Category: Baseball

Cody Bellinger is staying in the Bronx.

The outfielder/first baseman has re-signed with the New York Yankees on a five-year, $162.5 million deal, ESPN reported on Wednesday. It includes an opt-out after the second and third years of the contract, a $20 million signing bonus and a no-trade clause.

Bellinger was one of the top-rated free agents this offseason. After the signings of Kyle Tucker (Dodgers), Kyle Schwarber (Phillies), Cody Bregman (Cubs), and Pete Alonso (Orioles), Bellinger was considered the best remaining position player left on the market. 

Bellinger is coming off a productive year with the Yankees that saw him hit .272/.334/.480 with 25 doubles, 29 home runs and 98 RBI in 152 games. The 30-year-old declined his player option at the end of the 2025 season.

Bellinger, a two-time All-Star, won Rookie of the Year in 2017 with the Los Angeles Dodgers and was part of the team that reached the 2018 World Series. He won the NL Most Valuable Player Award in 2019 and then helped the Dodgers win the 2020 World Series. From 2023-24, he played for the Chicago Cubs before being traded to the Yankees before last season.

The Yankees went 94-68 last season and were eliminated in the AL Division Series by the eventual AL-champion Toronto Blue Jays. Elsewhere this offseason, outfielder Trent Grisham accepted the $22.025 million qualifying offer from the Yankees, and New York re-signed left-hander Ryan Yarbrough and infielder Amed Rosario.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

Indiana captured its historic national championship and put an exclamation point on the 2025 college football season. The 2026 Super Bowl in Santa Clara is still a couple of weeks away. And, we’re about four weeks out from the NASCAR season starting up with the Daytona 500 on FOX.

So, where might bettors turn their attention in the meantime? Maybe to the 68th Annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 1.

Will global icon Bad Bunny — who’s also performing at the Super Bowl — take home some hardware? Can Kendrick Lamar’s cultural phenomenon “GNX” keep its momentum going?

Here are the latest odds at FanDuel Sportsbook as of Jan. 20, as well as a few things to know about some of the nominees and their sports ties.

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

Album of the Year

Debi Tirar Mas Fotos (Bad Bunny): -160 (bet $10 to win $16.25 total)
GNX (Kendrick Lamar): +300 (bet $10 to win $40 total)
Mayhem (Lady Gaga): +430 (bet $10 to win $53 total)
SWAG (Justin Bieber): +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total)
Let God Sort Em Out (Clipse, Pusha T and Malice): +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total)

Favorite Fotos: Puerto Rican rapper and singer Bad Bunny is starting off 2026 on the right foot. He’ll take over the biggest stage on Feb. 8 for the Super Bowl, plus he’s racked up six Grammy nominations. But this Bunny is no stranger to sports. He’s collaborated with Lionel Messi for the Adidas brand and has even had a stint in the ring as a WWE wrestler. When it comes to the music, “Debi Tirar Mas Fotos” blends contemporary and Puerto Rican folkloric sounds and is the second Spanish-language album to be nominated in this category. Bunny’s “Un Verano Sin Ti” album in 2022 was the first.

Song of the Year

Golden (KPop Demon Hunters): -370 (bet $10 to win $12.70 total)
Luther (Kendrick Lamar with SZA): +650 (bet $10 to win $75 total)
Abracadabra (Lady Gaga): +900 (bet $10 to win $100 total)
DtMF (Bad Bunny): +1200 (bet $10 to win $130 total)
Wildflower (Billie Eilish): +1600 (bet $10 to $170 total)
APT (Rose and Bruno Mars): +3300 (bet $10 to win $340 total)

Best New Artist

Olivia Dean: -340 (bet $10 to win $12.94 total)
Leon Thomas: +350 (bet $10 to win $45 total)
Lola Young: +1900 (bet $10 to win $200 total)
Alex Warren: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total)
Addison Rae: +3300 (bet $10 to win $340 total)
The Marias: +3300 (bet $10 to win $340 total)

Sporty Girl: It’s “So Easy” to fall in love with Olivia Dean for her voice, her style and her passion for her favorite football club, the West Ham Irons. The heavy favorite to win this award and London native, Dean has wowed the music industry with her neo-soul and pop artistry. In fact, she has eclipsed streaming milestones on Spotify with her songs “Man I Need” and “Dive” from her album “The Art of Loving.”

Best Rock Album

Deftones (Private Music): -180 (bet $10 to win $15.56 total)
Yungblud (Idols): +430 (bet $10 to win $53 total)
Haim (I Quit): +650 (bet $10 to win $75 total)
Linkin Park (From Zero): +750 (bet $10 to win $85 total)
Turnstile (Never Enough): +850 (bet $10 to win $95 total)

Best Rap Album

GNX (Kendrick Lamar): -250 (bet $10 to win $14 total)
Let God Sort Em Out (Clipse, Pusha T and Malice): +195 (bet $10 to win $29.50 total)
Chromakopia (Tyler the Creator): +850 (bet $10 to win $95 total)
Glorious (GloRilla): +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total)
God Does Like Ugly (JID): +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total)

Dodger Blue: If Kendrick Lamar’s epic run is anything like that of his home team Dodgers, the rapper and songwriter will hit it out of the park on Feb. 1 with a Grammy in this category. But even if “GNX” doesn’t win for Best Rap Album, KDot’s odds of leaving empty-handed are probably on the shorter side since he has nine total nods this Grammy Awards season, including for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

Cooperstown is gaining two outfielders. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

David Wright increased to 14.8% from 8.1%.

There were 11 blank ballots.

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

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

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

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

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

Doormat. Glorified practice. Guaranteed win.

College football teams could have been forgiven for thinking that about Indiana when they saw the Hoosiers on their upcoming schedule. 

But that was before Curt Cignetti arrived in Bloomington.

Top-ranked Indiana was one of the most hapless college football programs, with more losses all time than any other FBS program in history before the Cignetti era began. Now, the Hoosiers are a wrecking ball and one of the most remarkable stories in sports. What they’ve achieved in two seasons is nothing short of historic. 

And ahead of Monday’s College Football Playoff national championship game between No. 1 Indiana and the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes, the Hoosiers’ quick progress has us wondering: What are the greatest two-season turnarounds in sports?

10. 2016 Chicago Cubs

There are plenty of worthy candidates from MLB for this list. Most recently, the Rangers and Diamondbacks both went from 100-loss teams in 2021 to unlikely World Series competitors in 2023 (though neither has been able to follow up on that success since). In 2010, the Giants won their first of three World Series of the decade, just a couple of years removed from consecutive 90-loss seasons in San Francisco. There’s also the Rays, who made it to the World Series in 2008 after three straight last-place finishes. And there’s the unlikely championships of the 1997 and 2003 Marlins. 

But the curse-breaking 2016 Cubs stand out here for history’s sake. Not only had it been 108 years since the last time they won a championship, but they also finished in fifth place for five straight seasons from 2010-14. They lost a lot (102 games in 2012, 96 in 2013, 89 in 2014) before making a drastic 24-win improvement in 2015, a season that ended with them getting swept in the NLCS. 

A year later, they won 103 games, took the NL Central by 17.5 games and had eight more wins than the next closest club. With a surprise World Series boost from Kyle Schwarber, who tore his ACL just six months prior, the 2016 Cubs finally put an end to the century-long Curse of the Billy Goat. – Rowan Kavner

9. 2001 New England Patriots

The Patriots won their first Super Bowl in the 2001 season, a year after finishing 5-11. New England went 8-8 in 1999.

The 2001 season will forever be remembered as the start of Tom Brady’s Hall of Fame career. An injury to starter Drew Bledsoe forced Brady, then a backup, into action and the former sixth-round NFL Draft pick never gave the job back. Including the playoffs that year, Brady went 14-3 as a starter (11-3 in the regular season). He led a game-winning field goal drive as time expired to beat the “Greatest Show on Turf” Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI. The Pats beat the Raiders in the divisional round and the Steelers (in Pittsburgh) in the AFC Championship game to reach the Super Bowl. 

That 2001 season started the Patriots’ dynasty — New England won six Super Bowls and appeared in three others from 2001-18. The franchise won three Lombardi Trophies from 2001-04. – Ben Arthur

8. 1969 New York Mets

As much as the Mets’ brand was being the “lovable losers,” by the end of the 101-loss 1967 season, failing miserably was wearing thin and getting old. Attendance dropped at Shea Stadium, and it was no longer a fun pastime to watch the Mets trip over themselves.

The good news? Tom Seaver won the NL Rookie of the Year award in 1967 and was quickly emerging as the best pitcher in the big leagues. Alongside Seaver, southpaw Jerry Koosman and an eventual Hall of Famer, right-handed flamethrower Nolan Ryan, formed a formidable pitching trio that turned the team’s fortunes around. Manager Gil Hodges provided the discipline and faith needed to transform the hapless Mets into a miracle. In 1968, they improved to a ninth-place finish in the NL, recording 73 wins for the first time in team history. 

Then came 1969: New York won 38 of its final 49 games and finished in first place in the NL with a 100-62 record. The Miracle Mets swept the Atlanta Braves in the NLCS (3-0) and defeated the powerhouse Baltimore Orioles (4-1) to become the world champions of baseball. Who doesn’t love a good underdog story? – Deesha Thosar

7. 1992 Dallas Cowboys

Coming out of the 1980s, the Cowboys were one of the NFL’s worst teams. They went 1-15 in 1989, Jerry Jones’ first season as owner. But three years later, they won the franchise’s third Super Bowl (and first in 15 years), blowing out the Buffalo Bills 52-17 in Super Bowl XXVII. 

Before taking the Super Bowl that year, the Cowboys won seven games in 1990, followed by 11 in 1991, when the franchise made its first playoff appearance in six years (but lost in the divisional round). 

Dallas was truly a juggernaut down the stretch of that ‘92 season — it won its final five games, including the playoffs, by double digits. The team won three Super Bowls in a four-year span, boasting a top-5 scoring offense and defense in each of those seasons. Hall of Famer coach Jimmy Johnson and players Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin were integral to the Cowboys’ run of success at the start of the 90s. – Ben Arthur

6. 2003 USC Trojans

This isn’t exactly the same kind of turnaround as Indiana, since USC has claimed 11 national championships in football, as well as having eight Heisman Trophy winners. But there was a period of time when the Trojans’ program was struggling. USC went 5-7 in 2000 and then 6-6 in 2001, which was Pete Carroll’s first season. 

With a team that included players like Carson Palmer and Troy Polamalu, the Trojans went 11-2 in 2002. And then in 2003, with a young Matt Leinert and Reggie Bush, USC went 12-1 and shared the national championship with LSU.

The Trojans won the national championship again in 2004 (beating Oklahoma) and played for another title in 2005, but they lost to Texas in one of the greatest college football games in history. Under Carroll, USC would go on to win at least 11 games through the 2008 season. – Laken Litman

5. 1980-81 Boston Celtics

Despite having already established themselves as a perennial powerhouse, the Celtics struggled in the 1978-79 season, finishing with the second-worst record in the NBA at 29-53. But that soon changed with the addition of Larry Bird. 

“Larry Legend” was actually drafted sixth overall in 1979, but opted to return to Indiana State, finishing as the unanimous National College Player of the Year. In the 1979-80 season, his impact was felt immediately — leading Boston to a 61-21 record as a rookie, along with an Eastern Conference finals appearance. 

The following season, Bird would go on to lead them to victory in the NBA Finals after averaging 21.2 points per game, 10.9 rebounds per game and 5.5 assists per game in his sophomore campaign. That 1980-81 season would mark the first of three titles in a six-year span for Boston, along with five NBA Finals appearances from 1981 to 1987. – FOX Sports Research

4. 1981 San Francisco 49ers

In Hall of Famer Bill Walsh’s first two seasons as head coach, the 49ers won just two and six games in 1979 and ‘80, respectively. But they broke out with 13 wins in the 1981 season. The Niners then beat the New York Giants in the divisional round and Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Championship game — which included Dwight Clark’s iconic game-winning touchdown known as “The Catch” — to reach Super Bowl XVI. San Francisco then beat the Cincinnati Bengals for the franchise’s first Lombardi Trophy. 

The 1981 campaign marked Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana’s first as a starter. Over the next nine seasons, the 49ers won four Super Bowls. 

Only nine games were played in 1982, the year after the Niners won their first Super Bowl, due to a strike. But San Francisco rattled off 10 wins in 1983 (but it lost in the conference championship game), beginning a streak of 16 consecutive double-digit-win seasons for the franchise. – Ben Arthur

3. 1999 St. Louis Rams

Winner of just five games in 1997 and four games in ‘98, the Rams rattled off 13 wins in the 1999 regular season and reached Super Bowl XXXIV, where they took down the Tennessee Titans for the franchise’s first Super Bowl victory. Hall of Famers Kurt Warner and Isaac Bruce connected on a 73-yard touchdown with less than two minutes left to secure the Lombardi Trophy. 

That season kicked off the “Greatest Show on Turf” Rams, who had the NFL’s top offense for three straight years (1999-2001) under coach Mike Martz, first the offensive coordinator (1999) and then head coach (2000-01) for the franchise during that era. Warner, Bruce, Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk and Torry Holt were some of the key members of the offense during that time.  

After winning the Super Bowl, the Rams went 10-6 in 2000, losing in the Wild Card, but they reached the Super Bowl again in 2001 after a franchise-record 14 wins during the regular season. – Ben Arthur

2. 2015-16 Leicester City

As preposterous as it would’ve been for Leicester City’s supporters to dream of a title ahead of the 2015-16 Premier League season — when the Foxes somehow defied 5000-1 odds to become champions of soccer’s most hotly contested domestic circuit — doing so two years earlier would’ve been straight up impossible.

Back in 2014, Leicester wasn’t even in the Premier League. It had spent a full decade toiling in England’s lower divisions, including a season in the third tier, before winning the Championship in 2014-15 and, with it, automatic promotion back to the big time. Their stay wasn’t expected to last; many predicted that they’d be relegated by the spring of 2016. 

Instead, under Italian manager Claudio Ranieri, the humble Midlands-based club outpaced usual juggernauts Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United to finish atop the Premier League. Leicester’s success at the top was fleeting — despite being rewarded with a four-year extension, Ranieri was fired in early 2017 en route to a 12th place finish. 

These days, the Foxes are back in the second tier. Yet a decade later (and still the team’s only English crown since kicking off 142 years ago), it remains among the most profoundly unlikely true stories in the history of global sports. – Doug McIntyre

1. 2025 Indiana Hoosiers

What head coach Curt Cignetti has done in such a short period of time is remarkable. And if his Hoosiers team beats Miami for the national championship Monday night, there will be no doubt they’ve earned this No. 1 spot.

Oftentimes, when coaches are hired, they have some kind of plan for how long it could take for the program to have success. Maybe you win a few more games in Year 1 than the team did the previous year and keep improving year after year until you reach your goals down the road. Cignetti’s overhaul was immediate. 

He took a Hoosiers team that went 4-8 in 2022 and 3-9 in 2023 and turned it into a College Football Playoff team in Year 1 and a Big Ten champion — and maybe even a national champion — in Year 2. 

Entering the 2025 season, Indiana had the most losses all-time of any FBS program in history with 715 across 136 seasons. The Hoosiers were a perennial conference doormat. It might be too early for Nick Saban comparisons, but if Saban’s Alabama was the dynasty of college football pre-transfer portal/NIL era, then Cignetti’s Indiana is the blueprint for what the future of the sport can look like. – Laken Litman

Honorable mention:

• 2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football
• 1962 USC Trojans football
• 1991 Atlanta Braves
• 2007-08 Boston Celtics
• 2000 Oklahoma Sooners football

Laken Litman covers college football, college basketball and soccer for FOX Sports. She is the author of “Strong Like a Woman,” published in spring 2022 to mark the 50th anniversary of Title IX. Follow her at @LakenLitman.

Ben Arthur is an NFL reporter for FOX Sports. He previously worked for The Tennessean/USA TODAY Network, where he was the Titans beat writer for a year and a half. He covered the Seattle Seahawks for SeattlePI.com for three seasons (2018-20) prior to moving to Tennessee. You can follow Ben on Twitter at @benyarthur.

Doug McIntyre is a soccer reporter for FOX Sports who has covered United States men’s and women’s national teams at FIFA World Cups on five continents. Follow him @ByDougMcIntyre.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Well, it happened again.

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

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

What does it mean to defer a contract?

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

Kyle Tucker contract details

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

When does Tucker get his money?

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

What else the Dodgers fork over to sign Tucker

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

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

By the way, who is Kyle Tucker?

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

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

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

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

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

Here are three ideal free agent destinations for Valdez.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Valdez is exactly what the Mets need.

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

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

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

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

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Hours after striking out on the top free agent in this year’s class, the Mets went and secured the next best thing.

New York again showed off its greatest asset, owner Steve Cohen’s wallet, by spending exorbitantly on two-time All-Star infielder Bo Bichette on a reported three-year, $126 million deal with opt-outs available after each of the first two seasons. Bichette, who led the majors in hits in 2021 and 2022 and enjoyed a bounceback 2025 season after a down year at the plate in 2024, is the Mets’ fifth major free-agent addition this winter, joining closer Devin Williams, infielders Marcus Semien and Jorge Polanco and reliever Luke Weaver. 

It’s been a busy offseason for Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns, who took a sledgehammer to the team’s core earlier this offseason. But less than a month out from the start of spring training, there’s still work to be done in Queens and around the league.

Here are our takeaways:

1. Mets get their impact bat

About 12 hours after Kyle Tucker passed over Cohen’s extravagant offer, the Mets swooped in and finally got their impact bat in Bichette. After Tucker went off the market, the 28-year-old Bichette was the next best free-agent hitter left. And even though the former Blue Jays infielder was expected to go to the Phillies on a long-term deal, the Mets increased their offer to a whopping annual average value of $42 million, surpassing his projected AAV by more than $15 million. It’s a massive overpay by the Mets, who were becoming increasingly desperate to bolster their lineup’s lack of thump after slugger Pete Alonso went to the Orioles in free agency.

Still, in an offseason that’s been in need of good news, the Mets deserve credit for doing whatever it takes to land a young hitter who can mash — Bichette has a career slashline of .294/.337/.469 and OPS+ of 121 — at the short-term commitment they always wanted. They were never publicly connected to Bichette the way that they were for Tucker, and a USA Today report indicated that the Phillies believed their seven-year, $200 million offer was enough to land Bichette as late as Thursday night. 

Now, the combination of Jorge Polanco, Marcus Semien, and Bichette is getting closer to addressing the offensive production the Mets lost from Alonso, Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil. They still need to fill their void in the outfield, as it’s hard to believe top prospect Carson Benge will be on the Opening Day roster. They still need to boost their rotation, the main reason they missed the playoffs last year. 

And, with Bichette expected to play third base — even though he’s never even logged a single professional inning at the hot corner — they have a logjam in the infield that could push Brett Baty to left field or out of New York in a trade. Polanco, too, was signed to play mostly at first base, with some reps at designated hitter. In the end, the Mets’ stated goal of improving their run prevention this offseason is being addressed by spending a combined $166 million on two players, Polanco and Bichette, who have never played at their respective positions. The Mets are banking on their athleticism to overwhelm any learning curves, and it just might work. –Thosar

2. How will the Blue Jays move on without Bichette?

As much as it hurts Blue Jays fans to officially lose their homegrown shortstop to the Mets, the team was headed toward a breakup after Toronto signed infielder Kazuma Okamoto to a four-year deal this offseason. It was even less likely a reunion with Bichette was on the table after the Blue Jays were heavily linked to Tucker, reportedly the only club to offer the outfielder a long-term deal. Even with Tucker slipping away, they’ve still had one of the best offseasons in baseball after acquiring Dylan Cease, Cody Ponce, Tyler Rogers and Okamoto to strengthen their intention of repeating as American League champions. 

After the departure of Bichette, who will be remembered forever in Toronto for his electric three-run home run off Shohei Ohtani in Game 7 of the 2025 World Series, Ernie Clement figures to spend most of his time playing second base, with Addison Barger in right. Losing Bichette’s regular production is still significant for Toronto, and they’re expected to keep spending to fill his void in the lineup. The Jays should be in the mix for free-agent outfielder Cody Bellinger, who has remained the Yankees’ top priority this offseason, though the two sides are in an extended standoff. Now that three of the top four free-agent bats (Tucker, Alex Bregman and Bichette) are off the board, there are fewer options for contenders to pivot to. –Thosar

3. The Phillies are already pivoting

At the outset of free agency, Philadelphia did not seem like one of the most obvious fits for Bichette. They have shortstop Trea Turner locked up through 2033. They have a strong second base defender in Bryson Stott. And they have Alec Bohm, who’s under one more year of team control, at third. But the benefits of employing Bichette and his bat outweighed any potential obstacles, which is why the two sides met earlier this week and seemed trending toward a deal. 

As Deesha alluded to, USA Today reported that the Phillies had agreed to Bichette’s request for seven years and $200 million Thursday night when the Mets, fresh off losing the Kyle Tucker sweepstakes, made a higher-AAV, shorter-term offer that caused Bichette to change course. With the Mets’ deal, Bichette can test the market again entering his age 29, 30 or 31 seasons and could once again be one of the top position players available at that point, especially if he builds on his bounceback 2025 season. 

The Phillies would have had to do some roster reorganizing had they signed Bichette. The most obvious move would have been trading Bohm, and it might have also meant moving on from longtime Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto. Now, it seems much more likely that Bohm stays put. And in the hours after Bichette’s decision, the Phillies and Realmuto have already reportedly agreed on a return. After what was expected to be a winter of change in Philadelphia, things are shaping up to look a lot more similar than they could have. – Kavner

4. After losing Alex Bregman, where does Boston turn to?

After missing out on power bats in Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso early in free agency, the Red Sox still had a chance to appease the fanbase by bringing back third baseman Alex Bregman, who looked like a perfect fit in Boston. After all, what was the point in trading away All-Star slugger Rafael Devers to the Giants and his long-term deal for just one season with Bregman?

But Boston swung and missed. 

And now with Bichette going to the Mets, Boston’s best contingency option after losing Bregman is also off the table. If they still want to try to upgrade at third base rather than handing the reins to 23-year-old former top prospect Marcelo Meyer, who was a below league-average hitter last year in his first MLB season, Eugenio Suárez is still available and could have a field day mashing bombs over the Green Monster. 

But a year after employing both Devers and Bregman as third-base options, they have neither. And, at least as of now, they still have no established replacements for those All-Star departures a year after finishing 15th in home runs and ninth in OPS. They’ve upgraded their rotation significantly this winter and should still contend in the menacing AL East, but this winter’s offensive whiffs will still be difficult to justify. – Kavner

5. The Tucker deal lit the flame to MLB’s hot stove. So, who’s left?

Less than a month away from teams reporting to spring training, Tucker and Bichette — arguably the two most highly-coveted position players on the market — as well as the top catcher on the market were still unsigned. Then, in a 24-hour dash, that changed. 

Tucker’s staggering four-year, $240 million deal, which gave him the highest present-day average annual value in MLB history, forced the Mets to turn their attention immediately to Bichette. Then, Bichette’s signing spurred the Phillies to bring back Realmuto. 

The dominoes have finally started falling, and suddenly the top of the position player market has thinned out. Cody Bellinger lingers as possibly the last nine-figure bat on the board, and the price only figures to increase after the Tucker and Bichette deals. A return to the Yankees, who brought back Trent Grisham but have otherwise had a quiet offseason, still makes a lot of sense. But it would be foolish to count out any of the teams who missed out on Tucker, including the Blue Jays. Teams in need of power could turn to Eugenio Suárez, while Framber Valdez, arguably the top starting pitcher available this winter, and former All-Star Zac Gallen still remain available.  – Kavner 

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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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reporting by The Associated Press. 

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The New York Mets have struck.

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

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

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

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

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

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