Three biggest free-agent needs for Yankees, Orioles, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Rays

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The Hot Stove has been cold through the first three weeks of November, but the action is expected to heat up soon with MLB’s winter meetings nearing. In the meantime, we’re examining each team to identify its three biggest needs this offseason and which free agents could fulfill them.

Our series begins with the American League East.

NEW YORK YANKEES

1. Signing the best young free agent in 20 years: The club’s top priority this winter is ensuring Juan Soto stays in pinstripes, but if he doesn’t, then the Yankees will need to look for outfield help, especially since Alex Verdugo is unlikely to return in free agency. Outside of top prospect Jasson Domínguez, who should be on the Opening Day roster, free agents Teoscar Hernández and Anthony Santander would be solid fits in the Bronx, keeping in mind there’s a significant drop-off in outfield talent after them.

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2. Second base: Brian Cashman didn’t exactly offer glowing remarks for Gleyber Torres as the Yankees’ seven-year second baseman entered free agency, and the two sides always seemed destined to eventually part ways. New York’s roster needs to get younger and faster, so infield prospect Caleb Durbin could make a huge impact if he’s big-league ready. Durbin turned heads in the Arizona Fall League, setting an all-time record by stealing 29 bases in just 24 games. The Yankees could also move Jazz Chisholm to second, a spot he manned his first couple of years with the Marlins (or even to center field, where he was playing prior to being traded to New York, if the Yanks don’t land a star outfielder). But the need would then shift to adding a third baseman.

3. First base: Anthony Rizzo’s time in the Bronx has all but definitely come to an end, and while rookie Ben Rice was serviceable at first base in 2024, the Yankees could use a higher-impact bat. Will they go for free-agent slugger Pete Alonso? If they don’t get their white whale in Soto, they might need to pivot to more of a sure-thing at first, like the Polar Bear or D-backs veteran Christian Walker. But the first base market is thin, so developing Rice at the corner-infield position and going for a bigger splash elsewhere could be something of a Plan B.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES

1. Starting pitching: Baltimore badly needs free-agent right-hander Corbin Burnes to stay, and thanks to its new ownership group led by private equity billionaire David Rubenstein, the organization can afford to keep him. It will be interesting to see how much the O’s flex their financial muscle in pursuit of arguably the top starter on the market, but they need an ace either way because they’re legitimate title contenders. So, if Burnes walks away, other top-line free-agent rotation possibilities include Blake Snell, Max Fried, Jack Flaherty, Yusei Kikuchi and Nathan Eovaldi.

2. Outfield: If Santander departs in free agency, the Orioles are losing a switch-hitting righty-swinging right fielder who amassed 105 home runs for them over the past three seasons. That will be impossible to replace on the open market unless they land Soto or Hernandez, so the O’s might as well take their shot at developing 25-year-old Heston Kjerstad and giving him a full-season runway in right. He was, after all, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 draft. Baltimore could also look at free agents Jurickson Profar, Tyler O’Neill and Randal Grichuk to fill the hole.

3. Bullpen/catching depth: Adley Rutschman needs a backup, so that will surely be a priority for the O’s this winter. Yasmani Grandal, Jacob Stallings or Kyle Higashioka could make sense there. But it also wouldn’t hurt to pad the bullpen with more security behind returning closer Felix Bautista. The O’s can make a statement by signing high-leverage reliever Tanner Scott, who will have a surplus of pursuers in his free agency, with righties Clay Holmes and Carlos Estévez serving as other targets. 

BOSTON RED SOX

1. A superstar: The Red Sox have to stop playing around. After a three-year playoff drought, enough is enough. They need to galvanize the team and fan base by spending big and fully committing to winning the winter, and there’s no better place to start than by going the distance for Soto. Their exciting young core should excite Soto, as will being the face of the franchise. Boston’s desire to contend has seemed like an afterthought since Mookie Betts was traded nearly five years ago. That can all change by making Soto an offer he can’t refuse.

2. Starting pitching: Speaking of superstars, Boston could use one of those in the rotation. The Red Sox’s previous championship teams all had an ace (or two) leading the staff, and now would be a terrific time to go for Corbin Burnes, Blake Snell or Max Fried. If they all come off the board, then arms like Sean Manaea or Yusei Kikuchi should be very attainable for Boston, and trading for White Sox ace Garrett Crochet would also stabilize the rotation. With or without Soto, the rotation is where the Red Sox must spend big.

3. A right-handed bat: A few exciting names stand out for the Red Sox to balance out their lefty-heavy lineup. Teoscar Hernandez, whom Boston courted last offseason before he went to the Dodgers, would be an excellent fit in Boston. Alex Bregman could take over duties at the hot corner, allowing Rafael Devers to shift to first base or DH full time. Pete Alonso would also make sense, and would send a strong message to the competitive AL East. The Red Sox might need to act fast to land any one of these top free agents. 

TAMPA BAY RAYS

1. Outfield: Randy Arozarena’s trade-deadline departure is still being felt in Tampa, and the Rays have work to do to improve their offense. That starts with the outfield, and since they have a surplus of pitching, they could start by trading for an outfielder who could slot into the heart of their lineup. The White Sox have been floating the idea of trading away All-Star center fielder Luis Robert Jr. for a while now, so it could make sense for the Rays to find a way to get a deal done there. They definitely can take on his team-friendly deal.

2. Catcher: Tampa Bay needs a stopgap catcher until prospect Dominic Keegan is ready to make the leap to the major leagues. They already have lefty Ben Rortvedt, so a right-handed backstop would be ideal. Free-agent veterans like Kyle Higiashioka, Elias Diaz and Jacob Stallings could work. 

3. Shortstop: Speaking of missing former stars, the Rays have lacked production at shortstop since Wander Franco was placed on administrative leave late in the 2023 season. Taylor Walls has been mediocre there since, producing a 55 OPS+ over 84 games last year, with Jose Caballero picking up the rest of the workload but still lacking impact at the plate. No. 1 prospect Carson Williams’ MLB debut can’t come soon enough, and since the Rays aren’t going to spend, they could look at a thin trade market for shortstops or just hold with what they have until they promote Williams at some point this year. 

TORONTO BLUE JAYS

1. Extend Vlad and add a big bat: Extending Vladimir Guerrero Jr. would set the tone for everything else Toronto needs to accomplish this offseason. While the Blue Jays are in the mix for Soto, he’d want to know whether Guerrero will be sticking around with him on a potential long-term deal, because that significantly boosts their chances of being an annual contender. The Jays would also improve their chances of attracting other big-name free agents beyond Soto — like Hernandez, Santander, Alonso, Bregman, Tyler O’Neill and Jurickson Profar — by committing to Guerrero.

2. Relief pitching: The Blue Jays’ relief corps just recorded the worst fWAR (-2.5) and the second-worst bullpen ERA (4.82) in baseball, so improving that unit has to take top priority in order to become a threat in this division again. We’ve seen bullpen arms getting more and more expensive lately, so Toronto will have to commit to spending big to revitalize its relief unit. The club needs to settle on a closer, and then add two or three more high-leverage arms. Free agents like Tanner Scott, Clay Holmes, Carlos Estevez, Jeff Hoffman, Kirby Yates, Blake Treinen and Kenley Jensen should be of the utmost interest to the Jays.

3. Catching depth: Alejandro Kirk needs a catching partner, and his old friend Danny Jansen is back on the market after Toronto traded him to the Red Sox for three prospects this past summer. Kirk and Jansen are only two years removed from combining to create the best offensive catching duo in baseball with a 7.9 fWAR in 2022. But Jansen won’t come cheap this winter amid a thin catching market. The Jays can instead pivot to Higashioka, Carson Kelly or Austin Hedges for their backstop hole.

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.

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Shohei Ohtani rehabbing from shoulder surgery, aims to be ready for opening day

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Shohei Ohtani is in the early stages of rehabbing from arthroscopic surgery to repair a labrum tear in his left shoulder following the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ World Series championship over the New York Yankees last month.

“We’ve already removed the stitches,” the Japanese star said Thursday in Los Angeles after winning his third Most Valuable Player award, his first with the Dodgers. “The current goal is to bring back my range of motion. Today we started working on core and we’re slowly ramping up right now.”

[Related: Shohei Ohtani wins NL MVP by unanimous vote]

Ohtani had the surgery on Nov. 5, four days after he and the team paraded through downtown Los Angeles and celebrated with fans at Dodger Stadium.

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“We’ve been stuck in rehab every day and I’ve been sitting on my bed relaxing,” he said through a translator. “We haven’t been able to take some time to celebrate as a family.”

Ohtani didn’t pitch this season while rehabbing from elbow surgery in September 2023. He injured his shoulder attempting to steal second base during Game 2 of the World Series.

“The goal is to be ready for opening day that includes hitting and pitching, but we are kind of taking our time,” he said. “Obviously want to make sure I’m healthy first. We’re not going to rush anything. We’re going to take a little bit more time and be conservative.”

Ohtani’s most anxious moment during his stellar first regular season with the Dodgers didn’t involve his performance.

It was about his beloved dog, Decoy.

“The most nerve-wracking game, the most nervous I was when we had Decoy throw out the pitch,” he said.

Much like his owner, Decoy performed flawlessly on that August night, trotting from the mound to deliver the ball in his mouth to a waiting Ohtani behind the plate. Ohtani later homered leading off against Baltimore on his second bobblehead night.

They were together on Thursday, when the Dutch Kooikerhondje appeared briefly on television as Ohtani, sitting next to his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, discussed his MVP honor. He called it “very humbling.”

The 30-year-old designated hitter took all 30 of the first-place votes from the Baseball Writers’ Association, becoming the first player to win MVP honors unanimously three times. He won twice in the AL with the Los Angeles Angels.

“It’s going to motivate me more to continue to help the team win next year,” Ohtani said through an interpreter. “We’d like to continue to win the World Series each year.”

Ohtani became just the second player in major league history to win the award in both leagues, joining Frank Robinson, who won NL MVP in 1961 and AL MVP in 1966.

Ohtani is likely to see a familiar face in the majors soon. Highly touted pitcher Roki Sasaki is expected to sign with a Major League Baseball team by January. He and Ohtani were teammates when Japan won the World Baseball Classic in 2023.

“No, I haven’t really been recruiting him in any way,” Ohtani said. “I consider him a friend, so we’ll talk every so often about baseball in general and life. I’ll respect his decision wherever he wants to sign and I think he’ll do well wherever he goes.”

Reporting by The Associated Press.

Dodgers vs. Yankees: MINI-MOVIE of 2024 World Series | MLB on FOX 🎥

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Yankees still favorites for Juan Soto? Bregman for $350M?! Burnes, Snell or Fried?

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We’re more than two weeks into MLB free agency, and not one major deal has been struck. That means the action is coming. 

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? 

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?

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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

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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. 

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.

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Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani unanimously wins NL MVP

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Shohei Ohtani has made history again.

The Los Angeles Dodgers star was named National League MVP on Thursday, beating out New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor and Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte for the award. 

With the honor, Ohtani now has three MVP wins, making him the 12th player to ever reach that mark. He also won all 30 of the first-place votes, making this also his third unanimous MVP after winning in the same fashion in 2021 and 2023 with the Los Angeles Angels. He is also the first player in MLB history to win the award primarily as a designated hitter, as he did not pitch this past season after undergoing elbow surgery in September 2023.

Ohtani is also the 14th player ever to win back-to-back MVPs and just the second player ever to win the MVP in both the National and American Leagues. Frank Robinson was the first player to win the MVP in both leagues.

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Ohtani made history en route to winning his third MVP as he had a memorable first season with the Dodgers, proving to be worth the record-setting $700 million contract he signed last winter. He became the first player to hit at least 50 home runs and steal at least 50 bases in the same season, hitting a career-high 54 homers to go with a career-best 59 stolen bases. The way Ohtani reached the 50/50 threshold was also memorable, hitting three home runs and stealing two bases against the Miami Marlins in a 20-4 win on Sept. 19.

Even though Ohtani didn’t pitch in 2024 , the season might have been his best yet, at least at the plate. In addition to reaching the 50/50 mark, Ohtani posted career bests in batting average (.310), RBIs (130) and OPS+ (190). He led the league in each of those stats plus home runs, stolen bases and OPS (1.036). 

Of course, Ohtani capped off his remarkable season by winning his first World Series title. His first taste of postseason action had some memorable moments, hitting a key homer in Game 1 of the NLDS before hitting two homers in the NLCS. He was hampered at the plate in the World Series after suffering a shoulder injury, but he still provided enough to help Los Angeles win its second title in five seasons. 

Entering his second season with the Dodgers in 2025, Ohtani will have a strong chance to add to his legacy. He’ll be set to be a two-way player again after undergoing surgery to repair his injured shoulder following the World Series. The Dodgers are also primed to make more World Series runs in the foreseeable future.

For now, though, Ohtani’s 2024 season will be celebrated and instantly be remembered by all baseball fans. 

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Yankees’ Aaron Judge unanimously wins AL MVP

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For the second time in three seasons, Aaron Judge is the American League MVP.

Judge was named AL MVP on Thursday, winning the award over New York Yankees teammate Juan Soto and Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. He won this one unanimously with all 30 first-place votes.

With the win, Judge joins a very prestigious group of Yankees greats to win multiple AL MVP awards during their tenure with the team. He’s the seventh player in the organization’s history to win at least two MVPs, joining the likes of Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris and Alex Rodriguez. Four of those six players went on to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. 

The Yankees star slugger had another tremendous season at the plate, nearly matching his impressive output from the 2022 season when he set the record for the most homers in American League history (62). Judge posted a career-high .322 batting average while he led the majors in homers (58), RBIs (144), OPS (1.159), OPS+ (1.159) and bWAR (10.8). 

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Judge’s efforts at the plate, along with the offseason acquisition of Soto, helped the Yankees win the AL East again after missing the postseason in 2023. In the postseason, Judge hit three homers to reach the World Series for the first time in his career. The Yankees ultimately lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games.

Even though the 2024 season ended on a sour note for Judge, he’s already proven himself to be one of the best hitters of his time. He’s just one of four active players with multiple MVP wins, joining Shohei Ohtani, Bryce Harper and Mike Trout. With 315 career home runs, Judge might also be the next player to join the 500 home run club as he leads all active players in at-bats per home run (11.31). 

Regardless of what’s next for Judge, the 2024 season marked the third year of a dominant stretch for the Yankees slugger. He’s hit .304 with 157 total homers in that time, which is by far the most of any player in the league in that stretch. So, it only makes sense that Judge has multiple MVP awards to show for his dominance over the last three years. 

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MLB will test robot umpires at 13 spring training ballparks hosting 19 teams

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Major League Baseball will test robot umpires as part of a challenge system during spring training at 13 ballparks hosting 19 teams, which could lead to regular-season use in 2026.

MLB has been experimenting with the automated ball-strike system in the minor leagues since 2019 but is still working on the shape of the strike zone.

An agreement for big league use would have to be reached with the Major League Baseball Umpires Association, whose collective bargaining agreement expires Dec. 1.

“I would be interested in having it in ‘26,” baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said Wednesday after an owners’ meeting. “We do have a collective bargaining obligation there. That’s obviously a term and condition of employment. We’re going to have to work through that issue, as well.”

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Manfred said the spring training experiment will have to be evaluated before MLB determines how to move forward.

“There’s two sides to that test,” he said. “It’s what the clubs think about it and also what do the players think about it? And we’re going to have to sort through both of those.”

Triple-A ballparks used ABS this year for the second straight season, but there is little desire to call the strike zone as the cube defined in the rule book and MLB has experimented with modifications during minor league testing.

The ABS currently calls strikes solely based on where the ball crosses the midpoint of the plate, 8.5 inches from the front and the back. The top of the strike zone was increased to 53.5% of batter height this year from 51%, and the bottom remained at 27%.

After splitting having the robot alone for the first three games of each series and a human with a challenge system in the final three during the first 2 1/2 months of the Triple-A season, MLB on June 25 switched to an all-challenge system in which a human umpire makes nearly all decisions.

During the second half of the season, each team had three challenges in the Pacific Coast League and two in the International League. A team retains its challenge if successful, similar to the regulations for big league teams with video reviews.

“I think we will have a spring training ABS test that will provide a meaningful opportunity for all major league players to see what the challenge system will look like,” Manfred said. “It won’t be in every single ballpark but we actually have a plan where every team will get meaningful exposure.”

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal unanimously wins AL Cy Young

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Tarik Skubal added many accolades to his name for the first time in 2024. Now, he’ll add the top pitching award to his mantle.

The Detroit Tigers ace was named the American League Cy Young Award winner for the 2024 season on Wednesday, beating finalists Seth Lugo (Kansas City Royals) and Emmanuel Clase (Cleveland Guardians) for the honor. He won all 30 first-place votes, becoming the third consecutive unanimous Cy Young winner after Gerrit Cole (New York Yankees) and Justin Verlander (Houston Astros).

Skubal, who celebrated his 28th birthday on Wednesday, had a memorable breakout year that lifted Detroit into the playoffs after a surprising late-season run. He went 18-4 with a 2.39 ERA, a 0.922 WHIP and 228 strikeouts in 192 innings pitched over 31 starts. 

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Skubal’s win total, ERA and strikeout total were the most in the American League, making him (along with Chris Sale in the National League) the first pitcher to win the pitching Triple Crown in a 162-game season since former Tigers ace Verlander and the Los Angeles DodgersClayton Kershaw did so in their respective leagues in 2011. Verlander won the Cy Young Award for his play that season as Skubal is the sixth Tigers player to ever win the award. 

After a dominant regular season, Skubal was nails in his first two postseason starts. He didn’t allow a run in either outing, shutting out the Houston Astros in Game 1 of the wild-card round before pitching seven innings of shutout ball in Game 2 of the ALDS against the Guardians. However, Skubal didn’t pitch well in the Tigers’ series-deciding loss to the Guardians, allowing five runs.

Still, Skubal’s 2024 season was as good as any pitcher’s, especially when you consider the circumstances. The lefty was out from the middle of the 2022 season through the middle of the 2023 season due to flexor tendon surgery.

As Skubal and the Tigers surprised in 2024, Wednesday’s vote wasn’t much of one. They’ll hope that’s the case moving forward, and they’ll likely have one of the game’s best pitchers for the foreseeable future to help.

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Braves’ Chris Sale caps off comeback season by winning NL Cy Young

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One of the most surprising comeback seasons in recent baseball history has been made complete with a Cy Young win.

Atlanta Braves ace Chris Sale has won the National League Cy Young Award, defeating Pittsburgh Pirates rookie sensation Paul Skenes and Philadelphia Phillies star Zack Wheeler for the honor. Sale won 26 of the 30 first-place votes.

While Sale is widely thought to be one of the best pitchers of his generation, he was considered to be a longshot at best to win the Cy Young entering the season. The 35-year-old lefty was traded by the Boston Red Sox in the 2023-24 offseason to help shed salary as the oft-injured pitcher only made 31 starts in the previous three seasons.

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Sale was immediately effective with the Braves and seemingly got better as the season went along. After earning his first All-Star nod in eight seasons, Sale finished 2024 with an 18-3 record, a 2.38 ERA, a 1.013 WHIP and 225 strikeouts in 177.2 innings pitched over 29 starts. Sale, along with Tarik Skubal in the American League, became the first pitcher to win the pitching Triple Crown in a 162-game season since Justin Verlander and Clayton Kershaw did so in 2011.

The surprise season from Sale was also much-needed for the Braves. Atlanta lost its star pitcher, Spencer Strider, for the season in April as he needed Tommy John surgery. Sale’s strong 2024 helped the Braves make the postseason again, but he wasn’t able to pitch in the playoffs due to fatigue.

Sale has also won the one major honor that’s evaded him throughout his illustrious career with Wednesday’s announcement. He had never won the American League Cy Young during his dominant seasons with the Chicago White Sox and Red Sox despite being instrumental in Boston’s 2018 World Series title run. Now, Sale has a Cy Young to go with eight All-Star nods and a World Series ring, seemingly strengthening his Hall of Fame chances. 

But before Sale’s baseball focus turns to Cooperstown, he’s still got some time left on the mound. The Braves signed him to a two-year extension shortly after acquiring him from the Red Sox last offseason, ensuring that he will stick around in Atlanta.

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Freddie Freeman’s walk-off grand slam ball from World Series to hit auction block

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Freddie Freeman’s historic walk-off grand slam ball from Game 1 of the World Series is hitting the auction block.

The Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman came to the plate on a sprained right ankle with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning against the New York Yankees last month. Freeman hit the first pitch from Nestor Cortes 413 feet for the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history.

“That’s as good as it gets right there,” said Freeman, who was named World Series MVP.

The Dodgers won the game 6-3 and went on to claim the franchise’s eighth World Series championship in five games.

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“It might be the greatest baseball moment I’ve ever witnessed,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, “and I’ve witnessed some great ones.”

The ball landed in the right-field pavilion, where it was corralled by 10-year-old Zachary Ruderman, who lives in the Venice section of Los Angeles. The ball rolled from the seat in front of him to his feet and he batted it to his father, Nico, who jumped on it.

‘That’s a dream come true’ – Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman after his game-winning grand slam in Game 1 of World Series

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The fifth-grader had been told he was leaving school early that day to get his braces removed. Instead, his parents took him to Dodger Stadium.

“Our family hopes the baseball will be displayed in Dodgers stadium so all Dodgers and baseball fans can view a very special piece of history for the City of Los Angeles,” the Ruderman family said Wednesday in a statement.

It’s the second ball connected to the Dodgers to be auctioned this season. The ball hit by Freeman’s teammate, Shohei Ohtani, that made him the first player in major league history with at least 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a season sold for nearly $4.4 million to a Taiwanese investment firm and is on display in that country. It set a record for the sale of any sports ball.

SCP Auctions is running the sale that includes Freeman’s ball from Dec. 4-14.

Company president David Kohler said he believes the ball is “easily worth seven figures.”

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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Cleveland’s Stephen Vogt, Milwaukee’s Pat Murphy win Manager of the Year awards

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Milwaukee’s Pat Murphy won National League Manager of the Year on Tuesday after a stellar debut season with the Brewers, while Cleveland’s Stephen Vogt took the AL honor after leading the Guardians to 92 wins and a division title in his first year as a skipper at any level.

Murphy, 65, led the Brewers to an NL Central title, a 93-69 record and is the franchise’s first manager to earn the award since it was introduced in 1983. In the playoffs, Milwaukee lost to the New York Mets in a three-game wild-card series.

Murphy had an unusual career path to big league success — he was a longtime college coach at Notre Dame and Arizona State before moving to the professional ranks in 2010. He worked in the Padres’ minor league system until 2015 when he was hired to be Milwaukee’s bench coach under Craig Counsell, who played for Murphy at Notre Dame.

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After Counsell left for the Cubs during the offseason, the Brewers quickly turned to Murphy. The transition was nearly seamless.

Murphy beat San Diego’s Mike Shildt and New York’s Carlos Mendoza. He received 27 of the 30 first-place votes in balloting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Shildt, Mendoza and Philadelphia’s Rob Thomson each received one vote.

The 40-year-old Vogt beat Kansas City’s Matt Quatraro and Detroit’s A.J. Hinch, both AL Central rivals. He’s the first AL manager to win the award in his debut season since Minnesota’s Rocco Baldelli did it in 2019. He’s also the first to go from player to Manager of the Year in just two years.

The previous fastest was Joe Girardi from 2003 to 2006, when he won NL Manager of the Year with the Florida Marlins.

Vogt received 27 of the 30 first-place votes. Quatraro got two and Hinch one.

Vogt led the Guardians to a 92-69 record and the playoffs in his first season after replacing three-time manager of the year Terry Francona. The former big league catcher took Cleveland to the AL Championship Series before losing to the Yankees in five games.

Vogt is the third Cleveland skipper to win the honor, joining Francona (2013, 2016, 2022) and Eric Wedge (2007).

Mendoza — in his first year leading the Mets — guided the franchise to an 89-win season and an appearance in the NL Championship Series before they lost in six games to the eventual World Series champion Dodgers.

Shildt guided the Padres to the playoffs in his first season in San Diego, winning 93 games. He won the Manager of the Year award in 2019 when he was in charge of the Cardinals.

The 51-year-old Quatraro, in his second season with the franchise, led the Royals to the postseason one year after a 106-loss season. Kansas City finished with an 86-76 record before beating Baltimore in a wild-card series.

Kansas City, led by catcher Salvador Perez, young star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., lost to the Yankees in a four-game division series.

Hinch, a 50-year-old in his fourth season leading the Tigers, also made the playoffs with a torrid second half despite losing quality players like right-hander Jack Flaherty at the trade deadline.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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