ERA before registering a 1.44 ERA over four playoff starts, helped the Astros win a World Series title. 

What’s Next for Valdez, Skubal and the Tigers

In the first half of 2025, Valdez looked well on his way to another typically consistent season. He was 10-4 with a 2.75 ERA when the untimely drop-off arrived.  

Valdez went 3-7 with a 5.20 ERA in the second half of his contract year. If that didn’t give teams pause this winter, perhaps his peculiar cross-up with catcher Cesar Salazar — and unsympathetic reaction afterward — did. Valdez finished the year with a 3.66 ERA, his highest mark in any season since becoming a full-time starter. Teams could look at that as a sign of regression or see the remarkable consistency required to consider that a down year. The Tigers, clearly, saw the latter. 

While he doesn’t have the overall swing-and-miss stuff of an ace, the sinker-baller was still adept at missing barrels and keeping the ball on the ground, and his curveball got more strikeouts than any pitcher in baseball. Even without a great infield defense behind him in Detroit, he represents a clear upgrade. 

It’s a significant expenditure for a Tigers team that, prior to the move, had done little to upgrade a roster that collapsed down the stretch last season. Detroit saw its 14-game lead in the division evaporate before limping into the playoffs as a wild-card team. This offseason, they brought back Gleyber Torres and Kyle Finnegan and gave one-year deals to pitchers Kenley Jansen and Drew Anderson, but they were mostly running it back. They still haven’t signed a free-agent position player after struggling to score runs down the stretch last year, though top prospects Kevin McGonigle and Max Clark could help at some point in 2026. 

Valdez won’t change the offensive concerns, but he now gives the Tigers one of the best one-two starting pitcher punches in baseball — at least, for as long as their ace remains in Detroit. While the Tigers felt comfortable giving Valdez more than $38 million a year, they decided to go to arbitration with Skubal rather than give the reigning Cy Young Award winner the $32 million he sought. 

Now, we wait to see whether Skubal will make $19 million or $32 million next season — and whether he finishes the year in Detroit or elsewhere. 

What’s Next for the Astros

The dynasty is over, and now another member of their 2022 championship core is gone. But unlike the Kyle Tucker trade last season, this outcome was hardly a surprise after the Astros signed Tatsuya Imai and Ryan Weiss and traded for Pirates starter Mike Burrows earlier this winter. 

Their rotation led by Hunter Brown is likely set; the bigger question is how they handle their infield logjam. Isaac Paredes and Carlos Correa can’t both be the starter at third base, but there’s no clear spot to move one of them with All-Star Jeremy Peña at shortstop, Jose Altuve at second and Christian Walker, who signed for three years and $60 million last season, at first. 

Surely, the Astros would like to keep Yordan Alvarez at DH as much as possible. So, with five infielders for four spots, will the Astros swing a trade before Opening Day? 

What’s Next for Teams Eyeing Starting Pitching

Valdez was the most reliable starting pitcher left on the board, but options remain in free agency for teams seeking rotation depth. 

They’ll likely turn their attention now to Zac Gallen, who finished third in Cy Young voting in 2023 before tailing off the past two years. He’s coming off career worsts in ERA (4.83) and strikeout rate (21.5) and surrendered a career-high 31 home runs last season — fourth most in MLB — but he progressed after the break, is only 30, has thrown more than 180 innings in three of the last four seasons and has the highest upside of the veteran arms still on the board, a group that includes Lucas Giolito, Chris Bassitt, Zack Littell, Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander. 

All it takes is one suitor to believe he can still tap back into his previously elite form and be a frontline arm. There are plenty of interesting teams — Orioles? Athletics? Padres? Braves? — who could use one. 

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.
 

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

Kyle Schwarber is staying in Philly. Bo Bichette is heading to Queens. And Kyle Tucker is joining the stacked Dodgers team looking for a three-peat.  

Some of baseball’s biggest offseason free agents have settled in, but there are ways for teams to upgrade before camp begins. Starters Framber Valdez, Zac Gallen, Chris Bassitt, Lucas Giolito, Zack Littell and Max Scherzer remain unsigned. And there’s always the possibility of an intriguing trade, as the Mariners did by acquiring All-Star infielder Brendan Donovan or the Rangers demonstrated by with starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore

The 2026 season draws nearer, with pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training in less than two weeks. Here’s one question for every team before the start of spring training: 

JUMP TO: AL East | AL Central | AL West | NL East | NL Central | NL West

Baltimore Orioles: After a busy offseason of upgrades, are they still an ace short? 

President of baseball operations Mike Elias has made meaningful moves this offseason to upgrade the roster after finishing last in the AL East in 2025. They have their new slugger in Pete Alonso, their new closer in Ryan Helsley, a new corner outfielder in Taylor Ward and more rotation depth with the trade for Shane Baz and re-signing of Zach Eflin. This has the look of a team that could bounce back quickly and make noise in the AL East. But the Orioles also dealt away Grayson Rodriguez and are coming off a year in which their starters ranked 24th in ERA. Could there still be one more big move ahead to pair an ace with the new-look group? 

Boston Red Sox: Will they trade from their outfield surplus after whiffing on Alex Bregman? 

After the Red Sox traded away eight more years of Rafael Devers to make Bregman the answer at third base in 2025, it seemed like there was no way the Red Sox would let him slip away in free agency. But that’s what happened. They’re still a talented group capable of winning the always challenging AL East, but it’s shocking that they’re now entering the 2026 season with neither Devers nor Bregman at third base. Meanwhile, there’s an outfield logjam Roman Anthony’s not going anywhere, but they also have Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu. Could one of them be on the move to help acquire an infield bat? 

New York Yankees: Awaiting key returners, how does the pitching staff shape up? 

The Yankees’ biggest offseason task — bringing back Cody Bellinger — is finally complete. Otherwise, though, it’s been a quiet winter in the Bronx, especially in comparison to the rest of the AL East. The season may come down to how Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon and Clarke Schmidt look upon their return from injury — and how the young starters, including new addition Ryan Weathers, hold down the fort until that trio is back up and running. Four of the six relievers who threw the most innings for them last year (Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, Mark Leiter Jr., Ian Hamilton) are now in different uniforms, so a reliable rotation will be especially important. 

Tampa Bay Rays: Is 2026 a transition year? 

After five straight trips to the postseason, the Rays saw a 19-win reduction from 2023 (99 wins) to 2024 (80). Last year ended even worse — 77-85 — marking their lowest win total since the 2016 season. As is often the case in Tampa, this winter has been about thinking toward the future, and they’ve again replenished their typically formidable farm system. But there might be more pain before prosperity. It’s hard to imagine the additions of Gavin Lux, Cedric Mullins, Jacob Melton, Jake Fraley and Steven Matz will offset the losses of Brandon Lowe, Shane Baz, Josh Lowe, Pete Fairbanks, Mason Montgomery, Jake Mangum, Kameron Misner, Christopher Morel and Adrian Houser in the short term. Still, the Rays often find a way to be competitive, and a healthy Shane McClanahan could go a long way. 

Toronto Blue Jays: Can the offense make another World Series run without Bichette?

The Blue Jays will be one of the winners of the offseason for the upgrades they made to the pitching staff, but missing out on Kyle Tucker and watching homegrown standout Bo Bichette depart for Queens still stings. Almost everything went right for Toronto last season, with a horde of contributors taking huge leaps forward and George Springer turning back the clock. Can they count on that happening again without Bichette in the lineup? A bounceback year from right fielder Anthony Santander would go a long way. 

Chicago White Sox: What exactly do they have in NPB star Munetaka Murakami? 

The biggest surprise of the offseason might be the two-year, $34 million deal that Murakami signed with the White Sox. Entering his age-26 debut MLB season, after launching 246 home runs in eight NPB seasons, he was projected by many to get a nine-figure contract. Will Murakami’s prodigious power in Japan translate stateside? Or will his high strikeout rate be too problematic? Either way, it was a low-risk, high-reward decision for a White Sox squad that is starting to compile an interesting core in its rebuild, and he’ll be one of the most fascinating players to watch in 2026. 

Cleveland Guardians: Where does the offense come from? 

Jose Ramirez is now a Guardian for life, and that’s no small accomplishment, but this offseason has been far too quiet for an offense that needed upgrades. After a miraculous late-season charge, the Guardians won the division for the second straight year. But they did so with a lineup that ranked exactly 29th in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. Ramírez and Kyle Manzardo were the only players who hit above league average. There’s a lot riding on the development of a young lineup (and top prospects Chase DeLauter and Travis Bazzana) to try to help Cleveland take the next step. 

Detroit Tigers: What happens with Tarik Skubal?

It’s the question that lingered all offseason, and it’s the question that’ll continue into 2026 if he doesn’t get dealt before the start of the year. With an arbitration hearing for the ages due up soon, we’re about to find out if he’ll make $19 million or $32 million this year. We’re about to see how much the process peeves him. It’s a tremendously wide chasm, and if it ends up being the former number, that could open the door for more teams to try to pursue him. 

Kansas City Royals: Can Lane Thomas, Isaac Collins and Kameron Misner help fix the longstanding outfield woes?

Kansas City outfielders ranked dead last in wRC+ last year. It’s been an all-too-common theme. Their outfielders have ranked in the bottom five in OPS for three straight seasons. Rather than go all in on a more sure thing, the Royals shopped on the margins to try to upgrade the group. They traded for Collins, who at one point was in the Rookie of the Year mix as a 28-year-old last year, and Misner, who’s known more for his defense and speed than his bat. They signed Thomas, who was limited to 39 games last season and struggled mightily while on the field, hoping for a bounceback season on a one-year, $5.25 million deal. But to get where they want to go, they’ll need a big jump forward from 2024 first-round pick Jac Caglianone. Perhaps moving the walls in will help. 

Minnesota Twins: Who’s pitching in leverage after last winter’s bullpen exodus? 

While questions remain about the long-term future in Minnesota for starters Joe Ryan and Pablo Lopez, a lot of questions also loom once those pitchers leave the game. Relievers Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, Louis Varland, Brock Stewart, Danny Coulombe, Randy Dobnak were all dealt away at last year’s trade deadline, and that’s not even including Chris Paddack, who was only a starter for the Twins before serving in a dual role in Detroit in the second half. The only relief additions the Twins have made to backfill those losses this winter are Taylor Rogers and Eric Orze. 

Athletics: Is there enough pitching to become a playoff threat? 

Another year, same question. Last year, they were a popular pick as a surprise contender. The offense lived up to the billing. The lineup ranked eighth in OPS, and Nick Kurtz and Jacob Wilson became the ninth pair of teammates ever to finish in the top two in Rookie of the Year voting. But the pitching was a problem (27th in ERA, 25th in WHIP, 20th in strikeouts), and it’s hard to see that changing in a meaningful way after a quiet offseason. 

Houston Astros: How do they handle the infield logjam? 

Isaac Paredes was an All-Star last year in Houston, but a hamstring injury before the deadline prompted the Astros to reunite with Carlos Correa. Jeremy Pena is coming off an All-Star season last year at shortstop, so Correa can’t bump over there. Meanwhile, they have Jose Altuve at second and spent $60 million on first baseman Christian Walker last offseason. That means there’s five infielders for four spots, and it’s unlikely they’d like any of them taking regular DH at-bats as they try to keep Yordan Alvarez as healthy as possible. Will one of them get traded before Opening Day? 

Los Angeles Angels: How many of these reclamation projects actually pan out? 

The Angels have hardly spent this winter, but that doesn’t mean they’ve been inactive. They’ve utilized a shotgun approach, taking a bunch of fliers on once highly-regarded prospects who have yet to reach their potential (Grayson Rodriguez, Vaughn Grissom, Josh Lowe) and veterans trying to find their way again (Jordan Romano, Kirby Yates, Alek Manoah). The payroll is significantly down from last year — their largest free-agent purchase so far is Yates for $5 million — and it still feels like they could add to their rotation with one of the remaining players on the market (Zac Gallen? Chris Bassitt?) to add some semblance of stability. 

Seattle Mariners: How will the offense look without Eugenio Suarez and Jorge Polanco?

After re-signing first baseman Josh Naylor in November and adding reliever Jose Ferrer and lefty masher Rob Refsnyder in December, it was quiet for months in Seattle. That was a bit surprising, especially considering the infield vacancies after losing Jorge Polanco to the Mets and Suárez to the Reds. Barring another move, it looked like they might be preparing for a youth movement with 25-year-old Ben Williamson at third base and 22-year-old Cole Young at second, at least until 20-year-old top prospect Colt Emerson was ready. But a trade for a versatile infielder always made sense, and they reportedly got it done this week with a deal in place for the Cardinals’ Brendan Donovan. He’ll offer a different look for Seattle. Donovan won’t replace the power of Suárez or Polanco, but he’s a consistently above-average hitter who rarely swings and misses. That should be helpful for a Mariners lineup that has ranked in the top three in strikeouts each of the last three years. 

Texas Rangers: Can the young players take the next step?

Remember when the Rangers’ offense tore its way through October to win a championship? Well, that was three years ago now, and the offensive production has taken a nosedive since. In fact, the Rangers have fielded one of the worst lineups in baseball over the last two years, a group that ranks 27th in OPS over that time.  The big move to acquire MacKenzie Gore could make this rotation one of the best in baseball if healthy (a big if), but the success of the season will still come down to how the lineup performs and how Wyatt Langford, Evan Carter, Josh Jung and Josh Smith continue to develop. Another leap forward for starters Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker wouldn’t hurt, either. 

Atlanta Braves: Was last year’s struggle just a blip?

It was just three seasons ago that the Braves’ offense was not just the best in baseball but historically good. Since then? Not so much. They ranked 12th in OPS in 2024 and 13th in 2025. Ozzie Albies has been a below league-average hitter for two straight years. Michael Harris II has trended the wrong direction offensively since winning Rookie of the Year honors in 2022. So has Austin Riley, though not as dramatically, and he has been limited by injury. That was the story for much of the roster in a lost 2025 season. It might just take a cleaner bill of health for the Braves to bounce back after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2017. 

New York Mets: How quickly will all the new pieces mesh?

A good reminder not to judge an offseason in December, president of baseball operations David Stearns has spent the past few weeks cooking after disassembling the team’s longtime core. Gone are Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, Edwin Diaz, Jeff McNeil and more. In are Bo Bichette, Freddy Peralta, Marcus Semien, Jorge Polanco, Luis Robert Jr., Devin Williams, Luke Weaver and more. Suddenly, a winter that looked like a disaster now has the Mets in position to bounce back in a major way. Will they go from missing the playoffs to winning the NL East? 

Miami Marlins: Who’s starting games in 2026? 

A 79-win season far outpaced expectations in the Marlins’ rebuild last year. Outfield breakouts from Kyle Stowers (.912 OPS) and Jakob Marsee (.841 OPS) in limited samples provided optimism for the future. That group added another intriguing young talent this winter in Owen Caissie from the Cubs, but that move required parting with starter Edward Cabrera after a year in which the Marlins rotation ranked 26th in ERA. Weeks later, the Marlins dealt further from their starting group when they sent Ryan Weathers to the Yankees for prospects. It’s possible the Marlins could still field a competitive rotation headlined by Sandy Alcantara and Eury Perez, but it’s also possible that Alcantara is the next veteran arm to go as Miami prioritizes adding more bats to the farm. If that happens, or if Max Meyer and Braxton Garrett aren’t healthy coming off season-ending surgeries, top pitching prospects Thomas White and Robby Snelling could enter the mix. 

Philadelphia Phillies: How much of an impact do Justin Crawford and Adolis Garcia make in the outfield?

It’s a bit surprising the Phillies let Harrison Bader go to the Giants for two years and $20.5 million, considering what he meant to the team down the stretch last year (he hit .305 after getting traded from Minnesota to Philadelphia). Perhaps they misjudged his market, but they pounced early on García in the middle of December — giving him almost the same salary in 2026 as Bader eventually received — and clearly think highly of Crawford, their top outfield prospect who could be patrolling center field on Opening Day. How those decisions pan out will be crucial, considering the rest of the position player group from last year remains the same. 

Washington Nationals: What’s next in the development of 23-year-old All-Star James Wood?

The moves made by new president of baseball operations Paul Toboni this winter suggests the team is thinking much further down the line than competing in 2026. After getting a bevy of prospects for MacKenzie Gore, it’s possible they could do the same for CJ Abrams if they get the right offer. One of the only sure things in Washington: Wood will be an integral part of the next phase of Nationals baseball. He can absolutely mash, as evidenced by his 31 home runs and elite quality of contact as a 22-year-old last year, and he also stole 15 bases last year. But he’s also prone to swing and miss at an alarming rate — he was two strikeouts away from tying an MLB record — and has work to do defensively in the outfield. If he can improve upon those areas, there’s MVP-level upside. 

Chicago Cubs: Is this the year they overtake the Brewers? 

The Brewers have won the NL Central three straight years and four of the last five years, but Chicago’s additions of Alex Bregman, Edward Cabrera and a slew of relievers have the Cubs in as good a position as they’ve been over the last five years to win their first division title since the shortened 2020 season. They’ve been busy this offseason, but another move could still be on the horizon following the Bregman deal with Nico Hoerner and Matt Shaw both capable of playing second base. 

Cincinnati Reds: Does Elly De La Cruz take the next step?

 The Reds whiffed on Kyle Schwarber and have done little since to try to upgrade a pedestrian offense. That makes the development of the multi-talented De La Cruz even more essential. He was an All-Star last year, but the switch-hitter struggled from the right side of the plate and tailed off mightily after the break, ultimately hitting just 9% better than league average. We found out afterward that he was playing through a nagging quad strain down the stretch, which might explain the dip. There’s obviously a ton of untapped upside here, and the Reds will need him to find it if they want to make noise in 2026.  

Milwaukee Brewers: How do they fill out the rotation after trading Freddy Peralta? 

Sure, it’d be nice if they’d actually spend more money to build more of a threat in October, but we do this song and dance every year: The Brewers trade one of their soon-to-be-expensive big-league standouts, we question how they can possibly keep getting away with this, and then go and win the division with 90-plus victories. Doubt them at your own peril. This winter it was Peralta’s turn to find a new home. The Brewers still have plenty of internal options behind him, particularly after giving Brandon Woodruff the qualifying offer, though they may still want to add another veteran arm to the young group.  

Pittsburgh Pirates: Are the offensive upgrades enough to make a meaningful leap forward? 

Don’t get it twisted: The Pirates are still among the lower payroll clubs, but there is at least reason to be a bit more hopeful about their team’s chances in 2026 after general manager Ben Cherington operated in a way he hadn’t in recent winters to try to fix an abysmal offense. They added Brandon Lowe, Jake Mangum and Jhostynxon Garcia via trade and Ryan O’Hearn for two years and $29 million. That’s not going to make them an offensive force — they ranked in the bottom 10 in every slash-line category last year — but all the lineup has to do is be competent, given the strength of their pitching staff, to imagine better days ahead. 

St. Louis Cardinals: How quickly does top prospect JJ Wetherholt make his mark? 

The rebuild is in full effect under new president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom, who has dealt away Nolan Arenado, Willson Contreras, Sonny Gray and Brendan Donovan this winter to acquire more pitching prospects. Last year was the second time in the last three seasons that their starters ranked in the bottom three in strikeouts, and it might get worse before it gets better after trading Gray. But Wetherholt could provide reason to watch this year in St. Louis. The versatile infielder will be a non-roster invite at spring training and could have a chance to break camp with the big-league club after recording a .931 OPS between Double-A and Triple-A last year. 

Arizona Diamondbacks: How do they fix their bullpen?  

Speaking of the 2023 World Series, remember when the Diamondbacks were there? That’s their only playoff appearance over the last eight seasons. The biggest problem during last year’s fourth-place finish was the pitching staff — and specifically a bullpen that ranked in the bottom five in MLB in ERA, WHIP, strikeouts, opponents’ average and blown saves. The D-backs have patched up the rotation by bringing back Merrill Kelly and signing Michael Soroka, but adding Taylor Clarke doesn’t seem like enough to fix the dreadful bullpen, especially with Justin Martinez and AJ Puk both likely to miss most of the upcoming season. Perhaps more is still ahead. 

Colorado Rockies: What changes under new leadership? 

OK, so the Rockies aren’t going to go from one of the worst seasons in modern baseball history to a contender anytime soon. But after cleaning house, it’ll be interesting to see how much improvement they make under new president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta and general manager Josh Byrnes. In the short-term, they’re hoping bounceback seasons from free-agent additions Willi Castro, Jake McCarthy and Edouard Julien — who were all below replacement level players last year — and the addition of an experienced arm in Michael Lorenzen can help field a more competent product. When you win 43 games, there’s nowhere to look but up, right? …Right? 

Los Angeles Dodgers: Will the roster’s age get in the way of a three-peat? 

 The Dodgers are, rightfully, the favorites to win it all again. The biggest obstacle to a three-peat, beyond the randomness of October, might be their age. Freddie Freeman will be 37 before the postseason starts. Max Muncy is 35. Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernandez are both entering their age-33 seasons coming off down years offensively. Before the Kyle Tucker signing, Andy Pages was the only everyday player on the team still in his 20s. The roster’s loaded enough that it probably won’t matter, but the Tucker addition is an important one both in the present and as a bridge to their promising future.

San Diego Padres: Do they take a big swing? 

After some major deadline moves, the Padres won 90 games and fell just three games short of the Dodgers in the NL West. Maybe they consider deadline acquisitions Mason Miller and Ramon Laureano additions for 2026, but it’s been a quiet winter. Having Miller makes the loss of closer Robert Suarez more manageable, but questions still loom in the infield and the rotation after losing Dylan Cease, Luis Arraez and Ryan O’Hearn. Perhaps president of baseball operations AJ Preller still has something else up his sleeve.

San Francisco Giants: Does the Tony Vitello project work? 

There were a plethora of interesting manager hires this cycle but none more groundbreaking than the Giants’ move to hire Vitello away from the University of Tennessee. In an attempt to upgrade the roster this winter, the San Francisco front office provided Vitello with more rotation options (Tyler Mahle and Adrian Houser), better outfield defense (Harrison Bader) and, just weeks before players report to camp, the reigning NL hits leader (Luis Arraéz). Will that be enough to start Vitello on the right foot, or is a bigger swing still ahead for president of baseball operations Buster Posey? 

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.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

Four years after getting traded from the Reds to the Mariners, Eugenio Suarez is now going from Seattle back to Cincinnati. 

Suárez, who’s coming off an All-Star season in which he led all third basemen with 49 homers, was the top slugger remaining on the market, yet it only cost the light-hitting Reds $15 million for one season (plus a $16 million mutual option in 2027) to secure the 34-year-old’s services. The Reds needed the pop after finishing 21st in home runs last season while getting just 14 home runs combined from all of their third basemen.

The only other time Suárez matched his 2025 home run total was six years ago in Cincinnati, where he first established himself as one of the best power threats at his position. The Reds are hoping to see more of the same with this year’s reunion. 

In 2025, Suárez mashed 36 home runs in 106 games for the Diamondbacks before getting traded to Seattle, where he had been a clubhouse and fan favorite in 2022-23. But the all-or-nothing slugger struggled to replicate the offense that made him the most highly-coveted bat at the deadline, hitting just .189 with a 35.9% strikeout rate after the trade. 

Still, he hit 13 home runs in 53 games to close out the regular season in Seattle, and the deadline additions of Suárez and Josh Naylor helped catapult the Mariners to their first division title since 2001. In Game 5 of the American League Championship Series, Suárez launched two home runs, including a game-breaking grand slam that moved the Mariners one win away from the World Series. They would not get there, however, dropping the final two games of the ALCS to the Blue Jays. 

This winter, teams were evidently scared off by Suárez’s age, declining defensive metrics, high strikeout rate and late-season drop-off. That allowed the Reds to swoop in with a low-risk, high-reward move as they try to take another step forward after snapping a four-year playoff drought last year. In Cincinnati, Suárez will be returning to one of MLB’s friendliest home-run environments at Great American Ball Park. 

What’s next for the Reds? 

Last season, Suárez had more than twice as many home runs as Elly De La Cruz, who led the Reds with 22 dingers. Now, he’ll be providing De La Cruz some needed protection. 

It just might not be at his usual spot.

Ke’Bryan Hayes has been a well below league-average hitter but also one of the top defensive third basemen in the game, and the 29-year-old is under contract for the next four years. That likely means most of Suárez’s at-bats will come as the designated hitter. He could also see some time at first base, where 2022 first-round pick Sal Stewart figures to receive most of his reps. 

Wherever he plays defensively, the Reds needed to find a way to add an impact bat. This was their last chance on the free-agent market after whiffing on Kyle Schwarber. From November to January, they had done little to meaningfully improve an offense that ranked 19th in OPS and 21st in slugging last year. They traded for outfielder Dane Myers and signed outfielder JJ Bleday, but they also lost outfielder Austin Hays and designated hitter Gavin Lux. 

As the calendar flipped to February, so did the stability of their lineup with the addition of Suárez. 

What’s next for the Mariners?

A younger path forward, it appears. 

The Mariners made two major moves at the deadline in adding Naylor and Suárez. After a strong first half for Naylor, he was even better after the trade from Arizona, registering an .831 OPS with nine homers and 19 steals with superb defensive metrics at first base in 54 games in Seattle. 

The fit was perfect, which is why the Mariners made it a priority to keep him, giving him five years and $92.5 million one month less than after the season ended.

It did not go as well last year in Seattle for Suárez, though there was some thought that the Mariners might decide to keep him anyway, given the dearth of power threats behind him and the departure of Jorge Polanco. 

Instead, barring a trade, it appears they’ll move forward for now with their in-house options. That means it will likely be 25-year-old Ben Williamson at third and 22-year-old Cole Young at second — at least until the Mariners feel 20-year-old top prospect Colt Emerson is ready to make an impact, which could be sooner than later. 

What’s next on the free-agent market? 

Starting pitching. 

With Luis Arraez going to San Francisco and Suárez going to Cincinnati over the last few days, teams looking for impact bats might now turn their attention more fervently to the trade market. Veterans Rhys Hoskins (about to turn 33), Marcell Ozuna (35) and Paul Goldschmidt (38) are the best options available in free agency. 

There’s a lot more help out there for teams looking to fill their rotation. Framber Valdez, arguably the top starting pitcher on the market when free agency began, is still looking for a team. So are Zac Gallen, Zack Littell, Chris Bassitt, Lucas Giolito and Max Scherzer. 

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.
 

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

LOS ANGELES – Whether you love them for their unrivaled commitment to producing a winning product, envy them for their exorbitant spending in their quest to three-peat or despise them for supposedly breaking Major League Baseball and its economic system with their excess, the Dodgers and their latest All-Star acquisition don’t particularly care. 

On Wednesday at Dodger Stadium, Kyle Tucker ran into Shohei Ohtani and Max Muncy, FaceTimed with Freddie Freeman and shook the hands of his new manager, Dave Roberts, and general manager, Brandon Gomes, before donning a No. 23 Dodgers jersey for the first time on the heels of signing a four-year, $240 million contract that made him the club’s eighth nine-figure earner, further widened MLB’s financial gap and set off alarms around the sport. 

“I think baseball is in a good spot,” Tucker countered. 

Why wouldn’t he? 

The best free agent on the market joined the best team in the game on a contract that set a record for present-day average annual value at $57.1 million. In reality, Tucker will actually cost the Dodgers far more than that. Incurring a 110% fee for every dollar they spend after again skyrocketing past the highest luxury-tax threshold, the Dodgers are projected to pay close to $120 million annually on Tucker’s deal when accounting for the additional tax penalties. 

Read more: Four Takeaways From Tucker Joining the Dodgers

The astounding expenditure sent a clear message: The Dodgers, a year after paying a record $169.4 million in competitive balance taxes while winning a second straight championship, are still in hyperdrive and unbothered by the public outcry as they look to extend their window and solidify the club’s golden era, a long-stated goal of president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman. 

“For us, we just don’t pay much attention to that because we operate within the rules and do everything we can to put ourselves in the best position both short term and long term,” Friedman said. “And we’re not thinking about more macro things outside of that. It is about, ‘How can we win as many games and put ourselves in the best position to win a championship in 2026 without really compromising ourselves out into the future and falling off that proverbial cliff? It’s the balance and maintaining of those two things that are our sole focus.’” 

Get ‘Needle Movers’ 

Avoiding that cliff, in part, requires the infusion of younger pieces. 

The Dodgers won it all again last year despite a dysfunctional bullpen and the oldest position-player group in the sport. They addressed the former issue by signing the top closer on the market in Edwin Díaz earlier this winter. The stunning addition of Tucker, a 29-year-old four-time All-Star, helps with the latter. 

Ohtani, Freeman, Muncy, Will Smith, Teoscar Hernandez, Tommy Edman are all 30 or older. As is Mookie Betts, who’s coming off his worst offensive season as a big leaguer and is still under contract for another seven years. Possessing one of the richest farm systems in baseball helps mitigate risk, but the Dodgers’ best prospects — including a quartet of highly-regarded outfielders in Josue De Paula, Zyhir Hope, Mike Sirota and Eduardo Quintero — might still be a year or so away from fully contributing. 

The Dodgers still could have sat out of the top end of the free-agent market and been the favorites in 2026. Instead, they decided to bridge the gap to their future by targeting “needle movers” — players who could meaningfully impact their chances of winning another World Series — as long as they were open to short-term deals at a high AAV. 

Convincing a star talent in his 20s to accept those terms represents a significant challenge, especially when those players have longer offers that would set them up for life. The Dodgers understand that, having tried and failed in a similar endeavor before. In 2019, they reportedly offered Bryce Harper four years at $45 million annually, which would have given Harper a record AAV at the time while allowing him to cash in again in free agency at age 30. 

But a lot has changed in the years since Harper accepted his long-term deal in Philadelphia. Los Angeles has developed into baseball’s mecca, and the Dodgers — with three championships over the last six years — have offered proof of concept for star players looking to win. 

Earlier this winter, they got Díaz to agree to a three-year deal when many expected him to get at least four by giving him the highest AAV ever for a reliever. Signing Tucker, the top free agent on the market, presented a greater challenge given the offers the Dodgers were competing against. 

Convincing the 29-year-old would require straying from their usual tactics. They included opt-outs after the second and third seasons, a maneuver they’ve generally tried to avoid, and upped their initial offer to try to entice him away from both the Blue Jays, who reportedly offered 10 years and $350 million, and the Mets, who reportedly offered a frontloaded four-year, $220 million deal with no deferrals. 

The structure that Tucker accepted, which surpassed the previous present-day AAV record set by Mets star Juan Soto ($51 million), will allow him to cash in again in his early 30s if he wants to seek a longer deal. 

Read more: How Kyle Tucker’s $240M Deferred Deal Works

“Obviously, we started lower,” Friedman said. “I think when we’ve seen these kinds of shorter-term, higher-AAV deals, I don’t think they’ve ever come when they also had a really long, significant deal as well. Not that I can remember. Usually guys take those shorter-term deals because a longer-term deal hasn’t materialized, so it’s a chance to kind of reset and go back out to the market. He had that opportunity. 

“And so for us, it was about selling the opportunity to play with these guys, to play in front of these fans, to play in this city, to connect with this community. And who knows, it doesn’t mean that it has to be two, three, four years here. It could be longer than that. And I think for him to choose us when he had other longer-term and other shorter-term [offers], I think speaks to the growth and progress that we’ve made in creating a destination spot.”

The allure of Los Angeles is obvious — great weather, talented teammates, tens of thousands of fans packing the stadium every night, the near guarantee of playing meaningful October baseball. There is also likely a prosperous future ahead, regardless of what happens with the next CBA, as the Dodgers continue to reap the rewards of both the Ohtani-conomy and a lucrative local television deal at a time when regional sports networks are collapsing. 

“I think this organization is, from the top down, first class,” Tucker said. “The team these guys put together and assembled to give a great product for the fanbase in the city, to go out there and compete for a championship, kind of speaks for itself. Taking all of that into account, wanting to be a part of it, I think it’s very special. You don’t really get that very often.”

Steep Prices to Fix Flaws

While the additions of Díaz and Tucker make the rich richer, they also make sense from a roster-building standpoint. The Dodgers’ two premier offseason signings addressed their two greatest flaws and corrected last year’s mistakes.  

Last offseason, the Dodgers gave Tanner Scott four years and $74 million only to watch the top closer on the market go 1-4 with a 4.74 ERA. He converted just 23 of his 33 save opportunities and was left off the playoff roster. As a whole, the Dodgers bullpen was tied for 20th in both ERA and WHIP. Their ineptitude required the team to use starters in relief to get through October. 

They also gave Michael Conforto $17 million to man left field only to watch him hit .199 and produce below replacement level in the worst year of his big-league career. Meanwhile, Hernández regressed mightily at the other corner outfield spot after a resurgent first season in L.A.  

The benefit of Conforto’s one-year deal meant they could quickly move on, though given their penchant for short-term deals, few could’ve predicted the level of upgrade they would make. 

The Dodgers stayed in touch with Tucker’s representation throughout the offseason to make their interest clear. Discussions between the two sides heated up in the days before he agreed to terms, and the Dodgers felt like they had a real chance after a Zoom call that Friedman, Gomes and Roberts had with Tucker and his wife. 

Still, until around 6 p.m. on Jan. 15, when the Dodgers actually received the call that he would be joining him, they weren’t sure. 

“All you can do is kind of state your strong interest,” Friedman said, “and sell as much as you can.”

Read more: Watch Out, Dodgers? The Mets Also Made Some Savvy Moves

Tucker, a four-time All-Star who has hit 50% better than league average over the last three years, will man his usual spot in right field, with Hernández shifting to left. Andy Pages, the only other Dodgers starting position player in his 20s, will likely stick in center. The addition of Tucker will allow the Dodgers to slow-play Tommy Edman as he recovers from offseason ankle surgery and allow him to spend most of his time on the infield. 

It also gives the Dodgers arguably the most complete club they’ve ever assembled, increasing the vitriol among the 29 other fanbases as a contentious labor battle looms. The rules could change after the CBA expires at the end of this year, but Friedman told me that didn’t impact the desire to make this deal now. 

“There’s just so much unknown around that,” Friedman said. “I have now been through a lot of CBAs and have tried to get cute leading into a CBA, like, ‘OK, this is where it might be going.’ We have no idea. We are sitting in the cheap seats on that. For us, it’s just about whatever the rules are, reading and reacting to that and doing whatever we can to be as good as we can be.”

So, as the calls for a salary cap get louder with every premier talent they add and each dollar they spend, they carry on undeterred. 

It is not their problem to solve. 

“For us, all we’re consumed with is the partnership that we have with our fans,” Friedman repeated. “Our job is to win as many games as we can to provide a product and a team that fans feel passionate about, connect with…and pouring back into them with how much they pour into us. That’s our only focus.”

In the Big Picture, we contextualize key moves and moments so you can instantly understand why they matter.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

Let the revelry begin, Chicago. 

As the Bears were staging their comeback win over the Packers in the NFC Wild Card game on Saturday, news broke that the Cubs had signed Alex Bregman to a five-year, $175 million contract, giving them one of the top free agent hitters on the market just days after bolstering the rotation by trading for starter Edward Cabrera. 

Bregman opted out after the first season of a three-year, $120 million contract he signed in Boston, hoping to find the longer-term pact that he was unable to secure one year ago. Many expected a return to the Red Sox, given what he meant to the team during his brief stay and how the Rafael Devers saga ended. 

Instead, it was the Cubs who provided Bregman with what he sought. 

It’s a hefty sum for a player who will turn 32 in March and is coming off a year in which he was limited to 114 games due to injury, but it also demonstrates the value Bregman possesses as an unquestioned leader who still brings a keen eye at the plate and plus defense at third base. He’ll now help balance out the top of a lineup that features lefties Michael Busch and Pete Crow-Armstrong as well as switch-hitter Ian Happ. 

Notably, that lineup no longer includes top free agent slugger Kyle Tucker, which made adding another middle-of-the-order bat a necessity for a Cubs team coming off its first playoff appearance in five years. 

Bregman has been an above-average hitter every year of his career. Last year’s All-Star season was no exception. He had a .938 OPS before suffering a quad injury that forced him out for nearly two months. Though his power was not the same after his return, he still ended the year hitting 28% above league average with an .821 OPS that represented his highest mark since 2019. 

What’s Next for the Cubs

The Cubs showed interest in Bregman last offseason before he signed with the Red Sox. This time, they weren’t going to get outbid (and won’t lose a pick, the way they would have last winter when he had the qualifying offer attached). 

Bregman will be playing next to the Cubs’ only other long-term expenditure, shortstop Dansby Swanson, who signed a seven-year, $177 million deal before the 2023 season, adding further to what should be one of the best defensive groups in baseball next season. 

They should be a formidable offensive unit, too. 

On the surface, the Cubs’ offense was among the best in the National League last season. They ranked fifth in MLB in runs and top 10 in on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS and home runs. However, the lineup spiraled in the second half as Tucker dealt with injury and Crow-Armstrong dropped off a cliff at the plate following an MVP-caliber start to the year. After the break, the White Sox (.727 OPS) had a better OPS than their North Side counterparts (.721). 

The Cubs still made the playoffs, but they were defeated in the NLDS by a Brewers team that had won the division each of the last three years. The Cubs lost the series 3-2, scoring a total of seven runs in their three defeats, and entered this winter well below the luxury-tax threshold with a bevy of contracts set to come off the books in 2027. They simply had to find a way to add an impact bat. They paid a steep price for it, but they got it done. 

With third base locked down, it’s possible that the Cubs could trade Nico Hoerner or Matt Shaw given the infield surplus. They could use more outfield depth to avoid having to play Seiya Suzuki in the field, but even if they don’t do any more roster maneuvering, they’re now positioned to contend for something even greater than their first division title since the shortened 2020 season. 

What’s Next for the Red Sox 

It’s almost unfathomable that less than a year after signing Bregman to play alongside Devers, the Red Sox now have neither. 

They bungled the Devers situation by failing to communicate effectively with their longtime third baseman, who was under contract through 2033. Boston stunningly traded its face of the franchise – all for one year of the player who was brought in to replace him? 

Bregman immediately made himself a valued leader in the Boston clubhouse, and his pull-side power worked masterfully at Fenway Park. When healthy, he was a force, one that helped get the Red Sox to the playoffs for the first time in four years. His production was especially important given the Devers friction (and eventual departure) and the understandable growing pains of young infield prospects Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer. 

And just like that, he’s gone. 

For all the trading the Red Sox have done this winter, they still haven’t signed a free agent. Acquiring Willson Contreras will help add some needed pop to a Boston lineup that ranked 15th in home runs last year, but it won’t erase the sting of Bregman’s departure or the fanbase’s resulting displeasure. 

If they don’t sign free agent infielder Bo Bichette or find a way to deal from their outfield surplus to swing a significant move, good luck trying to justify that loss. 

What’s Next for the Free Agent Market

Bichette, Tucker, and fellow top free-agent Cody Belliger must be salivating. 

If Kyle Schwarber (entering his age-33 season) and Bregman (entering his age-32 season) can each get five years and between $30-35 million per season, it’s hard to imagine that the asking prices for the top trio of position players left on the board will be dropping anytime soon. 

Bichette will be entering his age-28 season coming off a bounceback year with the Blue Jays that saw him earn down-ballot MVP votes. Tucker is about to turn 29 and already figured to be the top earner in this year’s free-agent class. Bellinger’s defensive versatility makes him a fit for a number of teams as he enters his age-30 season coming off three straight above-average seasons at the plate. 

With the number of premier bats dwindling, perhaps Bregman’s signing ignites more action at the top of the market. It appeared Bichette’s market was already gaining traction — the Phillies are reportedly getting set to meet with him soon — and Bregman’s signing should only help it pick up steam. 

Teams looking for a slugger on a shorter-term deal than what those three are seeking — or pivoting at third base after whiffing on Bregman — could turn to 34-year-old Eugenio Suárez, who led all third basemen with 49 home runs last year. 

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.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

Before Tarik Skubal embarks on his final season under team control in Detroit, prepare for a salary showdown unlike any other since Major League Baseball’s arbitration system began more than 50 years ago.

Skubal is seeking $32 million in arbitration. The Tigers countered at $19 million. The $13 million chasm between the team and their two-time Cy Young ace is a record. So is the figure that Skubal is pursuing.

No pitcher has ever made even $20 million in arbitration. The record for a starter belongs to David Price, who, coincidentally, avoided arbitration with the Tigers when the two sides agreed to a $19.75 million deal. That was 11 years ago. 

Since then, the one-year contracts for the top arbitration-eligible position players have skyrocketed. Juan Soto holds the record at $31 million, a number he and the Yankees settled at in 2024. Shohei Ohtani also reached the $30 million mark in his final year of arbitration with the Angels in 2023. 

But on the pitching side, the figures haven’t jumped nearly as substantially. Price’s number still stands as the zenith. That fact surely isn’t lost on Skubal, who’s one of the eight members of the MLBPA’s executive subcommittee. He is setting the bar high, and attempting to create a new highwater mark for pitchers of his ilk, a year before what will likely be a contentious labor battle. 

If Skubal were to win his case, it would not only benefit arbitration-eligible aces to come but would also represent a monumental moment in the current system’s history. 

The Risk of Arbitration: What It Means

The most that any player has been awarded at an arbitration hearing is $19.9 million, a request won by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. before the 2024 season. Clearly, that process didn’t impact his future in Toronto. The two sides avoided another hearing a year later when they settled at $28.5 million before the 2025 season. Three months later, the Blue Jays and the superstar first baseman agreed to a $500 million extension. 

But arbitration hearings, during which a player has to listen to his team pick apart his flaws, carry inherent risk. They can get contentious and don’t always end amicably. 

​​In 2023, Milwaukee ace Corbin Burnes and the Brewers went to a hearing over a difference of less than $1 million. The Brewers won the hearing — Burnes made $10.01 million instead of the $10.75 million he was seeking — but lost the relationship. Afterward, Burnes let it be known he was hurt by what his team had to say about him during the process. One year later, ahead of his final season under team control, he was traded to the Orioles. 

Similarly, questions continue to linger about Skubal’s future in Detroit as he prepares for his final season before free agency. The more the two sides squabble over money, the more questions and trade rumors will intensify.

This isn’t the same as Burnes’ situation. Given the ask, it’s at least understandable why the Tigers don’t want to acquiesce. 

MLB Trade Rumors’ model projected Skubal to make around $17.8 million in arbitration based on comparable players and their service time, which is less than the Tigers’ request. The highest year-over-year jump for a pitcher in arbitration was $9.6 million, when Jacob deGrom and the Mets agreed on a $17 million salary before the 2019 season. Skubal is seeking a $21.85 million raise from the $10.15 million contract he received last year. 

It’s a staggering sum, but he’s a staggering talent with a compelling case. 

Is Skubal Worth the Hefty Salary?

When deGrom received his raise coming off his first Cy Young season, he was entering his second year of arbitration eligibility. This is Skubal’s third, and he’s coming off back-to-back Cy Young seasons in which he threw more than 190 innings, made more than 30 starts, racked up more than 225 strikeouts and led the American League in ERA. He was also exceptional in the 2025 postseason, registering a 1.74 ERA with 36 strikeouts over three starts. 

It’s worth noting that, as ESPN pointed out, players with more than five years of service time like Skubal are also allowed to compare their salary to other comparable players — not just those who are arbitration eligible. But Skubal is still seeking less than what other pitching standouts will make in 2026, from Zack Wheeler ($42 million) to Gerrit Cole ($36 million). In recent years, Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander also received more than $40 million a year from the Mets. 

Still, we haven’t seen a player receive even $20 million at a hearing before. 

The $13 million gap between Skubal and his team is an enormous figure, especially if the Tigers are hoping to use that money to attract another difference-making piece. Keep in mind, too, if this process deteriorates the relationship between Skubal and the Tigers, or the Tigers don’t think they can keep Skubal long term, or they simply want to recoup as much value as possible from a player of his caliber while they still can, a $19 million salary is likely to add more potential trade suitors for Skubal this year than a $32 million figure would.  

What’s Ahead? 

The Tigers operate as a “file-and-trial” team, meaning they treat the date to exchange arbitration figures as a hard deadline. If no deal is in place at that point, there’s a general understanding that a one-year contract won’t be agreed upon and an arbitration hearing is on the horizon. 

Once that hearing takes place in late January or early February, there’s no meeting in the middle; either Skubal wins or the Tigers do. If it gets to that point, as it is tracking toward, the Tigers will have to nitpick their ace’s blemishes to a three-person panel in a hearing unlike any before it. With the best pitcher on the planet involved, it will be tough to find those faults. 

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.
 

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

It took some time for John Schneider to decompress after the end of a 2025 season that came two outs, one Will Smith cleat and one bulldozing Andy Pages catch from Toronto celebrating its first World Series title in 32 years. 

The Blue Jays manager isn’t sure he’ll ever fully process or digest what unfolded in the final moments of a Fall Classic for the ages that ended with the Dodgers emptying onto the field at Rogers Centre after a stunning finish.  

“I think I’ll think about it until the day I leave this earth, you know what I mean?” Schneider said at the MLB Winter Meetings in December. “Unless you get another opportunity to kind of squash that one.” 

So far this offseason, the Blue Jays are operating like a team intent on making that a possibility for their manager in 2026. 

Coming off their first division title since 2015 and their first trip to the World Series since 1993, the Blue Jays have responded to last season’s crushing conclusion by spending more on free agency than any team thus far. 

At a time when most of the top arms on the market remain unsigned, Toronto daringly made the first major move of free agency when they committed seven years and $210 million to starting pitcher Dylan Cease at the start of December. One month later, that contract remains the largest free-agent deal handed out by any team this winter. No other starting pitcher has signed for even nine figures yet. 

It was also only the beginning. 

The Blue Jays continued on, further bolstering their rotation by adding Cody Ponce – who won MVP last season in South Korea’s KBO league – for three years and $30 million, and strengthening their bullpen by signing Tyler Rogers for three years and $37 million. 

And then came their latest move over the weekend, perhaps the most surprising of all. 

After failed pursuits of some of Japan’s most talented baseball exports in recent years, and with posting windows for NPB’s top talents reaching their endpoints, Toronto emerged as the unexpected destination for corner infielder Kazuma Okamoto, who signed for four years and $60 million. 

Okamoto doesn’t possess the power potential or ceiling of fellow NPB standout Munetaka Murakami, who is four years younger. But Okamoto has a higher floor, carries less risk and could end up being the better all-around MLB player, which is why he got nearly twice as much money as Murakami did from the White Sox. It was the latest example of how far the Blue Jays have come as one of MLB’s premier destinations since inking Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to a $500 million extension early last season. 

“I feel like in years past with some high-profile players, it’s kind of been us selling us to them,” Schneider said, “whereas [now] I think the players know what they’re getting into as soon as they start talking to us.”

Read more: How the Blue Jays Logo Sealed Okamoto’s $60M Deal

The reasons for that are multiple. 

The Blue Jays have strong financial backing from their ownership group, state-of-the-art facilities, a clubhouse culture touted by players, one of the league’s budding stars in Guerrero now signed through 2039 and proof of concept that the pieces they have in place are championship caliber. 

“You can definitely feel a difference this offseason going back to last year and the year before,” Schneider said. 

And they might not be done as they try to turn the page from last year’s gut-wrenching finish. 

Okamoto is among a handful of Toronto players capable of playing in multiple spots. Where he ends up will ultimately depend on how much further the Blue Jays go this winter in adding more star talent to their position player group. They could still bring back Bo Bichette, and they’re considered among the top suitors for four-time All-Star slugger Kyle Tucker. 

Every marquee signing is another step toward healing the wounds that opened on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 at Rogers Centre. Game 6 of the World Series ended with Toronto’s tying run getting doubled off at second base on a soft liner into left field. Game 7 ended more agonizingly, with a plethora of opportunities squandered late. 

A month after the World Series ended, Schneider still hadn’t watched the final game back in its entirety. He couldn’t get himself to do it. Every time he went down one rabbit hole thinking back to what transpired, he found himself going down another. 

Read more: MLB’s Top Moments from 2025

“There’s so many things that happened, I try not to just pin it down on one thing,” Schneider said. 

Still, there’s one play in particular that continues to be scrutinized and lingers as a burning image of the Blue Jays’ defeat.  

With one out, the bases loaded and the winning run at third base in the ninth, Daulton Varsho pulled a grounder to second baseman Miguel Rojas, who stumbled before throwing home. The throw, even after catcher Will Smith’s cleat lifted briefly off the ground before retreating to the plate just in time, beat a sliding Isiah Kiner-Falefa by mere inches. 

“It stings. It hurts,” Schneider said. “I’ve seen that video 3,000 times, and 1,500 of them it looks like Will’s off the plate. In the other half, it looks like he’s on. That’s how close it was. That’s why details matter.” 

In the wake of Toronto’s loss, everything about that play was dissected and debated, from Kiner-Falefa’s short lead at third — the Blue Jays expressed concern about the potential for Smith to back-pick or getting doubled off on a line drive — to his decision to slide feet-first instead of headfirst or running through the base. 

Read more: MLB Way-Too-Early Power Rankings

“I feel so bad for Izzy getting all the blame,” Schneider said. “Izzy is an unbelievable baseball player. I think peeling back a couple layers, now that I have the platform to talk about it, could we have done a better job of getting him off a little bit? Yeah, another step or two.” 

Now, though, there’s nothing the Blue Jays can do but move forward. 

Each new signing helps quell the pain, demonstrates Toronto’s staying power and moves the Blue Jays one step closer to getting another shot to squash last season’s bitter ending. 

“I think I’m finally at the point where you can kind of peel back and reflect on the good and not just the ‘Wow, what just happened’ of Game 7,” Schneider said. “It took a little bit of time.”

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.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

Dylan Cease’s massive $210 million commitment with the Blue Jays didn’t ignite the pitching market, but deadlines tend to spur action.

One day ahead of Tatsuya Imai’s posting window closing, the Japanese standout is now off the board after reportedly signing a three-year deal with the Astros that includes opt-outs after each season and can max out at $63 million. 

Imai was one of the most intriguing arms available in free agency coming off his best year in Nippon Professional Baseball, a season in which he recorded career bests in ERA (1.92), WHIP (0.89), strikeout rate (27.8%) and walk rate (7%), among other categories. Standing a tick under 6-feet tall, Imai does not possess the typical build of a frontline starter, but it certainly didn’t hurt his market that teams just saw 5-foot-10-inch Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto dominate the MLB postseason en route to winning World Series MVP honors.

[Astros sign Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai]

The total value of Imai’s deal is lower than projected, but his average annual value (AAV) trails only Yamamoto’s ($27 million AAV on a 12-year, $325 million deal with the Dodgers) and Masahiro Tanaka’s ($22 million AAV on a seven-year, $155 million deal with the Yankees) for the highest for a Japanese-born pitcher. If Imai recognizes his upside in Houston and looks like one of the best pitchers in MLB, he can opt out while still in his 20s and seek a longer-term pact. 

Will his signing finally catalyze the slow-moving starting pitching market in free agency? That remains to be seen. The top arms in this year’s free-agent crop don’t pack the same punch as last year’s class, but there are still a handful of available starters who can slot into a contending rotation and potentially start games in October. 

With Cease, Michael King and now Imai off the board, here are the top remaining starting pitchers on the market and a logical landing spot for each of them. 

1. Framber Valdez, LHP
Logical landing spot: Chicago Cubs 

Bringing back Shota Imanaga on the qualifying offer helps stabilize the group. If the Cubs have dreams of doing anything of significance in 2026 — especially if they lose Kyle Tucker — they need more than that. Adding a frontline arm, whether by spending or via trade, is one route to take. 

The Cubs’ rotation was fine last year, amassing a 3.83 ERA that ranked eighth in MLB. The group was 23rd in strikeout rate and 27th in ground-ball rate, though. That means with an infield as stout as the one the Cubs boast with Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson up the middle, targeting a pitcher with Valdez’s profile makes a lot of sense, even if it means spending beyond their level of comfort. 

Over the last five years, Valdez has boasted the highest ground-ball percentage of any qualified starter in MLB. Even in a down year by his standards last season, the left-hander continued to induce soft contact and force opponents to put the ball on the ground as well as almost any pitcher in the league. Valdez won’t dazzle with his swing-and-miss stuff, but he would represent a significant upgrade for a Cubs team that could use more reliable arms in October. 

Other possible fits: Mets, Orioles, Giants 

2. Ranger Suarez, LHP
Logical landing spot: New York Mets

It was easy for Suárez to get overlooked in a rotation that featured Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sanchez and Aaron Nola. But among all pitchers who’ve thrown at least 600 innings over the last five years, Suárez ranks 10th in ERA. The 2024 All-Star just produced an even better season in 2025 with a 3.20 ERA that ranked 11th among all starters (min. 150 innings pitched). 

A master of command, Suárez has thrived despite a low-90s fastball with a vast arsenal that has helped him consistently induce soft contact and keep the ball on the ground. And even without the swing-and-miss stuff of a typical ace, he has thrived when given the opportunity in October with a 1.48 career postseason ERA over 11 appearances (including eight starts). 

Those qualities would help a volatile Mats rotation that had the sixth-highest hard-hit rate and ranked 18th in ERA last season. Considering the mass exodus out of Queens to begin the offseason, it’s hard to envision a world in which the Mets don’t grab one of the top remaining starting pitchers on the market. 

Other possible fits: Orioles, Phillies, Tigers

3. Zac Gallen, RHP
Logical landing spot: Los Angeles Angels 

Given Gallen’s career success — he finished third in Cy Young voting in 2023 — this is a tough time for him to be entering free agency. The right-hander, who amassed a 3.20 ERA from 2022-24, recorded a career-worst 4.83 ERA in 2025 while seeing his strikeout rate plummet and allowing a career-high 31 home runs. Only three pitchers surrendered more. However, he did go out on an intriguing note, registering a 3.32 ERA over his final 11 starts. 

Initially, I had Gallen matched with the Giants, considering the pitcher-friendly environment and the club’s need for more stability behind Logan Webb and Robbie Ray. But after signing right-handers Tyler Mahle and Adrian Houser, and with Gallen having a qualifying offer attached to potentially signing him, there may be more likely suitors. 

Angel Stadium is far from a haven for pitchers prone to the long ball, but the Angels need rotation help, could use a right-handed workhorse to pair with southpaw Yusei Kikuchi, are well below their 2025 payroll, and could see this as their best opportunity to extract the upside of a pitcher with Gallen’s history. 

Other possible fits: Giants, Braves, Cubs

4. Lucas Giolito, RHP
Logical landing spot: Detroit Tigers

Giolito might end up signing later in the offseason after the market for starting pitching becomes clearer, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see him rejoin his old Harvard-Westlake high school teammate, Jack Flaherty, in Detroit. As rumors swirl about the Tigers potentially trading ace Tarik Skubal, they could still use more arms behind him as they attempt to rebound from last year’s late-season stumble and emerge beyond the division series.  

Coming off elbow surgery that wiped out his 2024 season, the start to Giolito’s lone season in Boston was rocky. But he settled in nicely, recording a 2.51 ERA over his final 19 starts to finish the year 10-4 with a 3.41 ERA. He was unable to pitch in the postseason due to another elbow issue and the underlying numbers weren’t particularly flashy, but he could represent a bargain for a team willing to take on the injury risk. He is, after all, a former All-Star still in his early 30s. 

Other possible fits: Athletics, Diamondbacks, Padres 

5. Chris Bassitt, RHP
Logical landing spot: Atlanta Braves

With Dylan Cease, Michael King and now Imai off the board, there seems to be a relatively clear top three before a drop-off to the next tier, which includes Bassitt. The veteran right-hander will turn 37 before the start of the 2026 season, but he’s coming off an interesting year in which he registered a 3.96 ERA before emerging as a relief weapon in October for a Blue Jays team that nearly won the World Series. 

Bassitt doesn’t generate much chase or whiff, but he limits hard contact and, most notably, consistently posts. He has made at least 30 starts in each of the last four seasons, and he has recorded an ERA under 4.00 in seven of his last eight seasons. For a Braves team that was decimated by injury last year — Bryce Elder was the only Atlanta pitcher who made more than 25 starts — that reliability could be intriguing. 

Other possible fits: Rangers, Tigers, Red Sox

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.

Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

Deadlines spark action, and with teams reluctant to give Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami the long-term, nine-figure commitment many originally projected, the Chicago White Sox pounced on the boom-or-bust opportunity to add the 25-year-old corner infielder whose ceiling is as high as any slugger’s on the market.

Twenty-four hours before his posting window closed, Murakami and the rebuilding White Sox reportedly agreed to a two-year, $34 million deal. The polarizing Nippon Professional Baseball star, who will turn 26 in February, brings with him prodigious power potential. 

Murakami launched 246 home runs in eight seasons with the Yakult Swallows after debuting at 18 years old. In 2022, he hit 56 home runs as a 22-year-old, breaking Sadaharu Oh’s single-season NPB record for a Japanese-born player. Last season, an oblique injury limited Murakami to 56 games; he still blasted 22 home runs in that time. 

But there’s a reason the White Sox were able to get him at this number. 

Murakami was widely viewed as a high-risk, high-reward option in free agency due to his high whiff rate and limited defensive range at third base, which may necessitate a full-time move to first base or designated hitter. The short-term pact helps alleviate the risk for the White Sox, who ranked 23rd in home runs and 28th in slugging percentage last season, and will allow Murakami to retest the market in his late-20s. 

By then, he hopes he will have demonstrated his ability to handle big-league pitching.

What’s next for the White Sox

We’re still likely years from the White Sox returning to contention, but after back-to-back last-place finishes, there are reasons to be excited about the young talent accumulating on the South Side. 

The White Sox need more proven pitching both in the rotation and the bullpen this winter, and questions about whether Luis Robert Jr. gets dealt still loom, but you can see a clearer pathway now toward future success. 

They have two promising catchers in Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero, an infielder in Colson Montgomery who just launched 21 homers in his first 71 MLB games, an All-Star pitcher in Shane Smith among a group of intriguing young arms (which will soon include top pitching prospects Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith), the top overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft (standout UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky is widely considered the best player available) and now one of the most fascinating young sluggers in the game in Murakami, who will give fans a reason to watch no matter how the 2026 season goes. 

What’s next for Murakami

This may be the most interesting MLB player to watch over the next two years, considering the range of possibilities ahead for the left-handed slugger. 

Murakami hits the ball extremely hard and has consistently been among NPB’s most feared power hitters. But he hasn’t been able to replicate his record-setting 2022 season — he hit 31 homers in 2023, 33 in 2024 and 22 in 2025 — and has seen his whiff rate rise concerningly since then. His tremendous raw power comes with a strikeout rate that has hovered above 28% each of the last three seasons; the MLB average last year was a tick above 22%. 

Given his defensive limitations, his power has to translate for him to realize his sky-high ceiling. If he demonstrates that he can adjust to MLB velocity and the nastier stuff he’ll see on a consistent basis, in two years he could get the nine-figure contract he was unable to secure this offseason.

What’s next with the corner infield and NPB markets

This signing had to happen now with Murakami’s posting window closing. The other NPB standout infielder to watch over the next couple of weeks is Kazuma Okamoto. 

Okamoto, who is also a corner infielder, is four years older than Murakami and doesn’t offer the same superstar ceiling; but he might have a higher floor. Okamoto had as many walks (33) as strikeouts (33) and hit 15 homers with a .327 batting average in 69 NPB games this year. He hit at least 30 home runs every year from 2018-23. His posting window ends on Jan. 4. Star NPB pitcher Tatsuya Imai’s window ends two days before that, so both could sign soon.

With Murakami, Pete Alonso, Kyle Schwarber and Josh Naylor off the board, the market for established corner infielders is dwindling. Alex Bregman stands out as the top third baseman available as he seeks the long-term deal he was unable to land last winter. Eugenio Suárez, who had 49 home runs in an All-Star 2025 season, and Okamoto stand out as the next-best options at the position. Cody Bellinger and 2025 All-Star Ryan O’Hearn are the top first basemen still on the board, and both bring positional flexibility with outfield experience. 

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.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

The Padres lost Dylan Cease to the Blue Jays in free agency, but they won’t have to say goodbye to Michael King, too. 

San Diego is bringing back a key piece of a rotation that needed to be addressed, reportedly re-signing King to a three-year, $75 million deal that includes opt outs after each of the first two seasons.

King believed he could be a full-time starter after starring primarily in a bullpen role with the Yankees from 2019-23. The Padres gave him the opportunity he was looking for in 2024, and he ran with it. King, who was the headliner for San Diego in the trade that sent Juan Soto to the Yankees, ended the 2024 season with a 2.95 ERA over 31 appearances (30 starts). He was one of 11 MLB pitchers with at least 200 strikeouts that year, and he finished seventh in National League Cy Young Award voting. 

Had he replicated those numbers, he likely would have been out of the Padres’ price range this winter. But a year after blowing past his previous career high in innings, he was unable to stay on the field. 

A nerve issue  impacted his shoulder and sidelined him for nearly three months during the 2025 season. Soon after, knee pain put him back on the shelf. When he returned in September, he didn’t have the same swing-and-miss stuff. He still finished the year with a respectable 3.44 ERA, but he made just 15 starts. 

The Padres clearly felt confident enough about the 30-year-old’s health to give him a qualifying offer, which he declined. In the end, though, they found a deal that worked for both parties. 

What’s next for San Diego

Fixing the rotation had to be the primary goal for president of baseball operations A.J Preller, especially with Yu Darvish set to miss next season after elbow surgery. Bringing back King — who was widely considered among the top five starting pitchers on the market this winter — helps stabilize the unit, gives them another potential October arm and takes some pressure off Joe Musgrove as he makes his return from Tommy John surgery. 

With Nick Pivetta, King and Musgrove, the Padres have a solid top three. They may still need more back-end depth to challenge Randy Vasquez and JP Sears for a rotation spot. The question now is how they go about finding it. 

Considering the Padres’ ownership group is exploring a potential sale and the team is already projected to be above the competitive balance tax threshold, it’s hard to envision Preller getting the go-ahead to add much more payroll. He may need to get creative to enhance the roster, which he is wont to do. The lineup could also use more depth, particularly at first base or designated hitter, with Luis Arraez and Ryan O’Hearn both hitting free agency.

What’s next for King

King wisely declined the qualifying offer, despite coming off an injury-marred season. If he gets hurt again, this contract provides him a lot more security. If he returns to his 2024 form and decides to opt out, the new deal is essentially equal to the QO. He can then return to free agency in his early-30s and try for the nine-figure deal he was unable to secure this offseason. 

It’s really all about health for King, who demonstrated even early last year — he had a 2.59 ERA with 64 strikeouts in 55.2 innings over his first 10 starts before the injuries — that he can be a playoff-caliber starter when healthy. 

What’s next with the starting pitching market

After the Blue Jays signed Cease to a whopping seven-year, $210 million deal, it was mostly crickets at the top of the starting pitching market over the past few weeks. The premier names potentially available on the trade market (Tarik Skubal, Freddy Peralta, Edward Cabrera, MacKenzie Gore, etc.) could be impacting the slow pace, or it could be indicative of the concern teams have about offering long-term, nine-figure deals to the arms in this class.

Nonetheless, with King gone, contenders can turn their attention to Framber Valdez, Ranger Suárez, Zac Gallen and Tatsuya Imai, who all remain unsigned. Perhaps King’s $75 million contract helps catalyze the starting pitching market in a way that Cease’s didn’t. Regardless, teams interested in Imai are running low on time; the NPB standout’s posting window ends on Jan. 2. 

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.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports