Jeff McNeil’s time in the Big Apple has come to an end.
The Mets have long been floating the former batting champ in trade talks, and on Monday they finally reached an agreement to ship him off to the A’s along with cash.
New York receives 17-year-old pitching prospect Yordan Rodriguez in return.
While he seemingly didn’t have a home in the Big Apple anymore, the A’s feel the veteran McNeil will slot in perfectly with their young up-and-coming roster.
“He's a really good fit in a lot of ways,” GM David Forst told Martín Gallegos of MLB.com. “His experience -- let’s be honest, we still have a generally young roster without a ton of experience, particularly on the position-player side.
“I think he brings a lot to the table in terms of having played in that big market, played in the postseason, and just bringing a lot of experience to our clubhouse.”
That developing core is headlined by AL Rookie of the Year Nick Kurtz, the slap-hitting Jacob Wilson, slugger Brent Rooker, catcher Shea Langeliers, power-hitting lefty Tyler Soderstrom, and dynamic outfielder Lawrence Butler.
The 33-year-old should bring a nice boost to their offense taking his newly-developed approach at the plate to the hitter-friendly confines of Sutter Health Park.
McNeil is currently penciled in as their everyday second base, but things could always change over the next few months, as the organization also values his versatility.
Frost views his skillset similar to another veteran he’d signed in the past.
“That he has that much versatility,” the GM said. “I see it a lot like when we acquired Ben Zobrist a long time ago -- just knowing you have some options and you can do some other things on the roster is great.”
McNeil, of course, has logged an appearance at every position except pitcher and catcher over the years.
He finishes his time with the Mets as a .284 hitter with 80 HR, 367 RBI, and a .779 OPS.
There's a good chance the Islanders will have their leading scorer back after the Holiday break.
Bo Horvat officially rejoined the team for practice on Monday afternoon, donning a red non-contact jersey.
Horvat still has some hurdles to clear, and is doubtful for Tuesday's game against the Devils.
The team is, however, targeting Saturday's meeting with the Rangers for his potential return to the lineup.
"It was nice, he was wearing a non-contact jersey today and it seems like things are going the right way," Patrick Roy said. "I'm doubtful for tomorrow but obviously it was good to see him back out there."
It certainly is a welcome sight, as the star winger has missed the last four games with a lower-body injury.
Horvat went down in significant pain and was unable to put any weight on his left foot after getting tangled up and twisting it during a Dec. 11 meeting with the Anaheim Ducks.
The team didn't have much of an update afterwards, but ruled him day-to-day at the time.
Now, just under two weeks later, Horvat has been able to take some encouraging steps towards getting back out there.
New York has gone 1-2-1 in the four games he's missed.
Talk about changing the narrative: With three major moves in a period of six days, David Stearns turned the Mets’ offseason around in dramatic fashion and restored the faith that fans seemingly had lost in him for much of the long baseball winter.
In acquiring Bo Bichette, Luis Robert Jr., and Freddy Peralta, Stearns filled important needs, added some star power, and finally gave fans a reason to re-channel the emotions they’d been voicing since the departures of Pete Alonso, Edwin Diaz, Brandon Nimmo, and Jeff McNeil.
In doing so, Stearns also changed his offseason grade in a major way.
I’m not giving him a final grade just yet, however, in case he has any surprises planned in the next few weeks. For the moment, I’m simply updating the individual grades again, as we keep a running tally of the moves the Mets make this winter.
The grades:
FREDDY PERALTA ACQUIRED IN TRADE
In the deal with the Milwaukee Brewers, Stearns paid a high price for only one guaranteed season of Peralta, who can be a free agent after the season. The Mets gave up two of their top prospects: right-hander Brandon Sproat and middle infielder Jett Williams.
That said, it was a move Stearns had to make for the Mets to have championship aspirations in 2026, getting a No. 1-type starter to anchor a rotation that goes into a new season filled with questions about Kodai Senga, Sean Manaea, and David Peterson.
Peralta’s presence also takes some pressure off Nolan McLean to take his stunning late-season success and carry it into 2026 with the pressure of filling the need for an ace.
Peralta may not be the definition of an ace, largely because he averaged only 5.1 innings per start last season, but he pitched with dominance, as indicated by his 2.70 ERA and 204 strikeouts in 176.2 innings. And at 29, turning 30 in June, he should still be in his prime.
In addition, the Mets did well to give up Sproat rather than Jonah Tong, whom the Brewers first asked for, and the Mets had built up their farm system to be able to make a trade like this and still have prospect depth.
Finally, getting right-hander Tobias Myers in addition to Peralta was significant, as the Mets believe Myers can be an important multi-inning reliever or even spot starter for them.
GRADE: A
LUIS ROBERT JR. ACQUIRED IN TRADE
The beauty of this deal from a Mets’ perspective is that it’s low-risk, high-reward, a gamble on Robert’s upside that’s worth taking largely because Steve Cohen can take on the center fielder’s $20 million salary for 2026 without flinching.
Whether the gamble pays off is anybody’s guess, however, after two seasons marked by underperformance and injuries. The Mets are hoping Robert finds the form that made him an All-Star in 2023, when he hit 38 home runs and put up an .857 OPS, and they believe a change of scenery -- from the drudgery of playing for the Chicago White Sox to a chance to play high-stakes games in New York -- will benefit him in a big way.
At worst, the Mets know they’re getting a premium defensive center fielder they have control over for two seasons, if they choose to pick up another $20 million option for 2027.
To get Robert, the Mets gave up Luisangel Acuña, a talented middle infielder, in part because there’s no place for him to play in Queens. They also gave up low-minors pitcher Truman Pauley.
GRADE: B+
Sep 2, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette (11) throws to first to get Cincinnati Reds third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes (not pictured) out in the second inning at Great American Ball Park. / Katie Stratman - Imagn Images
BO BICHETTE SIGNED: 3 YEARS, $126 MILLION
For starters, it was impressive that Stearns had laid the groundwork for a Bichette deal so that he was able to pivot and sign the former Toronto Blue Jays shortstop within 12 hours or so of losing out on Kyle Tucker.
Bichette’s numbers as a high-average hitter with considerable pop speak for themselves, but perhaps most notable is that he has been one of the best clutch hitters in baseball throughout his career. He led the majors in hits with runners in scoring position last season, hitting .381 in those spots, and his career average with RISP is .330 with a .904 OPS.
Scouts say he excels in the clutch in part because he’s a smart hitter who makes adjustments with runners on base, recognizing how pitchers are trying to get him out, and oozes confidence in a way that some say is reminiscent of Derek Jeter.
"As the son of a big leaguer (Dante Bichette) he just seems comfortable in any situation," said one scout. "In big spots he trusts his ability and keeps it simple, like Jeter did. He’s just a really tough out when it counts most."
As such, Bichette, who may still be ascending at age 28 (come March), figures to be the guy to hit behind Juan Soto, dangerous enough that pitchers won’t pitch around Soto constantly. Also, as a right-handed hitter he gives the Mets’ lineup some needed balance, essentially replacing Alonso in that sense anyway.
He needs to prove he can play third base, but shortstops usually can make that move without great difficulty. Bichette’s range, which ranked worst among shortstops last season, shouldn’t be as much of an issue at third, but it’s something to watch.
I give Stearns credit for being willing to break up the core that failed to deliver when it counted most for the last several years, the only exception being 2024. This trade with the Texas Rangers was the first move in that direction. In addition Stearns got out from under an expensive contract that likely wasn’t going to age well, with five years and $102.5 million remaining.
That said, taking on Semien’s three years and $72 million remaining is a major gamble as well. His defense at second base is an upgrade over McNeil but Stearns’ run-prevention philosophy may not be such an easy sell at Citi Field if Semien’s offensive decline of the last two years continues at age 34.
When this trade was made on Nov. 23, I felt like it would ultimately be judged on how Stearns replaced Nimmo’s offense. So far there are still questions about how the Mets will do that, with left field likely to be filled by some combination of Tyrone Taylor, perhaps Brett Baty, and rookie Carson Benge -- who will be given the chance to win the spot out of spring training.
GRADE: C
New York Yankees relief pitcher Devin Williams (38) reacts after defeating the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium / Brad Penner - Imagn Images
Much like the Nimmo trade, I felt this signing had to be evaluated by what came next. It had home run potential if paired with the re-signing of Edwin Diaz, but after the Mets either botched the Diaz negotiations or were OK with letting him leave - it’s still hard to be sure about which - it now feels like much more of a gamble.
Williams’ struggles in the Bronx in 2024 seemed very much related to the pressure of being the closer on such a big stage. That he eventually righted himself would seem to be a good sign, but it was also only long after he’d been removed as the Yankees’ closer.
So it’s fair to wonder how he’ll fare with the expectations of filling Diaz’s shoes as the Mets’ closer. The numbers say his stuff is still elite but scouts who watched him regularly say pressure affected the command of both his fastball and signature changeup.
In a sense, the Bichette signing also impacts the Polanco deal, no longer making him the most significant offseason acquisition with the expectation of replacing Alonso’s offense, even if he is expected to be the Mets’ primary first baseman.
As such, I changed the grade on this move.
As a complement to Bichette, Polanco is a solid signing, coming off a strong age-31 season for the Seattle Mariners in which he slugged .495 and hit 26 home runs, plus two more off Tarik Skubal in the postseason. And, like Bichette, he has been a very good clutch hitter, hitting .337 with runners in scoring position last year, and .400 w/RISP and two outs — as well as a .306 career hitter with RISP.
Of course, he also has a history of inconsistency from year to year, perhaps due somewhat to injuries, and he has no real in-game experience playing first base, even if the Mariners gave him a crash-course at the position last season in case he was needed.
Bottom line: the Mets needed another accomplished hitter to ensure Polanco alone wasn’t expected to make up for the absence of Alonso in the lineup. Now they have one.
GRADE: Adjusted from C to B
New York Yankees relief pitcher Luke Weaver (30) reacts after striking out Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia (not pictured) to end the top of the eleventh inning at Yankee Stadium / Vincent Carchietta - Imagn Images
This is the one acquisition so far that didn't feel connected to anything else the Mets may or may not do. Instead, it feels like a good gamble, signing Weaver to be one of the primary setup men for Williams, knowing it wasn’t so long ago he excelled in the role of closer for the Yanks in 2023.
The right-hander lost his way last season, but many baseball people believe Weaver’s struggles were related to tipping his pitches, which he eventually admitted messed with him mentally. Presumably he’s had time to make corrections, in which case his fastball-changeup combination, similar to Williams’ arsenal, will again be effective.
GRADE: B
JEFF MCNEIL TRADED IN SALARY DUMP
There wasn’t much doubt McNeil would be moved after the departures of Nimmo and Alonso. Whether a breakup of the core proves meaningful remains to be seen, but clearly Stearns believed major change was needed -- and McNeil’s reported dust-ups with Francisco Lindor may have added to that belief.
In any case, going into his age-34 season in 2026, McNeil is a long way from the batting champ who hit .326 in 2022, hitting .238 and .243 the last two seasons, so he wasn’t expected to bring back much of a return. In trading him to the Athletics, the Mets got back a lottery ticket of sorts: 17-year old right-hander Yordan Rodriguez.
More to the point, the A’s are taking on $10 million of McNeil’s $15.75 salary this season, the last on his four-year contract. The Mets are eating $5.75 million and potentially $2 million more if the A’s don’t’ pick up McNeil’s 2027 club option for another $15.75 million for 2027.
With the addition of Bichette, Baty now figures to fill the utility role that otherwise might have been handled by McNeil had he stayed.
Adbert Alzolay had a bit of a rough return to the mound a few weeks ago.
The right-hander was thrown right into the fire in his first game action in nearly two years, and he ended up blowing the save for Leones del Caracas in the Venezuelan Winter League.
Since then, though, he’s been able to settle in nicely.
Alzolay seems to have shaken off whatever rust was on that right arm, posting three consecutive scoreless outings.
The latest was on Sunday, when he secured the final three outs of a 7-3 victory.
While it’s only Winter Ball, it’s certainly encouraging to see the reliever back on the mound and enjoying success.
The Mets brought Alzolay in last offseason on a two-year minor league pact knowing that he would miss the entire year recovering from Tommy John.
After completing his rehab, he now appears ready to compete for a spot.
The last time he was healthy, Alzolay pitched to a 4.67 ERA in 18 outings with the Cubs.
The year before that, though, he was one of the steadier late-inning arms in baseball having recorded 22 saves and a 2.67 ERA over 58 appearances.
If he can regain that form in spring training, he just might be able to crack a spot on the Mets' Opening Day roster.
Luke Weaver finalized his deal with the Mets on Monday, officially marking the end of his time with the Yankees.
The right-hander enjoyed a strong two-plus seasons in pinstripes.
Weaver came in as a journeyman starter looking for a new home off waivers, and the organization helped turn him into one of the more reliable setup men in baseball.
He quickly became a fan favorite for his electric personality both on and off the field.
He finished with a 3.22 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 12 saves, and 191 strikeouts over 129 appearances as a Yankee.
Weaver tipped his cap to the Bronx faithful one last time before starting his new journey on the other side of town.
"My career coming to what felt like an end. Overwhelmed with injuries and failure... it seemed destined that the new chapter of my life was within reach. But did the Lord have other plans for me," he wrote on Instagram. "Yankees fans and those that showed me your love/support... thank you from the bottom of my heart.
"What a ride it was and a rejuvenation I longed for. Another chapter begins for me but the memories are forever. Grateful and humbled. To God be the Glory."
Pool play will run from March 4-March 11 followed by the quarterfinals from March 13-14, the semifinals from March 15-16 and the championship game on March 17.
Where is the 2026 World Baseball Classic being played?
Group stage games will be played across four cities and three countries:
Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan
Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Daikin Park in Houston
loanDepot park in Miami
The quarterfinals will be held in Houston and Miami, while the semifinals and finals will be played in Miami.
Which teams are in the 2026 World Baseball Classic?
The WBC features 20 teams which are split into four different pools for the opening round. Each pool is assigned to one host city for the first round.
Here’s a breakdown of the pools and host cities:
Pool A (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
Canada
Colombia
Cuba
Panama
Puerto Rico
Pool B (Houston)
Brazil
Great Britain
Italy
Mexico
United States
Pool C (Tokyo, Japan)
Australia
Chinese Taipei
Czechia
Japan
Korea
Pool D (Miami)
Dominican Republic
Israel
Netherlands
Nicaragua
Venezuela
How does the World Baseball Classic work?
The WBC opens with a round robin where teams play one game against each of the other clubs in their pool. The top two teams from each pool then advance to the knockout rounds, which are single-elimination.
Teams from Pools A and B will play quarterfinal games in Houston, while clubs from Pools C and D will play in Miami.
After Monday's Jeff McNeiltrade with the Athletics, the Mets are interested "in adding a right-handed batter to balance out their lineup," according to a report by Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic.
New York officials view the move "as more about roster reconstruction than payroll restructuring" since McNeil "no longer held a spot in the infield and was locked into left field," Rosenthal and Sammon reported.
The Mets recently signed the switch-hitting Jorge Polanco to a two-year, $40 million contract with versatility -- first base included -- as a plus.
New York's interest in a right-handed batter, however, "could end up being someone who can also play first base," Rosenthal and Sammon reported.
At first base, the Mets did not re-sign the right-handedPete Alonso, who inked with the Baltimore Orioles for five years and $155 million earlier this month.
Fellow right-handed batter Mark Vientos, who primarily plays third base, joins Polanco on New York's depth chart at first base after slashing .233/.289/.413 with 17 home runs and 61 RBI in 121 games last season.
Elsewhere in the infield, the Mets landed right-handed batter and three-time All-Star second baseman Marcus Semien from the Texas Rangers through a deal for outfielder Brandon Nimmo late last month.
Third baseman Alex Bregman and shortstop Bo Bichette are among the top right-handed bats on the free-agent market but "likely will command more years than the Mets want to tolerate," Rosenthal and Sammon reported.
The Mets announced Luke Weaver's signing Monday. Reports surfaced last Wednesday that New York and the right-handed reliever were finalizing a two-year contract worth $22 million.
"Over the past few seasons Luke has emerged as one of the most reliable leverage relievers in baseball and we're excited to add him to our pen," said Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns. "Luke's stuff, combined with his experience in high pressure situations in New York, sets him up well for success going forward."
Weaver, 32, spent the past two-plus seasons with the Yankees, who claimed him off waivers in September 2023.
In 148.2 IP over 126 regular-season games from 2024-25, Weaver went 11-7 with a 3.21 ERA and 0.969 WHIP.
"He got a really good deal that he earned," said Yankees manager Aaron Boone this past Friday. "When we got him, it seemed like not a big move at the time, late in the '23 season -- to turn into the reliever and the role he ended up having for us.
"He threw a lot of really big games and productive games over the last couple of years -- credit to him for going out there and making a little alter to his career and it truly paying dividends for him."
Weaver's MLB career has included stints with the St. Louis Cardinals (2016-18), Arizona Diamondbacks (2019-22), Kansas City Royals (2022), Cincinnati Reds (2023) and Seattle Mariners (2023).
The Cardinals selected Weaver from Florida State University with the No. 27 overall pick in the first round of the 2014 MLB Draft.
WASHINGTON — Left-hander Foster Griffin and the Washington Nationals finalized a $5.5 million contract.
Griffin, who pitched in Japan for the Central League’s Yomiuri Giants the past three years, is the first free agent signing for new Nationals president of baseball operations Paul Toboni, hired by the team in late September.
The 30-year-old Griffin was a first-round pick by the Kansas City Royals in Major League Baseball’s 2014 amateur draft and made his big league debut with that franchise in 2020.
Griffin also appeared with the Royals and Toronto Blue Jays in 2022, and his full experience in the majors consists of seven games, all in relief, with a 1-0 record and a 6.75 ERA.
Toboni is beginning the job of reconstructing the Nationals, who fired president and general manager Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez in July. They have endured six consecutive losing seasons since winning the World Series in 2019, including a 66-96 record this year that placed Washington 14th out of 15 clubs in the National League.
NEW YORK — The Mets jettisoned another core player as part of their retooling, trading second baseman Jeff McNeil to the Athletics for minor league right-hander Yordan Rodriguez.
New York will send cash to the A’s to offset some of the $17.75 million remaining in McNeil’s four-year, $50 million contract.
McNeil follows Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo and Edwin Díaz in departing the underperforming Mets, who failed to reach the playoffs this year despite the second-highest payroll behind the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
McNeil, who turns 34 in April, won the NL batting title with a .326 average in 2022, when he was picked for his second All-Star team. He hit .243 with 12 homers and 54 RBIs in 122 games this year, when he made his season debut on April 25 after recovering from a strained right oblique.
He has a $15.75 million salary next year as part of a deal that includes a $15.75 million team option for 2027 with a $2 million buyout.
Rodriguez, who turns 18 on Jan. 29, signed with the A’s for a $400,000 bonus this past January and went 2-0 with a 2.93 ERA in one start and seven relief appearances for the Dominican Summer League A’s. He struck out 20 and walked eight in 15 1/3 innings.
New York had added closer Devin Williams, infielder Jorge Polanco and Gold Glove second baseman Marcus Semien, and the Mets have a pending deal with free agent reliever Luke Weaver.
The A’s designated left-hander Ken Waldichuk for assignment.
BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox acquired three-time All-Star Willson Contreras from the St. Louis Cardinals in a trade for right-hander Hunter Dobbins and two pitching prospects.
The 33-year-old Contreras is a .258 hitter with 172 homers and 548 RBIs in 10 seasons with the Cubs and Cardinals. He spent most of his career as a catcher before moving to first base last year, when he batted .257 with 20 homers and 80 RBIs.
Dobbins, 26, went 4-1 with a 4.13 ERA as a rookie in Boston last year before tearing the ACL in his right knee and missing the second half of the season. The Cardinals also will receive Single-A righties Blake Aita and Yhoiker Fajardo.
St. Louis also sent cash to Boston as part of the deal.
CHICAGO — Chicago White Sox general manager Chris Getz calls Munetaka Murakami “one of the most prolific power hitters on the planet” and expects the 25-year-old Japanese slugger to make an immediate impact on his rebuilding team next season.
The White Sox and Murakami agreed to a two-year, $34 million contract. Murakami signed the deal as he was introduced to the media at Rate Field.
Murakami has a .270 career average with 246 homers and 647 RBIs in 892 games over eight seasons with the Yakult Swallows of Japan’s Central League.
The left-handed batting corner infielder launched 56 home runs in 2022 to break Sadaharu Oh’s record for a Japanese-born player in Nippon Professional Baseball while becoming the youngest player to earn Japan’s Triple Crown. He topped 30 homers in four straight years before an injury-interrupted season in 2023.
Murakimi’s production dropped to 24 homers and 47 RBIs in 56 games last season as he was restricted by an oblique injury. Now he says he’s recovered and ready to adjust to major league pitching.
Getz projects similar output from Murakami in the majors to help his team climb. The White Sox finished last in the AL Central in 2025 with a 60-102 record — their third straight season with more than 100 losses — but improved after the All-Star break, led by a core of young hitters that includes Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel and Chase Meidroth.
“This was a place that he can come in here and just be himself and be comfortable, establish himself at the major league level and we’ll see where the journey takes us,” Getz said. “We’re going to support him and we’re going to get great production from him.”
Murakami, speaking through a translator, said he can adjust to major league pitching and improve his defense at first and third base in a hurry, although he stopped short of projecting statistics.
“I’m not really looking at this from a numbers standpoint,” Murakami said. “I really want to compete every day and face challenges. If I’m contributing to the team every night, every game, I feel that’s a success.”
The biggest knock against the 6-foot-2, 213-pound Murakami has been his contact and strikeout rates. Over eight seasons with Yakult, he struck out 977 times in 3,780 plate appearances, just over a quarter (25.84%) of the time.
But he also had a .557 slugging percentage and 614 walks.
Getz isn’t overly worried.
“And yeah, there has been some conversation about contact and swing and miss,” Getz said. “Oftentimes swing-and-miss comes with a lot of the power.
“But what makes Munie so attractive to us is this power output. We’re talking about a guy that has some real, real firepower in the engine that makes Munie so special.”
Murakami says he’s adapting his swing so he can stay on top of 100 mph fastballs and the range of breaking and off-speed pitches he’ll face in the majors.
“Rather than explain my swing, I would like for you to see my swing once the season starts,” he said. “I’ve been relentless working to tinker my swing to the U.S.”
Murakami will become the the fourth Japanese-born player to play for the White Sox, joining pitcher Shingo Takatsu (2004-05), second baseman Tadahito Iguchi (2005-07) and outfielder Kosuke Fukudome (2012). Takatsu managed Murakami in Japan.
Murakami said he has connected with other Japanese players about their adjustment to the majors. That includes outfielder Seiya Suzuki and left-hander Shota Imanaga of the crosstown Cubs.
The White Sox had been scouting Murakami for years, then their deal came together fairly quickly.
“Quite honestly, I don’t think it’s set in just yet, to think about him in the lineup on a regular basis,” Getz said.
A two-year contract is fine with Murakami, partly because he believes playing with Chicago will give him a good entry to the majors.
“I felt the White Sox were the best fit for myself and they could help me become the best player I am,” Murakami said.
Murakami gets a $1 million signing bonus payable within 30 days and salaries of $16 million next year and $17 million in 2027.
His 2027 salary can escalate based on awards earned in 2026: $1 million for winning an MVP award, $500,000 for finishing second or third in the voting, $250,000 for fourth through 10th and $250,000 for Rookie of the Year.
He can’t be assigned to the minor leagues without his consent and will be a free agent at the end of the contract. He also gets a team-provided interpreter and flight reimbursement between Japan and the U.S.
Chicago owes a posting fee of $6,575,000 to Yakult. The Swallows also would receive a supplemental fee of 15% of any triggered escalators.
PITTSBURGH — A small-market team in a division dotted with big-market clubs. A pitching staff bursting with potential. A manager with a modest résumé as a player but an innate feel for the vibes within a clubhouse.
Yeah, Brandon Lowe has been here before.
The two-time All-Star second baseman was a fixture on Tampa Bay clubs that consistently punched above their weight in the AL East. He doesn’t see why the same can’t happen in Pittsburgh, which acquired Lowe, outfielder Jake Mangum and left-handed pitcher Mason Montgomery as part of a three-team trade that sent Pirates starting pitcher Mike Burrows to Houston and a pair of prospects to Tampa Bay.
While there’s a chance Montgomery and Mangum can be contributors in 2026, the focal piece of the unusually aggressive move by the Pirates is the left-handed Lowe, who hit 31 home runs last season and now finds himself playing half his games at PNC Park, where the nearest edge of the 21-foot-high Roberto Clemente Wall sits just 320 feet from home plate with the banks of the Allegheny River about another 100 feet away.
“The dimensions of the ballpark play into where my power alleys lie,” Lowe said. “Something about seeing a ball going flying into the river seems very, very exciting.”
So is the idea that the Pirates are ready to contend for the first time in a decade.
“I feel like there’s a real opportunity there for a deep push and some playoff baseball in Pittsburgh,” Lowe said. “The pitching staff is legit. The hitters, they have some extremely talented guys that play in the field and I’m excited to kind of come and help in any way that I can.”
Lowe spent eight years with the Rays, who made the postseason every year from 2019-23, including a run to the 2020 World Series. Tampa Bay won 96 games or more three times during that span despite playing in the same division as the far-deeper-pocketed New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox.
While Lowe allowed there is something to be said for having an advantage in financial resources, in his experience it’s far from the sole determining factor for success.
“Payroll isn’t everything,” Lowe said. “The big names do get paid and obviously you know what you’re getting (with) some of those guys but those big names start somewhere.”
Like say, Tampa Bay, which has found a way to stay competitive despite having Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow, among others, head elsewhere when they became too expensive.
Now it’s Lowe’s turn to make that transition. He has one year remaining on his current contract and is scheduled to make $11.5 million in 2026. When the Pirates have acquired players during general manager Ben Cherington’s tenure, a significant chunk of them have controllable years left.
That’s not the case with Lowe, yet the Pirates showed a bit of uncharacteristic urgency by taking somewhat of a small gamble that Lowe can help elevate an offense that ranked near the bottom of the majors in nearly every significant statistical category last season. That lack of production is the biggest reason why Pittsburgh finished at 71-91 despite having a pitching staff anchored by Cy Young winner Paul Skenes.
The window of opportunity to capitalize with Skenes still playing for a modest salary already is closing. Next season will be the seventh since Cherington was hired and patience — externally anyway — is starting to run out.
Cherington said "there’s a lot more out there for us” in terms of adding to the lineup before the club reports to spring training in mid-February. Maybe, but Lowe’s arrival gives Pittsburgh something it’s lacked for most of the last decade: a proven veteran bat who can put the ball over the fence with regularity.
The Pirates have had just one player hit more than 30 homers in a season since 2014, and Josh Bell’s 39 home runs in 2019 came during a tumultuous year in which the club cratered during the second half, leading to sweeping leadership changes.
That group that took over — led by Cherington — now finds itself deep into the “prove it” phase of its tenure. The rotation anchored by Skenes and Mitch Keller could be excellent. After leaning heavily on inexperienced young players or hitters deep into their 30s in an effort to stitch something together, Lowe’s arrival signals a shift in mindset.
While he will start the season as the everyday second baseman, the Pirates may have to get creative to make sure manager Don Kelly writes down the names of the best nine hitters on the lineup card. That means Lowe may find time in the outfield or at designated hitter. He’s fine with either if it comes to that.
“One thing I was taught in Tampa is if you can play anywhere, it keeps you in the lineup,” he said. “That was the biggest thing (and) I want to be in the lineup for as many games as possible.”
NEW YORK — Jorge Polanco’s first base experience is one pitch, when San Francisco’s Wilmer Flores lined a sinker off the end of his bat toward right field in the ninth inning of a tied game last April 6.
“It’s just like they always say, whenever you come into the game, the ball always finds you,” Polanco recalled through a translator. “When the ball was hit, I thought it was coming straight to me.”
Flores’ hit was way too far toward second for Polanco to have a chance and gave San Francisco a walk-off win over Seattle.
First base figures to be Polanco’s primary position next year as Pete Alonso’s replacement following Polanco’s decision to sign a two-year, $40 million contract with the Mets.
“I was offering my services to teams as a first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, so when the Mets asked if I was able to do that, play a little bit of first, play a little bit third, I was definitely willing to do that,” Polanco said a Zoom news conference.
Alonso, a fan favorite and a five-time All-Star, left the Mets as a free agent for a five-year, $155 million contract with Baltimore.
Asked whether he expects first base will be his primary position, Polanco responded: “I would think so. ... They told me that I’d be playing a good amount of first base, but that I could also be bouncing around.”
A 32-year-old switch-hitter who has batted .260 against righties and .270 against lefties, Polanco was an All-Star in 2019 and set career bests three years later when he had 33 homers and 98 RBIs.
He primarily was a shortstop through 2020 and then a second baseman from 2020-24. Last year, he started mostly at designated hitter for the Mariners, who came within one win of their first World Series trip.
Mariners bench coach Manny Acta and infield coach Perry Hill approached Polanco this year about preparing for time at first.
“It was very easy because I had already spoken to my agent about starting to work out at first and trying to become a more versatile baseball player,” Polanco said. “So when we approached them, they were essentially approaching us at the same time. So it was real easy and a really seamless transition.”
Polanco hit .265 with 26 home runs, 78 RBIs, 30 doubles and an .821 OPS in 138 games for Seattle last season, his second with the Mariners following a decade with Minnesota.
While he didn’t get to start at first, he found work with the coaches invaluable.
“The biggest difference is the position that you get in to receive pickoffs,” he said. “That was toughest transition for me because it’s very different from when you’re playing in the middle of the infield. But I think with my experience of playing second, short, third, it allows me to be an athlete and I think that my athleticism will help me while I’m playing first base.”
The Mets have traded second baseman/outfielder Jeff McNeil to the Athletics.
The Mets receive right-handed pitching prospect Yordan Rodriguez in exchange for McNeil, while also sending $5.75 million to the A's.
“I want to thank Jeff for his time and contributions to the organization,” said Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns. “He was drafted by the team and grew up in our system. I wish Jeff and his family success and good luck going forward. We are excited to bring Yordan into our system. He is a young right-hander with a promising future.”
Rodriguez is just 17 years old and pitched for the A's in the 2025 Dominican Summer League, posting a 2.93 ERA in eight games.
From Joe DeMayo:
In exchange for McNeil, the Mets acquired a lottery ticket in right-hander Yordan Rodriguez. Rodriguez, 17, signed with the A’s for $400,000 out of Cuba and pitched his first professional season in the Dominican Summer League. He appeared in eight games, posting a 2.93 ERA and struck out 20 batters in 15.1 innings. He threw primarily two pitches, a fastball that will touch 96 mph with some ride to it that he threw around 70 percent of the time and shows the ability to spin a slider. He is raw, but the type of arm that the Mets pitching development staff will be able to work with and help develop starting at a very young age.
McNeil, 33, has been a Met since New York selected him out of Long Beach State with the 2013 MLB Draft's No. 356 overall pick (12th round).
McNeil's MLB debut was July 24, 2018. He was a pinch-hitter for third baseman Phillip Evans in the eighth inning of the Mets' 6-3 win at the San Diego Padres and earned his first career hit, singling to center field against Phil Hughes.
McNeil played in 63 games for the Mets that season before earning his first of two All-Star appearances (2019, 2022) the following year. He slashed .318/.384/.531 with career highs of 23 home runs and 75 RBI across 133 games.
His 2022 campaign saw him become the MLB batting champion while slashing .326/.382/.454 with nine home runs and 62 RBI over a career-high 148 games.
McNeil's eight-year career as a Met ends with a .284/.351/.428 slash line, 80 home runs and 367 RBI in 923 games from 2018-25.
The 2026 campaign is the final season of a four-year, $50 million contract that McNeil signed in January 2023. He is set to make $15.75 million in 2026 has a club option for 2027.
