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.
Giants fans have one more thing to be thankful for today.
San Francisco reached an agreement with veteran left-handed reliever Sam Hentges on a one-year, $1.4 million contract, FanSided’s Robert Murray reported Thursday, citing a source familiar with the deal.
Free-agent reliever Sam Hentges and the San Francisco Giants are in agreement on a one-year, $1.4 million contract, according to a source familiar with the deal.
Hentges is a four-year MLB veteran who has tossed 206.2 innings across 168 games for the Cleveland Guardians in his career. The 29-year-old southpaw missed the entire 2025 MLB season while recovering from shoulder and knee surgery
The last time Hentges saw action was the 2024 MLB season, where he posted a 3.04 ERA with 27 strikeouts and five walks across 23.2 innings of work.
Since making the move to a full-time relief role in 2022, Hentges has logged a 2.93 ERA in 138 appearances.
His best season came in 2022, when he went 3-2 with a 2.32 ERA in 62 innings across 57 appearances while logging a career-best 1.3 WAR.
The reported addition of Hentges brings some clarity into San Francisco’s decision to non-tender lefty reliever Joey Lucchesi on Nov. 21, after he had a solid campaign with a 3.76 ERA while holding left-handed hitters to a .219 average and a .598 OPS in 38 appearances for the Giants.
San Francisco now has some option power in its bullpen, with Hentges joining fellow left-handed pitchers Erik Miller, Matt Gage and Reiver José Sanmartín as the Giants’ back-end southpaw options heading into the 2026 MLB season.
The Toronto Blue Jays were just two outs away from their first World Series championship in 32 years, and they don't appear to be satisfied. At least not based on the move they reportedly made Wednesday.
Breaking: Dylan Cease to Blue Jays. $210M, 7 years
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that the deal for Cease is pending a physical, and that the contract will contain deferrals.
Now's as good of a time as any to look at what type of pitcher the Blue Jays are acquiring, how fits with Toronto, and the potential fantasy implications for the 2026 campaign.
What type of pitcher has Cease been?
A good one. For the most part. Cease was a sixth-round pick — although that 'low' of a draft slot had much more to do with financial terms than his ability — by the Cubs, and they traded the right-hander in the deal for Jose Quintana. After a so-so first two years with the Pale Hose, the right-hander led all of baseball with a 12.3 strikeout per nine inning rate in 2021 with a useable 3.91 ERA, but really stepped it up starting in 2022. He finished second in Cy Young balloting with a 2.20 ERA, 227/78 K/BB ratio and 1.10 WHIP, and while he disappointed in 2023 with a 4.55 ERA, he still was highly sought after on the market and was dealt to the Padres.
Cease finished fourth in Cy Young voting in his first season with San Diego, but his final year in the Gaslamp was a bit of a mixed bag. He did strike out 215 batters in his 168 innings while leading baseball in SO/9 for the second time, but it came with a 4.55 ERA and 1.32 WHIP.
For his career, Cease has a record of 65-58, a 3.88 ERA, and 1,231 strikeouts against 430 walks across 188 starts and 1015 1/3 frames.
What does Cease do best?
As you can probably guess, miss bats. Cease has just one season where he hasn't struck out more than a batter an inning, and it came in the truncated 2020 campaign. His average fastball velocity of 97 mph was the best of his career at the age of 29, and there's nothing to suggest that he won't able to throw his heater in that mid-to-high 90s range for the next couple of years at least.
But the reason Cease is routinely among the leaders in strikeouts is his secondary stuff, and in particular, his slider. In 2024 it was among the very best pitches in baseball with a run value of 25, and hitters swung and missed at the pitch 44.1 percent of the time while hitting just .159 against the offering. It wasn't quite as dominant in 2025, but he still generated an ever-so-impressive 44.2 percent whiff rate even while hitters saw their average bump up to .228 against it. Cease will also offering a knuckle curve, sweeper and change to hitters, but it's the devastating late break of the slider that gives hitters the feel-bads.
While Cease hasn't piled up the innings, he has been one of the more durable starters since joining baseball as well. The 2025 campaign was the fifth consecutive that he made at least 30 starts, and he's thrown at least 165 innings in each season since 2021.
Long story short, Cease is a hurler who is going to get the ball every fifth day, and he's going to pile up the punchouts doing so.
What has Cease struggled with in the past?
As noted above, while Cease has been able to take the mound on a consistent basis, he's never reached 200 innings, nor has he ranked among the top five among starters in the category. The reason for that is pretty simple: Cease has never been efficient, and walks have been a problem. He issued 71 of them in 2025, and that's the third time in four years he's walked at least 70 hitters. That self-inflicted damage can get any hurler even with elite punchout ability, and Cease has not been an exception as seen in ERA totals mentioned earlier.
And unfortunately, those command issues haven't just resulted in free passes. Cease had a less-than-desirable barrel rate of 9.8 percent in 2025, which ranks in the bottom 20th percentile of qualified starters. He's never given up more than 21 homers, but those roundtrippers add up when there's an extra batter or two on base because of the walks.
When Cease is at his best or even close, it's generally a good time. But fantasy managers who have rostered him over the past few years know that there are some clunkers, and he's the type of pitcher that you have to take some bitter with the better.
How Does Cease fit with the Blue Jays?
Quite well, but let's be honest, that would be true if we were saying any team outside of perhaps the Rockies. Cease will join a rotation that already has Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, Trey Yesavage and José Berríos; assuming Berríos is ready for the start of the season after missing the end of the year with an elbow injury. While he may not be the Opening Day starter, it seems likely that Cease will pitch near the top of that rotation, and he'll be backed up by the team that just missed on taking home a World Series title last year. There should be plenty of win chances for Cease in 2026.
Does this help or hurt Cease’s fantasy value for 2026?
It'd be hard to think this isn't a great fit from a fantasy perspective. Even if the Blue Jays are unable to bring back Bo Bichette, this is still one of the most talented rosters in baseball, and it's likely that Toronto isn't done adding whether they bring Bichette back or not. It's been a solid park for pitchers since the dimensions were altered, and while it's very likely that Cease will have a few starts that have you scratching your head/pulling your hair/both; the overall experience is generally a pleasant one. He should be one of the first dozen or so starters off the board in 2026, as the upside and ability to miss bats with the best of them is well worth the occasional down outing.
The Mets will have one less starting pitcher to try and sign this offseason.
Right-hander Dylan Cease is signing a seven-year, $210 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays pending a physical, according to multiple reports. The deal will include deferrals, The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reports.
The move immediately makes the Blue Jays, a World Series team in 2025, more dangerous to the Yankees and the rest of the American League. Cease will likely lead a rotation that already includes Kevin Gausman, former AL Cy Young winner Shane Bieber, young phenom Trey Yesavage and Jose Berrios.
Cease is coming off a relatively down year, pitching to an 8-12 record and a 4.55 ERA across 32 starts. His strikeout rate was still very high (11.5) and he has 200-plus strikeouts in each of the past five seasons.
The Mets will now look elsewhere for potential starting pitching. President of baseball operations David Stearns has made it known that upgrades to the rotation are a priority for the team this offseason. Framber Valdez, while not necessarily on the team's radar, is arguably the top remaining free agent starting pitcher this winter. Michael King, Ranger Suarez and Japanese star Tatsuya Imai are also still available.
As for the trade market, the Mets could look to bring in Sandy Alcantara or Edward Cabrera from the Miami Marlins, or Brewers ace Freddy Peralta. And then there's two-time AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, who is on an expiring contract, could be available from the Tigers for the right price.
Free-agent pitcher Dylan Cease and the Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to a $210 million, seven-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Wednesday night.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal was pending a physical and had not been announced.
Cease would join a terrific rotation with the reigning American League champions. The right-hander, who turns 30 next month, went 8-12 with a 4.55 ERA in 32 starts last season for the San Diego Padres. He struck out 215 batters and walked 71 in 168 innings.
Cease spent his first five years with the Chicago White Sox, including a 2022 season in which he went 14-8 with a 2.20 ERA despite leading the majors in walks. He finished second in AL Cy Young Award balloting.
After one more year in Chicago, he was traded to San Diego in March 2024 and went 14-11 with a 3.47 ERA that season, finishing fourth in NL Cy Young Award voting.
His numbers on the mound slipped this year but he still reached 32 starts for a fifth straight season.
Cease has also had five consecutive years with at least 214 strikeouts, which helps offset his penchant for walks.
Cease was one of the top free-agent pitchers on the market this offseason. He’s set to join the Blue Jays, who won the AL East this year and advanced all the way to Game 7 of a thrilling World Series before losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-4 in 11 innings.
Toronto’s rotation already features Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage, Shane Bieber and José Berríos. Chris Bassitt and 41-year-old Max Scherzer, the three-time Cy Young Award winner who started Game 7 of the World Series, became free agents this month.
AP Baseball Writers Noah Trister and Mike Fitzpatrick contributed to this report.
The Boston Red Sox made their first major move of the offseason on Tuesday, acquiring three-time All-Star right-hander Sonny Gray in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals. Gray will add much-needed depth to Boston’s starting rotation, but what kind of upside does the 36-year-old offer at this stage of his career?
Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow clearly still thinks highly of the 13-year veteran as he parted ways with right-hander Richard Fitts and promising left-handed pitching prospect Brandon Clarke. Gray is owed $41 million in 2026, but the Cardinals will pay $20 million of that hefty salary. So with a price tag of about $21 million, the Red Sox will owe Gray roughly what they would have paid Lucas Giolito had they extended the fellow righty a qualifying offer.
Gray makes perfect sense as a Giolito replacement, and contrary to popular belief, he’s still capable of taking on the No. 2 starter role behind Cy Young runner-up Garrett Crochet next season if Boston doesn’t add another big arm. Here’s a deeper dive into Gray’s recent numbers, which should make Sox fans optimistic about Breslow’s latest move.
Stats show Gray was unlucky in 2025
A quick glance at Sonny Gray’s Baseball Reference page may leave some Sox fans scratching their heads. His 2025 ERA (4.28) marked his worst since 2021, and his 1.23 WHIP was his highest since 2018. However, a closer look shows he may still have some of his All-Star stuff.
Gray’s FIP last season was a respectable 3.39, so a good chunk of those runs that contributed to his 4.28 ERA were out of his control. That was the fourth-largest FIP/ERA gap among qualified right-handed starters in 2025.
Sticking to the idea of Gray as a Giolito replacement, Giolito was the antithesis of Gray in 2025. He finished the campaign with a rock-solid 3.41 ERA but a 4.17 FIP, indicating he had some luck on his side.
Tarik Skubal, Garrett Crochet… Sonny Gray?
In 2025, Gray struck out 201 hitters while walking only 38 over 32 starts. Those impressive totals gave him the best strikeout-to-walk ratio in the National League and the fourth-best in MLB, trailing only Tarik Skubal, Garrett Crochet, and Bryan Woo.
That was no fluke. In 2024, Gray notched 203 strikeouts and 39 walks over 28 starts. He and Crochet are among the five MLB pitchers to record at least 200 strikeouts in each of the last two seasons, per ESPN.
A stabilizing presence
Unlike some of the veteran hurlers Boston has brought in over the last few years, Gray has been remarkably durable. Age hasn’t changed that as the 36-year-old made 32 starts in 2023, 28 in 2024, and 32 again in 2025. He has pitched 166 or more innings in each of the past three seasons.
Even if he’s no longer an All-Star-caliber arm, Gray should provide value as an innings eater who can post every fifth day.
Projections love Gray for 2026
Steamer projections, which are widely used to predict future performance in baseball, are high on Gray for next season. The model has Gray finishing 2026 with a 3.68 ERA, a 3.44 FIP, and a 3.9 fWAR that ranks 10th among MLB starters and fifth in the AL. If these projections are even remotely accurate, Gray profiles as a legitimate No. 2 for the Red Sox.
That said, Breslow and Co. shouldn’t shy away from adding another impact arm (Joe Ryan, anyone?) to the mix.
A breath of fresh air may be what this Phillies team needs — both now and in the years ahead.
Since the end-of-season press conference in mid-October, one theme has been constant: the Phillies know they can’t simply run it back. Big-league additions will come, but internal options also matter.
Several prospects are now positioned to impact the roster, whether that happens in Philadelphia this season or by pushing toward the top of the system.
“I love young players because they always bring energy,” manager Rob Thomson said in October.
So who are the names in the pipeline worth keeping on the radar?
The big three
SS Aidan Miller
Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck – Imagn Images
Of the Phillies’ top prospects, Miller — MLB.com’s No. 1 in the system — is the least likely to debut in Philadelphia this season. That has more to do with Trea Turner’s presence and Miller’s development timeline than his ability.
“When I talked to people in our organization, they feel he can play shortstop. Of course, we have an All-Star shortstop at this point,” Dave Dombrowski said. “He stole over 50 bases… he actually gained speed, which is unusual. But he could play other positions.”
Miller’s year started unevenly, then took off. He finished the season with an .825 OPS, 43 extra-base hits, 59 steals and 82 walks and then hit the ground running after a promotion to Triple-A.
The path to the majors will depend on how the big-league roster shakes out, but he’s positioned as one of the steadiest prospects in the sport.
RHP Andrew Painter
Credit: Jonathan Dyer – Imagn Images
Painter is primed for a pivotal 2026. The right-hander returned from Tommy John surgery in 2025 and posted a 5.26 ERA over 26 starts — not unexpected following a two-year layoff. His arrival this season is based on one question: when the command returns, does the rest of the profile click back into place?
The Phillies’ rotation could open the door. Ranger Suárez is expected to sign elsewhere and Zack Wheeler is unlikely to begin the season on time, leaving opportunities behind Cristopher Sánchez, Jesús Luzardo and Aaron Nola. If Taijuan Walker stays, he’ll compete for a spot — but so will Painter.
“He used to have great command. It wasn’t quite as good this year,” Dombrowski noted. “Normally, when you trace back to a lot of people that have had Tommy John, that’s the last thing that comes back.”
Painter’s five-pitch mix — headlined by a 96.6-mph four-seamer and supported by a curveball and slider with above-average spin — still profiles as a big-league starter. If spring goes well, he’ll make that case.
OF Justin Crawford
Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel – Imagn Images
Crawford is as close to a lock for the Opening Day roster as any Phillies prospect.
A .322 career hitter across four professional seasons, the 21-year-old just logged his best year at Triple-A: .334/.411/.452 with 34 extra-base hits and 46 steals.
With the Phils likely moving on from Nick Castellanos, Crawford has a clear path into the outfield — and Dombrowski confirmed he’s in the mix.
“In my mind, Crawford has a real strong chance to be with our club,” he told The Athletic. “We think he can play center field.”
The bat fits toward the bottom of the order and his athleticism gives him a chance to be an above-average defensive center fielder.
Names to keep an eye on
RHP Gage Wood
The 2025 first-rounder brings a direct approach. “Here’s the fastball. Hit it,” Wood said after his pro debut.
He authored the first College World Series no-hitter since 1960 — striking out 19 — and struck out 69 in 37 2/3 innings for Arkansas during the regular season.
With poise and a four-pitch mix, his path through the system could be quick.
OF Gabriel Rincones Jr.
Added to the 40-man roster in November, Rincones ensures the Phillies won’t lose him in the Rule 5 Draft.
The 24-year-old hit .240/.370/.430 with 18 homers, 73 RBIs and his third straight 20-steal season.
Dombrowski called Rincones’ bat “a lot of pop… especially versus right-handed pitching.” A strong spring could have him competing for a roster spot if the outfield market isn’t heavy.
— Phillies Player Development (@PhilsPlayerDev) May 19, 2025
A balanced skill set and experience at second and third give him a versatile profile. He’s unlikely to factor into the big-league discussion in 2026, but a breakout would align with Alec Bohm reaching free agency next winter.
RHP Wen-Hui Pan
Pan is one of the most intriguing (and least talked-about) arms in the system.
The 23-year-old missed 2025 after Tommy John surgery, but before that he posted a 2.15 ERA in 18 appearances in 2024.
His fastball grades at 65 and his splitter at 60 on MLB Pipeline’s scale, though command remains the key variable. If it ticks up, Pan becomes a legitimate 2026 breakthrough candidate.
No. 13 @Phillies prospect Wen-Hui Pan punched out 4 batters through 2 innings with his fastball touching 99 mph in his first Minor League rehab start with the Threshers last night 👀 pic.twitter.com/bSMHmMwgMW
— Phillies Player Development (@PhilsPlayerDev) June 29, 2024
Standout Phils in the Fall League
OF Dante Nori
Nori carried his speed-power blend into the AFL.
After swiping 52 bags during the regular season, he added an inside-the-park homer — rounding the bases in and finished with an .822 OPS in 44 plate appearances.
Plate discipline continues to track as one of his best skills — a 91-to-99 walk-to-strikeout tally over his first two years. He projects to start 2026 at Double-A Reading.
INSIDE-THE-PARK HOME RUN!@Phillies No. 6 prospect Dante Nori darts around the bases for his first @MLBazFallLeague homer for Surprise.
Campbell’s AFL showing was one of the biggest surprises.
After a .215/.298/.367 campaign during the season, the 22-year-old posted a 1.044 OPS in the desert while appearing at all five infield/outfield positions.
The stance adjustment he adopted (a more closed setup) translated immediately. If it holds, he’ll position himself for a strong 2026.
RHP Jack Dallas
Dallas continues to build a compelling relief résumé.
The 26-year-old allowed one run with 15 strikeouts over nine Fall League innings, extending his pro track record: a 2.66 ERA across 179 1/3 career innings.
He finished 2025 at Double-A and is one step from a big-league look.
A date to watch
The Rule 5 Draft takes place December 10. The Phillies protected Painter, Rincones and right-hander Alex McFarlane by adding them to the 40-man roster. Several intriguing names — including starter Griff McGarry — were left unprotected, and the club would welcome them back if they go unselected.
