Blake Snell has agreed to a $182 million, five-year contract with the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, according to a person with direct knowledge of the negotiations.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday night because the deal is subject to a successful physical.
Snell would join Shohei Ohtani in a star-studded rotation, giving the Dodgers the first mega deal of this offseason following Ohtani’s $700 million, 10-year contract last winter.
Earlier this month, Snell opted out of his contract with San Francisco to become a free agent for the second consecutive offseason after injuries hindered his lone year with the Giants.
Aaron Judge won’t be bothered if free agent Juan Soto gets a bigger deal from the New York Yankees than the captain’s $360 million, nine-year contract.
“It ain’t my money. I really don’t care as long as we get the best players, we get the most that we can, I’m happy with whatever,” Judge said Friday, a day after he was a unanimous winner of his second AL MVP award. “That’s never been something on my mind about who gets paid the most.”
Judge led the major leagues with 58 homers, 144 RBIs and 133 walks while hitting .322 as New York reached the World Series for the first time since 2009, only to lose to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Soto batted .288 with 41 homers, 109 RBIs and 129 walks in his first season with the Yankees and finished third in MVP voting, also trailing Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt. Jr.
ADVERTISEMENT
A free agent at 26, Soto has met with the Yankees, Mets, Dodgers and Boston Red Sox, and he plans to meet with the Philadelphia Phillies, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the meetings have not been publicly announced.
Negotiations are not likely to intensify until after Thanksgiving.
Judge hasn’t spoken with Soto since the World Series. Judge went through the free-agent experience after hitting an AL record 62 homers in 2022.
“The best thing is to really give those guys space,” Judge said. “I talked to him all season and he knows how we feel about him and I think the most important thing is now let him do his thing with his family, pray about it, talk with people and come to the right decision for him and his family.”
Soto met with Yankees officials on Monday at a hotel in southern California, a group that included owner Hal Steinbrenner, team president Randy Levine, general manager Brian Cashman, manager Aaron Boone and senior adviser for baseball operations Omar Minaya.
“We had a good meeting. It was a very honest back-and-forth dialogue, a couple hours long,” Steinbrenner said Wednesday.
Asked how confident he was about keeping Soto, Steinbrenner said: “No idea. We’ll be in the mix. I’ll leave it at that.”
Soto and Judge filled the Nos. 2 and 3 slots in the Yankees batting order in a franchise-record 153 games, topping the 145 of Joe Dugan and Babe Ruth in 1923, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
“I get to see a lot of pitches,” Judge said. “He’s going to be a tough at-bat in front of me. He’s going to wear down the pitcher right there in the first inning, within the first 15 pitches or so. Yeah, I think that was a big impact just having having a guy like that in front of you.
“If I could have eight Juan Sotos in the lineup with me, I would love that.”
After the World Series, Judge spent about a week in Tampa, Florida, where the Yankees hold spring training, and met with Steinbrenner.
Yankees’ Juan Soto cranks a solo home run, tying game against Dodgers
–> <!–>
“We kind of just discussed a lot of things from Juan to other guys that are kind of out there that I think could definitely help this team,:” Judge said. “So I kind of just gave my input on a couple things.”
Judge said when he agreed to his big deal in late 2022, Steinbrenner wanted to have a deeper relationship. They’ve been meeting every week or two, and pitcher Gerrit Cole has developed a similar exchange with the owner.
“I think just having that relationship to where I can kind of communicate with him about what I’m seeing, what I’m feeling, what I see with the guys, what I see against other guys that we play against,” Judge said. “I think it’s a cool part to where I think just the more communication you have from top to bottom, it just — it makes everybody better.”
Judge’s contract is baseball’s fourth largest, behind the deals of the Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani ($700 million), the Los Angeles Angels‘ Mike Trout ($426.5 million) and the Dodgers’ Mookie Betts ($365 million). Judge cited the example of teammate Giancarlo Stanton, whose $325 million deal was the highest when he joined the Yankees ahead of the 2018 season but now ranks tied for ninth.
“Even though he signed one of those — the first big mega-contracts back in Miami, once he came here he didn’t care about the highest-paid guy. He just wanted good players around him,” Judge said.
In joining Mickey Mantle in 1956 as the Yankees’ only unanimous MVPs, Judge credited his teammates.
“You look at every single one of my teammates in that room and know that each and every single one of them impacted me in a way that put me in that position,” Judge said. “So it’s always going to be a team award in my book.”
The Hot Stove has been cold through the first three weeks of November, but the action is expected to heat up soon with MLB’s winter meetings nearing. In the meantime, we’re examining each team to identify its three biggest needs this offseason and which free agents could fulfill them.
Our series continues with the National League West.
1. Outfield: The Dodgers already had one spot to fill with Teoscar Hernández hitting free agency. Now, with general manager Brandon Gomes saying Mookie Betts is likely headed back to the infield, both corner outfield spots will have to be addressed. Top prospect Dalton Rushing has gotten some time in left field in the minors, but they need at least one or two more sure things in the outfield. Unless they can lure Juan Soto out of New York — they will at least make an effort — the easiest answer would be running it back with Hernández, who has expressed interest in a return.Â
ADVERTISEMENT
2. Starting pitching:Tyler Glasnow is expected to be healthy in spring, and at some point Shohei Ohtani should return to the mound, but there’s a lot of uncertainty here. The Dodgers, who were reduced to just three starters during their championship run, understand how quickly pitching depth can unravel. Two of those pitchers, Walker Buehler and Jack Flaherty, are now free agents. Maybe Bobby Miller bounces back. Maybe Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin return strong from injury. Maybe top pitching prospect Jackson Ferris is ready to help. But that’s a lot of maybes, so expect them to add a more reliable piece externally. They’re considered the heavy favorites to land Roki Sasaki, but if the NPB phenom signs elsewhere, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them shopping at the top end of the free-agent market for Corbin Burnes, Blake Snell or L.A. native Max Fried.Â
3. Shortstop:Tommy Edman and Miguel Rojas provide some protection here, but part of their value is their versatility. The Dodgers could turn to Betts, who proved at least capable of filling in last season, but at 32, he seems to be a better fit at second base. Prospect Alex Freeland zoomed through the system last year, but if the Dodgers are looking for more of an immediate fix, Willy Adames would provide it. The trade market (Bo Bichette? Nico Hoerner?) could also offer options.Â
1. Starting pitching: If there’s a team that could lure Sasaki away from the Dodgers, Yu Darvish’s Padres are as good a candidate as any. Considering their potential financial constraints, that’s their best bet to land a big name unless A.J. Preller can tap further into the prospect ranks to lure Garrett Crochet out of Chicago. With Dylan Cease, Michael King and Yu Darvish leading the way, a middle-of-the-rotation or back-end starter is probably the most likely scenario, and a lefty would make sense for their righty-heavy rotation. Someone such as Yusei Kikuchi, Jose Quintana or Andrew Heaney could fit the bill.Â
2. Left field:Jurickson Profar broke out like everyone expected … 11 years later. The former top prospect enjoyed a career year at 31, and it makes sense that he’d return to San Diego. If he gets too expensive for their financial constraints, they might shop at the lower end of the free-agent market. Michael Conforto, Alex Verdugo or Tommy Pham would be among the options.Â
3. Catcher: The Padres could cross their fingers and hope Luis Campusano takes the leap that never came in 2024, but the easiest answer here would be running it back with Kyle Higashioka, who had his most valuable season as a big leaguer last year in San Diego. Danny Jansen, Yasmani Grandal and Carson Kelly are among the top catchers available, but there aren’t a ton of starting-caliber options on the market behind the plate.Â
2. First base: One of the first orders of business for the D-backs this winter will be figuring out what it will take to retain Christian Walker, who should have been an All-Star this year and is perennially among the most underrated talents in the game. With Josh Bell (who filled in admirably while Walker was out) also hitting free agency, they could turn to Pavin Smith, who finished the 2024 season exceptionally strong. But they might want more established pop in the middle of the order, especially with Joc Pederson also hitting the market. If Walker walks, could we see a Paul Goldschmidt reunion? Otherwise, Bell, Carlos Santana or Pete Alonso are among the names to watch.Â
3. Starting pitching:Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly and Brandon Pfaadt provide a serviceable starting point, and the D-backs could point to the late starts from Jordan Montgomery and Eduardo Rodriguez and believe a more normal offseason might get them back on track. Still, they could use another arm to make sure things don’t go off the rails the way they did in 2024. Someone from the second or third tier of pitching free agents (Matthew Boyd? Jose Quintana? Frankie Montas? Andrew Heaney? Michael Lorenzen?) might make sense here.
1. Starting pitching: The GIants had Logan Webb and Blake Snell anchoring their rotation, and their starters still finished the year with a 4.22 ERA. Now they don’t have Snell anymore. While they can envision strides ahead from youngsters Kyle Harrison and Hayden Birdsong, they need a steady piece to pair alongside Webb and Robbie Ray. If they can’t keep Snell or win the Corbin Burnes or Max Fried sweepstakes, there are still a bevy of options to fill out the rotation, from the departing Mets (Sean Manaea, Luis Severino, Jose Quintana) to Shane Bieber, Jack Flaherty, Walker Buehler, Tomoyuki Sugano and many more.Â
2. Middle infield:Tyler Fitzgerald enjoyed a spectacular rookie breakout, but he might be better suited at second base long term. Either way, the Giants could use more help up the middle. Willy Adames is the star of the free-agent shortstop market and would make a lot of sense in San Francisco. The Giants were among the worst defensive teams at shortstop in 2024, and Ha-Seong Kim could help there. Considering the drop-off after Adames, though, they could look to the trade market, too, for someone such as Bo Bichette, Nico Hoerner or Brandon Lowe.Â
3. An imposing bat: Can Buster Posey help the Giants finally reel in that big fish? It doesn’t sound like they’re planning to break open the pocketbooks in 2025, but exceptions can be made for Juan Soto or Adames. It could be a corner outfielder (e.g. Teoscar Hernández, Anthony Santander, Tyler O’Neill). It could be a right-handed hitting first baseman (Pete Alonso, Christian Walker, Paul Goldschmidt). It could be a middle infielder (see above). Regardless of the position, another difference-making bat feels necessary for this team to contend again.Â
1. Relief pitching:Â Every other bullpen in MLB had an ERA under 5.00 last year. Then there was Colorado at 5.41. I don’t expect them to spend much this winter, but they could fill their bullpen with a couple more veteran arms on affordable short-term deals. Even if they won’t be shopping at the top end of the market, a lefty such as A.J. Minter, Aroldis Chapman or Andrew Chafin might make sense for the righty-heavy group.Â
2. Starting pitching: Rockies starters had a 5.54 ERA last year, also by far the worst mark in the sport. Do I think they’ll actually address the rotation this winter? Probably not. It’s hard enough to entice a difference-making arm to sign in Colorado, and when you add on the financial constraints, they’re probably more likely to trim from what they already have than to add to it. Maybe Germán Márquez comes back healthy to lead the group. Maybe top pitching prospect Chase Dollander is ready to contribute in 2025. But if they want to be competitive at all in the short term, they could use more help.Â
3. Right field: For the first time since 2010, Charlie Blackmon won’t be roaming the Rockies’ outfield. Brenton Doyle and Nolan Jones, if he can bounce back, provide a solid starting place. Right field is more of a question. Colorado has some prospects knocking on the door in Zac Veen, Yanquiel Fernandez and 2024 first-round pick Charlie Condon, and it’s certainly possible that 2022 first-rounder Jordan Beck takes a leap. Still, this might be a spot for a veteran addition such as Jason Heyward, Max Kepler or Adam Duvall, which would allow Kris Bryant more DH time.
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.
The Hot Stove has been cold through the first three weeks of November, but the action is expected to heat up soon with MLB’s winter meetings nearing. In the meantime, we’re examining each team to identify its three biggest needs this offseason and which free agents could fulfill them.
1. Outfield: The Phillies’ subpar outfield production ranked 18th in MLB this past year, with a 97 wRC+ that fell below league average. Even if they’re set on staying with Nick Castellanos, Brandon Marsh and Johan Rojas haven’t done enough to be guaranteed starting roles. Could top prospect Justin Crawford take the center field job as soon as Opening Day? Trading for someone like Luis Robert Jr. or Brent Rooker wouldn’t hurt, either.
ADVERTISEMENT
2. Starting pitching: They need to find a way to replace Taijuan Walker, and they could turn in-house for an arm at the back end of the rotation with top prospect Andrew Painter returning from Tommy John surgery next year. But the Phillies will likely have to wait at least until the summer months for Painter, so if they’re calling the White Sox for Robert, they might as well ask about Crochet, too. Otherwise, free agents Yusei Kikuchi, Walker Buehler and Frankie Montas, or even Justin Verlander or Max Scherzer for a year, could be good fits in Philly.
3. Bullpen: With Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estevez in free agency, the Phillies need to address their relief corps — and bringing one or both top arms back should obviously be on the table. Clay Holmes, Blake Treinen, and Tanner Scott are all premier relievers, and that’s where the Phillies should be shooting in order to remain a well-rounded threat to win the World Series. The bullpen would be a nice place to spend if they engage in trade deals for their other needs.
1. Starting pitching: After the complete robbery that Alex Anthopoulos pulled off by swapping Vaughn Grissom for Chris Sale last offseason, I’m expecting the Braves to upgrade their rotation by dipping back into the trade market, and it’s anyone’s guess whom the partner would be. If Atlanta goes the free-agent route, then Nathan Eovaldi or Nick Pivetta would be solid additions to a rotation that could still be without Spencer Strider at the beginning of next season and no longer includes Charlie Morton.
2. Shortstop: Outside of staying healthy, Orlando Arcia was abysmal last year, producing a 73 OPS+ and repeatedly falling short with runners in scoring position in the second half of the season. He seems like Atlanta’s likeliest trade candidate, and the club could use his return elsewhere because there are better infield options on the market. Free-agent shortstop Willy Adames would make terrific sense in Atlanta, as would jack-of-all-trades infielder Ha-Seong Kim.Â
3. Outfield: Since Atlanta will start the season without Ronald Acuña Jr., the club will need an effective stopgap in right field to get through the first part of the year, then slide over once the former MVP is back. So this outfielder doesn’t have to be a game-changer, but just serviceable and steady enough to fit in well with the rest of the lineup. Free-agent Michael Conforto could be an option, as well as Alex Verdugo or Travis Jankowski.
1. Starting pitching: On the Mets’ official team depth chart, there is only one starter listed in their rotation, and it’s Kodai Senga. With Luis Severino, Sean Manaea and Jose Quintana all in free agency, the Mets have to rebuild their starting rotation, and while it makes sense to bring back some of those arms, they have $150 million coming off the payroll and should look to add from the top end of the market. Guys like Corbin Burnes, Blake Snell, Max Fried, Walker Buehler, and Jack Flaherty should all be in play.Â
2. Outfield: Beyond the obvious reasons the Mets should go and get Soto, they might have a Starling Marte problem in right field. He’s missed a ton of time due to injuries, and is a different, less impactful player after double groin surgery. Brandon Nimmo looks like the only everyday outfielder, with Jeff McNeil possibly shifting to play in a corner spot. Soto would solve their problem, as would fellow free agents Anthony Santander and Teoscar Hernández.Â
3. First base/third base: If the Mets don’t re-sign Pete Alonso, they could move Mark Vientos from third to first. And if they do re-sign Alonso, then Vientos looked plenty serviceable at third to run him back and negate this need altogether. But Alonso staying in Queens is no sure thing, so the Mets can look to add Alex Bregman to create one of the strongest infields in baseball. Otherwise, it’s a thin market at the hot corner, and it doesn’t seem wise for the Mets to turn to Brett Baty there again.
1. Power bat: So many of the Nationals’ roster spots are filled by young talent, and the thinking around the team is that this is the year to go for it and finally spend on high-end talent to fill the gaps in hopes of, at the very least, grabbing a wild-card spot. There are murmurs about Soto reuniting with the Nats for a reason, and though it’s still considered a long shot, their long-lost slugger would certainly solve a ton of their lineup/power issues. Other options are Anthony Santander, who won’t even need to change his home address if the Nats decide to make a big splash and land the coveted right fielder, and Joc Pederson.Â
2. First base: Speaking of big spending, the Nats should be playing at the top of the market to fulfill their corner-infield hole. We’re talking longer-term deals with Pete Alonso or Christian Walker, with the latter posing as the better fit in D.C. Even though he’ll be 34 on Opening Day, he hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down, and the Nats should be prioritizing vets like him to help lead their club. Plus, due to his age, he’s in line for a shorter-term contract that could fit with Washington’s intentions.
3. Starting pitching: Perhaps Soto isn’t the only reunion Nationals fans could be focusing on. How fitting would it be for the Nats to land a one-year deal with Max Scherzer? Yes, a lot of their offseason plans seem to be surrounded by sentimentality, but Scherzer’s veteran presence on a young roster, in addition to whatever he has left in the tank, could go a long way. Other vets like free agents Nathan Eovaldi, Kyle Gibson and Jose Quintana, or bringing back Trevor Williams, could work, too.
1. Outfield: After dealing Jazz Chisholm at the trade deadline, the Marlins need someone to roam center field, and their best bet could be sitting near the bottom-third tier of this year’s outfield free-agent class. Some names that should be on Miami’s radar: Mark Canha, Jesse Winker, Harrison Bader and Max Kepler. They’re not elite offensive outfielders, but they’re significant upgrades over what the Marlins would be trotting out otherwise.Â
2. Shortstop: That being said, this is the Marlins we’re talking about, and their only free-agent signing last year was a one-year flier on Tim Anderson, and he was DFA’d by July. So, even though they have a few needs, they should be expected to be filled internally for the foreseeable future. Giving Xavier Edwards more runway is their likely scenario. The shortstop posted a 124 OPS+ in 70 games last year, but struggled on defense with -8 DRS.Â
3. Catcher:Nick Fortes needs a catching partner, and if Miami goes shopping near the bottom of the market, it will see names like Max Stassi, Martin Maldonado, Omar Narvaez and Luke Maile that could be of interest to them. High-end free-agent catchers like Danny Jansen or Elias Diaz would be terrific offensive upgrades to the lineup, but that would require the front office to spend. It’s clear that the Marlins are still in rebuild mode.
Deesha Thosar is an MLB reporter 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.
The Hot Stove has been cold through the first three weeks of November, but the action is expected to heat up soon with MLB’s winter meetings nearing. In the meantime, we’re examining each team to identify its three biggest needs this offseason and which free agents could fulfill them.
Our series begins with the National League Central.
1. Shortstop: The Brewers, as always, will be more active on the trade front than they will be in free agency following Willy Adames‘ departure. They can get creative and move either one of Brice Turang or Joey Ortiz to shortstop full time and then aim to fill second and third base to cover their ground that way. Since Rhys Hoskins opted in on his player option, the Brewers have a surplus of first basemen, in which Jake Bauers seems likeliest to go. Orlando Arcia could be a good bounce-back candidate if Milwaukee wants to do a deal with Atlanta.
ADVERTISEMENT
2. Second base: If the Brewers wind up moving Turang or Ortiz to short, they could look to trade for Angels infielder Luis Rengifo, who will be in the final year of arbitration in 2025. It’s a boon for Milwaukee that Rengifo plays both second and third, and he shouldn’t cost them too many prospects or flashy players since he would be a one-year stop-gap option. Rangers infielder Justin Foscue could be another trade target, since he has no path to regular playing time in Texas.
3. Third base: It seems more and more likely that this will be the winter Milwaukee trades closer Devin Williams, as he’s set to enter free agency next offseason and the Brewers are not expected to extend him. Dangling a star pitcher like Williams in front of contenders that need bullpen help should net the Brewers a big return, so perhaps they could aim to land Orioles third base prospect Coby Mayo, who has a ton of upside but has been somewhat held back by Baltimore’s influx of infielders.Â
1. Starting pitching: Even though Chicago’s rotation could use a top-of-the-market starter like Burnes, it seems unlikely the club will shoot that high given its most recent, low-cost deals for Jameson Taillon and Shota Imanaga. Free agent starting pitchers with lesser price points who could fit into the rotation include Luis Severino, Frankie Montas, Jose Quintana, Adrian Houser and Trevor Williams. If they want to get creative in the trade market, the Cubs have a top-10 farm system in baseball and could try to win the Crochet sweepstakes.
2. Bullpen: After last year’s plan of Adbert Alzolay (Tommy John) and Hector Neris (setup man pushed into a closer role) didn’t work out, the Cubs should be focusing on adding a volume of high-leverage arms — and let’s face it, that’s every bullpen’s dream. Guys like Clay Holmes, Kenley Jansen, Danny Coulombe and Chris Martin would be solid fits.Â
3. Catcher: The Cubs did a solid job trading for Angels catcher Matt Thaiss this offseason, but he’s ideally a backup option rather than the upgrade that Jed Hoyer indicated he wanted to add. For that, Chicago should be looking at the free-agent market, where Kyle Higashioka would make a lot of sense as the Cubs’ starter. Danny Jansen would be another premiere option. Cubs catchers produced a 69 wRC+ this past year (26th in MLB).
1. Starting pitching: Since Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson are free agents after decent one-year stints with the Cardinals, and Miles Mikolas shouldn’t be counted on to bounce back after his abysmal 2024 season, St. Louis could use a top-end starting pitcher who is, preferably, left-handed. The top two southpaws on the market are Blake Snell and Max Fried, and a tier or two below is left-hander Jose Quintana. After a 4.33 rotation ERA that ranked 20th in baseball, the Cardinals should be shooting for significant upgrades here.
2. Outfielder: The Cardinals could use another everyday outfielder to join Brendan Donovan and Lars Nootbaar. Rather than dipping into the free-agent market, the still retooling Cardinals appear likely to turn in-house for outfield upgrades. Former prospects Jordan Walker and Victor Scott have yet to find consistency in the majors, but they could get more runway from the Cardinals to prove they belong. Outfielder Michael Siani also has a lot to prove to earn a potential full-time role.
3. Relief pitching: The relief corps needs a solid high-leverage arm who can pair well with closer Ryan Helsey since setup man Andrew Kittredge hit free agency. Perhaps veterans David Robertson or Aroldis Chapman could be of some help in St. Louis.Â
1. Outfield: Cincinnati could stand to upgrade at least two outfield spots, with a slugging outfielder being the club’s most pressing need. Since the Reds have a surplus of left-handed hitting outfielders in Luke Fraley and Will Benson, it would make sense to trade one of them for someone with more power. Over in San Francisco, Mike Yastrzemski and LaMonte Wade Jr. are both one year removed from free agency, so that could be a good place to start for Cincy. Red Sox right fielder Wilyer Abreu could be another option.
2. Starting pitching: They could use another top-end rotation arm to pair with Hunter Greene, who’s coming off a sneaky Cy-Young caliber campaign and career year. Cincy probably feels good about three spots in the rotation along with the brief stint from former first-rounder Rhett Lowder, who was stellar following his August call-up. But overall, the talent in the rotation is a step behind the rest of the roster, so they should look to acquire a starter either via trade or free agency. Maybe Cincy could swing a deal for southpaw Jesus Luzardo, who’s under Marlins control for two more seasons but seems like a candidate to be traded at some point in the next several months.Â
3. Designated hitter: The Reds’ OPS at DH in 2024 was .599, good for 29th in the major leagues, and their -3.0 fWAR from DH was worst in baseball. For comparison, the league’s average OPS at DH was .742. The top available DH this year is Joc Pederson, followed by J.D. Martinez and Andrew McCutchen, and there’s a steep drop-off after that. A’s outfielder/DH Brent Rooker could be a trade target for the Reds.
1. First base: Pittsburgh’s biggest need is debatable between first base and a corner outfielder. Rowdy Tellez is a free agent and the team stood to upgrade from him anyway. The Pirates have plenty of solid arms to try and fill their roster holes through the trade market, and Ryan Mountcastle is someone they could be targeting. The Orioles are teeming with position players and could use some of Pittsburgh’s arms. These two clubs appear to be obvious partners this winter.
2. Corner outfielder: In that same token, the Red Sox are another club that could benefit from the Pirates’ boatload of young arms, and they have a right fielder who makes sense for the Bucs. The lefty-swinging Wilyer Abreu enjoyed a promising rookie season in 2024, crushing 15 home runs with a 114 wRC+ to boot. The Red Sox might be desperate for great pitching, so this could be the ideal time for the Pirates to strike.Â
3. Relief pitching: Pittsburgh’s bullpen ERA (4.49) ranked 27th in baseball, which shouldn’t be surprising given the relief unit blew 36 leads. As much as the Pirates have received recognition for their arms, they need to revamp the bullpen to make any pitching headway actually count for something. Perhaps another free-agent deal for a proven veteran reliever, like last year’s acquisition of Aroldis Chapman, could work in their favor. Kenley Jansen would be a name to look out for. They could also choose to develop one of their multiple minor-league arms into more of a sure-thing relief option.
Deesha Thosar is an MLB reporter 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.
The Hot Stove has been cold through the first three weeks of November, but the action is expected to heat up soon with MLB’s winter meetings nearing. In the meantime, we’re examining each team to identify its three biggest needs this offseason and which free agents could fulfill them.
Our series continues with the American League Central.
1. Starting pitching: Cleveland’s pitching factory was tapped out, and the Guardians still cruised to 92 wins and a division title. Imagine how many wins they would’ve had if their starting rotation didn’t have a 4.40 ERA! Looking forward, they’ll want to ease the load on their elite bullpen. Whether they’re able to keep free agents Shane Bieber and Matthew Boyd or not, adding more arms to the rotation should be the first order of business this winter. Given their financial limitations, some of the answers might come on the trade block. Could they look nearby to Chicago and swing a deal for Garrett Crochet or Jameson Taillon? Or maybe there’s a match in Miami with its plethora of arbitration-eligible talents?Â
ADVERTISEMENT
2. An impact bat:Steven Kwan is a unique talent and Josh Naylor provides some needed pop, but there aren’t a ton of imposing bats in the middle of this lineup outside of Jose Ramirez. The Guardians could use another impact bat, and while an everyday center fielder would make sense (allowing Lane Thomas to bump over to right field, where he’s better suited to play), the defensive position matters less than the offensive boost. Top prospects Travis Bazzana and Chase DeLauter could be helping soon, but they could really use another proven talent. Again, maybe this comes via trade. They have the prospects to create an intriguing package for Luis Robert Jr.Â
3. Catcher:Bo Naylor was a more valuable player in 67 games in 2023 than he was as the primary catcher in 123 games in 2024. The offensive leap didn’t happen, and while it certainly still could for the 24-year-old, the Guardians might be a little more impatient now that David Fry’s elbow injury likely takes him out of the catching mix. Like in center, however, there aren’t a ton of impact bats behind the plate in free agency. The Mariners have an excess of both starting pitching and catching options, so maybe they emerge as a trade partner.Â
1. A leadoff man: Like the Central division winners, the Royals need more offensive juice around their superstar. Bobby Witt Jr. carried this offense to October, but the only players on this offense who played at least 100 games and had an OPS over .700 were Witt, Salvador Perez and Vinnie Pasquantino. Their leadoff hitters had a combined .604 OPS. That’s not going to get it done. This might be a fit for Gleyber Torres or Jurickson Profar, but any help at the top of the lineup will be a boost.Â
2. Outfield: The Royals need to upgrade the outfield, which produced a 78 wRC+ — the lowest mark of any team outside of Colorado. If the Royals don’t end up with one of Anthony Santander, Teoscar Hernández, Profar, Tyler O’Neill, Michael Conforto or Randal Grichuk (or trade for a player with a similar impact), they will likely come to regret it. They need to find someone who can inspire some fear in the middle of the order to lengthen a thin lineup.Â
1. Corner infield: Could the Tigers’ surprise postseason run get them to spend? They’re currently projected to have just an $80 million payroll in 2025, one of the lowest in the sport, and should theoretically have room to make a splash. Alex Bregman or Willy Adames would be terrific fits for a left side of the infield in need of a difference-maker. But this also feels like an important inflection point for Detroit to decide if 2020 top overall pick Spencer Torkelson is the future at first base. There are plenty of options (Christian Walker and Pete Alonso at the top of the market; Carlos Santana, Josh Bell, Paul Goldschmidt and Justin Turner a tier below) if they want more experience at the spot.
2. A right-handed (preferably infield) bat: The position flexibility of Matt Vierling and many of the youngsters on the roster should give Detroit leeway to find various ways to upgrade an offense that ranked in the bottom 10 in every slash line category and especially struggled to get runners on base. Parker Meadows, Colt Keith and Jace Jung all provided late season lifts, but they all also happen to bat with their left hand (as do mainstays Riley Greene and Kerry Carpenter), so the Tigers need to find a way to pack more punch and balance the lineup with a more proven right-handed force, regardless of where that person plays.Â
3. Starting pitcher: The Tigers’ “pitching chaos” approach allowed for their late surge, but it’s probably not a sustainable method of success. Tarik Skubal and Reese Olson provide a solid starting point and top prospect Jackson Jobe should be ready for a more featured role, but the rotation could use a proven veteran piece for the developing group. Could Jack Flaherty, who thrived there in the first half, return after he was dealt at the deadline? Or how about bringing the band back together with Max Scherzer or Justin Verlander? Any of them or Nathan Eovaldi, Sean Manaea, Luis Severino, Yusei Kikuchi, Walker Buehler or Jose Quintana seem like possible matches.Â
1. Right-handed corner outfield: After slashing payroll and doing little to meaningfully bolster the roster last year, the Twins paid the price for their frugality. It sounds like this winter will offer more of the same. Trevor Larnach and Matt Wallner both hit considerably better than league average last season, but neither hits lefties. The Twins can envision top prospects Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez roaming the outfield in the near future, but both of them are lefties, too. Randal Grichuk would be a good fit here if Twins ownership is willing to spend anything at all. Maybe the Angels would listen to an offer for Taylor Ward?Â
2. First base: The Twins could make Jose Miranda the primary player here, but he does not provide much defensively and struggled last year against lefties. The most logical solution would be bringing back veteran Carlos Santana, who just won a Gold Glove at the position and produced a .934 OPS against lefties. Justin Turner, Josh Bell or Donovan Solano could also be among the low-cost options. The bigger move would be swinging a trade for Yandy Diaz.
3. Relief pitching:Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax and Cole Sands provide a healthy starting point, but Minnesota could use more depth in a bullpen that registered a 4.12 ERA as a group last season. If the Twins are only able to go bargain hunting, they should be able to still extract some affordable value from the relief market.Â
1. Keep rebuilding: You might be shocked to learn the worst team in modern baseball history has far more than three needs. The White Sox need help everywhere, so condensing down to three seems pointless. The 2025 season, like the one before it, won’t have much winning. So, it’s about laying a new foundation. This team is not about to contend. The White Sox have injected more talent to their farm system the last couple of years by trading away Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo López, Dylan Cease, Erick Fedde and Michael Kopech, and I’d expect more of the same with Garrett Crochet and Luis Robert Jr. potentially next in line to leave.Â
2. Evaluate the young talent: Does top position player prospect Colson Montgomery take a leap forward? Can Miguel Vargas start to realize his offensive potential? What about Drew Thorpe on the mound? How does the development look for pitching prospects Noah Schultz, Hagen Smith, Jairo Iriarte and Ky Bush? This is the time for the White Sox to start to figure out which of their pieces might be part of the next contending White Sox team, whenever that might be.Â
3. Add a couple of veterans to flip: While the White Sox certainly won’t be shopping at the top of the free-agent market, I’d expect them to take a couple one-year fliers on veterans they could potentially turn into prospects at the deadline.
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.
The Hot Stove has been cold through the first three weeks of November, but the action is expected to heat up soon with MLB’s winter meetings nearing. In the meantime, we’re examining each team to identify its three biggest needs this offseason and which free agents could fulfill them.
Our series continues with the American League West.
1. Third base: It’s bizarre to think about Alex Bregman wearing a different uniform. Will the Astros front office heed Jose Altuve’s request to keep him? It won’t come cheap, and it would take owner Jim Crane doing what he didn’t when Carlos Correa departed, but figuring that out has to be at the top of the winter to-do list. If Bregman departs, the in-house solutions are limited, and there’s a significant drop-off behind him at his position on the free-agent market.Â
ADVERTISEMENT
2. First base: It’s hard to imagine the Astros feeling great entering the season with Jon Singleton and Victor Caratini as their top first base options. The aforementioned Christian Walker, Pete Alonso and Carlos Santana are available. Then again, how much does the Jose Abreu signing linger in the Astros’ nightmares? Their decision at the spot could depend on their belief in prospect Zach Dezenzo’s readiness to contribute and whether they’ll be doling out the money required to keep Bregman in their lineup.Â
3. Outfield: The Astros were starting Jason Heyward, who was released in late August by the Dodgers, in left field in the playoffs. Heyward is now a free agent. The in-house options on the 40-man roster bring questions. Chas McCormick couldn’t replicate his 2023 form, and both Jake Meyers and Mauricio Dubon were below league-average hitters as well. It might not be long before top prospect Jacob Melton is roaming the Houston outfield, but signing an established bat against righties would help. Maybe this is a spot for Jesse Winker or Michael Conforto, or perhaps the Astros could swing a trade for Cody Bellinger, who could help fill needs both in the outfield and at first.Â
1. Relief pitching: Only four teams had a higher bullpen ERA than the Rangers last year, and that’s with Kirby Yates (1.17 ERA) going 33-for-34 in save chances in an All-Star season and David Robertson (3.00) making solid contributions. Now, their three most trusted high-leverage options — Yates, Robertson and Jose Leclerc, who had 41 saves over his eight seasons with the club — are all free agents. A return could be in the cards for any of them, but the back end of the bullpen should be the top offseason priority, whether through free agency or the trade market, where maybe Devin Williams or Ryan Helsley could be had for the right package. Â
2. Starting pitching: The rotation is taking hits, too, with Nathan Eovaldi, Andrew Heaney and Max Scherzer all reaching free agency. Eovaldi would be the biggest loss, and the Rangers could still look to keep him after he declined his $20 million vesting player option. The current rotation of Jacob deGrom, Tyler Mahle, Jon Gray, Cody Bradford and rookies Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker brings both upside and volatility, especially considering the injury history here, so the Rangers should look to add some stability. Someone from the second tier of starting pitchers on the market — Eovaldi, Yusei Kikuchi, Sean Manaea, Luis Severino — could make sense, or maybe they could swing a deal for a Sonny Gray or a Garrett Crochet.Â
3. Catcher:Jonah Heim was among the plethora of Rangers championship contributors who regressed in 2024. An All-Star and Gold Glover a year ago, he produced the lowest wRC+ of any catcher with at least 400 plate appearances this season and took a step back defensively. With backup Carson Kelly hitting free agency, the Rangers might need to add some help behind the plate. The upside is limited on the open market, but Kelly, Kyle Higashioka, Danny Jansen, Gary Sanchez and Yasmani Grandal are among the options. Given MItch Garver’s struggles this year in Seattle, could the Mariners be open to dealing the 2023 Rangers standout back to a division rival?
1. Third base: The Mariners are expected to operate at a higher budget than their $145 million 2024 payroll. Exactly how much further they’re willing to run the account will determine how much more pop they can really add to the lineup. Could their latest disappointment break them from tradition and get them involved in the Alex Bregman or Willy Adames sweepstakes? I wouldn’t count on it, but that’s the kind of injection this offense probably needs. They could also look to the trade market, where the Phillies’ Alec Bohm would be a strong fit for a Seattle team that tried and failed to cut its strikeout rate in 2024.Â
2. Second base: The Jorge Polanco deal didn’t work out. He’s now a free agent, and the Mariners have to be seen as a potential destination for Gleyber Torres after his mercurial stint in New York. They might be able to live with his defensive lapses if he can jumpstart the offense. If they don’t want to take that chance, they could get better defense with a lower offensive ceiling in Ha-Seong Kim, whose ability to move around the diamond might make him an attractive piece for a Seattle team that needs a lot of infield help. On the trade market, this might be an interesting spot for Brandon Lowe. If they don’t swing a move, prospect Cole Young could find himself in the equation sooner than later.Â
3. First base: The Mariners need to add some pop somewhere, and there are plenty of paths they could take at first base. They could bring back Justin Turner, who had a 128 OPS+ in 48 games while platooning late in the year with Luke Raley, attempt to revive Paul Goldschmidt or swing higher for Christian Walker or Pete Alonso. The trade market might offer another path, as Seattle’s excess of starting pitching could be enough to entice Cleveland to move Josh Naylor, Tampa Bay to trade Yandy DÃaz or Boston to deal Triston Casas. If the Mariners stand pat here, prospect Tyler Locklear would likely get a long look at the spot.Â
1. Third base: What’s it like to have to recruit a player to Sacramento? The A’s are about to find out the type of challenge that might present as they look for options at third base, where 10 different players logged at least some action at the spot in 2024. Darell Hernaiz and Brett Harris could be part of the mix, and prospect Max Muncy logged time at the hot corner in Triple-A, but the answer might come from outside the organization. This might be another logical landing spot for Ha-Seong Kim, but if they make Brent Rooker available, that could open doors for a difference-making player on the trade front, too.Â
2. Starting pitching: Will flamethrowing closer Mason Miller shift back to a starting role? That’s a question the A’s will need to answer. Regardless, after seeing progress in 2024, they’ll need some more experience in the rotation. I’d expect them to add a veteran pitcher to the starting group to help guide the path forward for the novice group. Maybe a reunion with Frankie Montas could be in the cards, but there’s no shortage of lower-cost options (Jose Quintana? Andrew Heaney? Martin Perez?) to fill out the rotation.
3. Relief pitching: The A’s could use help across the pitching staff, but the need will become especially glaring in the bullpen if Miller makes the shift to the rotation, especially with Lucas Erceg now in Kansas City. Another experienced arm at the back end would make a lot of sense.Â
1. Starting pitching: The rotation could use someone with more swing-and-miss stuff. The addition of Kyle Hendricks doesn’t change that. Prospects Caden Dana, George Klassen or Sam Aldeghiri could provide a boost, but it would make sense if someone like reigning champion and L.A. native Jack Flaherty or another free agent such as Yusei Kikuchi, Sean Manaea, Nick Pivetta, Nathan Eovaldi or Shane Bieber end up with the Angels, who have been active early in free agency.Â
2. A proven infielder: The most logical move would be to add a third baseman, considering Anthony Rendon has played an average of 51 games per season during his Angels tenure and had a career-worst .574 OPS (and 66 OPS+) in 2024. But Luis Rengifo could shift over there if the Angels can swing a move at second base, which is also a question mark next season. Prospect Christian Moore may be ready to help there soon, but they could use another proven bat and more depth in the infield regardless. Ha-Seong Kim or Gleyber Torres could be fits if the Angels aren’t willing to dabble in the Alex Bregman or Willy Adames sweepstakes.Â
3. Center field: If the Angels want to give Mike Trout more time at a corner spot or at DH to keep him healthy, they need a better option in center. There aren’t many on the open market, however. Do they have the prospect capital to swing a trade for Luis Robert Jr. or Cody Bellinger? If not, someone like Harrison Bader could make sense.Â
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.
The Hot Stove has been cold through the first three weeks of November, but the action is expected to heat up soon with MLB’s winter meetings nearing. In the meantime, we’re examining each team to identify its three biggest needs this offseason and which free agents could fulfill them.
1. Signing the best young free agent in 20 years: The club’s top priority this winter is ensuring Juan Soto stays in pinstripes, but if he doesn’t, then the Yankees will need to look for outfield help, especially since Alex Verdugo is unlikely to return in free agency. Outside of top prospect Jasson DomÃnguez, who should be on the Opening Day roster, free agents Teoscar Hernández and Anthony Santander would be solid fits in the Bronx, keeping in mind there’s a significant drop-off in outfield talent after them.
ADVERTISEMENT
2. Second base:Â Brian Cashman didn’t exactly offer glowing remarks for Gleyber Torres as the Yankees’ seven-year second baseman entered free agency, and the two sides always seemed destined to eventually part ways. New York’s roster needs to get younger and faster, so infield prospect Caleb Durbin could make a huge impact if he’s big-league ready. Durbin turned heads in the Arizona Fall League, setting an all-time record by stealing 29 bases in just 24 games. The Yankees could also move Jazz Chisholm to second, a spot he manned his first couple of years with the Marlins (or even to center field, where he was playing prior to being traded to New York, if the Yanks don’t land a star outfielder). But the need would then shift to adding a third baseman.
3. First base:Â Anthony Rizzo’s time in the Bronx has all but definitely come to an end, and while rookie Ben Rice was serviceable at first base in 2024, the Yankees could use a higher-impact bat. Will they go for free-agent slugger Pete Alonso? If they don’t get their white whale in Soto, they might need to pivot to more of a sure-thing at first, like the Polar Bear or D-backs veteran Christian Walker. But the first base market is thin, so developing Rice at the corner-infield position and going for a bigger splash elsewhere could be something of a Plan B.
1. Starting pitching: Baltimore badly needs free-agent right-hander Corbin Burnes to stay, and thanks to its new ownership group led by private equity billionaire David Rubenstein, the organization can afford to keep him. It will be interesting to see how much the O’s flex their financial muscle in pursuit of arguably the top starter on the market, but they need an ace either way because they’re legitimate title contenders. So, if Burnes walks away, other top-line free-agent rotation possibilities include Blake Snell, Max Fried, Jack Flaherty, Yusei Kikuchi and Nathan Eovaldi.
2. Outfield:Â If Santander departs in free agency, the Orioles are losing a switch-hitting righty-swinging right fielder who amassed 105 home runs for them over the past three seasons. That will be impossible to replace on the open market unless they land Soto or Hernandez, so the O’s might as well take their shot at developing 25-year-old Heston Kjerstad and giving him a full-season runway in right. He was, after all, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 draft. Baltimore could also look at free agents Jurickson Profar, Tyler O’Neill and Randal Grichuk to fill the hole.
1. A superstar: The Red Sox have to stop playing around. After a three-year playoff drought, enough is enough. They need to galvanize the team and fan base by spending big and fully committing to winning the winter, and there’s no better place to start than by going the distance for Soto. Their exciting young core should excite Soto, as will being the face of the franchise. Boston’s desire to contend has seemed like an afterthought since Mookie Betts was traded nearly five years ago. That can all change by making Soto an offer he can’t refuse.
2. Starting pitching: Speaking of superstars, Boston could use one of those in the rotation. The Red Sox’s previous championship teams all had an ace (or two) leading the staff, and now would be a terrific time to go for Corbin Burnes, Blake Snell or Max Fried. If they all come off the board, then arms like Sean Manaea or Yusei Kikuchi should be very attainable for Boston, and trading for White Sox ace Garrett Crochet would also stabilize the rotation. With or without Soto, the rotation is where the Red Sox must spend big.
3. A right-handed bat: A few exciting names stand out for the Red Sox to balance out their lefty-heavy lineup. Teoscar Hernandez, whom Boston courted last offseason before he went to the Dodgers, would be an excellent fit in Boston. Alex Bregman could take over duties at the hot corner, allowing Rafael Devers to shift to first base or DH full time. Pete Alonso would also make sense, and would send a strong message to the competitive AL East. The Red Sox might need to act fast to land any one of these top free agents.Â
1. Outfield:Â Randy Arozarena’s trade-deadline departure is still being felt in Tampa, and the Rays have work to do to improve their offense. That starts with the outfield, and since they have a surplus of pitching, they could start by trading for an outfielder who could slot into the heart of their lineup. The White Sox have been floating the idea of trading away All-Star center fielder Luis Robert Jr. for a while now, so it could make sense for the Rays to find a way to get a deal done there. They definitely can take on his team-friendly deal.
2. Catcher: Tampa Bay needs a stopgap catcher until prospect Dominic Keegan is ready to make the leap to the major leagues. They already have lefty Ben Rortvedt, so a right-handed backstop would be ideal. Free-agent veterans like Kyle Higiashioka, Elias Diaz and Jacob Stallings could work.Â
3. Shortstop: Speaking of missing former stars, the Rays have lacked production at shortstop since Wander Franco was placed on administrative leave late in the 2023 season. Taylor Walls has been mediocre there since, producing a 55 OPS+ over 84 games last year, with Jose Caballero picking up the rest of the workload but still lacking impact at the plate. No. 1 prospect Carson Williams’ MLB debut can’t come soon enough, and since the Rays aren’t going to spend, they could look at a thin trade market for shortstops or just hold with what they have until they promote Williams at some point this year.Â
1. Extend Vlad and add a big bat: Extending Vladimir Guerrero Jr. would set the tone for everything else Toronto needs to accomplish this offseason. While the Blue Jays are in the mix for Soto, he’d want to know whether Guerrero will be sticking around with him on a potential long-term deal, because that significantly boosts their chances of being an annual contender. The Jays would also improve their chances of attracting other big-name free agents beyond Soto — like Hernandez, Santander, Alonso, Bregman, Tyler O’Neill and Jurickson Profar — by committing to Guerrero.
2. Relief pitching:Â The Blue Jays’ relief corps just recorded the worst fWAR (-2.5) and the second-worst bullpen ERA (4.82) in baseball, so improving that unit has to take top priority in order to become a threat in this division again. We’ve seen bullpen arms getting more and more expensive lately, so Toronto will have to commit to spending big to revitalize its relief unit. The club needs to settle on a closer, and then add two or three more high-leverage arms. Free agents like Tanner Scott, Clay Holmes, Carlos Estevez, Jeff Hoffman, Kirby Yates, Blake Treinen and Kenley Jensen should be of the utmost interest to the Jays.
3. Catching depth:Â Alejandro Kirk needs a catching partner, and his old friend Danny Jansen is back on the market after Toronto traded him to the Red Sox for three prospects this past summer. Kirk and Jansen are only two years removed from combining to create the best offensive catching duo in baseball with a 7.9 fWAR in 2022. But Jansen won’t come cheap this winter amid a thin catching market. The Jays can instead pivot to Higashioka, Carson Kelly or Austin Hedges for their backstop hole.
Deesha Thosar is an MLB reporter 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.
Shohei Ohtani is in the early stages of rehabbing from arthroscopic surgery to repair a labrum tear in his left shoulder following the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ World Series championship over the New York Yankees last month.
“We’ve already removed the stitches,” the Japanese star said Thursday in Los Angeles after winning his third Most Valuable Player award, his first with the Dodgers. “The current goal is to bring back my range of motion. Today we started working on core and we’re slowly ramping up right now.”
Ohtani had the surgery on Nov. 5, four days after he and the team paraded through downtown Los Angeles and celebrated with fans at Dodger Stadium.
ADVERTISEMENT
“We’ve been stuck in rehab every day and I’ve been sitting on my bed relaxing,” he said through a translator. “We haven’t been able to take some time to celebrate as a family.”
Ohtani didn’t pitch this season while rehabbing from elbow surgery in September 2023. He injured his shoulder attempting to steal second base during Game 2 of the World Series.
“The goal is to be ready for opening day that includes hitting and pitching, but we are kind of taking our time,” he said. “Obviously want to make sure I’m healthy first. We’re not going to rush anything. We’re going to take a little bit more time and be conservative.”
Ohtani’s most anxious moment during his stellar first regular season with the Dodgers didn’t involve his performance.
It was about his beloved dog, Decoy.
“The most nerve-wracking game, the most nervous I was when we had Decoy throw out the pitch,” he said.
Much like his owner, Decoy performed flawlessly on that August night, trotting from the mound to deliver the ball in his mouth to a waiting Ohtani behind the plate. Ohtani later homered leading off against Baltimore on his second bobblehead night.
They were together on Thursday, when the Dutch Kooikerhondje appeared briefly on television as Ohtani, sitting next to his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, discussed his MVP honor. He called it “very humbling.”
The 30-year-old designated hitter took all 30 of the first-place votes from the Baseball Writers’ Association, becoming the first player to win MVP honors unanimously three times. He won twice in the AL with the Los Angeles Angels.
“It’s going to motivate me more to continue to help the team win next year,” Ohtani said through an interpreter. “We’d like to continue to win the World Series each year.”
Ohtani became just the second player in major league history to win the award in both leagues, joining Frank Robinson, who won NL MVP in 1961 and AL MVP in 1966.
Ohtani is likely to see a familiar face in the majors soon. Highly touted pitcher Roki Sasaki is expected to sign with a Major League Baseball team by January. He and Ohtani were teammates when Japan won the World Baseball Classic in 2023.
“No, I haven’t really been recruiting him in any way,” Ohtani said. “I consider him a friend, so we’ll talk every so often about baseball in general and life. I’ll respect his decision wherever he wants to sign and I think he’ll do well wherever he goes.”
Reporting by The Associated Press.
Dodgers vs. Yankees: MINI-MOVIE of 2024 World Series | MLB on FOX 🎥
–> <!–>
–>
recommended
Get more from Major League BaseballFollow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
We’re more than two weeks into MLB free agency, and not one major deal has been struck. That means the action is coming.Â
There will be a ton of it, as several nine-figure contracts will be negotiated in the coming weeks. None will be bigger, of course, than Juan Soto’s. But how big will it be? And for how long? And with whom?Â
Accordingly, FOX Sports MLB experts Rowan Kavner and Deesha Thosar weigh in on Soto, as well as a trio of aces and what teams will likely be the most active this winter in our latest roundtable.
1. There was a report that Alex Bregman is seeking a deal close to Manny Machado’s 11-year, $350 million extension. What is the max deal you’d offer Bregman if you were a GM, and what team should be most aggressive in signing him?
ADVERTISEMENT
Thosar: Well, Bregman vying to get close to Machado’s extension is overshooting just a little bit. I think he lands a deal in the AAV range of $26-28 million, and if he wants a long-term deal that’s going to eclipse the $200 million mark, then a seven-year deal for $200 million should be achievable for the longtime Astros third baseman. That’s as high as I’d go because Bregman would be 37 by the end of that deal, he already has a lot of mileage underneath him since his 2016 MLB debut, and there was one big concern this year with his walk rate, which was slashed in half in a huge departure from his career norm. Though I can’t imagine Bregman in another uniform besides Houston, the Phillies would be significantly upgraded with the third baseman replacing Alec Bohm. The Phillies are desperate to win the World Series with their tight-knit group before some core players depart for free agency, and adding Bregman to the mix would immediately make them one of the favorites to win it all.
Kavner: Bregman might not be the MVP candidate he was five years ago, but he is still a consistently well-above-average hitter who brings elite defense, rarely whiffs or strikes out and is good for around 20-25 homers a year. His hard-hit rate was actually the highest of his career last season, though it has to be at least a little concerning that the 30-year-old’s walk rate suddenly plummeted, that he chased a bit more than usual, and that he outperformed his expected stats in 2024.
There would be a lot of factors determining the max I’d offer, including the team I’m managing and the payroll I’m working with. If I were making decisions, I’d love to possess the financial freedom to add and extend players that A.J. Preller had when he gave Machado that extension prior to Peter Seidler’s passing. The reality is few GMs (including Preller now) can run the bill up so freely. While Bregman should easily exceed the six-year, $151 million extension that Matt Chapman received in San Francisco, I’d be stunned if he got anything close to Machado’s $350 million extension. The max I’d go is around eight years in the $220-225 million range. The Astros are the obvious team to watch, but the Tigers and Mariners should also be aggressive here.
2. Would you rather have Corbin Burnes for seven years, $250M, Blake Snell for five years, $180M or Max Fried for five years, $150M?
Kavner: If they were all getting paid the same I’d go Burnes — there’s a reason he will get the biggest contract of the trio — but at these numbers, I’d take Snell. Burnes is coming off another terrific season, but his descending strikeout rate would frighten me some when I’m offering upwards of $250 million. What I’d choose, though, would depend a bit on my team/roster construction. If I were a team on the fringes of the playoff picture just trying to contend, I’d probably go Fried for his consistency. But his inability to miss bats could cause problems in October (he has a career 3.07 regular season ERA; 5.10 in the postseason), and I’d need more information about the forearm issue that limited him this year. If I’m already a playoff contender looking for a final piece that can help me win a World Series, I’m taking Snell, the two-time Cy Young Award winner who just posted the highest strikeout rate (34.7%) and lowest hard-hit rate (28.7%) of his career. If he’s healthy and looking right in October, there aren’t many people on Earth who can rival his stuff.
Thosar: Max Fried. He shouldn’t hesitate to sign that proposed deal, particularly since he was earning half that amount this year in his All-Star season. Alongside Snell, Fried is the only left-handed ace in this year’s starting pitching class. But executives shouldn’t let the glamour of Snell’s two Cy Young awards get in the way of their decision-making. Fried is a year younger than Snell and more consistent than him, too. Fried, a World Series champion, is the only pitcher in the past five seasons to log over 600 innings and an ERA+ over 150 in the regular season. In the end, I think some of his forearm issues (and his attachment to a qualifying offer, thus resulting in costing whoever signs him a draft pick) will put some ice on his market. He seems likelier to sign a deal with an AAV in the range of $26-28 million.
3. A few weeks back, both of you expected Juan Soto to ultimately re-sign with the Yankees this offseason. How confident are you in that prediction now and what is your best guess for the terms of his deal?
Thosar: I still think the Yankees will ultimately sign Soto, but it’s going to be a tight race between both New York teams. Even though Hal Steinbrenner’s comments at the owners’ meetings in Manhattan on Wednesday were pretty underwhelming and seemed to lack extreme confidence that Soto would end up back in the Bronx, the Yankees owner also indicated that his sole priority this offseason is making sure the slugger returns, and I think he just might do whatever it takes to make sure that it happens. I think Cohen is going to drive the price up, so something like $707 million over 15 years might get the deal done for Soto and the Yankees. But they just can’t let Soto slip away, particularly after he catapulted them to the World Series, and I continue to think they won’t make that mistake.
Kavner: Less! If I were a Yankees fan, I would feel a little queasy after hearing Hal Steinbrenner say “no idea” and “we’ll be in the mix” when asked about his confidence in retaining Soto following their meeting with the soon-to-be-very-rich free agent. I do still expect one of the two New York teams is the ultimate destination, but it feels at least a little more likely now that Steve Cohen’s Mets or another AL East club outbids the Yankees. I think Soto surpasses the $600 million mark but doesn’t get to $700M. Let’s say 14 years, $644 million.
4. Would the Yankees be better off landing Soto on a megadeal, or adding a frontline starter plus two other All-Star bats?
Kavner: Soto. He’s in a different stratosphere from anyone else on the market, and what he provides to the Yankees lineup can’t be overstated. Just look at 2023, when they didn’t have Soto and were an 82-win team with a bottom-10 offense. In 2024 with Soto, they reached the World Series as a 94-win team with a top-three offense. Sure, there were other factors involved, but none bigger than Soto, who gave the Yankees the best 1-2 punch in the sport. He completely transformed the group, and there’s no way to replicate that kind of production.
Thosar: I don’t see why the Yankees, the most lucrative franchise in MLB, should be limited after signing Soto to staying put and putting a cap on their spending. Based on Steinbrenner expressing this week that Soto had questions about the Yankees’ player development system and long-term commitment to winning, the team knows it has work to do this winter to make sure their holes are filled with elite talent. Aaron Judge, before signing his long-term contract two years ago, also wanted confirmation from Steinbrenner that the club’s annual initiative is to win the World Series. So, it’s ultimately in their best interests to land Soto, and then add at least another mid-level starter and an All-Star bat to, at the very least, replace Anthony Rizzo at first.
Dodgers vs. Yankees: MINI-MOVIE of 2024 World Series
–> <!–>
5. Which playoff team from each league do you project will make the biggest upgrades to their current rosters this offseason? Which non-playoff teams will do the same?
Thosar: The Orioles are on the verge of losing their ace (Corbin Burnes) and home-run leader (Anthony Santander) if they don’t spend the big bucks and keep their top players in Baltimore, so I’m expecting them to make big upgrades not only to fill those holes, but also because this is the first full offseason they can flex their financial might under the new ownership group led by billionaire David Rubenstein. The Mets also have a lot of work to do this winter just to build a starting rotation, and they’re, of course, at the center of conversation with Soto. I’m expecting the Mets, in classic Steve Cohen style, to make at least one big splash this offseason, if not multiple.Â
As for non-playoff teams, the Giants have expressed that they want to spend big for multiple offseasons now, only for major deals to fall through or go haywire. Perhaps this is the year, under new president of baseball operations Buster Posey, they are really, truly aggressive and make big upgrades that pay immediate dividends. In the AL, I think this is the winter the Red Sox return to dominance in some way, shape or form. Whether that means landing Soto or a top starting pitcher, Boston has to go for it with a strong offseason after missing the postseason three years straight.
Kavner: The Mets — for obvious reasons, with Cohen’s checkbook backing a team on the rise — and the Tigers, who currently project to have an $80 million payroll. A couple of years ago, this was a team that operated $50 million higher. Even if Detroit doesn’t go crazy this winter, there should be some leeway to spend here, and the Tigers need to add more pop in the infield and starting pitching if they want to build on last year’s surprise run. Could they get involved in the Alex Bregman sweepstakes? At the least, I could see a situation similar to what the Royals did last winter where they give themselves a more viable path toward sustained success.
For the non-playoff teams, I’ll go with two AL East clubs who have already reportedly had meetings with Soto: the Blue Jays and the Red Sox. There’s little point in taking that meeting if you’re not at least considering spending big for difference-making talent. After failing to reel in Shohei Ohtani last winter and then going through the abomination of the 2024 season, the Blue Jays might be tempted to make some considerable overhauls. And for the Red Sox, another false “full-throttle” offseason can’t happen. It’s time to do what it takes to escape the throes of mediocrity. If we want to add a couple of non-playoff NL teams, I’m looking at the Giants and the Nationals.
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 reporter 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.
