<!–>
The 2025 MLB season is heating up as it approaches its quarter mark, and a few teams are catching fire at a time that might pay dividends down the line.
In this week’s roundtable, FOX Sports’ MLB reporters Rowan Kavner and Deesha Thosar take a look at the players and teams defining the early part of the season:
1. Baltimore Orioles’ GM Mike Elias recently took responsibility for the rotation being a mess. The O’s are in last place in the AL East and in the running for the worst run differential in the American League. It would help if the likes of Adley Rutschman and Tyler O’Neill started hitting, but on the pitching side, what can the Orioles do to fill in the holes they spent the offseason and early 2025 digging, before they’re too deep to do anything about them?
Kavner: Hope and pray their underperforming veterans magically perform better? Really, though, there are few obvious answers unless or until some of their current pitchers get on track, their injured pitchers turn a corner faster than expected or general manager Mike Elias trades for help well before the deadline.
My mind keeps going back to the Trevor Rogers deal last year. The Orioles needed to move some of their blocked prospects at some point, and they were in the market for left-handed help. But instead of spending the exorbitant cost to acquire an actual difference-maker at the deadline, they dealt Connor Norby and Kyle Stowers for a reclamation project in what felt like an overpay at the time — even by deadline standards — and has only looked worse since. The move is relevant now, with the Orioles still desperately in need of pitching help after a perplexing offseason in which they lost Corbin Burnes then spread their funds around in a befuddling effort to rebuild the rotation on the margins rather than acquire an ace either via trade (the way the division-rival Red Sox did) or on the market (the way the division-rival Yankees did). Other than the Tomoyuki Sugano signing, that effort has predictably failed.
There’s not much help coming on the farm, either. Top pitching prospect Chayce McDermott got his first chance of the year on Wednesday, coughed up four runs in three innings and was optioned afterward. Meanwhile, Rogers was injured to start the year and has an 8.00 ERA at Triple-A, while Stowers leads the Marlins with 10 homers and a .946 OPS (both of which would lead the Orioles, too). The return of Zach Eflin should help, and the offense is better than this, but it’s bleak right now.
ADVERTISEMENT
–>
Thosar: It’s not enough for Elias to just take responsibility. Self-awareness is great, but what is he going to do about this mess? He can start by making savvy trades, which is what he should’ve done in the winter, anyway, after the O’s let Corbin Burnes walk away. The Orioles had the top farm system in baseball for the past three years before a slew of top prospects graduated and they dropped down the list. But they still have exciting names in-house that could be viable trade options to swap with the right team that has more pitching depth. There’s no room for No. 2 prospect Coby Mayo on the big league roster to get significant playing time, so start shopping him in exchange for an impact arm. Outside of trades, Baltimore needs to start aggressively promoting their pitchers in the minor leagues. Finally, they can take a page from other contenders around the league and transition a bullpen arm into a starter. The bottom line is, Elias and the O’s have to get creative to make up for the organizational failure of not having high-level pitching talent ready for this year.
2. The Twins have rattled off an eight-game win streak to push their record over .500 for the first time all year, and the Cardinals extended their own streak to nine on Monday with a win against the Phillies. Are you buying what either of these teams are selling in 2025, or is this just the normal ups and downs of a long season getting more attention because it’s mid-May?
Kavner: I’m buying that St. Louis has enough offense and Minnesota has enough pitching to contend for wild-card spots. Conversely, I don’t think the Cardinals have the starting pitching depth nor do I think the Twins have enough offense to win their respective divisions.
Matthew Liberatore has provided a huge boost for St. Louis, but Sonny Gray has a 4.50 ERA, and the underlying numbers suggest some regression ahead for Erick Fedde, who has performed well thus far. Meanwhile, the Twins have gone on their spectacular run this month despite a league-average offense during their hot May stretch. I’m slightly higher on Minnesota because I believe in the Twins’ pitching and the American League is so weak, but both teams still have work to do to make me view them as legit contenders.
Thosar: I’m buying what the Cardinals are selling, but not so much the Twins, because St. Louis has been more consistent throughout April and May than the Twins, who have been too up and too down for me to believe just yet that their winning streak is a sign that they’re the real deal. Byron Buxton’s red-hot start in May has helped Minnesota improve their record, but it’s dangerous to expect him to carry the club all season. The Twins need to play more consistently for a longer period of time just to have a chance of catching up to the first-place Tigers, and even then, they need to leapfrog over the Guardians and Royals to have a shot. It seems like a stretch. The Cardinals, though, have a clearer path to contention in the weaker NL Central, with a better shot at catching up to the first-place Cubs. Keep an eye on their series against the Phillies this week, which will be a huge test for St. Louis after winning the series against the Mets and sweeping the Pirates and Nationals. They could just be winning because of their softer schedule, or they could be the real deal. We’ll find out soon enough.
3. It’s tough to look at what Freddie Freeman is doing in 2025 and not wonder about where his career is going to end up. He’s the active leader in runs, hits, doubles, RBI and total bases, and recently passed the 350-homer mark. In 2025, at age 35, he’s leading the NL in batting average (.376), slugging (.734), OPS (1.170) and OPS+ (228), and has hit an astounding .491/.532/.906 over the past two weeks entering play on Tuesday. What do you see from the Dodgers’ first baseman from here on out, both in 2025 and by the time he calls it a career?
Kavner: Eventually, I see 3,000 hits and a place in Cooperstown, though that hit milestone will depend a lot on health for the 35-year-old. The physical toll that the 2024 championship season took on Freeman is still obvious. Both his ribs and his surgically-repaired right ankle have hindered him at times early this year, and the latter issue is still evident with every step he takes.
And yet, somehow, none of it seems to matter.
He lamented his swing not feeling right for much of last season in what was a tumultuous year off the field, but coming off his historic postseason performance, he looks as good as ever at the plate this year. Freeman’s average exit velocity is the highest of his career. He’s the National League OPS leader and is also contributing above-average defense at first base. The Dodgers are going to handle him carefully, as they have with many of their players this year. But as long as his ankle holds up, I see no reason why he won’t be an All-Star for the ninth time in his career and a matchup nightmare come October.
Thosar: I think his future success depends entirely on how Freeman manages his ankle injury. We’ve seen it be debilitating for him as recently as earlier this season when he slipped in the shower and re-aggravated it. That tells me he can’t place too much pressure on the ankle even off the field, and he goes through extensive, hours-long treatment for it every day just to play. It’s a lot to maintain, and it seems like one slip-up in the treatment and recovery process could lead to a potential IL stint. Then again, Freeman is clearly able to overcome pain better than most players, and even though it’s rare in baseball, there are players who get better with age. I’m just weary of long-term implications from his ankle that might not have caught up to him yet. Regardless, he’s a lock for the Hall of Fame in my book.
4. The Diamondbacks called up top prospect Jordan Lawlar this week. It’s his second go in the majors — Arizona called him up at the end of 2023, and then he missed most of 2024 with hamstring and thumb injuries. What should we expect from Lawlar, assuming he can stay on the field?
Kavner: It’s not often a team’s top prospect gets called up in a utility role, but that seems to be the plan ahead for Lawlar. The move has been a long time coming, even if there’s no obvious vacancy for him to fill with Ketel Marte at second, Geraldo Perdomo at shortstop and Eugenio Suarez at third. When you’re slashing .336/.413/.579 as a 22-year-old at Triple-A — and you tallied an OPS over 1.000 at that level each of the previous two seasons — you’ve done all you can to demonstrate your worthiness of playing at the highest level.
Lawlar has absolutely crushed left-handed pitching throughout his minor league career, so it would be reasonable to expect him to get some DH starts against lefties while giving Suarez, Perdomo and Marte occasional days off in the field. Lawlar’s Triple-A numbers (.347/.424/.590 with 13 homers in 65 career games) were boosted both by his hitter-friendly home park in Reno and the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, but even if he doesn’t end up slugging well above .500 for his career the way he did in the minors, his combination of pop and plus-plus speed (his sprint speed ranked in MLB’s 99th percentile during his first big-league stint) and ability to hit both lefties and righties (he had an OPS over .900 against both this year) should add to an already dangerous Arizona lineup, wherever he ends up playing. The D-backs prepared Lawlar for this opportunity by having him log time at second, shortstop and third at Reno this year, and I’d expect him to work in at all three spots.
Thosar: Since he can play every infield position besides first base, I’m expecting him to receive more playing time, allowing the everyday starters to get off their feet. It will be fascinating to see if he can thrive with more regular appearances in the batting order (the D-backs think he can start 3-4 times per week) and more reps against major-league pitching. Perhaps Lawlar’s speed and pop from the right side will help Arizona pull away from the .500 mark, which is where they’ve lived so far this season. He swiped 13 bags out of 14 chances in Triple A before he was called up this year, and those wheels should give the D-backs offense a different look. He can also be a late-game weapon for them, utilizing Lawlar’s speed in tight games to score runs easier. His confidence should grow the more that the D-backs use his dynamic ability on the field.
5. Aaron Judge and Paul Skenes are both going to be part of Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, after not participating in previous tournaments — Judge because the timing just wasn’t right, and Skenes because he wasn’t even in the pros yet. With that in mind, what other first-time player would you most want to see suit up for Team USA next spring, now that those two are already on board?
Kavner: Man, so many great possible answers here. I’ll go with Bryce Harper, who represented Team USA as an amateur and intended to play in the last World Baseball Classic but was forced out by his elbow injury. He tends to rise to the occasion on the biggest stage, and it only feels right that he gets the chance to do that at the WBC at least once in his career, especially while he’s still one of the game’s most feared hitters
Thosar: Bryce Harper and Pete Crow-Armstrong come to mind. They would definitely put on electric performances, and they’ve both played for Team USA as teenagers. On the pitching side, it’s always tough to get ace-type starters to participate in the WBC because they’re still building up from the long layoff of the offseason. But it would be awesome to see Jacob deGrom pitch for Team USA before he hangs up his cleats for good. It’s unlikely he does so; he even opted to skip the 2021 All-Star Game when he was selected, in favor of focusing on his recovery in between starts. But maybe he’ll have a different perspective next spring. You never know.
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.
Deesha Thosar is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. She previously covered the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Long Island and now lives in Queens. Follow her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.
<!–>
recommended
Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
–>
Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports
MLB roundtable: Is the Cubs’ hot start too good to be true?
<!–>
With nearly a quarter of the MLB regular season in the books, some fans are starting to talk themselves into their team making a deep run in October, while others have started looking ahead to the offseason.
This week, FOX Sports’ MLB reporters Rowan Kavner and Deesha Thosar take a look at which teams’ hot starts are for real, and which ones are just too good to be true.
1. With Triston Casas now out for the year following knee surgery to repair his ruptured patella tendon, the Red Sox have decisions to make at first base. One of those is whether to eventually move former third baseman Rafael Devers off of third base and over to first, freeing up the DH slot. What’s your take on how Boston should solve this unexpected hole in their lineup?
Kavner: Based on their roster construction, the most logical choice seems to be moving Devers to first base. Doing that would allow the Red Sox to either create a roster spot for top prospect Roman Anthony, who has done all he can at Triple-A to demonstrate his worthiness of a call-up, or activate Masataka Yoshida exclusively in a DH role as he continues to work his way back slowly from offseason shoulder surgery. Now, whether it’s because Devers doesn’t want to, or they don’t want to create more change for him after already moving him off third base, or they don’t want to potentially impact his rhythm after settling in as a designated hitter, the Red Sox appear reluctant to put him at first. I don’t think that’s the optimal choice for their roster. Romy Gonzalez and Abraham Toro might work as temporary stopgaps, but it’s hard to believe those are better choices than the most obvious alternative, especially for a .500 club that could use a jolt.
ADVERTISEMENT
–>
Thosar: Moving Devers from DH to first base doesn’t really solve their Casas problem, because there’s no obvious player to take over DH duties, either. And we’ve seen Devers struggle in the field, so it likely wouldn’t be an easy transition for him, and it could lead to injury since he hasn’t put that physical burden on himself this season. I’ve been impressed with the way Kristian Campbell has handled second base, and he’s playing so well that it’s not out of the question for him to win American League Rookie of the Year, so I think it would be a mistake for the Red Sox to move him to first base and risk messing with his development. For now, the Red Sox should go with what they have (shared playing time between Romy Gonzalez/Abraham Toro) and continue looking for an external option that fits. Yankees fans won’t like it, but veteran first baseman Anthony Rizzo is unsigned and could be worth a shot — at least until more options materialize closer to the trade deadline.
2. The Mariners are in first in the AL West, and the bat of Jorge Polanco has played a significant part of that. He’s already posted a higher wins above replacement than he did in his entire 2024 season, and not only looks to have rebounded from that tough summer, but is hitting better than he ever has. He’s not going to post a 251 OPS+ for the entire season by any means, but how much of what he’s doing should we believe in?
Kavner: If you set the minimum at 90 plate appearances, the only American League hitter with a higher OPS or wRC+ than Polanco is Aaron Judge. The 31-year-old Polanco is somehow doing this while still dealing with some pain in his surgically-repaired knee pain, so consider me skeptical that he stays this red-hot. But the underlying metrics support his production. After some noticeable changes at the plate — most obviously, he has closed off his stance considerably and widened the distance between his feet — Polanco is hitting the ball significantly harder than he ever has before while posting a strikeout rate (11.3%) that’s almost a third of where it was last season (29.3%). The result is the biggest year-over-year jump in batting average and slugging percentage of any qualified player in MLB this year. So, while I don’t think we’re going to end the year still looking at Polanco as a top three hitter in the league, I do believe he could post the best offensive season of his career. That’s saying something for a player who has a 33-homer season under his belt.
Thosar: Polanco’s hot streak is the real deal. At his best, he’s an MVP-caliber player and the Mariners, who know him best, were pretty quick to bring him back to Seattle despite his offseason knee surgery. His “new” knee, so to speak, has allowed him to make necessary adjustments at the plate, and even if the 251 OPS+ isn’t sustainable, his highly-effective closed stance certainly seems like it is. Polanco has been able to catch up to fastballs thanks to his new approach at the plate, which has led to a faster bat speed, which has led to more power, which has led to an elite slugging percentage that’s going toe-to-toe with Aaron Judge. It sure looks like Polanco will receive his first All-Star appearance since 2019.
RELATED: 2025 MLB Power Rankings
3. It’s been obscured a bit by the performances of teams like the Rockies, but the Angels entered play on Tuesday night with a 13-20 record, once again in last place in the AL West. And this despite a high point of four games over .500 less than a month ago. Mike Trout is hurt again, the team spent again but not necessarily wisely, five of their starting nine have negative WAR … what can the Angels even do to stop history from repeating, now and in the future?
Kavner: There are no quick, obvious answers for the struggles. The first probably needs to be a shake-up in player development. Most teams spend years letting their top young talents enhance their skills working their way up the minor league ladder. Then there are the Angels, who continually fast-track their prospects to the big leagues. It works out sometimes, but it also demonstrates a lack of trust in their ability to help players grow and delusional optimism that they are ready to contend every year despite not having made the postseason since 2014 and not having won a playoff game since 2009. They have one of the worst farm systems in baseball by most rankings (made worse by the constant call-ups) and seem to lack a long-term plan beyond hoping Mike Trout stays healthy. Their pipe dreams result in things like what took place in 2023, when they held onto Shohei Ohtani at the deadline, traded their No. 2 and 3 prospects to try to make a push, finished the year with 73 wins and then let Ohtani walk without even trying to match the contract he signed with the Dodgers.
Thosar: I don’t think firing any coaches will help, and general manager Perry Minasian gave a vote of confidence to the Angels staff, indicating there won’t be any cuts on the way. But their outfield production has been a problem; the Halos have the fifth-worst OPS in MLB in that regard (and that’s counting all the solid production from Trout before he got hurt). So they can at least start by looking for external help there, as organizational outfield depth is also low. In the future, I think the Angels have to stop promising their fan base that they’ll field a competitive roster that’s capable of going all the way to the playoffs if they’re not actually serious about it. They made some moves and filled some roster holes, but they didn’t spend in a significant way this offseason, and much of their current predicament was expected before Opening Day. I’d love to see the Angels back up their words with their actions.
4. For opposite reasons, two of the biggest offensive surprises in MLB this year are in the American League West. The Mariners rank in the top five in MLB in runs scored and OPS; the Rangers, conversely, rank in the bottom five in both categories. Which one has been the bigger shock?
Kavner: Considering I thought the Rangers would make it back to the World Series this year, I definitely didn’t expect to see an even worse version of last year’s offense. That said, I still think what Seattle is doing might be even more surprising. The Mariners did almost nothing this offseason to overhaul an offense that ranked last in strikeout rate and expected batting average, 29th in actual batting average, 25th in slugging, 22nd in OPS and 21st in runs scored. They did, however, bring back Jorge Polanco, a move that is rewarding them massively (as we noted above), but the turnaround obviously goes way beyond that for the Mariners to now rank in the top 10 in slugging, OPS and runs scored and in the top half of the league in strikeout rate and batting average.I think the numbers will even out for both teams — I have a hard time believing the Mariners are a top-five offense or that the Rangers are a bottom-five offense by season’s end — but we at least saw some serious regression last year from the Texas lineup after the 2023 explosion. Even after the Mariners’ offensive success late last year following the Edgar Martinez hiring, I couldn’t have predicted that continuing the way it has. Three of the top nine qualified MLB players who have seen the greatest year-over-year jump in batting average — Polanco, Dylan Moore and JP Crawford — play for the Mariners, and we haven’t even gotten to the inevitable Julio Rodriguez hot streak yet.
Thosar: The Rangers. Before the season began, many industry pundits had picked Texas as a favorite to win the division. Fangraphs even gave the Rangers better odds than the Tigers to win the World Series. So from that standpoint, it’s very shocking they have a 85 wRC+ more than a month into the season. We all expected more from Marcus Semien and Adolis Garcia, in particular, even if Corey Seager missing some time with yet another injury is not at all surprising. Who could’ve predicted that their offseason acquisitions would be nonexistent, with Jake Burger getting demoted to Triple-A and Joc Pederson batting .114. On paper, the Rangers had the pedigree and star power in their potent lineup to overpower opposing pitching staffs. Instead, it’s been a real shock and an even bigger disappointment.
5. It’s not that the Cubs were expected to play poorly in 2025 following a solid 2024 and the addition of slugger Kyle Tucker, but they’re currently first in the National League in OPS+, and have had above-average pitching to back that offense up. Are they a threat to not just the NL Central, but league-wide? Or is this just some early-season success that’ll eventually stop?
Kavner: When you have the highest-scoring offense in baseball, you’re a legitimate league-wide threat. The dynamism of the Cubs’ lineup combined with the mercurial nature of their pitching staff might make them the most interesting team in baseball. Their bullpen, which ranks 23rd in ERA, doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. The uncertainty in the pitching staff now stretches to the rotation, which will be without Justin Steele for the rest of the year and without leading man Shota Imanaga for at least a couple weeks. No lead feels safe. Then again, no deficit feels insurmountable, either. The offense, which has scored at least 10 runs on eight different occasions, is capable of masking a lot of their issues. Kyle Tucker has given the Cubs the centerpiece they needed, Pete Crow-Armstrong is making the leap to stardom and there are enough dangerous pieces throughout the lineup to continue causing havoc.
Thosar: Even before a single pitch of the 2025 season was thrown, the NL Central was such a weak division that it became the Cubs’ to lose the second they traded for Tucker. Now that they have the hottest offense in baseball, the North Siders look more than prepared to win their first division title (in a full season) since 2017. But I’m still not sold that this team, as currently constructed, is a league-wide threat in part because of their bullpen, which owns a 4.71 ERA that’s ranked 25th in the major leagues. We’ve seen it too many times, where contenders fall apart in October due to a weak relief corps (looking at you, Philly). Don’t get me wrong, the Cubs are solid and improved. But are they World Series contenders? Not just yet. We can revisit this debate if they have a strong trade deadline, though.
Deesha Thosar is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. She previously covered the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Long Island and now lives in Queens. Follow her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.
Rowan Kavner is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. He previously covered the L.A. Dodgers, LA Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, grew up in Texas, then moved back to the West Coast in 2014. Follow him on Twitter at @RowanKavner.
Major League Baseball
<!–>
recommended
Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
–>
Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports
MLB Year in Review: Top 10 storylines of 2024, headlined by Yankees-Dodgers World Series
<!–>
Baseball is back!Â
Historic performances in 2024 generated record increases in viewership and MLB’s highest attendance in seven years. It all culminated in a classic and unforgettable World Series between the Yankees and the Dodgers. But while the sports’ two most storied franchises entertained us in late October, there were several other fascinating developments throughout the year and across the league.
That list includes a pair of pitchers recording triple crown seasons, another posting one of the best rookie campaigns ever, and the consummation of the largest contract in sports history.
Here’s a look back at the 10 biggest MLB storylines of 2024:
ADVERTISEMENT
1. A hobbled Freddie Freeman comes through with iconic Fall Classic
There were two lasting memories of the 2024 World Series: the Yankees‘ calamitous fifth inning in the deciding Game 5 and the iconic blast off the bat of a hobbled Freddie Freeman in Game 1. Freeman was unable to play in two of the Dodgers‘ final three games of the NLCS due to a lingering ankle injury and was also battling broken rib cartilage. He was held without an extra-base hit through the Dodgers’ first two postseason series, but the time off before the Fall Classic allowed him to find his power again. The Dodgers were down to their last out in Game 1 when Freeman conjured memories of Kirk Gibson as he launched the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history. Freeman would go on to homer in each of the next three games as well, giving the series MVP a major-league record six straight World Series games with a home run dating back to the Braves‘ 2021 championship run. — Rowan Kavner
2. Even without pitching, MVP Shohei Ohtani keeps making historyÂ
There’s enough material from Ohtani’s first season with the Dodgers to create an entire top-10 list of his achievements alone, so we’ll just take the whole thing here. Unable to pitch in the first year of his $700 million deal, Ohtani tried to find a way to make more of an impact as an offensive juggernaut with his speed and did it to unprecedented and awe-inspiring levels. He became the fastest player ever to reach 40 homers and 40 steals in a season, and he got there with a walk-off grand slam. Then he became the first 50/50 player in MLB history, hitting the milestone in one of the all-time great single-game performances (6-for-6, 3 HR, 2 2B, 2 SB, 10 RBI). In his first taste of the postseason, Ohtani won a World Series in his first year with the Dodgers and then was crowned the first league MVP who served strictly as a DH. — Kavner
3. The return of the Bronx Bombers
Aaron Judge and Juan Soto produced historic numbers we hadn’t seen in 93 years in their lone season playing in pinstripes together. Their combined oWAR of 19.6 became the highest for a tandem in baseball since Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig recorded 20.0 for the 1931 Yankees. Judge and Soto also combined for 99 home runs and finished in the top three in AL MVP voting, with Judge bringing the trophy home for the second time in his career. The two titans took the Yankees to the World Series; Soto’s 10th-inning pennant-winning home run off Hunter Gaddis was the ultimate highlight of their October, while Judge’s record 223 OPS+ during the regular season set the foundation for the Yankees’ championship run. We didn’t know at the time that Game 5 of the Fall Classic would be the last time they played together. Since Soto switched boroughs in free agency this December, it already makes the spectacle of Judge-Soto that much more nostalgic. For a single season, they were an iconic duo. But in the grand scheme of baseball’s history, they’re just a blip. Oh, but what a year it was. — Deesha Thosar
Aaron Judge or Shohei Ohtani: Who had the more impressive season?
–> <!–>
4. MLB’s homecoming at Rickwood Field
Major League Baseball’s decision to celebrate the historic Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Ala. this summer became an unforgettable tribute to the Negro Leagues and Willie Mays, who died the day before the event kicked off. Mays’ presence was felt at the nation’s oldest professional ballpark, where the Hall of Famer’s legacy began and veterans of the Negro Leagues returned in wheelchairs and high spirits as the Cardinals edged the Giants. Mays’ son, Michael, told the crowd: “Let him hear you!”, before a series of “Willie! Willie!” chants enveloped the field. From issues of race and segregation, to a meeting point for families and communities, to a birthplace of some of the sport’s most talented athletes of all time, Rickwood Field is a relic that will always hold a special place in baseball’s long and complicated history. While the event was held over a few days, the celebration of the beloved ballpark was a sentimental and unforgettable chapter of the 2024 season. — Thosar
5. Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes even better than advertised
Massive expectations followed Paul Skenes after the Pirates made the LSU national champion the top overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. He somehow managed to exceed them. Ten months after he was drafted, Skenes made his MLB debut on May 11. His first 11 big-league starts were so extraordinary that he earned the start in the All-Star Game, becoming the first player ever to go from the No. 1 overall pick to an All-Star the following year. The rest of his season was similarly overpowering. He finished the year with a 1.96 ERA, which was the lowest mark for any rookie with at least 20 starts in the live-ball era and the lowest mark of any big-league pitcher in 2024 with at least 130 innings pitched. Skenes, who struck out 170 batters in 133 innings, was named Rookie of the Year and finished third in Cy Young voting. — Kavner
‘MLB on FOX’ crew discusses significance of Skenes’ All-Star start
–> <!–>
6. Cy Youngs are triple crown winners
From 2012 to 2023, the only pitcher to win a triple crown (leading the league in wins, ERA and strikeouts) was Shane Bieber during the shortened 2020 season. Then came Chris Sale and Tarik Skubal, who this year became the first tandem triple-crown winners since Clayton Kershaw and Justin Verlander in 2011. Sale and Skubal, both left-handed pitchers who’ve persisted after Tommy John surgery, posted eerily similar totals — Sale went 18-3 with a 2.38 ERA and 225 strikeouts in his first year in Atlanta, while Skubal was 18-4 with a 2.39 ERA and 228 strikeouts in Detroit — though their paths to award-winning seasons were vastly different. Sale had finished in the top five in Cy Young voting every year from 2013 to 2018 before being limited by injury over the past four years in Boston. The 35-year-old finally won the award in a bounce-back season in Year 14. Skubal, meanwhile, is still an ascending star. The 28-year-old won the AL Cy Young Award unanimously after helping lift the Tigers to the playoffs for the first time in 10 years. — Kavner
7. Mets‘ late-inning magic
Whether it was Pete Alonso’s go-ahead ninth-inning home run off closer Devin Williams, or Francisco Lindor’s game-winning grand slam against the Phillies that sent the Mets to the NLCS, it was a fairy-tale season full of humor, whimsy and joy for the Amazins. Their late-inning heroics became a staple of their deep postseason run, which included an MLB record four consecutive postseason games in which the team with the lead entering the eighth inning lost. After putting together an expensive and disappointing roster in 2023, the Mets with tempered expectations battled their way all the way to a NLCS Game 6 against the Dodgers, when their capacity for comebacks finally ran out. But a season that featured a glove being thrown into the stands, a goofy McDonalds character, a banger of a Latin pop song performed by their infielder, and a special team culture that overcame setback after setback made for an internal belief that the Mets were always going to fight to stay in the game. When the curtain finally dropped, baseball was left to appreciate a truly remarkable season from the Mets. — Thosar
Dodgers vs. Mets: MINI-MOVIE of 2024 NLCS
–> <!–>
8. Witt, Henderson, De La Cruz headline golden era of young shortstops
If you want to get excited about the future of the sport, just look at the shortstop position. Bobby Witt Jr., Gunnar Henderson and Elly De La Cruz all ranked in the top 10 in wins above replacement in 2024, and all three are under the age of 25. Witt and Henderson finished second and fourth in American League MVP voting, respectively, while De La Cruz finished eighth in the National League. Witt orchestrated one of the greatest all-around seasons from a shortstop ever and won the AL batting crown with a .332 batting average. Henderson had 28 homers before the All-Star break. De La Cruz had 45 steals and 15 homers in his first 91 games, and there are plenty more young talents behind them. C.J. Abrams, 24, was an All-Star and finished with a 20/30 season. Ezequial Tovar, 23, earned down-ballot MVP votes after leading the NL with 45 doubles. The position is in a spectacular place looking forward. — Kavner
9. Central time in the American League
Sure, we thought either the Tigers or the Royals could have a solid season in 2024, but even as late into the year as the trade deadline, nobody expected both teams to make the playoffs. Detroit traded away four of its best players, including Jack Flaherty, in July and fell to a 55-63 record on Aug. 10 with only 44 games left in the season. Then, behind ace Tarik Skubal, they just kept winning. The Tigers went from fourth to second place in the AL Central in the final week of the regular season, defeated the Orioles in the wild-card round, and advanced to the ALDS for the first time in 10 years while ending the longest postseason drought in baseball.
The Royals, who also just finished a long rebuild, relied on their mix of youth and veteran leadership to surge into the playoffs for the first time since their 2015 championship run. Kansas City fell to the eventual AL champion Yankees in the ALDS, but its future looks promising with AL MVP runner-up Bobby Witt Jr. on the books until at least 2030. The Guardians, meanwhile, finished with the second-best record in the American League and required late-inning heroics from the Yankees to be eliminated in the ALCS. Detroit, Kansas City and Cleveland combined to win four playoff series — no division won more — while the Twins also finished above .500, making the AL Central the only division to boast four teams with a winning record. The rise of the AL Central arrived ahead of schedule, but we’re definitely here for it. — Thosar
Mets, Juan Soto agree on 15-year, $765 million contract
–> <!–>
10. The $765 million man
The biggest contract in professional sports — an unprecedented moment in the history of MLB — looks a little something like $765 million paid to Juan Soto over the next 15 years. As if the contract wasn’t mind-boggling on its own, the generational slugger stunned the world when he traded his Yankees cap for a Mets jersey, ending what was the first head-to-head battle between the two New York teams for a free agent under the Steve Cohen era. It was a distinguishing moment in baseball that will be discussed, analyzed and scrutinized for decades to come.
For Scott Boras, too, this was a peculiar year that ended on the highest of notes when he helped Soto sign the massive contract. The year began with his top free agents remaining unsigned deep into the offseason, eventually agreeing to low-priced deals when spring training and even the regular season had already started. Perhaps because of the late start, most of those players suffered injuries or had disappointing seasons, and Boras entered this winter facing skepticism on whether the super agent could still deliver huge contracts. In the end, we got our answer in the form of three quarters of a billion dollars. — Thosar
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.
Deesha Thosar is an MLB reporter 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.
[Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]
–>
recommended
Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports
Better trade: Cody Bellinger to the Yankees or Kyle Tucker to the Cubs?
<!–>
The Yankees were interested in trading for Kyle Tucker. They instead landed Cody Bellinger. It came at a much different cost and should yield a different type of return. The Cubs, of course, were involved in both transactions featuring the multi-time All-Stars.
That prompted the following debate between our MLB writers:Â
Which trade do you like better: The Yankees‘ deal for Cody Bellinger or the Cubs‘ swap for Kyle Tucker?
Deesha Thosar: There are a few different ways of looking at this, but my answer is Bellinger to the Yankees — particularly because they essentially got him for free. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman sent only 30-year-old right-hander Cody Poteet to Chicago in exchange for Bellinger. The veteran righty has a 3.80 ERA in 24 games (13 starts) across three years in the major leagues between the Marlins and the Yankees, and he’ll simply serve as another depth arm on the Cubs’ pitching staff. Sure, Poteet’s 2.22 ERA in 24.1 innings last year — which included four solid starts while Gerrit Cole began the year on the injured list — was valuable for the Yankees’ rotation.
ADVERTISEMENT
But the trade agreement to part ways with Poteet, versus a top prospect in the Yankees’ farm system, was as easy of a decision for Cashman as whether to wear a coat in New York during the winter.
Bellinger’s versatility in the field is a focal point of this trade. Last season, the former MVP award winner appeared defensively at all three outfield positions (49 games in right field, 48 games in center and one game in left) and played a good chunk at first base (22 games). Depending on the flurry of activity in the Yankees’ front office the rest of this offseason, manager Aaron Boone can play Bellinger in center, right or first base to fill whichever roster deficit is left by the time Opening Day rolls around. As of right now, Bellinger makes the most sense at first base or center field, because Aaron Judge can move back to right and Jasson DomÃnguez can continue to increase his reps in left. But if the Yankees sign either Christian Walker or Teoscar Hernández, for example, Bellinger can take over at the remaining positional hole.
So, we know the deal made sense for the Yankees from a roster standpoint, but it was fair from a financial scope, too. New York will pay Bellinger $25 million in 2025, with the Cubs handling the remaining $5 million of his previous pact, and the Yankees will pay him $22.5 million in 2026 if he doesn’t opt out. If he does, the teams will split his $5 million buyout.Â
All of which is to say, the risk here primarily lies in the financials. It seems impossible to predict which version of Bellinger the Yankees will get in 2025, especially after his offensive numbers dipped in 2024. But since Bellinger is only one year removed from his comeback campaign with the Cubs (4.4 fWAR, 136 wRC+ in 2023), the Yankees are betting they can help him get back to that form. If Bellinger hits anywhere close to his All-Star potential, then he’s a steal for the Yankees.
Tucker is, of course, a huge get for the Cubs, but since they had to give up three players, including top third base prospect Cam Smith, to the Astros for a one-year rental, the Bellinger trade was a layup for the Yankees and a sensible payroll-shedding move for Chicago that should let it address other areas of need.
Rowan Kavner: I like both trades, but I’d favor the Cubs given that they got the better player and the star they desperately needed. Tucker, who buttresses the Cubs’ collection of above-average talents, is very likely going to be the best player not named Juan Soto wearing a different uniform in 2025. Tucker might have been overshadowed by other standouts in Houston, but he slots in right behind Aaron Judge, Soto and Mookie Betts for the most wins above replacement accumulated by an outfielder over the past five seasons.
Tucker is also one of just seven big-leaguers who has been worth more than 4.0 WAR each of the past four years, which speaks to his consistency. That he managed to do so again in 2024, despite playing in just 78 games, speaks to his ceiling. At 28 next year, the Cubs are getting one of the best players in the sport still in his prime. His salary, which will likely be somewhere between $15-16 million in his final year of arbitration, should represent a considerable bargain.
Of course, getting the better player in question required surrendering more. The Cubs could afford to part with Isaac Paredes to open the path for top prospect Matt Shaw, but losing 2024 first-rounder Cam Smith — who immediately becomes the Astros’ best prospect — was significant. So, if you’re strictly judging these two trades by who came and went, I can understand favoring the Bellinger deal. No disrespect to Cody Poteet, but he was not going to factor significantly into the Yankees’ plans in 2025.
The Yankees needed help in the outfield and at first base and an injection of talent into a lineup now missing Soto, and Bellinger checks each of those boxes, even if he didn’t produce to the level of his $27.5 million salary last season (which is why he didn’t opt out).Â
After an unceremonious ending to his L.A. tenure, the 2017 Rookie of the Year and 2019 NL MVP bounced back in his first season in Chicago in 2023 by sacrificing power for contact. He cut his strikeout rate nearly in half while finishing 10th in MVP voting, though he considerably outproduced his expected numbers. In 2024, he came back down to earth. Still, he should help in the Bronx, where his left-handed bat figures to produce more home runs than it did at Wrigley Field. In a barren center field market, the Yankees found a solid player to roam the position without losing any significant pieces.
But neither team should be done yet. The Yankees need more offensive help, and the Bellinger addition will look better if they can also add one of the top corner infielders on the market. The Cubs, meanwhile, need to use the money they saved in the Bellinger salary dump to add more pitching. So, we should have a better answer to this question in a couple of months!
Deesha Thosar is an MLB reporter for FOX Sports. She previously covered the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Long Island and now lives in Queens. Follow her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.
Rowan Kavner is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. He previously covered the L.A. Dodgers, LA Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, grew up in Texas, then moved back to the West Coast in 2014. Follow him on Twitter at @RowanKavner.
[Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]
–>
recommended
Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports
Willy Adames vs. Carlos Correa: Who would you take over the next 5 years?
<!–>
The San Francisco Giants have finally landed a big fish. It only took the better part of a decade and the individual with the largest deal in franchise history to make it happen. Shortstop Willy Adames now holds that distinction, however, as his reported seven-year deal for $182 million tops that of new president of baseball operations Buster Posey.
The Giants, and perhaps Posey, found themselves in this position partly because the club’s 13-year, $350 million pact with Carlos Correa two winters ago fell through over concerns about his medicals. While Correa is coming off another All-Star (yet abbreviated) season, the Twins are reportedly open to trading the 30-year-old despite four years left on his contract. The 29-year-old Adames, meanwhile, is coming off perhaps the best year of his career with the Brewers.
That prompted the following debate between our MLB writers:Â
Money being equal, who would you rather have for the next five years, Willy Adames or Carlos Correa?
ADVERTISEMENT
Rowan Kavner: This is a close call considering Adames’ durability and home run ability, but I have to go with the upside of Correa. He’s a year older with a concerning injury history, but he’s also a three-time All-Star, former Rookie of the Year and Platinum Glove winner and, as his .905 OPS this year demonstrated, a potential MVP contender when he’s healthy. The downside, of course, is that he often isn’t.
Adames is a much better bet to actually stay on the field. He’s a consistently above-average player who just produced a career year offensively, though his high strikeout and whiff rates cap his offensive ceiling. The highest wRC+ Adames has produced in a season was 126 (he was 26% better than league average offensively in the shortened 2020 season); Correa, meanwhile, has averaged a 127 wRC+ for his career (and a 126 mark over the past four years).
Since 2021, Correa and Adames rank sixth and eighth, respectively, in FanGraphs’ version of WAR among shortstops. Limit it to the past three seasons, and they’re 10th and ninth. In other words, they’ve provided close to the same value in recent years, despite Adames playing in almost 100 more games during that stretch. You can look at that two ways. One, Adames has been the more reliable player. Two, Correa is usually the more productive player when he does play. Adames leaves the yard more often, but Correa hits the ball harder, strikes out less and reaches base more often. Adames has produced between 3-5 WAR and played in at least 139 games each of the past four seasons, but he has never had a season worth 5.0 or more WAR and has never been an All-Star. Correa, meanwhile, has played in 139 games just once since 2017, but the ceiling (as evidenced by his MLB-best 7.2 bWAR season in 2021) is considerably higher.
After a down year in 2023, Correa displayed both what remains in the tank and the dangers of relying on him to stay healthy in 2024. He slashed .310/.388/.517 with encouraging underlying numbers in an All-Star season but missed half the year with plantar fasciitis in his right foot. Even with Adames producing one of his best seasons ever — the former Brewers shortstop finished in the top 10 in MVP voting for the first time while posting career highs in hits, homers, RBI and stolen bases — Correa provided about the same value in about half the games.
I mentioned in our roundtable this week that I thought Adames was a perfect match for the Giants, who needed help up the middle defensively and a difference-maker in the lineup (the deal he was offered was exactly the max I said I would have given him). He was the type of player the Giants needed to get. But if I were picking between the two, I’d lean toward Correa, whose greater risk comes with greater reward.
Deesha Thosar: Adames. Perhaps the recency bias of his successful walk year is swaying me, but the 29-year-old’s career-high of 161 games in 2024 represent a major highlight, particularly when comparing him to Correa. As noted, the Giants broke their agreement with Correa a couple of winters ago because of medical issues, and there should be zero concerns about Adames’ physical health this time around. Given Buster Posey’s workhorse regimen during his prime years in San Francisco, it’s likely that Adames’ durability stood out to the new Giants front office leader — as it should. Avoiding major injuries, and playing through minor maladies, is not only becoming increasingly rare in today’s game, it’s an asset that Correa simply doesn’t have. Correa’s 86 games played in 2024 and the ongoing never-ending questions about his longevity are drawbacks that are really tough to look beyond.Â
Especially for someone like Posey, who is at the early stages of setting a new standard of stability for Giants baseball, it’s important to field a roster of players who can be counted on. Not only was Adames known as a clubhouse leader in Milwaukee, he was a dependable bat at a premium position, too. Of course, shortstops age rapidly, so there is a general risk of physical decline in the field with Adames. But the pop in his bat, which has played well at Oracle Park, can offset some of his defensive concerns, and his dependability goes a long way when considering a deal for the next five years. Adames has a .321 batting average, .381 on-base percentage, and .827 OPS in 63 plate appearances at Oracle. Now, the two home runs he’s hit in that span are lackluster, but that’s to be expected in the pitcher-friendly ballpark. I’m expecting Adames’ walk rate to offset some of those power concerns.Â
As for Correa, he always looks like he’s on the cusp of reclaiming his Houston superstar days — right up until he inevitably suffers an injury. There is no doubt at this point that those evaluating Correa for a five-year pact must readjust their expectations. Correa, who missed significant time with plantar fasciitis this past season, cannot make any promises about his finicky foot, which casts long-term concern on how much production to expect from the shortstop. I would be much more weary of going down that road with Correa than committing to a solid, albeit pricey, pact with Adames.
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.
Deesha Thosar is an MLB reporter 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.
[Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]
–>
recommended
Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports
Yankees still favorites for Juan Soto? Bregman for $350M?! Burnes, Snell or Fried?
<!–>
We’re more than two weeks into MLB free agency, and not one major deal has been struck. That means the action is coming.Â
There will be a ton of it, as several nine-figure contracts will be negotiated in the coming weeks. None will be bigger, of course, than Juan Soto’s. But how big will it be? And for how long? And with whom?Â
Accordingly, FOX Sports MLB experts Rowan Kavner and Deesha Thosar weigh in on Soto, as well as a trio of aces and what teams will likely be the most active this winter in our latest roundtable.
1. There was a report that Alex Bregman is seeking a deal close to Manny Machado’s 11-year, $350 million extension. What is the max deal you’d offer Bregman if you were a GM, and what team should be most aggressive in signing him?
ADVERTISEMENT
Thosar: Well, Bregman vying to get close to Machado’s extension is overshooting just a little bit. I think he lands a deal in the AAV range of $26-28 million, and if he wants a long-term deal that’s going to eclipse the $200 million mark, then a seven-year deal for $200 million should be achievable for the longtime Astros third baseman. That’s as high as I’d go because Bregman would be 37 by the end of that deal, he already has a lot of mileage underneath him since his 2016 MLB debut, and there was one big concern this year with his walk rate, which was slashed in half in a huge departure from his career norm. Though I can’t imagine Bregman in another uniform besides Houston, the Phillies would be significantly upgraded with the third baseman replacing Alec Bohm. The Phillies are desperate to win the World Series with their tight-knit group before some core players depart for free agency, and adding Bregman to the mix would immediately make them one of the favorites to win it all.
Kavner: Bregman might not be the MVP candidate he was five years ago, but he is still a consistently well-above-average hitter who brings elite defense, rarely whiffs or strikes out and is good for around 20-25 homers a year. His hard-hit rate was actually the highest of his career last season, though it has to be at least a little concerning that the 30-year-old’s walk rate suddenly plummeted, that he chased a bit more than usual, and that he outperformed his expected stats in 2024.
There would be a lot of factors determining the max I’d offer, including the team I’m managing and the payroll I’m working with. If I were making decisions, I’d love to possess the financial freedom to add and extend players that A.J. Preller had when he gave Machado that extension prior to Peter Seidler’s passing. The reality is few GMs (including Preller now) can run the bill up so freely. While Bregman should easily exceed the six-year, $151 million extension that Matt Chapman received in San Francisco, I’d be stunned if he got anything close to Machado’s $350 million extension. The max I’d go is around eight years in the $220-225 million range. The Astros are the obvious team to watch, but the Tigers and Mariners should also be aggressive here.
2. Would you rather have Corbin Burnes for seven years, $250M, Blake Snell for five years, $180M or Max Fried for five years, $150M?
Kavner: If they were all getting paid the same I’d go Burnes — there’s a reason he will get the biggest contract of the trio — but at these numbers, I’d take Snell. Burnes is coming off another terrific season, but his descending strikeout rate would frighten me some when I’m offering upwards of $250 million. What I’d choose, though, would depend a bit on my team/roster construction. If I were a team on the fringes of the playoff picture just trying to contend, I’d probably go Fried for his consistency. But his inability to miss bats could cause problems in October (he has a career 3.07 regular season ERA; 5.10 in the postseason), and I’d need more information about the forearm issue that limited him this year. If I’m already a playoff contender looking for a final piece that can help me win a World Series, I’m taking Snell, the two-time Cy Young Award winner who just posted the highest strikeout rate (34.7%) and lowest hard-hit rate (28.7%) of his career. If he’s healthy and looking right in October, there aren’t many people on Earth who can rival his stuff.
Thosar: Max Fried. He shouldn’t hesitate to sign that proposed deal, particularly since he was earning half that amount this year in his All-Star season. Alongside Snell, Fried is the only left-handed ace in this year’s starting pitching class. But executives shouldn’t let the glamour of Snell’s two Cy Young awards get in the way of their decision-making. Fried is a year younger than Snell and more consistent than him, too. Fried, a World Series champion, is the only pitcher in the past five seasons to log over 600 innings and an ERA+ over 150 in the regular season. In the end, I think some of his forearm issues (and his attachment to a qualifying offer, thus resulting in costing whoever signs him a draft pick) will put some ice on his market. He seems likelier to sign a deal with an AAV in the range of $26-28 million.
3. A few weeks back, both of you expected Juan Soto to ultimately re-sign with the Yankees this offseason. How confident are you in that prediction now and what is your best guess for the terms of his deal?
Thosar: I still think the Yankees will ultimately sign Soto, but it’s going to be a tight race between both New York teams. Even though Hal Steinbrenner’s comments at the owners’ meetings in Manhattan on Wednesday were pretty underwhelming and seemed to lack extreme confidence that Soto would end up back in the Bronx, the Yankees owner also indicated that his sole priority this offseason is making sure the slugger returns, and I think he just might do whatever it takes to make sure that it happens. I think Cohen is going to drive the price up, so something like $707 million over 15 years might get the deal done for Soto and the Yankees. But they just can’t let Soto slip away, particularly after he catapulted them to the World Series, and I continue to think they won’t make that mistake.
Kavner: Less! If I were a Yankees fan, I would feel a little queasy after hearing Hal Steinbrenner say “no idea” and “we’ll be in the mix” when asked about his confidence in retaining Soto following their meeting with the soon-to-be-very-rich free agent. I do still expect one of the two New York teams is the ultimate destination, but it feels at least a little more likely now that Steve Cohen’s Mets or another AL East club outbids the Yankees. I think Soto surpasses the $600 million mark but doesn’t get to $700M. Let’s say 14 years, $644 million.
4. Would the Yankees be better off landing Soto on a megadeal, or adding a frontline starter plus two other All-Star bats?
Kavner: Soto. He’s in a different stratosphere from anyone else on the market, and what he provides to the Yankees lineup can’t be overstated. Just look at 2023, when they didn’t have Soto and were an 82-win team with a bottom-10 offense. In 2024 with Soto, they reached the World Series as a 94-win team with a top-three offense. Sure, there were other factors involved, but none bigger than Soto, who gave the Yankees the best 1-2 punch in the sport. He completely transformed the group, and there’s no way to replicate that kind of production.
Thosar: I don’t see why the Yankees, the most lucrative franchise in MLB, should be limited after signing Soto to staying put and putting a cap on their spending. Based on Steinbrenner expressing this week that Soto had questions about the Yankees’ player development system and long-term commitment to winning, the team knows it has work to do this winter to make sure their holes are filled with elite talent. Aaron Judge, before signing his long-term contract two years ago, also wanted confirmation from Steinbrenner that the club’s annual initiative is to win the World Series. So, it’s ultimately in their best interests to land Soto, and then add at least another mid-level starter and an All-Star bat to, at the very least, replace Anthony Rizzo at first.
Dodgers vs. Yankees: MINI-MOVIE of 2024 World Series
–> <!–>
5. Which playoff team from each league do you project will make the biggest upgrades to their current rosters this offseason? Which non-playoff teams will do the same?
Thosar: The Orioles are on the verge of losing their ace (Corbin Burnes) and home-run leader (Anthony Santander) if they don’t spend the big bucks and keep their top players in Baltimore, so I’m expecting them to make big upgrades not only to fill those holes, but also because this is the first full offseason they can flex their financial might under the new ownership group led by billionaire David Rubenstein. The Mets also have a lot of work to do this winter just to build a starting rotation, and they’re, of course, at the center of conversation with Soto. I’m expecting the Mets, in classic Steve Cohen style, to make at least one big splash this offseason, if not multiple.Â
As for non-playoff teams, the Giants have expressed that they want to spend big for multiple offseasons now, only for major deals to fall through or go haywire. Perhaps this is the year, under new president of baseball operations Buster Posey, they are really, truly aggressive and make big upgrades that pay immediate dividends. In the AL, I think this is the winter the Red Sox return to dominance in some way, shape or form. Whether that means landing Soto or a top starting pitcher, Boston has to go for it with a strong offseason after missing the postseason three years straight.
Kavner: The Mets — for obvious reasons, with Cohen’s checkbook backing a team on the rise — and the Tigers, who currently project to have an $80 million payroll. A couple of years ago, this was a team that operated $50 million higher. Even if Detroit doesn’t go crazy this winter, there should be some leeway to spend here, and the Tigers need to add more pop in the infield and starting pitching if they want to build on last year’s surprise run. Could they get involved in the Alex Bregman sweepstakes? At the least, I could see a situation similar to what the Royals did last winter where they give themselves a more viable path toward sustained success.
For the non-playoff teams, I’ll go with two AL East clubs who have already reportedly had meetings with Soto: the Blue Jays and the Red Sox. There’s little point in taking that meeting if you’re not at least considering spending big for difference-making talent. After failing to reel in Shohei Ohtani last winter and then going through the abomination of the 2024 season, the Blue Jays might be tempted to make some considerable overhauls. And for the Red Sox, another false “full-throttle” offseason can’t happen. It’s time to do what it takes to escape the throes of mediocrity. If we want to add a couple of non-playoff NL teams, I’m looking at the Giants and the Nationals.
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.
Deesha Thosar is an MLB reporter 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.
[Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]
–>
recommended
Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports
World Series Roundtable: Yankees rally? Dodgers sweep? Ohtani OK? Soto’s free agency?
<!–>
MLB postseason history suggests this Yankees-Dodgers matchup is likely over. Yankees-Dodgers World Series history suggests otherwise.Â
Playoff teams that have taken a 2-0 lead have won the series 77 of 92 times (84%). But in each of the past two Fall Classics between the Yankees and Dodgers (1978, 1981), and in three of their past five October meetings (1956), the home team won the first two games — only to lose the series.Â
So, which history is more likely to repeat itself in the 2024 World Series? FOX Sports MLB experts Rowan Kavner and Deesha Thosar weigh in on the opening two games in Los Angeles and what might be in store as the series shifts to New York.
[RELATED: Full coverage of the World Series]Â
ADVERTISEMENT
1. What are you expecting from Shohei Ohtani for the rest of this series after he suffered a shoulder subluxation in Game 2?
Kavner: Tough to say until we see that first swing. Dave Roberts struck an encouraging tone when referencing Ohtani’s strength and range of motion, but it’s hard to know until we see it in action. Then again, this is Ohtani we’re talking about, the guy who hit a walk-off grand slam to get to 40/40 and had the greatest single game ever to get to 50/50. Even if he’s limited, his presence alone is important for the Dodgers if he’s able to go. Something tells me he has at least one big swing, one more defining moment in a season full of them, left in him.
Thosar: We still don’t have all the information required to really know how how much he’s recovered since Saturday, but my gut says I would be surprised if there’s a discernible difference from Ohtani at the plate — this is the World Series, and I’m expecting him to give it his all. If there’s a tweak in his mechanics due to the partial shoulder dislocation, that could take a couple of at-bats in order for him to get used to how best to swing without pain. At least in Game 3, I would guess Ohtani won’t be as much of a threat to steal to ensure he doesn’t further injure himself.
2. How much of Aaron Judge’s postseason struggles do you think are mental as opposed to mechanical at this point?
Thosar: His poor swing decisions and how much he was chasing offspeed pitches are a strong indication that Judge is in his head. It’s not like his talent left the building overnight, and though he’s faced tough pitching in the World Series, his star teammates have found a way to break through at some point in the nine-inning game, so that can’t be an excuse. Now that the narrative that he struggles in the playoffs has reached a fever pitch and put all the pressure on Judge to come through big in Game 3, it will be extremely important for him to block out the noise and remind himself he was the best player in the major leagues the previous six months.
Kavner: Probably a combo, but it has to at least be part of the mix. When you’re saying things like, “I’m failing them,” how can it not? Mookie Betts, when he was going through his October rut, talked about how he took hundreds of swings a day and shut off social media for a period. Once he got some production late in the NLDS, he regained his confidence and looked like himself again. Betts, however, strikes out about half as often as Judge.Â
That’s the hard part for the Yankees captain, who has struck out in six of his nine at-bats this series and in 13 of his 22 at-bats going back to Game 3 of the ALCS. If there’s any weakness or swing and miss to a player’s game, it will get exploited in the postseason. The good thing for him, there’s still time to rewrite his October story. But it has to happen fast.
3. What has surprised you most through two games?
Kavner: How different Freddie Freeman has looked. When he went down at the end of September with his ankle sprain, it was supposed to be a 4-6 week injury, so it might make sense that he has turned a corner a month later. But that timeline was assuming he was resting and rehabbing, not playing through the issue (and often feeling worse off for it). He’s a daunting presence in the Dodgers’ lineup, regardless of the production, but considering how much the ankle had sapped his power for the first two rounds, I didn’t think a week off would be enough to turn him from a singles machine into a home run-mashing difference-maker. His teammates, however, clearly saw a change in that week between the NLCS and World Series. He looks like a completely different player in the World Series. Usually, it’s running that starts to cause him problems (which is why he was so much more limited late in the NLCS). I’ll be curious to see how his ankle holds up the longer this series goes.Â
Besides that, the other biggest stunner for me also involved Freeman. I was surprised to see the Yankees turn to starter Nestor Cortes, who hadn’t pitched all month with an elbow issue, in the middle of an inning, in the highest of leverage spots, to face the top of the Dodgers’ order in the 10th inning in Game 1. Obviously, we saw how that turned out.
Thosar: Judge’s complete absence as a legitimate threat has been very surprising. Even if there was a regression, and he wasn’t getting as many base hits, I expected him to at least get on base by drawing his walks against Dodgers starters Jack Flaherty and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, considering both pitchers should’ve been nervous to pitch to him in the zone. But the more he flailed at the plate, the more comfortable pitchers became pitching to him. By the end of Game 2, he was an automatic out, and I don’t think anyone saw that coming.
4. Do you believe this Series will make it back to Los Angeles?
Thosar: I think the Series is going back to Los Angeles because I don’t think the Yankees will crumble without a fight, and I’m expecting Judge to wake up in the Bronx in front of the home fans. I think the Yankees slugger needed a rest day and a reset more than anything, so after a break from the madness on Sunday, he should return to more of a semblance of himself in more familiar surroundings. There’s a good chance New York wins two of the next three games with three consecutive right-handers starting on the hill, but that fight has to get going Monday with a strong start right out of the gates at home. If the Yankees drop to 0-3, I’m way less confident the Series will go back to L.A.
Kavner: I do, although I also think the Dodgers take one in the Bronx. The Yankees’ biggest advantage in this series was always its rotation. It hasn’t paid off yet, and it was a massive blow for them to lose the Gerrit Cole start, especially considering how well Cole pitched, but their upper hand with starting pitching also had to do with depth. Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil have been better this year than any healthy pitchers the Dodgers have after Jack Flaherty and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.Â
Then again, bet against Walker Buehler in a big game at your own peril. He displayed some really encouraging signs with the whiffs he was getting his last time out, particularly with his secondary stuff. Still, the Dodgers will have to run a bullpen game in Game 4 without Evan Phillips, and then the Yankees get another Gerrit Cole start. The theme this postseason for the Dodgers has been how their fans have finally gotten to celebrate their October success, the way they couldn’t when the team won in 2020. The Dodgers clinched this year’s NLDS at home, then clinched the NLCS at home. My gut says it’s 3-2 going back to Los Angeles, where they’ll have the chance to finish it at Dodger Stadium again.
5. Do you think the outcome of this series will have any impact on Juan Soto’s free-agent decision? Do you expect him to ultimately sign with the Yankees?
Kavner: Not really. You could come up with narratives either way — that he’d be more willing to stay if they win the World Series, or that he could be motivated to finish the job if they fall just short — but ultimately, money talks. There’s a team across the bridge that has a lot of it, but I would be stunned if the Yankees didn’t find a way to do whatever it takes to keep Soto in pinstripes. They would never hear the end of it.
Thosar: It will be harder for Soto to walk away from the Yankees if they win a championship together, I think. In that same vein, it would be much more difficult for the Yankees to do anything but make a competitive offer to Soto, one that he likely couldn’t refuse, right after possibly winning a title. Ultimately, I expect Soto to sign with the Yankees because he’s been a perfect fit in the Bronx and has excelled in New York — as evidenced by his career highs in home runs, hits, and runs scored. Hal Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman will have to do their part by meeting or getting close to his asking price.
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.
Deesha Thosar is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. She previously covered the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Long Island and now lives in Queens. Follow her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.
[Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]
–>
recommended
Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports