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Who's playing for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic? Here's the roster so far

Who's playing for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic? Here's the roster so far originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Will Team USA reclaim the World Baseball Classic title in 2026?

The United States will be looking to rebound from a runner-up finish when the World Baseball Classic returns in March.

After capturing their first WBC title in 2017, the Americans made it all the back to the final of the 2023 international baseball tournament. But the U.S. fell just short of pulling off the repeat, losing to 3-2 to Japan. The thrilling tournament was capped by Shohei Ohtanistriking out then-Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout to secure Japan’s third WBC title.

Now, as the 2026 tournament approaches, Team USA is putting together a roster that’s certainly championship-caliber.

The club is captained by New York Yankeesthree-time MVPAaron Judge. The roster also features both the NL and AL MVP runners-up from 2025 in Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber and Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh. The pitching staff, meanwhile, is headlined by the reigning Cy Young winners in Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes and Detroit Tigers southpaw Tarik Skubal.

And those aren’t the only MLB stars who will be donning red, white and blue.

Who is on Team USA’s World Baseball Classic roster?

Here’s an updated breakdown of manager Mark DeRosa‘s roster to this point (this section will be updated as roster additions are announced):

Starting pitchers

Relievers

Catchers

  • Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners
  • Will Smith, Los Angeles Dodgers

Infielders

Outfielders

Bednar, Schwarber, Smith and Witt Jr. are returning members from the 2023 squad.

When does the 2026 World Baseball Classic start?

The opening game of the tournament is scheduled for March 4.

What are the 2026 World Baseball Classic dates?

Pool play will run from March 4-March 11 followed by the quarterfinals from March 13-14, the semifinals from March 15-16 and the championship game on March 17.

Where is the 2026 World Baseball Classic being played?

Group stage games will be played across four cities and three countries:

  • Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan
  • Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico
  • Daikin Park in Houston
  • loanDepot park in Miami

The quarterfinals will be held in Houston and Miami, while the semifinals and finals will be played in Miami.

Which teams are in the 2026 World Baseball Classic?

The WBC features 20 teams which are split into four different pools for the opening round. Each pool is assigned to one host city for the first round.

Here’s a breakdown of the pools and host cities:

Pool A (San Juan, Puerto Rico)

  • Canada
  • Colombia
  • Cuba
  • Panama
  • Puerto Rico

Pool B (Houston)

  • Brazil
  • Great Britain
  • Italy
  • Mexico
  • United States

Pool C (Tokyo, Japan)

  • Australia
  • Chinese Taipei
  • Czechia
  • Japan
  • Korea

Pool D (Miami)

  • Dominican Republic
  • Israel
  • Netherlands
  • Nicaragua
  • Venezuela

How does the World Baseball Classic work?

The WBC opens with a round robin where teams play one game against each of the other clubs in their pool. The top two teams from each pool then advance to the knockout rounds, which are single-elimination.

Teams from Pools A and B will play quarterfinal games in Houston, while clubs from Pools C and D will play in Miami.

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Right-handed batter among Mets' interests after Jeff McNeil trade: report

After Monday's Jeff McNeiltrade with the Athletics, the Mets are interested "in adding a right-handed batter to balance out their lineup," according to a report by Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic.

New York officials view the move "as more about roster reconstruction than payroll restructuring" since McNeil "no longer held a spot in the infield and was locked into left field," Rosenthal and Sammon reported.

The Mets recently signed the switch-hitting Jorge Polanco to a two-year, $40 million contract with versatility -- first base included -- as a plus.

New York's interest in a right-handed batter, however, "could end up being someone who can also play first base," Rosenthal and Sammon reported.

At first base, the Mets did not re-sign the right-handed Pete Alonso, who inked with the Baltimore Orioles for five years and $155 million earlier this month.

Fellow right-handed batter Mark Vientos, who primarily plays third base, joins Polanco on New York's depth chart at first base after slashing .233/.289/.413 with 17 home runs and 61 RBI in 121 games last season.

Elsewhere in the infield, the Mets landed right-handed batter and three-time All-Star second baseman Marcus Semien from the Texas Rangers through a deal for outfielder Brandon Nimmo late last month.

Third baseman Alex Bregman and shortstop Bo Bichette are among the top right-handed bats on the free-agent market but "likely will command more years than the Mets want to tolerate," Rosenthal and Sammon reported.

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Mets sign Luke Weaver

The Mets announced Luke Weaver's signing Monday. Reports surfaced last Wednesday that New York and the right-handed reliever were finalizing a two-year contract worth $22 million.

"Over the past few seasons Luke has emerged as one of the most reliable leverage relievers in baseball and we're excited to add him to our pen," said Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns. "Luke's stuff, combined with his experience in high pressure situations in New York, sets him up well for success going forward."

Weaver, 32, spent the past two-plus seasons with the Yankees, who claimed him off waivers in September 2023.

In 148.2 IP over 126 regular-season games from 2024-25, Weaver went 11-7 with a 3.21 ERA and 0.969 WHIP.

"He got a really good deal that he earned," said Yankees manager Aaron Boone this past Friday. "When we got him, it seemed like not a big move at the time, late in the '23 season -- to turn into the reliever and the role he ended up having for us.

"He threw a lot of really big games and productive games over the last couple of years -- credit to him for going out there and making a little alter to his career and it truly paying dividends for him."

Weaver's MLB career has included stints with the St. Louis Cardinals (2016-18), Arizona Diamondbacks (2019-22), Kansas City Royals (2022), Cincinnati Reds (2023) and Seattle Mariners (2023).

The Cardinals selected Weaver from Florida State University with the No. 27 overall pick in the first round of the 2014 MLB Draft.

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Foster Griffin and Nationals finalize 1-year, $5.5 million contract

WASHINGTON — Left-hander Foster Griffin and the Washington Nationals finalized a $5.5 million contract.

Griffin, who pitched in Japan for the Central League’s Yomiuri Giants the past three years, is the first free agent signing for new Nationals president of baseball operations Paul Toboni, hired by the team in late September.

The 30-year-old Griffin was a first-round pick by the Kansas City Royals in Major League Baseball’s 2014 amateur draft and made his big league debut with that franchise in 2020.

Griffin also appeared with the Royals and Toronto Blue Jays in 2022, and his full experience in the majors consists of seven games, all in relief, with a 1-0 record and a 6.75 ERA.

Toboni is beginning the job of reconstructing the Nationals, who fired president and general manager Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez in July. They have endured six consecutive losing seasons since winning the World Series in 2019, including a 66-96 record this year that placed Washington 14th out of 15 clubs in the National League.

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Mets jettison Jeff McNeil in trade to A’s, follows departures of Alonso, Nimmo and Díaz

NEW YORK — The Mets jettisoned another core player as part of their retooling, trading second baseman Jeff McNeil to the Athletics for minor league right-hander Yordan Rodriguez.

New York will send cash to the A’s to offset some of the $17.75 million remaining in McNeil’s four-year, $50 million contract.

McNeil follows Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo and Edwin Díaz in departing the underperforming Mets, who failed to reach the playoffs this year despite the second-highest payroll behind the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

McNeil, who turns 34 in April, won the NL batting title with a .326 average in 2022, when he was picked for his second All-Star team. He hit .243 with 12 homers and 54 RBIs in 122 games this year, when he made his season debut on April 25 after recovering from a strained right oblique.

He has a $15.75 million salary next year as part of a deal that includes a $15.75 million team option for 2027 with a $2 million buyout.

Rodriguez, who turns 18 on Jan. 29, signed with the A’s for a $400,000 bonus this past January and went 2-0 with a 2.93 ERA in one start and seven relief appearances for the Dominican Summer League A’s. He struck out 20 and walked eight in 15 1/3 innings.

New York had added closer Devin Williams, infielder Jorge Polanco and Gold Glove second baseman Marcus Semien, and the Mets have a pending deal with free agent reliever Luke Weaver.

The A’s designated left-hander Ken Waldichuk for assignment.

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Red Sox acquire All-Star first baseman Willson Contreras from Cardinals for three young righties

BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox acquired three-time All-Star Willson Contreras from the St. Louis Cardinals in a trade for right-hander Hunter Dobbins and two pitching prospects.

The 33-year-old Contreras is a .258 hitter with 172 homers and 548 RBIs in 10 seasons with the Cubs and Cardinals. He spent most of his career as a catcher before moving to first base last year, when he batted .257 with 20 homers and 80 RBIs.

Dobbins, 26, went 4-1 with a 4.13 ERA as a rookie in Boston last year before tearing the ACL in his right knee and missing the second half of the season. The Cardinals also will receive Single-A righties Blake Aita and Yhoiker Fajardo.

St. Louis also sent cash to Boston as part of the deal.

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White Sox expect Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami to make quick impact and put up big numbers

CHICAGO — Chicago White Sox general manager Chris Getz calls Munetaka Murakami “one of the most prolific power hitters on the planet” and expects the 25-year-old Japanese slugger to make an immediate impact on his rebuilding team next season.

The White Sox and Murakami agreed to a two-year, $34 million contract. Murakami signed the deal as he was introduced to the media at Rate Field.

Murakami has a .270 career average with 246 homers and 647 RBIs in 892 games over eight seasons with the Yakult Swallows of Japan’s Central League.

The left-handed batting corner infielder launched 56 home runs in 2022 to break Sadaharu Oh’s record for a Japanese-born player in Nippon Professional Baseball while becoming the youngest player to earn Japan’s Triple Crown. He topped 30 homers in four straight years before an injury-interrupted season in 2023.

Murakimi’s production dropped to 24 homers and 47 RBIs in 56 games last season as he was restricted by an oblique injury. Now he says he’s recovered and ready to adjust to major league pitching.

Getz projects similar output from Murakami in the majors to help his team climb. The White Sox finished last in the AL Central in 2025 with a 60-102 record — their third straight season with more than 100 losses — but improved after the All-Star break, led by a core of young hitters that includes Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel and Chase Meidroth.

“This was a place that he can come in here and just be himself and be comfortable, establish himself at the major league level and we’ll see where the journey takes us,” Getz said. “We’re going to support him and we’re going to get great production from him.”

Murakami, speaking through a translator, said he can adjust to major league pitching and improve his defense at first and third base in a hurry, although he stopped short of projecting statistics.

“I’m not really looking at this from a numbers standpoint,” Murakami said. “I really want to compete every day and face challenges. If I’m contributing to the team every night, every game, I feel that’s a success.”

The biggest knock against the 6-foot-2, 213-pound Murakami has been his contact and strikeout rates. Over eight seasons with Yakult, he struck out 977 times in 3,780 plate appearances, just over a quarter (25.84%) of the time.

But he also had a .557 slugging percentage and 614 walks.

Getz isn’t overly worried.

“And yeah, there has been some conversation about contact and swing and miss,” Getz said. “Oftentimes swing-and-miss comes with a lot of the power.

“But what makes Munie so attractive to us is this power output. We’re talking about a guy that has some real, real firepower in the engine that makes Munie so special.”

Murakami says he’s adapting his swing so he can stay on top of 100 mph fastballs and the range of breaking and off-speed pitches he’ll face in the majors.

“Rather than explain my swing, I would like for you to see my swing once the season starts,” he said. “I’ve been relentless working to tinker my swing to the U.S.”

Murakami will become the the fourth Japanese-born player to play for the White Sox, joining pitcher Shingo Takatsu (2004-05), second baseman Tadahito Iguchi (2005-07) and outfielder Kosuke Fukudome (2012). Takatsu managed Murakami in Japan.

Murakami said he has connected with other Japanese players about their adjustment to the majors. That includes outfielder Seiya Suzuki and left-hander Shota Imanaga of the crosstown Cubs.

The White Sox had been scouting Murakami for years, then their deal came together fairly quickly.

“Quite honestly, I don’t think it’s set in just yet, to think about him in the lineup on a regular basis,” Getz said.

A two-year contract is fine with Murakami, partly because he believes playing with Chicago will give him a good entry to the majors.

“I felt the White Sox were the best fit for myself and they could help me become the best player I am,” Murakami said.

Murakami gets a $1 million signing bonus payable within 30 days and salaries of $16 million next year and $17 million in 2027.

His 2027 salary can escalate based on awards earned in 2026: $1 million for winning an MVP award, $500,000 for finishing second or third in the voting, $250,000 for fourth through 10th and $250,000 for Rookie of the Year.

He can’t be assigned to the minor leagues without his consent and will be a free agent at the end of the contract. He also gets a team-provided interpreter and flight reimbursement between Japan and the U.S.

Chicago owes a posting fee of $6,575,000 to Yakult. The Swallows also would receive a supplemental fee of 15% of any triggered escalators.

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Newly acquired Pirates 2B Brandon Lowe thinks his new team can make a ‘deep push’ in 2026

PITTSBURGH — A small-market team in a division dotted with big-market clubs. A pitching staff bursting with potential. A manager with a modest résumé as a player but an innate feel for the vibes within a clubhouse.

Yeah, Brandon Lowe has been here before.

The two-time All-Star second baseman was a fixture on Tampa Bay clubs that consistently punched above their weight in the AL East. He doesn’t see why the same can’t happen in Pittsburgh, which acquired Lowe, outfielder Jake Mangum and left-handed pitcher Mason Montgomery as part of a three-team trade that sent Pirates starting pitcher Mike Burrows to Houston and a pair of prospects to Tampa Bay.

While there’s a chance Montgomery and Mangum can be contributors in 2026, the focal piece of the unusually aggressive move by the Pirates is the left-handed Lowe, who hit 31 home runs last season and now finds himself playing half his games at PNC Park, where the nearest edge of the 21-foot-high Roberto Clemente Wall sits just 320 feet from home plate with the banks of the Allegheny River about another 100 feet away.

“The dimensions of the ballpark play into where my power alleys lie,” Lowe said. “Something about seeing a ball going flying into the river seems very, very exciting.”

So is the idea that the Pirates are ready to contend for the first time in a decade.

“I feel like there’s a real opportunity there for a deep push and some playoff baseball in Pittsburgh,” Lowe said. “The pitching staff is legit. The hitters, they have some extremely talented guys that play in the field and I’m excited to kind of come and help in any way that I can.”

Lowe spent eight years with the Rays, who made the postseason every year from 2019-23, including a run to the 2020 World Series. Tampa Bay won 96 games or more three times during that span despite playing in the same division as the far-deeper-pocketed New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox.

While Lowe allowed there is something to be said for having an advantage in financial resources, in his experience it’s far from the sole determining factor for success.

“Payroll isn’t everything,” Lowe said. “The big names do get paid and obviously you know what you’re getting (with) some of those guys but those big names start somewhere.”

Like say, Tampa Bay, which has found a way to stay competitive despite having Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow, among others, head elsewhere when they became too expensive.

Now it’s Lowe’s turn to make that transition. He has one year remaining on his current contract and is scheduled to make $11.5 million in 2026. When the Pirates have acquired players during general manager Ben Cherington’s tenure, a significant chunk of them have controllable years left.

That’s not the case with Lowe, yet the Pirates showed a bit of uncharacteristic urgency by taking somewhat of a small gamble that Lowe can help elevate an offense that ranked near the bottom of the majors in nearly every significant statistical category last season. That lack of production is the biggest reason why Pittsburgh finished at 71-91 despite having a pitching staff anchored by Cy Young winner Paul Skenes.

The window of opportunity to capitalize with Skenes still playing for a modest salary already is closing. Next season will be the seventh since Cherington was hired and patience — externally anyway — is starting to run out.

Cherington said "there’s a lot more out there for us” in terms of adding to the lineup before the club reports to spring training in mid-February. Maybe, but Lowe’s arrival gives Pittsburgh something it’s lacked for most of the last decade: a proven veteran bat who can put the ball over the fence with regularity.

The Pirates have had just one player hit more than 30 homers in a season since 2014, and Josh Bell’s 39 home runs in 2019 came during a tumultuous year in which the club cratered during the second half, leading to sweeping leadership changes.

That group that took over — led by Cherington — now finds itself deep into the “prove it” phase of its tenure. The rotation anchored by Skenes and Mitch Keller could be excellent. After leaning heavily on inexperienced young players or hitters deep into their 30s in an effort to stitch something together, Lowe’s arrival signals a shift in mindset.

While he will start the season as the everyday second baseman, the Pirates may have to get creative to make sure manager Don Kelly writes down the names of the best nine hitters on the lineup card. That means Lowe may find time in the outfield or at designated hitter. He’s fine with either if it comes to that.

“One thing I was taught in Tampa is if you can play anywhere, it keeps you in the lineup,” he said. “That was the biggest thing (and) I want to be in the lineup for as many games as possible.”

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Jorge Polanco, with 1 pitch of first base experience, willing to make move for New York Mets

NEW YORK — Jorge Polanco’s first base experience is one pitch, when San Francisco’s Wilmer Flores lined a sinker off the end of his bat toward right field in the ninth inning of a tied game last April 6.

“It’s just like they always say, whenever you come into the game, the ball always finds you,” Polanco recalled through a translator. “When the ball was hit, I thought it was coming straight to me.”

Flores’ hit was way too far toward second for Polanco to have a chance and gave San Francisco a walk-off win over Seattle.

First base figures to be Polanco’s primary position next year as Pete Alonso’s replacement following Polanco’s decision to sign a two-year, $40 million contract with the Mets.

“I was offering my services to teams as a first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, so when the Mets asked if I was able to do that, play a little bit of first, play a little bit third, I was definitely willing to do that,” Polanco said a Zoom news conference.

Alonso, a fan favorite and a five-time All-Star, left the Mets as a free agent for a five-year, $155 million contract with Baltimore.

Asked whether he expects first base will be his primary position, Polanco responded: “I would think so. ... They told me that I’d be playing a good amount of first base, but that I could also be bouncing around.”

A 32-year-old switch-hitter who has batted .260 against righties and .270 against lefties, Polanco was an All-Star in 2019 and set career bests three years later when he had 33 homers and 98 RBIs.

He primarily was a shortstop through 2020 and then a second baseman from 2020-24. Last year, he started mostly at designated hitter for the Mariners, who came within one win of their first World Series trip.

Mariners bench coach Manny Acta and infield coach Perry Hill approached Polanco this year about preparing for time at first.

“It was very easy because I had already spoken to my agent about starting to work out at first and trying to become a more versatile baseball player,” Polanco said. “So when we approached them, they were essentially approaching us at the same time. So it was real easy and a really seamless transition.”

Polanco hit .265 with 26 home runs, 78 RBIs, 30 doubles and an .821 OPS in 138 games for Seattle last season, his second with the Mariners following a decade with Minnesota.

While he didn’t get to start at first, he found work with the coaches invaluable.

“The biggest difference is the position that you get in to receive pickoffs,” he said. “That was toughest transition for me because it’s very different from when you’re playing in the middle of the infield. But I think with my experience of playing second, short, third, it allows me to be an athlete and I think that my athleticism will help me while I’m playing first base.”

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Mets trade 2B/OF Jeff McNeil to Athletics

The Mets have traded second baseman/outfielder Jeff McNeil to the Athletics.

The Mets receive right-handed pitching prospect Yordan Rodriguez in exchange for McNeil, while also sending $5.75 million to the A's.

“I want to thank Jeff for his time and contributions to the organization,” said Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns. “He was drafted by the team and grew up in our system. I wish Jeff and his family success and good luck going forward. We are excited to bring Yordan into our system. He is a young right-hander with a promising future.”

Rodriguez is just 17 years old and pitched for the A's in the 2025 Dominican Summer League, posting a 2.93 ERA in eight games.

From Joe DeMayo:

In exchange for McNeil, the Mets acquired a lottery ticket in right-hander Yordan Rodriguez. Rodriguez, 17, signed with the A’s for $400,000 out of Cuba and pitched his first professional season in the Dominican Summer League. He appeared in eight games, posting a 2.93 ERA and struck out 20 batters in 15.1 innings. He threw primarily two pitches, a fastball that will touch 96 mph with some ride to it that he threw around 70 percent of the time and shows the ability to spin a slider. He is raw, but the type of arm that the Mets pitching development staff will be able to work with and help develop starting at a very young age.

McNeil, 33, has been a Met since New York selected him out of Long Beach State with the 2013 MLB Draft's No. 356 overall pick (12th round).

McNeil's MLB debut was July 24, 2018. He was a pinch-hitter for third baseman Phillip Evans in the eighth inning of the Mets' 6-3 win at the San Diego Padres and earned his first career hit, singling to center field against Phil Hughes.

McNeil played in 63 games for the Mets that season before earning his first of two All-Star appearances (2019, 2022) the following year. He slashed .318/.384/.531 with career highs of 23 home runs and 75 RBI across 133 games.

His 2022 campaign saw him become the MLB batting champion while slashing .326/.382/.454 with nine home runs and 62 RBI over a career-high 148 games.

McNeil's eight-year career as a Met ends with a .284/.351/.428 slash line, 80 home runs and 367 RBI in 923 games from 2018-25.

The 2026 campaign is the final season of a four-year, $50 million contract that McNeil signed in January 2023. He is set to make $15.75 million in 2026 has a club option for 2027.

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Mets' Jorge Polanco talks playing first base, why he signed in New York: 'I knew this team wanted to win'

Jorge Polanco was officially introduced to the media as a member of the Mets on Monday, and naturally, his transition to playing first base was a hot topic. 

Signed to a two-year, $40 million contract earlier this month, the versatile Polanco, who has primarily been a middle infielder throughout his career, is expected to see the majority of his playing time as a Met at first base, or at least that’s the current plan as laid out by president of baseball operations David Stearns.

“As we stand now, we would anticipate Jorge playing first base, DH, and bouncing around to other positions as needed,” Stearns said in a statement when the Polanco signing was made official. 

On Monday, the 32-year-old, who has only played one career major league game at first, said that plan was just fine by him.

“The conversations with the Mets were pretty easy, as I was already making that transition starting last year when I was in Seattle,” Polanco said. “So that was a pretty easy conversation for me to have, especially since I was offering my services to teams as a first baseman, second baseman and third baseman. SO when the Mets asked if I was able to do that – play a little bit of first, play a little bit of third, I was definitely willing to do that.” 

“As the conversations went on, they told me that I’d be playing a good amount of first base, but that I could also be bouncing around,” he later added.

From an outside perspective, playing first base may seem less challenging than the other infield spots. But as Polanco explained, the mental part of the position can be the hardest part to master, though his background around the diamond should help him.

“I think the biggest difference is the position that you have to get into for pickoffs or picks or just getting to the base,” Polanco explained. “I think that was the toughest transition for me, because it’s very different from when you’re playing in the middle of the infield. But I think with my experience of playing second, short, third, it allows me to be an athlete, and I think that my athleticism will help me when I’m playing first base."

While much of the conversation about Polanco has been about how Polanco fits the Mets from an outside perspective, his offensive prowess can’t be ignored. An All-Star in 2019, Polanco has a career .771 OPS and has five seasons with 15+ home runs, including a career-high 33 home runs with the Minnesota Twins in 2021. The switch-hitter posted a career-best 134 OPS+ last season, hitting 26 home runs while also having his share of big postseason moments with the Mariners. 

But Seattle’s postseason run came to an end in Game 7 of the ALCS against the Toronto Blue Jays. As Polanco hit the free agent market, winning was what mattered most, and that, along with the way the Mets treat their players, made signing in New York an easy choice.

“I think the most important part was how they care for their players, how they offer any type of service to help enhance the players’ lives in any way,” Polanco said. “And I think from a team standpoint, we have so many great players who want to win, playing with Francisco Lindor, playing with Juan Soto, and just knowing how they treat the game and how they go about the game, and the type of leaders that they are. I’m very excited to be a part of this team because I knew this team wanted to win, so it was a good spot for me.” 

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Phils add another reliever, sign Zach Pop to one-year deal

Phils add another reliever, sign Zach Pop to one-year deal originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The holiday season is upon us and the Phillies continue to add to their bullpen.

The club announced Monday that it signed right-handed reliever Zach Pop to a one-year deal.

Pop, 29, endured an injury-riddled 2025 season and spent time with three organizations. He was shut down in March with elbow discomfort and released by Toronto in early April.

Pop later signed a Minor League deal with Seattle, earned a call-up, then struggled out of the gate — allowing 11 earned runs in 6 2/3 innings — before being designated for assignment. He elected free agency and signed with the Mets, but made just one appearance before being DFA’d again in July.

Prior to last season, Pop produced mostly below-average results across stints with Miami and Toronto, posting a 4.45 ERA over 158 appearances.

Pop features a three-pitch mix — sinker, slider and cutter — and generates ground balls at a high rate. In 2025, his groundball percentage sat at 54.5 percent, driven by a 96.4 mph average sinker.

His best stretch came in 2022. Pop opened that season with Miami, posting a 3.60 ERA in 18 appearances before being dealt to Seattle in a four-player trade. With the Mariners, he allowed just four earned runs across 19 innings. The underlying numbers backed it up: a 39.3 percent chase rate, a 2.5 percent walk rate and a 5.6 percent barrel rate.

Pop profiles as a pitch-to-contact arm who is most effective when he’s living at the bottom of the zone and inducing soft contact.

It’s another low-risk addition for Dave Dombrowski and the front office. Pop becomes the 39th player on the Phillies’ 40-man roster. He does not have any Minor League options remaining and will compete for a bullpen spot this spring.

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What Red Sox' Willson Contreras trade could mean for Triston Casas

What Red Sox' Willson Contreras trade could mean for Triston Casas originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Red Sox filled a glaring void at the first base position Sunday, acquiring veteran Willson Contreras in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals.

That void existed because Triston Casas’ future with the club is uncertain. The soon-to-be 26-year-old played in only 29 games last season before suffering a ruptured patellar tendon in May. Injuries also plagued him throughout the 2024 season, limiting him to only 63 games.

So, does the Contreras addition leave Casas without a role for 2026? Not necessarily.

With Contreras expected to begin next season as the Red Sox’ primary first baseman, Casas will have time to shake off the rust in Triple-A. The former top prospect still has minor-league options remaining.

If and when he returns to the big-league club, the left-handed-hitting Casas could split first base and designated hitter duties with the right-handed Contereras. Since Contreras is the superior defender, Casas in the DH spot would make sense if he can regain his 2023 form.

Casas’ path to an MLB return should become clearer in spring training when other question marks on the roster are addressed. For instance, Masataka Yoshida remains in the mix as a DH option, and the surplus of outfielders further complicates matters. Jarren Duran has been the subject of trade rumors this offseason, but he’s another candidate to spend time at DH if he isn’t moved.

Craig Breslow and Co. could look to trade Casas, but given his injuries and lack of production over the last two years, his value couldn’t be much lower. Allowing the 2018 first-rounder to play his way back into an MLB role is the most reasonable solution, and the well-rounded Contreras provides the Red Sox with that flexibility.

Contreras, 33, will bring much-needed right-handed pop to Boston’s lineup. Excluding the shortened 2020 campaign, he has hit at least 20 homers in six of nine seasons. The former catcher notched career highs in doubles (31) and RBI (80) last season while posting a .791 OPS in 135 games.

Contreras is a solid addition, but the Red Sox should still aggressively pursue at least one more big bat this winter. They can still re-sign third baseman Alex Bregman, although their odds of doing so seem to only be getting worse. Free-agent infielder Bo Bichette is another intriguing option, and they have also been linked to Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte, free-agent slugger Eugenio Suarez, and Houston Astros infielder Isaac Paredes.

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How velocity bump put Adrian Houser in much better position this offseason

How velocity bump put Adrian Houser in much better position this offseason originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — For a second straight year, Adrian Houser signed a contract with a new organization as the holidays approached, but the circumstances this time around couldn’t be any different.

Houser agreed to a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers last offseason, one that would give him the chance to come to spring training and try to win a job. This time around, the only question is where he’ll slot into a big league rotation at the end of March.

The Giants and Houser agreed to a two-year deal last week, and on a Zoom call with beat reporters on Monday, he said the organization’s early interest made a difference as he looked for a new home.

“It was just coming down to knowing the talent was here, and then also the front office and Buster (Posey), they were pretty adamant and pretty consistent so far up to this point throughout the offseason, keeping in constant contact,” Houser said. “I could just tell they really wanted me and after sitting down and talking through it and everything, we felt like it was going to be a really good fit.”

For the Giants, the strong interest goes back to July, when Houser loomed as an appealing option to fill a hole in the rotation in the second half. Posey ended up going into sell mode, but the rotation still needs those innings, and the hope is that Houser is on an upward trajectory. The 32-year-old is coming off his best stint in the big leagues, and he said that success goes back to last offseason, when he couldn’t find a big league job. 

Houser worked with specialists in Oklahoma to make mechanical changes. He got more into his backside and changed the way he drives down a mound. He also got his hands further away from his body. 

“I just felt freed up,” he said. “It was coming out a lot easier.”

The success wasn’t immediate. Houser began the season in Triple-A and got released in May, but he found a new home in Chicago, posting a 2.10 ERA and 3.34 FIP in 11 starts for the White Sox. That led to a midseason trade to Tampa Bay, and while his ERA jumped to 4.79 after the deadline, he continued to show an uptick in stuff. 

Houser’s sinker averaged 95 mph in September, his highest mark in a month in six years. The pitch was up two ticks from 2024, and his entire repertoire saw similar jumps. His slider went from 83 mph to 88 mph after a grip change.

While players hit free agency and want to be rewarded for what they’ve done, teams are looking ahead and trying to find a player whose best days are ahead of him. The Giants believe that’s the case with Houser, and they certainly need to be right. To this point, he is the only addition to a rotation that finished 2025 with a big talent deficit. 

Houser currently slots in as either the third or fourth starter, although that could change with another free agent addition or trade. Regardless, he’s locked into a rotation this winter, and he said he’s doing many of the same things to prepare. A year ago, he embraced the carnivore diet and occasional 72-hour fasts to get his body ready for an important spring, and that has continued, along with the work on his mechanics. 

“I plan to go out there and make every start and go as deep as possible as I can in every game and try to come off the field every time with the team ahead and with a chance to win the game,” he said. 

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Yankees sign former Mets INF Zack Short to minor league deal

The Yankees are bringing in INF Zack Short on a minor league deal. 

Short spent time with the Mets two seasons ago after being claimed off waivers from the Tigers. 

The New York native was able to crack the team coming out of camp, but ended up being DFA'd after just 10 appearances. 

He was traded to the Red Sox in exchange for cash considerations, but was only in Boston briefly before he was again let go and shipped off to the Atlanta Braves. 

Short appeared in a combined 32 games between the two teams the rest of the year. 

He elected to hit free agency at season's end, and received a minor league deal with the Astros.

The 30-year-old spent most of the year in Triple-A, logging just 22 appearances in the majors. 

Now in the Bronx, he is facing a bit of an uphill battle for a roster spot, but he'll look to provide the Yankees with a versatile glove off the bench. 

Short has just a career .567 OPS, but he's logged appearances at second, third, and shortstop.