Category: Baseball

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

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

Here are three ideal free agent destinations for Valdez.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Valdez is exactly what the Mets need.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here are our takeaways:

1. Mets get their impact bat

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

3. The Phillies are already pivoting

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

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

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

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

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

But Boston swung and missed. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reporting by The Associated Press. 

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The New York Mets have struck.

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

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

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

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

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

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All anyone can do is laugh.

Dodgers fans are in a happy mood after outfielder Kyle Tucker, the undisputed jewel of this year’s free-agent class, signed a reported four-year, $240 million deal that includes opt-outs after the second and third seasons. 

Meanwhile, the 29 other MLB fanbases will just have to laugh through the pain of watching yet another star player join the defending World Series champions as they go for a three-peat. 

Here are our takeaways:

1. Dodgers address their two biggest needs with the best options available 

On Dec. 8, manager Dave Roberts said there was “no big splash” the Dodgers needed to make. Later that week, they made one anyway when they signed closer Edwin Diaz. And five weeks later, in an offseason in which they initially seemed content to sit out of the top end of the free-agent market, they’ve also now added the top overall player available in Tucker. 

They are always lurking, ready to pounce, especially if a star becomes available on a shorter-term deal. That was the case this winter, as the reigning champs addressed their two most glaring needs — bullpen and outfield — with the two best free agents at their respective positions.

 They were able to convince Díaz to sign for three years by giving him the highest average annual value ever for a reliever. They got Tucker, who was also projected to sign a much longer deal, for four years with opt-outs by giving him the highest AAV ever for an outfielder (Mets slugger Juan Soto previously held that mark at $51 million) and the second-highest annual salary ever for a player behind only his new teammate Shohei Ohtani. Accounting for deferrals, Tucker’s deal is an annual record in present-day value. 

The cost is staggering for any team, let alone a club that is already penalized at the highest tax rate. But the Dodgers have made abundantly clear that no matter how much money they’ve already spent, there’s always more available in their Ohtani economy. 

The additions of Díaz and Tucker, who both had a qualifying offer attached, will also cost the Dodgers their second, third, fifth and sixth-highest picks in the 2026 draft. But president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman vowed that the Dodgers would do everything they can to put themselves in the best position to win again in 2026. And by adding Díaz and Tucker to a championship roster, they’re in prime position to become the first team to three-peat since the 1998-00 Yankees. – Kavner

2. How do the Mets save their offseason?

Mets owner Steve Cohen provoked intense reactions when he posted a cryptic message on social media — “Let me know when you see smoke” — on Thursday night, just a couple of hours before news broke about Tucker’s decision to sign with the Dodgers. Cohen stoked the fire, only for Tucker to sidestep the Mets’ offer.

Speaking of smoke, the Mets have been under fire all winter after president of baseball operations David Stearns broke up the team’s core, with Pete Alonso (Orioles), Brandon Nimmo (Rangers), and Diaz (Dodgers) all departing from New York in the first part of the offseason. Signing Tucker would’ve expunged the anguish of losing three fan favorites. 

How can the Mets save their offseason now? Stearns created a void in the outfield when he dealt Nimmo to Texas. The Mets wanted Tucker to fill that void, hoping their substantial offer would be enough. Now, they can pivot by pushing hard for free-agent outfielder Cody Bellinger, whose versatility in left field and first base is a perfect match for the Mets. 

Beyond position-player upgrades, the Mets still have to bolster their rotation, which was the primary reason they missed the playoffs in their disappointing 83-win season last year. With Ranger Suarez off the board, would signing left-hander Framber Valdez (our top-ranked free agent pitcher) be enough to change the so-far bewildering state of their offseason? For now, limiting Cohen’s social-media usage could be a good start. – Thosar

3. Blue Jays absorb yet another Dodgers gut-punch

Not again.

That has to be the prevailing thought from a jilted Blue Jays fanbase. Two years ago, they lost the Ohtani free agency sweepstakes. Last offseason, they lost the Roki Sasaki battle and then fell in agonizing fashion in Game 7 of the World Series. And now, Toronto has absorbed its latest L.A. gut-punch with Tucker choosing the Dodgers. 

The Blue Jays were among the favorites to land the top free agent, a move that would have unquestionably made them the winners of the offseason and set their outfield up for years to come with George Springer and Daulton Varsho both entering their final year under contract in Toronto. Missing out on Tucker is a tough blow. 

Still, unlike past offseasons, this winter was a success for the Blue Jays even after the miss. After signing Dylan Cease, Kazuma Okamoto, Cody Ponce and Tyler Rogers, they’ve spent more than any team in free agency and have put themselves in strong position to repeat as AL East champions. Tucker would have represented an obvious upgrade, but with Addison Barger, Varsho, Anthony Santander and Nathan Lukes, they can still field an adequate outfield. As currently constructed, they have a team capable of making another deep October run. 

Plus, the winter is not yet done. Perhaps they now turn more of their focus, and the money they would have spent on Tucker, toward bringing back top infielder Bo Bichette. – Kavner

4. A fresh wave of CBA and lockout talk

The Dodgers’ signing of Tucker invites more discourse of a potential lockout at the end of this year. MLB’s current Collective Bargaining Agreement expires on Dec. 1, after which the league is expected to lock out the players and shut down free agency and trades, like it did in 2021.

Once again, MLB owners are pushing for a salary cap, pointing to huge payroll gaps and the fact that the Dodgers are continuously stacking stars and flexing their financial might in unprecedented ways, while arguing that smaller-market teams cannot compete. 

Particularly after the Tucker signing, most fan bases are more likely to side with the owners. The players union is prepared to stand in the way, which could lead to missed games amid a work stoppage in 2027.

For the Dodgers’ part, all they care about is winning. But it’s important to remember, their drive to compete has improved the bottom line. They paid nearly $170 million in luxury taxes in 2025, which shattered the record. This will be their sixth-straight year paying the highest penalty rates. The more the Dodgers pay in luxury taxes, the more money they’re redirecting to other clubs through revenue sharing. 

While a salary cap would, in theory, lead to financial fairness, the Dodgers’ present-day success is years in the making – including their shrewd front-office strategies (deferring player salaries) and strong player development. Those advantages won’t change even if a cap somehow goes through. Still, the Dodgers yet again signing the top free agent in the class will only intensify talks of a lockout and potential nasty labor fight. – Thosar

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

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

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The rich get richer.

Star outfielder Kyle Tucker has agreed to a contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in free agency, according to a report from ESPN on Thursday.  Tucker took meetings with the Dodgers, New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays before deciding to sign with the two-time defending champions. 

Tucker spent the 2025 season with the Chicago Cubs, where he hit 22 home runs and slashed .266/.377/.464 in 136 regular-season games. He spent two stints on the injured list — for a left calf strain in September and a right-hand hairline fracture in June that tanked his much stronger start to the year, which had earned him an All-Star berth. He, ultimately, returned from the latter injury but played through pain during the last three games of the regular season and in the postseason for the Cubs. Chicago’s year ended in the National League Division Series, losing in five games to the Milwaukee Brewers. 

Before a one-year stint with the Cubs, Tucker spent the first seven years of his career with the Houston Astros; he was part of their 2022 World Series triumph. Tucker earned three All-Star nods, totaled an American League-best 112 RBIs in 2023 and had two 30-plus-home run seasons in 2021 and 2022. Following the 2024 season, the Astros traded Tucker to the Cubs for infielder Isaac Paredes, outfielder Cam Smith and right-hander Hayden Wesneski. 

Tucker has averaged over 5 wins above replacement per year since becoming a full-time player in 2021, owing to his combination of power, patience and defense: Tucker has won both Silver Sluggers and a Gold Glove. Despite that level of success, he will now play his age-29 season for his third team in the last three years. 

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We know the countries in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Now, we know their respective caps.

On Thursday, the hats for all 20 countries in the 2026 World Baseball Classic were unveiled.

FOX is the exclusive home of the 2026 World Baseball Classic – where you can see all of these hats in action – which begins on March 5, as Chinese Taipei takes on Australia and Czechia faces off against the Republic of Korea; Japan beat Team USA in the 2023 WBC Championship.

The 20 countries are split up into four pools:

Pool A: Cuba, Panama, Colombia, Canada and Puerto Rico

Pool B: USA, Mexico, Italy, Great Britain and Brazil

Pool C: Chinese Taipei, Czechia, Japan, Republic of Korea and Australia

Pool D: Netherlands, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Israel

On the USA front, former Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, new Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman and Toronto Blue Jays infielder Ernie Clement are among the recent additions to the American roster.

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Clayton Kershaw isn’t done pitching just yet, agreeing Thursday to join the U.S. team for this year’s World Baseball Classic.

A left-hander who turns 38 two days after the March 17 championship game, Kershaw announced last September that he was retiring at the end of the season, his 18th in a stellar career for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He won his third World Series title and finished 223-96 with a 2.53 ERA and 3,052 strikeouts.

The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner wanted to pitch for the Americans in the 2023 tournament but was prevented because of insurance issues at a time he had a $20 million, one-year contract with the Dodgers.

Later Thursday, new Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman announced he will join the U.S. team.

Kershaw joins a U.S. pitching staff that includes right-handers David Bednar, Clay Holmes, Griffin Jax, Nolan McLean, Mason Miller, Joe Ryan, Paul Skenes and Logan Webb along with left-handers Tarik Skubal and Gave Speier.

The American roster also includes catchers Cal Raleigh and Will Smith; infielders Ernie Clement, Gunnar Henderson, Brice Turang and Bobby Witt Jr.; outfielders Byron Buxton, Corbin Carroll, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Aaron Judge; and designated hitter Kyle Schwarber.

The U.S., which lost the 2023 championship game to Japan, opens March 6 against Brazil at Houston, part of a group that also includes Brazil, Britain, Italy and Mexico.

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In just a few years, Ranger Suarez went from being Major League Baseball’s most underrated pitcher to garnering increased attention to, finally, getting paid as one of the top arms in baseball. 

Suarez, who reportedly agreed to a five-year, $130 million contract with the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, will earn an average annual value (AAV) of $26 million. That positions him among the top 15 highest-paid starting pitchers by AAV. 

That significant financial commitment from Boston is a testament to Suarez’s craft, to be sure. The 30-year-old southpaw owns a 117 ERA+ over the past four seasons. He throws a six-pitch mix that induces soft contact at an elite clip. Suarez’s 31.1 hard-hit percentage ranked eighth among all MLB pitchers last season. Meanwhile, his fastball velocity has dropped year after year. In 2025, Suarez’s four-seamer averaged just 91.3 mph, which fell into the seventh percentile among all pitchers, per Statcast. His diminishing velocity isn’t a red flag like it would be for flamethrowers around the league. Triple-digit fastballs aside, Suarez is excellent at recording outs using effective command while progressively reducing his walk rate.

In the age of obsessing over spin rates and high velocity being The Most Important Thing in pitching, Suarez’s contract signals a different direction from front offices and analytics departments in terms of what they value. There was a reason he entered the offseason as one of the top three free-agent starters on the market. And after climbing up the ladder in the Phillies organization, Philly’s loss is Boston’s gain.

Here’s what’s next for the Red Sox, Phillies, and the future of starting pitching after Suarez’s big contract.

What’s Next For the Red Sox

With the addition of Suarez, the Red Sox march into 2026 with one of the top rotations in MLB. Led by ace Garrett Crochet, who finished second in American League Cy Young voting last year, Boston’s starting staff will feature Suarez, Sonny Gray, whom the Red Sox acquired via trade this winter, Brayan Bello, and an assortment of options for the final slot, including Kutter Crawford, Patrick Sandoval, and Connelly Early. That not only makes for an excellent rotation on paper, but the Red Sox also have a ton of pitching depth to carry them through the long season and protect against injuries. 

The splashy move — Boston’s first free-agent signing of the offseason — comes just days after it failed to re-sign free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman, who instead agreed to a five-year, $175 million pact with the Chicago Cubs. By fumbling their opportunity with Bregman, the Red Sox again incensed their fan base with yet another perplexing decision. Last season, Boston traded away the face of their franchise, homegrown slugger Rafael Devers, in favor of Bregman, who instantly became a pivotal member and leader in the Red Sox clubhouse. Then the Red Sox fell short in Bregman’s free agency, and the three-time All-Star wound up spending just one year at Fenway Park. Maddening.

It seems like the Red Sox, with the signing of Suarez, are attempting to course correct by beefing up their pitching staff rather than signing another impact bat. And in the era of pursuing run prevention, acquiring a top-end starter like Suarez, whose average exit velocity (86.5%) was in the top 5% of the league last year, the Red Sox are accomplishing that goal. The 1-2 punch of Crochet and Suarez is going to be fun to watch. And, at the very least, it lessens the sting of losing Bregman.

What’s Next For the Phillies

Suarez spent his entire career — 14 seasons — in the Phillies organization. After signing him at 16 years old as an amateur free agent out of Venezuela, the Phillies watched Suarez ascend through the minor leagues, emerge as an effective big-league reliever, and transform into a middle-of-the-rotation starter before dominating at the top of their starting staff with ace-like stuff. In 2022, Suarez sent the Phillies to the World Series when he recorded the final two outs in the ninth inning of Game 5 of the NLCS. He leaves Philly boasting a 1.48 ERA across 42.2 innings in 11 career playoff appearances. 

Despite how much Suarez meant to the organization, the Phillies were never expected to reunite with their homegrown pitcher. Re-signing slugger Kyle Schwarber was their top priority, which they accomplished, and it was unreasonable, financially, for the Phillies to also re-sign Suarez, who emerged as a top starter in a thin market this winter. They will receive a draft pick this year between the fourth and fifth rounds after Suarez declined their one-year qualifying offer. But that hardly makes up for the significant loss of Suarez from their pitching staff. Where do they go from here?

The Phillies believe their rotation is in solid shape with Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Christopher Sanchez, Jesus Luzardo and top prospect Andrew Painter. But there are still concerns within that group, particularly how Wheeler will respond after undergoing thoracic outlet decompression surgery in September. Nola, too, will need to bounce back from his career-worst 6.01 ERA while he battled injuries and recorded just 17 starts last season. Painter has yet to make his MLB debut. A lot of things have to go right for this to work, and until then, the Phillies will turn their attention to the lineup. They have been connected to free-agent infielder Bo Bichette, and re-signing free-agent catcher J.T. Realmuto remains on their offseason to-do list.

What’s Next For the Future of Starting Pitching

That Suarez received $130 million for being more like an ace-in-waiting rather than representing the No. 1 starter in any given rotation is surprising. It means the league is starting to re-prioritize crafty pitchers that excel at command and run prevention, despite not flashing overpowering velocity. In that sense, Suarez’s skillset is a bit of a throwback. 

Read More: Breaking Down All Top MLB Deals

But he’s an outlier from those old-school starting pitchers because, historically, he doesn’t pitch deep into games, and that’s perfectly fine in modern baseball. In recent years, teams have emphasized building super bullpens so that starters are only required to pitch five innings before turning the ball to the relief corps. And if Suarez, who in 2021 pitched out of the bullpen in more than half of his appearances, could become an effective reliever-turned-front-end-starter, perhaps more pitchers will follow suit.

Suarez’s talent and his ensuing contract are a case study in why throwing the ball with excellent command can be more effective than focusing on high velocity. He bucked the trend, and it worked. Not every pitcher will be as successful as Suarez, particularly because a part of his big pay day is credited to how calm he is under pressure, especially in the postseason. Still, he’s showing why minimizing the importance of velo is an approach worth pursuing. 

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.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

We all remember the epic championship game of the 2023 World Baseball Classic when Shohei Ohtani struck out Team USA slugger Mike Trout to give Team Japan its third title in five editions of the tournament. 

Now we are gearing up for the 2026 WBC, which will see Ohtani and Japan try to defend their title in the 20-team competition that includes a stacked USA squad seeking redemption. Among the players committed to Team USA include Yankees superstar Aaron Judge, Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber, and Tigers ace Tarik Skubal.

We are counting down until the opening pitch of the tournament and bringing you the latest news and updates as rosters get announced. 

When is the World Baseball Classic? 

The 2026 World Baseball Classic will be held from March 5–17. Twenty teams have been placed into four pools with the top two teams from each pool advancing to the quarterfinals. 

Pool A games will be played at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Pool B games will be played at Daikin Park, home of the Houston Astros. Pool C games will be played at the Tokyo Dome in Japan. Pool D games will be played at LoanDepot Park, home of the Miami Marlins. 

Pool Play: March 5-11
Quarterfinals: March 13–14 (Daikin Park, Houston; LoanDepot Park, Miami)
Semifinals: March 15 (LoanDepot Park, Miami)
Final: March 17 (LoanDepot Park, Miami)

Jan. 13

Clement Will Play for USA

Ernie Clement will play for Team USA at the 2026 World Baseball Classic. The 29-year-old infielder helped the Toronto Blue Jays reach the World Series while also setting a postseason record with his 30 hits. Clement finished the postseason with a .411 average, one homer, six doubles, nine RBIs, 13 runs scored and a .977 OPS.

Jan. 12

Buxton Joins Team USA

All-Star slugger Byron Buxton will join Team USA for the World Baseball Classic. The 32-year-old outfielder had a career season with the Twins, producing homers (35), RBIs (83) and runs scored (97). Buxton also earned his first Silver Slugger of his career.

Jan. 11 

Freeman Withdraws from Team Canada

Team Canada will be without its star player as Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman has reportedly withdrawn from the World Baseball Classic, according to Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi.

With the 36-year-old sitting out the tournament after helping the Dodgers win back-to-back World Series title, the Canadians will lean on Mariners slugger Josh Naylor at first base.

In other Team Canada news, Los Angeles Angels reliever Jordan Romano has also reportedly pulled out, while Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jameson Taillon will take part. 

Dec. 23

Harper Will Play for USA

Phillies slugger Bryce Harper will play for Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic after missing out on the 2023 edition due to surgery. 

The 33-year-old Harper hit 27 home runs and recorded an .844 OPS in 2025 as the Phillies won the NL East. It will be Harper’s first time playing at the World Baseball Classic, although he has represented Team USA at junior competitions in the past. 

Nov. 24

Ohtani Back for Team Japan 

Shohei Ohtani will play for Team Japan in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, he announced on social media.

Japan will be looking to repeat after winning gold in the 2023 Classic. Ohtani was named the tournament’s MVP and memorably struck out former Angels teammate Mike Trout for the final out of the final against Team USA. Ohtani helped the Dodgers win the second straight World Series title while earning his fourth MVP award earlier this month.

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Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports