Category: Baseball

Baseball News

Posted on

10 free agent and trade predictions for rest of MLB offseason, including for Mets and Yankees

Hall-of-Famer Rogers Hornsby once delivered what might be the ultimate offseason baseball quote, saying "People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball. I’ll tell you what I do: I stare out the window and wait for spring."

We feel you, Rajah. In our modern times (Hornsby played from 1915-1937 and batted .358), the offseason usually brings some distraction via free agency, trades, and other moves. But it’s been slow going recently. So we stare at our computer screens and wait for the hot stove to flare again.

With that in mind, here are 10 predictions for the rest of this chilly baseball winter. Some may differ from some of our earlier prognostications – hey, the offseason evolves as it goes, depending on what players sign where.

Five of the first 10 players on MLB Trade Rumors’ thorough list of the top 50 free agents are still out there, and 10 of the top 30. A team or two could be vastly different by the time spring camps open.

So, even if you’re unsatisfied with your favorite team’s offseason (you know who you are), there’s still plenty of time to enjoy this winter.

Tuck(er) everlasting

Yes, Kyle Tucker gets his long-term deal and it’s with the Blue Jays. Why not? They’ve already had a huge winter and one more mega move could put them in a Dodgers-esque stratosphere. In all the chatter out there on Tucker, the Mets and Dodgers have profiled as teams looking to give him a shorter pact. Toronto’s been believed to have interest in a longer one. That’s the difference.

Back to Belli

We admit, the staredown between the Yankees and Cody Bellinger (and Scott Boras) is mildly amusing. But this signing still feels inevitable, even if the Yanks are looking into the other big free agents still remaining. Bellinger just fits perfectly in the Bronx, thanks to his lefty swing, versatility and the contact skills the club needs so badly. 

Met life

So much online handwringing over the Mets winter, eh? It’s not over yet and, at least in the top-of-the-rotation part of the market, waiting and giving a shorter-term deal works. Hello, Framber Valdez! Since 2022, only Logan Webb has thrown more innings than Valdez and the Mets sure need reliable length considering how, um, unreliable their rotation was last season. Valdez, 32, gets tons of ground balls, which melds nicely with David Stearns’ run-prevention dictum.

Houston Astros pitcher Framber Valdez (59) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers in game one of the Wild Card round for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Minute Maid Park.
Houston Astros pitcher Framber Valdez (59) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers in game one of the Wild Card round for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Minute Maid Park. / Troy Taormina - Imagn Images

Speaking of run prevention…

The Mets also sign free agent outfielder Harrison Bader, who certainly fits. He’s a spectacular defender and this is the Met winter of, well, you know. Bader can play center field while the Mets see if prospect Carson Benge really is ready to take over a big league gig. If Benge earns a job, Bader could play some left field, be a defensive replacement, and a righty bench bat. He had career-bests in homers and OPS last season.

Bo knows LA

The Dodgers are two-time defending champs and already addressed one weakness by adding Edwin Díaz. They only got a .649 OPS from their second basemen last season, so they sign Bo Bichette to fix another flaw. It puts Bichette at a position he’s better suited for and adds a nifty contact bat to their lineup. Could be a short-term deal, which Bichette, who turns 28 in March, might consider because it’d put him back on the market while still in his prime. Three-peat, anyone?

Swap meet

The Yankees have some intriguing prospect arms. But it’s unlikely they all bloom into big league stars. So Brian Cashman and his front office look to use a few to dive into the trade market and acquire lefty MacKenzie Gore, who will be 27 in February, from the Nationals and infielder Nico Hoerner from the Cubs. Gore provides high-end rotation depth and a talented arm that they could develop further. Hoerner, 28, would provide up-the-middle versatility, some on-base skills, and speed.

Rotation lions

Wait, all our predictions don’t come true? Huh. In that case, we offer this Yankee contingency: If they deem the prospect price too dear for Gore, they pivot to a cash-only deal and sign either Justin Verlander or Max Scherzer to provide the rotation insurance they need with both Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón starting the season on the shelf. Fun to think about one of the two future Hall-of-Famers donning pinstripes for one last October romp.

Giant addition

Can’t stress this enough – if you are in a division with the Dodgers, you must load up. So the Giants, who have already done some pitching work this winter, add another arm by signing Ranger Suárez. He goes into their rotation mix behind Webb and Robbie Ray. For whatever it’s worth, Suárez got a playoff win against the Dodgers last October and has a 3.64 ERA against them.

Make contact

Maybe we’re just trying to write this one into existence, but here goes: The Yankees sign Luis Arráez, the bat-to-ball Jedi. We know contact is his lone skill and that he’s not a good defender, doesn’t have power, yadda, yadda. He’s a lefty, too. So it’s got a few rough edges, roster construction-wise. But after the baseball world watched the Blue Jays set a postseason record for hits last October, it might be worth adding a little contact to the homer-happy Yankees. Arráez owns three batting titles and has led his league in hits twice, including last season.

Bass(itt) fishing

You still have hard feelings over Chris Bassitt’s poor outing for the Mets in Game 3 of the 2022 Wild Card Series against the Padres? Get over it. He can help the Mets now and exudes a toughness that, frankly, the current group could use. Bassitt pitched brilliantly out of the bullpen for Toronto last October (1.04 ERA in seven games) and provided reliable innings as a starter in three years there. Teams love versatility! So the Mets sign him as a hybrid pitcher.

Posted on

MLB free-agent reset: Kyle Tucker, Cody Bellinger among unsigned big names as spring training approaches

Left: New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger on Oct. 7, 2025, in New York. Right: Chicago Cubs' Kyle Tucker on Oct. 9, 2025, in Chicago.
Outfielders Cody Bellinger, left, and Kyle Tucker, right, are two of the most highly sought MLB free agents this offseason. (Associated Press)

Spring training is only a month away, yet an abundance of top-flight names remain on the MLB free-agent market. This is nothing out of the ordinary, but it calls for a reset of likely destinations and contract value for the most coveted players.

Two recent signings reached average annual values (AAV) of at least $30 million, noteworthy because both players are older than 30 and add little to zero value with their gloves. First baseman Pete Alonso, 31, signed a five-year, $155-million deal with the Orioles and designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, who turns 33 in March, signed a five-year, $150-million deal with the Phillies.

Juan Soto ($51 million AAV), Aaron Judge ($40 million) and Mike Trout ($35.5 million) are the only outfielders paid more than $30 million a year, although all three make significantly more. Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger are expected to join the exclusive club this offseason.

The longest contract for a pitcher is the seven-year, $210 million deal Dylan Cease got from the Blue Jays. Japanese import Tatsuya Imai landed the highest AAV when the Astros signed him for $63 million over three years.

The Dodgers can't be counted out on the biggest names, but their strategy after winning back-to-back World Series appears to prize patience over aggressive spending.

Position Players

NAME, AGE, POSITION, 2025 bWAR, CAREER bWAR

Kyle Tucker, 29, OF, 4.5, 27.3: Although the market for the left-handed hitting slugger has been guarded, Tucker should still command the highest sticker price in this free-agent class. Early projections of $400 million might be a long shot, but an AAV of more than $30 million is a near certainty, and Tucker is seeking a 10-year contract. The Dodgers are considered a suitor because they need a productive corner outfielder. However, they are content to wait and see how far Tucker's market drops before jumping in.

Cody Bellinger, 30, OF/1B, 5.0, 30.4: A Dodgers reunion is a popular topic on L.A. talk radio, but it still feels like a reach because of the stomach-churning roller-coaster ride Bellinger and the team endured during his six-year stint that ended in 2022. Bellinger has gradually rehabilitated his on-field reputation with three excellent seasons — two with the Cubs and one with the Yankees. The Athletic reported that the Yankees have offered Bellinger a deal worth more than $30 million a year, but he is holding firm with his desire for seven years.

Bo Bichette, 28, SS, 3.4, 20.8: Bichette displayed his toughness to the Dodgers by playing effectively in the World Series despite a lingering knee injury. He accumulated more than 175 hits in four of the last five seasons with above-average power — and can play any infield position. Third base would be his home should he sign with the Cubs, who appear determined to add a slugger who can play that position. The Dodgers have Max Muncy under contract for one more season, but could sign Bichette if he is willing to take a shorter deal at a high AAV.

Eugenio Suárez, 34, 3B, 3.6, 26.8: Suárez is in an enviable position even though he is older than fellow infielders Bregman and Bichette. Splitting the season between the Diamondbacks and Mariners, Suarez tied a career high with 49 home runs and drove in 118 runs. Teams that miss out on Bregman or Bichette could turn to Suárez as a short-term solution at third.

Harrison Bader, 31, OF, 3.9, 17.3: Bader declined his player option for $6.5 million after posting a stellar second half with the Phillies, who acquired him from the Twins at the trade deadline. His combined numbers were his best since 2021, and given the fact that he is a Gold Glove center fielder, Bader has suitors that include the Phillies and two other teams whose uniforms he already has worn — the Yankees and Mets.

Pitchers

NAME, AGE, POSITION, 2025 bWAR, CAREER bWAR

Framber Valdez, 32, SP, 3.8, 18.8: Valdez was impressively consistent for the Astros and should be able to choose between several multi-year offers. His age works against a long-term deal, but Sportrac estimated his AAV at $33.3 million, easily the highest among free-agent pitchers.

Ranger Suárez, 30, SP, 4.7, 18.1: The left-handed Suárez is younger than most other free-agent starters and is coming off an excellent season. He has a 1.48 ERA over 11 postseason appearances. He is well-positioned to command a lucrative contract of up to six years. Expect him to sign with one of the teams with a high payroll.

Zac Gallen, 30, SP, 1.1, 20.8: On the plus side, Gallen posted 56 wins over 126 starts the last four years for the Diamondbacks and he's only 30. On the negative side, his ERA has risen each of those four years, peaking in 2025 at 4.83. The right-hander should be looking at a multi-year deal with an AAV of about $18 million.

Nick Martinez, 35, SP, 2.3, 11.2: Martinez is a swingman who has pined for the workload and pay of a full-time starter. The Reds gave him that opportunity in 2025 and he was moderately successful, posting a 4.45 ERA in a career-high 165 2/3 innings while earning $21 million. He'll likely get another one-year deal for less money.

Chris Bassitt, 37, SP, 2.1, 18.1: Bassitt has been a dependable mid-rotation arm, making at least 30 starts four years in a row with league-average results. He is coming off a three-year, $63-million contract with the Blue Jays, but at 37 he might not be able to replicate that deal.

Justin Verlander, 43, SP, 1.2, 81.7: Alas, Verlander's dogged pursuit of 300 wins wasn't helped by a 4-11 season with the Giants. He deserved better, posting a 3.85 ERA in 29 starts. The future first-ballot Hall of Famer made $15 million, and a one-year deal at two-thirds of that number seems reasonable. No financial worries: Verlander has been paid $419 million over 20 years.

Lucas Giolito, 31, SP, 2.1, 14.4: Giolito has been an effective starter for nine seasons, with a 1-6 record and 6.89 ERA in six starts with the Angels in 2023 the most glaring blemish. The right-hander from Harvard Westlake High missed the 2024 season because of elbow surgery but rebounded to go 10-4 with a 3.41 ERA in 26 starts for the Red Sox in 2025.

Tyler Anderson, 36, SP, 2.0, 16.8: The dependable former Angels and Dodgers starter is coming off a three-year, $39-million contract. Anderson's 2025 season ended in August because of an oblique strain, and he was 2-8 with a 4.56 ERA in 26 starts. A two-year deal at a reduced AAV isn't out of the question.

Max Scherzer, 41, SP, 0.2, 75.6: The future Hall of Famer has no intention of retiring, even after posting a 5.19 ERA and giving up 19 home runs in 85 innings for the Blue Jays. Scherzer might take a steep pay cut from the $15.5 million he made in 2025, but he's already been paid $366.5 million in his 18-year career. Dodgers fans remember him as a 2021 trade-deadline acquisition going 7-0 with a 1.98 ERA in 11 regular-season starts but bowing out of a start in the NLCS.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Posted on

Alex Bregman signs with Cubs for five years, $175 million: Contract details, fantasy fallout

One of the biggest remaining dominoes of MLB free agency fell on Saturday night when third baseman Alex Bregman agreed to a five-year, $175 million contract with the Chicago Cubs. The soon-to-be-32-year-old gets a full no-trade clause and a contract with no opt-outs. Although, the deferred money, about $70 million, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, makes the contract a little more palatable for the Cubs.

What does this mean for the Cubs?

The Cubs love players with a strong sense of the strike zone and good contact ability. They could have an entire infield of players like that with Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner.

Bregman has a career strikeout rate of 13.4% and had a 91.5% zone contact rate last season, another elite rate. In his only season with the Red Sox, Bregman hit .273/.360/.462 with 18 home runs, 64 runs scored, and 62 RBI in 114 games as he battled a quad injury. That's strong production for the Cubs in the middle of their lineup, and Bregman's contact ability (along with Swanson and Hoerner) will help to offset some of the swing and miss from guys like Michael Busch and Seiya Suzuki.

Bregman also played solid defense again at third base, posting an Outs Above Average of 3 and an OAA of 8 in 2024 with the Astros. Him on the left side of the infield next to Swanson is a huge boost for the Cubs' pitching staff and the team as a whole.

There are some injury concerns here with Bregman. He has not played over 145 games in either of the last two seasons and has been under that mark in three of his last five. He will be 32 years old when the contract begins, and since there are no opt-outs and a full no-trade clause, Bregman will be the Cubs' third baseman until he's 37 years old. That's a bit of a gamble.

The other domino that will fall from this is what the Cubs do with Matt Shaw. The 24-year-old was one of the top 20 prospects in all of baseball heading into last season, but struggled to a .226/.295/.394 slash line with 13 home runs and 17 steals in 126 games. Shaw is still young and can slide over to second base, so the Cubs could opt to move him there and trade away Nico Hoerner, who hit .297/.345/.394 with seven home runs and 29 steals in 156 games last season.

Hoerner is the better defender and makes far more contact, but he is also signed to a three-year, $35 million contract and doesn't quite have the upside that Shaw does if everything breaks right for the young Cubs infielder. The team will have to decide whether to roll the dice on the upside and settle for the safe floor in 2026.

Lastly, while this is a great signing for the Cubs, remember that Kyle Tucker remains a free agent. If the Cubs don't re-sign Tucker, they will essentially be swapping Tucker for Bregman, which is a clear offensive downgrade for this lineup. As a team last season, the Cubs were 5th in runs scored, 6th in strikeout rate, 6th in wRC+, and 7th in OPS. Even without Tucker, they would likely remain a top ten offense thanks to the Bregman signing, but we'd expect a small step backwards.

What does this mean for the Red Sox?

Many people assumed that Bregman would return to the Red Sox, where he was lauded for his leadership and relationship to young stars like Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer. In fact, MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported that the Red Sox offered up to $160 million for Bregman but were simply outbid by the Cubs.

With Bregman off the market, the Red Sox will likely pivot to Bo Bichette, who they would slot in at second base and then keep Marcelo Mayer at third base. In many ways, that would be just as good a move for the Red Sox. Alex Bregman, Bichette is a plus contact hitter with pull-side power and would likely be an above-average defender at second base. Bichette hit .311 last season with 18 home runs and would likely put up 20+ home runs in Fenway Park.

The issue is that many people assume Bichette is destined to land in Philadelphia with his old bench coach, Don Mattingly.

If that were to happen, the Red Sox would need to turn their attention to Eugenio Suarez or trade for Isaac Paredes, who they have been linked to all offseason. They could also perhaps take a shot and trade for Matt Shaw to pair with other young players like Anthony, Mayer, and Kristian Campbell.

Fantasy fallout

On one hand, Alex Bregman is moving from one solid lineup to another. He should be in another good spot for RBI production and runs scored, assuming he hits near the top of this Cubs' order. On the other hand, this is a clear park downgrade for him. Last season, Bregman posted a 47.4% pull rate while playing his home games at Fenway Park with the Green Monster. He's now moving to Wrigley Field, which is 40 feet deeper down the left field line than Fenway Park. Over his last three seasons, Bregman has only eight home runs that were NOT on pulled fly balls.

Once you add in the winds that tend to rear their ugly heads at Wrigley, you could see a power decline from Bregman next season. You would be looking at a guy who hits 20-22 home runs while hitting .265-.270 in a good lineup. That's obviously a solid fantasy asset, but maybe not a game-breaking one.

The other fallout here will be from Matt Shaw or Nico Hoerner, whomever loses their starting position. Right now, it's too early to make a call on that position battle, but it's certainly something to watch as the season unfolds.

Posted on

All-Star 3B Alex Bregman reportedly agrees to a 5-year, $175 million contract with the Cubs

CHICAGO — All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman has agreed to a five-year, $175 million contract with the Chicago Cubs, according to two people familiar with the deal.

The people spoke to The Associated Press on Saturday night on condition of anonymity because the agreement was pending a physical. The contract includes a no-trade provision allowing Bregman to block deals without his consent.

Bregman, who turns 32 in March, was back on the market for a second straight offseason. He also was pursued by the Cubs before he signed a $120 million, three-year contract with Boston last February, with opt-outs after each of the first two seasons.

He decided to test free agency again after hitting .273 for the Red Sox with 18 homers and 62 RBIs in 114 games, his fewest since 2021. Bregman missed all of June with a quadriceps injury.

He earned $40 million in his one season with Boston, of which he received $15 million last year. The Red Sox owe him $5 million in January 2028 and $2 million each June from 2035-44.

Bregman played his first nine seasons with the Houston Astros, winning World Series titles in 2017 and 2022 — although the first of those yielded a sign-stealing scandal that earned Bregman and his teammates plenty of scorn.

When the Gold Glove winner joined the Red Sox, they already had All-Star Rafael Devers at third base. Boston asked Devers to move to DH, and the team’s relationship with the slugger soured to the point that Devers was traded to San Francisco in June.

Boston ended up leading the major leagues in errors, but the Red Sox did return to the postseason for the first time in four years. Bregman’s OPS of .822 was his best since 2019, and he earned All-Star honors for a third time.

Chicago finished second in the NL Central last year with a 92-70 record. The Cubs reached the playoffs for the first time since 2020 before getting eliminated by Milwaukee in a five-game Division Series.

The Cubs used Matt Shaw at third base last season, and the rookie played stellar defense while batting .226 with 13 homers, 44 RBIs and 17 steals in 126 games. Shaw also can play second base, but Nico Hoerner is a two-time Gold Glove winner at the position.

There could be another trade on the horizon to clear up the team’s infield situation, or Shaw could move into a super-utility role with Bregman’s arrival.

The addition of Bregman was the second major move by the Cubs in a matter of days. They acquired right-hander Edward Cabrera in a trade with the Miami Marlins on Wednesday.

ESPN was the first to report Bregman’s agreement with the Cubs.

Posted on

Potential Mets target 3B Alex Bregman signs five-year contract with Cubs: reports

The Mets lost out on a potential target with third baseman Alex Bregman and the Chicago Cubs agreeing to a five-year, $175 million contract on Saturday night, per multiple reports.

After beginning his career with the Houston Astros where he played for nine seasons, Bregman spent last season in Boston playing for the Red Sox who signed him to a three-year, $120 million deal last offseason with opt outs after the first two years. But after a solid 2025 campaign, Bregman opted out to become a free agent and look for a new deal.

Now, the 31-year-old will join Chicago who also pursued him heavily last offseason.

Bregman played in 114 games for Boston last season after missing time with a right quad strain, slashing .273/.360/.462 with 18 home runs and 62 RBI. Prior to that, the infielder had six seasons of 145 or more games played. 

In his career, Bregman has totaled 209 home runs and 725 RBI to go along with a .846 OPS, making him one of the biggest bats available this offseason.

As for the Mets, their pursuit of Bregman always seemed lukewarm at best as they seem comfortable going with Brett Baty at third base in 2026 after the youngster's breakout season in which he slashed .254/.313/.435 with 18 homers and 50 RBI in 130 games.

Baty split time at second base and third base last year, but with Mark Vientos' disappointing season offensively and struggles at third base defensively, Baty appears to be the starting third baseman at the moment.

Posted on

SEE IT: Mets' Luisangel Acuña has three-home run game in Venezuelan Winter League

While the rest of us continue to deal with the cold winter months, Mets infielder Luisangel Acuña is red-hot.

Playing in the Venezuelan Winter League for the Cardenales de Lara, Acuña had a historic night on Saturday by hitting three home runs in the same game. 

The first long ball came in the second inning, a three-run shot off a right-hander which gave Acuña's team a 6-4 lead. The next two, one off a lefty and one off a righty and both solo shots, came in the later innings with the infielder's team up big.

Here are videos of all three home runs:

Acuña finished the game 3-for-5 with five RBI and five runs scored, reaching base in all five of his plate appearances thanks to two errors. He's just the second player in Cardenales de Lara's history to hit three dingers in the same game.

The 23-year-old has enjoyed a ton of success in Venezuela this winter and will look to carry that into spring training for the Mets starting next month after an inconsistent first full season in the majors where he slashed .234/.293/.274 in 95 games.

After bursting onto the scene as a September call-up in 2024 where he hit three home runs in 39 at-bats (.966 OPS), Acuña's power disappeared in 2025 (.567 OPS) and he was more valuable with his defensive versatility and speed on the bases (16 steals on 17 attempts). 

However, if he's ever able to tap into his raw power that he displayed on Saturday night and briefly in 2024 on a more consistent basis in the majors (like his older brother Ronald Acuña Jr.), it would open up his game to another level.

Posted on

Rockies acquire outfielder Jake McCarthy from the Diamondbacks for a minor league pitcher

DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Rockies have acquired outfielder Jake McCarthy from the Arizona Diamondbacks for minor league pitcher Josh Grosz, the teams announced Saturday.

McCarthy, 28, played five seasons with the Diamondbacks and finished fourth in the National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2022 after hitting .283 with eight homers, 43 RBIs and 23 stolen bases.

McCarthy slumped to .204 with four homers and 20 RBIs last season. He was a first-round draft pick out of Virginia in 2018.

The 23-year-old Grosz was acquired by the Rockies last summer in the deal that sent third baseman Ryan McMahon to the New York Yankees. Grosz went 5-14 with a 4.67 ERA in High-A ball with Hudson Valley and Spokane.

Grosz was drafted in the 11th round out of East Carolina in 2023.

Posted on

Red Sox lose Bregman after star 3B agrees to huge deal with Cubs: Report

Red Sox lose Bregman after star 3B agrees to huge deal with Cubs: Report originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Alex Bregman won’t be running it back with Boston after all.

The All-Star third baseman has agreed to a five-year, $175 million contract with the Chicago Cubs on Saturday, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

In November, Bregman opted out of the final two seasons of the three-year, $120 million deal he signed with the Red Sox last winter.

Losing Bregman is a significant blow to an already underwhelming Red Sox lineup. The 31-year-old started last season at an MVP level before a quad injury forced him to miss time. Still, he earned his third career All-Star nod and finished the year with strong numbers, slashing .273/.360/.462 with 18 homers and 62 RBI in 114 games. He was a major defensive upgrade at the hot corner and an invaluable veteran presence in Boston’s clubhouse.

With Bregman officially gone, the Red Sox must quickly come up with a backup plan to address the question marks in their infield and the middle of their lineup. Bo Bichette and Eugenio Suarez are the next best infield bats on the free-agent market while Isaac Paredes (Houston Astros) and Brendan Donovan (St. Louis Cardinals) stand out as potential trade targets.

If the Red Sox fail to find a replacement for Bregman at the hot corner, there aren’t many internal options. Marcelo Mayer would be the most likely candidate to step up, with Nate Eaton and Nick Sogard also able to fill in at the position if called upon.

Posted on

Cubs, Alex Bregman agree to massive free agent contract: Reports

Cubs, Alex Bregman agree to massive free agent contract: Reports originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Chicago Cubs have added a huge bat to their offense, reportedly signing free agent infielder Alex Bregman.

According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the deal for Bregman and the Cubs is for five years and $175 million, making it one of the biggest deals in team history.

Bregman, who will turn 32 before the season, was a target of the Cubs during last year’s offseason before he inked a contract with the Boston Red Sox.

He had a strong season in Boston, hitting 18 home runs and driving in 62 RBI’s while slashing .273/.360/.462. He made yet another All-Star team in the process, and opted out of his contract with Boston after the season.

It would appear likely that Bregman will play third base for the Cubs in the 2026 season, with Dansby Swanson, Nico Hoerner and Michael Busch rounding out the team’s infield.

The Cubs have not yet confirmed the signing.

Posted on

Giants, veteran catcher Eric Haase reportedly agree to minor league contract

Giants, veteran catcher Eric Haase reportedly agree to minor league contract originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Giants reportedly are bringing in some more catching depth for the 2026 MLB season.

San Francisco has agreed to a minor-league contract with veteran catcher Eric Haase, MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reported Friday, citing a source.

The contract is worth $1.6 million if he makes the Giants roster and includes an invitation to spring training next month with an opt-out afterward, per Morosi’s report.

Haase, 33, is an eight-year MLB veteran who has spent time with the Cleveland Guardians, Detroit Tigers and Milwaukee Brewers. Across 383 career games, he has incurred .228/.278/.396 splits with 48 home runs. His best season came with his hometown Detroit in 2022, when he slashed .254/.305/.443 with 14 home runs over 110 games.

The former seventh-round pick in the 2011 MLB Draft also offers some defensive versatility for San Francisco, as Haase has made 57 career appearances in the outfield. At catcher, Haase ranked third in MLB in caught stealing percentage in both 2021 and 2022, throwing out nearly a third of would-be base stealers.

Haase is set to compete with three catchers on the Giants’ current 40-man roster — Patrick Bailey, Jesús Rodríguez and Daniel Susac — for a spot on the Opening Day squad.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

Posted on

Former Mets RHP Ryne Stanek signing with Cardinals

Ryne Stanek is heading to St. Louis.

The former Mets right-hander has signed a deal with the Cardinals, according to multiple reports.

Stanek, who was traded to the Mets in mid-2024 from the Mariners, had an up-and-down tenure in Flushing. Stanek made 17 appearances with the Mets in 2024, pitching to a 6.06 ERA. He appeared in seven games that postseason, allowing three runs in eight innings (3.38 ERA). Stanek elected free agency after the season, but the Mets brought him back on a one-year deal.

In 2025, Stanek made 65 appearances, pitching to a 5.30 ERA and even recording three saves for the Mets. 

There was always a possibility the Mets could have brought Stanek back, especially with Edwin Diaz taking his talents to Los Angeles, but David Stearns had already brought in two high-profile free agent relievers in Devin Williams and Luke Weaver. 

Stanek joins Tyler Rogers (Blue Jays), Ryan Helsley (Orioles), Danny Young (Braves), Gregory Soto (Pirates) and the aforementioned Diaz as 2025 Mets relievers who are no longer with the team. 

Posted on

Free agent outfielder Max Kepler suspended 80 games by MLB following positive drug test

NEW YORK — Free agent outfielder Max Kepler was suspended for 80 games on Friday following a positive test for a banned performance-enhancing substance in violation of Major League Baseball’s drug program.

Kepler tested positive for Epitrenbolone, a substance that led to a suspension in 2018 for boxer Manuel Charr. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency announced the following year that a positive test for the substance caused it to disqualify 90-year-old cyclist Carl Grove from a world record he had set at the 2018 Masters Track National Championship.

Epitrenbolone is a metabolite of Trenbolone, which is contained in some products used in body-building stores and had been used in products to promote cattle growth. Kepler is the first player suspended by MLB for the substance since public announcements of the penalty details began in 2005.

There was no immediate comment from the players’ association or his agency.

Kepler accepted the suspension without contesting the discipline in a grievance, a person familiar with the process told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because that detail was not announced.

Kepler, who turns 33 next month, is an 11-year major league veteran who spent last season with the Philadelphia Phillies after playing his first 10 seasons with the Minnesota Twins. He became a free agent after the World Series.

Fourteen players were suspended last year for positive tests, including two under the major league program. Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar was banned for 80 games on March 31 and Philadelphia Phillies closer José Alvarado for 80 games on May 25.

Even if Kepler doesn’t have a contract by opening day in March, MLB and the union usually allow a suspended free agent to serve his penalty as long as he is attempting to reach a deal with teams.

Kepler hit .216 with 18 homers and 52 RBIs last year after agreeing to a one-year, $10 million contract. He was slowed in 2024 by left patellar tendinitis and had core surgery after the season to repair a sports hernia.

Kepler grew up in Germany and signed with the Twins at age 16 in 2009. He has a .235 average with 179 homers and 560 RBIs in his big league career.

Posted on

Exile on Main Street: Manfred, MLB Will Go to Bat for 9 RSN Expats

A day after nine Major League Baseball clubs officially terminated their contracts with Main Street Sports, the parent company of the FanDuel-branded RSNs is attempting to bring the teams back into the fold.

Main Street’s course-changing efforts are said to include offering revised terms to its departing MLB partners, although given the endemic stressors on the regional distribution model, any new deals are likely to hinge on reduced fee structures.

As first reported by The Athletic’s Evan Drellich, the dissolution of the RSN contracts effectively serves as a safeguarding measure in the event Main Street files for bankruptcy. The company of late had been negotiating a sale of its assets to DAZN, but those talks are said to have sputtered out. Scuttlebutt about the emergence of a second potential buyer remains unconfirmed.

“We remain in dialogue with all of our team and league partners as we progress discussions with potential strategic partners to enhance our long-term capital position,” a Main Street Sports spokesperson wrote in a statement.

Three of the teams that have elected to walk away from their in-market media deals—the Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals and Milwaukee Brewers—had re-upped with Main Street in early November. Also choosing to exit were the Atlanta Braves, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angels, Miami Marlins, St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays.

The ongoing erosion of the pay-TV bundle has continued to plague the RSN business, and while Main Street predecessor Diamond Sports Group officially exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection a year ago, court documents made it clear that a post-reorg cash crunch was all but inevitable. In one projection, Diamond’s number crunchers estimated that total linear TV revenue would decline 19% in 2025 from $2.17 billion to $1.75 billion, while this year’s take was expected to fall to $1.65 billion.

While advertising dollars were largely expected to hold up, far more significant losses were thought to be in store on the distribution front. Per an unaudited projected income statement filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Houston in April 2024, DSG anticipated that carriage fees would plummet 28% between 2024 and 2026, which would work out to a net loss of $498 million in distribution revenue. DSG had projected a more moderate 5% dip in advertising revenue over the same period, which translates to an anticipated loss of $20 million in sales.

The ongoing exodus from the legacy pay-TV bundle continued apace last year, as an estimated 5 million cable/satellite/telcoTV subscribers cut the cord. Per MoffettNathanson estimates, the bundled headcount fell another 10% to 43.2 million households in the third quarter, reducing penetration to just 34% of all U.S. TV homes. Even when virtual MVPDs are blended with the traditional TV platforms, the overall tally (64.8 million subs) represents just 50.6% of homes that use television.

At the industry’s peak in 2010, when some 105 million customers mailed out paper checks to cover their monthly TV bills, nine in 10 homes subscribed to a pay-TV package.

Despite the steady subscriber losses, the FanDuel RSNs saw their MLB ratings improve by 18% in 2025, as in-game coverage averaged 1.5 million viewers across all platforms. Per internal Main Street estimates, MLB games last season accounted for more than 2.8 billion minutes of consumption, a figure which marked a doubling on the year-ago results.

The incredible shrinking bundle has posed an existential threat to the RSNs long before Diamond filed for bankruptcy in March 2023. In an early filing with the Houston court, the company stated that it had lost 22 million subscribers, or 35% of its customer base, since 2019. While the vMVPDs have in some measure helped claw back a chunk of pay-TV apostates, most of those slimmed-down platforms don’t have carriage deals in place with any RSNs. In other words, Main Street doesn’t necessarily benefit from the recapturing of consumers via alternative video services.

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred on Thursday addressed the RSN situation during an appearance on WFAN’s The Carton Show. “No matter what happens, Major League Baseball is in a position to put all of the games on locally and to make a digital streaming product available in-market for those fans,” Manfred said. They will never miss a game.”

Baseball first began bailing out some of its RSN-affiliated clubs in 2023, when it assumed control of the San Diego Padres’ local broadcasts after Diamond missed a payment. Other teams that have since found shelter under the MLB Media umbrella include the Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies and Minnesota Twins. Meanwhile, in the wake of the shuttering of ROOT Sports, the Seattle Mariners last fall announced their intention to cede local distribution to MLB before the start of the 2026 season.   

And the defections continue to pile up. Upon the dissolution of their longstanding, often turbulent arrangement with the Baltimore Orioles’ Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, the Washington Nationals are also in the hunt for a new local TV home.

Manfred said MLB is ready to provide a similar service to the nine clubs that voided their Main Street contracts. “Remember, two years ago, there was a bankruptcy filing, [and] San Diego, they pulled the plug on them,” Manfred said. “We put them up in one day. There was never a game missed. So, we are prepared, even if all nine end up without an alternative, MLB will have them, they will be available on cable in the markets and there will be a digital alternative.

Unfortunately for the newly stateless nine, MLB’s backstopping won’t include any cash considerations. While reserves of as much as $15 million were allocated to teams that walked away from their RSN deals in 2024, Manfred during a separate Thursday media hit said the league would not be providing financial assistance to any clubs that align with MLB Media in the coming year. The discretionary-spending policy appears to have been a one-shot deal, as similar payments were not extended in 2025.

In addition to the option of signing on with MLB Media, the exiting teams may also seek to forge in-market deals with over-the-air providers like Scripps Sports and Gray Television. The current crisis was precipitated last month when Main Street missed a scheduled rights payment to the Cardinals.

(Updated with a statement from Main Street Sports.)

Sign up for Sportico's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.