Category: Baseball

David Stearns dismantled the Mets in December. Facing extreme levels of discontent and pressure, the team’s president of baseball operations was confident he had the time and resources to retool the team into a winner. 

After weeks of questions and uncertainty about whether he would be able to pull it off, this was the week that saved the Mets offseason. By January, Stearns re-assembled the roster into a legitimate contender. 

Stearns put the exclamation point on what was already a celebratory mood in Queens when he completed a major trade that addressed their biggest concern of the offseason. The Mets on Wednesday night acquired right-hander Freddy Peralta from the Brewers in exchange for two top prospects in right-hander Brandon Sproat and infielder Jett Williams. New York also received right-hander Tobias Myers in the deal.

That’s a generous haul for Peralta, who is ultimately a rental. The 29-year-old righty will become a free agent after this season, and an extension with Peralta has not yet been explored, according to sources. 

Peralta’s addition came hours after the Mets formally introduced new infielder Bo Bichette in a news conference at Citi Field on Wednesday afternoon. Bichette’s introductory conference came hours after the Mets traded for All-Star center fielder Luis Robert Jr. on Tuesday night. Bichette’s agreement with the Mets, a three-year contract worth $126 million with player options after years two and three, also became official late Tuesday night.

So, in the span of roughly 24 hours, the Mets made three significant upgrades — really, the finishing touches — to a roster that looked depleted and unplayable just one month ago. The Mets addressed their biggest needs for a starting pitcher, an impact bat, and a quality outfielder.

“Look, I’ve been clear. My preference would be to add a starting pitcher,” Stearns said at Citi Field on Wednesday, hours before finalizing the deal for Peralta. “It doesn’t mean it’s a certainty that we’re going to do it, but that would be my preference.”

It was difficult to envision the Mets entering the season without a significant upgrade to their rotation. It was no secret they were one of the teams desperate to add a front-end starting pitcher. The Brewers fielded multiple competitive offers for Peralta, who is owed just $8 million this season. They had plenty of leverage to get a prime package from the Mets, or any other interested team. Giving up a pair of highly-ranked prospects was the price Stearns had to pay to acquire an ace in a thin starting-pitching market. 

Peralta, whose 2.70 ERA ranked seventh among all MLB starters last year, enhances a Mets rotation that will include Nolan McLean, Sean Manaea, Clay Holmes, Kodai Senga, and David Peterson, with Jonah Tong and Christian Scott serving as depth pieces. Bichette, who will take over for Brett Baty at third, is an excellent right-handed hitter that significantly boosts a Mets lineup that struggled with inconsistency last year. Robert is a low-risk, high-reward center fielder with a ceiling of 38 home runs, which he produced in his 2023 All-Star season. 

In total this winter, the Mets have added 10 players: Peralta, Bichette, Robert, Jorge Polanco, Marcus Semien, Jorge Polanco, Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, Luis Garcia and Myers. The result? A strong offseason and an impressive pivot.

Read more: Five Takeaways from Bo Bichette’s $162 Million Deal 

Stearns needed exactly six weeks to reshape the team and plug the holes he created. After the Mets’ $340 million roster couldn’t win more than 83 games last year, and couldn’t even surpass the Cincinnati Reds for a ticket to the playoffs, Stearns was prepared to take drastic measures. 

First, he indifferently dispatched outfielder Brandon Nimmo, previously the longest-tenured Met, in a trade with the Texas Rangers that sent second baseman Marcus Semien to New York. Then closer Edwin Diaz left town for the back-to-back world champion Dodgers. There was no turning back after Dec. 10, when slugger Pete Alonso bolted from Queens to accept a long-term pact with the Orioles. The Mets didn’t even make an offer to Alonso. Last year during the first baseman’s free agency, Mets owner Steve Cohen had to step in to get a one-year deal done with Alonso after spring training had already begun. Stearns might as well have put up a billboard in Times Square saying he was never interested in bringing Alonso back.

In the end, he was hardly interested in bringing any longtime position players back, unless they were signed to long-term deals (Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor) or still under team control (Brett Baty, Mark Vientos, Francisco Alvarez, and Ronny Mauricio). Infielder Jeff McNeil, another longtime Met, was traded to the Athletics last month. The demolition of the Mets core seemed years in the making. 

Two years and three months after Cohen hired him to lead his baseball ops, Stearns can now say this is his team. He broke up the nucleus and remade the Mets in his own vision, complete with short-term deals and trade acquisitions. 

Hours before the Peralta signing became official, Mets officials looked tired. Manager Carlos Mendoza said he had not yet had any time to mock up potential lineups. Stearns had some dark bags under his eyes. The Mets endured the most active offseason in the league. From ripping their core apart to quite swiftly building it back together, they will enter this season with a strong roster that’s built to go deep into the postseason. 

Of course, the work is not done. As he enters Season 3 of his reign as president of baseball operations, Stearns will ultimately be judged by wins. Outside their remarkable 2024 postseason run, the Mets have won one playoff game since 2015. It’s been 40 years since they won a championship.

The Mets saved their offseason this week. It’s time to prove the pieces are in place to win the whole thing.

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

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

The New York Mets are acquiring All-Star right-handed pitcher Freddy Peralta in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers, according to a report from ESPN on Thursday.

The Brewers will receive top prospects Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat in exchange for Peralta, and will send out right-handed pitcher Tobias Myers, per reports. Williams and Sproat are ranked third and fifth in the Mets’ farm system, respectively, according to Minor League Baseball.

Peralta finished the 2025 MLB season with a 17-6 record, a 2.70 ERA and 204 strikeouts in 33 starts for the Brewers. He was voted an All-Star in 2025, his first All-Star selection since 2021.

The 29-year-old has spent his entire Major League career with the Brewers. He was signed by the Seattle Mariners as an international free agent in 2013, but was traded to the Brewers in 2015. He made his Major League debut in 2018.

Peralta now joins a pitching rotation headlined by Nolan McLean, David Peterson, Kodai Senga, Clay Holmes and Sean Manaea. He also becomes the latest in a flurry of big-name acquisitions from the Mets, which includes two-time All-Star Bo Bichette and one-time All-Star Luis Robert Jr.

Peralta is in the final year of a five-year, $15.5 million contract extension he signed in February 2020. He is owed $8 million for the 2026 season and will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

Now, the Yankees’ offseason can really begin.

Free-agent Cody Bellinger and the New York Yankees reached an agreement Wednesday that will bring the outfielder back to the Bronx on a five-year, $162.5 million contract, per multiple reports. The deal includes a $20 million signing bonus, opt-outs after Years 2 and 3, and a full no-trade clause. 

Bellinger, his agent, Scott Boras, and the Yankees were in a stubborn standoff all winter, preventing the team from moving forward with other roster moves until Bellinger made his decision. Now that the 30-year-old will be back in pinstripes after a successful 2025 season — Bellinger swatted 29 home runs, posted a 125 OPS+ and received down-ballot American League MVP votes — the Yankees can finally start to address their other needs. 

Here’s what next for the Yankees, the AL East, and the remaining top free agents on the board:

What’s Next for the Bronx Bombers

The Yankees’ outfield picture for this season is complete – sort of. 

Bellinger will patrol left field again, becoming a steady presence in the corner-outfield spot for the first time since Brett Gardner was the Yankees’ everyday left fielder. Trent Grisham will play center and Aaron Judge, as usual, will be in right. So, where does that leave Jasson Dominguez? It’s the same question the Yankees were faced with last winter, when they traded for Bellinger as part of the pivot from losing Juan Soto to the Mets. One year later, Dominguez has played 149 games in the major leagues since his September 2023 debut. 

He has shown flashes of brilliance, like his three-homer game against the Athletics at the hitter-friendly West Sacramento ballpark. And, to be expected for a 22-year-old player who is still navigating learning curves, there are also areas of concern. Dominguez’s weaker slashline against lefties (.279/.290/.569) versus his solid production against righties (.274/.348/.420) last year is worth noting. Plus, his -7 Defensive Runs Saved last season signaled that Dominguez still has plenty of work to do in the outfield. 

Do the Yankees really want to slot Dominguez in as their fourth outfielder this season? There’s an argument that he could get a decent amount of playing time, whenever Grisham and Judge need days off, and Bellinger slides to first base to help out Ben Rice, who’s expected to take over for Paul Goldschmidt. But the best way for Dominguez to improve on both sides of the ball is for him to get regular, consistent reps. His 101 OPS+ last year, even without consistent playing time, indicates he can hold his own. The Yankees could use Dominguez as a trade chip to bolster their rotation or bullpen. 

Including a major-league-ready bat in a trade package could net the Yankees a quality starting pitcher. There is high competition for Brewers right-hander Freddy Peralta, and so far Milwaukee has hesitated to part ways with their longtime starter, particularly because Peralta is owed just $8 million in his walk year this season. However, including Dominguez in the deal could push Milwaukee to the finish line. The Yankees need rotation help at the outset of the season, with Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, Clarke Schmidt all starting the year on the injured list. Acquiring someone like Peralta would not only hold them over, but his elite strikeout rate would perfectly complement the rest of their pitching staff.

What’s Next for the AL East Race

Getting Bellinger back into the lineup puts the Yankees in good shape to compete with the Toronto Blue Jays for the division title. Of course, out of any rival in the AL East, the Blue Jays have had the strongest offseason, filling holes with the additions of pitchers Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce, infielder Kazuma Okamoto, and adding depth to the bullpen with Tyler Rogers. Toronto’s whiff on Kyle Tucker and losing homegrown shortstop Bo Bichette has left an unpleasant taste, but the Jays are in a solid position to run it back. They could still use an outfielder on a long-term deal, but that’s not as pressing of a need with Tucker and Bellinger off the board. But there aren’t any glaring holes on Toronto’s roster.

The Red Sox remembered their ability to spend money when they signed top free-agent starter Ranger Suarez to a five-year deal. It came on the heels of Alex Bregman leaving Boston to play for the Cubs, which was yet another miss by Fenway’s front office. Now, the Red Sox strategy consists of strengthening their pitching staff to prevent runs and offset any shortcomings in the lineup. Still, a part of run prevention is sharp defense, and the Red Sox led the majors in errors last year. They need to add a third baseman or second baseman, plus defense either through free agency or trade.

The Orioles still need to add a high-end starting pitcher to round out what has otherwise been a successful and busy offseason. The additions of first baseman Pete Alonso, outfielder Tyler Ward and pitchers Ryan Helsley and Shane Baz are savvy and fill roster needs. But, if this young and hungry club reaches the postseason, it currently has no one to take the ball in Game 1 of a playoff series. Re-signing Zach Eflin was important, but he’s no ace. The O’s should be in the market for the top free-agent starters still available, including left-hander Framber Valdez and righty Zac Gallen.

What’s Next in Free Agency?

Bellinger represented the last star-caliber free-agent outfielder on the market this offseason. Though there are still outfielders available, after him, there’s a sizable drop-off in quality and age. Now, 32-year-old Harrison Bader, who has a fWAR of 4.4 from 2024-25, is the best available outfielder. Austin Hays, 30, could be a good fit for a contender looking to fill a need. Jesse Winker, who has a concerning recent injury history, is still looking for a new home. Among position players across the board, third baseman Eugenio Suarez is the most impactful bat who still hasn’t signed. 

With teams set to report to spring training in just three weeks, the attention soon should shift to the remaining starters still available. Valdez and Gallen lead that list, followed by an enormous gap, and then arms like Lucas Giolito, Zack Littell, Chris Bassitt, Griffin Canning and Jose Quintana.

In What’s Next?, we look ahead at the potential impact of trades, hires, signings and more.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

With multiple offers in free agency, Kyle Tucker was ultimately swayed by the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ championship pedigree.

“It’s a big decision, so you still got to weigh out everything,” he said, “but this team and this city and the fanbase kind of makes it a little bit easier to make some decisions. That is just ultimately what we wanted to do is come here and be part of that and try to win another World Series.”

Tucker signed a $240 million, four-year contract, choosing the two-time defending World Series champion Dodgers over the New York Mets and World Series runner-up Toronto Blue Jays. He can opt out after years two and three.

“Obviously, we started lower,” joked Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations. “It doesn’t mean that it has to be two, three, four years here. It could be longer than that. For him to choose us when he had other longer term and other shorter term, I think speaks to the growth and progress that we’ve made on creating a destination spot.”

Tucker gets a $64 million signing bonus, of which $54 million is payable on Feb. 15 and $10 million on Feb. 1, 2027. He gets a $1 million salary this year and $55 million in 2027, and he has $60 million player options for 2028 and 2029.

In each season from 2027-29, $10 million is deferred. The deferred money from all years is payable in 10 equal installments each Dec. 1 from 2036-45.

He also gets a hotel suite on road trips.

Tucker’s $60 million average annual value is the second-highest in baseball history, without factoring in deferred money, behind Shohei Ohtani’s $70 million in his 10-year deal with the Dodgers that runs through 2033. With the addition of Tucker’s $30 million in deferred money, Los Angeles owes $1.0945 billion in deferred compensation to 10 players from 2028-47.

“There was really nobody that moved our World Series odds for 2026 more than Kyle Tucker,” general manager Brandon Gomes said.

Read more: 4 Takeaways From Kyle Tucker’s $240 Million Deal

Tucker’s signing reignited talk of management proposing a salary cap in collective bargaining after the Dodgers added yet another star to one of the sport’s highest payrolls.

“We don’t pay much attention to that because we operate within the rules and we do everything we can to put ourselves in the best position, both short term and long term, and we’re not thinking about more macro things outside of that,” Friedman said. “It is about how can we win as many games and put ourselves in the best position to win a championship in 2026 without really compromising ourselves out into the future and falling off the proverbial cliff.”

Tucker will play right field and likely bat second or third in the lineup, manager Dave Roberts said. Ohtani, who typically leads off, was working out on the Dodger Stadium field ahead of Tucker’s introductory news conference. Teoscar Hernandez will move from right to left.

“This organization from top down is first class,” Tucker said. “It’ll be a lot of fun competing with these guys and competing for another hopefully three-peat here.”

Tucker slipped on a No. 23 Dodgers jersey alongside Roberts and Gomes. He wore No. 30 for most of his career with the Houston Astros and during his lone season with the Chicago Cubs last year. Roberts wears No. 30 in honor of Dodgers star Maury Wills, his mentor.

Tucker said he chose 23 in honor of his former Astros teammate Michael Brantley, who wore the number before retiring in 2022. They won the World Series that year, although Brantley was sidelined during the postseason.

Tucker has been criticized for a perceived casual playing style. Last August, he got booed by Cubs fans for not running out ground balls and lacking intensity. He acknowledged he may be perceived that way because of “a little bit of my demeanor.”

“I try to do my best out there regardless of how I feel or what the situation is,” he said.

The Dodgers sought out clubhouse personnel, training staff, teammates and coaches to find out about Tucker’s competitive makeup and work ethic.

“His demeanor is such that it’s not an outward exuberant personality and so I think that can be misconstrued,” Friedman said. “For us, it’s about how does he compete, how does he work? For that we got very comfortable that when he’s in the box, when he’s in the outfield, he competes as well as anybody.”

Roberts did his own vetting of Tucker with other managers and coaches.

“There’s an inner fire that I’ve seen,” he said.

Tucker, the NL starter in right in last summer’s All-Star Game, assured the Dodgers he wants to continue to improve.

“He talked about that a lot, of how much he cares about the finer points,” Friedman said. “Anything we have that can help him get better in any regard — whether it’s on defense, on the bases, in the batter’s box — he’s like, ‘I’m all for it.’ So having a guy who has achieved what he has, but still have that kind of growth mindset, those are guys that make it easier.”

Roberts believes Tucker is a potential MVP candidate with the ability to win another Gold Glove.

“Having a lot of people around him, there’s more runs scored in there. I think he’s going to have the ability to drive in runs,” Roberts said. “He’s a five-tool player, he loves to compete, he loves to play the game, he pours into the community, he’s a smart player.”

Reporting by The Associated Press. 

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

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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