Category: Baseball

The New York Mets are seeking to keep their 2026 payroll within $310-320 million, according to a recent report from the New York Post. Considering the historic spending spree that the Mets have been on in recent years – such as signing Juan Soto to a record $765 million deal last offseason – and the team coming off a 2025 campaign that saw it miss the playoffs, this led to widespread rage from the fan base.

But Mets owner Steve Cohen isn’t having it. 

“As typical, the usual idiots misinterpreting a Post article on Mets payroll for ‘26,” Cohen said in a X post on Friday morning. “I can’t imagine our payroll to be lower than last year. It’s always hard to predict, but that would be my best guess.”

“Payroll watchers always forget to budget for waiver claims, player movement from minors to majors and trade deadline moves,” Cohen said in a later post. “That’s how it typically works.”

Alrighty, then.

For what it’s worth, this was Cohen’s first post to X since Sept. 29, the day after the Mets’ final game of the 2025 regular season.

Last season, the Mets’ payroll was second in MLB at $342.3 million, per Spotrac. At present, their 2026 payroll is $275.8 million, which is fourth in the sport.

Thus far, it has been an offseason that has left much to be desired for Mets fans, as the team lost homegrown star first baseman Pete Alonso, closer Edwin Diaz and midseason acquisitions Ryan Helsley, Tyler Rogers and Cedric Mullins to free agency. Meanwhile, New York traded homegrown outfielder Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers for second baseman Marcus Semien.

As for incoming free agents, the Mets have signed former New York Yankees relievers Devin Williams (three-year, $51 million deal) and Luke Weaver (two-year, $22 million deal), as well as former Seattle Mariners infielder Jorge Polanco (two-year, $40 million).

Cohen bought the Mets from the Wilpon family in November 2020 for a reported $2.4 billion.

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The MLB hot stove has returned to being lukewarm after a few splashy signings made headlines at last week’s Winter Meetings in Orlando, Fla. That means there are plenty of stars still waiting to sign blockbuster deals, and a lot of work to be done for top contenders to keep up with the biggest players in the league.

Now that the Winter Meetings are behind us, let’s check in on the major storylines that will dominate the rest of the offseason. Here are 10 burning questions from FOX Sports’ MLB reporters Deesha Thosar and Rowan Kavner that, when answered, will make the stove sizzle:

1. Who lands Kyle Tucker?

Perhaps no free-agent position player will benefit more from the lucrative deals awarded to Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso at last week’s Winter Meetings than outfielder Kyle Tucker, who is younger and more well-rounded than both sluggers — and they managed to land a combined $305 million for their services. The market has been in a lull since those signings, as top executives are no doubt rethinking what it will take to sign Tucker. He was already projected to earn a multi-year contract in the range of $400 million, but after the deals that Schwarber and Alonso accepted, it wouldn’t be surprising if Tucker went even higher, with a possible ceiling of $425 million. The likeliest destinations for the top player in this year’s free-agent class remain the same: big-market teams including the Dodgers, Blue Jays, Yankees, and Mets remain the favorites to ink a long-term deal with Tucker. The bidding war for one of the best hitters in the league remains the biggest topic of the offseason. — Thosar

2. The Blue Jays aren’t going anywhere. How much further do they push?

The starting-pitching market hasn’t gotten going yet, save for one massive nine-figure commitment. After coming two outs (and one slide) away from winning their first World Series since 1993, the Blue Jays are clearly moving forward with the intention of doing everything they can to put themselves in the best position to finish the job in 2026. If $210 million for Dylan Cease wasn’t enough, they’ve also given $30 million to KBO MVP Cody Ponce and $37 million to reliever Tyler Rogers in an effort to patch up their pitching staff. And it doesn’t sound like they’re done shopping at the top of the free-agent market. Will Bo Bichette return? Will the Blue Jays outspend everyone for top free agent Kyle Tucker? It all seems to be in play. — Kavner

3. Are the Braves back?

If the 2026 season started today, the Braves would have the second-highest active payroll in MLB after acquiring top free-agent reliever Robert Suarez (three years, $45 million), bringing back closer Raisel Iglesias (one year, $16 million), and re-signing shortstop Ha-Seong Kim (one year, $20 million). Atlanta has already addressed two out of three of their biggest needs this offseason, including bolstering the bullpen and filling the hole at shortstop. The roster depth also looks solid after the additions of infielder Mauricio Dubon and outfielder Mike Yastrzemski. The final piece of the puzzle this winter is adding a proven starting pitcher to a rotation that includes Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach, and Reynaldo Lopez. If the Braves are determined to flash a top-five payroll in baseball when all is said and done, they might as well swing big after missing the playoffs this year. — Thosar

4. Where will Japanese standouts land as deadlines approach?

When a player from Japan gets posted, there’s a 45-day window to negotiate with MLB teams, after which the player returns to his NPB club if no deal is reached.  Considering those deadlines are fast approaching, there has been surprisingly little chatter about their potential destinations. Most notably, infielder Munetaka Murakami’s window ends on Dec. 22, followed by starting pitcher Tatsuya Imai on Jan. 2 and infielder Kazuma Okamoto on Jan. 4. Murakami has boom-bust potential considering his high strikeout rate and defensive limitations, but the raw power could be enough for a team to take a swing. He hit 22 home runs in 56 NPB games this year and will be 26 years old when the 2026 season begins. — Kavner

5. How will the AL East respond to the Jays and O’s?

Baltimore is advertising one of the filthiest lineups in baseball after signing slugger Pete Alonso, and that came after bolstering their outfield and bullpen with the acquisitions of Tyler Ward and Ryan Helsley. The Orioles still need a frontline starting pitcher to complete their successful offseason — with free-agent arms like Framber Valdez, Michael King, and Ranger Suarez still in the mix. And then there are the reigning American League champions, who have been major players in free agency, with Bo Bichette remaining Toronto’s biggest remaining target. While the O’s and Jays have gotten stronger, the rest of the AL East is facing pressure to keep up. The Red Sox’s biggest move of the winter so far was the trade for 36-year-old Sonny Gray. The Yankees haven’t made any noise since outfielder Trent Grisham accepted his qualifying offer to return to the Bronx on a one-year deal. Keep an eye out for the longtime AL East rivals to wake up with at least one splashy move each this offseason. — Thosar

6. Will Tarik Skubal or Ketel Marte get dealt?

There is a widespread industry belief that the trade market is robust and ready to explode, and those conversations start and end with whether Tigers ace Tarik Skubal will actually get traded. That speculation only grew after Scott Harris, Detroit’s president of baseball operations, said last week that “nobody is untouchable,” including the back-to-back reigning AL Cy Young winner. Skubal is on the cusp of his final year of team control before hitting free agency next offseason, so the prospect haul for any top contender to acquire the ace would have to be significant. At the same time, the Tigers know they have a strong chance at winning a weaker AL Central division with Skubal, and they can push the decision to deal him to July before the trade deadline. A trade with the Diamondbacks for second baseman Ketel Marte would also be expensive, as the switch-hitter’s name has been floated in trade talks this offseason. But the 32-year-old is the type of productive hitter (.887 OPS from 2023 to ’25) that could help out contending teams like the Mariners, Giants, and Red Sox. It would take major-league-ready talent to get it done, and Arizona is reportedly still open to moving Marte. — Thosar

7. Where do the rest of the top Boras clients go?

The past few offseasons didn’t yield the long-term deals that Pete Alonso, Alex Bregman and Cody Bellinger desired. But as the start to this winter demonstrated, all it takes is one team to believe. Alonso’s five-year, $155 million deal with the Orioles came after he opted out of the final year of a two-year, $54 million he signed with the Mets last offseason when his market didn’t materialize. The belief in himself paid off. Now, Bregman and Bellinger are hoping for something similar. After enjoying his first All-Star campaign since 2019, Bregman opted out of the final two years of his three-year, $120 million deal. Bellinger, meanwhile, opted out of the final year of his three-year, $80 million deal after a bounceback season in his first year in pinstripes. Along with Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette, they’re the top position players available. — Kavner

8. How do the Mets save their offseason?

After breaking up the Mets core and unceremoniously parting ways with fan-favorites Pete Alonso, Edwin Diaz, and Brandon Nimmo, president of baseball operations David Stearns is under a ton of pressure to execute a successful offseason and get New York back in the playoffs. His first move to help soothe the fan base was signing infielder Jorge Polanco to a two-year, $40 million deal. That’s a solid pickup if Polanco is the Mets’ primary DH. The club can work to save its offseason by acquiring a first baseman (Munataka Murakami? Ryan O’Hearn?), sign an impact bat in the outfield (Cody Bellinger? Kyle Tucker?) and, most importantly, upgrade the starting rotation, which has so far gone unaddressed. That has to change. — Thosar

9. Does a small-market team make a free-agent splash?

Alonso’s five-year, $155 million deal with the Orioles could come as a surprise, but for the most part it’s been the usual suitors participating at the high end of this year’s free-agent market. As much talk as there was about the Pirates, Reds, Marlins or one of the usually frugal franchises making a splash, we’re still firmly in “I’ll believe it when I see it” territory. The reported offers for Kyle Schwarber weren’t going to be enough to entice him to leave Philadelphia. Teams with annually low payrolls, especially those who don’t currently look equipped to contend for a championship, need to go above and beyond to land a top free agent. There are plenty of difference-making free agents still on the board, but with a potential labor battle ahead, I’m not holding my breath that we’ll see it. — Kavner

10. Will the biggest starting pitching move come via free agency or trade?

Following Cease’s signing, we’re sure to see more nine-figure deals ahead for the starting pitchers left on the market. But the lack of action with that position group could be a reflection both of teams’ hesitancy to spend lavishly on the available starters — Framber Valdez, Ranger Suárez, Tatsuya Imai and Michael King could all potentially start postseason games for contenders but don’t quite have the track record of the top free-agent pitchers in recent years — and their desire to aim higher on the trade market with Tarik Skubal, Freddy Peralta, MacKenzie Gore and Edward Cabrera potentially available for the right price. — Kavner

Deesha Thosar covers Major League Baseball as a reporter and columnist for FOX Sports. She previously covered the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Long Island and now lives in Queens. Follow her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.

Rowan Kavner is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. He previously covered the L.A. Dodgers, LA Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, grew up in Texas, then moved back to the West Coast in 2014. Follow him on X at @RowanKavner.

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They were one win away.

The Seattle Mariners were just one win away from reaching the World Series for the first time in franchise history last season, before blowing a 3-2 series lead to the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Championship Series. The Mariners are well-positioned to contend for the American League pennant again in 2026, however, beginning last month with them re-signing first baseman Josh Naylor on a five-year, $92.5 million deal. Now, they have to tie up loose ends.

Here are three MLB free agents Seattle should sign.

2025 Stats: 5.35 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 112 strikeouts, 79 ERA+, 0.3 wins above replacement (158 innings pitched)

Why have some good haddock when you can have some Paddack?

Few clubs have developed pitchers better than the Mariners over the past five years (e.g. Logan Gilbert, Bryan Woo and George Kirby), which makes them tailor-made to embark on a reclamation project like Paddack. The right-hander split the 2025 season with the Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers, making five appearances out of the bullpen with the latter. Seattle could sign Paddack with the intention of making him a full-time reliever.

In Paddack’s rookie 2019 season in the sport, he posted a 3.33 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 153 strikeouts in 26 starts. There’s a good pitcher in Paddack. It’s just more likely to come as a reliever given his primarily leaning on two pitches, those being his four-seamer and changeup; with just two consistent offerings, a pitcher can be more predictable to the opposition.

Paddack can pitch to his strengths, get in a groove as a middle-to-long reliever and provide the Mariners with more bullpen depth. While Andres Munoz is electric in the ninth inning and relievers such as Matt Brash, Gabe Speier and Eduard Bazardo are sturdy forces, Seattle’s bullpen as a collective whole was still tied for 16th in MLB with a .244 opponent batting average and tied for 13th in WHIP (1.28) last season. Plus, Paddack could be used as a starting pitcher if Seattle’s rotation gets ravaged by injuries.

2025 Stats: 8 home runs, 61 RBIs, 99 OPS+, 1.2 wins above replacement, .292/.327/.392 slash line (620 at-bats)

The 2025 Mariners had infinite power, most notably displayed by catcher Cal Raleigh‘s 60 regular-season home runs, which helped Seattle finish third in the sport in the long ball with 238. At the same time, the Mariners were inordinately reliant on the long ball, with them finishing just 20th in batting average (.244) and 17th in hits (1,345). How about signing a three-time batting champion to clean up some of those deficiencies?

Arraez is arguably the best pure contact hitter in the sport. He has a quick, slapping swing from the left side, seldom strikes out and has led the National League in hits in each of the last two seasons. Arraez has just 215 career strikeouts. For context, young Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood, a 2025 All-Star, had 221 strikeouts last season.

Meanwhile, Arraez, a two-time Silver Slugger, has shuffled between playing second and first base, with him mostly playing the corner infield spot last season. In Seattle, Arraez would be the starting second baseman and slide to first base if Naylor gets hurt or is the designated hitter for a particular game.

Yes, Seattle likely wants to give former first-round pick Cole Young or Leo Rivas the chance to be its permanent second baseman. But, in all likelihood, any offensive emergence from Young or Rivas next season isn’t going to come close to providing what Arraez, who’s still just 28 years old, brings to the table. He would give the Mariners an elite contact hitter, which is the perfect complement to the pop that they get from Raleigh, Julio Rodriguez, Randy Arozarena and Dominic Canzone, among others.

If Arraez slumps on a short-term deal, then the Mariners can opt to let him leave in free agency. But for the sake of enhancing their 2026 World Series chances, Arraez would balance out the Mariners’ lineup and provide defensive versatility, an asset that Jorge Polanco, who recently signed with the New York Mets, had. Granted, Polanco was primarily Seattle’s designated hitter last season.

2025 Stats: 49 home runs, 118 RBIs, 126 OPS+, 3.6 wins above replacement, .228/.298/.526 slash line (588 at-bats)

The time is now for the Mariners, and committing a multi-year deal to a third baseman in his prime who’s coming off a monster power season fits the bill.

Seattle acquired both Naylor and Suarez from the Arizona Diamondbacks before the 2025 MLB trade deadline. While the latter struggled to get on base, he still blasted 13 home runs in 53 regular-season games with the Mariners and then hit three more home runs in the postseason, including a go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning of Game 5 of the AL Championship Series. Like with Young at second base, Seattle likely wouldn’t mind giving young third baseman Ben Williamson the chance to play every day, but that day could wait another year or two.

Suarez, a two-time All-Star, is one of the elite power hitters in the sport and accustomed to playing third base every day. Excluding the shortened 2020 season, Suarez has averaged 35.1 home runs per season since 2018.

The Mariners can add offensive skill sets they don’t presently have (e.g. potentially adding Arraez), while still having the flexibility to retain veterans like Naylor (already happened) and Suarez. Why break up a successful power lineup that got as far in the playoffs as Seattle’s did last season? Instead, build on it.

Suarez and the Mariners are perfect for each other.

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A full postseason share for the World Series champion Dodgers totaled $484,748, up from the amount Los Angeles players earned in 2024 but still down from the winner’s figure in 2022 and 2023.

The total postseason pool of nearly $128.2 million was down slightly from the record $129.1 million in 2024, the commissioner’s office said Thursday. The yearly pool amount is impacted by ballpark capacities.

Los Angeles players voted 82 full shares and 12.5 partial shares for 94.5 full share equivalents plus $340,000 in cash awards in dividing a pool of $46.1. million.

Houston received a record full share of $516,347 in 2022, when the World Series champion Astros divided their pool into 59 full shares, 14.14 partial shares and $940,000 in cash awards. A full share on the 2023 champion Texas Rangers was worth $506,263, and the 2024 Dodgers’ full share was $477,441.

Full share equivalents have risen in recent years. San Francisco had 56.65 when it won the title in 2014.

All players and managers eligible for the World Series who were with the team or on an injured list from June 1 or later get a full share. Those not with the team on or after June 1 are eligible to get a full share or percentage share as voted by that team’s players along with two certified athletic trainers and one strength and conditioning coach.

Spring training coaches, scouts and the grounds crew are eligible for cash awards but not shares.

Executives such as general managers, assistant GMs, directors of baseball operations, team physicians and resident security agents are not eligible for any part of the pool.

A full share for the AL champion Toronto Blue Jays came to $354,118 just below the $354,572 last year for the New York Yankees when they lost to the Dodgers in the World Series. Toronto had 70 full shares, 15.44 partial shares and $508,5000 cash awards.

Full shares for other playoff teams this year were:

— $182,376 for Seattle

— $168,853 for Milwaukee

— $52,044 for Philadelphia

— $48,741 for the Chicago Cubs

— $47,318 for the Yankees

— $46,865 for Detroit

— $11,528 for Cincinnati

— $11,057 for Cleveland

— $10,711 for San Diego

— $9,347 for Boston

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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The Boston Red Sox have been active on the trade market this offseason, acquiring right-handers Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo. At the same time, with Boston coming off a Wild Card Series loss to the New York Yankees – in what was its first appearance in the playoffs since 2021 – there’s still boxes for the Red Sox to check across the board.

Here are three MLB free agents Boston should sign.

2025 Stats: 2.41 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 36 strikeouts, 177 ERA+, 0.8 wins above replacement (33.2 innings pitched)

Yes, Boston’s bullpen was second in MLB with a collective 3.41 ERA last season, but with veteran Justin Wilson (3.35 ERA in 61 appearances in 2025) on the open market, the Red Sox could use another left-hander. Enter Chafin.

Despite constantly changing teams – Chafin has been on eight clubs in the last six years – the 35-year-old continues to survive in the big leagues. He posts strikeouts at a high clip, can put away hitters and evades damage. Chafin does so with a consistent three-pitch arsenal: sinker, slider and four-seamer.

Joining forces with closer Aroldis Chapman, Greg Weissert and Garrett Whitlock, Chafin would solidify the back end of Boston’s bullpen, which would be a unit that could rival any in the sport. Plus, Chafin should be attainable at a low rate on a one-to-two-year deal.

Chafin adds veteran pedigree and a pitcher who’s still among the best left-handers relievers in the sport to any bullpen he joins. What team wouldn’t want that, especially an aspiring contender like a Red Sox?

2025 Stats: 4.83 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 175 strikeouts, 89 ERA+ 1.1 wins above replacement (192 innings pitched)

The Red Sox held their own on the starting pitching front in 2025, posting a 3.92 ERA (12th in MLB), and the additions of both Gray and Oviedo are promising ones. That said, these acquisitions, by no means, preclude Boston from adding another starting pitcher – and signing Gallen would be a haymaker swing.

Sure, Gallen is coming off arguably the worst season of his career, as the right-hander posted a career-high 4.83 ERA. At the same time, this is a top-of-the-rotation force in the prime of his career. The 30-year-old Gallen, who leans on his four-seamer while traditionally mixing in a knuckle curve and changeup, pitches deep into games, gets hitters to bite at his low-to-mid-90s offerings and has been the backbone of the Arizona Diamondbacks‘ pitching staff since his 2019 arrival. From 2022-24, Gallen recorded a combined 3.20 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 4.1 wins above replacement per season across 93 regular-season starts, highlighted by helping Arizona reach the 2023 World Series.

Garrett Crochet (2.59 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and AL-high 255 strikeouts and 205.1 innings pitched in 2025) was a force to be reckoned with and the runner-up for the 2025 AL Cy Young Award, and Brayan Bello (3.35 ERA in 2025) has come into his own. Despite this, Boston’s rotation was still 20th in MLB in WHIP (1.31) and tied for 21st in opponent batting average (.252), while Lucas Giolito is a free agent (3.41 ERA in 26 starts in 2025); there’s room for another proven starting pitcher.

Gallen would move Boston’s rotation into the upper echelon of the AL, if not MLB as a whole. 

2025 Stats: 18 home runs, 62 RBIs, 128 OPS+, 3.5 wins above replacement, .273/.360/.462 slash line (433 at-bats)

Yes, Boston could let Bregman walk and make esteemed infielder Marcelo Mayer its everyday third baseman. Or, it could retain Bregman on a short-term deal and have Mayer start at either second base or shortstop – which would move Trevor Story to second base – or serve as Boston’s first infielder off the bench. Having Bregman back gives the Red Sox the best chance to contend for the AL pennant.

Bregman’s 2025 campaign with the Red Sox was limited to 114 games due to a quad injury and muddled in the drama that surrounded which position star third baseman Rafael Devers was playing, which ended with the homegrown star being traded to the San Francisco Giants.

Bregman, a 2024 Gold Glover, is a rock at the hot corner who could serve as a veteran complement, both at the hot corner and in Alex Cora’s everyday lineup, to an emerging young nucleus for the Red Sox that includes Mayer and outfielder Roman Anthony, among others. While the Red Sox sport a productive offensive unit, they also lacked a bit in the power department last season, as they were just 15th in MLB in home runs (186). Wouldn’t losing a proven slugger who’s an extra-base hitting machine like Bregman only worsen them in that regard? Plus, Bregman, who previously won two World Series with the Houston Astros, has been in the playoffs in each of the last nine seasons.

Bregman is an impact hitter with a crisp, level swing from the right side who’s accustomed to postseason play. He improved Boston’s infield defense and is arguably its best all-around position player. The two sides are better together than apart.

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WINTER MEETINGS (Orlando, Fla.) — If Major League Baseball’s latest hiring cycle demonstrated anything, it’s that teams are increasingly willing to break from tradition in search of the right voice to chart a new path forward. 

Nine of the sport’s 30 managerial jobs were open after the 2025 season ended. The Rockies decided to keep Warren Schaeffer, while the other eight vacancies were filled by new talents — half of them were unorthodox hires.

In 2022, Kurt Suzuki finished his 16-year playing career as a catcher with the Angels while Craig Stammen wrapped up his 13-year career as a reliever with the Padres. Neither has coached professionally since then, yet both will be managing the last big-league team they played for when the 2026 MLB season begins.  

Meanwhile, 33-year-old Blake Butera — the youngest MLB manager in more than 50 years — will lead a youthful Nationals club as Giants skipper Tony Vitello makes the unprecedented move from college coach to big-league manager without any prior MLB experience.

It all begs the question, especially as data-driven front offices become increasingly involved in the on-field product: What is the most important job of a big-league manager in the modern game? 

“It always comes back to relationships,” incoming Rangers manager Skip Schumaker told me. “That’s what this job is, is building the relationships and getting the buy-in and the trust from your players and your coaching staff.”

Schumaker, who will take over for Bruce Bochy after serving as a senior adviser with the Rangers last year, has been one of baseball’s most highly-coveted managers since leaving Miami after the 2024 season. He carries with him the perspective of having led both a surprising Marlins team that made the playoffs in 2023 — a run that earned him National League Manager of the Year honors — and a club that fell back down to earth a year later at the start of a Marlins rebuild. 

“You can lose the clubhouse quickly,” Schumaker said. “And they don’t want to hear any BS. They want to know the truth. I think if you sugarcoat anything, you’re done. So in this seat, it gets hot sometimes, but the last thing they want is anything sugarcoated. They’re big leaguers for a reason, and they want to know the truth, so you have to give it to them. 

“But I also think … I’m an intense personality in general, but I think you have to be positive as much as you can throughout the season because they’re going to get hit on a lot of negative the whole year. So as intense as I can be, also as positive as I can be I think is always the goal.”

These are aspects of the job that Vitello, Stammen, Suzuki, Butera and Baltimore’s Craig Albernaz will have to navigate as big-league managers for the first time. 

The only way to learn is through experience.

Schaeffer found that out last year in Colorado when he inherited a Rockies team that had lost 33 of its first 40 games under Bud Black. The interim manager did his best to keep spirits up the rest of the way amid a 119-loss 2025 season, but he learned  “innumerable” lessons that he’d like to take into 2026 after being given the full-time role by new head of baseball operations Paul DePodesta. 

“I learned that I would love to have more conversations on a daily basis with players,” Schaeffer said. “I think that’s a big strength of mine. I need to utilize it more often, develop leaders behind closed doors.”

Almost universally, front-office executives and big-league skippers polled at the Winter Meetings agreed that the ability to communicate well was the most vital trait of a good manager in today’s game. 

“Being a strong communicator, a great connector and the curiosity and feel to put guys in the best positions to succeed,” one high-ranking team executive explained.

In theory, while professional experience is beneficial, a coach at a major college program could possess many of the right qualities. 

“Can you impact players in a positive way? I think that’s the most important role,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy, who spent decades as a college coach at Notre Dame and Arizona State, told me. “Is that leadership? I don’t know. Maybe. It can be a lonely job. It can be lonely in that, to truly try to do that — impact players and all that kind of stuff — you’re not always the most popular or you’re not always taking the safe way. Sometimes, there’s a little risk involved.” 

In the Giants’ case, there’s a lot of risk involved. 

Whatever happens with Vitello in San Francisco after he transformed the University of Tennessee into a national powerhouse, Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey will either be lauded or lambasted for his decision. Posey believes in the 47-year-old’s natural leadership qualities, motivational skills and ability to shape and build a culture. 

“There’s an expectation that he’ll get the best from everybody he comes in contact with,” Posey said as he introduced his new manager. 

As Vitello embarks on a journey no other manager has taken before — at the Winter Meetings, Vitello jokingly referred to himself as either a guinea pig or a sacrificial lamb, depending on how his tenure in San Francisco goes — he enters his new role with a respectable level of humility for a coach who just led his college program to six NCAA regional appearances, three College World Series appearances and the Tennessee’s first ever national championship.

He is wise enough to recognize that he does not know everything, which is why he values Murphy’s advice and looks forward to getting to know the Brewers manager better. 

Vitello and Murphy do not have a personal relationship, but they had a mutual connection in Tennessee coach Frank Anderson, whose son, Brett, pitched for the Brewers in 2021 and 2022. Through the Anderson family, Murphy was able to relay some advice to Vitello about transitioning from the college game. 

“You don’t want to give up too many ingredients or the secret sauce, but some of it is pretty obvious,” Vitello said. “When [Murphy] was at Arizona State or Notre Dame, it was competitiveness at an incredibly high level, to an extreme really. That should carry over at any level, you’d like to think.” 

BEHIND THE PLATE: Tony Vitello Is Setting Example To ‘Marry’ MLB and College Baseball

Vitello still hadn’t actually seen Murphy at the Winter Meetings until minutes after his media session ended, when he walked out of a ballroom at the Signia by Hilton in Orlando and just happened to run into the Brewers manager. Vitello approached cautiously, like a kid that just saw his favorite player. Soon, the two struck up a lengthy conversation. Minutes into their talk, Dusty Baker stopped by and joined them, as if they were all longtime friends. 

“There’s a high level of respect for these people that are in the game, but for me, maybe because I was around my dad and all these athletic teams, I think it changes when you’re in a building together as a group,” Vitello said. “Like, we’re a part of a team. In order to be a good teammate, I don’t think you can see yourself as above somebody; I think it would be crazy to see yourself as below somebody as well because you’d be cheating yourself and them.”

Only time will tell how the experiment goes as Vitello transitions from a 56-game college sprint to a 162-game big-league marathon and from leading teenagers to managing the personalities and egos of wealthy adults.

Whatever happens, the hirings of Vitello, Stammen and Suzuki weren’t the best sign for coaches at the lower ranks of the minors with dreams of working their way up the traditional path. They also weren’t a great sign for former skippers such as Brandon Hyde and David Ross, who have yet to receive another opportunity, or for former big-league superstars such as Albert Pujols, a popular managerial candidate who ultimately did not land a job. 

With more information than ever at their fingertips, it’s possible that some front offices would prefer to hire novice managers who won’t question their influence or decision-making. 

Through a more optimistic lens, perhaps the latest round of hires were just an example of MLB catching up.

It’s not as foreign to see a direct jump from college to the pros at the coaching ranks in the NFL (e.g. Jimmy Johnson) or NBA (e.g. Billy Donovan) as it is in MLB, nor is it strange to see a coach in his 30s thrive in other sports (e.g. Sean McVay, Joe Mazzulla), as Butera is now trying to do in Washington under a new Nationals front office led by 35-year-old president of baseball operations Paul Toboni. 

“You have to adapt,” Butera said. “The game’s moving faster than ever. The information we have access to now is more than it’s ever been. It’s just going to continue to become more. It’s not just having information; you want to bring in coaches that want to understand how to interpret the information and, two, understand when to deliver to players and what to deliver to players.” 

In the NBA, J.J. Redick had no professional coaching experience before he started coaching the Lakers, who believed in his basketball IQ and ability to connect and communicate. The Lakers won 50 games in his first season, the third-best record in the Western Conference.

Two years ago, the Cleveland Guardians took a similar chance on manager Stephen Vogt for similar reasons and have reaped the rewards of their decision. Vogt, a former All-Star catcher who had no managerial experience when the Guardians hired him, played his last big-league season in 2022 before spending the next year as the Mariners bullpen and quality control coach. In 2024, he replaced future Hall of Famer manager Terry Francona in Cleveland and went on to earn AL Manager of the Year honors in each of his first two seasons with the club.

Vogt considers consistency to be the most important part of the job — an understandable notion for a manager who helped his team overcome a 15.5-game deficit in 2025, the largest ever to win a division. 

“You have to be the same person every single day, whether things are going well, things are going poorly,” Vogt told me. “You can’t have bad days. You can’t be in a bad mood. You show up every day, choose to be in a good mood and choose to lead with a smile on your face. That consistency is an absolute must for a manager.” 

Vogt’s success helped pave the way for the latest crop of incoming managers. He believes the period in which he came up, as baseball was undergoing its analytics revolution, makes players from his era distinctly equipped for the role in the manager’s chair. 

“We were raised in an old-school world, but then we played through the transition,” Vogt said. “So now I feel like we have a very good understanding of how to apply information while not losing sight of maybe the gut feel.” 

Clearly, the Angels and Padres shared a similar belief with their hires. Vogt’s final season as a big leaguer was the same year that Suzuki and Stammen wrapped up their playing careers.  

In Anaheim, Suzuki is following a similar trajectory to Vogt as a former longtime MLB catcher. Vogt’s advice to Suzuki: “Be yourself,” Vogt said. “It’s OK to not have any answers. It’s OK to say, ‘I don’t know,’ or use the resources around you.”

In San Diego, Stammen’s hiring was more atypical, not only because he was a pitcher but also because he went from interviewing potential candidates for the job following Mike Shildt’s retirement to suddenly becoming the answer. 

Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller thought Stammen was “super genuine” and “comfortable in his skin,” traits that were attractive as he tried to find the right person to keep the Padres’ window for contention open. 

What does Stammen believe is the most important part of the job? 

“I think the veteran managers probably have a lot more to say about it, but from my perspective, what I can bring to the table that’s valuable is relatability, doing things with integrity, trust, honesty,” Stammen said. “I think those leadership qualities go a long way.” 

The Rangers (Schumaker), Rockies (Schaeffer), Braves (Walt Weiss), Twins (Derek Shelton) and Orioles (Albernaz) all went a more conventional route than the Giants, Nationals, Angels and Padres with their managerial decisions. 

Albernaz, who will get his first MLB managing opportunity this year with the Orioles, worked his way up in a more conventional manner than many others in this hiring cycle. He climbed the minor league ranks before joining the Giants coaching staff and then spending the past two seasons on Vogt’s staff in Cleveland, an experience he considers the best he has had in baseball. 

Through those various stops, he feels that he gained a grasp on the most important part of his new job. 

“It’s people,” Albernaz told me. “At the end of the day, you’re a manager of people. That’s something that’s never going to change in this game, that people still play. Front-office members don’t play. Coaches don’t play. The players play. And for a big-league manager, for anyone, even a coach, you have to be a connector of people.”

Rowan Kavner is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. He previously covered the L.A. Dodgers, LA Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, grew up in Texas, then moved back to the West Coast in 2014. Follow him on X at @RowanKavner.

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Minnesota Twins ownership has finalized the purchase of portions of the franchise by three different investors, limited partnerships the Pohlad family sought for a fresh infusion of cash and strategy after deciding earlier this year to retain control of the club.

The Twins also announced Wednesday a plan to make Tom Pohlad the controlling owner and primary liaison to the league in place of his younger brother, Joe Pohlad, as part of a new executive leadership structure coinciding with the new investors.

Major League Baseball approved the acquisition of non-controlling minority interests in the Twins by Glick Family Investments, a multi-generational New York venture capital firm; a group of Minnesota business leaders spearheaded by George Hicks; and Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold.

Neither the purchase prices or size of the stakes were disclosed. Financial analysis earlier this year by Forbes valued the franchise at $1.5 billion, ranked 23rd in MLB. Sportico ($1.7 billion) and CNBC ($1.65 billion) pegged the Twins a bit higher.

Joe Pohlad, 43, served as executive chair for three years. Tom Pohlad, 45, has never had a role with the baseball club before, previously serving as executive chairman of Pohlad Companies in overseeing the family’s diverse portfolio of businesses. Their uncle, Jim Pohlad, was chairman of the Twins until 2022. Their grandfather, Carl Pohlad, built his fortune in banking and bought the Twins in 1984 from Calvin Griffith for $44 million. He died in 2009.

MLB must approve Tom Pohlad becoming control person.

“It is a profound honor to have the opportunity to continue a legacy that has been part of my family — and this community — for the past 40 years,” said Tom Pohlad said in a statement distributed by the Twins. “My uncle and my brother have led this organization with integrity, dedication, and a genuine love for the game. As I assume my new role, I do so with great respect for our history and a clear focus on the future — one defined by accountability and stewardship in our relentless pursuit of a championship.”

The Pohlad family announced last year the exploration of a sale, a declaration that largely delighted a fan base frustrated by the level of investment in the player payroll. The primary driver of the decision was a debt load that hit $500 million this year, with the loss of crowds during the pandemic and the collapse of their regional television contract weighing heavily on the financial operation.

The Twins won the World Series in 1987 and 1991, but they have only reached the American League Championship Series once since then, in 2002.

In 2023, they ended an 18-game postseason losing streak, a North American professional sports record. They went 70-92 in 2025 and fired manager Rocco Baldelli, replacing him with Derek Shelton.

Hicks is a native of Minnesota, a former executive of Cargill Financial who co-founded Varde Partners, a startup in 1993 that has grown into a global investment firm.

“As a lifelong Twins fan, I am honored and excited to join the Pohlad family as a steward of this beloved franchise,” Hicks said. “Like many in the state, some of my favorite memories are of times spent watching and cheering for the Twins. The leaders I represent share these values and recognize the importance of Twins baseball to our communities. This is the opportunity of a lifetime and one we view as a true privilege and responsibility.”

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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Tony Vitello was a fish out of water at his first ever Winter Meetings.

“I don’t know what I’m doing at this thing, to be honest with you,” the new San Francisco Giants manager admitted last Tuesday to a gaggle of reporters at the onset of his news conference. 

These scrums with the media are a managerial responsibility that will soon become a significant part of his daily routine. They won’t always be as chaotic as this one was, which took place against the backdrop of thousands of individuals involved in baseball, meandering without a specific direction or path, in the wide and brightly lit hallways of the Signia hotel in Orlando, Fla. For someone not used to the mass and mess of the annual hubbub of baseball’s hot stove, the Winter Meetings can be unnerving.

Not only is Vitello not used to the professional baseball world, he’s never even been in it. Vitello has just as much experience being the manager of a pro baseball team as your neighbor next door. But, ask him about being the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers, and he’ll have you schooled. After the Giants hired him in late October, Vitello became the first manager in MLB history to jump directly from college baseball to the major leagues without any professional baseball experience.

So, you can forgive Vitello for feeling overwhelmed by the frenzied nature of the Winter Meetings. But the thing is, it was impossible to tell. Vitello conducted his 30-minute managerial scrum with a relaxed tempo. He gave honest and thoughtful answers. He was energetic. He was funny. 

That being said, there were still small signs that he was new around here. He kept referring to himself as a coach rather than a manager. He was an open book in a refreshing way, not yet spurned by the inevitable negative coverage that comes with losses and poor records. 

“I’m just trying to figure out what’s going on here at both hotels that we’re occupying,” Vitello said. “With the teams in our division or that are out there in general, I don’t know what you’re supposed to say or not. It sounds like the Phillies got better today.” (Moments before Vitello sat down with the media, the Phillies re-signed slugger Kyle Schwarber to a five-year deal.)

Even as Vitello claimed he was unaware of exactly what to do or how to act, he kept saying the right things. Above all, what stood out from his first real foray into the pandemonium of professional baseball was his love of the game — be it at the college level or the big leagues. Vitello offered reminders that fresh ideas on how to improve MLB can come from anywhere, even from an unconventional hire: a self-deprecating college head coach who led Tennessee to its first-ever national title and three College World Series appearances in his successful eight-year run.

“Sorry to go on an even further tangent, but maybe this thing, and who knows if you want to call it the guinea pig, or sacrificial lamb, or if it goes well or doesn’t go well, who cares? I guess I should,” Vitello said. “I wish there was somebody, like, with a shorter haircut and more reputable up here, to say it’s time for college baseball and Major League Baseball to be married a little closer for a lot of different reasons.

“I think working together ultimately makes Major League Baseball a better product, which is great for the fans. Then, sorry, money is a big factor in the world, whether we like it or not. Ultimately, if Major League Baseball is a better product, then there’s more money being made.”

Vitello, 47, believes it took this long for someone to go straight from the college side to pro ball, without any playing, coaching, or minor-league experience, in part because of the improved talent at the college level, which has led to higher interest, which has led to greater national coverage. 

It’s all slowly closed the gap between the major leagues. 

“You don’t have to be in the SEC,” he said. “You could be out at Coastal Carolina or out on the West Coast. College baseball is now heavily covered by the media. TV is a part of the deal. There’s fans at every game, and the players are better.”

Giants president of baseball operations and former MVP catcher Buster Posey has tasked Vitello with bringing the organization back to greatness. He’s working on a three-year contract with a vesting option for a fourth year. Posey and the Giants want stability at the skipper’s position after Bob Melvin, who managed the club from 2024-25, was fired with a year left on his contract following a disappointing 81-81 finish while falling short of the playoffs again. This was the second time in three offseasons that San Francisco conducted a managerial search before choosing Vitello to lead the 26-man roster.

Vitello has solid pieces in place to help get the Giants back to the postseason for the first time since 2021. Logan Webb and Robbie Ray will lead the rotation, while Matt Chapman, Rafael Devers, and Willy Adames will provide the thump in the lineup. The rookie manager plans to lean on those veterans to help guide him through the ups and downs of his first year. For now, Vitello is viewing his roster through a college-ball lens — including a heavier emphasis on the word “recruit,” rather than “call up” or “sign.”

“I think it’s a really fun roster,” Vitello said of his Giants squad. “It’s almost got a parallel to a college team because there’s high turnover with guys graduating or getting drafted. You’ve got a solid group of guys that are solidified as, at the very least, this is their role. We expect this guy to be our everyday this or that. There’s also open competition at several spots, whether it be on the position side or the pitching side. I think the combination is good to already have a quality roster.”

Another unique aspect of Vitello’s transition from the college side will be facing players in the big leagues that he previously coached while at Tennessee. According to the University’s database, there are seven MLB players and 39 minor league players that hail from Tennessee — including Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet and Giants outfielder Drew Gilbert, whom Vitello will now be managing. 

“In the moment, there might be things you say or feelings you have, but when the moment is over, it’s kind of like UFC fighters or boxers, like an NFL game,” Vitello said. “These guys are just trying to kill each other, but afterwards, you have an appreciation because those are the people that push you the most or bring out the most intense feelings and emotions. 

“Yeah, it will be unique, and it will be interesting. The one thing about all the reps in pro baseball, they change who you are as a person and who you are as a player. That can be for the worse, certain times, and other times it’s for the better. I think each of those guys will have a different look the next time I see them.”

Naturally, Vitello’s atypical hire drew a lot of attention in the industry, with reporters, executives, and opposing managers all looking for moments to offer congratulations or advice as he sets out on an epoch-making development in baseball history. For an idea of how dream-like the experience has been for Vitello so far, look no further than what happened during and after his first Winter Meetings news conference. 

One of the earliest questions asked of Vitello was whether there was anyone in particular he was looking forward to meeting in Orlando. Immediately, he said: “Pat Murphy stands out because of the college background and having competed against him.” Murphy, who won second consecutive National League Manager of the Year honors after leading the Milwaukee Brewers to a franchise-record 97 wins in the regular season, had an extremely successful college baseball coaching career that spanned over 25 years. Vitello joked that maybe it was better to wait until after the 2026 season was over to connect with Murphy, since “he’s as competitive as it gets.”

Minutes after Vitello’s news conference wrapped up, he stepped out into the hallway at the Signia hotel and saw a beaming Pat Murphy walking up to him. A moment later, three-time Manager of the Year Dusty Baker joined them. The newcomer looked like he was doing most of the talking. There was Vitello, a fish out of water, rubbing shoulders with some of the best managers in the history of the sport, letting them learn from him for a change. 

“The college game is so good, talent-wise, mentality-wise,” Murphy said last week in Orlando. “And the Major League game is younger now, just the cultures are different. There’s less of the old-school, earn-your-stripes rookie. There’s less of that nonsense. So I think [Vitello’s] transition — and Posey knows what he’s doing — he’s going to get it so that the transition is easy. And I think he’s probably 10 times smarter than I was at the time.”

Vitello might not know what he’s doing just yet, but he’s setting the example of how a college-ball attitude might create fresh ideas in a professional league that’s finally open to more change. Ultimately, Vitello will be judged on his wins and losses with the Giants. But, for now, he represents an unprecedented opportunity to prove how college baseball and the major leagues just might make each other better. 

Deesha Thosar covers Major League Baseball as a reporter and columnist for FOX Sports. She previously covered the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Long Island and now lives in Queens. Follow her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.

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The New York Yankees may be a “fully operational Death Star,” but they’re not acting like it.

Thus far this MLB offseason, New York has re-signed left-hander Ryan Yarbrough, infielder Amed Rosario and outfielder Trent Grisham accepted the $22.025 qualifying offer. In an American League East division that features the defending AL-champion Toronto Blue Jays – who have been among the most active teams in the sport this offseason – Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles – who have signed star first baseman Pete Alonso and acquired slugger Taylor Ward – the Yankees need to get busy.

Here are three MLB free agents New York should pursue.

2025 Stats: 2.45 ERA, 1.73 WHIP, 12 strikeouts, 174 ERA+, 0.2 wins above replacement (11 innings pitched)

Devin Williams signed with the New York Mets, Luke Weaver is a free agent and the Yankees were 23rd in MLB with a collective 4.37 ERA and 19th with a 1.32 WHIP last season; they need a boost in their bullpen, and Kopech is a compelling option.

Once a top starting pitching prospect who appeared to be coming into his own with the Chicago White Sox, Kopech was moved to the bullpen on a full-time basis in 2024. While he took his licks as a reliever, the Los Angeles Dodgers acquired Kopech before the 2024 MLB trade deadline, and he excelled, posting a 1.13 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 359 ERA+ in 24 innings pitched in the regular season. Last season, Kopech was limited to 14 appearances due to shoulder and knee injuries but is expected to be full-go before the 2026 regular season. 

While Kopech leans on his four-seamer, he has mixed in a cutter and slider in recent years. He throws gas, traditionally posts strikeouts at a high rate and has been a sturdy back-end reliever of late.

Setting up David Bednar and Camilo Doval in the late innings, Kopech would be an impactful addition to New York’s bullpen and one that presents upside, with the former top pitching prospect just two seasons into being a full-time reliever. 

2025 Stats: 29 home runs, 98 RBIs, 125 OPS+, 5.1 wins above replacement, .272/.334/.480 slash line (588 at-bats)

Bellinger would fit any team that needs an outfielder, and while the Yankees have a bit of an outfield surplus with Grisham, three-time AL MVP Aaron Judge, former top prospect Jasson Dominguez and potentially Spencer Jones, Bellinger was the Yankees’ best position player not named Aaron Judge last season. Unless they plan on bringing in star outfielder Kyle Tucker, the Yankees need to re-sign Bellinger.

Bellinger is coming off arguably the best season of his career since the outfielder’s 2019 National League MVP campaign. He started at all three outfield positions for prolonged periods, slugged at a high rate, helped replace some of the production that Juan Soto‘s departure vacated and was an indispensable part of the 2025 Yankees.

While Ben Rice is likely New York’s Opening Day first baseman, Bellinger has made 274 career starts at the position and held his own; he can play first base if Rice gets hurts or the Yankees are displeased with his performance.

Bellinger is an impact, left-handed bat in his prime whom the Yankees should seek to retain on a three-to-four-year deal. Doing so would lock in the Yankees’ starting outfield for next season but also allow them to trade one of Dominguez and Jones, among other players, if a star-caliber player at a position that could use upgrading becomes available.

2025 Stats (Japan Central League/Japan Pacific League): 24 home runs, 52 RBIs, .286/.392/.659 slash line (220 at-bats)

The Yankees need to generate upside in their positional depth chart, and Murakami fits the bill.

Murakami is coming off an injury-shortened 2025 campaign, but make no mistake about it: The dude rakes. A two-time league MVP, Muramaki possesses lethal power from the left side of the plate and has averaged 33.1 home runs per season over his eight-year career with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of the Nippon Professional Baseball League (NPB).

While he has primarily played third base, the soon-to-be 26-year-old Murakami has made 266 career appearances at first base. The Yankees could start him at third, and if they love the bat but are worried about Murakami’s play at the hot corner, he could move to first. While third baseman Ryan McMahon is due $32 million over the next two seasons and is a stellar fielder, he hit just .214 last season and is tailor-made for a utility role, as he has been a full-time second baseman and dabbled at first base, too. Should an injury present itself to Murakami or second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., McMahon could slide back into a starting role.

Plus, Giancarlo Stanton‘s time with the Yankees could potentially end after the 2027 season, as the team has a $15 million club option on the designated hitter for the 2028 season. In other words, New York may have the designated hitter slot open in the near future, which could sort out its potential long-term depth issue of who plays where.

Mammoth power, defensive versatility and not even in the prime of his professional career. That’s an enticing combination as is, but even more so for a Yankees team that hasn’t yet seen its former top position player prospects play up to their billing (e.g. Dominguez and shortstop Anthony Volpe). New York is the perfect landing spot for Murakami.

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Edwin Diaz won’t receive all of his $69 million from the Dodgers until 2047, with the closer’s deal raising deferred payment obligations for the two-time World Series champions to more than $1.06 billion due to nine players.

As part of the three-year contract announced Friday, Díaz gets a $9 million signing bonus payable on Feb. 1, according to terms obtained by The Associated Press.

He receives a $14 million salary next year and $23 million in each of the following two seasons. The Dodgers will defer $4.5 million annually.

Díaz’s deferred money is payable in 10 equal installments each July 1. The 2026 money is due from 2036-45, the 2027 money from 2037-46 and the 2028 money from 2038-47.

Los Angeles has a $6.5 million conditional team option for 2029 with no buyout. The option could be exercised if he has a specified injury through the end of the 2028 season and he does not end the season or postseason healthy, or if he has a specified surgery.

If the conditional option is exercised, he could earn $2.5 million in performance bonuses for 2029 based on games finished: $750,000 each for 45 and 50 games and $1 million for 55.

Díaz gets a hotel suite on road trips and will make a charitable contribution of 1% of his income.

His deferred payments raise the Dodgers’ total to $1,064,500. Their high point due in a year is $102.3 million in both 2038 and 2039.

Ohtani, Betts, Snell and Freeman among others owed deferred

Los Angeles also owes deferred payments to two-way star Shohei Ohtani ($680 million from 2034-43), outfielder/infielder Mookie Betts ($115 million in salaries from 2033-44 and the final $5 million of his signing bonus payable from 2033-35), left-hander Blake Snell ($66 million from 2035-46), first baseman Freddie Freeman ($57 million from 2028-40), catcher Will Smith ($50 million from 2034-43) and utilityman Tommy Edman ($25 million from 2037-44), reliever Tanner Scott ($21 million 2035-46) and outfielder Teoscar Hernandez ($32 million from 2030-39).

Bullpen was Dodgers’ weakness this year

A three-time All-Star who turns 32 on March 22, Díaz had 28 saves in 31 chances last season with a 6-3 record and 1.63 ERA for a disappointing Mets team that failed to reach the playoffs despite spending the second most behind the Dodgers. He struck out 98 in 66 1/3 innings.

Díaz has 253 saves in 294 chances over nine seasons with Seattle (2016-18) and New York. Díaz agreed to a $102 million, five-year contract with the Mets after the 2022 season, a deal that included deferred money payable through 2042. He gave up $38 million he would have been owed in the final two years with the Mets.

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