Jun 1966; Unknown location, USA; FILE PHOTO; Houston Astros pitcher Dave Giusti in action during the 1966 season. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-Imagn Images
Malcolm Emmons-Imagn Images
PITTSBURGH — Dave Giusti, a reliable reliever who spent 15 years in the majors and helped the Pittsburgh Pirates win the 1971 World Series title, has died. He was 86.
The club, citing Giusti’s family, said he died on Sunday.
The right-hander went 100-93 with a 3.60 ERA in 668 career appearances for five clubs from 1962-77. He began his career as a starter in Houston but had his greatest success with the Pirates, who acquired him from St. Louis in October 1969 and then moved him to the bullpen full-time.
Giusti led the National League with 30 saves in 1971, then added 10 2/3 scoreless innings in the playoffs as the Pirates beat the Giants in the NLCS and then the Baltimore Orioles in seven games in the World Series.
Giusti made his lone All-Star appearance in 1973. He played seven seasons for Pittsburgh, registering 133 saves, which ranks third in franchise history. He split time between Oakland and the Chicago Cubs in 1977 before retiring.
A native of Seneca Falls, New York, Giusti played collegiately at Syracuse before being signed by Houston, then an expansion team known as the Colt .45s, as an amateur free agent. He appeared in 22 games as a rookie in 1962, spent all of 1963 in the minors before returning to the majors for good after being called up during the 1964 season.
Giusti is survived by his wife, two daughters and four grandchildren.
The Mets announced on their Player Development X account on Monday that top prospect Elian Peña has been added to the Domestic Reserve List.
Peña is officially in line to make his stateside debut during the 2026 season.
The 18-year-old infielder signed with the Mets for a franchise-record $5 million last January.
He started his career in a brutal 0-for-26 stretch, but finally was able to find his footing and finished the season hitting a strong .292 with 24 extra base-hits and a .949 OPS over 55 DSL games.
Peña also stole 21 bases in 25 attempts and had as many walks as strikeouts (36).
DeMayo writes: “From a tools standpoint, Peña possesses strong bat-to-ball skills with a compact, quick swing and an advanced knowledge of the zone. This dates to prior to him turning pro at either showcases or in BP, where he would refuse to swing at pitches he deemed outside the zone as not to make a habit out of it.
“From a power perspective, scouts project him to be above-average with a chance for more as he physically matures. There have been public comparisons to multi-time All-Star Rafael Devers.”
It wouldn't surprise anyone to see Peña skyrocket up prospect rankings with a successful season.
MLB Pipeline released their updated Top 10 right-handed pitching prospects heading into the 2026 season on Monday, and unsurprisingly two of the Mets’ young arms made the cut.
Nolan McLean topped the list, and Jonah Tong came in at No. 7.
Both youngsters are coming off tremendous seasons in which they cruised through the minors and found themselves pitching in big games at the big-league level down the stretch.
McLean enjoyed a bit more success in the majors than Tong, though.
The Oklahoma State product finished 11th in NL Rookie of the Year voting after pitching to a 2.06 ERA and 1.04 WHIP with 57 strikeouts over his first eight career outings.
He’s in line to play a huge role in the Mets’ rotation out of the gate this season.
Tong, on the other hand, was more of a mixed bag.
The 22-year-old showed flashes of the potential that helped him secure Mets Minor League Pitcher of the Year, but ultimately struggled to a 7.71 ERA over his five outings.
It’ll be interesting to see how things play out for Tong to begin this season.
The righty certainly could use more time in the minors, but whether or not that’ll be with the Mets remains to be seen, as he is said to be “highly coveted” in trade talks this winter.
While they are listening, New York reportedly values Tong highly, so they likely wouldn't actually move him unless they are receiving a top-tier talent in return.
If he sticks around, he could play a role in the majors at some point this season.
With Alex Bregman joining the Chicago Cubs in free agency, the Boston Red Sox’ offseason has gone from underwhelming to unmitigated disaster.
Bregman signed a five-year, $175 million contract with the Cubs on Saturday, two months after opting out of the final two years of his Red Sox pact. Boston’s offer was reportedly $165 million over five years with significant deferrals and worth $2 million less in average annual value than Chicago’s deal, which also includes a full no-trade clause.
The Red Sox’ failure to re-sign Bregman has left the club with a massive question mark at third base. One year after signing Bregman — a deal that ultimately led to Rafael Devers being shipped to San Francisco — Boston will enter the 2026 campaign with neither star player. It’s the worst-case scenario for Boston and a major letdown after an encouraging 2025 season.
So, where do the Red Sox go from here? It’s still possible to rebound from Bregman’s departure, but the options are dwindling.
Below are Boston’s four options for replacing Bregman, plus a “rating” and “likelihood” for each on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the best). The higher the rating, the more the move makes sense. The higher the likelihood, the more we can picture the move happening.
Option No. 1 – Sign Bo Bichette
Rating: 9/10
Likelihood: 4/10
Bichette is the no-brainer Plan B, but it’s hard to imagine the Red Sox spending big for the 27-year-old. They’ve shown zero willingness to overextend themselves for top-tier free agents, and Bichette is reportedly seeking a deal worth around $300 million. If his market is anywhere near that figure, that’s a non-starter.
Still, the Red Sox should be aggressive for Bichette as he’s the only truly appealing option left. He’d give Boston the right-handed infield bat it desperately needs while stabilizing what has been a revolving door at the second base position. With Bichette at second, Boston could comfortably roll with former top prospect Marcelo Mayer at third.
Suarez’s right-handed power at Fenway Park would be fun to watch, but it sure would be ironic to sign one of the worst defensive third basemen in the league right after shipping Devers out of town.
Infield defense has been a consistent problem for Boston in recent years, and putting Suarez at the hot corner would only worsen those issues. Sure, he might hit 40-plus homers, but the soon-to-be 35-year-old will also strike out in about 30 percent of his plate appearances. For a lineup that already strikes out at a high clip — and one that added another strikeout-prone hitter in Willson Contreras — Suarez simply isn’t the right fit.
Option No. 3 – Trade for a second or third baseman
Rating: 7/10
Likelihood: 4/10
The Red Sox haven’t spent a cent on a big-league free agent this offseason, but they’ve added payroll with a handful of trades. Will Breslow stay active on the trade market to fill the infield void?
If Boston pursues another trade, St. Louis Cardinals utility man Brendan Donovan and Chicago Cubs infielder Nico Hoerner stand out as potential options. The Red Sox reportedly showed interest in Donovan earlier in the offseason, and Hoerner emerged as a trade candidate after Chicago landed Bregman.
Neither profiles as the big bat the Red Sox need, but beggars can’t be choosers at this point. The problem is Breslow doesn’t have many valuable trade chips at his disposal outside of young lefties Peyton Tolle and Connelly Early, and parting ways with either of them for Donovan or a similar option would be foolish.
Option No. 4 – Stick with internal options, upgrade elsewhere
Rating: 3/10
Likelihood: 8/10
It’s beginning to look like Breslow and the Red Sox are ready to roll into spring training with their current infield group and hope for the best. That would likely mean Mayer at third base with a combination, David Hamilton, Romy Gonzalez, and Ceddanne Rafaela at second. Perhaps former top prospect Kristian Campbell could spend some time at second as well, but he exclusively played outfield and DH while playing winter ball in Puerto Rico.
If this is the route the Red Sox decide to go, they could allocate their resources toward talented players who don’t necessarily fill a position of need. For example, outfielder Kyle Tucker remains on the market as the No. 1 free agent in this year’s class. Boston’s outfield logjam makes such a move improbable, but Breslow could theoretically add Tucker and trade Jarren Duran and/or Wilyer Abreu for a haul. Again, this scenario is extremely unlikely.
Boston could also shift its focus back to improving the pitching staff. The starting rotation is already solid, but Framber Valdez and Ranger Suarez are still out there in free agency. The Red Sox have also reportedly shown interest in acquiring Milwaukee Brewers righty Freddy Peralta, who would immediately slot in as the club’s No. 2 starter.
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. / 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.
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.
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.
Exact net present-day value is not known, but expected to be in range of $30M-$31M per season, source says.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Third baseman Alex Bregman and the Chicago Cubs are in agreement on a five-year, $175 million contract, sources tell ESPN. One year after their failed pursuit of Bregman in free agency, the Cubs land one of the biggest bats of the 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.
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.
Third baseman Alex Bregman and the Chicago Cubs are in agreement on a five-year, $175 million contract, sources tell ESPN. One year after their failed pursuit of Bregman in free agency, the Cubs land one of the biggest bats of the winter.
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.
