Category: Baseball

The Guardians were the only team with a negative run differential in this year’s postseason, pointing to a vulnerable area that needs to be addressed. The Tigers somehow survived a historic second-half collapse and qualified for the playoffs, only to lose to the Seattle Mariners in the 15th inning of Game 5 of the American League Division Series. 

The Royals are one or two impact players away from making a playoff run for just the second time since their 2015 championship. The Twins still haven’t demonstrated whether they’re fielding a competitive team next year, and the White Sox… Well, they’ll be better than they were a year ago.

After tackling the needs of the East, our series continues with the American League Central. Here are the biggest needs for a division that’s no longer considered a laughingstock, but still has plenty of work to do:

Teams are listed in order of their records, best to worst, in the 2025 season.

CLEVELAND GUARDIANS

Biggest need: Offensive boost 

The Guardians’ 3.9 runs per game this year were ranked 28th in MLB, better only than the Rockies and Pirates. And they still finished first in the division! Even so, for a lineup led by Jose Ramirez, who is consistently one of the game’s best hitters, outscoring only Colorado and Pittsburgh is preposterous. “Guards Ball,” or similar to the contact-driven style of offense we saw from the Toronto Blue Jays in their loud run to the World Series, works better when there is some level of consistent power involved. And, like the Jays, it would help if the Guardians doubled their payroll. 

Alas, there are no indications that Cleveland will run a payroll that’s higher than the $90–100 million range it’s been comfortable with in recent years. But there should still be some financial flexibility for free agents or trades heading into the 2026 season. The Guardians can attempt to address their lack of threats at the plate by adding a right-handed bat or two to their lefty-heavy lineup. I’m skeptical that they would pay lavishly for free agent first baseman Pete Alonso, and though he would significantly improve their offense, that’s a splashy move Cleveland typically hesitates to make. It’s more likely they will promote their No. 2 overall prospect, outfielder Chase DeLauter, who hits for both average and power, but his injury history is worth keeping an eye on.

DETROIT TIGERS

Biggest need: Starting pitching (if keeping Tarik Skubal)

Anything and everything the Tigers do this offseason will have the Skubal Decision looming all over it. He has expressed his interest in wanting to make Detroit a baseball city again. He is the current face of their franchise. The Tigers are an up-and-coming organization with legitimate World Series chances when Skubal is leading the rotation. He belongs in Detroit long-term, but will the Tigers ever pay him what he’s worth? The two sides are reportedly far apart in negotiations for an extension, and now the soon-to-be repeat Cy Young award winner looks all but certain to enter free agency next offseason, if not, become a trade-deadline candidate in July. 

So if the Tigers aren’t blown away by an enticing trade package (think: king’s ransom) for Skubal this winter, they can go ahead and plan for another year of contention with him in 2026. If that’s the case, they need starting-pitching help behind their ace. Going after left-handed free agent Ranger Suarez would create a terrific 1-2 punch in the rotation. Detroit has room in the payroll to add a top-tier starter, unless they’re allocating that money toward their corner-infield holes. Like last offseason, Alex Bregman is a free agent again and the Tigers could once again be finalists for the veteran third baseman. 

KANSAS CITY ROYALS

Biggest need: Thump from outfielders

The Royals rotation — led by Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo, Kris Bubic, and friends — is built to win now. The Royals have to improve their offense to supplement that strong starting-pitching staff. They can start by building around a core group of hitters — including Bobby Witt Jr., Salvador Perez, Vinnie Pasquantino, and Maikel Garcia — that patrols the infield. The Royals need more thump in the lineup from their outfielders, with a clear need at a corner position. Kansas City outfielders ranked last in MLB in on-base percentage and slugging, and 29th in batting average this year. 

Since the Royals have a surplus of starters and catching depth in the farm system, it’s possible they’ll focus on trades to improve those mediocre numbers. But it’s not as if they flash a payroll that’s in the basement next to the Marlins, A’s, White Sox, or Pirates. The Royals can certainly afford to shop for an outfielder on the market, where someone like free agent Cody Bellinger could make an impact. And, in a division as unpredictable as the AL Central, they have to go for it. Adding an impact bat could make them the favorites to win the division next year.

MINNESOTA TWINS

Biggest need: Relief pitchers

Are the Twins going into a rebuild after gutting the team at the trade deadline this year? Or are they actually trying to be competitive and aiming to fill a significant number of roster holes for next year? As of now, it’s unclear. But Twins fans deserve some hope for the future, so let’s presume it’s the latter, and Minnesota will take on the challenge of addressing its roster weaknesses. That starts with adding to a bullpen that lost closer Jhoan Duran and more relievers in Louis Varland, Griffin Jax, Brock Stewart and Danny Coulombe as part of July’s fire sale.

There’s a ton of opportunity to rebuild here, if only because the Twins are essentially starting from scratch. They can transform one of their many starting pitchers into a relief arm, like they did with Jax and Varland. But, even if they go that route, it’s hard to imagine the Twins going through the offseason without at least one outside addition, either through trade or free agency. No, a deal for Edwin Diaz isn’t expected. But, as the hot stove season progresses, there will be a handful of mid- to low-tier free-agent relievers who will get squeezed into accepting deals.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX

Biggest need: Pitching in starting and relief

The White Sox won 19 more games this year than they did last year. Sure, they still finished with 102 losses in 2025, but they genuinely looked like a slightly better-than mediocre baseball team in the second half of the season. They almost finished with a .500 record in July, falling just one win short of that achievement. All of which to say, there were at times flashes of encouragement from the White Sox this year. It appears we are past their infamous 2024 season, where they recorded the most losses (121) in modern MLB history.

To continue in their rebuild, they could finally trade outfielder Luis Robert Jr. after years of speculation, rid themselves of his $20 million salary, and put it to better use in the pitching staff. Chicago needs more veteran arms in the rotation and bullpen to help offset the workload of their younger pitchers. These don’t necessarily need to be quality arms. But innings-eaters will help simplify the development of top left-handed prospects Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith, since both pitchers are expected to be promoted in 2026.

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

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Munetaka Murakami could be the next big thing in Major League Baseball.

After playing eight seasons for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of the Nippon Professional Baseball League (NPB), Murakami, a two-time NPB MVP, has been posted to MLB teams to negotiate a potential contract. A primary third baseman who also has experience playing first base, Murakami has showcased mammoth power from the left side of the plate, most notably hitting 56 home runs and posting a .710 slugging percentage in 2022.

Here are the three best fits for Murakami, who will be 26 at the start of the 2026 MLB season.

After missing the World Series by one game, the Mariners are in the thick of championship contention, but one-third of their starting lineup is a free agent this offseason and, either way, the time is now for them to spend like contenders. Murakami would be a statement, long-term signing.

Josh Naylor, Eugenio Suarez and Jorge Polanco are all free agents, meaning three starting-caliber infielders (Polanco was primarily the Mariners’ designated hitter in 2025, but he has played second base and shortstop throughout his MLB career) could break free from Seattle this offseason; there could easily be a void, if not two, to fill in the Mariners’ infield, which Murakami could emphatically do. Murakami would start at the hot corner, adding needed slug to replace the potential departure of Suarez, while providing a left-handed bat.

Plus, if Seattle decides that it would rather have Murakami play first base as his career progresses, it opens the door to add a star third baseman down the road. Regardless of the position he plays, Murakami would give the Mariners the prime years of a potential impact hitter. 

With that said, the Mariners could instead choose to retain their starting infield, specifically Suarez at third base, with the mindset of keeping a proven commodity in place for a team likely seeking certainty in its starting lineup.

Chicago has an array of big-time boppers, but one of them could be out the door this offseason in star outfielder Kyle Tucker, who figures to have at least one-third of the sport vying for his services. If the Cubs feel that the price isn’t right, they could spend a chunk of the money they would’ve given to Tucker to secure their third baseman of the future in Murakami.

With Tucker theoretically gone, Murakami would keep the balance of left-handed vs. right-handed hitters in Chicago’s order intact and add even more upside to an offense primarily made up of players in its prime. Batting in an offense that’s headlined by Michael Busch, Seiya Suzuki, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Ian Happ, among others, Murakami doesn’t have to be an All-Star-caliber hitter from the jump. Plus, if Murakami has a slow start firing in throws from third base, he has Busch, who has posted positive DRS at first base in each of the past two seasons, to scoop out errant throws. 

So, what do the Cubs do with soon-to-be second-year third baseman and 2023 first-round pick Matt Shaw? Package him as part of a trade for a much-needed top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher (e.g. MacKenzie Gore or, if they’re actually available for a king’s ransom, Tarik Skubal and Joe Ryan).

What could stop a full-fledged pursuit of Murakami for Chicago, though, is if it believes that Shaw could become a star and subsequently doesn’t allow itself to be outbid to keep Tucker.

Last offseason, the Yankees lost a then-26-year-old, left-handed-hitting star to free agency in Juan Soto. This offseason, they could sign a soon-to-be 26-year-old left-handed hitter for the long haul in Murakami.

“What is the Yankees’ lineup without Aaron Judge?” The temperature would be brought down on that yearly question, which is used against New York’s offensive success as Judge continues to hit at a historic level. Murakami could be an electric hitter who’s placed in the heart of the Yankees’ lineup and generates power on his own. He’d start at the hot corner, and if New York doesn’t like what it sees defensively and/or it projects first baseman/catcher Ben Rice to be behind the plate on a full-time basis, Murakami can move to first base.

This is a Yankees’ offense where, outside of Rice, esteemed, homegrown players have struggled to progress as hitters (e.g. Anthony Volpe and Jasson Dominquez, granted it’s still early with the latter). Murakami would be fresh blood for that core and somebody whose game possesses upside.

Yes, the Yankees acquired third baseman Ryan McMahon before last season’s trade deadline, and he’s due $32 million over the next two seasons. At the same time, McMahon hit just .214 in 2025. If a tangible offensive upgrade presents itself, the Yankees can’t turn their back on it because of McMahon’s contract. Plus, McMahon, a stellar fielder, has extensive experience playing both third base and second base, allowing him to ease into a utility role.

The Yankees had as many regular-season wins as the team that eliminated them in the playoffs and went on to win the AL in the Toronto Blue Jays. With a more balanced offense and healthy starting rotation – 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole missed all of 2025, and 2024 AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil missed the first half of 2025 – New York is as talented as any team in the AL. Murakami could be the juice that the Yankees need.

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Moments after Craig Stammen was introduced as manager of the San Diego Padres on Monday, general manager A.J. Preller turned to the former reliever and light-heartedly said, “How’d we get here?”

That’s something Padres fans and many people around baseball have wondered since Thursday, when the Padres made the surprising announcement that Stammen had replaced Mike Shildt. Citing burnout, Shildt retired on Oct. 13 after just two seasons on the job, less than two weeks after the Padres were eliminated in the wild card round by the Chicago Cubs.

The 41-year-old Stammen, just three seasons removed from throwing his last big league pitch, has been with the Padres organization since 2017. Preller felt he had enough good qualities and knowledge of the team to make him skipper despite having no previous coaching or managing experience at any level.

Stammen went from helping interview candidates for the job to becoming a candidate to getting the job. He’ll lead a team that’s made four playoff appearances in six seasons and is led by stars Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado.

He retired in August 2023 after it became clear he wouldn’t bounce back from a shoulder injury sustained during spring training. He became an assistant to the major league coaching staff and the baseball operations department, and he said Preller often asked if he wanted more responsibilities in the organization while understanding Stammen was balancing his job with his home life with his wife, Audrey, and their four young children back in Ohio.

“He was very coy about it at the beginning,” Stammen said. “We kind of got through the interview process, the beginning of it, and then he put the sales kibosh on me and said, ’I really want you to be a part of the process; I want you to think about being the manager of the Padres.'”

Stammen wasn’t sure about moving his family to California. He had numerous conversations with his wife and others and cited Preller’s continued belief in him, without which “I probably would have not gone down the path as strongly as we did.

“Eventually, it got to the point where it was a yes for us. We made some family decisions to make that happen. Once we made that decision, there was a peace and a joy that came with it and an opportunity that there’s no way I could say no to. That’s where we said yes, and luckily enough and thankful enough, I was offered the job and here we are today, ready to make something happen.”

This is the third time Preller has hired a manager with little or no previous managerial experience. Stammen is the Padres’ sixth manager since 2015, not counting interim skippers.

Preller harkened back to what he’s seen of Stammen since his first season with the Padres in 2017, when he was coming off an arm injury and had joined San Diego as a free agent.

“He’s an elite competitor, incredibly hard worker, very prepared and a natural leader and somebody that, as a pitcher, was able to touch different elements of our clubhouse and be able to bond and connect with different players in that clubhouse over the course of a seven- or eight-year period here in San Diego.” Preller said.

“Craig has a unique seat, a unique lens. He was part of those building teams, and then he’s been able to see it through to the playoff teams and the teams that have won 90-plus games here the last two years. He’s part of some really high highs … Craig starting a playoff game, which is definitely a career highlight, and he also had a front-row seat to some of the disappointments of the last few years, and I think he’s going to carry those experiences with him here in this chair.”

Stammen is best known for starting the deciding Game 3 of the 2020 Wild Card Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, who at the time were managed by Shildt. He pitched 1 2/3 innings as the first of nine pitchers the Padres used in the 4-0 win, which clinched their first postseason series victory since 1998.

Stammen said it will be a “challenge for sure. I’ve got a big learning curve ahead of me.” But he said he has a great relationship with pitching coach Ruben Niebla – who was interviewed for the manager’s job – as well as with many of the players who were once his teammates.

“One of the advantages of being a relief pitcher and viewing the game from that lens is you’re always monitoring when the pitching changes are coming,” Stammen said. “Especially in the role I had, I had to be ready from pitch one until the end of the game.”

He said he and Niebla will “be a lethal combo” in making pitching decisions.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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Athletics slugger Nick Kurtz and Braves catcher Drake Baldwin won Rookie of the Year honors, with Kurtz taking the AL award in unanimous fashion.

The 22-year-old Kurtz batted .290 with 36 homers, 86 RBIs and a 1.002 OPS in 117 games this year. The first baseman became the eighth rookie since 1901 to finish with an OPS over 1.000 while making at least 400 plate appearances.

A’s teammate Jacob Wilson was second in balloting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America that was announced on Monday night. Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony was third. Cubs pitcher Cade Horton and Brewers infielder Caleb Durbin finished behind Baldwin for NL honors. 

Each Rookie of the Year gets $750,000 from a pre-arbitration bonus pool, and each runner-up receives $500,000.

The Manager of the Year for each league will be announced on Tuesday, followed by the Cy Young Award winners on Wednesday.

Baldwin, 24, stepped up for Atlanta after No. 1 catcher Sean Murphy was sidelined by a cracked rib in spring training. While Murphy was limited by injuries for much of the year, Baldwin hit .274 with 19 homers, 80 RBIs and an .810 OPS in 124 games.

Baldwin’s win secured an extra selection for Atlanta after the first round in next year’s amateur draft under the collective bargaining agreement’s prospect promotion incentive.

Kurtz, 22, starred at Wake Forest University before he was selected by the A’s with the No. 4 pick in the 2024 amateur draft. The 6-foot-5 slugger began this season in the minors, but he hit an RBI single in his first big league at-bat on April 23 against Texas.

It was a sign of things to come.

He hit a solo drive off Dodgers reliever J.P. Feyereisen for his first big league homer on May 13. He belted four more homers in a span of four days that same month, including his first career multihomer game on May 21 against the Angels.

He had his signature performance on July 25 at Houston, becoming the youngest player in major league history and the first rookie to hit four home runs in one game. He went 6 for 6 with eight RBIs while matching an MLB record with 19 total bases.

Wilson, 23, also had a terrific rookie season for the A’s, batting .311 with 13 homers and 63 RBIs. He was the starting shortstop for the AL in the All-Star Game.

Anthony, 21, made his big league debut on June 9. He batted .292 with eight homers and 32 RBIs in 71 games with Boston before his season was cut short by an oblique injury.

Reporting by The Associated Press. 

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A month before Nick Kurtz put the exclamation mark on his Rookie of the Year campaign when he became the youngest player ever to homer four times in a game, Athletics slugger Brent Rooker already knew what he was witnessing was unlike anything he had seen from a 22-year-old. 

The Athletics returned home from a road trip to host an Astros team that employed two of Major League Baseball’s most overpowering late-inning relievers in Bryan Abreu and Josh Hader. On June 16, Rooker was standing on first base in a tie game in the bottom of the ninth inning when Kurtz pulverized a slider from Abreu, pulling it 111.7 mph off the bat and 447 feet out to right field at Sutter Health Park for a walk-off home run. 

Three days later, Kurtz walked off Hader in a similar manner, taking the Astros closer 416 feet out to dead center.

It was one of just two home runs that Hader allowed to a left-handed hitter all year, and it came off the bat of a player who was less than a year removed from his last college game. 

“I think a lot of our eyes were opened,” Rooker told me months later, “to just kind of how special he is.” 

It was around that time that Kurtz transformed from an intriguing prospect into the best hitter in Major League Baseball. From June 15 through the end of the season, Kurtz led MLB in both OPS (1.112) and wrC+ (200), hitting 100% better than league average and posting numbers that topped even what Yankees star Aaron Judge accomplished over that time. It was one of the best second halves ever, a remarkable feat for any player, let alone one who was drafted the season prior and had played in only 32 minor-league games. 

“There’s obviously a little bit of pressure added on top of that because, ‘He moved up fast, is he ready, is he not?’” Kurtz told me in September, a day before the A’s put up 17 runs on the Angels. “That’s kind of why you do it, you know? Yeah, it’s tough, but it’s what makes it fun and kind of the challenge of it all. All right, how good can I be with all that pressure?”

Historically good, as it turns out. 

Kurtz wasn’t called up until April 23, yet he still produced one of the greatest rookie seasons of all time, launching 36 home runs with a 1.002 OPS. The only other rookies to reach those numbers in the last 100 years were Judge in 2017 and Albert Pujols in 2001. 

The circumstances could’ve overwhelmed Kurtz. Instead, the quick ascension — and the doubters that came with it — served as extra motivation. 

“You think I’m not as good as I am? I’m going to try to prove you wrong,’” Kurtz said. “Then there’s also going and proving people right.”

‘He’s Years Advanced’

It’s easy now, considering Kurtz was crowned the unanimous Rookie of the Year on Monday, to forget that it took some time for his raw power to manifest as a big leaguer. 

For much of the year, Kurtz’s teammate, Jacob Wilson, was the odds-on favorite to win MLB’s top rookie honor. While Wilson racked up hits in bunches, Kurtz had a .558 OPS 23 games into his career. 

The 2024 No. 4 overall pick didn’t hit his first home run until his 17th game, and after he finally went deep, he then went hitless over his next six games. Kurtz struck out in 31 of his first 77 at-bats. 

And yet, by season’s end, he still led all rookies in home runs, runs, RBI, walks, slugging and OPS.

“The mental fortitude he has at 22, I was nowhere near that,” said teammate Shea Langeliers. “He’s years advanced.”

Langeliers, a 2019 first-round pick who was also an A’s top prospect when he debuted at 24 years old, could relate more than most to Kurtz’s situation. During Kurtz’s slow start, he encouraged the phenom first baseman to take a step back and think about the incredible situation he found himself in, living out his lifelong dream. 

The early growing pains were understandable for a player in Kurtz who was playing college baseball just a year ago. Suddenly, the pitches were moving more, and he was no longer seeing the same mistakes he was making at the lower levels with the same frequency. 

“It can be overwhelming,” Langeliers said. “It feels like you’ve got to be the best player on the field at all times.”

The biggest change Kurtz had to make was more mental than mechanical. 

Entering the big leagues, he always thought he should be able to get a hit off anybody in any at-bat. He would learn that’s not always possible. 

“Just being OK with failure,” Kurtz explained. “Being OK with, ‘I can’t hit a homer off this guy today, what else can I do to get on base? How can I provide value?’”

His A’s teammates helped him gain that perspective. 

“I’m talking to Shea, I’m talking to Rook, I’m talking to guys that are like, ‘This is what they’re doing to you, you got nothing to hit that at-bat, move on,’” Kurtz said. “… A lot of it is like, OK, what do I do now? What do I need to change? I got a hit off that last time. What should I look for next time?’”

Kurtz is prone to swing and miss, but he doesn’t chase out of the zone, and he’ll take his free passes. He always has. In just three seasons at Wake Forest, Kurtz set the team’s single-season and career records for walks. Even when Kurtz’s power wasn’t translating early on with the A’s, his teammates saw that same quality of at-bat and advanced approach and believed it was only a matter of time until everything clicked. They would relay those words of encouragement to the 22-year-old slugger. 

“‘Hey man, you’re obviously super talented,” Rooker would tell him. “Just keep doing what you’re doing, keep doing the right things, the production’s going to come.”

“‘You made it, just enjoy the moment, be in the moment,’” Langeliers recalled telling Kurtz. “And just something along the lines of, ‘Be yourself. You don’t have to be anything more. You’re here for a reason. You are that good. Just believe in that.’” 

Darren Bush, the team’s director of hitting, encouraged Kurtz to be a good hitter first and the home runs would follow. Over a 43-game stretch after the early slump, Kurtz blasted 22 homers. 

Mechanically, nothing significant had changed. 

“He was drafted last year, and he’s in the big leagues,” Bush said. “You’re not going to make a whole lot of changes. You have to learn how to adjust. You have to learn how to face big-league pitching and understand what they’re trying to do, and you have to learn how to continue to do what you do well and not allow them to alter you off of what you do well. That takes time.”

Yet after the slow start, Kurtz somehow seemed immune from the peaks and valleys most young players experience. 

While his average dipped down the stretch, his OPS for each individual month from May through the end of the year was above .850. He could hit any type of pitch, slugging over .500 against fastballs, breaking balls and offspeed pitches. 

By year’s end, he was one of just three players along with Judge and Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani to finish the season with an OPS over 1.000 in more than 400 at-bats. Seeing his name alongside those MVPs elicited a grin. 

“Obviously I know it’s there, I have Instagram,” Kurtz said. “I see that kind of stuff.” 

He tries not to let it impact him. 

“I really just like being where my feet are,” Kurtz said. “Today, let’s worry about today. Today sucked? OK, let’s worry about tomorrow. That’s how I kind of deal with failure, moving on. Baseball’s not life or death.” 

Homers and Standing Ovations

That mindset, even going back to Wake Forest, has always served Kurtz well. 

Kurtz had an OPS over 1.100 all three years in college, but through his first 19 games of his junior season, he was hitting .231 with only three home runs. 

He then mashed 14 home runs over his next 10 games. 

His ability to withstand the ups and downs of a season, Wake Forest head coach Tom Walter believes, is both the result of Kurtz’s exceptional decision-making at the plate and his personality. Even when Kurtz was getting pitched around late in his college career, he didn’t let that frustration bleed into his performance or force him out of the zone. 

“It’s not a ‘ride the emotional rollercoaster,’” Walter told me. “He takes a mature and professional approach to the game, and he understands that there are going to be stretches where you’re struggling, and there are going to be stretches where you’re really going good, and over time those are going to kind of even out.”

That’s how it played out in his first year with the A’s. 

Kurtz, who describes himself as a streaky power hitter, hit four home runs over a four-game stretch and seemed to be picking up steam in late May when he strained his hip flexor. He returned on June 9. A week later, he delivered the walk-offs against Abreu and Hader. 

Suddenly, the home runs started coming in bunches. 

His prodigious power was evident in his bat speed (sixth highest in MLB this year), his barrel rate (seventh in MLB), his 18 home runs that traveled more than 400 feet and the way he sprayed his homers across all fields. From July 8-21, he launched six in 10 games, setting the scene for the most memorable game of his captivating rookie year. 

On July 25 in Houston, Kurtz went 6-for-6 with four home runs, a feat accomplished only one other time in MLB history, when Shawn Green did it in 2002. Three of his four home runs went the other way into the Crawford Boxes in left field. It was such an extraordinary power display that it even earned an ovation and hat tips from Houston fans.

The rest of the year, Kurtz would continue to inspire awe with his feats of strength. 

In the middle of September, he hit such a breathtaking grand slam that his teammate Lawrence Butler, who was standing on second base, just turned around and stared at the ball with his mouth agape. The mammoth shot to center, a 493-foot blast that cleared the batter’s eye at Sutter Health Park, was the longest home run by any player since Ohtani hit one the same projected distance two years prior. 

“The way he handled the failure, this kid gets it,” Langeliers told me. “A lot of guys — I would say most guys — struggle with that when they first get here just because whatever your hole is, they’re going to find it, and they’re going to expose you.”

Only time will tell how Kurtz might need to adjust again. His breakout year came despite struggles against lefties and the seventh-highest strikeout rate among all players with at least 400 plate appearances. In addition, poor defensive grades at first base limited his overall value. Those deficiencies might also demonstrate the ceiling still untapped in the preternatural 22-year-old, who is part of a fascinating nucleus of offensive standouts in Sacramento. 

The A’s only won 76 games this year, but their offense ranked eighth in OPS. And with the emergence of Kurtz and Wilson, who became the first set of teammates to finish first and second in AL Rookie of the Year voting since 1984 (Mariners duo Alvin Davis and Mark Langston), they can envision a more prosperous future — one that their 35-29 record in the second half might indicate is not far away. 

“It’s visible that we’re building toward something special,” Langeliers said. “We have that core group here, guys that are performing and only getting better.” 

Added Kurtz: “This team could be as good as we want to.”

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

 

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The Mets spent big last offseason but couldn’t reach October baseball. The Phillies looked poised for a World Series run but fell short once again. 

Both teams are expected to headline the NL East next season, but three other teams — the Marlins, Braves, and Nationals — will try to build toward making the division race a bit more interesting. 

After tackling the American League East, our series continues with the NL East. Here are the biggest needs for a star-studded division that boasts multiple World Series contenders:

Teams are listed in order of their records, best to worst, in the 2025 season.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

Biggest need: Re-signing Kyle Schwarber

Given the lack of a clear replacement for Schwarber — really, there is no replacing the 56-home run season he just put up — keeping the 33-year-old in Philly is undoubtedly the team’s biggest need this winter. We’ve been mentioning the possibility of the Phillies’ championship window closing for years now, and president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski is finally at that crossroads. Letting Schwarber walk away would signal the first domino falling. Paying what is expected to be a long-term nine-figure contract would help keep that window open. 

Still, Dombrowski has to make more decisions regarding the uncertainty of his roster beyond Schwarber — though he is the club’s biggest priority. Catcher J.T. Realmuto and left-hander Ranger Suarez are also free agents. Zack Wheeler’s availability going forward is in question after his thoracic outlet syndrome surgery. Bryce Harper was reportedly “hurt” by Dombrowski’s comments on his 2025 performance, which the two-time MVP interpreted as trade speculation. So, yes, there’s a lot going on in Philly. But the core has won the division in back-to-back seasons now, before being eliminated in the NLDS in both years. With a few shrewd moves, the Phillies still have a chance at winning the World Series, but it starts with bringing back their elite designated hitter. 

NEW YORK METS

Biggest need: Starting pitching

The Juan-Soto powered Mets, with all their championship dreams and Big-Apple bragging rights over their crosstown rivals, walked into the 2025 season without a true ace. Flashing a $342 million payroll without a top-tier reliable starting pitcher was an indefensible miscalculation. President of baseball operations David Stearns cannot make that same mistake again. Fixing the club’s weak rotation is a significant task, but a savvy trade or two could be the answer. 

Right-hander Freddy Peralta reuniting with Stearns in Queens would be a good fit, but the Brewers picked up his $8 million team option, making him a steal after his 33-start, 2.70 ERA season. It would now be surprising if Milwaukee was willing to part with Peralta. Then there’s the possibility of a Tarik Skubal trade. If the Mets are willing to put together an extremely attractive trade package that involves emptying out the top talent in their farm system, Skubal is exactly the type of elite ace that the rotation needs to build around long-term. Otherwise, the Mets should be shopping at the top of the free-agent market for arms like Dylan Cease, Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez, and Michael King. But it’s important to note that the Amazins haven’t had an ace since Jacob deGrom departed in free agency for the Texas Rangers. They need a long-term solution, not a temporary bandage.

MIAMI MARLINS

Biggest need: First base 

The Marlins are coming off a largely successful season with a ton of encouraging developments within their still-young, still-rebuilding roster. They had breakout offensive performances from Kyle Stowers and Jakob Marsee. They weren’t even mathematically eliminated from postseason contention until the final week of the regular season. They won 17 more games in 2025 than they did in 2024, jumping from last to third place in the division in that span. It was a better year than most expected from the Fish, and they have a real shot at getting into the expanded playoffs in 2026. 

To do so, they will need to find an upgrade at first base, preferably a right-handed power bat to balance out their lefty-heavy lineup. It’s unclear if the Marlins will spend more than usual this offseason after promoting Gabe Kapler to general manager under president of baseball operations Peter Bendix. I’m expecting Miami to be in the market for a mid- to low-tier free agent first baseman, rather than going for Pete Alonso or Josh Naylor at the top end. Someone like Rhys Hoskins could make sense for the Marlins. Hoskins slashed .237/.332/.416 with 12 home runs and 43 RBI in 90 games for the Brewers, and he’s likely to land a one- or two-year deal at a reasonable price range that should fall under $20 million. 

ATLANTA BRAVES

Biggest need: Shortstop

Before Ha-Seong Kim somewhat surprisingly declined his $16 million player option, I would’ve said starting pitching was the Braves’ biggest need. And while Atlanta still has hopes of re-signing Kim, they at least have competition now – with top playoff contenders like the Yankees and Blue Jays expected to be in the mix to solve their middle-infield vacancies this offseason. So now, the Braves’ biggest priority this winter is signing a shortstop. Their in-house option, Nick Allen, was excellent in the dirt with his glove. But his .535 OPS isn’t going to cut it. 

It’s a thin market for shortstops this winter, with Miguel Rojas’ 4.5 WAR leading the short list of free agents. After Rojas, there’s only Bo Bichette, Kim, and Isaiah Kiner-Falefa as far as quality middle-infield options. Bichette, of course, provides the best bat among that group. But it’s unlikely the Braves are willing to pay for his exorbitant price tag. If they are, then it would make more sense to move Bichette to second base, since he ranked last among all qualified shortstops with a -10 fielding run value in 2025. That way, they can shift Ozzie Albies to shortstop and solve their middle-infield problem. Otherwise, their best plan is probably to remain in the mix for Kim and bring him back on a pricier deal. 

WASHINGTON NATIONALS

Biggest need: Developing their young stars

The Nationals have plenty of room in their payroll to shop for splashy free agents, but they’re not there yet. Still in a rebuild, their first-year president of baseball operations Paul Toboni and rookie manager Blake Butera will likely focus on upgrading various parts of their organization, including technology and analytics, before advertising Washington D.C. as a free-agent destination. 

Rather than solving any major roster holes, it’s more important for the Nationals to continue developing their young stars to ensure they will have promising futures. That includes Dylan Crewes, C.J. Abrams, and even Daylen Lile after he posted a 137 OPS+ in his first 91 games in the big leagues this year. Their rebuild only works if those young hitters are taking positive steps forward. Wood, an All-Star in 2025, is about to enter his third year in the majors, and he could benefit from the Nationals adding a power hitter who will protect him in the lineup. Toboni has said his front office will focus on adding controllable starting pitchers, but with left-hander MacKenzie Gore expected to be on the move before he becomes available for arbitration next year, the Nats can look to secure a power-hitting first baseman in a potential trade for their southpaw.

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

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Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz is due in court Monday on charges accusing him and teammate Emmanuel Clase of taking bribes to help bettors in their native Dominican Republic win prop bets placed on pitches they threw.

According to the indictment against the two unsealed Sunday, the highly paid hurlers took several thousand dollars in payoffs to help two unnamed gamblers in their home country win at least $460,000 on bets placed on the speed and outcome of certain pitches, including some that landed in the dirt.

Clase, who was the Guardians’ closer, and Ortiz, a starter, have been on nondisciplinary paid leave since July, when MLB started investigating what it said was unusually high in-game betting activity when the two pitched. Some of the games in question were in April, May and June.

Ortiz, 26, was arrested Sunday by the FBI at Boston Logan International Airport. He is expected to appear in federal court in Boston on Monday. Clase, 27, is believed to be outside the U.S., according to a law enforcement official familiar with the matter. The official was not authorized to speak publicly about the case and did so on condition of anonymity.

Ortiz and Clase “betrayed America’s pastime,” U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said. “Integrity, honesty and fair play are part of the DNA of professional sports. When corruption infiltrates the sport, it brings disgrace not only to the participants but damages the public trust in an institution that is vital and dear to all of us.”

Ortiz’s lawyer, Chris Georgalis, said in a statement that his client was innocent and “has never, and would never, improperly influence a game — not for anyone and not for anything.”

Georgalis said Ortiz’s defense team previously documented for prosecutors that the payments and money transfers between him and individuals in the Dominican Republic were for legal activities.

MLB said it contacted federal law enforcement when it began investigating unusual betting activity and has fully cooperated with authorities. “We are aware of the indictment and today’s arrest, and our investigation is ongoing,” a league statement said.

In a statement, the Guardians said: “We are aware of the recent law enforcement action. We will continue to fully cooperate with both law enforcement and Major League Baseball as their investigations continue.”

Clase and Ortiz are each charged with wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy and conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery. The top charges carry a potential punishment of up to 20 years in prison.

In one example cited in the indictment, Clase allegedly invited a bettor to a game against the Boston Red Sox in April and spoke with him by phone just before taking the mound. Four minutes later, the indictment said, the bettor and his associates won $11,000 on a wager that Clase would toss a certain pitch slower than 97.95 mph.

Clase, a three-time All-Star and two-time American League Reliever of the Year, had a $4.5 million salary in 2025, the fourth season of a $20 million, five-year contract. The three-time AL save leader began providing the bettors with information about his pitches in 2023 but didn’t ask for payoffs until this year, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said Ortiz, who had a $782,600 salary this year, got in on the scheme in June and is accused of rigging pitches in games against the Seattle Mariners and the St. Louis Cardinals.

The charges are the latest bombshell developments in a federal crackdown on betting in professional sports.

Last month, more than 30 people, including prominent basketball figures such as Portland Trail Blazers head coach and Basketball Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, were arrested in a gambling sweep that rocked the NBA.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals and outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres were named the winners of the 2025 Rawlings Platinum Glove Awards, recognizing the top defensive players in their respective leagues.

In the American League, Witt Jr. became only the fourth shortstop to earn the honor since the award’s 2011 inception and the second Royals player to win after Alex Gordon. He tied for the Major League lead with 24 Outs Above Average, started 153 games at shortstop and committed just 10 errors in 578 chances.

In the National League, Tatis Jr., who also won the award in 2023, claimed his second Platinum Glove. He fended off a challenge from the standout Cubs rookie Pete Crow‑Armstrong.

The Platinum Glove is reserved for the best overall fielder in each league, chosen from that year’s Gold Glove winners via fan voting and the SABR Defensive Index.

The Rangers took home the Gold Glove team honor in the AL, while the Cubs were named the best defensive club in the NL.

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Two Major League Baseball pitchers were indicted Sunday on charges they took bribes to give sports bettors advance notice of the types of pitches they’d throw and intentionally tossed balls instead of strikes to ensure successful bets.

Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, both of whom pitched for the Cleveland Guardians, have been on non-disciplinary paid leave since July while MLB investigated unusually high in-game betting activity when they pitched.

Clase, 27, and Ortiz, 26, were both charged with wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery and money laundering conspiracy. The top charges carry a potential punishment of up to 20 years in prison in the event of a conviction.

Ortiz was arrested by the FBI on Sunday morning at Boston Logan International Airport. He is expected to appear in federal court in Boston on Monday.

MLB said it contacted federal law enforcement when it began investigating the unusual betting activity and “has fully cooperated” with authorities. “We are aware of the indictment and today’s arrest, and our investigation is ongoing,” its statement said.

In a statement, the Guardians said: “We are aware of the recent law enforcement action. We will continue to fully cooperate with both law enforcement and Major League Baseball as their investigations continue.”

A lawyer for Ortiz declined to comment when contacted by The Associated Press and a lawyer for Clase did not immediately return messages seeking comment.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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Major League Baseball announced its 2025 Silver Slugger Award winners this week, and while the usual superstar suspects are on this year’s list of winners, there are also plenty of first-timers.

The awards, which go to the top offensive player at each position and the best offensive teams in each league, are voted on by MLB managers and coaches. Who made the cut this year?

Here is the full list of Silver Slugger Award winners in the National League and American League:

*signifies first-time winners

National League

Catcher — Hunter Goodman, Colorado*

First base — Pete Alonso, New York*

Second base — Ketel Marte, Arizona

Third base — Manny Machado, San Diego

Shortstop — Geraldo Perdomo, Arizona*

Outfield — Juan Soto, New York

Outfield — Corbin Carroll, Arizona*

Outfield — Kyle Tucker, Chicago

Designated hitter — Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles

Utility — Alec Burleson, St. Louis*

Team: Los Angeles

American League

Catcher — Cal Raleigh, Seattle*

First base — Nick Kurtz, Athletics*

Second base — Jazz Chisholm Jr., New York*

Third base — Jose Ramirez, Cleveland

Shortstop — Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City

Outfield — Aaron Judge, New York

Outfield — Byron Buxton, Minnesota*

Outfield — Riley Greene, Detroit*

Designated hitter — George Springer, Toronto

Utility — Zach McKinstry, Detroit*

Team: New York

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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