Category: MLB

They say a picture is worth 1,000 words ... but sometimes those words come from a different book.

When Carlos Beltran was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday night, collectors might have started searching for his key rookie cards.

Here's the problem: One of those cards, Beltran's 1995 Topps Traded rookie features a photo that is not the eventual Hall of Fame outfielder, but instead is a picture of a teammate who never climbed higher than Class AA.

But Beltran isn't alone with this photo error — in fact, he's not even the first Hall of Famer to have an image of someone else pictured on his card.

Here are seven baseball cards featuring an unfortunate case of mistaken identity.

1995 Topps Traded Carlos Beltran

Beltran was elected to Cooperstown with 84% of the vote, but anyone hunting for his flagship rookie card will likely be disappointed.

Included in 1995 Topps Traded, the front of Beltran’s rookie with the Kansas City Royals actually shows teammate Juan LeBron, an outfielder who would play 12 seasons of professional baseball, but never reached higher than AA in the United States.

According to GemRate, Beltran’s mistaken rookie is by far his most graded card with more than 2,400 authenticated by PSA. PSA adds a designation reading “UER: Juan LeBron Pictured” to each.

The public record for the card, according to data tool Card Ladder, is the $1,138 paid for a BGS 10 Pristine example on eBay in 2005.

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1988 Topps Al Leiter

Though Leiter would eventually become a two-time All-Star and three-time World Series champion, he wasn’t exactly a recognizable face during rookie camp.

According to Leiter, he was confused for teammate Steve George by photographers when they mistakenly read the “SG” written on George’s glove as Leiter’s No. 56 jersey.

The error was eventually discovered when Leiter was asked to sign a copy for a kid at a Little League banquet in New Jersey.

“Kid came up and said ‘Mr. Leiter, Topps just came out with the ‘88 set, and I have your card, would you sign it?’” Leiter told MLB Network in 2021.

“Yeah, of course, kid. He runs over to his table, he comes back, and he plops this in front of me. Immediately I look, and I’m like, ‘This isn’t me.’”

PSA differentiates the error and the corrected card with “No ‘NY’ On Shirt” (George) and “‘NY’ On Shirt” (Leiter) variations after an updated photograph of Leiter was added with a team logo on his jersey.

To date, PSA has graded 184 copies of the card featuring George and 175 corrected examples with Leiter.

In 2023, a 1988 Topps Tiffany PSA 10 variation of the error card sold for $449 on eBay.

1987 Donruss Opening Day Barry Bonds

One of Barry Bonds’ earliest cards is an unfortunate example that just simply isn’t him.

Bonds would finish his career with 762 home runs, 14 All-Star appearances and a staggering seven MVPs, but back in 1987 he was mistaken for teammate Johnny Ray, an infielder who finished his career with 53 homers and zero All-Star selections.

To date, PSA has graded 177 examples of the Ray error and more than 3,100 copies of the corrected card, which features Bonds in a white jersey with a bat over his shoulder.

According to Card Ladder, the public record for the error card is the $33,000 paid for a BGS 10 Pristine example at PWCC in 2021.

The record for the corrected card featuring Bonds appears to be the $2,000 paid for signed copy on eBay in August 2025.

2021 Bowman Draft Jackson Merrill

A hobby darling at one point, Merrill discovered his first error card when attempting to sign autographs for an upcoming Topps product.

According to The Athletic, Merrill received 3,000 cards from Topps to sign for 2021 Bowman Draft, a prospect product that features players photoshopped into MLB jerseys.

The prospect shown on the card ended up being Isaac Frye, a player mistakenly photographed at a travel ball tournament when Merrill was announced as the hitter and listed in the box score.

That mistake led to Frye being misidentified in photographs and eventually used instead of Merrill in 2021 Bowman Draft.

“All the stats were right, name right, everything right. And then the picture wasn’t me,” Merrill told The Athletic.

Despite the error, PSA has graded more than 4,000 examples of Merrill’s 2021 Bowman Draft card, including parallels and variations.

According to Card Ladder, the record for any variation of the card is the $12,999 paid for the Padparadscha 1/1 on eBay in 2024.

2006 Topps Heritage Jerry Snyder Real One Autograph

Collectors have long coveted Topps’ on-card “Real One” autographs, and few are better than Jerry Snyder’s from 2006 Topps Heritage.

Snyder played just seven seasons for the Washington Nationals from 1952 to 1958, but the inscriptions he delivered nearly roughly 20 years ago punch well above his lifetime .230 batting average.

When signing cards for the set, Snyder added “This isn’t me” inscriptions alongside his signature.

Snyder’s ink from the set has sold for as much as $175 on the secondary market, according to Card Ladder, but has fetched $75 or less in recent sales.

1985 Topps Gary Pettis

Collectors hunting for the next breakout Angels outfielder in 1985 Topps got a Pettis card — it just wasn’t the right Pettis.

Gary Pettis was supposed to appear on the card, but it ended up being his younger brother, Lynn, in the photograph.

According to Gary, Lynn would sometimes dress up in a uniform at the ballpark and shag fly balls. Normally harmless, Lynn ended up in front of the camera and didn’t do much to correct the situation.

"He posed for the picture. I'm sure he had no idea it was going to end up on a baseball card,” Gary told MLB.com in 2018. “And then I think sometime during that offseason, a friend of mine said, 'Hey, you look really young on your baseball card.' I didn't think anything of it. ... Lo and behold, when I finally saw the baseball card later that year I couldn't help but laugh and go, 'Yeah, I do look pretty young because it's not me. It's my brother.'"

Though Pettis told MLB.com he believes it’s a cool story, he refuses to sign autographs on the card.

PSA has graded 49 copies of the card to date.

1988 Donruss Rookies Edgar Martinez

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019, Martinez had a great career after an inauspicious introduction to the hobby.

Seattle signed Martinez in 1982, but he didn’t land on a trading card until 1988 — and it wasn’t even him.

Instead of placing Martinez on the front of the card, Donruss used a photograph of teammate Edwin Nuñez, a pitcher entering his seventh season with the team.

For many trading card mixups, you can see how mistakes can be made with a quick glance. For this card, Nunez and Martinez look nothing alike, resulting in a brutal error from Donruss.

PSA has graded more than 600 copies of the card to date.

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Ben Burrows is a reporter and editor for cllct, the premier company for collectible culture. He was previously the collectibles editor at Sports Illustrated. You can follow him on X and Instagram @benmburrows.

The Chicago White Sox officially kicked off the 2026 international signing period last week by announcing a deep class of 18 prospects, spending a significant portion of the $6,679,200 international bonus pool that was allocated to the club this year.

pic.twitter.com/fTKpppdBc7

— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) January 15, 2026

Spread across position players and pitching prospects, Chicago’s international class tilts slightly toward the mound while investing well on both sides of the ball. Leading the way are a pair of dynamic prospects who each project to play key roles in the organization moving forward.

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Top of the class: Catcher Fernando Graterol

The crown jewel of Chicago’s class is Venezuelan backstop Fernando Graterol. The 17-year-old bats from the right side and is regarded as one of the top catching prospects in the cohort.

Among his projected plus-tools, Graterol features:

• 6´2´´ frame with room to continue filling out
• Plus bat speed and power with the ability to tap it over the fence as he gets older
• 6.8-second 60-yard dash time showcasing elite speed and athleticism that’s rare to see from a catcher
• Ranked as Baseball America’s No. 27 international prospect and slots in as the top catching prospect in MLB Pipeline’s 2026 class.

Given MLB’s premium on quality catchers along with his offensive tools, Graterol is definitely the cornerstone piece of this White Sox class.

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Standout outfielder: Sebastián Romero

Also anchoring the group is Sebastián Romero, a left-handed hitting outfielder from Los Teques, Venezuela.

Romero features:

• Projectable 6´2´´ frame that should continue to fill out naturally with age and strength
• A smooth left-handed swing that includes quality contact skills and developing power
• Defensive versatility with a chance to stick in center field, though a move to a corner outfield spot could enhance his run-production profile as he progresses
• A spot in Baseball America’s Top 50 international prospects at No. 31

Romero has an intriguing combination of tools that should allow him to find success offensively while remaining versatile defensively. If those traits translate, Chicago just added another piece that could help bolster the system’s outfield corps, an area that certainly lacks organizational strength.

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Class overview: Depth and balance

Beyond the headliners, this White Sox class features a mix of tools and positional balance:

• Nine right-handed pitchers who add to their prospect capital on the mound
• Three catchers, including Graterol and two others, as the organization continues to make the backstop position a priority
• Three shortstops and three outfielders, diversifying the position talent
• Players hail from the Dominican Republic (9), Venezuela (7), Colombia (1), and Mexico (1), underscoring the club’s broad scouting reach

This is the second international class under David Keller, special assistant to the executive vice president and general manager of international scouting. Keller appears to be laying the groundwork for a long-term influx of young talent.

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Looking ahead

It’s always difficult to project how teenage signees will translate to big-league talent, but Chicago’s early returns are promising. They now have two top-50 international prospects and have shown a concentrated effort in several premium areas on the path to development. Here’s hoping that many from this specific group can factor significantly on the mound, behind the plate, and on the basepaths moving forward.

The Mets have signed right-handed reliever Luis Garcia to a one-year contract.

The club announced the deal, adding that infielder Tsung-Che Cheng has been designated for assignment.

The 38-year-old Garcia split last season between the Dodgers, Nationals, and Angels, posting a 3.42 ERA (3.28 FIP) and 1.46 WHIP while striking out 48 batters over 55.1 innings (58 appearances).

During his 13-year career, which has also included stints with the Phillies, Rangers, Cardinals, Padres, and Red Sox, Garcia has a 4.07 ERA (3.92 FIP) and 1.42 WHIP in 583.1 innings spanning 603 games.

Garcia has been very good when it comes to keeping the ball in the park, with a career HR/9 rate of 0.8. That rate was a microscopic 0.3 in 2025 as he allowed just two home runs. 

With Garcia in tow, he figures to be part of a relief corps that features Devin Williams and Luke Weaver in the back end. The bullpen is also expected to include A.J. Minter and Brooks Raley -- though the start of Minter's season could be a bit delayed following lat surgery this past May.

Huascar Brazoban will also be in the bullpen mix, along with hard-throwing prospects Dylan Ross and Ryan Lambert.

Other relievers who could compete for roles include Jonathan Pintaro (who made his big league debut last season and recently transitioned to relief), Adbert Alzolay (who is on a two-year minor league deal and missed the 2025 season), Richard Lovelady, Alex Carrillo, and Joey Gerber.

At Citi Field this afternoon, the Mets formally introduced their new third baseman, Bo Bichette, to the media. Donning a #19 jersey, Bichette addressed the media alongside Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns and two of Bichette’s representatives.

Stearns, in his introductory remarks, called Bichette “one of the most complete right-handed batters in our sport,” as well as praising his baseball aptitude, and his intense desire to win. Stearns said that Bichette made it clear that his focus was “about winning, and our objectives [are] very well aligned there.”

When Bichette took the microphone, he thanked Stearns, Steve and Alex Cohen, and the entire Mets organization for making this happen. “It was very obvious that I wanted to be a Met,” said Bichette. “The organization is looking to win every year and has the opportunity to win every year.” Bichette also praised the roster and their abilities and desire to win.

Bichette didn’t miss the opportunity to get some cheap pop saying that New York was “maybe the best city in the world” and that Mets fans are “some of the best fans in the world,” and that playing in front of these fans is a “pretty cool opportunity.” A number of times Bichette stated that he is “excited to be here and excited to be a Met.”

When asked about the transition to third base and his openness to a position change, Bichette said that he was open to “doing anything if I felt like it was the place I needed to be, and it became very clear that I wanted to be a Met.” Bichette was asked about his relationship with new Met Marcus Semien, and he said that while it was not the reason he signed with the Mets, he looked forward to playing with Semien again.

Jon Heyman asked Bichette about the opt-outs in his contract and whether or not this could be looked at as a one-year deal. Bichette’s agent Greg Genske answered the question for him, “Bo had his choice of long term deals, short term deals, and deals with opt-outs. The important thing is to know that he’s committed to being here and committing to the team…Certainly it was important that we reserve optionality, but his commitment is to the Mets, his desire is to be here and compete for championships here.”

Bichette expressed his desire to be ‘the absolute toughest at bat every time I come to the plate” and talked about how his father, former MLB All-Star Dante Bichette, has drilled in him the importance of driving in runs from a young age.

In a conversation on SNY with Steve Gelbs after the general presser, Bichette mentioned how conversations between the Mets and his camp started at the beginning of the offseason and, again, praised the Mets, their stadium, and their fans. “This is one of my favorite stadiums [to play in]…[I’m excited to play in front of] unbelievable fans that hold you to a high standard.”

After the press conference, Steve Gelbs caught up with David Stearns, who did not have any public questions addressed to him during the conference. Gelbs asked about his approach to bringing in players that make more contact and Stearns pushed back against that slightly, saying that “contact wasn’t the priority per se,” but that they wanted a lineup that top to bottom took competitive at-bats. Stearns pointed to the players that were already on board with the Mets, the new additions, and the young players coming up as all giving the Mets those types of at-bats.

When asked about Bichette’s ability to hit with runners in scoring position, Stearns cited that while there’s not a lot of data to back up the underlying skills that allow for that success, there is a ‘skill in regulating yourself” in order to be more calm and patient in those spots, and that Bichette clearly excels at that part of the game.

In terms of Bichette and Jorge Polanco both being asked to switch positions, Stearns was honest but bullish on the proposition of having “four shortstops on the dirt some days.” He said that there will be “learning moments as they learn the intricacies” of their new positions, but that he believes that the players in question know the game well and have both the aptitude and the work ethic to make the transitions happen.

When asked about the newest Met, Luis Robert Jr., Stearns said that when you look under the hood at Robert’s skills, he still possesses everything that made him an elite player a few years ago. He said that when you see those skills “you want that guy in your organization” and that the team will do all it can to get the best out of Robert and cited the change of scenery may be very good for him.

Stearns then said that while he won’t stop looking, he feels good about the offensive side of the team at this point in the offseason, but that ‘unexpected things’ tend to happen at this point in the season, so he would not rule out additional offensive additions while reiterating how happy he is with that part of the team.

The starting rotation is another story, as Stearns stated that it is ‘[his] preference’ to add a starting pitcher. The team remains ‘engaged on a number of different fronts in that market’ and stated how there’s still plenty of time to make a move on that front.

The Baseball Writers’ Association of America announced the induction of two new members into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday night: Carlos Beltrán and Andrew Jones. For the former, it was the fourth ballot he had appeared on before getting the nod, while the latter took nine tries to reach baseball immortality.

Funny enough, the two players were born one day apart, with Jones coming into the world on April 23 and Beltrán bursting on the scene on April 24 back in 1977.

A total of 425 ballots were cast, making it necessary to earn at least 319 votes to get in. The 11 blank ballots received this year were the most since 2011, and the average ballot had 5.8 names checked.

Here are the full #HOF election results. pic.twitter.com/RW7zWThFA9

— Nathaniel Rakich (@baseballot) January 20, 2026

Next in line was Chase Utley, who was the only other former player to crack the 50% mark at 59.1% on his third ballot. Former Detroit Tiger Rick Porcello was among the first-balloters who fell short of the threshold to appear a second time, earning just two votes — both unknown.

It is worth mentioning that this year’s inductees do not come without controversy. Many remember Beltrán for his significant role in the Houston Astros’ cheating scandal, and a large share of folks feel like he does not deserve to be in the Hall because of it.

Between the past and present issues of PEDs, and a myriad of other wild inconsistencies, the drama continues in Cooperstown.

So, fellow Tigers fans, what are your thoughts on this year’s ballot? Is Beltrán undeserving? Did King Felix get snubbed? Will any of the legendary dopers like Alex Rodriguez ever get in? LOL Porcello?

Let us know what you are thinking in the comments below.

It’s an exciting day for fans of San Francisco Giants prospecting. Over at Baseball America, the best top-100 list around has dropped, and for the first time in a long time, it features four Giants: Bryce Eldridge (No. 18), Josuar González (No. 30), Bo Davidson (No. 87), and Jhonny Level (No. 98). Over at There R Giants, 80-grade Giants prospect writer Roger Munter has kicked off his top-50 list, a must-read for anyone with an interest in Giants prospects. And here at McCovey Chronicles, we officially have a top 30, as we continue our community ranking of the 44 best prospects in the Giants system.

Getting us to that point — and winning in a landslide election — is left-handed pitcher Carlos De La Rosa, who makes his CPL debut as the No. 30 prospect in the system.

De La Rosa continues an exciting trend for the Giants: recent additions that strengthen the farm. He closes out the top 30, and he does so by becoming the whopping 10th player in that top 30 who has been acquired in the last six months (for those keeping count, that’s five trade acquisitions, three draft picks, one international signing, and one Rule 5 Draft selection). And that doesn’t even include Drew Gilbert, who is ineligible for the CPL after graduating late last season.

The southpaw, who turned 18 less than two months ago, came to the Giants in the Camilo Doval trade, and is already the third player from that trade to appear on the CPL. He was a late signing by the New York Yankees in the 2025 international signing period out of the Dominican Republic, and spent his debut season in the Dominican Summer League. He wasn’t a particularly heralded signing, but what he did in the DSL opened eyes.

Across 10 games (nine starts) with the Yankees and Giants DSL affiliates, De La Rosa posted just a 4.73 ERA, but his FIP was 2.30, thanks to an utterly absurd strikeout-to-walk ratio. In 32.1 innings, he punched out a staggering 51 batters, while only walking 10.

The DSL is, it goes without saying, a low-level league, but even so, the numbers jump off the page. There were 562 different pitchers who tossed at least 20 innings in the league last year, and De La Rosa was sixth in strikeouts per nine innings (14.20), 65th in walks per nine innings (2.78), and sixth in strikeout rate minus walk rate (27.9%).

De La Rosa’s fastball is his best pitch, and it sits mid-high 90s with 20 inches of induced vertical break, per Baseball America. He also has a decent slider and changeup.

As with all players in the DSL, we’ll learn a lot about where De La Rosa sits in the organization by whether or not he’s repeating the level in 2026, or pitching stateside. Hopefully it’s the latter … he’d look good fronting the Complex League rotation.

Now let’s add to the list, and we have some new names to vote on in the comment section.

The list so far

1. Bryce Eldridge — 1B
2. Josuar González — SS
3. Jhonny Level — SS
4. Bo Davidson — CF
5. Dakota Jordan — CF
6. Luis Hernandez — SS
7. Gavin Kilen — SS
8. Carson Whisenhunt — LHP
9. Blade Tidwell — RHP
10. Keyner Martinez — RHP
11. Jacob Bresnahan — LHP
12. Trevor McDonald — RHP
13. Argenis Cayama — RHP
14. Luis De La Torre — LHP
15. Trevor Cohen — OF
16. Jesús Rodríguez — C
17. Parks Harber — OF/3B
18. Carlos Gutierrez — OF
19. Drew Cavanaugh — C
20. Daniel Susac — C
21. Gerelmi Maldonado — RHP
22. Josh Bostick — RHP
23. Lorenzo Meola — SS/2B
24. Will Bednar — RHP
25. Yunior Marte — RHP
26. Joe Whitman — LHP
27. Joel Peguero — RHP
28. Alberto Laroche — RHP
29. Trent Harris — RHP
30. Carlos De La Rosa — LHP

Note: Clicking on the above names will link to the CPL where they were voted onto the list.

No. 31 prospect nominees

MauiAhuna — 23.10-year old SS — .871 OPS/144 wRC+ in High-A (52 PA); .802 OPS/122 wRC+ in Low-A (168 PA); .842 OPS/108 wRC+ in ACL (54 PA)

Rayner Arias — 19.8-year old OF — .173 OPS/-42 wRC+ in Low-A (30 PA); .699 OPS/87 wRC+ in ACL (178 PA)

ReggieCrawford — 25.1-year old LHP — did not pitch in 2025; 1.04 ERA/4.07 FIP in AAA in 2024 (8.2 IP); 4.66 ERA/4.93 FIP in AA in 2024 (9.2 IP)

Lisbel Diaz — 20.6-year old OF — .725 OPS/96 wRC+ in Low-A (561 PA)

CamMaldonado — 22.2-year old OF — .691 OPS/92 wRC+ in Low-A (71 PA)

Diego Velasquez — 22.3-year old 2B — .677 OPS/107 wRC+ in AA (566 PA)

ReidWorley — 19.6-year old RHP — yet to debut

Note: Each player’s first name links to their Baseball-Reference page, and their last name links to their Fangraphs page. All stats are from the 2025 season.

The Toronto Blue Jays suffered a heartbreaking defeat last season, blowing a 4-3 lead with one out in the ninth inning as the Los Angeles Dodgers claimed their second consecutive World Series title.

Adding insult to injury for the Blue Jays, the Dodgers have stolen the spotlight from them yet again, signing superstar outfielder Kyle Tucker to a four-year, $240 million deal after Toronto had been considered a frontrunner for him throughout free agency.

MLB odds unsurprisingly have the Dodgers pegged as betting favorites to win a third straight Fall Classic at +350, with the New York Yankees (+750) and Philadelphia Phillies (+1100) among the closest competitors.

Here's a look at the early 2026 World Series odds following LA's splash move.

2026 World Series winner odds

2026 World Series odds over time

Here, we'll track how the World Series odds shift throughout the offseason, free agency, spring training, and 2026 regular season.

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Covers MLB betting tools

• MLB odds
• MLB picks
• MLB player props
• Best baseball betting sites
• Today’s MLB matchups

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World Series betting splits

Will revisit betting splits as more data is available for the 2026 World Series.

Past World Series winners

The Los Angeles Dodgers won the 2025 World Series by toppling the Toronto Blue Jays in an epic seven-game series.

Here are the last 10 World Series winners, along with their opening odds.

The biggest World Series underdogs 

Below are the 10 World Series-winning teams since 1985 with the longest opening odds.

Teams with most World Series titles

The New York Yankees are the most decorated team in MLB history, and it isn't close. In addition to winning a whopping 27 titles, they've played in 41 World Series. The Los Angeles Dodgers are second all-time with 23 World Series appearances, while the St. Louis Cardinals have won the second-most championships at 11.

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Popular MLB futures markets

• MLB World Series MVP odds
• MLB Cy Young odds
• MLB Rookie of the Year odds
• MLB playoff odds
• MLB HR title odds

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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

Logan Evans’ future depends on two numbers from his rookie season: 

• .529 OPS allowed on the first turn through a lineup in a game (fifth best in MLB)
• 1.022 OPS allowed on the second turn through a lineup in a game (worst in MLB)

That .493 difference was the largest such split in 2025 and one of the 20 largest splits in MLB history. Which number better reflects his true talent? 

OPS allowed isn’t the ideal measure for pitchers. I use it here as it’s the parlance of Baseball Reference, which facilitates the comparison. The next plot shows performance against this split using FIP (courtesy of Fangraphs). Here we see a less extreme split, with Evans performing closer to average on the first time through the order, while still the worst in MLB on the second.

Evans’ (relative) success on the first time through the order was thanks to an outstanding ability to limit quality of contact. He didn’t get a lot of whiffs or strikeouts, and his command was just OK. But batters simply could not square up the ball in their first look, either rolling over or getting jammed or popping up or otherwise juuuuuust missing. His .289 xwOBAcon allowed on the first time through the order was sixth in MLB.

On the second time through the order, he was awful by every metric.

The most likely explanation for this phenomenon is that sometimes bizarre splits show up in small samples; Evans accomplished this feat across just 15 starts. The safe analyst would evaluate him by his overall line: 5.05 FIP, 8% K-BB, 1.44 HR/9, -0.1 fWAR. That’s a bottom 20% starting pitcher line posted by a seventh-string, 12th rounder with poor stuff. That’s, frankly, what we should expect from Evans.

Still, it’s hard to ignore that for nine batters a night, Evans was a good or even great pitcher. We care about this split because it’s a possible clue towards something less measurable, something fundamental. We know a lot of pitching is Stuff, but we’re increasingly aware a lot of pitching is other stuff. Batters gain an advantage the more they see a pitcher in a game, so for a pitcher to perform notably in the early or late parts of an outing, that could say something about those less measurable abilities. And for a pitcher at the extremes — Evans certainly is — perhaps it says something about the nature of those abilities themselves. What might we learn about pitching by studying Logan Evans? What might we learn about humanity?

God I love small samples.

Evans in his rookie season showcased a deep, six-pitch repertoire. What he lacked in speed and spin, he made up for in sheer quantity. He could make the ball go in every conceivable direction at release, and batters had a tough time guessing where and when to swing.

We can see that, especially to lefties, Evans mixed his repertoire evenly and unpredictably. Batters had to respect that any one of six pitches might show up, preventing them from teeing off on something specific.

That approach worked on the first time through the order, and most of his pitches were effective against either handedness. But all his pitches got measurably worse across the board once the lineup turned over.

I’m not sure why this was the case. I appreciate that certain skills might be more or less resistant to the times through the order penalty, but to go from so good to so bad is hard to wrap my head around. Perhaps this says something about the impact of movement spread, as coined by Stephen Sutton-Brown for Baseball Prospectus, or the idea that having lots of pitches moving in all directions can keep hitters off balance. Maybe that alone is enough to get through a lineup once, and then raw stuff is necessary from there? Or maybe Evans struggled to disguise (or tunnel) his pitches, as Timothy Jackson recently pointed out for Baseball Prospectus; once they could identify each of his pitches, the jig was up.

Evans enters Spring Training 2026 as depth. His exact proximity to the starting rotation is unclear, whether he’ll continue to serve as second alternate or if he’ll leapfrog Emerson Hancock’s fourth attempt. We only know that opportunity relies on something going wrong, and that something will eventually go wrong. The Mariners are coming off a season where four starting pitchers missed time with some type of injury; one of them still has bone spurs. Evans will pitch in MLB at some point this year.

I’m fascinated to see what if any changes he makes. The Mariners know all that I’ve written here. They’ve seen his splits, they’ve measured his arsenal, and they’ve surely set forth a Plan. Maybe we’ll see him add a pitch, or remove a pitch, or overhaul a pitch, or shift his aim, or adjust his sequencing — something in an attempt to stump batters just a bit longer. It’s worth following for the sake of Evans’ career and the Mariners’ success, but it could also provide a glimpse into the minds of one of the sharper collections of pitching thinkers out there. This is a challenge that justifies our modern Pitching Bureaucracy. This is where organization reputations are earned.

I don’t think anyone really expected another outcome for Cody Bellinger. Did you?

Here’s the deal that returns Bellinger to the Bronx:

Cody Bellinger's deal with the Yankees is for five years and $162.5 million, sources tell ESPN. There are opt-outs after the second and third season, a $20M signing bonus and a full no-trade clause.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 21, 2026

Bellinger’s swing seems well-suited for Yankee Stadium, and that shows in his splits from 2025.

Home: .302/.365/.544 with 18 home runs in 298 at-bats
Away: .241/.301/.414 with 11 home runs in 290 at-bats

So yeah. Outside of Yankee Stadium, that’s not a hitter who would rate such a contract.

You likely recall that Bellinger had a three-homer game against the Cubs last year, and would have had a fourth if not for this great catch by Kyle Tucker [VIDEO].

(NOTE: This does not suggest I wish the Cubs had re-signed Tucker. It’s just a great play worth noting.)

Anyway, while Bellinger has some opt-outs in this deal, my feeling is that he’ll stay with the Yankees for the five-year term. As noted, he’s a good fit there and the Yankees do, generally, contend every year.

If you’re interested in seeing him play at Wrigley, the Yankees will visit the Cubs for a three-game series July 31-Aug. 1-2. Should be a hot ticket — and not just to see Bellinger.

After a protracted staring contest, the New York Yankees and Cody Bellinger have finally reunited.

Bellinger and the Yankees agreed to terms on a five-year, $162.5 million deal, according to a person with direct knowledge of the negotiations. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal is not yet finalized.

The agreement comes after an impasse on the length of contract: Bellinger was aiming for a seven-year commitment, but the Yankees hoped to stick to a five-year deal for the 30-year-old outfielder/first baseman. After potential landing spots were largely short-circuited by the signings of Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette last week, Bellinger met the Yankees' ask for length of contract, while ensuring a $32.5 million annual salary - highest in Bellinger's career.

Bellinger has experienced a career resurgence after injury-plagued 2021 and 2022 seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Since then, Bellinger thrived with both the Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees, smacking 73 homers and posting a cumulative 12.1 WAR over the last three campaigns.

Here's everything to know about Bellinger's new deal.

Cody Bellinger contract details

Bellinger agreed to a five-year, $162.5 million deal. The contract contains opt-out clauses after the second and third years, but they move back a year if the 2027 season is canceled due to a lockout. Bellinger receives a $20 million signing bonus and $32.5 million each of the first two seasons, guaranteeing him $85 million before his first opt-out.

Cody Bellinger 2025 stats

Bellinger experienced one of his best seasons in 2025, finishing 14th in AL MVP voting in his lone season with the New York Yankees. His 29 home runs mark the third-most he's hit in a season, and his best mark since belting 47 in his MVP season in 2019.

Bellinger slashed .272/.334/.480 across 152 games with New York, accumulating 5.1 WAR in 2025, a stellar mark and his most since 2019. Bellinger also played a tremendous right field in pinstripes, racking up eight Defensive Runs Saved at the position in just 416 innings.

Bellinger has played in at least 130 games in each of the last four seasons, showing a durability after his stint with the Dodgers ended after both shoulder surgery and a lower-leg injury dampened his final two seasons.

Contributing: Bob Nightengale

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cody Bellinger contract with Yankees: What we know

As soon as outfielder Cody Bellinger decided to exercise his opt-out in early November and hit free agency again this offseason, it seemed like he and the Yankees would find their way back to each other. Both sides were extremely complimentary about each other and New York in particular was active in talking to the media about their desire to retain him, even when seemingly superior outfield options like Kyle Tucker were also available on the market. Because Bellinger’s agent is Scott Boras, however, negotiations took a very long time as Boras tried to find the best possible deal for his player, and there were talks of him negotiating with the Mets and Blue Jays as well.

Two and a half months later, the sides have finally come together, not long after Tucker signed with the Dodgers and the Mets picked up Luis Robert Jr. via trade. The official terms are below, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan, who broke the signing. It’s a five-year contract with some particular details:

Cody Bellinger's deal with the Yankees is for five years and $162.5 million, sources tell ESPN. There are opt-outs after the second and third season, a $20M signing bonus and a full no-trade clause.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 21, 2026

If he wants, Bellinger, will be able to test the market again after the 2027 and 2027 campaigns. There are no deferrals. Boras and Bellinger had been angling for six or seven years, but the Yankees stuck to their guns on the five-year offer with opt-outs.

Is this a lot of money for someone who wasn’t even an All-Star in 2025? Sure, but the Yankees bleed money, they absolutely needed to keep Bellinger in this offense given the alternatives, and they were able to avoid a longer-term commitment that has burned them in the past with similar players like DJ LeMahieu. Bellinger was quite productive in 2025 regardless of his specific honors (he did make the All-MLB Second Team), hitting .272/.334/.480 with 29 homers—his most since his MVP year in 2019—and a 125 wRC+. This is a win-now move for a team that still has Aaron Judge in his scalding-hot prime and needs to win now, though they could still use another starting pitcher. Bellinger’s lefty swing was well-suited for Yankee Stadium, he covered the tricky left field with aplomb, he could shift back to center next year if Trent Grisham departs, he can man first as well in a pinch, and he’ll be able to keep calling the place where his father once played home for likely the rest of the decade.

We’ll have more to come soon at Pinstripe Alley. In the meantime, welcome back Cody!

Cody Bellinger is returning to the Bronx.

After opting out of his contract following the end of the 2025 season, the Yankees and Bellinger have agreed to a new five-year, $162.5 million contract, per multiple reports.

The deal reportedly has opt-outs after 2027 and 2028, along with a $20 million signing bonus and a full no-trade clause.

The Yankees acquired Bellinger in a trade with the Chicago Cubs — along with $5 million in cash considerations — in December 2024 for right-handed pitcher Cody Poteet and the former NL MVP became arguably the team's second-best hitter this past season. 

The 30-year-old slashed .272/.334/.480 with 29 home runs and 98 RBI in 152 regular season games this year. He was a Silver Slugger finalist and played phenomenal defense in the outfield. 

Bellinger's play helped the Yankees make it back to the postseason, although the playoffs ended in the ALDS for New York. 

Re-signing Bellinger was a major priority for the Yankees, who needed to fill out their outfield around Aaron Judge. Even with Trent Grisham returning on the qualifying offer, the Yankees still needed more help.

And now they keep a powerful left-handed bat in the middle of their lineup.

"I had an unbelievable time putting on this uniform. Yankee Stadium, the fans, the organization, the culture that these guys have created in this locker room," Bellinger said after last season. "It really is special. It's such a fun group, a fun group to be a part of. We came up short and that part stinks for sure because we had a really really good group here."

In honor of the Philadelphia Phillies playing host to the 2026 Major League Baseball All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park, we here at The Good Phight are launching a yearlong series that focuses on the history of the Phillies and the All-Star Game.Check back regularly for posts about the Phillies participation in (or lack thereof) in the Midsummer Classic over its history.

Being named to the All-Star team is one of the highest honors in baseball. It means that you were good enough to be chosen to represent your team in a showcase of some of the best players in the sport. But for some, they were only good enough once to get that honor. The Phillies have 36 such one and dones in their history, meaning players who made one All-Star team in their career and did it with the Phillies, excluding active players. In order to make reading this close to palatable, we’re going to break them down by decades in a series of articles. First up, the 1930s.

Arthur “Pinky” Whitney, 1936

There wasn’t much good baseball in Philadelphia in 1936, as both the Phillies and the Athletics lost 100 games and finished in dead last in their respective leagues. But Arthur “Pinky” Whitney of the Phillies nevertheless was named the starting third baseman for the National League. Whitney’s numbers were pedestrian, as he was hitting .280 with 16 extra-base hits including five home runs in the 66 games before the All-Star game. The 31-year-old San Antonio native started his career with the Phillies in 1928 before being traded to the Boston Braves in the middle of 1933.

But Whitney found his way back to Philadelphia after ten games of the 1936 season, where he garnered the most votes of any Phillies player and was named to the All-Star team because the fan vote had failed to assure that every team had a representative. Whitney displaced Bill Brubaker of the Pirates despite the latter receiving the fifth most votes of any infielder. Ironically enough, the other Philadelphia 100 loss team also sent a third baseman nicknamed “Pinky” who had to be named to the team due to the representative rule, as Mike Higgins of the Athletics replaced the White Sox player/manager Jimmy Dykes on the roster.

The Phillies’ Pinky directly contributed to the NL’s 4-3 win over the AL, its first since the game began in 1933, with a sacrifice fly in the second off of future Hall of Famer Lefty Grove that put the NL up 2-0. However, Whitney would not finish the game, as he suffered an injury in the eighth inning when fielding a groundout from future Phillies manager and eternal source of shame Ben Chapman grounded out. Whitney finished the top of the eighth but was pinch hit for by the Reds Lew Riggs in the bottom half of the inning. His cross-town counterpart “Pinky” Higgins didn’t have the same impact as the Phillies Pinky did, as Higgins went 0-2 with two strikeouts and was subbed out after six innings. The Philadelphia Pinkys reunited on the train ride out of Boston back to Philadelphia after the game. Whitney went on to play three more seasons in his career with the Phillies before leaving baseball, while Higgins played nine more years in the Majors, interrupted in 1945 after being drafted into the Army, and made one more All-Star team in 1944.

Hersh Martin, 1938

Center fielder Hersh Martin was only in his second year in the Majors when he was named to the 1938 All-Star game to represent the Phillies. Martin was in the midst of a strong first half of the season, hitting .336 with 30 extra-base hits and two home runs in the season’s first 64 games. Unfortunately, his efforts were going to waste on the Phillies, as they were on their way to yet another 100+ loss season and last place finish.

Luckily for Martin, he was chosen to be the Phillies representative at the All-Star game that season to take place at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. Unluckily for the Birmingham, Alabama native, he was not chosen to start in the game and never even got to appear. His luck didn’t much improve after he went back to the Phillies, as Martin suffered an ankle injury before a game on September 10th. Martin was demonstrating the proper way to slide into a base for a movie recording arranged by his manager Jimmie Wilson when he caught his spikes in the dirt and suffered the injury, Martin was taken from the field to the hospital and did not appear in another game that season.

It wasn’t the first time Martin suffered a freak injury on the field and had to be hospitalized in 1938 either. In a May 10th game against the Reds, Martin was attempting to steal second after a single when the throw from Reds catcher Willard Hershberger hit him in the left temple, knocking Martin out immediately. However, his feet remained on second base while he was unconscious and being attended to by trainers. Martin was then carried off the field by four teammates and came to in the clubhouse where he complained of a headache and nausea. He then spent the night in the hospital where an x-ray confirmed he did not have a fracture and then returned to the Phillies lineup six days later.

Martin would go on to play two more years for the Phillies before heading to Double-A for three and a half seasons. He finally got the call to the Majors again in 1944 with the Yankees but only played in New York for two seasons before once again finding himself in the minors. Martin would continue to play professional ball consistently until 1953, but never again appeared in the Majors.

Morrie Arnovich, 1939

Five-foot-ten, 168-pound Morrie Arnovich may have not been much to look at, but he was once a promising centerfielder for the Phillies in the late thirties. The son of Orthodox Jewish parents, Arnovich went against his parents’ wishes to become a rabbi and instead pursued a baseball career, starting out playing for his hometown of Superior, Wisconsin in the Northern League. After two seasons where Arnovich hit a combined .354, the Phillies signed him to a deal in 1935 and sent him to Class-A Hazelton. His always-hustling nature caught eyes, and the 25-year-old Arnovich earned a call to the Majors in 1936.

The little centerfielder had a solid first two and a half seasons with the Phillies before breaking out in 1939. By the time of the All-Star game, Arnovich was hitting a staggering .383 with 21 extra-base hits including four home runs in 68 games. But of course, the Phillies as a team were terrible, sitting at 21-46 and in dead last in the National League so Arnovich was originally left off of the All-Star roster despite leading the Majors in hitting. He had to be added later to fulfill the requirement for every team to have one player. Arnovich was one of three Jewish players at the 1939 All-Star Game, joining Detroit’s Hank Greenburg and the Giants’ Harry Denning. Unfortunately for Arnovich and Denning, neither appeared in the actual game. Greenburg meanwhile started and went 1-3 with a walk to help his American League win 4-1 at Yankee Stadium.

Arnovich was beloved in his hometown of Superior, and the local media and fans joined the rest of the Phillies in demanding to know why NL manager Gabby Hartnett from the Chicago Cubs decided not to use Arnovich despite his leading the league in hitting. Hartnett’s given reason was that he wanted to use left-handed hitters against the AL’s pitchers Red Ruffing, Tommy Brudges, and Bob Feller, all of whom were right-handed. But that explanation wasn’t good enough for writer Bill Stewart in the local Evening Telegram in Superior, who noted that Hartnett still used right-hander Joe Medwick from the Cardinals in the outfield, with Hartnett’s reasoning being that Medwick is “more dangerous.” But as Stewart so eloquently put it, Hartnett “failed to denote what he meant by dangerous” and that “it must be that the St. Louis outfielder beats his grandmother to earn that ‘dangerous’ rating, because he didn’t cause American League pitching an iota of grief” in his 0-4 performance.

Superior’s favorite son returned to the Phillies and couldn’t keep up his torrid pace, as Arnovich hit .257 in the second half and ultimately finished with a .324 BA, good for 13th in the Majors and six places behind Medwick who finished hitting .332. It was a recurring theme in Arnovich’s career, as he usually started the season strong but faded as the summer wore on. He hit .308 for his career in the first half but only to hit .268 in the second half.

1939 turned out to be Arnovich’s last full season with the Phillies, as he was traded to the Reds in June of 1940. He was hitting just .199 at the time of the trade to Cincinnati and ended the year with a career-low .250 BA. However, Arnovich was a part of a Reds team that won the World Series in 1940, even if he only appeared in one game during the series. 1941 brought some controversy, as Arnovich’s draft status was a topic of debate after it was revealed that he obtained a deferment due to having dental plates after losing many teeth playing basketball. Nevertheless, he eventually enlisted in the Army in 1942 where he played and managed for the Fort Lewis team located in Tacoma, Washington as well as serving as a poster clerk in New Guinea. Arnovich’s military service cost him four years of his baseball career, and he would only play in one more MLB game in 1946 with the New York Giants despite playing in the minor leagues until 1948.

Sources

Baseball-Reference.com

James C. Isaminger, The Philadelphia Inquirer, July 9th, 1936

The Boston Globe, June 27th, 1936

The Philadelphia Inquirer, February 17th, 1945

The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 28th, 1938

The Philadelphia Inquirer, September 11th, 1938

The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 11th, 1938

Ralph Berger, Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) Biography of Morrie Arnovich

The Philadelphia Inquirer, July 1st, 1939

Cy Peterman, The Philadelphia Inquirer, July 11th, 1939

The Evening Telegram, July 11th, 1939

Bill Stewart, The Evening Telegram, July 12th, 1939

With the Toronto Blue Jays reportedly not that interested in pursuing free agent outfielder Cody Bellinger, it’s looking more and more likely that the only true threat to ‘steal’ the player away from the New York Yankees is, well, the Mets. With their trendy contract structure of short deals with a high average annual value, they remain candidates to get whoever they put their eyes on.

But late last night, the Mets swung a deal for Luis Robert Jr., perhaps leaving them less likely to pursue Bellinger aggressively. The Yankees are the favorites to land Bellinger, who put up a 125 wRC+ with 29 home runs and 4.9 fWAR in his lone campaign in the Bronx last year. Still, there is a world in which they lose him to the Mets or another team, with Jon Heyman noting yesterday that Bellinger was weighing offers from two non-New York teams.

If that’s the case, the Yanks will need to make a decision. Do they pursue a mid-level free agent, knowing that there are no players of Bellinger or Kyle Tucker’s level in the open market? Do they try to bring in someone via trade? Or do they trust Jasson Domínguez to be the man in left field?

Maybe the ‘Martian’ needs a platoon partner, since he had a 116 wRC+ vs. righties and a meager 63 mark vs. lefties in 2025. Perhaps he can do a much better job with a glove on his hand, as the -7 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and -10 Outs Above Average (OAA) he had in 793 innings in 2025 suggest. But there is a case to be made that, if Bellinger signs elsewhere, Domínguez is their best choice for left field at this point.

The young outfielder has had another offseason to work on his routes, reactions, and overall fluidity back there, and even though that doesn’t guarantee improvement, remember he is still just 22 and maturing as a player, and that includes defense.

He is athletic enough to think there could be at least modest improvement on that front with good coaching and a lot of work. Of course, he would need in-game reps. A lot of them. Will he get them on a regular basis? That will depend entirely on what the Yankees do in the rest of the offseason.

Offensively, Domínguez managed to hold his own even without getting regular playing time last year, with a .257/.331/.388 line in 429 plate appearances; 10 home runs, and 23 stolen bases. His 103 wRC+ suggests he is playable right now, but the minor league track record (.817 career OPS down in the farm with a .373 OBP) and set of tools lead us all to believe his ceiling is higher than that.

Domínguez was fine against righties, but he is capable of more. He was a liability facing lefties, though, but there is also potential for improvement there as he gets more at-bats against top competition. Even if he can post an 85-90 wRC+ as a righty, that would be seen as a major step forward, but it’s much easier said than done.

His performance hitting right-handed and how much he improves on defense will likely dictate his overall ceiling as a player. He’ll also need to walk a bit more (9.6 percent BB% last year) and cut down on his strikeouts some (26.8 percent K%), but Domínguez’s ceiling, even if not quite as high as we all thought it was when he was a minor leaguer, is still exciting under the right circumstances.

If Domínguez is anointed the everyday left fielder, which is possible but unlikely since the Yankees will probably want someone to play in his stead when there is a southpaw on the mound, the potential to hit 20 home runs and steal 30 bases with a 110 wRC+ is there. It might not be pretty at times, but we are talking about a soon-to-be 23-year-old player with top prospect pedigree who has held his own as a major leaguer.

Domínguez’s performance vs. lefties and how much progress he makes with the glove will likely dictate if he is a close to replacement-level or a legitimate three-win-type contributor. The pressure will be on, but the solace for him is that he honestly might well be accustomed to it at this point.

Baseball America released their updated Top 100 prospect rankings ahead of the 2026 season, and four members of the Yankees organization made the list:

• SS George Lombard Jr. (No. 46)
• RHP Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz (No. 59)
• SS Dax Kilby (No. 61)
• RHP Carlos Lagrange (No. 93)

Before digging in on the four names on the list, it's worth pointing out a notable name that was excluded: outfielder Spencer Jones.

While Jones' raw power potential is tantalizing, his strikeout numbers continue to be an issue, which is surely part of the reason the 24-year-old hasn't reached the majors yet. Jones hit 35 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A last season, but he also struck out 179 times in 116 games after striking out 200 times in 2024.

Lombard, also ranked by MLB Pipeline as the top prospect in the Yankees' system, is a promising young shortstop, but still a ways away from making his major league debut. Lombard got a taste of Double-A ball last season, posting a .695 OPS in 108 games.

Rodriguez-Cruz was named Baseball America's Yankees' Minor League Player of the Year in 2025, pitching to a 2.58 ERA across three levels, finishing the season with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Kilby, the Yankees' first-round pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, still has a long way to go in his development, but his pro career got off to a good start as he posted an .898 OPS in 18 games with Single-A Tampa last year.

Lagrange, a powerful right-handed pitcher at 6-foot-7, pitched to a 3.22 ERA for Double-A Somerset in 2025. With a fastball routinely touching triple-digits, there's a chance he makes his major league debut at some point this season.