Category: Baseball

Infielder Kazuma Okamoto and pitcher Kona Takahashi are entering Major League Baseball’s posting system and will be available for teams to sign as free agents from Friday through Jan. 4.

They join power-hitting corner infielder Munetaka Murakami, whose 45-day window to sign expires Dec. 22, and right-hander Tatsuya Imai, who can sign through Jan. 2.

Okamoto, 29, hit .327 with 15 homers and 49 RBIs in 69 games this year for the Central League’s Yomiuri Giants. He injured his left elbow while trying to catch a throw at first base on May 6 when he collided with the Hanshin Tigers’ Takumu Nakano, an injury that sidelined Okamoto until Aug. 16.

A six-time All-Star, Okamoto has a .277 average with 248 homers and 717 RBIs in 11 Japanese big league seasons, leading the Central League in home runs in 2020, 2021 and 2023. He homered off Colorado’s Kyle Freeland to help Japan beat the U.S. 3-2 in the 2023 World Baseball Classic final.

FOX Sports analyst Rowan Kavner ranked Okamoto the No. 22 free agent in his top-30 rankings, writing that, “Okamoto is four years older than Murakami and doesn’t have the same raw power or star ceiling, but he also doesn’t strike out nearly as often and might have the higher floor.” 

Takahashi, a right-hander who turns 29 on Feb. 3, was 8-9 with a 3.04 ERA this year for the Pacific League’s Seibu Lions, striking out 88 and walking 41 in 148 innings. he had gone 0-11 with a 3.87 ERA in 2024 after compiling a 22-16 record in the prior two seasons.

Takahashi is 73-77 with a 3.39 ERA in 11 seasons with the Lions.

Under MLB’s posting agreement with Nippon Professional Baseball, the posting fee would be 20% of the first $25 million of a major league contract, including earned bonuses and options. The percentage drops to 17.5% of the next $25 million and 15% of any amount over $50 million. There would be a supplemental fee of 15% of any earned bonuses, salary escalators and exercised options.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Age be damned: Max Scherzer can still get it done.

Last season, the 41-year-old Scherzer was part of the Toronto Blue Jays‘ starting rotation and a reputable force in the postseason, recording a 3.77 ERA in three starts, two of them coming in the World Series. Any team that wishes to sign the future Hall of Famer will be doing so with the intention of Scherzer rounding out their starting rotation as a veteran complement – a role that the right-hander has thrived in, of late.

Here are the three best fits for Scherzer should he depart Toronto.

Last season was an anomaly; the Orioles, who won 96 games per season from 2023-24, are better than the 75-win, last-place product they put on the field in 2025. Of course, getting back to being that force entails improving around the edges this offseason, and Scherzer would be a sly addition for the Orioles.

Among other issues, Baltimore’s starting rotation struggled mightily last season, as it was 24th in MLB in ERA (4.65) and 21st in WHIP (1.32). Furthermore, veteran starters Tomoyuki Sugano and Zach Eflin are free agents, and the Orioles recently traded former first-rounder Grayson Rodriguez to the Los Angeles Angels for outfielder Taylor Ward. Another starter is needed, and Scherzer would be a veteran enhancement for a rotation with upside.

When healthy and on top of their games, Kyle Bradish and Dean Kremer have been top-of-the-rotation forces, and Trevor Rogers came to life in emphatic fashion in the second half of 2025, recording a 1.81 ERA and 0.90 WHIP in 18 starts. Scherzer, who still has a consistent, four-pitch arsenal (four-seamer, slider, changeup and curveball), would be a mentor for a rotation of capable but also inconsistent starters, adding a pitcher with a wealth of knowledge and success to the mix.

All that said, Scherzer may prefer to sign with a team that’s more proven and likely to make the playoffs as currently constructed.

The Padres have open spots in their rotation, and Scherzer represents an effective, short-term way to fill one of those roles.

Michael King, Dylan Cease and midseason pickup Nestor Cortes are all free agents and Yu Darvish is expected to miss the entire 2026 season due to an elbow injury. Nick Pivetta (2.87 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 190 strikeouts in 31 starts) is coming off a breakout campaign, and Randy Vasquez has shown tangible progress. Let’s say that one of King and Cease are re-signed, with Cortes being brought back on a one-year deal. Still, multiple additions would be needed for San Diego’s pitching staff.

Scherzer, an eight-time All-Star, averaged five innings per start in the 2025 regular season, with two of his three postseason outings going into the fifth inning and another going into the sixth. He can still be a rotation fixture and start in the postseason, if needed. Should Scherzer struggle and/or a young arm like Miguel Mendez be ready to become a full-time member of the starting rotation during the 2026 regular season, then a tough decision can be made on the veteran. But, in the meantime, Scherzer would help fill out the Padres’ rotation, adding a pitcher with a trove of big-game experience to a team that expects to be playing deep into October.

There’s just another National League team with a screaming fit for Scherzer.

The Reds are knocking on the door but still getting told “we’re not interested, have a nice day” when that door is opened. Maybe Scherzer gets them through it?

Veterans Nick Martinez, Zack Littell and Wade Miley are all free agents. One of them could be brought back for depth’s sake, specifically in a flex role, but Scherzer is more accustomed to pitching where the Reds want to be playing (October); he has made 28 career postseason starts and 33 appearances total.

Hunter Greene throws gas, posts strikeouts at a high rate and has become an ace; Nick Lodolo, who consistently throws four pitches (four-seamer, curveball, changeup and sinker), posted a career-best 3.33 ERA in 29 appearances/28 starts last season; Andrew Abbott has become one of the best left-handed pitchers in the sport; Brady Singer has been a top-of-the-rotation force for the better part of the last four years. When the postseason comes around, Scherzer may not be in Cincinnati’s starting rotation, but as last postseason showed, if push comes to shove, the veteran can provide five quality innings of work.

Moreover, the postseason experience and wisdom that Scherzer can rub off on a burgeoning rotation, both from helping the aforementioned pitchers tweak their offerings and from a mentality standpoint, could be invaluable. Cincinnati can sign Scherzer to a one-year, $10 million deal and still make a move or two for an impact hitter.

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Bringing back Josh Naylor had to be the Mariners’ top priority this winter. Credit them for wasting no time in getting it done with a five-year deal for a reported $92.5 million that represented the first major splash of MLB’s free agency.

Mariners general manager Justin Hollander described Naylor to me in October as one of the smartest players he has ever had. Naylor’s perfect 19-for-19 mark on stolen bases in Seattle was an example of that. Despite being one of MLB’s slowest players, Naylor enjoyed a 20-30 season despite having never stolen more than 10 bases in a season — a credit to his baseball IQ. 

It was one thing for Naylor to excel in Arizona, where he hit 23% better than league average before his trade deadline arrival; it was another for him to be an even greater offensive force in a much tougher hitting environment in Seattle. Naylor hit 38% better than league average with nine homers and 19 steals in 54 games to close out the regular season with the Mariners. He then showed he was up for the challenge in October, leading the team with a .340 batting average and hitting three home runs on their way to the AL West title and their first ALCS appearance since 2001.

Here’s what’s next after Naylor’s new deal:

What’s Next for Seattle

There’s a reason the Mariners acquired both Naylor and Eugenio Suarez at the deadline. They needed more pop at both corner infield spots, and Suárez is now a free agent. So is Jorge Polanco, meaning half of Seattle’s infield is still vacant even after re-signing Naylor. The Mariners have options to fill Polanco’s spot in Cole Young and Ryan Bliss, but neither can slug like Polanco. If they want to finish the job in 2025, they’re going to need to add more power in the infield. After coming a game away from making it to their first ever World Series appearance, Seattle simply couldn’t afford to shop on the margins to address the offensive vacancies. The trade was an ideal fit and this move is a great start. 

What’s Next for Naylor

As extraordinary as Naylor’s stolen base total was, it would probably be unwise for the Mariners to expect him to steal 150 bases over the next five years. They should, however, be able to rely on his contact and on-base skills. His bat speed and barrel rate both regressed, and that could be a red flag as it relates to power production moving forward, but he still ranked among MLB’s top three first basemen in both batting average (.295) and strikeout rate (13.7%) in 2025. If he can keep that up while playing a solid first base, as he has done for years, he’ll make that contract worth it. 

Beyond the unexpected surge in steals, Naylor’s offensive profile brought an element that Seattle coveted. Of course, his power was helpful — he hit 51 home runs over the last two years — but his on-base skills and approach at the plate were what meshed so perfectly for a Mariners team that struggled to make contact and racked up a troubling number of strikeouts over the previous two seasons. 

What’s Next for Other First Baseman Free Agents

Naylor getting five years certainly doesn’t hurt Pete Alonso’s cause as he seeks the long-term deal he wasn’t able to secure last winter from the New York Mets, but I also don’t think this pact makes a huge impact on the top of the market considering how different Naylor’s profile is from the other top first basemen available. 

Naylor and Alonso are basically foils at the position. Naylor is 28; Alonso is about to turn 32. Naylor is known for his contact, on-base and all-around skills; Alonso brings power and offers little with his glove or on the basepaths, but there are few players who can impact a baseball like him. Alonso and Cody Bellinger always figured to command a higher average annual value than Naylor, and that remains the case after this deal. With Seattle no longer in need of a first baseman, there are a plethora of teams who could still use an upgrade at the spot. There are plenty of options available, from the top of the domestic market (Alonso, Bellinger), to the tier below (Ryan O’Hearn, Luis Arraez) to the international market (Munetaka Murakama, Kazuma Okamoto). 

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You can’t have enough great relievers, and New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz is arguably the best one on the open market this offseason.

A two-time National League Reliever of the Year, Diaz is among the more overpowering closers in MLB, hitting triple digits with his four-seamer and making hitters look silly with his slider. Diaz, who opted out of the final two seasons of a five-year, $102 million deal and figures to seek a similar pact, is a plug-and-play closer and in the prime of his career. The Mets will likely make a considerable effort to keep Diaz, but they’ll have plenty of company to secure his services.

Here are the three best fits for Diaz should he depart Queens.

The Tigers could use an impact bat (Eugenio Suarez? Alex Bregman?), but they could also use a boost in their bullpen, and adding Diaz would certainly qualify as such a jolt.

Detroit’s bullpen was 26th in MLB in strikeouts (533), 17th in ERA (4.05) and tied for 16th in WHIP (1.30) last season. Will Vest held his own in his first season as a full-time closer, but he still blew seven save opportunities, and Diaz is more proven in that regard.

Diaz could become the Tigers’ new closer, sliding Vest into a setup role. Furthermore, all of Detroit’s midseason bullpen acquisitions – Kyle Finnegan, Rafael Montero and Paul Sewald – are each free agents, making it incumbent upon the Tigers to add depth in the later innings. Last season, Diaz posted a 1.63 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 98 strikeouts and a 248 ERA+ in 66.1 innings pitched. He would add stability to manager A.J. Hinch’s bullpen.

All that said, Detroit could feel that it can bank on Vest, Brenan Hanifee and Brant Hurter making a collective jump and/or re-sign Finnegan, opting to save money and spend it primarily on an impact hitter.

The Blue Jays were on the precipice of a World Series triumph. But Miguel Rojas‘ solo home run with one out in the top of the ninth inning of Game 7 tied the game and the Dodgers went on to win in the 11th. Toronto needs to use that heartbreak as an excuse to throw haymakers this offseason to shore up its pitching staff, which signing Diaz would qualify as doing.

In the regular season, Toronto’s bullpen was 16th in ERA (3.98) and tied for 13th in WHIP (1.28). To boot, it boasted a 4.44 postseason ERA. Offseason pickup Jeff Hoffman – who was an All-Star in 2024 – underwhelmed, posting a 4.37 ERA, blowing seven save opportunities and, unfortunately for the right-hander’s sake, was the one who surrendered the game-tying home run to Rojas in Game 7 of the World Series.

Enter Diaz, who has posted an ERA below two in four of the last seven seasons that he has pitched (Diaz missed the 2023 season due to a knee injury). Diaz would give Toronto another reliever who posts strikeouts at a high rate and become its new closer, with Hoffman moving back into a setup role, which was his primary niche before joining the Blue Jays. 

What could stop Toronto from forking over a top-line contract for Diaz or any reliever for that matter, though, is it potentially viewing adding an ace as higher up on the list of needs (the Blue Jays’ starting rotation was 20th in MLB with a 4.34 ERA in the 2025 regular season) – and a proven closer being exactly what another team needs.

Yes, the Dodgers just won the World Series – again. But for the sake of having as close to a perfect roster as possible, Diaz is exactly what the Dodgers need.

In the regular season, the Dodgers’ bullpen was tied for 20th in ERA (4.27), a mark which was also 11th out of 12 playoff teams. Moreover, they were tied for 20th in WHIP (1.33), which was last among playoff teams. Left-hander Tanner Scott, who was signed to a four-year, $72 million deal last offseason, recorded a 4.74 ERA and led MLB with 10 blown saves; Kirby Yates, who was signed to a one-year, $13 million deal last offseason, posted a 5.23 ERA.

While, more often than not, Los Angeles was able to evade trouble in the postseason, it finished the playoffs with a 1.57 bullpen WHIP, with the unit being aided by starter Roki Sasaki becoming a fixture in the late innings. To avoid entering the postseason with a shaky bullpen, getting a new closer should be priority No. 1 for the Dodgers this offseason.

Diaz would become manager Dave Roberts’ new closer, giving him an established All-Star-caliber reliever who has also shut the door in postseason games. If Scott gets back on track and/or the Dodgers have an internal development, the more, the merrier. But they can’t take any chances.

The Dodgers have the money, as a $350 million payroll in 2025 showed, and the need. They’re the perfect fit for Diaz.

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Now that the confetti is clear from the Dodgers’ World Series victory parade, it’s time to start looking ahead to the World Baseball Classic.

Airing on FOX and its affiliate networks in March 2026, the sixth iteration of this tournament will feature 20 countries and territories whose best players will compete to prove that their country is the crème de la crème of professional baseball.

With that in mind, let’s dive into the early odds at DraftKings Sportsbook as of Nov. 18.

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World Baseball Classic 2026

USA: +160 (bet $10 to win $26 total)
Japan: +290 (bet $10 to win $39 total)
Dominican Republic: +425 (bet $10 to win $52.50 total)
Puerto Rico: +900 (bet $10 to win $100 total)
Venezuela: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)
Mexico: +1800 (bet $10 to win $190 total)
South Korea: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total)
Netherlands: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)
Italy: +4000 (bet $10 to win $410 total)
Cuba: +4000 (bet $10 to win $410 total)
Canada: +4000 (bet $10 to win $410 total)
Colombia: +4000 (bet $10 to win $410 total)
Panama: +6000 (bet $10 to win $610 total)
Israel: +8000 (bet $10 to win $810 total)
Australia: +8000 (bet $10 to win $810 total)
Chinese Taipei: +8000 (bet $10 to win $810 total)
Great Britain: +10000 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)
Czech Republic: +10000 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)
Nicaragua: +10000 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)
Brazil: +10000 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)

Here is what to know about the WBC oddsboard:

WBC Favorites: The USA is the early favorite to take the crown in next year’s premier global event, followed closely by Japan at +290. In 2023, the United States finished as runner-up to Japan, losing 3-2. The final at-bat of the thrilling championship game featured Shohei Ohtani pitching to Mike Trout. The two were teammates at the time on the Angels. Ohtani was able to strike out Trout in that final at-bat, lifting his home country to victory and earning Japan’s third World Baseball Classic title in the process. The USA has one piece of WBC hardware in its trophy case, last winning the event in 2017 after defeating Puerto Rico. Neither the USA nor Japan roster has been finalized, but chances are a trio of Dodger teammates — Ohtani, World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Dodgers closer Roki Sasaki — will represent the Japanese. For the USA, Aaron Judge, Paul Skenes and Cal Raleigh, among others, have committed to play.

Familial Territory: Speaking of Puerto Rico, at +900, the U.S. territory is fourth on the board. In addition to finishing as runner-up to the USA in 2017, P.R. was runner-up to the Dominican Republic in 2013. Unfortunately for Puerto Rico, the team will likely have to compete in the classic without one of its biggest stars, Kiké Hernández. The Dodgers’ utility player announced that he underwent left elbow surgery recently which will prevent him from playing in the tournament next spring.

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The Women’s Pro Baseball League will play its inaugural season at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois.

The WPBL plans to begin play on Aug. 1. The Women’s Baseball World Cup is being held in Rockford — about three hours north of Springfield — from July 22-26.

Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and Boston are the four teams for the league’s 2026 season. San Francisco will pick first in a snake-style draft on Thursday night, followed by Los Angeles, New York and Boston. The WPBL said there will be six rounds, with each team selecting five players per round.

Former Little League star Mo’ne Davis, USA Baseball’s Kelsie Whitmore and Japanese pitcher Ayami Sato are among the top players expected to be selected in the draft.

The WPBL said Robin Roberts Stadium “offers a central location” among its four founding clubs. Springfield also hosted one of the earliest paid women’s games in 1875, according to a WPBL news release.

The ballpark has a seating capacity of 5,200, and it recently installed a LED videoboard.

The upstart WPBL was co-founded by Justine Siegal, the first woman to coach for an MLB team, the Oakland Athletics, in 2015. When it debuts, it will be the first pro league for women since the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League — immortalized in the film “A League of Their Own” — dissolved in 1954.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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Right-hander Tatsuya Imai is entering Major League Baseball’s posting system and will be available to teams to sign as a free agent from Wednesday through Jan. 2.

He joins power-hitting corner infielder Munetaka Murakami, whose 45-day window to sign expires Dec. 22.

A 27-year-old right-hander, Imai went 10-5 with a 1.92 ERA this season with the Pacific League’s Seibu Lions. He struck out 178 batters in 163 2/3 innings.

Imai is 58-45 with a 3.15 ERA in eight seasons with Seibu, with 907 strikeouts in 963 2/3 innings. He is a three-time All-Star.

Imai pitched eight innings of a combined no-hitter against Fukuoka on April 18. He struck out 17 against Yokohama on June 17, breaking Daisuke Matsuzaka’s previous team record of 16 from 2004.

Per a report from Nikkan Sports, Tokyo Giants infielder Kazuma Okamoto is also set to be made available through the posting system on Wednesday. Like with Imai, Okamoto is represented by agent Scott Boras, and was brought through the initial stages of the process at the same time.

Okamoto, 29, has spent 11 seasons in NPB, and batted .327/.416/.598 in an injury-shortened 2025. He had appeared in at least 140 games in each of the previous four seasons, before a wrist injury cut this past campaign short. Okamoto still hit 15 home runs in 293 plate appearances, however, and 37 extra-base hits overall.

FOX Sports MLB analyst Rowan Kavner ranked Imai the No. 17 free agent this offseason in his top-30 list, and Okamoto No. 22. For the former he wrote that, “Imai continues to get better every year, seeing his strikeout rate rise and his walk rate decline precipitously,” while for the latter, “Okamoto is four years older than Murakami and doesn’t have the same raw power or star ceiling, but he also doesn’t strike out nearly as often and might have the higher floor.”

Under MLB’s posting agreement with Nippon Professional Baseball, the posting fee would be 20% of the first $25 million of a major league contract, including earned bonuses and options. The percentage drops to 17.5% of the next $25 million and 15% of any amount over $50 million. There would be a supplemental fee of 15% of any earned bonuses, salary escalators and exercised options.

How does the posting process work? Here’s a primer.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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If a team is looking for power, third baseman Eugenio Suarez fits the bill and then some.

Last season, which Suarez split between the Seattle Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks, he uncorked 49 home runs and posted a .526 slugging percentage. Suarez would be a great fit in Seattle for the foreseeable future, as the 34-year-old would fill a position of need for a Mariners team that was one win away from reaching their first-ever World Series.

However, any team in need of a third baseman will likely see what it costs to sign Suarez. And with that, here are the three best free agent fits for Suarez should he depart Seattle.

In theory, the Yankees’ 2026 starting lineup comes internally from one-to-nine, assuming that they re-sign one of outfielders Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham. But that lineup doesn’t have to be written with a Sharpie; Suarez would be a high-voltage pickup for New York.

Excluding the 2020 MLB season, Suarez has averaged 35.1 home runs per season over the last seven years. He would add another impact bat to a Yankees’ offense that led MLB with 274 home runs last season and be an overall upgrade at third base.

So, why make a move at third base? New York appears married to Anthony Volpe at shortstop, with Jose Caballero pushing him; Jazz Chisholm Jr. is the everyday second baseman; Ben Rice likely replaces Paul Goldschmidt at first base. Sure, Ryan McMahon is due $32 million over the next two seasons and is a great third baseman. At the same time, he hit just .214 last season and has extensive experience starting at second base, too. Suarez can take over at third base with McMahon moving into a utility role. 

All that said, the Yankees may refrain from backing up the truck for Suarez, instead preferring to get a third baseman who hasn’t entered their prime (Munetaka Murakami?) or at least one with a better defensive track record (Suarez posted -6 DRS at third base last season) should they entertain upgrading from McMahon.

Suarez is precisely what the 2026 Tigers need, and they don’t have to trade any prospects to get him.

Detroit shuffled several players at third base last season, including Zach McKinstry, Colt Keith and Andy Ibanez, among others. Signing Suarez would end the ever-fluid situation for the Tigers at the hot corner. Suarez, who ranked in the 89th percentile of MLB in barrel percentage last season (14.3%), would not only give the Mariners a proven third baseman but also a right-handed hitter with mammoth power.

While Detroit’s offense was a plausible unit, it ranked eighth out of 12 playoff teams in slugging percentage (.413). Suarez would fill a loose end and concurrently provide a power jolt to an offense that’s ready to roll. A lineup that features Riley Greene, Kerry Carpenter, Spencer Torkelson and Suarez is one that would be one of the best power units in MLB. Suarez fits the Tigers’ timeline, as they’ve made the playoffs in back-to-back years and are coming off a grueling, first-round playoff series loss to the Mariners.

So, why isn’t Detroit the No. 1 team for Suarez?

Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said that the Pirates have “more flexibility than [they’ve] had in other offseasons.” It’s time for the Pirates to put their money where their mouth is.

Last season, Pittsburgh was last in MLB in runs (583), home runs (117) and slugging percentage (.350), and 28th in hits (1,244). In summation, the Pirates’ positional depth chart needs help across the board. Suarez would be a firm solution at third base for the coming years, adding a proven commodity to the corner infield position and desperately needed power.

The Pirates would likely have to be the top bidder for Suarez and make a concerted effort to improve their roster elsewhere to convince the veteran third baseman to hop aboard, but he’d fill a void and represent a step in the right direction. As for the rest of their infield, the Pirates could objectively hope that one of infielders Nick Gonzales – the No. 7 pick in the 2020 MLB Draft – and Jared Triolo come into their own. But if Pittsburgh’s offense could be a middle-of-the-pack unit, it would have a fighting chance at being a wild-card team.

Paul Skenes is arguably the best starting pitcher in baseball, but Pittsburgh’s starting rotation goes well beyond just the 2025 National League Cy Young Award winner. Last season, the Pirates’ starting rotation was sixth in ERA (3.71) and tied for sixth in WHIP (1.19). Mike Burrows and Carmen Mlodzinski flashed the potential to be rotation fixtures; esteemed pitching prospect Bubba Chandler made his big-league debut; Mitch Keller is a solid, rotation fixture; the Pirates selected right-hander Seth Hernandez with the No. 6 pick in the 2025 MLB Draft; prior to suffering a torn UCL, right-hander Jared Jones showcased the ability to be a strikeout pitcher and top-of-the-rotation force in 2024.

If now isn’t the time for the Pirates, who haven’t had a winning season since 2018, to spend and make a jump, then when is? 

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All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker is the top free agent in this year’s class, but that seemed like a foregone conclusion once Blue Jays’ slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. signed a 14-year, $500 million contract extension back in April.

Tucker has earned that honor — and, soon, hundreds of millions of dollars — not necessarily for just his 2025 season with the Chicago Cubs. This past year for Tucker was still highly productive, but it wasn’t demonstrably better than the ones preceding it. But he’s still been a 4-6 WAR player each of the last five seasons.

For other players in this year’s free-agent class, a resurgent year or surprise breakout came just at the right time. These are the 11 free agents (with their 2025 teams) who boosted their stock and increased their value the most by raising their level of play during the 2025 season: 

1. Bo Bichette, Shortstop, Toronto Blue Jays

2024: -0.3 bWAR, 0.3 fWAR
2025:  3.5 bWAR, 3.8 fWAR

Green Light: There’s a world in which Bichette is entering the offseason as the World Series hero. His Game 7 home run off Shohei Ohtani ultimately ended in defeat, but it was an example of the resolve he demonstrated in his quest to bring a World Series title to Toronto. Will the Blue Jays pay what it’ll cost to run it back with Bichette? It won’t come cheap anymore. This year was a rousing success for Bichette, who went from playing at a replacement level a year ago to returning to his more typical ways as one of the top offensive shortstops in the game. His .311 batting average was tied for the highest among all qualified players at his position, and he finished tied for second in the majors in hits despite missing 23 games. He’s the best middle infielder on the market, and he’s still in his prime at 27. 

Red Light: While injuries played a significant role in the poor performance in 2024, he was the worst shortstop in MLB by WAR (min. 300 plate appearances). He bounced back in a major way this year, but he graded out as one of the worst defensive shortstops in MLB, and he may need to shift off the position for his next team. In addition, injuries have limited him to 355 of a possible 486 games the last three seasons. How will all of that impact what teams are willing to pay? 

2. Trent Grisham, Outfielder, New York Yankees

2024: 0.4 bWAR, 0.5 fWAR 
2025:  3.5 bWAR, 3.2 fWAR 

Green Light: The fact that Grisham, who was worth a total of 11 WAR over his first six career seasons, got a qualifying offer from the Yankees speaks to the kind of year he just had. Safe to say, he is about to command a lot more than the $5 million the Yankees gave him last winter. In a contract year in pinstripes, Grisham enjoyed the best offensive season of his career, doubling his previous personal best in home runs with 34 while also establishing career highs in hits (116), runs (87), RBI (74), slugging (.464) and OPS (.811). He’s only 29, and if he continues to hit the ball as hard as he did and pull it in the air the way he was able to this year, there are reasons to believe this could stick. 

Red Light: His .235 batting average in 2025 marked the first time he hit over .200 in a season since 2021. For his career, he is a league average hitter. Grisham always had a keen eye at the plate and could work his walks, but that could lead to being overpassive. Even this past season, he had the fifth-lowest swing rate in MLB, but he did more damage when he swung. Will that continue? If it doesn’t, that could spell trouble ahead. He was known for his defensive prowess and his speed, both of which regressed this year. 

3. Kyle Schwarber, Designated Hitter, Philadelphia Phillies

2024: 3.5 bWAR, 3.3 fWAR
2025: 4.7 bWAR, 4.9 fWAR

Green Light: He’s the best hitter on the market. By wRC+, he was the sixth-best hitter in baseball in 2025. Schwarber led the National League with 56 homers and all of MLB with 132 RBI, both of which represented career highs. Even as a primary DH, he was worth nearly 5 WAR. The underlying numbers are encouraging, too. He had the highest hard-hit rate and third-highest barrel rate in MLB. His combination of power and patience — he had the seventh-highest walk rate among qualified hitters — strike fear in opposing pitchers in a way few can, and his presence in the locker room has been revered. 

Red Light: He’ll be entering his age 33 season, and he has made a total of 13 starts in the field the last two years. He probably needs to be a DH, which will limit the number of interested suitors. In addition, he represents an anomaly as a slugger coming off his best offensive season as his mid-30s approach. He already strikes out a lot, so if the power starts to dip at all, he’ll be in trouble. When does the regression come? 

4. Cody Bellinger, Outfielder/First Baseman, New York Yankees

2024: 2.2 bWAR, 2.1 fWAR
2025: 5.1 bWAR, 4.9 fWAR 

Green Light: It’s hard to imagine Bellinger’s first (and maybe last) season in pinstripes going much better. He was the second most valuable position player on the Yankees behind Aaron Judge and hit 29 homers with 98 RBI, both of which were his most since his 2019 MVP season. Bellinger is no longer the same hitter he was back then, now favoring a more contact-oriented approach that has him both homering and striking out far less than he did when he was a star in his early 20s in Los Angeles. This version is plenty productive, though. He has hit 25% better than league average over the last three seasons, he just produced his lowest strikeout rate of his career, and his ability to move around the diamond makes him a valuable piece for any team that could use a versatile corner outfielder or first baseman. 

Red Light: A reunion in the Bronx would make a lot of sense, especially considering his home/road splits. He had a .909 OPS in New York and a .715 OPS away from Yankee Stadium. He smartly pulled the ball in the air more often this year — all 29 of his homers went to right field or right-center — taking advantage of the short porch in right. That home run total would have been a bit smaller had he played his home games elsewhere (though he still could be a 20-plus home run hitter wherever he goes). With some significant reverse splits last season, Bellinger thrived against lefties (1.016 OPS) but had more pedestrian numbers against right-handers (.741). 

5. Harrison Bader, Outfielder, Philadelphia Phillies

2024: 0.9 bWAR, 1.2 fWAR
2025: 3.9 bWAR, 3.2 fWAR

Green Light: After bouncing from team to team in recent years, Bader enjoyed a career year split between the Twins and Phillies in 2025. He registered career highs in batting average, on-base percentage, OPS, hits, home runs, doubles and RBI while maintaining his usual defensive proficiency and plus speed. His .305 batting average in 50 games with the Phillies was the highest on the team, and his.824 OPS trailed only Schwarber and Bryce Harper. It seemed to be an ideal fit, but his work with the glove could be additive for any team in need of a defensive upgrade in the outfield. 

Red Light: Bader’s defensive prowess and athleticism provide a reliable floor. Offensively, though, he outproduced his underlying numbers rather significantly in 2025, aided by a career-high .359 batting average on balls in play (that number was .415 after his trade to the Phillies). He chases and strikes out more than you’d like for a player with his profile. In his three previous seasons, he hit 20% below league average. There were only six qualified outfielders with a worse wRC+ over that stretch from 2022-24, and he’ll be 32 next season. 

6. Jorge Polanco, Second Baseman/Designated Hitter, Seattle Mariners

2024: 1.3 bWAR, 0.3 fWAR
2025: 2.6 bWAR, 2.6 fWAR 

Green Light: What a difference a year makes. Coming off an injury-plagued season in Seattle, Polanco decided to stick with the Mariners, and he rewarded them for their faith. He enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career, hitting 34% better than league average while cutting his strikeout rate in half (15.6%) and hitting the ball harder than he had ever before. It was the most significant year-over-year decrease in strikeout rate among all qualified MLB hitters. He also posted the third-highest jump in slugging percentage, the eighth-highest jump in batting average and the 10th-highest jump in hard-hit rate among all qualified hitters.

Red Light: Polanco’s two seasons in Seattle demonstrated both the possibilities and the dangers in signing him. When he’s healthy, he can still be one of the more productive offensive middle infielders in the game. But injuries have limited his time on the field in recent years, he’ll probably need some time at DH wherever he goes to limit the wear and tear on his knees, and he offers little help defensively. 

7. Pete Alonso, First Baseman, New York Mets

2024: 2.6 bWAR, 2.1 fWAR
2025: 3.4 bWAR, 3.6 fWAR

Green Light: Alonso didn’t get the long-term deal he coveted last winter, but he will try again after posting a career-high .272 batting average and his highest slugging percentage (.524) since his rookie year in 2019. Alonso hit 44% above league average, and he actually underperformed his underlying numbers in one of the best seasons of his career. He registered the highest hard-hit rate and average exit velocity of his career while leading all first basemen with 38 home runs and 126 RBI and led the NL with 41 doubles. Teams in need of a power boost at first base need look no further. 

Red Light: Alonso hit .217 in 2023 and .240 in 2024. He was less passive in the zone in 2025, and it served him well as he saw a sizable jump in every slash-line category. But his poor defense at first base and limitations as a baserunner won’t get any better in his 30s. Plus, the winter isn’t always kind to players with his profile, as he found out last offseason. Will the boost he provides offensively be enough for a team to overlook his other deficiencies? 

8. Ranger Suárez, Starting Pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies

2024: 2.7 bWAR, 3.4 fWAR
2025: 4.7 bWAR, 4.0 fWAR 

Green Light: Suárez had his best year as a full-time starter, posting a 3.20 ERA that ranked 16th among all pitchers with at least 150 innings pitched in 2025. His vast arsenal of weapons and his precision make him adept at limiting hard contact and free passes, allowing him to consistently go deep into games. Suárez went at least six innings in 18 of his 26 starts and failed to go at least five just four times all year. And while he doesn’t rack up whiffs like a typical ace, he can still help a team with World Series aspirations. Suárez held the Dodgers to one run in five innings in his lone playoff start this year and has a career 1.48 postseason ERA. 

Red Light: His sinker, which is his most-used offering, registered at a career-low 90.1 mph this year. For what he might cost, teams may want someone with more overpowering stuff. He also has never made 30 starts in a season. This year’s 157.1 innings pitched represented a career high. 

9. Brandon Woodruff, Starting Pitcher, Milwaukee Brewers

2024: DNP
2025: 1.2 bWAR, 1.8 fWAR

Green Light: He was already a highly accomplished starter prior to the shoulder surgery that wiped out his 2024 season, and he returned in auspicious condition. In 12 starts, he was even better than his 3.20 ERA would indicate. His expected ERA (2.18), expected batting average (.172), strikeout rate (32.3%) and walk rate (5.4%) were the best of his career. 

Red Light: This will all be a moot point if he accepts the Brewers’ qualifying offer. Health will always be a concern — after returning from shoulder surgery, he was later sidelined down the stretch with a lat muscle strain — and his fastball velocity was notably down from pre-surgery form. He clearly still found a way to make it work, though, adding a cutter and holding opponents to a .181 batting average with 51 strikeouts with his four-seamer. If he declines Milwaukee’s offer, his market will be fascinating as he approaches his age-33 season. 

10. Edwin Díaz, Reliever, New York Mets

2024: 0.5 bWAR, 1.1 fWAR
2025: 3.0 bWAR, 2.0 fWAR

Green Light: When healthy, he’s still arguably the best reliever in the game. Another year removed from the knee injury that wiped out his 2023 season, Díaz showcased that in an All-Star 2025 season in which he racked up 98 strikeouts in 66.1 innings with a 1.63 ERA. His 38% strikeout rate trailed only Mason Miller for the top mark among all qualified MLB relievers. 

Red Light: His four-seamer averaged 97.2 mph this year, down from 99.1 in 2022 and 97.5 in 2023. It’s still plenty effective — opponents hit just .133 with 39 strikeouts against the pitch — but for an overpowering closer who’s reliant on two pitches, it’s something worth monitoring. Entering his age 32 season, that velo could continue trending the wrong direction. 

11. Gleyber Torres, Second Baseman, Detroit Tigers

2024: 1.8 bWAR, 1.8 fWAR
2025: 2.9 bWAR, 2.6 fWAR

Green Light: A 29-year-old with his plate discipline should be tantalizing for any team in need of an offensive boost at second base. Torres tried to re-establish his value in Detroit after a down year with the Yankees and enjoyed his first All-Star season since 2019, posting an .812 OPS in the first half. His numbers dipped precipitously in the second half, but that could be explained by the hernia injury he was gritting through. His underlying numbers were notably better than they were the season prior with the Yankees and suggested some unluckiness in his overall totals in 2025. Torres logged the highest on-base percentage of his career (.358) and his highest walk rate over a full season (13.5%). Juan Soto was the only qualified player with a lower chase rate than Torres. 

Red Light: His hernia injury required surgery after the season. So, while that can help explain the drop-off in production, you also have to wonder if that will give prospective suitors some pause. So will the qualifying offer he received from Detroit, should he choose to decline it. Torres also is a below-average defender and baserunner whose success has fluctuated in recent years. 

Honorable mentions: Alex Bregman, 3B; Eugenio Suárez, 3B; Merrill Kelly, SP; Ryan O’Hearn, 1B/OF

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

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