Category: MLB

On the latest episode of The Mets Pod presented by Tri-State Cadillac, Connor Rogers and Joe DeMayo react to the deal between the Mets and Jorge Polanco, and look for more moves ahead. 

The guys break down the Polanco signing, and what his role will be with the team, then dig through the noise surrounding potential trade action between the Mets and Padres. 

Connor and Joe also go Down on the Farm to pick an “untouchable” prospect, and answer Mailbag questions about Devin Williams, Jett Williams, David Stearns’ style of negotiation, and how long of a leash the Mets president of baseball operations actually has with owner Steve Cohen.

Be sure to subscribe to The Mets Pod at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Contreras a solid Plan B for Red Sox after missing out on Alonso originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

After losing — and hardly competing in — the Pete Alonso sweepstakes, the Boston Red Sox are still searching for a middle-of-the-order bat. St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras has emerged as an intriguing fallback option on the trade market.

The Athletic’s Katie Woo recently reported that the Red Sox have shown “significant interest” in acquiring Contreras, a three-time All-Star who recently changed positions from catcher to first base. The 33-year-old has two years and $36.5 million remaining on his contract.

Contreras’ bat isn’t on Alonso’s level, but the veteran is no slouch at the plate. The right-handed slugger slashed .257/.344/.447 with 20 home runs and 80 RBI in 135 games last season. Not counting the shortened 2020 campaign, he has hit at least 20 homers in six of nine MLB seasons.

Defensively, Contreras has adjusted well to his transition to first base. He ranked fourth among players at the position last season with six Outs Above Average. To put that into perspective, Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas had -10 Outs Above Average in 2024, his lone full MLB season. Alonso was one of the league’s worst defensive first basemen with -9 Outs Above Average in 2025.

The Red Sox won’t find a first baseman better than Contreras on the free-agent market. There’s a massive dropoff in talent with Alonso (Baltimore Orioles) and Josh Naylor (Seattle Mariners) off the board. Ryan O’Hearn, Carlos Santana, and Nathaniel Lowe are among the next-best first basemen available in free agency. Perhaps slugger Eugenio Suarez could switch from third base to first, but he’s a liability defensively and best suited as a DH.

Of course, Boston would likely have to part ways with multiple prized prospects to acquire Contreras. Left-handed pitchers Connelly Early and Payton Tolle are the names most commonly brought up in trade rumors, and it’s fair to question whether it’s worth getting that aggressive for two years of an aging first baseman/designated hitter. A trade package highlighted by Early and/or Tolle makes more sense in a blockbuster deal for Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte, Kansas City Royals left-hander Cole Ragans, or Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Freddy Peralta — each of whom has been linked to the Red Sox.

Nonetheless, as a right-handed-hitting first baseman with solid pop and above-average defense, Contreras checks all the boxes as a perfect Plan B option for Boston. If Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow can pry him from St. Louis without losing Early and/or Tolle, it would be a massive win for a club that must make multiple offensive upgrades this winter.

A Contreras trade would also mark Boston’s second noteworthy deal with the Chaim Bloom-led Cardinals front office this offseason. In November, the Red Sox acquired veteran right-hander Sonny Gray in exchange for right-hander Richard Fitts and left-handed pitching prospect Brandon Clarke.

It was shocking when Edwin Diaz left the Mets to sign a three-year deal with the Dodgers, since there hadn't been any indication that Diaz didn't want to return to New York.

And that he not only left, but did so for a term that matched what the Mets were offering, made things even more confounding.

Now, we have an updated timeline of events.

Here's how things went down, as reported by Jorge Castillo of ESPN:

Diaz had a three-year offer from the Dodgers and five-year offer from the Braves, but he wanted to wait for an offer from the Mets.

The Mets initially offered a three-year deal worth $66 million, with $21 million deferred over 10 years. Following negotiations between the two sides, the Mets amended the offer to add a $9 million signing bonus (which matched the one Diaz got from the Dodgers) and included $21 million deferred over 15 years instead of 10.

The issue, per Castillo, was that Diaz wanted the average annual value of his deal to be at least $20 million and for the contract have less deferred money over a shorter time frame. The Mets "refused" to meet those asks, the Dodgers sweetened their offer, and that was that. 

Taking the above into account, it's easy to see why there was confusion after Diaz signed regarding whether the Mets got a chance to match the deal he accepted from the Dodgers.

In effect, they reportedly rejected his demands that could've perhaps led to an immediate return to New York, resulting in Diaz choosing Los Angeles.

During his introductory news conference with the Dodgers last week, Diaz discussed his decision to leave.

"It wasn't easy, wasn't easy. I spent seven years in New York," Diaz said. "They treat me really good, they treat me great. I chose the Dodgers because they are a winning organization. I'm looking to win and I think they have everything to win. Picking the Dodgers was pretty easy."

With Diaz gone, the expectation is that the Mets will use the recently-signed Devin Williams as their closer in 2026.

New York is still seeking bullpen help, and there are a number of intriguing options remaining on the free agent market -- including Pete Fairbanks and Luke Weaver.

The Mets have also reportedly been discussing trade ideas with the Padres, with Mason Miller, Jeremiah Estrada, and Adrian Morejon's names among those that have come up.

6 things you probably don't know about Adolis Garcia originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Phillies made it official Tuesday morning, signing outfielder Adolis Garcia to the club, and we know quite a bit about the newest member of the Phillies already. But we took a look beyond the baseball card to find some things you may not know about the Cuban slugger.

1. Keeping It In the Family

Garcia’s older brother, Adonis, also played pro ball. He was signed by the Yankees in 2012, then by Atlanta in 2015. He reached the majors with the Braves, playing three seasons before his release in early 2018. The two brothers were united as teammates with Gigantes of the Dominican Winter League in 2019.

2. Hold Your Phone, He’s Got a Cannon!

He packs some serious heat, bringing one of the strongest outfield arms in all of baseball. His average throw is measured at 91.9 mph, among the best in MLB. According to MLB Savant, he was a plus-1 Outs Against Average in 2025, tied for 12^th among 36 qualified right fielders. Nick Castellanos ranked 35^th, with a minus-12.

Check out this seed in the 2023 World Series:

ADOLIS GARCIA'S THROW IS ON THE MONEY 🎯

(via @Rangers)pic.twitter.com/WnFOKdK6Pt

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 31, 2023

3. Dealt for Chump Change

Garcia produced so little for his first MLB team, the St. Louis Cardinals, that they traded him to the Rangers in the 2019 offseason for cash. No players, no prospects. Straight cash, homey. He spent most of 2020 at the Rangers’ training site before bursting onto the scene in 2021, hitting 31 homers, making the All-Star team and finishing fourth in AL Rookie of the Year voting.

4. They Call Him What?!?

His nickname is not a flattering one. He is affectionately known by fans as “El Bombi,” which sounds cute, until you find that bombi is short for “bombilla,” which means “light bulb.” Garcia was given that nickname by the neighborhood kid growing up in Cuba, because he thought Garcia’s head resembled a light bulb.

5. Getting His Derby On

He is a two-time participant in the Home Run Derby during the All-Star festivities. In 2023, he hit 17 homers in the first round at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. Unfortunately, he drew Tampa’s Randy Arozarenam who walloped 24 on his way to the finals. The following year, at his home stadium, Globe Life Park, he improved upon on his first run, hitting 18, but again, not enough to make it past the opening round.

Adolis Garcia has been introduced at the Home Run Derby. It got loud in Globe Life Field. pic.twitter.com/Y45eTN72lq

— Shawn McFarland (@McFarland_Shawn) July 16, 2024

Imagine Citizens Bank Park this summer with not one, but two Phillies sluggers going swat for swat in the Derby.

6. Late Getting the Signals

He didn’t watch a World Series game on TV until he was 23 years old. He was unable to watch in his native Cuba, which makes it nearly impossible to see anything but state-run programming. In 2016, Garcia defected, becoming a citizen of the Dominican Republic, where he was able to watch the Cubs and Guardians in the Fall Classic, seven years before helping the Rangers win the Series himself.

Giants sign right-handed relief pitcher Jason Foley to one-year contract originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Giants added additional bullpen depth on Tuesday.

San Francisco signed veteran right-handed relief pitcher Jason Foley to a one-year MLB contract, the team announced Tuesday afternoon.

Foley, 30, last pitched for the Detroit Tigers in 2024 before undergoing right shoulder surgery in May of this year to repair his anterior capsule that sidelined him for the 2025 season.

In 69 appearances in 2024, Foley posted a 3.15 ERA with 46 strikeouts, 20 walks and 28 saves in 60 innings pitched for Detroit.

Foley made his MLB debut with Detroit in 2021, and from 2022-2024, his 189 1/3 innings pitched ranked fifth among American League relievers during that span.

The Giants’ expectation is that Foley will be back pitching midway through the 2026 MLB season.

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Are the Yankees considering a Michael King reunion?

The Boston Globe's Peter Abraham reported this week that New York, the Orioles and Red Sox "are competing for" the free-agent right-hander, whose "decision is not necessarily soon."

The New York Post's Greg Joyce added that the Yankees are "open to" reuniting with King, 30, whom they dealt among others to the Padres in their December 2023 trade with San Diego for outfielders Juan Soto and Trent Grisham.

"The thing about Kinger is he's got obviously great stuff and a great arsenal," New York manager Aaron Boone said last week at the 2025 MLB Winter Meetings in Orlando, Fla., according to Joyce. "He’s really smart and has a real good understanding of that stuff. It's allowed him to evolve as a pitcher, coupled with his confidence."

Starting 45 of 46 regular-season games for the Padres from 2024-25, King went 18-12 with a 3.10 ERA and 1.194 WHIP in 247 IP. He battled injuries during his second year in San Diego, limiting him to 73.1 IP over 15 starts.

"We are playing around with a lot of different ideas and seeing if it takes us anywhere," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told YES Network last week.

King transitioned from reliever to starter at the end of his time in New York, a chapter that spanned five MLB seasons (2019-23). He made his MLB debut Sept. 27, 2019, with the Yankees, who landed him from the Miami Marlins in a November 2017 trade.

The Marlins originally selected King from Boston College with the No. 353 overall pick in the 12th round of the 2016 MLB Draft. The Rochester, N.Y., native played at Warwick (R.I.) Bishop Hendrickson High School before heading to Boston College from 2014-16.

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The Mets are signing outfielder Cristian Pache to a minor league deal that includes an invitation to big league spring training, per multiple reports.

Pache, 27, last played in the majors in 2024, splitting time between the Phillies, Orioles, and Marlins.

His best season came in 2023, when he had a .735 OPS for the Phillies in 48 games.

During his five-year major league career, Pache has hit .181/.243/275 in 610 plate appearances across 251 games for the Marlins, Orioles, Phillies, A's, and Braves.

Pache could be a useful depth option, but his addition obviously does nothing to address New York's starting needs in the outfield. 

The Mets have Juan Sotoentrenched in right field, but are seeking answers in left field and center field.

One option is for top prospect Carson Benge to break camp in one of those spots, but the expectation is the Mets will make at least one -- and perhaps two -- serious additions to the outfield this offseason. 

Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte is one of the buzziest names on the MLB trade block, but it seems as if the veteran isn't interested in heading to the Bronx. 

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Yankees are one of five teams on Marte's no-trade list, along with the Athletics, Pirates, Giants, and Cardinals. 

While the Yanks currently have Jazz Chisholm Jr. as their second baseman, ESPN's Jeff Passan recently reported that NewYork has listened on potential trades for Chisholm, who is set to be a free agent at the end of the 2026 season. 

Marte also has experience at shortstop and in center field, but seems fairly locked in as a second baseman at this point. 

A three-time All-Star, Marte has a career slash line of .281/.351/.472 with 171 home runs, 587 RBI, and 688 runs scored.

The 32-year-old signed a six-year, $116.5 million extension with the D-backs this past April -- a deal that includes a player option for the 2031 season.

Royals eyeing Duran, but Red Sox' asking price too high: Report originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

If the Boston Red Sox look to trade Jarren Duran this offseason, the Kansas City Royals are an obvious match. Kansas City is looking for outfield help, and its pitching staff includes multiple arms that could pique Boston’s interest.

The Royals are open to trading for Duran, but according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Red Sox’ asking price is too high. KC believes such a deal would require shipping left-hander Cole Ragans to Boston.

“Even after signing free agent Lane Thomas and trading for Isaac Collins, the Kansas City Royals are open to adding another outfielder – most notably Jarren Duran, if the Boston Red Sox lower their asking price,” Rosenthal writes.

“The Royals are under the impression Duran would cost them left-hander Cole Ragans, though the Red Sox view the initial talks as more informal and exploratory, according to people briefed on the conversations.

“Both Ragans, 28, and Duran, 29, are under club control for three more seasons, with Ragans under contract for a combined $12 million in 2026-27 and Duran for $7.75 million in ’26. The Royals, though, see Ragans as a player with greater value, a potential Game 1 starter in a postseason series.”

Although a Duran-for-Ragans deal makes sense for both sides, the Royals’ hesitance is understandable. Ragans is an ace-caliber starter with multiple years of control, and pitchers fitting that description typically come with a hefty price tag. Boston likely would have to add an intriguing prospect or two to the trade package to get Kansas City to bite, but given Ragans’ ability to slot in as the No. 2 starter behind Garrett Crochet, it may be worth it.

Ragans placed fourth in the 2024 American League Cy Young vote, finishing with a 3.14 ERA and an AL-best 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings. He missed time last season with groin and rotator cuff injuries, limiting him to only 13 starts (61.1 innings pitched). He posted a 4.67 ERA, but his 2.50 FIP and 14.3 strikeouts per nine innings were encouraging.

Duran, an All-Star in 2024, is coming off a down season in which he slashed .256/.332/.442 with 16 homers, 84 RBI, and 24 stolen bases in 157 games. He’s part of a crowded Red Sox outfield that includes Wilyer Abreu, Roman Anthony, and Ceddanne Rafaela.

Boston has been expected to move one of their outfielders — specifically Duran or Abreu — this offseason, but chief baseball officer Craig Breslow is content with keeping the group intact, according to Tim Healey of The Boston Globe.

“According to executives from multiple clubs that have been in the market for outfielders and have talked trade possibilities with the Red Sox, Breslow’s message has been consistent. He has Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu, and Jarren Duran on the roster. He is comfortable keeping it that way into next season unless a team convinces him not to,” Healey writes.

Keeping all four outfielders would be a head-scratcher. The only logical path to giving each player consistent playing time would be shifting Rafaela — an elite center fielder — to second base. Trading Duran or Abreu would clear the logjam while presumably upgrading the Red Sox’ pitching staff.

Other than Ragans, fellow southpaw Kris Bubic is among the Royals’ most valuable pitchers who could be available on the trade market. Bubic, 28, is coming off a breakout All-Star campaign in which he posted a 2.55 ERA across 20 starts.

Phillies sign two-time All-Star outfielder Adolis García originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

All offseason long, the Phillies have made it clear they want more right-handed impact. On Monday, they took a step in that direction.

Per Francys Romero of Beisbol FR, Philadelphia is finalizing a one-year, $10 million deal with outfielder Adolis García.

García, 32, has spent the past six seasons with Texas after breaking into the Majors with St. Louis in 2018. Over five full seasons with the Rangers (excluding 2020), he hit 141 home runs and posted a .234/.298/.443 line, averaging 3.0 WAR per season.

He was a key contributor in Texas’ victorious 2023 World Series run — a season that also included an All-Star nod and a Gold Glove— producing a 1.108 OPS with eight homers in the postseason and earning ALCS MVP honors after going deep five times against Houston. His biggest moment came in Game 1 of the Fall Classic when he slugged a dramatic walk-off homer in the bottom of the 11th inning.

The Rangers non-tendered García on Nov. 21, as he was projected to make north of $10 million in his final year of arbitration.

The move comes after two down years at the plate. García has a .675 OPS in that span and has reached base at a .278 clip.

In 2025, he produced a .665 OPS — sixth-worst in the American League among qualified hitters — with a .227 average, 19 homers and 75 RBIs, and his Statcast profile reflected the swing-and-miss: a 35.7% chase rate, 30.3% whiff rate and 5.1% walk rate.  

Defensively, García remains an asset, even on the wrong side of 30. Across 128 games in right field last season, he graded above league average in Outs Above Average (OAA) and logged a 91.9 mph arm on average, placing him in the top eight percent of the league.

According to FanGraphs, García was one of the best defenders at the position, finishing with 16 defensive runs saved — the best mark among right fielders and one more than Rawlings Platinum Glove Award winner Fernando Tatís Jr.

This move comes as a likely, direct replacement for Nick Castellanos. Clearly, García is the stronger defensive outfielder — he posted 1 OAA in 2025 compared to Castellanos’ -12 — and while it remains difficult to envision another club absorbing Castellanos’ $20 million salary, the Phillies clearly wanted a reset in right field.

García fits as a buy-low swing with real upside. The underlying power is still there, his arm and defense remain superior and the one-year deal limits risk. If the Phillies can get even a partial return to form, they’ve added right-handed protection for Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber without a long-term financial commitment.