That is, it all depends on what else David Stearns does next.
In this case, it’s simple: if Stearns still re-signs Edwin Diaz, then the addition of Williams as a set-up man is a strong move, giving the Mets an elite late-inning bullpen duo that further demonstrates Stearns’ commitment to run prevention.
However, if locking up Williams to a three-deal turns out to be a cheaper alternative to Diaz as the closer, it weakens a bullpen that failed the Mets badly in the heat of their wild-card chase last season and makes the former Milwaukee Brewer reliever’s difficult adjustment to the Bronx last year much more relevant.
With that in mind, a source told me late Monday night the Mets are still hoping to re-sign Diaz. But at what price is now the great unknown.
Indeed, it remains to be seen if the Williams signing, three years for $45 million, was a move made at least partly to give the Mets insurance against a bidding war for Diaz, allowing them to draw a line they won’t cross if they feel the cost is prohibitive.
And certainly there’s an argument to be made about not overspending on their veteran closer if it takes a five-year deal to retain him, considering both the volatility of bullpen arms and Diaz’s age, as he turns 32 in March.
Yet, Diaz has been more consistently dominant for the last few years than most closers, and more to the point, he’s vitally important to the Mets.
Eventually, then, we’ll find out just where Stearns stands on all of this. Will his value-seeking instincts rule the day or will this prove to be part of his big-boy plan this winter, a Williams-Diaz combo offering proof he is all-in on building a championship pitching staff, top to bottom?
If it’s the former, and Diaz goes elsewhere, it would also raise the question of whether Stearns’ belief in Williams is influenced too heavily by their days together in Milwaukee, when the right-hander was one of the best relievers in baseball for a few years.
Williams fought through his struggles with the Yankees, which overwhelmed him early and resurfaced at times during the season, to finish strong, delivering nine straight scoreless appearances in September and then four more in the postseason.
Still, the right-hander also has a huge postseason failure on his resume, that being Pete Alonso’s memorable home run to stun the Brewers in the deciding game of the 2024 wild-card series.
So there are questions about his ability to deal with pressure, to be sure.
Aug 5, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Devin Williams (38) reacts after leaving the game during the eighth inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. / Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Clearly, Williams was affected mentally by the expectations of closing for the Yankees last season, unable to command his famous “air-bender” change-up that made him mostly unhittable in Milwaukee.
And even with his strong finish, it’s fair to wonder how he’d react to the burden of taking over for Diaz, with similarly huge expectations.
“It would be a leap of faith to think some of those issues he had last year wouldn’t re-surface if he’s asked to close for the Mets,” one MLB scout told me Monday night. “You could tell by looking at him on the mound at times that he was tight, and it showed up in his pitches.
“There were a lot of nights when he was yanking the fastball (inside on lefties, outside to right-handed hitters), and he was gripping the change-up so tight that the action wasn’t there on it. That’s what pressure does to pitchers.
“I give him credit because he did look a lot more like himself late in the year. But if I’m the Mets, I’d feel a lot better about him in the set-up role, with Diaz as a security blanket.”
This, of course, is the nature of the baseball off-season. It moves at a glacial pace, so it could be weeks before we’ll know what that role will be for Williams.
Meanwhile, Mets fans wait anxiously for an outcome. Many have lost their patience with Stearns after last season, convinced that he is making decisions for the Mets at least partly with the mentality of a small-market GM, as he had to with the Brewers.
Fair or not, that hangs over him in an offseason in which big changes are needed after the Mets flamed out last year in embarrassing fashion.
So far, his two moves, trading Nimmo for Marcus Semien and now signing Williams, have opened the door to the possibility of a home run of an offseason.
But that would take re-signing Alonso and Diaz, then essentially replacing Nimmo with Cody Bellinger, and upgrading the starting rotation with a couple of front-of-the-rotation starters.
Make all of those moves and Stearns will be the toast of the town.
Until then, well, to quote the great Tom Petty, the waiting is the hardest part.
Devin Williams won’t have to travel far to get to his new home ballpark.
The former Yankees reliever officially signed with the Mets on Wednesday, two days after news of the deal was first reported by Will Sammon of The Athletic.
The contract is for three years and guarantees more than $50 million, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan, who added that the deal does not include opt-outs or options.
“Devin is a dynamic pitcher who will help bolster the back of the bullpen,” Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said in a press release. “He is an experienced arm with a proven track record pitching in high-leverage situations. We are excited to welcome Devin and his family to Queens.”
But with Diaz still being a free agent, adding the 31-year-old gives New York a versatile reliever who can be used either as a setup man if Diaz returns or as a closer, as he has 86 career saves to his name.
A seven-year major league veteran, Williams broke onto the scene with the Milwaukee Brewers, using his “airbender” changeup to lead the way to two All-Star appearances, two Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of the Year Awards (2020 and 2023), and the 2020 National League Rookie of the Year Award. In six seasons with the Brewers, Williams pitched to a 1.83 ERA.
Williams was traded to the Yankees ahead of the 2025 season, and his lone campaign in the Bronx did not live up to expectations. Williams lost the closer's role and ended up pitching to a 4.79 ERA over 62.0 innings of work.
But given Williams’ impressive resume, there’s plenty of reason to believe he can bounce back to the dominant, sub-2.00 ERA reliever he was with Milwaukee, where Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns was able to watch first-hand as the right-hander developed into one of the best relievers in baseball.
The lefty is signing with the Chiba Lotte Marines of the NPB after being non-tendered by the Mets last month.
Castillo saw action with four big-league teams last year, but never quite stuck.
He did three different stints in the Big Apple, the last of which was when he was claimed from the Orioles last month.
With the 29-year-old out of minor league options, though, the Mets decided to let him hit free agency rather than paying him the $1.7 million he was projected to earn in arbitration.
Castillo's command remained an issue at times last season, but he did a good job limiting the damage, pitching to a 2.35 ERA across his 16 appearances in orange and blue.
Overall, he posted a 4.98 ERA and 1.68 WHIP in 29 outings on the season.
He'll look to try his luck over in Japan next year.
Alan Greenberg has been watching the Rangers – dating back to The Original Six era – and writing well about The Game for decades. Visiting from Florida, he attended the Blueshirts-Bolts game the other night.
If you care about your beloved Blueshirts you should take heed of Greenberg's views.
"I agree with Sean Avery's comments that the Rangers 'lack toughness.' Specifically, the hit on Adam Fox (he's out for months) brought no retaliation from the home team. Allowing that hit to go unpunished, violates every hockey rule."
Like others who witnessed the game either in person or on TV, Al was appalled by the Blueshirts "effort," or lack of it, as the case may be.
"The team looks so unmotivated," he adds.
Which brings us to this point which is that both coach Mike Sullivan and captain J.T. Miller should be the prime motivator. The hire of Sully, in particular, bothers Greenberg; as it annoys me.
"Sullivan is an excellent coach with a cushy contract, but is he the right coach for this team?" Al logically asks and then answers. "I said that the Rangers needed a younger voice to relate to the youngsters. A good example is Spencer Carbery who took the Capitals to the top."
After watching the one-sided loss to Tampa Bay, Greenberg visited the Rangers dressing room where Miller, Vincent Trocheck and Mika Zibanejad were interviewed.
Greenberg: "I could hear the frustration in their voices and see the frustration in their body language. When I see only the veterans allowed to speak, it's 'damage control.' They know how to choose their words."
I go back to Allan (Associated Press) Kreda's reaction to the Rangers' reaction. "A collective shrug."
Why worry? MSG's checks won't bounce – and they seemingly last from here to eternity!
Passan notes that the Red Sox and Reds are among the other teams involved, while the incumbent Phillies remain the favorite to sign him.
With Pete Alonso a free agent and Brandon Nimmo having recently been traded to the Rangers for Marcus Semien, the Mets are in need of legitimate bats to bolster the middle of a lineup led by Juan Sotoand Francisco Lindor.
And New York is lacking power, which Schwarber would provide.
Schwarber, who turns 33 years old in March, belted a career-high 56 homers last season for Philadelphia while slashing .240/.365/.563 as he played all 162 regular season games.
He has hit 46 home runs or more three times in the last four seasons.
In a world where the Mets sign Schwarber, they would essentially be closing off designated hitter opportunities to any other player for the foreseeable future -- something that is easier to do now that Nimmo (whose outfield defense had been regressing) is in Texas.
Signing Schwarber could also theoretically signal the end of Alonso's time in Queens and make a trade of Mark Vientos more likely.
If there's a big concern with Schwarber, it's his propensity to strike out. The slugger has fanned 197 times each of the last two seasons after striking out 215 times in 2023 and 200 times in 2022.
But while Schwarber swings and misses a lot, he is an absolute menace at the plate in basically every other metric.
He was in the 97th percentile or better last season when it came to batting run value, xwOBA, xSLG, average exit velocity, barrel percentage, hard hit percentage, bat speed, and walk rate.
Despite the numerous links to San Francisco this offseason, the Giants don’t expect to meet the hefty price tag needed to sign Japanese star right-hander Tatsuya Imai, The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly reported in a piece published Monday, citing a league source familiar with the team’s plans.
“According to club sources, because of a number of financial considerations, the Giants do not anticipate making the nine-figure investment required to sign Imai — or any of the other top pitchers on the free-agent market. Instead, the club is focusing on more modestly priced alternatives,” Baggarly wrote.
Per Baggarly, the Giants, having committed significant cash to shortstop Willy Adames and Rafael Devers last season, instead, intend to sign “at least one starting pitcher” and will add to their bullpen in addition to the agreement in place with left-handed reliever Sam Hentges, while trying “to limit their spending to short-term deals.”
The development, Baggarly reports, comes after San Francisco Giants executives Buster Posey and Zack Minasian and new manager Tony Vitello met with Imai’s agent, Scott Boras, at the GM Meetings in Las Vegas to request medical reports on the Japanese pitcher as well as fellow Boras Corp. clients Ranger Suárez, Max Scherzer and Dylan Cease, who ended up signing a seven-year, $210 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Years prior, the Giants, looking to become a desired destination for international athletes, had missed out on Japanese stars like Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki.
Understandably, with the 27-year-old ace, arguably the best international MLB free agent this winter, available, the feeling around the league was that the Giants’ brass was going to make a move for the right-hander.
Now, with the Giants seemingly out of the running for Imai’s services, or any other top pitcher on the free-agent market commanding a nine-figure deal, the question now becomes: what pitcher will call Oracle Park their new home in 2026?
Luisangel Acuña continues swinging a hot bat down in the Venezuelan Winter League.
The Mets' young infielder started and finished the scoring for Cardenales de Lara on Saturday night.
Acuña gave the Cardenales a 1-0 lead in the top of the third, smacking a first pitch fastball over the left field wall for his fourth home run since joining the squad.
He went down on strikes each of his next two times up, but would strike again in the top of the eighth, this time punching a two out two-run single to left to make it a 10-0 ballgame.
That was the end result, and he finished the night 2-for-5 with a homer and three RBI.
Acuña's reached base two or more times in each of his past three games, and he has four XBH's over that span.
The 23-year-old’s big couple of days at the plate has brought his average up to a strong .276 with 11 XBH's, 16 RBI, a .429 OBP, and a .980 OPS.
More intriguing than his offensive display, Acuña was out in center for the ninth time in 23 Winter Ball games.
Booooooooooooom🆑🔥
Llegó la presión, Luisangel Acuña la desapareció por todo el jardín izquierdo y nos coloca arriba en el marcador🙌🏼 pic.twitter.com/fj026eRwsj
The Baltimore Orioles added Ryan Helsley to their bullpen on Saturday, agreeing to a two-year contract with the free agent reliever.
The 31-year-old Helsley has an opt-out after one season, according to a person familiar with the negotiations who confirmed the deal to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because it was pending a physical.
Baltimore has been active as it looks to bounce back from a last-place finish in the AL East this year. The Orioles won the division in 2023 and made the playoffs as a wild card in 2024.
Outfielder Taylor Ward was acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Angels on Nov. 18. Injured closer Félix Bautista agreed to a $2.25 million, one-year contract with Baltimore on Nov. 21, avoiding arbitration.
Helsley became one of baseball’s best relievers while spending his first six-plus seasons with St. Louis. The right-hander went 3-1 with a 3.00 ERA and 21 saves this year before he was traded by the Cardinals to the New York Mets on July 30.
Helsley struggled in New York, going 0-3 with a 7.20 ERA in 22 appearances. He allowed four homers and 16 earned runs in 20 innings.
The Athletic reported that Helsley was being looked at by some teams as a potential starter, but ESPN reported on Saturday that he was joining Baltimore in a relief role.
Helsley was selected by St. Louis in the fifth round of the 2015 amateur draft. The two-time All-Star made his major league debut in 2019.
Helsley had his best season in 2024, finishing with a 2.04 ERA and a major league-best 49 saves. He also struck out 79 batters in 66 1/3 innings.
He is 31-18 with a 2.96 ERA and 105 saves in 297 career games.
Former Mets right-hander Ryan Helsley has a new home.
Helsley is signing with the Baltimore Orioles on a two-year deal, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.
The deal includes an opt-out after the first season.
Despite fielding interest from numerous teams for a potential move to the rotation, Helsley will slot in as the ninth-inning man for the young and hungry Orioles, who are looking to rebounds from a last place finish in the AL East.
The 31-year-old gives them the steady and reliable arm late-inning arm they need.
Prior to his trade to the Big Apple, Helsley was one of the premier closers in baseball, leading the league with 49 saves for the Cardinals two years ago.
He was enjoying another strong first-half with St. Louis before being dealt to the Mets ahead of the deadline, and things quickly took a turn for the worse as he struggled with pitch-tipping.
The 31-year-old struggled to a 7.20 ERA and 1.80 WHIP across 22 appearances in orange and blue.
Now that he has things sorted out, though, he's confident he can rebound to his dominant form.
“I still believe I can be who I want to be," Helsley told Katie Woo of the Athletic. "I’ve shown who I am as a pitcher, And I think there’s room for improvement, ways to get better and I get even more out of myself.”
Luisangel Acuña survived his injury scare down in Winter Ball. The young Mets infielder was forced to leave the game last week after being hit by a pitch in the forearm. Just days later, though, he’s back doing damage in the Cardenales de Lara lineup.
Acuña was on-base a total of five times on Thursday night, including a pair of extra-base hits.
He started the game with a solo homer to dead center, lined a double to the gap in the fourth, drew a pair of walks over his next two at-bats, then kept things going with a two out single in the bottom of the 10th.
It was going to be Nimmo, who had five seasons left on his contract.
Yes, there was a possibility Nimmo could've been asked to serve as the designated hitter more than he had in prior seasons (he spent a grand total of four games at DH in 2025). But he probably would've been in left field nearly every day, with Juan Soto in right field.
Now, the possibilities are endless -- not just when it comes to who the Mets turn to in left field, but who might be brought in to play center.
It's possible New York goes internal in the outfield in both left and center, but that would be a relatively risky proposition.
Regarding left field specifically, how could the Mets address it?
When Nimmo was still in the fold, Benge was viewed by president of baseball operations David Stearns as someone who could break camp as the starting center fielder. Now, he could possibly be looked at as an option to start in left field instead.
Benge played all over the outfield last season in the minors, spending 67 games in center, 26 games in right, and 22 games in left.
/ SNY
Whether Benge opens the season with the Mets or gets some more time with Triple-A Syracuse, he is expected to play a big role in 2026. And what New York decides to do with Benge could also have an impact on fellow prospect Jett Williams.
Williams might profile better as a second baseman (the spot now blocked by Semien) than a center fielder, so it's possible New York decides to shift Williams to center full time in 2026 in preparation for him to make that his long-term home. That could pave the way for a Mets outfield at some point next season of Benge, Williams, and Soto from left to right.
However, the possibility also exists that Williams is traded this offseason -- perhaps as part of a deal for a top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher.
McNeil could theoretically be a left field option for 2026. However, given his offensive profile, it's hard to envision New York turning to him there on a regular or even semi-regular basis unless they make a big center field addition.
The presence of Tyrone Taylor could also have a big impact when it comes to what the Mets do in left. In a world where Taylor is the starting center fielder at the start of the season, it likely means either Benge or an external acquisition is in left.
The External Candidates
The two who immediately come to mind are Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger.
Tucker is the crown jewel of the free agent position player market. A relatively young star (he'll be entering his age-29 season in 2026) who controls the strike zone at an elite level and whose Baseball Savant page lights up red, the expectation is that he will get a massive deal this offseason.
Whether Tucker lands something in the range of 10 years remains to be seen, but it will take a huge payday to snag him -- especially with the Blue Jays and Dodgers possibly among his top suitors.
Jul 29, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Cody Bellinger (35) tosses his bat as he watches his three run home run against the Tampa Bay Rays during the third inning at Yankee Stadium. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images
The Mets certainly have the wherewithal and open spot for Tucker, but whether they're prepared to hand out another megadeal after giving one to Soto last offseason remains to be seen.
Bellinger will cost a lot less than Tucker, but is still expected to be handsomely paid.
In addition to being able to play all three outfield positions, Bellinger would also give the Mets a first base option -- something that would be huge in the event they re-sign Pete Alonsobut ask him to DH a lot of the time.
Another thing to consider with Bellinger is that while his struggles in 2021 and 2022 seem like an aberration, there are some underlying concerns regarding his offensive production.
One of those concerns? Bellinger slashed .302/.365/.544 (.909 OPS) at the hitter's haven that is Yankee Stadium in 2025. On the road, he hit just .241/.301/.414 (.715 OPS).
There aren't many strong fits on the free agent market beyond Tucker and Bellinger, but there is one very intriguing one who could be available via trade -- Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran.
Duran, who is entering his age-29 season, has been a very strong offensive performer for Boston over the last three seasons, slashing .276/.339/.471 (.810 OPS).
In 157 games last season, Duran filled up the stat sheet, smacking 41 doubles, 16 home runs, and 13 triples, while swiping 24 bases.
He strikes out at a high clip and his defense has been up and down (elite in 2024, poor in 2025), but Duran -- who will make $7.7 million in 2026 and is under team control through 2028 -- is the kind of player it would make a lot of sense for New York to pursue.
It appears Ryan Helsley’s forgettable finish with the Mets isn’t hurting him in free agency.
Helsley is drawing interest from about 15 teams, according to a recent report from Katie Woo of the Athletic.
The right-hander, of course, has been one of the premier closers in baseball the past few seasons, but he struggled mightily down the stretch after being acquired from the Cardinals in a deadline deal.
He posted an ugly 7.20 ERA over 22 appearances as he dealt with pitch-tipping issues.
“It was the hardest thing I’ve gone through as a pitcher in the big leagues,” Helsley told Woo.
Now that he’s got things sorted out, Helsley is confident he can get back to his dominant form wherever he lands.
He could be doing so in a new role too, as according to numerous reports some teams have called the long-time closer about a potential transition to the starting rotation.
While Helsley expects a bit of a learning curve along the way, as Mets fans saw at times with Clay Holmes last season, it’s a move he told Woo he would consider if the opportunity arises.
"I still have a lot to give and can get even better," he said. "I’ve shown what I can do as a closer -- it’s a fun time to be in the game, it’s the most important three outs, but I still think I’m capable to be a starter."
The Tigers are among the teams considering Helsley as a starter.
St. Louis and the division rival Cubs have also checked in on the hard-throwing right-hander.
The 2025 season was a frustrating one for Marcus Semien.
Semien has been among MLB’s most durable throughout his entire 13-year career, but he was limited to just 127 games due to a season-ending foot injury suffered in August.
Even when he was on the field, though, it was a bit of a disappointment for the veteran as he saw his production dip at the plate for the second straight campaign.
After averaging 31 home runs and 90 RBI over the previous five years, he only put together 15 and 62 to go along with a career-worst .669 OPS before the injury.
That’s left many questioning whether or not Semien has anything left in the tank.
Though the Mets mainly targeted him in the Brandon Nimmo deal for his defense and leadership, David Stearns implied they feel there’s some bounceback potential in his bat.
The 35-year-old remains confident in his ability to help this lineup, as well.
“I want to play until they tell me to go home,” he said. “At this point in my career it feels extremely good to have a team that believes in me, sees the things that I do well, and wants to help me -- offensively, I do think I still have a lot to offer.
“I’m disappointed in the way that I performed last year. Had a good start in 2024 and I think just having conversations with Jeff Albert, and I’m looking forward to talking to Troy Snitker about what I need to do to be that MVP-caliber bat in this lineup.”
Semien showed flashes of a return to form before being forced to the sidelines, hitting .270 with 12 homers and a .801 OPS over his final 71 games on the season.
It would certainly be a huge boost to this lineup is he’s able to do that once again during his first year in the Big Apple.
Gratitude is the buzzword of this part of the holiday season and that applies in New York sports fandom, too. Even if some of our major area teams are as disappointing as that bland green bean casserole your aunt always brings to Thanksgiving dinner.
But we do have a so-called "big four" team with genuine championship hopes in the Knicks, an already-crowned champ in Gotham FC, a raucous baseball offseason in bloom, two of the best offensive players in baseball history, young pitchers with seemingly-limitless potential, and more.
Our cup of Thanksgiving cheer runneth over, no? So let’s celebrate our annual tradition – here are nine things for New York sports fans to be thankful for. Read it and eat.
Title town?
The Knicks are really good. Don’t be afraid to embrace it, even if they haven’t soared to the top of the East just yet. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns are a fabulous guard-big duo, Josh Hart is a living, breathing blue-and-orange energy drink and the team can really "score the basketball," one of our favorite guilty-pleasure nonsense sports phrases. The Knicks are poised for another deep playoff run. Sure would be fun if it went further than last season’s Eastern Conference Finals loss.
Getting it right (field)
Both the Mets and Yankees have all-timers manning right field these days in Juan Soto and Aaron Judge. Yes, they’ve both been on this list before. But you don’t stop serving stuffing at Thanksgiving, do you? We need consistency here, just like you need it at a holiday feast. Soto and Judge are our New York sports anchors – whatever crazy stuff happens on the playing fields, courts and ice in this town, we can rely on them for Cooperstown-worthy numbers and callbacks to Ted Williams and Babe Ruth. Last season, Soto led MLB in walks and topped the NL in steals (!) and on-base percentage and also swatted 43 homers. Judge, who won his third MVP in the last four years, led MLB in average, on-base, slugging, and OPS, and also bashed 53 homers. Keep it up, fellas.
Sep 2, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Nolan McLean (26) delivers in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. / David Reginek - Imagn Images
Young ace city
The Mets have Nolan McLean. The Yankees have Cam Schlittler. Both were so impressive last season in their first taste of the majors that it’s prompted all kinds of long-term dreaming for this pair of talented pitchers. Starting the MLB All-Star Game against each other someday? How about Game 7 of a real Subway Series? OK, maybe we’re getting ahead of ourselves. But did you see what McLean, a spin-rate savant, did in fashioning a 2.06 ERA in eight starts? Or how Schlittler destroyed the Red Sox in the deciding game of a playoff series?
Made of Stearns stuff
Did Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns have a good 2025 season? No, not really. Soto worked out nicely, though. The rest of his moves? Eh. Stearns’ Mets were a huge disappointment. But he’s on this list because it’s clear after the Brandon Nimmo trade that Stearns is going to give us a compelling offseason as he remakes the Mets with his run-prevention vision. The Mets’ hot stove will be, well, hot. We love that sort of thing. The Mets need help in all categories, from offense to defense to starting pitching and the bullpen. They’ve got hard choices looming on big-name incumbents such as Pete Alonso and Edwin Díaz, too. Will Stearns’ moves work this time? We don’t know. But we can’t wait to see what happens.
The kid is alright (and then some)
Matthew Schaefer turned only 18 in September and he’s already one of the most talked-about players in the NHL because of the impact he’s had on the Islanders. The top overall draft pick in 2025 is a smooth, brilliant skater with offensive flair. They are chanting his name at UBS Arena, his ice time is soaring, and folks can’t decide whether the better defenseman comp is Denis Potvin or Bobby Orr. Lofty company! Earlier this year, Schaefer became the youngest defenseman in NHL history to notch a multi-goal game. Who’s mark did he beat? Orr’s. We are watching the beginning of something really special.
New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo (44) reacts after a play against the Denver Broncos during the second half at Empower Field at Mile High / Ron Chenoy - Imagn Images
Energy twins
Cam Skattebo is out for the year and Jaxson Dart has missed time with a concussion, but the two rookies have injected hope and fun into the Giants, despite the team’s horrendous won-loss record. We’re still talking about Skattebo, even though he’s not on the field, thanks to his recent pro wrestling cameo. (BTW, you don’t have to be outraged about everything, grumps). And we can’t wait until he’s back on the gridiron. Dart, meanwhile, has been so good that the Giants just might have found their long-term answer at quarterback. In the NFL, that’s something big, even if everything else needs a lotta work.
Jet fuel?
There’s not much to go ga-ga over in terms of what’s happening on the field for the Jets, which you know full well if you’ve been watching the games. But we are dreamers, aren’t we? That’s why Gang Green’s fans should be grateful for the team’s upcoming cornucopia of draft capital. The Jets have two first-round picks in the next draft, including, presumably, a very high one once they play out this loss-filled string. And they have three more first-rounders coming in the following draft. If they nail a bunch of those picks, including a quarterback, who knows what might be next? Hoping might not make it so, but draft picks could.
Champions league
We love winners in New York, right? Only had a few recently, though, but we’re lucky that Gotham FC is the local entrant in the National Women’s Soccer League. They just became the lowest seed ever – they were eighth – to win the NWSL title with a 1-0 victory over the Washington Spirit. Rose Lavelle scored the game’s lone goal and it was enough to send the club down Broadway in a championship procession that also saw the players get keys to the city. It was Gotham’s second title in the last three seasons. All hail Gotham FC.
Cole brewing
Gerrit Cole won’t be ready for the start of the baseball season as he finishes injury recovery. But he should be back in the Yankees rotation at some point -- and it’s a welcome return for those who appreciate masters of their craft. Cole, a thinking fan’s ace, will be pitching at 35 after missing an entire season. It’ll be fascinating to watch how he navigates that while potentially giving the rotation a mighty 1-2 punch with Max Fried.
From right, Dodgers pitchers Roki Sasaki, Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto embrace with their interpreters after the Dodgers defeated the Blue Jays, 6-5, in Game 3 of the World Series. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
A catch worthy of a statue. An out at home plate by history-making inches. A cheating outfielder steals a victory. A struggling first baseman steals a marathon. A sore-handed catcher steals a title.
The greatest postseason game by one player in baseball history. The greatest World Series by one pitcher in baseball history. The greatest moment by a Dodger benchwarmer in baseball history, a guy so embedded in the landscape of Los Angeles sports that he will be forever known simply by two abbreviated versions of his name...
It’s perhaps appropriate today to give thanks for the drama, thanks for the art, thanks for the breathtaking uncertainty of the diamonds of October.
Thanks, baseball, for creating the tableau for the Dodgers’ 13 most memorable playoff moments, one for every win, one for every scream, one for every occasion when you thought it couldn’t get any crazier.
Then it did.
The Philadelphia Phillies' Nick Castellanos is out at third after Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts gets the throw from Max Muncy and applies the tag in the ninth inning of Game 2 of the NLDS at Citizens Bank Park. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
The Wheel
Who knew the Dodgers could so deftly field a bunt play? And who knew that this teamwork would strike the first big postseason blow against their most talented postseason opponent?
Division Series, Philadelphia Phillies, Game 2, ninth inning, the Dodgers lead 4-3 but there is a runner on second with none out.
A normally fielded bunt by Bryson Stott would have moved Nick Castellanos to third and put him in perfect position to tie the game. But the Dodgers ran the little-used “Wheel Play” in which third baseman Max Muncy fielded the bunt and spun and threw to Mookie Betts to tag Castellanos and save the game.
Betts suggested the play. Manager Dave Roberts signed off on the play. The Dodgers teamwork made the play work.
“We do a pretty good job of putting each other in good spots to be successful,” Betts said afterward.
The rest of the baseball world soon learn just how successful.
Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages watches as Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Orion Kerkering can't field the ball cleanly in the 11th inning of Game 4 of the NLDS at Dodger Stadium. Hyeseong Kim scored on the play to win the game. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
This autumn, the Dodgers clinched the division series on a night of a singular, stunning meltdown.
Dodger fans will forever see Phillies’ reliever Orion Kerkering botching Andy Pages’ grounder, panicking, then throwing wildly home to allow Hyeseong Kim to score the winning run in the 11th inning of Game 4, sending the Dodgers to the championship series.
It was the play that launched the three-sentence scream heard around town at various times for the rest of the nutty postseason...
“That’s it? We won? We won!”
'Feeling Good'
The Dodgers cued up Shohei Ohtani’s walk-up song by Michael Bublé one afternoon in honor of his rarest of performances.
During the day off in the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers, Ohtani stunningly left the indoor cage and took on-field batting practice for one of the first times this season.
He was, at the time, two-for-his-last-25 with a dozen strikeouts. He was facing criticism that his pitching was affecting his hitting. The weight of the series was resting his giant shoulders.
He promptly put on a show, 14 of his 32 batting-practice swings resulting in home runs, including one that bounced off the right-field roof, a massive light show that contained a singular message.
“I got this.”
Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani hits one of his three home runs in Game 4 of the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
But perhaps no single moment of the postseason was more enduring than Clayton Kershaw coming into World Series Game 3 against the Toronto Blue Jays with two out in the 12th inning and escaping a bases-loaded jam by inducing a ground ball by Nathan Lukes.
Because, it turns out, after 18 years, it was Kershaw’s last out as a Dodger.
And what if he had blown it? What if his legendary October demons had engulfed him one last time?
The way the crowd was so tensely silent during the Lukes at-bat, one got the feeling that everyone was thinking the same thing.
The collective sigh of relief was only overshadowed by the roar.
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman reacts to his walk-off home run in the 18th inning in Game 3 of the World Series. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
But what I’ll remember most from this year’s heroics was the iconic celebration afterward, a dancing Ohtani skipping down to the bullpen with a dancing Roki Sasaki to engage in a group hug with a dancing Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
The three Japanese stars had truly found a home in Chavez Ravine, in each other, and in October.
The Dodgers had only a two-games-to-one lead in the World Series at the time, but was there any doubt their three Japanese stars would let them lose?
The Belly Flop
During the day off workout before the Dodgers would be faced with overcoming a three-game-to-two deficit in Toronto, Roberts issued the strangest challenge.
He claimed he could beat speedster Kim in a race around the bases.
The bet lasted barely 90 feet, as Roberts stumbled and face-planted just past second base, a pratfall which was captured on social media and celebrated by his laughing players.
His team loved the hell out of Roberts for doing it, and used the relaxed atmosphere to spark themselves to consecutive backs-to-the-wall victories.
“Of course it makes you smile and it makes you have a good time,” said Rojas.
Those good times were just beginning.
Dodgers second baseman Miguel Rojas gets the throw from Kiké Hernández, left, to double off the Toronto Blue Jays' Addison Barger to end Game 6. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Señor October
Whether it’s hitting three home runs in an NLCS clinching game against the Chicago Cubs in 2017 or hitting a homer in the NLDS clinching game against the San Diego Padres seven years later, Kiké Hernández has seemingly always been in the middle of the dynasty Dodgers' success.
But never before had he stolen a game without his bat.
That’s what happened in the final breaths of Game 6 of the World Series when Hernández played against-all-orders shallow and picked off an Andrés Giménez line drive and threw to second to double off a straying Addison Barger and end the game with an intact 3-1 edge.
A role player during the regular season, Hernández had once again saved them when it mattered most.
Remember that catch and throw when you don’t see him again until next October.
The Dodgers' Miguel Rojas reacts while rounding the bases after his solo home run tied the score in the ninth inning of Game 7. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
Miggy Ro
This requires only one sentence, because it’s already been ingrained deep in your soul.
Two outs from elimination in Game 7, on a full-count pitch from Toronto closer Jeff Hoffman in the ninth inning, Miguel Rojas tied the score by hitting his only his second home run since the All-Star break.
Miggy Ro forever.
Oh, Yeah, Wait, One More
In the bottom of the ninth in Game 7, playing second base with the infield in, Rojas cleanly fielded a grounder and threw out Isiah Kiner-Falefa by inches at home plate to save the game.
Kiner-Falefa has since taken plenty of grief for not taking a bigger lead from third that would have allowed him to beat the throw, but the bottom line is, Rojas made the great catch and throw and Will Smith made the great play and the Blue Jays were simply doomed.
Miggy Ro forever… again.
Center fielder Andy Pages reaches to catch a fly ball hit by Blue Jays' Ernie Clement for the out as he collides with Kiké Hernández, left, to end the ninth inning of Game 7. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
The Statue
If the Dodgers were to hire a sculptor to encapsulate their 2025 playoff run, the artist would undoubtedly bronze a replica of Andy Pages leaping over Hernández in left field to snare an Ernie Clement fly ball with two out and bases loaded in the ninth to send the game to extra innings.
It was then that you just knew the Dodgers were going to win this. Somehow, the Dodgers were going to win this.
Dodgers catcher Will Smith is congratulated after he hit a solo home run during the 11th inning of Game 7. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
The Home Run
The most understated Dodger hit, possibly the most understated World Series Game 7 game-winning home run ever, an 11th inning drive that cannot be overstated for one reason.
Two months earlier, Smith had broken his throwing hand. Two months earlier. A broken throwing hand. For a catcher. Think about that.
From Bulldog to….
Orel Hershiser made Dodger history in 1988 with postseason pitching resilience that cemented his famous nickname.
