Category: Baseball

Earlier this month at the Winter Meetings, Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow noted, not so subtly, that the club was looking to add power to the lineup. At the same time, Boston was linked to then-free-agent slugger Pete Alonso, with reports stating that Red Sox executives connected with the first baseman before he signed with the Orioles. 

After striking out on Alonso, reportedly making a lower offer in years and money than the five years and $155 million he accepted from Baltimore, the Red Sox needed less than two weeks to pivot and find their answer at first base. Boston traded for first baseman and designated hitter Willson Contreras, according to multiple reports, and sent three pitchers to the Cardinals, including right-hander Hunter Dobbins, in the move.  

Though Contreras isn’t quite as much of a power threat as Alonso, the 33-year-old has posted a 123 OPS+ or better in each of his last four seasons. The right-handed Contreras will be a consistent, above-average presence in a Red Sox lineup that’s too left-handed, helping to balance out their offense with a middle-of-the-order threat. Defensively, Contreras didn’t catch a single inning behind the plate this year, as he transitioned to first base full-time for the first time in his career. His glove graded out very well, recording 6 Outs Above Average, which ranked third among all major-league first basemen. 

Here’s what’s next for the Red Sox, Cardinals, and the trade market after Contreras’ big switch to the cutthroat American League East:

What’s next for Boston

Contreras is an ideal fit for a Red Sox lineup that needed help at first base while Triston Casas continues rehabbing from a ruptured patellar tendon. The addition of Contreras allows Boston to slow-play Casas return – he can begin the season in Triple-A and ease his way back into the lineup whenever he’s fully healed. And even when Casas does bounce back into the major-league lineup, he can split time with Contreras at DH and first base. 

Now, more than ever, Masataka Yoshida looks like the odd man out. The lefty-swinging Fukui, Japan native will see the majority of his batting opportunities go to Contreras and Casas. Yoshida has spent his two seasons with the Red Sox in left field as well as DH, but they now have a surplus of players clogging up the outfield, with Roman Anthony, Jarren Duran and Ceddanne Rafaela leading the pack. Yoshida is taking up a roster spot and the Red Sox could be having trouble moving him for any real value since he’s essentially a one-tool player coming off a down year. 

Plus, the Red Sox are still targeting a big-name free agent, preferring to re-sign Alex Bregman and, if not, maybe even spend exorbitantly on Bo Bichette to play second base. Contreras was the club’s first big move to bolster the lineup, and Boston still has money to spend on a top-tier bat. Expect Breslow to continue to make moves this winter to add at least one more power bat and put the finishing touches on their roster configuration. 

What’s next for St. Louis

Chaim Bloom, having finally taken over St. Louis’ baseball operations, entered the offseason with the intention of moving his top three veteran players in order to rebuild the organization by focusing on player development. Two of those three veterans are off the board – with both right-hander Sonny Gray and Contreras joining the Red Sox through separate trades. Third baseman Nolan Arenado, who has been floated in trade talks for the past few winters and trade deadlines, remains the final player to be dealt by Bloom to complete his offseason goal. 

Throughout all of this, the Cardinals’ main focus is to add controllable starting pitching, and the haul they received for Contreras certainly accomplishes that. The 26-year-old Dobbins was the headliner in the trade, with two more right-handed prospects joining him in St. Louis in the deal. Dobbins — who endeared himself to Red Sox nation by saying: “If the Yankees were the last team to give me a contract, I’d retire” — was also a solid major-league-ready starter for them on the mound. Boasting a low walk rate, he threw 61 innings as a rookie before tearing his ACL in July, and now he figures to get a decent runway in the Cardinals’ starting rotation. 

Since the Cardinals are not contending any time soon, acquiring a few more young arms to enter into their revamped pitching development program, while clearing payroll, is in line with their rebuilding goals this winter. 

What’s next for the trade market

The Contreras trade is expected to kick off more action in the trade market, an area that has been more robust than previous offseasons this winter. The trade noise for Arenado in particular, as well as Brendan Donovan, should be getting louder after Gray and Contreras bounced from St. Louis. 

It’s no secret that the Cardinals have been actively looking to trade Arenado and clear their payroll of the two years and roughly $42 million remaining on his nine-year, $275 million contract — with the Rockies still covering a smaller portion of that sum. Parting ways with Arenado would also allow the Cardinals to give their prospects more playing time, in accordance with their youth movement. But that objective is getting tougher and tougher with Arenado’s declining power and no-trade clause. 

Some of the splashier trade targets potentially on the block this offseason are: Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte, Brewers right-hander Freddy Peralta, and of course, Tigers southpaw Tarik Skubal. Other names that have been floated in trade conversations are Nationals left-hander Mackenzie Gore and Red Sox outfielder Duran. There’s still plenty of offseason left, so keep an eye out for some of these names to be moved before Opening Day rosters are finalized.

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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Deadlines spark action, and with teams reluctant to give Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami the long-term, nine-figure commitment many originally projected, the Chicago White Sox pounced on the boom-or-bust opportunity to add the 25-year-old corner infielder whose ceiling is as high as any slugger’s on the market.

Twenty-four hours before his posting window closed, Murakami and the rebuilding White Sox reportedly agreed to a two-year, $34 million deal. The polarizing Nippon Professional Baseball star, who will turn 26 in February, brings with him prodigious power potential. 

Murakami launched 246 home runs in eight seasons with the Yakult Swallows after debuting at 18 years old. In 2022, he hit 56 home runs as a 22-year-old, breaking Sadaharu Oh’s single-season NPB record for a Japanese-born player. Last season, an oblique injury limited Murakami to 56 games; he still blasted 22 home runs in that time. 

But there’s a reason the White Sox were able to get him at this number. 

Murakami was widely viewed as a high-risk, high-reward option in free agency due to his high whiff rate and limited defensive range at third base, which may necessitate a full-time move to first base or designated hitter. The short-term pact helps alleviate the risk for the White Sox, who ranked 23rd in home runs and 28th in slugging percentage last season, and will allow Murakami to retest the market in his late-20s. 

By then, he hopes he will have demonstrated his ability to handle big-league pitching.

What’s next for the White Sox

We’re still likely years from the White Sox returning to contention, but after back-to-back last-place finishes, there are reasons to be excited about the young talent accumulating on the South Side. 

The White Sox need more proven pitching both in the rotation and the bullpen this winter, and questions about whether Luis Robert Jr. gets dealt still loom, but you can see a clearer pathway now toward future success. 

They have two promising catchers in Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero, an infielder in Colson Montgomery who just launched 21 homers in his first 71 MLB games, an All-Star pitcher in Shane Smith among a group of intriguing young arms (which will soon include top pitching prospects Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith), the top overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft (standout UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky is widely considered the best player available) and now one of the most fascinating young sluggers in the game in Murakami, who will give fans a reason to watch no matter how the 2026 season goes. 

What’s next for Murakami

This may be the most interesting MLB player to watch over the next two years, considering the range of possibilities ahead for the left-handed slugger. 

Murakami hits the ball extremely hard and has consistently been among NPB’s most feared power hitters. But he hasn’t been able to replicate his record-setting 2022 season — he hit 31 homers in 2023, 33 in 2024 and 22 in 2025 — and has seen his whiff rate rise concerningly since then. His tremendous raw power comes with a strikeout rate that has hovered above 28% each of the last three seasons; the MLB average last year was a tick above 22%. 

Given his defensive limitations, his power has to translate for him to realize his sky-high ceiling. If he demonstrates that he can adjust to MLB velocity and the nastier stuff he’ll see on a consistent basis, in two years he could get the nine-figure contract he was unable to secure this offseason.

What’s next with the corner infield and NPB markets

This signing had to happen now with Murakami’s posting window closing. The other NPB standout infielder to watch over the next couple of weeks is Kazuma Okamoto. 

Okamoto, who is also a corner infielder, is four years older than Murakami and doesn’t offer the same superstar ceiling; but he might have a higher floor. Okamoto had as many walks (33) as strikeouts (33) and hit 15 homers with a .327 batting average in 69 NPB games this year. He hit at least 30 home runs every year from 2018-23. His posting window ends on Jan. 4. Star NPB pitcher Tatsuya Imai’s window ends two days before that, so both could sign soon.

With Murakami, Pete Alonso, Kyle Schwarber and Josh Naylor off the board, the market for established corner infielders is dwindling. Alex Bregman stands out as the top third baseman available as he seeks the long-term deal he was unable to land last winter. Eugenio Suárez, who had 49 home runs in an All-Star 2025 season, and Okamoto stand out as the next-best options at the position. Cody Bellinger and 2025 All-Star Ryan O’Hearn are the top first basemen still on the board, and both bring positional flexibility with outfield experience. 

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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The Padres lost Dylan Cease to the Blue Jays in free agency, but they won’t have to say goodbye to Michael King, too. 

San Diego is bringing back a key piece of a rotation that needed to be addressed, reportedly re-signing King to a three-year, $75 million deal that includes opt outs after each of the first two seasons.

King believed he could be a full-time starter after starring primarily in a bullpen role with the Yankees from 2019-23. The Padres gave him the opportunity he was looking for in 2024, and he ran with it. King, who was the headliner for San Diego in the trade that sent Juan Soto to the Yankees, ended the 2024 season with a 2.95 ERA over 31 appearances (30 starts). He was one of 11 MLB pitchers with at least 200 strikeouts that year, and he finished seventh in National League Cy Young Award voting. 

Had he replicated those numbers, he likely would have been out of the Padres’ price range this winter. But a year after blowing past his previous career high in innings, he was unable to stay on the field. 

A nerve issue  impacted his shoulder and sidelined him for nearly three months during the 2025 season. Soon after, knee pain put him back on the shelf. When he returned in September, he didn’t have the same swing-and-miss stuff. He still finished the year with a respectable 3.44 ERA, but he made just 15 starts. 

The Padres clearly felt confident enough about the 30-year-old’s health to give him a qualifying offer, which he declined. In the end, though, they found a deal that worked for both parties. 

What’s next for San Diego

Fixing the rotation had to be the primary goal for president of baseball operations A.J Preller, especially with Yu Darvish set to miss next season after elbow surgery. Bringing back King — who was widely considered among the top five starting pitchers on the market this winter — helps stabilize the unit, gives them another potential October arm and takes some pressure off Joe Musgrove as he makes his return from Tommy John surgery. 

With Nick Pivetta, King and Musgrove, the Padres have a solid top three. They may still need more back-end depth to challenge Randy Vasquez and JP Sears for a rotation spot. The question now is how they go about finding it. 

Considering the Padres’ ownership group is exploring a potential sale and the team is already projected to be above the competitive balance tax threshold, it’s hard to envision Preller getting the go-ahead to add much more payroll. He may need to get creative to enhance the roster, which he is wont to do. The lineup could also use more depth, particularly at first base or designated hitter, with Luis Arraez and Ryan O’Hearn both hitting free agency.

What’s next for King

King wisely declined the qualifying offer, despite coming off an injury-marred season. If he gets hurt again, this contract provides him a lot more security. If he returns to his 2024 form and decides to opt out, the new deal is essentially equal to the QO. He can then return to free agency in his early-30s and try for the nine-figure deal he was unable to secure this offseason. 

It’s really all about health for King, who demonstrated even early last year — he had a 2.59 ERA with 64 strikeouts in 55.2 innings over his first 10 starts before the injuries — that he can be a playoff-caliber starter when healthy. 

What’s next with the starting pitching market

After the Blue Jays signed Cease to a whopping seven-year, $210 million deal, it was mostly crickets at the top of the starting pitching market over the past few weeks. The premier names potentially available on the trade market (Tarik Skubal, Freddy Peralta, Edward Cabrera, MacKenzie Gore, etc.) could be impacting the slow pace, or it could be indicative of the concern teams have about offering long-term, nine-figure deals to the arms in this class.

Nonetheless, with King gone, contenders can turn their attention to Framber Valdez, Ranger Suárez, Zac Gallen and Tatsuya Imai, who all remain unsigned. Perhaps King’s $75 million contract helps catalyze the starting pitching market in a way that Cease’s didn’t. Regardless, teams interested in Imai are running low on time; the NPB standout’s posting window ends on Jan. 2. 

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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Two-time World Series champion Shohei Ohtani owns multiple records, and now, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ superstar is attached to another landmark moment.

Ohtani’s stardom helped to reset the trading card market on Thursday as one of his 2025 Topps Chrome MVP Award Gold MLB Logoman patch cards sold for a record $3 million through Fanatics Collect. The previous record for an Ohtani card belonged to a sale through Heritage Auctions for $1,067,000 back in March.

The sale accounted for several benchmarks, accounting for the highest publicly-sold Ohtani card of all time, the highest-selling card ever sold on Fanatics Collect Auction and the highest-selling modern baseball card of the last five years. The Ohtani card usurped the mantle previously held by a 1933 Babe Ruth Goudey card, which sold in 2024 for $1.63 million.

Per Fanatics, the 1/1 autograph card amassed 69 bids in a late-night bidding war that lasted past 2 a.m. ET. In addition to bearing Ohtani’s likeness, the unique card also contains a gold Logoman patch worn by the unicorn during an April 29, 2025, game against the Miami Marlins; Ohtani went 1-4 and hit his seventh home run of the season in a 15-2 win.

Ohtani and the Dodgers, of course, went on to finish the 2025 season with a 4-3 defeat of the Toronto Blue Jays to win back-to-back World Series titles. Ohtani also earned his fifth-straight All-Star and sixth-straight All-MLB First Team nods, and won a third consecutive MVP award.

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The Philadelphia Phillies have been busy – like, extremely busy.

They’ve retained 2025 National League MVP runner-up Kyle Schwarber (five-year, $150 million deal), signed former Texas Rangers outfielder Adolis Garcia (one-year, $10 million deal) and brought in several relievers, including right-handed pitcher Brad Keller (two-year, $22 million deal). At the same time, this is a Phillies team in World Series contention that has been bounced out of the Division Series round in back-to-back years: more can always be done. 

Here are three MLB free agents Philadelphia should still sign.

2025 Stats: 3.05 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 59 strikeouts, 137 ERA+, 1.1 wins above replacement (59 innings pitched)

Yes, the Phillies signed the aforementioned Keller and acquired relievers Jonathan Bowlan and Kyle Backhus, among others. But why would a team whose bullpen lacked compared to its starting rotation and positional depth chart last season get complacent with the weakness of its roster?

Johnson has come into his own with the Atlanta Braves. After surrendering just two earned runs in 23.2 innings pitched after the Braves acquired him in 2023, Johnson posted a combined 3.36 ERA and 124 ERA+ from 2024-25. He logs strikeouts at a high rate, successfully leans on his curveball – while mixing in his four-seamer and occasionally a cutter – and has excelled in the postseason; across 12.0 innings pitched in the postseason, Johnson has recorded a combined 1.50 ERA and 0.92 WHIP.

Johnson would add a quality right-handed reliever to a Philadelphia bullpen that was tied for 20th in MLB in ERA (4.27), tied for 20th in WHIP (1.33) and was 24th in opponent batting average (.249) last season. Joined by a full season of Jhoan Duran, Jose Alvarado, Tanner Banks and Orion Kerkering, Johnson could be the finishing piece that takes the Phillies’ bullpen from a bottom-third unit to one of the best in the sport.

2025 Stats: 12 home runs, 52 RBIs, 91 OPS+, 2.5 wins above replacement, .257/.315/.384 slash line (502 at-bats)

How do the Phillies go into next season without Realmuto?

Yes, he’s coming off a down year at the plate, but Realmuto is an essential part of the Phillies’ operation. A two-time Gold Glove award winner, Realmuto remains one of the best all-around catchers in the sport. He has a compact swing from the right side of the plate and is one of the more productive backstops in recent memory.

Realmuto, a three-time All-Star, was one of the bright spots in Philadelphia’s 2025 Division Series round loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, hitting a team-best .353 among everyday players and driving in four runs. Moreover, if the Phillies changed hands behind the plate, they’d not only take away one of the better hitting catchers in the sport, they’d be taking away the person everybody on their pitching staff is accustomed to signaling pitches.

Realmuto’s down year at the plate could work in the Phillies’ favor because he won’t be as expensive. Re-signing Schwarber was paramount for Philadelphia, but bringing back Realmuto is also vital.

2025 Stats: 3.66 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 187 strikeouts, 114 ERA+, 3.8 wins above replacement (192 innings pitched)

Yes, career-long Phillies left-hander Ranger Suarez has become one of the best starting pitchers in the sport. The problem? He has been held back by injuries over the last four years, including ones pertaining to his back, elbow and hamstring. Valdez, a two-time All-Star, is a safer bet on a long-term deal than Suarez.

Valdez, who boasts a career 3.36 ERA, has been the backbone of the Houston Astros‘ pitching staff for the better part of the last five years. He pitches deep into games, works out of trouble and finds success while consistently throwing three pitches (sinker, curveball, changeup). Valdez is an ace.

At his best and at full strength, Suarez is a force to be reckoned with. Philadelphia’s predicament when it comes to paying Suarez is that star right-hander Zack Wheeler is coming off a season-ending blood clot and Aaron Nola is coming off the worst season of his MLB career (6.01 ERA in 17 regular-season starts) and one where he missed three months due to an ankle injury. One might argue that the best version of Suarez is a tad better than Valdez, but the latter has been more durable and is a minor, if any, drop-off from the former.

A starting rotation that includes a healthy Wheeler, Valdez, Nola, Cristopher Sanchez and Jesus Luzardo is an elite unit. Starting pitching has become Philadelphia’s identity. Bringing in Valdez helps the Phillies preserve that identity.

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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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