The Yankees were interested in trading for Kyle Tucker. They instead landed Cody Bellinger. It came at a much different cost and should yield a different type of return. The Cubs, of course, were involved in both transactions featuring the multi-time All-Stars.
That prompted the following debate between our MLB writers:Â
Deesha Thosar: There are a few different ways of looking at this, but my answer is Bellinger to the Yankees — particularly because they essentially got him for free. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman sent only 30-year-old right-hander Cody Poteet to Chicago in exchange for Bellinger. The veteran righty has a 3.80 ERA in 24 games (13 starts) across three years in the major leagues between the Marlins and the Yankees, and he’ll simply serve as another depth arm on the Cubs’ pitching staff. Sure, Poteet’s 2.22 ERA in 24.1 innings last year — which included four solid starts while Gerrit Cole began the year on the injured list — was valuable for the Yankees’ rotation.
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But the trade agreement to part ways with Poteet, versus a top prospect in the Yankees’ farm system, was as easy of a decision for Cashman as whether to wear a coat in New York during the winter.
Bellinger’s versatility in the field is a focal point of this trade. Last season, the former MVP award winner appeared defensively at all three outfield positions (49 games in right field, 48 games in center and one game in left) and played a good chunk at first base (22 games). Depending on the flurry of activity in the Yankees’ front office the rest of this offseason, manager Aaron Boone can play Bellinger in center, right or first base to fill whichever roster deficit is left by the time Opening Day rolls around. As of right now, Bellinger makes the most sense at first base or center field, because Aaron Judge can move back to right and Jasson DomÃnguez can continue to increase his reps in left. But if the Yankees sign either Christian Walker or Teoscar Hernández, for example, Bellinger can take over at the remaining positional hole.
So, we know the deal made sense for the Yankees from a roster standpoint, but it was fair from a financial scope, too. New York will pay Bellinger $25 million in 2025, with the Cubs handling the remaining $5 million of his previous pact, and the Yankees will pay him $22.5 million in 2026 if he doesn’t opt out. If he does, the teams will split his $5 million buyout.Â
All of which is to say, the risk here primarily lies in the financials. It seems impossible to predict which version of Bellinger the Yankees will get in 2025, especially after his offensive numbers dipped in 2024. But since Bellinger is only one year removed from his comeback campaign with the Cubs (4.4 fWAR, 136 wRC+ in 2023), the Yankees are betting they can help him get back to that form. If Bellinger hits anywhere close to his All-Star potential, then he’s a steal for the Yankees.
Tucker is, of course, a huge get for the Cubs, but since they had to give up three players, including top third base prospect Cam Smith, to the Astros for a one-year rental, the Bellinger trade was a layup for the Yankees and a sensible payroll-shedding move for Chicago that should let it address other areas of need.
Rowan Kavner: I like both trades, but I’d favor the Cubs given that they got the better player and the star they desperately needed. Tucker, who buttresses the Cubs’ collection of above-average talents, is very likely going to be the best player not named Juan Soto wearing a different uniform in 2025. Tucker might have been overshadowed by other standouts in Houston, but he slots in right behind Aaron Judge, Soto and Mookie Betts for the most wins above replacement accumulated by an outfielder over the past five seasons.
Tucker is also one of just seven big-leaguers who has been worth more than 4.0 WAR each of the past four years, which speaks to his consistency. That he managed to do so again in 2024, despite playing in just 78 games, speaks to his ceiling. At 28 next year, the Cubs are getting one of the best players in the sport still in his prime. His salary, which will likely be somewhere between $15-16 million in his final year of arbitration, should represent a considerable bargain.
Of course, getting the better player in question required surrendering more. The Cubs could afford to part with Isaac Paredes to open the path for top prospect Matt Shaw, but losing 2024 first-rounder Cam Smith — who immediately becomes the Astros’ best prospect — was significant. So, if you’re strictly judging these two trades by who came and went, I can understand favoring the Bellinger deal. No disrespect to Cody Poteet, but he was not going to factor significantly into the Yankees’ plans in 2025.
The Yankees needed help in the outfield and at first base and an injection of talent into a lineup now missing Soto, and Bellinger checks each of those boxes, even if he didn’t produce to the level of his $27.5 million salary last season (which is why he didn’t opt out).Â
After an unceremonious ending to his L.A. tenure, the 2017 Rookie of the Year and 2019 NL MVP bounced back in his first season in Chicago in 2023 by sacrificing power for contact. He cut his strikeout rate nearly in half while finishing 10th in MVP voting, though he considerably outproduced his expected numbers. In 2024, he came back down to earth. Still, he should help in the Bronx, where his left-handed bat figures to produce more home runs than it did at Wrigley Field. In a barren center field market, the Yankees found a solid player to roam the position without losing any significant pieces.
But neither team should be done yet. The Yankees need more offensive help, and the Bellinger addition will look better if they can also add one of the top corner infielders on the market. The Cubs, meanwhile, need to use the money they saved in the Bellinger salary dump to add more pitching. So, we should have a better answer to this question in a couple of months!
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.
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 person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the trade had not been announced. Chicago will send the Yankees $5 million as part of the trade, the person said.
The 29-year-old Bellinger, whose father Clay helped the Yankees win World Series titles in 1999 and 2000, is owed $27.5 million in 2025 under the first of two player options as part of an $80 million, three-year contract. The two-time All-Star also has a $25 million player option for 2026 with a $5 million buyout that would be payable in equal installments on Jan. 15, 2026, and Jan. 15, 2027.
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Bellinger batted .266 with 18 homers and 78 RBIs in 130 games this year. He was on the injured list from April 24 to May 7 with a broken right rib.
He drove in 33 runs in his last 39 games of the season, but Chicago finished with an 83-79 record.
Bellinger, who plays first base and center field, made his major league debut in 2017 and spent his first six seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was the NL MVP in 2019, batting .305 with 47 homers and 115 RBIs in 156 games. He also helped LA win the World Series in 2020.
He was cut by the Dodgers in November 2022 and signed a $17.5 million, one-year deal with Chicago a month later. He regained his form with the Cubs, hitting a career-best .307 with 26 homers, 97 RBIs and 20 steals in 130 games last season.
Bellinger is a .259 hitter with 196 homers and 597 RBIs in 1,005 games. He turns 30 in July.
Poteet, 30, made his major league debut with Miami in 2021, had Tommy John surgery on Aug. 17, 2022, returned to the mound with Kansas City’s Triple-A Omaha farm team on Sept. 23, 2023, was released by the Royals and signed with the Yankees last January. He went 3-0 with a 2.22 ERA in four starts and one relief appearance during a season in which he was sidelined between June 12 and Sept. 25 by a strained right triceps.
For two consecutive offseasons, an MLB player has received the biggest contract in sports history.
Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million pact with the Dodgers obliterated Mike Trout’s previous record ($426.5 million). Juan Soto‘s $765 million agreement with the Mets represents an even bigger jump when you factor in present-day value and the fact Ohtani deferred $680 million over the span of two decades.Â
So, who’s next?Â
Well, it is unlikely that Soto’s deal will be eclipsed anytime soon, or at any point by a current MLB player. But there are future free agents who could challenge other contract records and join the $300 million club by the end of the decade.
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Here’s an early look at some of the top free agents in each of the coming years.
The Blue Jays star first baseman headlines next offseason’s free-agent class. The 25-year-old returned to MVP-caliber form in 2024, slashing .323/.396/.544 with 30 home runs, 103 RBIs and a 166 OPS+.
Guerrero will be only six months older than Soto is now when he hits the open market, putting him in line to earn a rich, long-term deal. It likely won’t match the record length of Soto’s deal (15), given Vlad’s fluctuations in performance, but he could become just the fourth MLB player to receive a $400 million deal.Â
Some could argue that Tucker is the better player between him and Guerrero, as his baseline of hitting has been higher and he’s a plus defender and baserunner. The former Astro slashed .289/.408/.585 with 23 homers, 49 RBIs and 181 OPS+ in just 78 games last season, putting him on a near-MVP trajectory. Should he produce at that level in his new Cubs uniform over a full season, he could be primed for a bigger payday than Vlad. It’s also interesting to consider that nearly all of Excel Sports Management’s top clients (Dansby Swanson, George Springer, Trevor Story) have switched teams in free agency in recent years, with Clayton Kershaw being an exception.Â
Somewhat working against Tucker: He’ll be 29 by the start of the 2026 season.
The two NL West aces figure to be the best pitchers on the market next offseason. Only two pitchers have ever received a contract north of $300 million, though that could change once Corbin Burnes signs this winter.Â
Cease, who’ll be 30 by the start of the 2026 season, has been one of the best pitchers in baseball over the past three seasons, posting two top-four Cy Young finishes. Gallen, who will also be 30 by the start of the 2026 season, has a pair of recent top-five Cy Young finishes.
Both pitchers are represented by Scott Boras, making it likely they hit the open market next winter. If both have strong seasons in 2025, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Boras is able to negotiate two more $300 million deals.
Skubal is coming off a pitching triple crown season and is the consensus choice for the best pitcher in baseball. While he won’t hit free agency for another two years upon turning 30, he could still be in line to command the largest pitching contract in MLB history, given the lack of miles on his arm. He’ll just need to maintain his 2024 level of performance.
A pitcher, no matter how good, won’t pose a threat to Soto’s record. But it seems possible for Skubal to earn more on an annual basis than anyone in baseball outside of two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani. He’s also a Boras client, which means they’ll likely be fighting for that mark.
Crochet will be 27 in the 2026-27 offseason, a relatively young age for an All-Star ace to become a free agent. However, Crochet has expressed a desire to get an extension done. When he was a rumored trade candidate ahead of the deadline in July, he expressed that he would only pitch in the postseason if he had an extension in place.Â
Initial reports following his trade suggested that the Red Sox and Crochet could work out an extension in the near future. It would certainly be for nine figures, but could come in lower than he’d get on the open market two winters from now.Â
If the countdown wasn’t already on for the Orioles’ young core to produce, they have a few seasons before one of their top homegrown players hits free agency. Rutschman will hit free agency in the 2027-28 offseason, shortly before his 30th birthday. The two-time All-Star has regressed a bit at the plate but his positional value will make his negotiations interesting. Whether he extends with the Orioles or reaches free agency, expect Rutschman to exceed Joe Mauer’s record eight-year, $184 million extension for a catcher.Â
Something to note, Rutschman’s agency (Beverly Hill Sports Council) helped negotiate the extension Jackson Chourio received before he even played an MLB game.
Similar to Rutschman, Contreras could also threaten Mauer’s contract record for catchers. The two-time All-Star will also be turning 30 that offseason and has been a slightly better hitter than Rutschman, if not quite as good on defense. Just don’t expect him to fetch that megadeal from the Brewers.
It’s possible that the player who receives the largest contract in the 2027-28 offseason is a pitcher. Gilbert, who’ll be 30 when he’s eligible for free agency that year, has been among the AL’s best pitchers since 2022. When you consider his effectiveness (league-leading 0.887 WHIP in 2024) and durability (league-leading 208.2 innings pitched in 2024), he might have a strong chance at joining the list of $300 million pitchers.
A year after Rutschman is due to hit free agency, Henderson is also scheduled to hit the open market. Henderson stands as the best candidate to threaten Soto’s record in the foreseeable future. The 23-year-old is arguably the best shortstop in the game already, slashing .281/.364/.529 with 37 homers and a 159 OPS+ this past season. Those numbers are better than what Soto put up at the plate in his age-23 season. Henderson will be 27 when he finally hits free agency, putting a lengthy and lucrative extension in play. His agent? Boras.Â
Star shortstops have long been paid at the very top of the market, putting Henderson in line for a fascinating negotiation should he continue at his current pace.Â
Alvarez would be a free agent next winter had he not signed a six-year, $115 million extension with the Astros midway through the 2022 season. Alvarez will be 31 when he hits the open market, but he could still cash in given his consistent and prolific production. Only Aaron Judge has a higher career OPS+.
Soto can opt out of his current deal after five seasons upon turning 31 years old. He’ll have already earned $255 million from the Mets, who could void the opt-out by committing to another $550 million over the ensuing 10 years, which equates to a $4 million annual raise.
Barring another extension, Acuna can get his first taste of free agency in the 2029-30 offseason. He’ll be turning 32 that winter, at which point he’s unlikely to set any records on the open market. Had the former MVP and Rookie of the Year not extended one year into his career (and not torn his ACL twice), he might have been the best candidate to negotiate a deal in Soto’s range.Â
Strider, who has a team option for the 2029 season, could also join his teammate Acuna in free agency in the 2029-30 offseason. He’ll be 31 then, still allowing fort a long-term payday. Of course, the more immediate concern for Strider, whose career got off to a blazing start, is making a full return from Tommy John surgery.
The 21-year-old Merrill was a standout in his 2024 rookie campaign, producing a 127 OPS+ with plus defense in center field. That earned him an All-Star selection. Five years from now, such all-around excellence could earn him hundreds of millions.
With rocket arm strength, speed and power, EDLC has quickly emerged into one of the game’s most electrifying players. His rare ability to hit for power and lead the league in steals could certainly earn him a rich contract. He’d only be 28 when first eligible for free agency. The key for the Boras client will be eliminating the high variance in his play and growing into a more consistent, dependable hitter. Â
The 2029-30 offseason marks the first player option in the massive extension RodrÃguez signed near the end of his magnificent 2022 rookie season. He’ll be 29 by then, but still young enough to net another long-term payday.Â
2030-31 offseason and beyond
Pirates ace Paul Skenes can be a free agent in the 2030-31 offseason at 28 years old. He might already be the most talented pitcher in baseball, and his historic rookie campaign puts him on a path to potentially setting numerous records on the open market.Â
Royals star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. joined the trend of young stars to sign long-term deals in recent years last offseason. His 11-year, $288.7 million extension allows him to become a free agent in the 2030-31 offseason, when he has a player option.
Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll signed an extension just prior to his 2023 Rookie of the Year campaign. He won’t become a free agent until the 2031-32 offseason, when he’s 31.Â
Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio became the first star prospect to sign a long-term extension before making his MLB debut last spring. That’s already proving to be a great gamble for the Brewers, as Chourio excelled in his rookie season. His eight-year $82 million deal includes two team options, but Chourio won’t hit free agency until at least the 2031-32 offseason, following his age-27 season.Â
Padres outfielder Fernando TatÃs Jr. was at the forefront of the early extension trend. Prior to Soto’s deal, TatÃs’ 14-year pact was the longest in history and keeps him from free agency until the 2034-35 offseason, when he’ll turn 36.
Mets owner Steve Cohen ignited the action early at the winter meetings. The hot stove has been burning since.Â
The teams who whiffed on Juan Soto have gotten busy. Both the free-agent and trade markets are hot, pitchers are getting paid and salaries are well-exceeding initial projections.Â
The Yankees (Max Fried) and Red Sox (Garrett Crochet) found their new aces, but Corbin Burnes remains available, while Roki Sasaki has a big decision ahead that isn’t expected to be announced until the week of Jan. 15. Willy Adames has found his new home in San Francisco, but Alex Bregman is still out there. The Cubs found their much-needed star in Kyle Tucker, but the top outfielders behind Soto are still there for the taking, and none of the big first basemen have moved yet.Â
After a busy winter meetings in Dallas, here are eight lingering questions and some guesses at what could happen next.Â
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1. Beyond going for Sasaki, are other big moves ahead for Dodgers? Â
The Dodgers have made it clear that Sasaki will be a major priority, but whether it’s the NPB star, a top relief arm, another corner outfielder or all three, the reigning champs likely have more to come this winter after signing Blake Snell, Michael Conforto and Blake Treinen.Â
“My goal is to not buy in July,” president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman has repeated multiple times this offseason. “I am setting that out there right now. My goal is to do everything we can right now to not buy in July. It is terrible.”Â
The Dodgers had to do that at the 2024 trade deadline after watching their seemingly deep pitching staff crumble. The additions of Jack Flaherty and Michael Kopech were vital pieces in their road to a championship, but the former is a free agent. Postseason standout Walker Buehler is, too.Â
They expect Tyler Glasnow, who missed the postseason run with an elbow sprain, to be healthy for the start of next season. He has already started throwing again, and Snell, Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto should make for a formidable top three. But most of the rotation, which is likely to feature six pitchers, brings health concerns.Â
Shohei Ohtani should be back on the mound next season, but it likely won’t be when the Dodgers open their season March 18 in Japan. Ohtani is expected to be ready to hit then, but it is “very unlikely” he’ll be pitching then, according to manager Dave Roberts. Ohtani is throwing out to 60 feet as he starts to ramp back up, but he’s coming off labrum surgery on his left (non-throwing) shoulder, and the Dodgers will want to control his innings as he works his way back from his second elbow reconstruction.Â
“Obviously, we don’t want him to throw 225 innings,” general manager Brandon Gomes said. “So, we’ve just got to kind of see where this throwing program goes, how he continues to feel, have these conversations like we do with most of our guys. What we feel like is most important is that he is ready to pitch at his highest level when the games matter the most. Early-season games are very important, but we feel like if we can get him to a position where he is peaking towards the end of the season, that is the ideal scenario.”
Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin should be good to go this spring, but they both missed the 2024 season. The Dodgers still intend to bring Clayton Kershaw back, but he underwent knee and foot surgeries in November.Â
If all goes to plan, they should be able to field one of the best rotations in the sport. But as they found out last year, it rarely does. So, whether it’s Sasaki or someone else, they could look to add starting pitching. Another addition could also happen in the bullpen.Â
The Dodgers brought back Treinen and could use him as their closer, as they did in the postseason, but they’re still interested in adding one of the top available relief arms on the market. Devin Williams‘ trade to the Yankees removes one intriguing option, but there are plenty left in free agency, including Tanner Scott.Â
“If we can add an additional reliever, that helps increase the chances of us not going to market in July,” Friedman said. “So, yeah, I could see us looking to do that. Now, it doesn’t mean we’ll be able to, but I could see us looking.”Â
And then there’s the outfield vacancy left by outfielder Teoscar Hernández, who remains a candidate to return but will draw plenty of interest from the teams who missed out on Soto.Â
The addition of Conforto on a one-year deal provides the Dodgers some insurance, but it won’t preclude them from looking to add more help. The Dodgers had reached out about Conforto last trade deadline. Now, after securing him this week, they see him as someone who can play either left or right.Â
“I think, again, there’s different ways we can get at this,” Friedman said. “We can have a team that has a little bit more power. We can have a team that makes a little bit more contact. We can have a team that plays a little bit better defense. There’s just a lot of different ways to get at value and production and winning baseball games. So, with that, it opens some things up, and there’s interesting guys on the market — either trade or free-agent market — and a number of different things that we’re kind of looking at.”Â
Prediction:Â Dodgers sign Tanner Scott or find another way to further bolster the bullpenÂ
2. Will there be an L.A. reunion with Teoscar Hernández?Â
Hernández has expressed a desire to return to Los Angeles and called the Dodgers “the priority” after serving as a key cog in the middle of their championship lineup.Â
That remains the likeliest conclusion as the two sides remain engaged about a potential return, but his market should heat up after outfield-needy teams missed out on Juan Soto.Â
“He had a really good year,” Friedman said. “He put himself in a great position, and I know that he has talked about wanting to [come back], I know that we have talked about wanting him to. So again, that’s helpful, but it’s not everything. He and his family get to go through the interest and figure out what makes the most sense for them. So, while we’re hopeful, at the same time, if he ends up signing somewhere else, we have no choice but to wish him well, and on a personal level we’ll be really happy for him. And professionally, not so much.”Â
Boston was interested in Hernández last winter before he signed with the Dodgers. The Red Sox, Blue Jays and Yankees would all make sense for Hernández after their failed pursuits of Soto. The Phillies could be another potential landing spot given their need for more outfield pop.Â
But Hernández played a major role in the Dodgers’ success last season and was a perfect fit both on the field, where he was an All-Star, and in the clubhouse, where he struck an immediate relationship with Ohtani and was a seed-throwing joy. Roberts said it would be tough to have to replace his presence in both regards.
“There’s not a whole lot of guys that can start 157, 158 ball games and post, and then to be that productive,” Roberts said. “Then you layer on being in a big market, helping us win a championship. So, those players don’t come around very often. But obviously Teo has put himself in a very good position as a free agent and had a very productive year. So, he’s got some decisions to make as well. He’s going to kind of suss those out. Yeah, I just … it would be hard for me not to see him coming back.”
Hernández took a one-year contract in Los Angeles last season hoping to play for a winner and re-establish his value. He went from posting a .741 OPS in 2023 in Seattle to an .840 OPS in 2024 in a bounce-back year in Los Angeles.Â
More multi-year offers should await this time.Â
“We’ll continue to look for ways to improve our team,” Gomes said, “and I’m sure have additional conversations there.”
Prediction: Hernández returns to Dodgers on three-year dealÂ
3. How much further does the Yankees’ “Plan B” go?Â
Max Fried was a nice start after missing out on Soto, even if eight years is a long time for a 31-year-old pitcher with forearm issues. It also gave them a glut of starting pitching options, which they’ve already used to swing a deal for Devin Williams.Â
Getting a new ace and a shutdown closer helps erase the bitter taste of losing the Soto sweepstakes, but I’d expect more ahead. For them to fully salvage their offseason, they need a more impactful force (or two) in the lineup.Â
They’ve been linked to Cody Bellinger, and now that Tucker went to the Cubs, that fit seems to make more and more sense given his left-handed bat — he hit 18 homers last year, but it would’ve been 24 if he played all his games at Yankee Stadium last year — and ability to play both center field and first base. If they could get him and sign Bregman or Christian Walker — they need a corner infield upgrade, and I like the fit better with Walker than Pete Alonso — that would go a long way toward easing their fans’ pain.Â
It’ll be interesting to see how the Tucker trade — which netted the Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes, who should have a field day with the Crawford Boxes — impacts Houston’s willingness to get a deal done with Bregman. The Astros could theoretically still sign Bregman and move Paredes to first base, but it looks like a move to protect themselves if Bregman gets an offer they’re unwilling to match. Owner Jim Crane has never committed more than $151 million to a player, so if he were to bring Bregman back, he’d have to go where he hasn’t before.Â
If the Yankees don’t get Bregman, perhaps they get into the Nolan Arenado mix.
Prediction:Â Trade for Cody Bellinger and sign Alex Bregman or Christian WalkerÂ
4. Speaking of … does Nolan Arenado get dealt?Â
The Cardinals have already made it clear their intention is to trade Arenado. Now, it’s about finding a fit.Â
Arenado has a full no-trade clause, and his agent Joel Wolfe said the ideal destination is a place “that’s going to win now and consistently for the remainder of his career.” However, the Southern California native reportedly has the Angels among his initial six-team wish list, so maybe a winning culture isn’t the only requirement. Still, the Angels have been among the more active teams in free agency this winter, and the fit would make sense considering their lack of infield stability.Â
Wolfe said Arenado is willing to move around and play first base, but that wouldn’t seem to make much sense considering his power has fallen precipitously in recent years and his reliable glove at the hot corner is what still makes him an attractive commodity. This could be a fit for a team that misses out on Bregman.Â
Prediction: Traded to Red Sox, Yankees, Astros, Tigers or Angels
Getting Tyler O’Neill is a start, but with Corbin Burnes and Anthony Santander becoming free agents, this doesn’t look like a team that’s better than it was a year ago barring another leap forward from their young guys.Â
They need an ace, but how much is the new ownership group willing to pay? We don’t know the answer yet. It’ll probably cost around $250 million to keep Burnes, who stands alone as the only member of the top tier of starting pitching free agents still available (apart from Roki Sasaki).Â
They could shop in the next tier and look at Jack Flaherty, Sean Manaea or Walker Buehler, but the bigger swings would come on the trade front. With all the young talent still in place, maybe they get their next Burnes, well, the same way they got Burnes.Â
The Giants needed more power in the middle of the lineup and help up the middle defensively, so the Willy Adames fit made sense. But to really contend, they can’t be done yet. Adding an ace or another imposing force in the lineup feels like a necessity.Â
Which puts them in a difficult spot.Â
They don’t have a particularly robust farm system, so is dealing someone like top prospect Bryce Eldridge or a package involving Camilo Doval, LaMonte Wade Jr. and Kyle Harrison the right move? Of course, if they’re willing to spend, that’s not a question they have to answer. Even with Adames, their payroll is almost $40 million under what it was last year, with Conforto, Snell and Mark Canha off the books. That’s enough for one more big splash. Â
My guess is that they move forward in their attempt to start the Buster Posey era with a bang.Â
Prediction:Â Sign Corbin Burnes or trade for Cody BellingerÂ
The Mariners don’t want to deal someone from their loaded big-league rotation. But at some point, that’s probably what it will take to land the kind of substantial offensive addition they need. They can’t just add on the margins if they want to seriously contend, and it’s a tough place to convince a free-agent hitter to play.
If they’re not willing to considerably up the payroll, it might require an uncomfortable decision on Luis Castillo or possibly Emerson Hancock. They’re in a winnable division, and after last year’s disappointment, they need to find a way to add more infield pop.Â
8. Which potential contenders take a needed big swing?Â
No prediction here; just an observation. As much action as there is going on in New York and Los Angeles, there are a lot of teams on the playoff fringes with work to do. The Mariners are certainly one of them, but that list goes far beyond Seattle.Â
The Reds addressed their rotation but could use an impact outfield bat to leap forward in the NL Central. The D-backs could use pitching help and a Walker replacement if they’re going to compete with the Dodgers, Padres and Giants. The Tigers need more right-handed pop in the infield to build on their surprise playoff run. And are the Twins going to do anything?Â
The winter meetings laid the groundwork, but plenty still lies ahead.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.
Freddie Freeman’s historic walk-off grand slam ball from Game 1 of the World Series has sold for $1.56 million at auction.
The bidding at SCP Auctions went into the late hours of Saturday night, according to a statement from the auction house on Sunday. It didn’t say who bought the ball.
Freeman, the Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman, came to the plate on a sprained right ankle with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning against the New York Yankees. He hit the first pitch from Nestor Cortes 413 feet for the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history.
The Dodgers won the game 6-3 and went on to claim the franchise’s eighth World Series championship in five games. Freeman was named World Series MVP.
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The ball landed in the right-field pavilion, where it was corralled by 10-year-old Zachary Ruderman, who lives in Los Angeles. The ball rolled from the seat in front of him to his feet and he batted it to his father, Nico, who jumped on it.
The fifth-grader had been told he was leaving school early that day to get his braces removed. Instead, his parents took him to Dodger Stadium.
It’s the second ball connected to the Dodgers to be auctioned this season. The ball hit by Shohei Ohtani that made him the first player in major league history with at least 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a season sold for nearly $4.4 million. It set a record for the sale of any sports ball.
Experience the excitement of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ unforgettable 2024 postseason journey. From their intense showdown with the San Diego Padres in the NLDS, to their clash with the New York Mets in the NLCS, and culminating in their epic World Series battle against the New York Yankees, the Dodgers’ run is etched in history as one of the most legendary in MLB playoff lore.
NEW YORK — Juan Soto seemed to approach his introductory press conference with the Mets much the same way he sets up at the plate for his at-bats. Sitting at a long table on a raised stage in the jam-packed Piazza club at Citi Field, he clamped his teeth down on his bottom lip and nodded his head up and down. It was the same expression we’d seen him make in the batter’s box, except this time, instead of staring down the pitcher, he was facing his future.Â
Soto was his usual picture of confidence as he exchanged his navy blue blazer for a white No. 22 New York Mets jersey that he wore over his black turtleneck sweater. Mets owner Steve Cohen, who looked both exhausted and relieved after the rollercoaster of emotions of the past week, extended his hand to Soto and officially started their 15-year, $765 million partnership. What’s step one? Build a dynasty in Queens so that the Mets become one of the premiere elite teams in baseball.Â
“Definitely that was one of the things that opened my eyes more,” Soto said on Thursday at Citi Field. “How hungry they are to win a championship, and to want to make a dynasty with the New York Mets.”
Let’s dive into three takeaways from a special day in Mets franchise history.
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What made the Mets stand out to Soto?
Being the recipient of the largest contract in professional sports history was the elephant in the room, but besides the obvious, the two words that Soto most mentioned throughout his first big day as a Met were winning and family.Â
While Soto was still deciding where he would spend his future, he asked Cohen during their second meeting this offseason how many championships the Mets owner would like to win over the next 10 years. Cohen answered: “I’d like to win two to four.” That ambitious response resonated with Soto’s long-term goal, and it ultimately became a separator for the slugger as he mulled over bids from five teams (the Mets, Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox, and Blue Jays). Late Sunday night, Soto decided the Mets gave him the best chance to win a World Series.Â
You might think his resolute determination to win puts pressure on the Mets organization, but Soto actually shares that hunger with Cohen. If anyone is heightening the pressure to win championships and morph the Mets into perennial winners, it’s the billionaire hedge-fund manager and lifetime Mets fan who bought the franchise for fun, as a hobby on the side, in Nov. 2020. The Mets’ presentation highlighted Cohen’s deep-rooted desire to bring sustained success to Queens.
“I wanted to get a point across to him that we’re good people, that we care, that we want to win a championship, that I’m always successful,” Cohen said. “If he ever wants to sit down and talk to me — I was saying that in a town hall for my hedge fund today. I have 3,200 employees, my door is always open. And most people don’t take advantage of it because I’m the boss and nobody wants to talk to the boss. But that’s how I operate. I operate that way with Juan Soto, and I operate that way with a junior analyst at my hedge fund.”
To demonstrate the importance of mi casa es su casa, Cohen held the California meeting with Soto in his $35 million Beverly Hills mansion. Cohen joked that he invited Soto over because “the food’s better at my house,” but it was just another detail that separated the Mets from the other four teams. Another distinction was the presence of Cohen’s 93-year-old father-in-law, Ralph Garcia, at the meeting. Cohen’s wife, Alex, grew up in Washington Heights watching the Mets with her dad, who goes to every home game these days, and he attended the Soto meeting to tell him how much he wanted to see the slugger play in orange and blue threads.Â
The Cohen family’s openness and promised ongoing availability mattered a great deal to Soto. It made him and his family feel comfortable, and for a 26-year-old kid from the Dominican Republic who spends his free time with his family, that feeling of security loomed large over his decision-making process. But Soto’s favorite part about the Mets’ presentation was a video where, at the end of it, they showed a statue of Soto erected next to the statue of Tom Seaver that currently sits outside of Citi Field. Talk about acing the test.
“It’s been in a Mets town for a long time, so I think we just gotta bring it to the top,” Soto said. “Definitely, championships are going to tell you whether it’s the Yankees or a Mets town at the end of the day.”
How did the Yankees fall short?
We know the Yankees didn’t offer as much money as the Mets did, but they weren’t that far off from the final number. The Mets’ offer of $765 million is only $5 million better, in terms of total guaranteed value, than the Yankees’ offer of $760 million. His signing bonus in Queens is $15 million more than where the Yankees stopped. His agreed-upon $51 million annual average value is $3.5 million more than what it could’ve been with the Yankees. These are not outrageous differences, but to the youngest and most talented free agent to hit the market since Alex Rodriguez in 2000, the details clearly mattered.
“​​I feel like they did everything that they had in their power to help me out, to bring me back,” Soto said of the Yankees. “But I had four other teams doing the same thing and trying to make me feel comfortable. And at the end of the day we look at everything, we look at the chances and we look at what other teams wanted to do, and what everybody wants to do for the next 15 years, and I think we have the best chances over here.”
“Look, the New York Yankees in this negotiation stepped up. They did,” Boras said. “They really, really made themselves known in this process and the Soto family and everyone has the highest regard. It was really about internally what they felt was best long-term.”
Soto addressed the topic of the paid suite he requested for his family at the ballpark, and how he appreciated that Cohen was willing to include it. The Yankees, according to reports, did not sign off on a paid suite for Soto at Yankee Stadium. Cohen simply said he had heard from Scott Boras, Soto’s agent, that the slugger wanted a suite as part of the deal, so the Mets included it right from the beginning.
“He made a request, I was happy to provide it,” Cohen said.
Soto described his year with the Yankees as “the best time,” but he also said he hasn’t spoken to any of his former Bronx teammates since they lost the World Series to the Dodgers. He thanked Yankees fans for showing him love this past year, but that’s hardly going to minimize the barrage of boos that will be sent his way when the Subway Series goes to 161st Street on May 16. Of course, he understood that when he picked the two-time championship Mets over the 27-time championship Yankees. But 29 fanbases were always going to be irritated by his final decision. Soto was ready for that.
Ultimately, he was more impressed by the Mets’ hot pursuit. The formal presentation to land Soto began in earnest in August, when Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns typically begins his offseason preparation, but the groundwork was laid long before that. Stearns said acquiring Soto was on his radar, dating as far back as October 2023, when Cohen named him the first POBO in Mets franchise history. Cohen’s desire to make Soto a Met was discussed in his initial meeting with Stearns last year.
“We did know that if he was going to be a free agent,” Stearns said, “We were going to make a very strong push.”
What is Soto going to do with all the money?
The generational star expected a big pay day for a long time — that much was evident when he reportedly rejected a 15-year, $440 million extension with the Nationals in 2021. But, even so, no one was prepared for Soto to break Shohei Ohtani’s record for the biggest contract in sports by a whopping $305 million.Â
Soto had a lot of time to think about what he would do with his money before he finally accepted the Mets’ contract this week. His thoughtful answer based on paying it forward provided insight into the values that Soto most cares about.
“The first thing that came to mind was, I’m going to try to help a lot of people back in D.R.,” Soto said. “I know that there are a lot of kids that have talent and they can have a bright future, but they don’t have the support to do it. And I feel like when you sign a contract like that, that’s the first thing it brings to my mind, to help the community and try to help everybody around my country – and try to create more chances, more opportunities for the people to grow and keep moving forward.Â
“You never know who’s going to be the next Juan Soto, who’s going to be the next Ohtani, the next Bryce Harper, or who’s going to be the next Scott Boras, who’s going to be the next Steve Cohen. I want to give them that little hope. I feel like that’s one of the biggest things. Just give them hope so they can keep moving forward.”
It’s not just the Dominican Republic that Soto is supporting. He lifted the Mets’ long-beleaguered fanbase the second he announced his decision to play at Citi Field for what could be the rest of his career. Sit tight, Mets fans. Only a few more months until April 4, when you can give Soto your love in the most anticipated Mets home opener to date.
Deesha Thosar is an MLB reporter for FOX Sports. She previously covered the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. Follow her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.
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DALLAS — The Yankees didn’t get what they ultimately wanted. But there’s still time for them to get what they need.Â
Despite October’s World Series run, New York entered the offseason with more than a few holes on its roster. The starting rotation might not have appeared to be one of them, but the addition of Max Fried gives the Yankees arguably the best staff in the American League. While it was a surprise that they guaranteed the 31-year-old Fried the most money for a left-handed pitcher in MLB history ($218 million over eight years), their quick pivot to a second ace could provide flexibility in how they address the offensive void created by losing the Juan Soto sweepstakes.Â
That prompted the following debate between our MLB writers:Â
Given what it would have cost to sign Juan Soto, how do you feel about the Max Fried contract? Could you see the Yankees being better off in the aggregate without Soto?
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Deesha Thosar: Finally, Yankees fans can breathe a sigh of relief knowing the team has shrugged off the loss of Soto and moved on in a significant way. Brian Cashman revealed the Yankees weren’t able to go all-in on a competitive offer for Blake Snell because they were waiting to see how their payroll would be impacted by Soto’s decision. That ultimately cost them when Snell quickly signed with the Dodgers. So, it was smart of the Yankees front office to go right after Fried, the other top left-handed pitcher on the market, less than 48 hours after they lost Soto to the Mets.
I’m more surprised at the length of the Fried contract than I am with the expenditure. Giving an eight-year deal to a 31-year-old with a history of recent forearm injuries is certainly a risk. Fried has the third-best ERA (2.81) among all major-league starting pitchers since 2020, but the Yankees betting on him to be anywhere near that productive into his age-39 season is bold.Â
Those extra years the Yankees tacked on to the deal, however, allowed them to lower his annual average value to $27.25 million, which means they can keep spending this winter.
Reading Cashman’s tea leaves, it sounds like the Yankees would not have been in the mix for Fried if they had acquired Soto. So, in that vein, the Yankees are beginning to improve their roster — in potentially multiple ways — without Soto.Â
The rotation now consists of seven starters. In addition to Fried, Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón figure to be the only mainstays, with at least one of Clarke Schmidt, Nestor Cortes and Marcus Stroman likely to be traded. There is no denying that the Yankees offense is worse without Soto, but they can bolster it by swapping an arm or two for an impact bat.
That’s where a trade for Cody Bellinger is beginning to make too much sense for the Yankees. Bellinger’s versatility allows the Yankees to plug him in at first base, center field or right field, and even though he’s no Soto (no one is), his left-handed bat figures to play well in Yankee Stadium. Bellinger is set to make $27.5 million this season and has a player option for $25 million in 2026, and the Yankees still have payroll flexibility for him even after signing Fried.Â
Signing Fried alone doesn’t make the Yankees better off without Soto, but they’re positioned well to make a couple more splashy moves to try and get there.
Rowan Kavner: This is more than I expected for Fried, but in this post-Soto world, my brain might not work anymore. The average annual value is completely reasonable — his $27.25 million per year is just a tick ahead of what his rotation mate Carlos Rodón will be making — but the length of the contract came as a surprise as Fried enters his age-31 season coming off back-to-back years of forearm issues.Â
That’s a long time for a starting pitcher in his 30s, particularly one with an injury history. Then again, the Yankees clearly felt like they had to do something quickly to save face in the aftermath of Soto’s departure, and they aren’t wrong. I would’ve liked Snell more for them, but after missing out on him during their pursuit of Soto, it certainly doesn’t hurt their cause to grab one of the top pitchers on the market, even if eight years is one or two more than I would’ve felt comfortable with.
Fried’s consistency is exemplary. His ability to keep the ball on the ground and induce soft contact has led to a 2.81 ERA over the past five years — the best mark among pitchers who have logged at least 500 innings in that time — and he has posted a 3.25 ERA or lower every year in that stretch.Â
He was clearly in the upper tier of free-agent pitchers this winter, but for a contending team looking for a difference-maker in October, I would have slotted him just behind Corbin Burnes and Snell, given Fried’s inability to consistently miss bats. That has gotten him into trouble in recent postseasons — he has allowed 14 runs (12 earned) in his past three playoff appearances dating back to 2022 — but he did throw six shutout innings in Game 6 of the 2021 World Series while helping the Braves to a championship.
It’s still hard to imagine any non-Shohei Ohtani player being worth more than $700 million, but to be better in the aggregate without Soto, it will take a LOT more work from the Yankees this winter. I don’t see that happening without multiple impact bats, at minimum.Â
They’d probably have to get two of Alex Bregman, Christian Walker or Teoscar Hernández to start building an argument. On the trade market, it also wouldn’t be a surprise at all to see them go after Cody Bellinger, given his ability to help in center and at first.
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.
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 Texas Rangers and right-hander Nathan Eovaldi have agreed on a $75 million, three-year contract, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Tuesday night because the deal was subject to a successful physical for the two-time World Series champion.
Bringing back the 34-year-old Eovaldi was one of the primary goals for the Rangers this offseason.
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Eovaldi became a free agent Nov. 4 after declining a vested $20 million player option for the 2025 season.
The two-time All-Star also got a $2 million buyout from that option earned by throwing more than 300 innings over his two years with the Rangers after joining them in free agency.
Eovaldi was the winning pitcher in their World Series-clinching game at Arizona in 2023, when he was 5-0 with a 2.95 ERA in six postseason starts. He was also part of Boston’s 2018 title.
‘I want to be one of the best’ – Nathan Eovaldi reflects on winning five postseason starts with the Rangers
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The Rangers had expected Eovaldi to decline the option, but had said it was one of their priorities to re-sign the Texas native.
