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The Mets surprised everyone with the news today that they and Bo Bichette agreed to a three-year deal worth $126 million. It was a nice pivot after losing out on Kyle Tucker, as Bichette gives them the right-handed bat they were looking for to balance out the lineup.

The expectation is that Bichette will slide into third base, which certainly shakes things up a bit for Brett Baty and Mark Vientos. Obviously things can change before Opening Day, but as things stand, according to FanGraphs, here is what a potential lineup featuring Bichette could be.

1. SS Francisco Lindor
2. RF Juan Soto
3. 3B Bo Bichette
4. 1B Jorge Polanco
5. 2B Marcus Semien
6. DH Brett Baty
7. C Francisco Alvarez
8. LF Carson Benge
9. CF Tyrone Taylor

Now, this lineup assumes that Benge makes the team out of camp and that Baty does not get traded for outfield or pitching help. Also, assuming Mark Vientos does not get traded, he is likely to serve as the team’s DH against left-handed pitching.

There is also the possibilty that Baty ends up in left field, but for now this is the team’s new look lineup with the departures from last season and the additions this offseason. Undoubtedly David Stearns will continue to be busy in the coming weeks, but the addition of Bichette lengthens and balances the lineup and gives them some flexibility when it comes to making potential trades in the future.

After the Dodgers signed Blake Snell around Thanksgiving 2024, I remembered the Dodgers’ mindset after winning the 2020 World Series.

My mind kept going back to a quote I read from Andy McCullough’s biography of Clayton Kershaw: The Last of His Kind: Clayton Kershaw and the Burden of Greatness.

In discussing the thought process that Kershaw went through in the years after winning the 2020 World Series that led him back to the Dodgers after considering joining his hometown Texas Rangers and retirement, the mindset of the Dodgers’ front office to start the 2021 season was discussed and could be best described in three words.

“Let’s be pigs.”

On page 325 of McCullough’s book, the above quotation is attributed to Andrew Friedman, as the organization’s thought process was not sit on their laurels, content with just a single title.

[emphasis added.]

For what it is worth, the plan backfired spectacularly as the Dodgers overvalued the results of the shortened regular season to figuratively set $102 million on fire in a decision that had a hangover effect until the signing of Shohei Ohtani. After that fiasco, the Dodgers learned not to needlessly spend, but to spend efficiently on the best fit. The Dodgers did not guarantee themselves success yesterday, but they ruthlessly upgraded themselves, which sometimes is enough.

I will argue to my dying day that had the Dodgers spent a fraction of what they spent on Anthony DeScalfini instead, the streak of division titles would have remained unbroken, and the title defense would have been a lot more likely as DeScalfini effectively ate innings in 2021, preserving arms like Walker Buehler and now-disgraced Julio Urías for the playoff run.

Much like the 2025 Toronto Blue Jays, on this point, I can only go what if, but one never has the opportunity to discuss this particular point in context.

Time is a flat circle

Stop me if you have heard this one, but the Dodgers’ acquisitions of the past three offseasons could be best described as “this verse, same as the first.”

Before the 2024 season, the Dodgers signed both the unicorn, the eventual Hall of Famer Shohei Ohtani, and the best pedigreed pitcher to ever pitch in Nippon Professional Baseball, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and the Dodgers won their first World Series since the COVID Cup year of 2020 on the backs of Freddie Freeman, just enough pitching, and duct tape.

In 2025, the Dodgers sign not-quite-ready yet phenom Roki Sasaki and the best available bullpen arms to fill the perceived weakness of the roster, the bullpen: Tanner Scott, Kirby Yates, and re-sign Blake Treinen. Things got a little hinky, but the Dodgers eventually won their first back-to-back World Series in franchise history and are the first repeat champions in the sport in 25 years.

In 2026, the Dodgers signed the best relief arm available (again) in Edwin Diaz and the best outfield bat available in Kyle Tucker, who greeted the Dodger fanbase on Instagram Thursday evening.

Contrary to popular belief, I have seen Dodgers fans’ reaction to the signing be one of bemused acceptance. It is no longer shocking when the marquee talent comes to Los Angeles; the cost of experience is wonder. Winning the Ohtani sweepstakes, followed by winning the Snell sweepstakes, followed by winning the Tucker sweepstakes, is almost old-hat at this point.

Still, the rich get richer, and it is still fun. While Tucker is not an Ohtani-level talent, he fits the Dodgers’ biggest offensive need while providing some much-needed youth over the next two to four seasons.

The Ascendant Empire

I am not going to pretend that the Los Angeles Dodgers are not the perceived villains of the sport. Still, if the last two years have taught us anything, it’s that success on the field is not guaranteed, but one can tilt the odds in one’s favor with enough money.

However, the team makes itself hard to love sometimes, especially when it will not pay its tour guides a living wage and charges its most devoted fans a premium to come to its annual FanFest. One need only look back fifteen years ago to a painfully unfunny monologue by Seth Meyers at the ESPY awards, who rattled off “the Dodgers are so poor jokes” in quick-fire succession thanks to the sheer incompetence of former owner Frank McCourt.

No one outside Los Angeles is laughing anymore.

Yes, fans should be angry at their skinflint owners who refuse to spend money to put a quality product on the field or discuss trading their stars for pennies on the dollar (see: Peralta, Freddy, Milwaukee Brewers; see also: Skubal, Tarik, Detroit Tigers, Skenes, Paul, Pittsburgh Pirates) rather than build a nucleus around them. But if folks want to be angry at the Dodgers, fine — do whatever makes you happy. To paraphrase one of the seminal songs of my childhood: “If it makes you happy, then why the heck are you so sad?”

As Eric Stephen points out, yes, the Dodgers used deferred money and creative accounting to get Tucker into Dodger blue. Other teams are finally starting to use some of the Dodgers’ accounting skills, but there is only one Shohei Ohtani, one Mookie Betts, and so on.

All that ink about the Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox being active in the offseason looks a lot less lustrous now. Apparently, the New York Mets tore the figurative guts out of their seemingly dysfunctional team after spending all that non-deferred money on Juan Soto just to regress badly in typical Mets’ fashion. I would riff on the New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants, and San Diego Padres, but for the life of me, I cannot parse a viable strategy apart from “hope and prayer.”

If titles could be won by simply cracking open a checkbook, the Mets and Yankees would be basking in championship gold rather than in the tears of their frustrated and disappointed fans. For all of the money and revenue the Dodgers generated in 2025, they still had to dig themselves out of a 3-2 series hole in Toronto to remain champions.

The Dodgers have built an engine that, at this point, is practically self-sustaining, driven by making money and winning through scouting, development, and signing. Yes, the Dodgers put the torch to their draft picks for this upcoming draft, but if Tucker and Diaz pan out, it’s a small price to pay to keep the engine running. A franchise record of over four million fans came to Dodger Stadium in 2025, and overall attendance topped 70 million for the third consecutive season, in part due to Dodgers fans showing up in droves on the road.

As is often the case, no one pays attention to the avalanche until it is on top of them, when it is far too late to seek cover. In-depth discussions about baseball’s changing economic model are for another day, as well as the owner’s next ill-fated lockout in approximately twelve months; right now, as Jacob Macofsky points out, the Dodgers paid a premium, and reaction around the league was swift.

Everyone sees the end result of the Dodgers’ efforts, and either tries to mimic the model poorly (see: the Blue Jays; see also: the Philadelphia Phillies, the Padres, the Mets) or feigns helplessness and does next to nothing (see: the Giants; see also: the teams subsisting on revenue-sharing money).

Anyone in baseball would be forgiven for waking up to Sonny and Cher’s I’ve Got You, Babe a la Groundhog Day, and thinking it’s either a blissful dream that will never end (if you’re a Dodgers fan) or an odious nightmare that just will not stop (if you’re the rest of the league).

Time is a flat circle, but the Dodgers have got you, babe — at least for right now. The Dodgers’ empire is still ascendant as they finally added some youthful pop in Tucker to complement their aged core. Barring a surprise acquisition by trade of Skubal or Skenes or an ill-advised reunion with Cody Bellinger, one would imagine that the Dodgers’ offseason is now mostly complete.

I say mostly because at the end of the day, the Dodgers are missing only a familiar face as they march towards an attempted threepeat. At this point, it would be shocking if the Dodgers did not reunite with the player who holds the record for appearances in playoff games: Kiké Hernández. As Hernández said at the 2025 Championship Rally at Dodger Stadium, the champion does not apologize to anyone.

It was a sucker punch.

All week, every national media pundit and baseball writer insisted the Phillies were “heavy favorites” to land free agent infielder Bo Bichette. All week, momentum was building. Meanwhile, negotiations continued. While nothing is ever certain until the dotted line is signed, it sure felt like Bichette was already wearing red and white pinstripes.

And then, a sucker punch to the gut.

After losing out on free agent outfielder Kyle Tucker to the Dodgers, the Mets pivoted and signed Bichette to a surprise, three-year, $126 million contract with an average annual value of $42 million a season. The deal includes opt outs and the end of every year, essentially giving Bichette the option of spending three years in New York with a $42 million AAV, or testing the market again, all by the time he turns 30.

The Phillies, it appears, made a legitimate, longer-term offer that the Bichette camp said it wanted.

After five days of negotiations, the Phils made the offer his camp wanted. Unfortunately, either because Dave Dombrowski and/or John Middleton dragged their feet, or because Bichette and his agent were using the Phillies and slow-playing the market until Tucker signed, New York swooped in and stole Bichette out from under their noses.

Now, not only did the Dodgers land the best free agent outfielder on the market this off-season, the Mets snagged the best infielder and a prime Phillies target, all within a span of less than 24 hours.

However it happened, Dave Dombrowski didn’t land the plane. The results are devastating.

Almost immediately after the Bichette-to-NY news, J.T. Realmuto reportedly agreed to a new contract with the Phillies. It likely was not a coincidence.

Realmuto and his agent had to be quietly smiling to himself somewhere saying, “Oh, I guess you guys need me now, don’t you?”

So, after showing it was willing to pony up $30 million a year over a seven year period for Bichette, is there anyone else the Phillies might give that money to?

The options aren’t great. Harrison Bader could return, especially if it’s just along the lines of a three-year, $45 million contract or something. Eugenio Suarez is a third baseman with a lot of pop (48 HRs, .228 AVG in ‘25), and outfielder Cody Bellinger, whose left-handed bat doesn’t feel like a great fit in this lineup and teams like the Yankees and Blue Jays likely still willing to give him a seven-year deal for too much money.

Not knowing exactly what happened during the negotiations, it’s difficult to make assumptions. But with each passing day a deal wasn’t consummated, and talking heads on TV telling us it almost certainly would, it sure feels in retrospect like Bichette’s agent was using the Phillies to get what he wanted elsewhere.

What does that say about the front office? I guess Don Mattingly, the new bench coach, couldn’t trump the money, huh?

One issue the Phils will have to come to grips with is opt-outs.

So, here we are. Unable to swing any creative trades or haul in Bichette in free agency, Dombrowski is going to run the same roster back again in 2026. The fanbase, understandably, is not excited. In fact, it’s fair to say Phillies fans are crushed by missing out on this player in a way I don’t remember them being for any other free agent over the last 10-15 years.

Dombrowski did a great job convincing John Middleton to spend more money than he planned. He just couldn’t land the player.

This is the second year we’ve done this, looking at names in the Diamondbacks system who might be able to help the team this season. 2025’s selection was a bit of a mixed bag, shall we say. We were one of the earlier passengers on the Tim Tawa bandwagon, and he ended up playing 74 games for the D-backs. At the other end, Seth Martinez found himself designated for assignment about three weeks after our article. So it’s safe to call my track record “mixed” in this area, and that’s perhaps being kind. But, never one to be daunted by being incorrect, I figured I’d try again this winter.

However, I will expand slightly outside the 40-man roster, because there are certainly some intriguing possible candidates who haven’t yet been added to it. There should certainly be plenty of space to do so, because the D-backs will have at least four players (Corbin Burnes, Justin Martinez, A.J. Puk and Blake Walston) going on the 60-day injured list as soon as it becomes available – theoretically the start of spring training, but effectively Opening Day. I would have Lourdes Gurriel Jr. on there too, but based on recent reports of his progress, he might be looking to come back sooner than early June. If so, then the team might be fine with using the shorter IL for him.

Therefore, for inclusion I’m just going to say that the player in question can’t have appeared for the D-backs previously. This rules out somewhat known names like Cristian Mena and Yilber Diaz. But also less familiar ones like Philip Abner, although you may have blinked and missed his 3.2 innings for the team last year. We begin, instead, with a choice which hardly counts as pushing out the boat. For Kohl Drake is currently the consensus top pitcher in the Diamondbacks farm system. Admittedly, not long ago, “having a pulse” would be a credible main criteria there. But largely courtesy of Merrill Kelly, things are looking better there than they were.

That “pulse” statement is little if any exaggeration. Of all the pitchers in MLB Pipeline’s current top 15 Arizona prospects, half of them came from Texas in the deadline trade for Kelly last July. In addition to Drake, Mitch Bratt and David Hagaman also arrived in the D-backs’ system. But Drake is the highest ranked (#6) and, at the age of 25, is also the closest to the major leagues. Right now, it would appear the left-hander will need help – most likely a health issue affecting more than one expected starter – to crack the Opening Day rotation. But he’s going to be near the top of the list for a call-up when necessary, and from previous history, that will not be long into the season.

Drake was originally an 11th round pick by Texas in the 2022 draft, so has already over-performed. He comes out of Walters State Community College in Morristown, TN, and he has a real shot at becoming their best-known player. So far, that is probably another Ranger, Brett Martin, and you’d be forgiven for going “Who?” Though around SnakePit Towers, it would be reliever Chad Bell, because Mrs. SnakePit rented a house to him one spring training. You’d be forgiven for going “Who?” there as well, but we were excited to see him in action when we visited Seattle in 2017.

After a rough start to his pro career in 2023, posting a 6.36 ERA across 46.2 inning, Drake had a much better 2024. He roared through three levels of the Texas system, starting in A-ball and finishing in Double-A. He dominated the lowest tier, posting a K:BB of 71:9 across just 43 innings, though was relatively old for that level. The ratio did decline at the higher levels, but Kohl was still striking out a batter per inning in Double-A, with a 3.10 ERA across five starts. He returned there to start 2025, and was better still: 12 starts, a 2.44 ERA and an impressive 70 strikeouts across 55.1 innings. Kohl was named Pitcher of the Month in the Texas system for June.

That got him a promotion to Triple-A at the beginning of July, and he spent the rest of the season there, both before and after the trade which brought him into the Arizona system. There’s no denying, Drake struggled in the unforgiving environment of the PCL, allowing 24 hits over 16.2 innings, leading to a 9.18 ERA. He may have been hurt, as his season ended after a decent outing (4 IP, one unearned run) on August 20th. He was placed on the IL with a shoulder sprain the following week, though is expected to be fully recovered when pitchers and catchers report to Salt River Fields next month.

He was added to the 40-man roster earlier this off-season, a no-brainer decision to protect Drake from otherwise being available in the Rule 5 draft. That gives him another benefit over some alternatives, in that there’s no need to make room for him on the larger roster. His velo has increased by 3-4 mph since he pitched in college, now sitting around 93-94 mph. MLB Pipeline says, “His combination of size and a short arm action provides some deception, as does his flat approach angle. If he can continue to get more advanced hitters to chase his curveball and changeup, he could make it as a No. 4 starter.”

It’s interesting to think how the rotation will shape up for the D-backs in the coming seasons. We have Corbin Burnes and Brandon Pfaadt under contract through 2030 (plus two team option years in the latter’s case); if Merrill Kelly’s vesting option kicks in, he and Ryne Nelson are controlled until the end of 2028. And Eduardo Rodriguez is signed through 2027 (plus a rarely-exercised mutual option). Soroka is clearly intended as a stop-gap until Burnes returns. Though health is always a potential factor, it appears that Mena, Drake or any other candidate will need to prove themselves capable of a rotation spot for the next couple of years.

In losing Gavin Lux to the Tampa Bay Rays in last night’s three-team deal (that looped in the Los Angeles Angels), the Cincinnati Reds did not really lose an infielder. They did not really lose an outfielder, either.

They lost a left-handed bat.

That’s what Lux had become on this particular Reds roster – no more, no less. His decline defensively was readily evident when given time at 3B and 2B, and the idea of trying to hide him in LF showed he simply didn’t have the instincts required there. It’s impossible to blame him for that, of course, since he’d simply never played out there before, but the reality became that the one (and only) thing he provided to club with was a left-handed bat against right-handed pitching.

A DH who only hit right-handed pitching.

His move to Tampa is the latest in a pretty decent overhaul of the position-player corps on the roster since last July’s trade deadline. Ke’Bryan Hayes came in to claim 3B, and Noelvi Marte was shifted to RF where he’ll presumably get a pretty long leash there. Lux is out, as is Jake Fraley, subtracting a pair of left-handed platoon bats. Santiago Espinal, too, was jettisoned when he simply became far too expensive for his niche role, while lefty JJ Bleday and righty Dane Myers were brought into the outfield mix on the very same day.

Despite all that moving and shaking, up until yesterday it was Lux who at least – on paper – profiled as the guy who’d play a little 2B on days when a right-handed pitcher was on the mound and when Matt McLain would shift over to play SS to give Elly De La Cruz a break. The Reds clearly didn’t really want him in that role – they just traded him, after all – but if the roster froze and that’s who they had, that’s the role he’d have been forced to play. Bleday, though, is a pure outfielder only, as is lefty Will Benson, and while both seem to be the benficiaries offensively from Lux’s move, there appears to still be two clear and obvious voids on Cincinnati’s roster now.

There is no left-handed hitting infielder (aside from Elly, their switch-hitter). There is also no other clear-cut middle infield option, as each of Spencer Steer, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, and even Sal Stewart (despite his 2B experience in the minors) look the part of 1B/3B only guys.

The ‘backup’ shortstop is the everyday 2B, and there is no backup 2B. All that after the Reds said publicly earlier in the offseason how much they want to bake in more rest for Elly after he was ground to a pulp in 2025.

They never actually backfilled the role Espinal had been tasked with last year, and now they have another ‘infield’ void without Lux. The question, though, is whether they can find one guy who can do both, or if they’re still on the hunt for two separate players this late in the offseason.

In house options aren’t exactly the most obvious. They’ve got both Garrett Hampson and Michael Chavis around on minor league deals, though it’s been years since either was really trusted with 2B/SS duties at any level, let alone the big leagues. Edwin Arroyo has the chops for it defensively right this minute, but everyone’s still waiting for the power in his bat to return after a lost 2024 due to shoulder surgery – and he’s still not yet had a single PA at AAA yet. He might be the most logical candidate for that role as early as mid-year, but it would be foolhardy to expect that role to just be etched in stone for him come Opening Day.

So, the Reds have some serious shopping to do, and as we all know they’re going to have to do it with the slightest of budgets.

Luis Rengifo ticks some of the boxes as a free agent, though he’s two years removed from legitimate offensive production (and he, a switch hitter, typically hits lefties from the right side much better than righties from the left side). Luis Arraez is available and a much more known quantity, but he’s years removed from being a legit option on the left side of the infield and will come at a much, much steeper cost. Beyond those two, there’s what remains of Adam Frazier and literally nobody else in free agency who hits from the left side and plays SS/2B.

The trade market, however, opens up a ton more doors for the Reds, and I’m beginning to wonder if the latest series of free agent dominos might have lined one up for them perfectly. Late last night – while the Reds, Angels, and Rays were striking their deal – the Los Angeles Dodgers swooped in to sign star free agent Kyle Tucker away from the New York Mets, who were the presumptive favorites for his signature. The Mets pivoted almost immediately, though, and landed Bo Bichette on his own gargantuan deal this morning. The shift still means the Mets got a star, but the move off Tucker (an outfielder) to Bichette (a shortstop who’ll now play 3B) means New York’s already existing logjam of infielders just got even jammier.

Each of Mark Vientos, Brett Baty, and Luisangel Acuña just watched their paths to playing time get a lot less clear, though none profiles perfectly for what I’ve laid out as a Reds need already. Baty is a 3B primarily with some 2B chops (and none at SS), while both Acuña and Vientos hit from only the right side. It’s former top prospect Ronny Mauricio, though, who now looks like he’d fit on the Reds quite perfectly.

Mauricio will turn 25 in April and hit just .226/.293/.369 in 184 PA with the Mets last year, one year after missing the entire 2024 season at all levels after tearing his ACL in Dominican Winter League action after the end of the 2023 season. He did hit .323/.384/.508 in a small 19 game sample across the minors in 2025 as he worked his way back into form, but irregular playing time never really saw him take off at the big league level despite a swing from the left-side, in particular, that often wows you.

(Technically he’s a switch-hitter, though it’s become pretty clear he’s a guy who should only be leaned on hitting lefty against righties.)

Ronny came up as a shortstop, but with Francisco Lindor entrenched as New York’s future Hall of Famer at the position, the Mets began to move him all over the place. He’s got extensive experience at 3B and 2B, and even logged 26 starts in LF at the AAA level with Syracuse prior to his knee injury. And, most importantly, he’s still cheap as a pre-arb guy (who even has an option remaining if need be). And if the Mets aren’t going to play him, they run the risk of depleting his value even further by simply parking him at AAA once again, leading one to wonder if this winter – especially now that Bichette is around – will be the time they finally deal him elsewhere in exchange for something that fits their roster better.

The question, as it always is, would be just how much it would cost off the Reds farm – or off their active roster. In many ways there is a decent parallel between Mauricio and Arroyo – both ranked routinely on Top 100 overall prospect lists, both with a 2024 totally lost to injury, both still hoping to show a lot more as they move beyond said injuries – and it’s a decent thought process to consider what kind of return would be needed for you to want to deal away Edwin. Mauricio should, in theory, be a little cheaper given that he’s already burned two options and not exactly established himself as a big leaguer, but that’s the same realm of value we’re talking here.

Cincinnati may simply hedge in a cheaper way that’s less impactful to their own roster. That seems like something they’d do, after all, leaning into one of Hampson/Chavis and simply hoping there’s no significant imbalance created. Still, it seems like they’ve got a chance to pounce on someone else’s disjointed roster to directly benefit their own, and it sure would be nice to see them be that aggressive.

Since the 2015 World Series Championship team, the Kansas City Royals have been shut out from claiming another division title. Outside of the 2024 season, where the Royals claimed a Wild Card spot, before being ousted in the ALDS by longtime rival, the Yankees, the Royals haven’t really been in the division title race.

I truly do believe that the Royals win the AL Central crown in 2024 if Lucas Erceg and Vinnie Pasquantino don’t get hurt on the same play, on a night game, in late August in Houston, Texas. (Sorry for upsetting you about reminding you of that.) However, with those injuries the Royals struggled in September and barely hung onto a playoff berth, but they slowly faded out of a divisional crown hunt.

Coming off a somewhat disappointing 2025 season, a winning season, but not reaching their goals, the Royals have been aggressive in the offseason. To me, that reflects why the Kansas City Royals will take the AL Central crown in 2026.

First, let’s talk about what the Royals have done. They have let go of some players who were seemingly never going to figure it out and break through. While I think they still have some moves to improve the team, notably another outfield bat, the Royals have also shored up some weaknesses that have troubled them the last two seasons.

They traded for Kameron Misner, an outfielder with upside potential, while not giving much anything. They signed Alex Lange, a reliever who has back-end-of-the-bullpen experience and could potentially be a bridge guy to Erceg and Carlos Estévez. They traded for Isaac Collins and Nick Mears, while only giving away Angel Zerpa. Collins, a switch-hitting outfielder, can play everywhere and is solid offensively. Mears, another good reliever, can bridge the game to Erceg or Estevez.

They signed Lane Thomas, who albeit wasn’t good last season, mainly because of injuries, but is a right-handed outfielder that mashes lefties and plays a good centerfield. Finally, they acquired Matt Strahm for Jonathan Bowlan from Philadelphia. Strahm, who started with the Royals, is a good reliever. He’s a reliable left-hander that the Royals have needed and can be an 8th or 9th inning guy.

That is just what they have done so far, but I don’t think they are necessarily done. I would like to see them, and I think they’d agree, acquire another veteran left-handed reliever and another outfield bat.

They are being proactive in filling the holes in their roster that have plagued them the last two seasons. Poor outfield production and relying on relievers to do stuff they haven’t before. Getting veterans, especially toward the back of the bullpen, should exponentially benefit the Royals this season.

The other big reason that I think the Royals will break through and take the division this season is because of the lack of productivity from the other four AL Central teams.

Let’s start with the Detroit Tigers. They resigned Gleyber Torres, who has been good for them, and signed future Hall of Fame closer Kenley Jansen. But at this stage, I don’t know how effective Jansen can be this season. They also resigned their big deadline addition from last summer, reliever Kyle Finnegan. The Tigers will still be solid and probably the earlier frontrunner, but they blew a historic 15.5-game division lead to the Guardians. I think that mentally could hurt them, and the Royals can take advantage of that.

Next, the two-time reigning champions, and winners of 3 of the last 4 division titles, the Cleveland Guardians. They haven’t made any notable moves, but they also haven’t lost anyone notable. The team is just really gritty and finds ways to win. Outside of Jose Ramirez and Steven Kwan, they don’t have any star talent, but they have a lot of solid dudes. With that being said, the Royals have been right there each of the last two seasons with Cleveland, and I think they finally overtake them this season.

The Minnesota Twins won the division title in 2023, and they seemed poised to be really good for the foreseeable future. In 2024, they were right in the middle of the divisional race with the Royals and Guardians, but then fell off a cliff and missed the postseason altogether. And then last July, they completely blew up everything, trading away almost all of their talent. And now they are in rebuild mode for the foreseeable future. Just shows how quickly a championship window can close.

Lastly, the laughingstock of the MLB the last couple of years, the Chicago White Sox. They signed international infielder Munetaka Murakami and starter Sean Newcomb. But, while this team showed some flashes last season of potential with their youth, they are still very far away and shouldn’t be a concern for the Royals.

What concerns do you have that might hold the Royals back from winning the division? What team might I have undervalued? Because I think this is finally the year that the Boys in Blue are back on top.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are counting down the days before Opening Day, when they will face off against the New York Mets at Citi Field.

However, the Pirates’ job to beat the Mets in the first game of the season may have gotten a little more challenging after the team signed Toronto Blue Jays star Bo Bichette to a three-year, $126 million contract.

“The Mets have agreed to a three-year, $126 million deal with infielder Bo Bichette, a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand on Friday. The club has not confirmed. MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reported that the deal includes two opt-outs and is pending a physical,“ MLB.com contributor Manny Randhawa wrote.

“After trading for second baseman Marcus Semien in the offseason, the Mets plan on starting Bichette at third, according to MLB.com’s Jon Paul Morosi. The incumbent third baseman is Brett Baty, who delivered career highs in homers (18) and RBIs (50) in 130 games. Baty missed the last week of the regular season with a right oblique injury.“

Bichette won’t have things easier either because he will likely match up with Pirates star pitcher Paul Skenes in his first game with the Mets. Skenes is coming off a Cy Young season and he still has the potential to get even better.

After large contracts were fleshed out to Bichette and Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Kyle Tucker, it’s beginning to feel a lot like baseball season.

BD community, what do you think of Bichette and the Mets? Chime off in the comments section below.

The long wintertime staring contest between J.T. Realmuto and the Philadelphia Phillies is finally over.

Realmuto, the three-time All-Star catcher and highly respected handler of the Phillies' pitching staff, agreed to terms on a three-year, $45 million contract Jan. 16, according to a person with direct knowledge of the agreement.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal, first reported by The Athletic, has not yet been finalized.

Realmuto turns 35 in March and while he has been worth between 2.5 and 6.5 WAR in the six full seasons since the Phillies acquired him in 2019, his advancing age gave the club some pause entering the offseason. Multiple reports indicated the club preferred a two-year term and while both desired a reunion, the team scheduled a Zoom meeting with free agent infielder Bo Bichette on Jan. 12.

Acquiring Bichette would have all but ensured Realmuto's exit, but Bichette reached agreement with the New York Metsearlier in the day, and Realmuto's agreement with the Phillies - which includes incentives worth up to $5 million per season - came together shortly thereafter.

Realmuto was acquired from Miami before the 2019 season and led the major leagues in games caught in 2022, 2023 and 2025. Despite that workload he has largely produced well above league average offensively, with his finest season coming in 2022, when he hit 22 homers with an .870 OPS and a 130 adjusted OPS.

But that mark dwindled to 91 this past season when he hit a career-low 12 homers in 133 games.

Contributing: Bob Nightengale

It's been a whirlwind 24 hours for the Mets after the first two-plus months of their offseason saw them say goodbye to a large chunk of the offensive core.

After a spirited effort to bring Kyle Tucker to New York, which came with a four-year offer for $220 million, Tucker chose the Dodgers over the Mets and Blue Jays on Thursday night.

Then came the Mets' response.

Early Friday afternoon, New York agreed to a three-year deal with Bo Bichette worth $126 million -- with the expectation that Bichette will play third base.

The deal has been met with mostly excitement, but also with some wondering how Bichette fits given David Stearns' emphasis on improving the club's run prevention.

While that question is fair, there are two things to point out.

First, run prevention is not just defense. It's also pitching. And most people seem to be focusing only on the defensive aspect. Of course, the Mets still need to add significantly to their starting rotation this offseason.

Second, while Bichette has rated poorly at shortstop when it comes to his range, he should be better suited for third base -- and should be helped additionally by the rangy Francisco Lindor being to his left. 

With Bichette now in tow, there are a number of ways the Mets can go with their infield alignment.

Let's break it down, in no particular order...

Brett Baty to first base

The possible alignment:

Brett Baty, 1B
Marcus Semien, 2B
Francisco Lindor, SS
Bo Bichette, 3B

With Bichette taking over at third base, sliding Baty to first could make sense.

In that scenario, Jorge Polanco would be the regular DH.

Aside from one inning in left field in 2023, Baty has spent his entire major league career on the dirt. And the fact that he transitioned well to second base duty last season suggests that it isn't crazy to ask him to pick up a first base glove.

There are a lot of intricate things to learn at first base that you don't have to learn at second base, though. So it's easier said than done.

But with months to prepare, it's fair to believe Baty would be able to handle it.

Jorge Polanco at first base

The possible alignment:

Jorge Polanco, 1B Marcus Semien, 2B Francisco Lindor, SS Bo Bichette, 3B

The plan after the Mets signed Polanco was for him to spend plenty of time at first base -- a position he hasn't yet played in the majors.

Polanco, a natural middle infielder, started getting acclimated to first base during workouts last season while still with the Mariners.

In this scenario, Baty and Mark Vientos could conceivably get at-bats at DH, with Baty getting additional time around the diamond.

Mark Vientos to first base

The possible alignment:

Mark Vientos, 1B Marcus Semien, 2B Francisco Lindor, SS Bo Bichette, 3B

The probability might not be high, but the Mets exploring the trade market for Baty -- especially if it helps them land a difference-making outfielder or starting pitcher -- shouldn't be ruled out.

In a world where Baty is dealt, it could open up first base for Vientos (with Polanco at DH). Vientos has gotten time at first each of the last three seasons.

Vientos has been a poor defender at third base, though, so it's fair to wonder how he'd look at first base in a regular role.