Category: MLB

When you think about the Mets' offseason and what the team will look like at the start of the 2026 campaign, there are a few things that immediately come to mind.

One is the future of the offensive core, which was broken up when Brandon Nimmo was traded to the Rangers for Marcus Semien.

Another is the free agency of Pete Alonso, who could return but whose power would have to be replaced externally if he signs elsewhere. 

The bullpen also needs to be overhauled, and how it looks will have a lot to do with Edwin Diaz, who -- like Alonso -- is a free agent the Mets would like to bring back.

Then there's the starting rotation, which will very likely be bolstered in a big way -- with a trade for a top-of-the-rotation arm seeming likely.

As New York goes about rebuilding the starting staff, here's how things are shaking out...

The Locks

There are currently eight realistic starting pitching options on New York's roster. They are:

Nolan McLean
Sean Manaea
Clay Holmes
David Peterson
Kodai Senga
Brandon Sproat
Jonah Tong
Christian Scott

Of those eight, it's fair to believe that three of them might be in ink when it comes to inclusion in the rotation out of spring training. Those three are McLean, Manaea, and Holmes.

The Internal Candidates

Beyond McLean, Holmes, and Manaea, there are lots of question marks.

Peterson seems like a safe bet to be in the rotation if he's healthy, and there have been no rumblings about the Mets dangling him via trade. 

The left-hander struggled for most of the second half of the 2025 season and was borderline unpitchable down the stretch, but it's possible fatigue played a factor. Peterson threw a career-high 168.2 innings last season, up from his previous high of 121.0 in 2024.

As far as Senga, his Mets future is in doubt.

After a 2024 season that was almost entirely lost to injury, Senga got off to a terrific start in 2025. But his season was interrupted by a hamstring injury, and he was never able to find his groove following his return. There were constant battles with his mechanics and comfort, and an eventual trip to the minor leagues -- where he attempted to get things right but was unable to do so.  

Given how things have shaken out the last few years for Senga with the Mets, it feels like he'll be playing elsewhere in 2026.

Then there's Sproat and Tong, who both showed flashes when called upon late last season.

Sproat seems like the better bet to crack the Opening Day rotation, while Tong -- whose ups and downs were more stark during his brief big league stint -- could likely use some more time to refine his stuff and approach in Triple-A Syracuse, where he made only two starts last season before being promoted.

However, there's also the possibility that Sproat and/or Tong get traded this offseason. 

The Wild Card in the mix is Scott, who opened eyes during his first taste of the majors in 2024 before undergoing Tommy John surgery.

Scott, 26, should be healthy entering spring training, when he'll be roughly 17 months post-surgery. But it could be a bit of a stretch to expect him to be in the mix for a starting spot right away. There's also a likely innings limit to consider. 

The External Candidates

It was the failure of the starting rotation that was most to blame for the Mets' 2025 season spiraling out of control.

Some of that had to do with really bad injury luck, but the depth that was assembled simply wasn't good enough. Beyond that, president of baseball operations David Stearns was not quick enough to act when the team needed reinforcements -- something he lamented during his end-of-season news conference.

With that as the backdrop, the expectation is that the Mets will add significant pieces to the rotation this offseason.

And it can be argued that the most sensible plan would be to seek a top-of-the-rotation starter via trade (given the Mets' glut of infielders and advantageous situation they're in with their farm system) and land a mid-rotation starter with upside via free agency.

Three of the most high-profile free agent starters -- Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez, and Michael King -- aren't ideal fits. Valdez is entering his age-32 season and had a troubling on-field incident last season, Suarez's fastball velocity has been steadily dropping, and King has serious injury concerns. 

The two free agent pitchers who arguably make the most sense for the Mets? Dylan Cease and Tatsuya Imai.

Cease, who is entering his age-30 season, brings the floor of a solid innings-eater and the upside of a Cy Young candidate. 

Imai, who has a fastball that sits in the mid 90s and reaches 99 mph, is viewed by many experts as a mid-rotation starter in the majors with room for more. And he's entering his age-28 season. 

As far as the trade market goes, I'll buy that the Tigers are keeping Tarik Skubal when he takes the ball for them on Opening Day.

If Detroit is not serious about paying Skubal what it will take to keep him beyond 2026, he should be dealt now, which would allow them to import a massive influx of talent -- and the Mets have the assets needed should he be truly available.

Beyond Skubal is Brewers ace Freddy Peralta. And while Milwaukee's front office recently tried to shoot down rumors of him getting dealt, they certainly didn't say he was staying. There's also Joe Ryan of the Twins and Sandy Alcantara of the Marlins, who could both be on the move.

No matter who they wind up with, the Mets must find a way to properly address the rotation -- something they failed to do last offseason, which resulted in their undoing. 

MLB executives predict Giants will sign Japanese star pitcher Tatsuya Imai originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Will this finally be the year the Giants land a star free agent from Japan?

After missing out on Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki in the previous two years, San Francisco has another opportunity to land the offseason’s best international free agent.

Japanese star right-hander Tatsuya Imai, arguably the best pitcher on the MLB free-agent market this winter, has been linked to the Giants on numerous occasions already this offseason.

ESPN’s Jesse Rogers, in an article published Wednesday, surveyed MLB executives, who gave their predictions for where this offseason’s top free agents will land. The majority of the executives polled believe Imai will land in San Francisco.

Who will sign Japanese ace Tatsuya Imai?

Survey says: Giants 5, New York Yankees 3, Los Angeles Dodgers 3, Chicago Cubs 2, Toronto Blue Jays 1, San Diego Padres 1

“The usual suspects, plus Toronto, show up here — most of these teams have been perennial favorites for Japanese players coming over to MLB for the first time,” Rogers wrote. “These teams are among those with a leg up on the rest of the competition as they’ve put time, money and energy into recruiting in Japan. At 27 years old, Imai is the right age for a multiyear deal and should benefit from the success of others from Japan that came before him.”

While the Dodgers, with Ohtani, Yamamoto and Sasaki already on their roster, could be viewed as the most likely destination for Imai, the pitcher recently stated that his preference is to play against — and beat — his fellow countrymen in the big leagues.

San Francisco has wanted to establish itself as a prime destination for international free agents, and while it has had recent success recruiting young prospects from South America and everyday MLB players from South Korea, like outfielder Jung Hoo Lee, it has yet to land a major Japanese free agent.

“The Giants have been in the hunt [for a Japanese pitcher] in the past; pairing Imai with Logan Webb makes a ton of sense,” one executive told ESPN.

The 27-year-old Imai posted a 10-5 record with a 1.92 ERA and 178 strikeouts to 45 walks in 163 2/3 innings pitched for the Saitama Seibu Lions in the Nippon Professional Baseball league last season.

Imai officially was posted on Nov. 18, opening his 45-day signing window, and has until Jan. 2 to join an MLB team.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

Marcus Semien was officially introduced as the newest member of the Mets, as the veteran infielder met with members of the media via a video call. 

After thanking the Mets for welcoming him and his family, Semien said that while the trade – which sent Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers – took him by surprise, he’s very excited to join a talented Mets team. 

“I know in this business, anything can happen,” Semien said. “I’m excited to join a ballclub that has good veteran players, great veteran players, Hall of Famers, and strong young players that look hungry. 

“I got a chance to sit back and watch the series [between the Mets and Rangers] in September. I had an injury so I just sat back and watched and I liked the passion that the Mets players were playing with. I like the young pitching staff that they were putting out there, the stuff that those guys had, I’ve just been thinking about that series and imagining myself on that side now, and it makes me really excited.”

A three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner, Semien not only knows what it takes to win a World Series, as he did in 2023, but also knows the meaning of leading by example, playing in at least 159 games in a season eight times in his career.

“My style as a leader, it’s definitely something that has evolved. I think the one thing that has remained constant for me is leading by example with how I work, leading by example with how I respect each member of the organization,” Semien said. “Treat everybody like a man or a woman, whoever you’re working with. For me, I’m mostly talking about my teammates here, respect them, help them through tough times, get to know them as a person, get to know their families, so when we go out to battle we know how each other is going to react.”

Up until now, Semien has spent his entire 13-year big-league career in the American League, coming up with the White Sox before playing with Oakland, Toronto, and Texas, but he’s still plenty familiar with playing in New York, whether it’s the Bronx or Queens. 

In fact, Semien said that the Big Apple used to be his favorite place to play on the road. And now he gets to call it home as he looks to help the Mets win their first World Series since 1986.

“When people ask me what’s your favorite road city, I say New York. I love being in the city,” Semien said. “I grew up on the West Coast, San Francisco, Bay Area. Maybe not as large as New York, in terms of culture, it’s definitely a place that I really enjoy being. Now I get to do what I love in that city in front of fans that love the game. 

“There's a strong history with the Mets organization. There have been great players who came through there and done some good things and I just want to be one of those players.”

Do Red Sox view Sonny Gray as No. 2 starter? Here is Breslow's take originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

If you’re a Red Sox who wanted the team to add an ace, or at least a legit No. 2 starter, to the rotation during the offseason, then you probably weren’t super hyped about the Sonny Gray trade on Tuesday.

Then again, Gray does have a long track record of success at the MLB level.

The Red Sox acquired Gray and $20 million from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for right-handed pitcher Richard Fitts and left-handed pitcher Brandon Clarke.

Gray is 36 years old and entering the final year of his contract. He posted a 4.28 ERA with a 1.234 WHIP, while also striking out 201 batters and walking only 38, over 32 starts for the Cardinals last season.

Do the Red Sox view Gray as a real No. 2 behind ace Garrett Crochet?

“I don’t know how much sense it makes in November to put a number on a guy,” Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow told reporters during a press conference Tuesday.

“I think Sonny is a very talented major league player. The seasons that he has put up pretty consistently indicate that to be the case. That said, we still intend to improve our team and exactly what that looks like we don’t know right now. But we’ll continue to try and explore opportunities and figure out where that takes us.”

As it stands now, Gray probably slots in as the No. 3 starter behind Crochet and Brayan Bello in the rotation. But if healthy, Gray does have the potential to pitch at a No. 2 level. It’s not inconceivable.

The real question now is whether the Red Sox’ next major move will be for another impact pitcher or a powerful bat.

Either way, if the Gray acquisition ends up being Boston’s major offseason addition, fans should (and will) be very disappointed.

The Mets bolstered their pitching depth this week, signing right-hander Nick Burdi to a minor league deal.

Burdi, 32, made his MLB debut with Pittsburgh in 2018 and has appeared in big league games with the Pirates, Cubs, Yankees, and Red Sox. He appeared in four games for Boston last season, pitching 5.1 scoreless innings while striking out five and walking two. 

While the right-hander has a career ERA of 5.34, his career FIP of 3.84 suggests he’s been fairly unlucky on balls put in play. 

The 6-foot-3 righty is primarily a sinker-slider pitcher, though he will mix in a four-seam fastball, which he threw 22.9 percent of the time last season, averaging about 94.0 MPH.

The Mets also signed LHP Anderson Severino, RHP Robert Stock, and OF Jose Ramos to minor league contracts, all with invites to spring training.

Japanese star Tatsuya Imai makes strong statement against signing with Dodgers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Star Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Imai would perfectly fit in with the Giants.

The right-handed ace of the Saitama Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball, who recently was posted and has until Jan. 2 to sign with an MLB team, declared that he has no interest in joining San Francisco’s archrival Los Angeles Dodgers, in a recent interview with former big-league pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka on the “Hodo Station” show.

“Of course, I’d enjoy playing alongside [Shohei] Ohtani, [Yoshinobu] Yamamoto, and [Rōki] Sasaki, but winning against a team like that and becoming a world champion would be the most valuable thing in my life,” Imai told Matsuzaka (h/t MLB.com’s Michael Clair and Ayako Oikawa). 

“If anything, I’d rather take them down.”

That mentality must intrigue Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey.

Imai, 27, is coming off a dominant season in which he posted a 1.92 ERA and 178 strikeouts over 163 2/3 innings. He would be an enticing addition to any team, but it would be fascinating to see Imai enter the big leagues with San Francisco.

Regardless of where Imai lands, one thing is certain: he doesn’t want to help the Dodgers — and their international stars — win a third consecutive World Series title.

“If there were another Japanese player on the same team, I could just ask them about anything, right?” Imai said. “But that’s actually not what I’m looking for. In a way, I want to experience that sense of survival. When I come face-to-face with cultural differences, I want to see how I can overcome them on my own — that’s part of what I’m excited about.”

If Imai wants to take down the league’s best, then joining the Dodgers’ biggest rival — the Giants — makes sense. 

He would get to face Los Angeles multiple times per season in heated divisional battles and would have the opportunity to test out his heater against the reigning NL MVP.

“I really want to see how much my fastball holds up against [Ohtani] — to test myself by throwing it to him,” Imai said.

Imai has around 40 days to make a decision. Time will tell if he chooses to don the Orange and Black.

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Fans of Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs might want to hold their ears when the wrongful death trial brought by his widow and parents against the Angels resumes Monday.

The Angels are about to present their defense and, according to people with knowledge of the Angels' strategy, their attorneys plan to portray Skaggs as a selfish, secretive opioid addict who for years manipulated teammates and team communications director Eric Kay into obtaining illicit pills for him to chop up and snort.

Skaggs, a first-round draft pick of the Angels in 2009 out of Santa Monica High, was one year away from free agency when he died of an overdose July 1, 2019. He died after snorting a counterfeit opioid pill laced with fentanyl in his hotel room during an Angels trip to play the Texas Rangers in Arlington.

The left-handed starter was 27 and in the midst of his best season of seven in the big leagues when he died. His performance has been pointed to by Skaggs family lawyers as evidence he wasn't a drug addict, but instead an athlete who took pain pills to stay on the field.

So far, testimony in a small, spare courtroom on the ninth floor of the Orange County Superior Court has favored the plaintiffs — Skaggs' widow, Carli, and parents, Debbie Hetman and Darrell Skaggs.

Their lawyers called 21 witnesses over 24 days in court, attempting to establish that the pitcher's fatal overdose was the result of the Angels' negligent supervision of Kay, an admitted longtime opioid addict who is serving 22 years in prison for providing Skaggs with the pill.

The plaintiffs are asking for about $120 million in future earnings as well as additional millions for pain and suffering and punitive damages. Neither side is optimistic that a settlement can be reached ahead of a verdict.

Read more:Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs dead at 27

Transcripts of trial testimony and interviews with people on both sides not authorized to speak publicly about the case provided a glimpse of the Angels' defense strategy and what the plaintiffs have accomplished so far.

The Angels pared down their witness list at the request of Judge H. Shaina Colover, who has insisted the case go to the jury by Dec. 15. The Angels complained that two weeks might not be long enough to present their case, giving the plaintiffs an unfair advantage, even suggesting the issue could lead to a mistrial.

Skaggs' lawyers, however, pointed out that the defense has taken longer to cross-examine witnesses than it took them to conduct the direct examinations. And Colover said a reason for the difference in the number of witnesses is that 12 people called by Skaggs' lawyers were on the witness lists of both sides.

Like an MLB manager constructing a lineup, Skaggs lawyers led by Rusty Hardin were purposeful in the order they presented witnesses. They began their case by calling a string of Angels executives to poke holes in the team's contention that they knew nothing about Kay's addiction. Key witnesses refuting those denials included Kay's wife, Camela, and Hetman.

Skaggs' lawyers also presented text messages that indicated Kay's supervisor, Tim Mead, and Angels traveling secretary Tom Taylor not only were aware of Kay's addiction, but did not act decisively to isolate him, get him into inpatient rehab or terminate his employment.

The plaintiffs called witnesses to establish that not only were the Angels negligent on how they dealt with Kay's addiction, they put his interest ahead of other employees and the organization by allowing him to continue working despite his bizarre behavior on the job.

Read more:Eric Kay's ex-wife says she told Angels co-workers he had a drug problem, contradicting their testimony

The last witness before the court went into recess until Dec. 1 was human resources expert Ramona Powell, who testified that the Angels did not follow their own policies in evaluating and responding to Kay's behavior. She said that had the team done so, Kay could have been terminated well before 2019.

Expect Angels lead attorney Todd Theodora to counter that Skaggs violated his contract and was guilty of fraud by concealing his drug problem for years. Furthermore, Skaggs allegedly continued to pressure Kay to procure opioids for him even after Kay completed drug rehab shortly before the fateful trip to Texas.

During opening statements, Theodora said that the Angels "know right from wrong," but he is expected to assert that the case is more about what the team didn't know. Kay and Skaggs have been described as masters at concealing their drug use. The Angels contend that had the team known of their addiction, officials could have provided them with treatment and perhaps Skaggs would be alive.

Testimony has already established that the Angels immediately informed MLB that Kay told co-worker Adam Chodzko that he was in Skaggs' hotel room the night the pitcher died. Expect the Angels attorneys to take it a step further and assert that Kay might not have been prosecuted if the Angels hadn't acted so swiftly.

Witnesses expected to be called by the defense include Angels president John Carpino and former MLB general manager Dan Duquette. The jury will view video of depositions given by former Angels players C.J. Cron, Matt Harvey, Cam Bedrosian and Blake Parker if they cannot testify in person.

The testimony of players can cut both ways, as evidenced by statements made by two players who testified for the plaintiffs — current Angels outfielder and three-time most valuable player Mike Trout and former relief pitcher Mike Morin.

Trout testified that Skaggs was "like a brother" to him, that he cried when told he'd died and that he had no clue about drug use. But Trout also hedged when asked whether he had offered to pay for Kay's rehab, saying he just told him he'd help any way he could.

Morin, who pitched for the Angels from 2014 to 2017, said Kay sold him opioids "five to eight times" after an arm injury made him desperate to overcome pain and return to the mound. Yet under cross examination, Morin conceded that Skaggs was responsible for his own actions.

Carpino is responsible for the Angels' day-to-day operations and his office is adjacent to those of Mead, Taylor and formerly Kay. Duquette, former general manager of the Montreal Expos, Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles, is expected to testify that Skaggs' future career earnings would have been no more than $30 million because of his drug use and history of injuries.

Read more:Angels star Mike Trout: Eric Kay had a drug problem and Tyler Skaggs was a valued friend

Skaggs' lawyers called earnings expert Jeff Fannell, a former labor lawyer for the MLB Players Assn., who testified that Skaggs would have earned between $109 million and $120 million and could still be pitching.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

One thing that has been shown over the last few years is that if there is an elite player available in free agency, the Mets are at least going to try to be involved. Sometimes they will land that player, like Juan Soto, and other times they won’t, like Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

There are few things as exciting in the hot stove season as blockbuster signings or trades. And there will be plenty of written and spoken words about some of the top-tier talent on the market, such as Pete Alonso, Edwin Diaz, Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger. 

However, the best organizations are the ones that excel at the margins. Star players certainly are needed and are important, but extracting value from the middle parts of a roster is how a complete team is put together.

This is something the Mets excelled at in 2024, with Luis Severino, Sean Manaea, Jose Iglesias, and eventually Jesse Winker among those who provided big value. 

There wasn’t that same level of success in 2025, with Clay Holmes, Brooks Raley and Griffin Canning (prior to his injury) standing out as wins for the Mets. 

While fans will surely celebrate the big moves that are made this offseason, the under-the-radar additions should not be discounted.

Here are five under-the-radar free agents the Mets should pursue this winter...

RHP Emilio Pagán

This might be the least under-the-radar of the names you will read on this list. 

The 34-year-old Pagán posted a 2.88 ERA in 70 games with 28 saves as the Reds' closer in 2025. He struck out 81 batters in 68.2 innings and posted a 0.92 WHIP.

The Mets currently do not have a closer, and this isn’t necessarily advocating signing Pagán in that role. Re-signing Diazis the top option, with names like Robert Suarez or Devin Williams as potential fallback options.

The Mets need, in the words of David Stearns, "multiple relievers."

Beyond the closer role, the Mets have Raley, A.J. Minter, and Huascar Brazóban as established relievers in the bullpen -- that’s it.

Pagán hasn’t historically been a closer, so a move to a setup role on a contender could appeal to him.

This past year he had a plus strikeout rate of 30 percent and a near average walk rate of 8.1 percent. Pagán averaged 96 mph on his fastball that he threw over 61 percent of the time, and graded as a plus pitch with +9 run value.

His best secondary pitch is a mid-80s splitter that generated a 40.7 percent whiff rate -- and batters hit only .121 against it.

It is unlikely Pagán will command more than a two-year deal, and as a setup man, he could make an overhauled Mets bullpen deeper and more secure.

RHP Nick Martinez

Martinez had an excellent 2024 season with the Reds, posting a 3.10 ERA in 42 appearances (16 starts).

This led to him receiving and accepting the qualifying offer to return to Cincinnati in 2025.

The 35-year-old didn’t have quite the same success, with a 4.45 ERA in 40 appearances (26 starts) across 165.2 innings.

Where Martinez brings value is his Swiss-army knife-like versatility as a pitcher. He can be a starter, he can be a standard reliever, and he can be a swing-man.

He is not the hardest thrower -- he will average just around 93 mph on his fastball and throw the kitchen sink with six pitches, according to Statcast.

Martinez’s game is based on throwing strikes, missing barrels and avoiding hard contact. He is not someone who can be relied on for a lot of swing-and-miss, as he routinely has had a below-average strikeout rate.

After a 2025 season where the Mets starters struggled to provide length, a pitcher like Martinez could have help bridge the gap in some of those games.

He could be an option on a one-year deal to help fill quite literally whatever role it is that the Mets wanted him to.

RHP Zach Eflin

The Mets are likely to be in pursuit of starting pitching help closer to the top of the trade and free agent market. 

In 2025, New York's starting pitching fell off after May. Part of that was the fact that they more or less ran out of starters due to injuries. 

Even if the Mets do acquire a frontline starter, veteran depth at the back end is something they also need. 

The 31-year-old Eflin pitched through back discomfort in 2025, which led to his least productive season in nearly a decade, posting a 5.93 ERA in 71.1 innings. He eventually underwent back surgery, but is expected to be full-go for spring training.

In 2023 and 2024, he combined to make 59 starts, posting a 3.54 ERA while averaging 171 innings per season.

Eflin is one of the best strike-throwers in baseball, ranking in the 98th percentile or better in walk percentage each of the last three seasons. When he is right, he throws six pitches that generate plus chase rate numbers and keeps the ball on the ground with weak contact. And the Mets have upgraded their infield defense with the addition of Marcus Semien.

If his back checks out on a physical, Eflin could fit in as a No. 4, borderline No. 3 type of starter that -- depending on how all the puzzle pieces of the Mets rotation fit -- could be an option as a second starter added.

OF Rob Refsnyder

After the trade of Brandon Nimmo, the Mets have two holes in the outfield that need to be filled.

One of the candidates is Mets No. 2 prospect Carson Benge.

The left-handed hitting Benge improved against left-handed pitching as the 2025 campaign wore on. He ultimately hit .232 with a .733 OPS against southpaws, but it is not abnormal for a young player to have platoon splits.

However, it could be in the Mets' best interest to pair Benge with a right-handed hitter, at least early in his career.

There are few hitters in baseball that hit left-handed pitching the way the 35-year-old Refsnyder does.

In 138 plate appearances against left-handed pitching in 2025, Refsnyder hit .302 with a .959 OPS with seven home runs and 25 RBI. He can consistently find the barrel and posts plus exit velocity and hard-hit rates.

If a one-year sample size isn’t enough, in 2024 he posted very similar numbers, hitting .302 with a .941 OPS with eight home runs and 23 RBI in 145 plate appearances against lefties.

Refsnyder is a tick below-average defensively, grading out at  -1 OAA for range, though he does have a plus arm -- with his arm strength grading above the 80th percentile in each of the last three seasons.

He has played exclusively in the corner outfield spots the last few seasons, but has some experience playing first base as well.

The Mets could do a whole lot worse than a Benge/Refsnyder platoon situation in a corner outfield spot.

RHP Jacob Webb

Webb was non-tendered by the Rangers last week after posting a 3.00 ERA in 55 games out of the bullpen.

He has quietly been a consistent reliever the last three years, posting a combined 3.22 ERA in 176.1 innings and striking out 173. His strikeout rate did drop some in 2025 at 21.7 percent, which is just below average.

He has often outperformed his expected ERA, but if a pitcher does that three years in a row, that can’t just be luck.

While his fastball averaged just 93.4 mph, it graded out as a plus pitch with a plus-7 run value grade as he gets some good ride on it. Opposing batters only hit .186 against the heater. Webb's mid-80s changeup was his best swing-and-miss pitch, generating a whiff rate of over 35 percent as opposing batters hit just .208 against it. His sweeper did not grade out as well as it did in 2024, so perhaps this is something that can be tweaked by new pitching coach Justin Willard.

Webb might profile best as a middle reliever. But while the Mets need to fill out the end of games as mentioned above, they also need middle relief help. Webb could be a value add in that role, likely on a one-year deal.

Here's an updated look at the best remaining MLB free agents originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

MLB free agency is much more like a marathon than a sprint.

In leagues like the NBA and NFL, the start of free agency typically coincides with a flurry of activity.

But the activity in MLB free agency tends to be spread out over the course of the winter. Look no further than last offseason, when Pete Alonso and Alex Bregman didn’t strike deals until February.

This year’s free agent class included 13 players who were extended the qualifying offer, and four of them accepted it: New York Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham, Chicago Cubs starter Shota Imanaga, Detroit Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres and Milwaukee Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff.

Meanwhile, the first big name to land a free agent deal was first baseman Josh Naylor, who re-signed with the Seattle Mariners on a five-year deal.

So, with hot stove season underway, here’s an updated look at the best remaining MLB free agents (this list will be updated as free agents sign; players listed alphabetically by last name):

Pete Alonso, 1B, New York Mets

Alonso, who turns 30 in December, is a free agent for the second straight year after declining his $24 million player option. The New York Mets‘ all-time home run leader slashed .272/.347/.524 with 38 dingers and 126 RBI last season. He ranked third in the majors in doubles (41), eighth in homers, second in RBI and 10th in OPS (.871). The five-time All-Star also logged 162 appearances for the second straight year. Alonso, though, finished second-to-last among first basemen in outs above average at minus-9.

Luis Arráez, 1B, San Diego Padres

Luis Arráez, 28, continued to be a singles machine in 2025, with 139 of his 181 hits being base hits. While the three-time batting champion didn’t record a .300-plus batting average for the first time since 2021, his .292 average still tied for 12th-best in the majors. And Arráez, who slashed .292/.327/.392 with eight homers, 61 RBI and 11 steals in 154 games, tied for the second-most hits in all of baseball. He had the lowest strikeout percentage in the majors (3.1%), but also tied for the 10th-worst walk percentage (5%). In the field, Arráez tied for third-worst among first basemen in outs above average at minus-7.

Harrison Bader, OF, Philadelphia Phillies

Harrison Bader‘s age-31 campaign was the best offensive season of his career, as he split time between the Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies. He posted career highs in hits (124), doubles (24), home runs (17), RBI (54) and OPS (.796) while slashing .277/.347/.449 across 146 games. Bader also tied for 18th among outfielders in outs above average (plus-7).

Chris Bassitt, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays

Chris Bassitt logged at least 30 starts for the fourth straight season. The 36-year-old recorded a 3.96 ERA, 166 strikeouts and 52 walks in 170.1 innings pitched over 31 starts and 32 total appearances. While Bassitt brought down his 1.462 WHIP from 2024, he still tied for ninth-worst in that category at 1.327.

Cody Bellinger, OF, New York Yankees

Cody Bellinger, 30, declined his $25 million player option following a strong debut season in the Bronx. The 2019 NL MVP hit .272/.334/.480 with 29 home runs, 98 RBI and 13 steals. Bellinger, who made his most appearances since 2019 with 152, tied for 18th among outfielders in outs above average (plus-7).

Bo Bichette, SS, Toronto Blue Jays

Bo Bichette, 27, was back to his old self at the dish following a 2024 season where he posted a .598 OPS while being limited to 81 games due to injuries. The two-time All-Star hit .311/.357/.483 with 18 homers and 94 RBI in 139 games. He tied for the second-most hits (181) and second-best batting average in the majors, while also tallying the second-most doubles (44). Bichette, however, tied for last among shortstops in outs above average at minus-13. Bichette declined the qualifying offer from Toronto.

Alex Bregman, 3B, Boston Red Sox

Bregman opted out of two years and $80 million remaining on the deal he signed with the Boston Red Sox last offseason. The 31-year-old is coming off his first All-Star campaign since 2019, hitting .273/.360/.462 with 18 home runs and 62 RBI in 114 games. Bregman, who missed extended time with a quad injury, tied for ninth among third baseman in outs above average at plus-3.

Dylan Cease, RHP, San Diego Padres

Dylan Cease, who turns 30 in December, is one of two San Diego Padres pitchers who declined the qualifying offer. Cease made at least 32 starts for the fifth straight season in 2025, though his numbers dipped following a fourth-place finish in 2024 NL Cy Young voting. Cease posted a 4.55 ERA across 168 innings with 215 strikeouts, 71 walks and a 1.327 WHIP. While he ranked third among MLB pitchers in strikeout percentage (29.8%) and sixth in strikeouts, Cease had the third-highest walk percentage (9.8%) and tied for the ninth-highest WHIP.

Edwin Díaz, RHP, New York Mets

Edwin Díaz opted out of the two years and $38 million in guarantees remaining on his long-term deal with the Mets, before declining the qualifying offer from New York. The 31-year-old reliever returned to All-Star form in 2025, sporting a 1.63 ERA across 66.1 innings with 98 strikeouts, 21 walks and a 0.874 WHIP. Díaz, who made 62 total appearances, was 28-for-31 in save chances.

Pete Fairbanks, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays declined a $7 million club option on Pete Fairbanks, allowing the right-hander to hit the open market. Fairbanks, who turns 32 in December, logged career highs in appearances (61), innings (60.1) and saves (27 in 32 chances) last season. He had a 2.83 ERA, 59 strikeouts, 18 walks and a 1.044 WHIP.

Zac Gallen, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks

Zac Gallen, who declined the qualifying offer, hit free agency on the heels of a subpar 2025 campaign. The 30-year-old hadn’t recorded an ERA higher than 3.65 since 2021, but saw that figure balloon to 4.83 across 192 innings last season. In 33 starts, Gallen posted 175 strikeouts, 66 walks and a 1.260 WHIP. He tied for the fourth-most homers allowed among all pitchers with 31.

Adolis García, OF, Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangersdidn’t tenderAdolis García, 32, a contract, allowing the 2023 ALCS MVP to hit free agency. After hitting 39 homers with an .836 OPS in Texas’ 2023 championship campaign, García has recorded two consecutive sub-.700 OPS seasons at the dish. He hit .227/.271/.394 with 19 home runs, 75 RBI and 13 steals in 135 games last season. The 2023 Gold Glove winner posted an outs above average of plus-1 in right field, tying him for 45th among all outfielders.

Lucas Giolito, RHP, Boston Red Sox

Lucas Giolito enjoyed quite the bounce-back season after being traded and subsequently waived in 2023 and then missing all of 2024 due to UCL surgery. The 31-year-old posted a 3.41 ERA — his best since 2019 — in 145 innings over 26 starts. Giolito recorded 121 strikeouts and 56 walks with a 1.290 WHIP.

Ryan Helsley, RHP, New York Mets

Had Ryan Helsley hit free agency last year, he likely would have garnered much more interest. The right-hander led the majors with 49 saves in 2024 and posted a 2.04 ERA en route to being named the NL Reliever of the Year. But Helsley, 31, took a huge step back in 2025, capped by a disastrous stint with the Mets following a midseason trade from the St. Louis Cardinals. In 22 appearances for New York, Helsley had a 7.20 ERA and a 1.800 WHIP with four blown saves. In 56 innings over 58 total appearances, he had a 4.50 ERA, 63 strikeouts, 25 walks and a 1.536 WHIP.

Rhys Hoskins, 1B, Milwaukee Brewers

Rhys Hoskins was limited to 90 games last season as he missed extended time with a thumb injury. The 32-year-old hit .237/.332/.416 with 12 home runs and 43 RBI. He was tied for 11th among first basemen in outs above average at plus-1.

Tatsuya Imai, RHP, Japan

Tatsuya Imai is one of several Japanese stars who were posted to free agency by Nippon Professional Baseball clubs. Imai, 29, put up a 3.15 ERA in 159 games over eight NPB seasons. The right-hander is coming off his best season, sporting a 1.92 ERA with 178 strikeouts, 45 walks and a 0.892 WHIP in 163.2 innings over 24 games. He has until Jan. 2 to sign with an MLB team.

Kenley Jansen, RHP, Los Angeles Angels

In his age-37 season, Kenley Jansen posted a sub-3.00 ERA (2.59) for the first time since 2021 and a sub-1.000 WHIP (0.949) for the first time since 2018. And the two-time Reliever of the Year converted 29 of 30 save chances. In 62 appearances, Jansen had 57 strikeouts and 19 walks across 59 innings.

Merrill Kelly, RHP, Texas Rangers

Merrill Kelly, 37, was moved midseason from Arizona to Texas, finishing with a 3.52 ERA, 167 strikeouts, 48 walks and a 1.114 WHIP in 184 innings over 32 total starts. His numbers did dip following the trade, though, with a 4.23 ERA and 1.247 WHIP in 10 starts with the Rangers. Kelly was sidelined for an extended period due to a shoulder injury in 2024, when he made 13 starts.

Michael King, RHP, San Diego Padres

Michael King, like Cease, declined the qualifying offer from the Padres. The 30-year-old is coming off his second straight season as a full-time starter, though he was limited to 15 starts in 2025 due to injuries. King posted a 3.44 ERA across 73.1 innings with 76 strikeouts, 26 walks and a 1.200 WHIP. He had a 2.95 ERA, 201 strikeouts, 63 walks and a 1.192 WHIP across 173.2 innings in 2024.

Nick Martinez, RHP, Cincinnati Reds

Nick Martinez again split time between the rotation and bullpen in 2025, making 26 starts and 14 relief appearances. The 35-year-old saw his ERA rise from 3.10 in 2024 to 4.45 in 2025 and his WHIP go from 1.026 to 1.207. Martinez, who accepted the qualifying offer last offseason, struck out 116 hitters and walked 42 in a career-high 165.2 innings.

Munetaka Murakami, 3B/1B, Japan

Munetaka Murakami, 25, has until Dec. 22 to sign with an MLB club. The left-handed slugger hit .270/.394/.557 with 246 home runs and 647 RBI in 892 games over eight NPB seasons. Injuries limited Murakami to 56 games last year, but he still hit 22 long balls with a 1.043 OPS.

Ryan O’Hearn, 1B, San Diego Padres

Ryan O’Hearn, 32, was an All-Star for the first time in the 2025 season, which saw him dealt from the Baltimore Orioles to the Padres at the deadline. O’Hearn hit .281/.366/.437 in 144 total games while posting career highs in home runs (17) and RBI (63). He tied for fourth in outs above average at first base (plus-6), where logged 75 appearances.

Kazuma Okamoto, 3B/1B, Japan

Kazuma Okamoto, 29, hit .277/.361/.521 with 248 home runs and 717 RBI in 1,074 games over 11 NPB seasons. An elbow injury limited Okamoto to 69 games last season, when he hit .327/.416/.598 with 21 homers and 49 RBI. Okamoto has until Jan. 4 to sign with a team.

Marcell Ozuna, DH, Atlanta Braves

After two straight seasons with a .900-plus OPS, Marcell Ozuna saw that figure dip to .756 in 2025. The 35-year-old slashed .232/.355/.400 with 21 homers and 68 RBI in 145 games. Ozuna had hit a combined 79 home runs in the previous two seasons.

Emilio Pagán, RHP, Cincinnati Reds

Emilio Pagán tied for the fifth-most saves in 2025, converting a career-best 32 of his 38 chances. The 34-year-old posted a 2.88 ERA, 81 strikeouts, 22 walks and a 0.917 WHIP in 68.2 innings over 70 appearances.

Jorge Polanco, 3B/2B, Seattle Mariners

Jorge Polanco rebounded from a down debut season with Seattle in which he tallied a .651 OPS. The 32-year-old hit .265/.326/.495 with 26 homers and 78 RBI in 138 games last season. Polanco, who was mostly used as a DH, had an outs above above average of minus-4 in the field.

J.T. Realmuto, C, Philadelphia Phillies

J.T. Realmuto, 34, last season failed to record a .750-plus OPS for the first time in a decade. The three-time All-Star catcher hit .257/.315/.384 with 12 home runs and 52 RBI.

Tyler Rogers, RHP, New York Mets

Tyler Rogers tallied the fourth-most holds this past season with 32 as he split time between the San Francisco Giants and the Mets. The submarine pitcher recorded a 1.98 ERA in 77.1 innings over 81 total appearances. Rogers, who turns 35 in December, had 48 strikeouts, seven walks and a 0.944 WHIP.

Max Scherzer, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays

Max Scherzer, 41, posted a career-worst 5.19 ERA in 2025 while being limited to 17 starts due to a thumb injury. The three-time Cy Young winner had 82 strikeouts, 23 walks and a 1.294 WHIP in 86 innings. Opposing hitters put up an .810 OPS against Scherzer, the highest mark of his career. It was the second straight season that Scherzer missed extended time after making nine starts in 2024.

Kyle Schwarber, DH, Philadelphia Phillies

Kyle Schwarber finished as the NL MVP runner-up ranking second in the majors in home runs (56), first in RBI (132), fifth in OPS (.928) and fifth in walks (108). The 32-year-old had a slash line of .240/.365/.563 in 162 games. Schwarber, who declined the qualifying offer, hit 187 long balls across his four seasons with the Phillies.

Eugenio Suárez, 3B, Seattle Mariners

Eugenio Suárez last season made his first All-Star Game since 2018, matching his career high in homers (49) and driving in a personal-best 118 runs. The 34-year-old had an .897 OPS and 36 homers in 106 games with the D-backs, but dropped off to a .682 OPS and 13 homers in 53 games after a midseason move to the M’s. His outs above average of minus-5 ranked 32nd among third basemen.

Ranger Suárez, LHP, Philadelphia Phillies

In addition to Schwarber, Ranger Suárez also declined the qualifying offer from the Phillies. The 30-year-old southpaw posted a 3.20 ERA in 2025, his best in a season in which he made at least 20 starts. Suárez, who earned his first All-Star nod the season prior, logged 157.1 innings over 26 starts with 151 strikeouts, 38 walks and a 1.220 WHIP.

Robert Suarez, RHP, San Diego Padres

Robert Suarez opted out of the remaining two years on his deal, which included a pair of $8 million player options. The 34-year-old, who made his MLB debut in 2022, earned his second straight All-Star nod in 2025. Suarez’s 40 saves, in 45 chances, ranked second in the majors. He tallied 70 total appearances, posting a 2.97 ERA with 75 strikeouts, 16 walks and a 0.904 WHIP across 69.2 innings.

Kona Takahashi, RHP, Japan

Kona Takahashi, like Okamoto, has until Jan. 4 to sign with an MLB team. The 28-year-old right-hander recorded a 3.39 ERA and 1.296 WHIP in 196 games over 11 NPB seasons. In 24 games last season, Takahashi had a 3.04 ERA, 88 strikeouts, 41 walks and a 1.230 WHIP across 148 innings.

Kyle Tucker, OF, Chicago Cubs

Following an offseason trade from the Houston Astros, Kyle Tucker earned his fourth straight All-Star nod in 2025. The 28-year-old hit .266/.377/.464 with 22 home runs, 73 RBI and 25 stolen bases. But Tucker, a Gold Glove winner in 2022, tied for 70th among outfielders in outs above average at minus-2 while playing right field.

Framber Valdez, LHP, Houston Astros

Framber Valdez, 32, is the top left-hander in this free agent class. The two-time All-Star has made at least 28 starts and posted a sub-3.70 ERA in each of the last four seasons. He made 31 starts in 2025, posting a 3.66 ERA, 187 strikeouts, 68 walks and a 1.245 WHIP across 192 innings. His 20 quality starts last season tied for the seventh-most in the majors, and the southpaw has tossed eight complete games since 2022, good for the second-most over that span.

Justin Verlander, RHP, San Francisco Giants

Justin Verlander logged 29 starts in his age-42 season. The three-time Cy Young winner recorded a 3.85 ERA, 137 strikeouts, 52 walks and a 1.362 WHIP in 152 innings.

Luke Weaver, RHP, New York Yankees

Luke Weaver was deployed as a full-time reliever for the second straight season in 2025. The 32-year-old recorded a 3.62 ERA, 72 strikeouts, 20 walks and a 1.021 WHIP in 64.2 innings over 64 appearances. Weaver converted eight of his 12 save chances.

Devin Williams, RHP, New York Yankees

Devin Williams, a two-time Reliever of the Year winner, had a rocky first season with the Yankees. The 31-year-old posted a career-worst 4.79 ERA with 90 strikeouts, 25 walks and a 1.129 WHIP in 62 innings over 67 appearances. Williams was 18-for-22 in save chances.

Here's an updated look at the best remaining MLB free agents originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

MLB free agency is much more like a marathon than a sprint.

In leagues like the NBA and NFL, the start of free agency typically coincides with a flurry of activity.

But the activity in MLB free agency tends to be spread out over the course of the winter. Look no further than last offseason, when Pete Alonso and Alex Bregman didn’t strike deals until February.

This year’s free agent class included 13 players who were extended the qualifying offer, and four of them accepted it: New York Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham, Chicago Cubs starter Shota Imanaga, Detroit Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres and Milwaukee Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff.

Meanwhile, the first big name to land a free agent deal was first baseman Josh Naylor, who re-signed with the Seattle Mariners on a five-year deal.

So, with hot stove season underway, here’s an updated look at the best remaining MLB free agents (this list will be updated as free agents sign; players listed alphabetically by last name):

Pete Alonso, 1B, New York Mets

Alonso, who turns 30 in December, is a free agent for the second straight year after declining his $24 million player option. The New York Mets‘ all-time home run leader slashed .272/.347/.524 with 38 dingers and 126 RBI last season. He ranked third in the majors in doubles (41), eighth in homers, second in RBI and 10th in OPS (.871). The five-time All-Star also logged 162 appearances for the second straight year. Alonso, though, finished second-to-last among first basemen in outs above average at minus-9.

Luis Arráez, 1B, San Diego Padres

Luis Arráez, 28, continued to be a singles machine in 2025, with 139 of his 181 hits being base hits. While the three-time batting champion didn’t record a .300-plus batting average for the first time since 2021, his .292 average still tied for 12th-best in the majors. And Arráez, who slashed .292/.327/.392 with eight homers, 61 RBI and 11 steals in 154 games, tied for the second-most hits in all of baseball. He had the lowest strikeout percentage in the majors (3.1%), but also tied for the 10th-worst walk percentage (5%). In the field, Arráez tied for third-worst among first basemen in outs above average at minus-7.

Harrison Bader, OF, Philadelphia Phillies

Harrison Bader‘s age-31 campaign was the best offensive season of his career, as he split time between the Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies. He posted career highs in hits (124), doubles (24), home runs (17), RBI (54) and OPS (.796) while slashing .277/.347/.449 across 146 games. Bader also tied for 18th among outfielders in outs above average (plus-7).

Chris Bassitt, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays

Chris Bassitt logged at least 30 starts for the fourth straight season. The 36-year-old recorded a 3.96 ERA, 166 strikeouts and 52 walks in 170.1 innings pitched over 31 starts and 32 total appearances. While Bassitt brought down his 1.462 WHIP from 2024, he still tied for ninth-worst in that category at 1.327.

Cody Bellinger, OF, New York Yankees

Cody Bellinger, 30, declined his $25 million player option following a strong debut season in the Bronx. The 2019 NL MVP hit .272/.334/.480 with 29 home runs, 98 RBI and 13 steals. Bellinger, who made his most appearances since 2019 with 152, tied for 18th among outfielders in outs above average (plus-7).

Bo Bichette, SS, Toronto Blue Jays

Bo Bichette, 27, was back to his old self at the dish following a 2024 season where he posted a .598 OPS while being limited to 81 games due to injuries. The two-time All-Star hit .311/.357/.483 with 18 homers and 94 RBI in 139 games. He tied for the second-most hits (181) and second-best batting average in the majors, while also tallying the second-most doubles (44). Bichette, however, tied for last among shortstops in outs above average at minus-13. Bichette declined the qualifying offer from Toronto.

Alex Bregman, 3B, Boston Red Sox

Bregman opted out of two years and $80 million remaining on the deal he signed with the Boston Red Sox last offseason. The 31-year-old is coming off his first All-Star campaign since 2019, hitting .273/.360/.462 with 18 home runs and 62 RBI in 114 games. Bregman, who missed extended time with a quad injury, tied for ninth among third baseman in outs above average at plus-3.

Dylan Cease, RHP, San Diego Padres

Dylan Cease, who turns 30 in December, is one of two San Diego Padres pitchers who declined the qualifying offer. Cease made at least 32 starts for the fifth straight season in 2025, though his numbers dipped following a fourth-place finish in 2024 NL Cy Young voting. Cease posted a 4.55 ERA across 168 innings with 215 strikeouts, 71 walks and a 1.327 WHIP. While he ranked third among MLB pitchers in strikeout percentage (29.8%) and sixth in strikeouts, Cease had the third-highest walk percentage (9.8%) and tied for the ninth-highest WHIP.

Edwin Díaz, RHP, New York Mets

Edwin Díaz opted out of the two years and $38 million in guarantees remaining on his long-term deal with the Mets, before declining the qualifying offer from New York. The 31-year-old reliever returned to All-Star form in 2025, sporting a 1.63 ERA across 66.1 innings with 98 strikeouts, 21 walks and a 0.874 WHIP. Díaz, who made 62 total appearances, was 28-for-31 in save chances.

Pete Fairbanks, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays declined a $7 million club option on Pete Fairbanks, allowing the right-hander to hit the open market. Fairbanks, who turns 32 in December, logged career highs in appearances (61), innings (60.1) and saves (27 in 32 chances) last season. He had a 2.83 ERA, 59 strikeouts, 18 walks and a 1.044 WHIP.

Zac Gallen, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks

Zac Gallen, who declined the qualifying offer, hit free agency on the heels of a subpar 2025 campaign. The 30-year-old hadn’t recorded an ERA higher than 3.65 since 2021, but saw that figure balloon to 4.83 across 192 innings last season. In 33 starts, Gallen posted 175 strikeouts, 66 walks and a 1.260 WHIP. He tied for the fourth-most homers allowed among all pitchers with 31.

Adolis García, OF, Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangersdidn’t tenderAdolis García, 32, a contract, allowing the 2023 ALCS MVP to hit free agency. After hitting 39 homers with an .836 OPS in Texas’ 2023 championship campaign, García has recorded two consecutive sub-.700 OPS seasons at the dish. He hit .227/.271/.394 with 19 home runs, 75 RBI and 13 steals in 135 games last season. The 2023 Gold Glove winner posted an outs above average of plus-1 in right field, tying him for 45th among all outfielders.

Lucas Giolito, RHP, Boston Red Sox

Lucas Giolito enjoyed quite the bounce-back season after being traded and subsequently waived in 2023 and then missing all of 2024 due to UCL surgery. The 31-year-old posted a 3.41 ERA — his best since 2019 — in 145 innings over 26 starts. Giolito recorded 121 strikeouts and 56 walks with a 1.290 WHIP.

Ryan Helsley, RHP, New York Mets

Had Ryan Helsley hit free agency last year, he likely would have garnered much more interest. The right-hander led the majors with 49 saves in 2024 and posted a 2.04 ERA en route to being named the NL Reliever of the Year. But Helsley, 31, took a huge step back in 2025, capped by a disastrous stint with the Mets following a midseason trade from the St. Louis Cardinals. In 22 appearances for New York, Helsley had a 7.20 ERA and a 1.800 WHIP with four blown saves. In 56 innings over 58 total appearances, he had a 4.50 ERA, 63 strikeouts, 25 walks and a 1.536 WHIP.

Rhys Hoskins, 1B, Milwaukee Brewers

Rhys Hoskins was limited to 90 games last season as he missed extended time with a thumb injury. The 32-year-old hit .237/.332/.416 with 12 home runs and 43 RBI. He was tied for 11th among first basemen in outs above average at plus-1.

Tatsuya Imai, RHP, Japan

Tatsuya Imai is one of several Japanese stars who were posted to free agency by Nippon Professional Baseball clubs. Imai, 29, put up a 3.15 ERA in 159 games over eight NPB seasons. The right-hander is coming off his best season, sporting a 1.92 ERA with 178 strikeouts, 45 walks and a 0.892 WHIP in 163.2 innings over 24 games. He has until Jan. 2 to sign with an MLB team.

Kenley Jansen, RHP, Los Angeles Angels

In his age-37 season, Kenley Jansen posted a sub-3.00 ERA (2.59) for the first time since 2021 and a sub-1.000 WHIP (0.949) for the first time since 2018. And the two-time Reliever of the Year converted 29 of 30 save chances. In 62 appearances, Jansen had 57 strikeouts and 19 walks across 59 innings.

Merrill Kelly, RHP, Texas Rangers

Merrill Kelly, 37, was moved midseason from Arizona to Texas, finishing with a 3.52 ERA, 167 strikeouts, 48 walks and a 1.114 WHIP in 184 innings over 32 total starts. His numbers did dip following the trade, though, with a 4.23 ERA and 1.247 WHIP in 10 starts with the Rangers. Kelly was sidelined for an extended period due to a shoulder injury in 2024, when he made 13 starts.

Michael King, RHP, San Diego Padres

Michael King, like Cease, declined the qualifying offer from the Padres. The 30-year-old is coming off his second straight season as a full-time starter, though he was limited to 15 starts in 2025 due to injuries. King posted a 3.44 ERA across 73.1 innings with 76 strikeouts, 26 walks and a 1.200 WHIP. He had a 2.95 ERA, 201 strikeouts, 63 walks and a 1.192 WHIP across 173.2 innings in 2024.

Nick Martinez, RHP, Cincinnati Reds

Nick Martinez again split time between the rotation and bullpen in 2025, making 26 starts and 14 relief appearances. The 35-year-old saw his ERA rise from 3.10 in 2024 to 4.45 in 2025 and his WHIP go from 1.026 to 1.207. Martinez, who accepted the qualifying offer last offseason, struck out 116 hitters and walked 42 in a career-high 165.2 innings.

Munetaka Murakami, 3B/1B, Japan

Munetaka Murakami, 25, has until Dec. 22 to sign with an MLB club. The left-handed slugger hit .270/.394/.557 with 246 home runs and 647 RBI in 892 games over eight NPB seasons. Injuries limited Murakami to 56 games last year, but he still hit 22 long balls with a 1.043 OPS.

Ryan O’Hearn, 1B, San Diego Padres

Ryan O’Hearn, 32, was an All-Star for the first time in the 2025 season, which saw him dealt from the Baltimore Orioles to the Padres at the deadline. O’Hearn hit .281/.366/.437 in 144 total games while posting career highs in home runs (17) and RBI (63). He tied for fourth in outs above average at first base (plus-6), where logged 75 appearances.

Kazuma Okamoto, 3B/1B, Japan

Kazuma Okamoto, 29, hit .277/.361/.521 with 248 home runs and 717 RBI in 1,074 games over 11 NPB seasons. An elbow injury limited Okamoto to 69 games last season, when he hit .327/.416/.598 with 21 homers and 49 RBI. Okamoto has until Jan. 4 to sign with a team.

Marcell Ozuna, DH, Atlanta Braves

After two straight seasons with a .900-plus OPS, Marcell Ozuna saw that figure dip to .756 in 2025. The 35-year-old slashed .232/.355/.400 with 21 homers and 68 RBI in 145 games. Ozuna had hit a combined 79 home runs in the previous two seasons.

Emilio Pagán, RHP, Cincinnati Reds

Emilio Pagán tied for the fifth-most saves in 2025, converting a career-best 32 of his 38 chances. The 34-year-old posted a 2.88 ERA, 81 strikeouts, 22 walks and a 0.917 WHIP in 68.2 innings over 70 appearances.

Jorge Polanco, 3B/2B, Seattle Mariners

Jorge Polanco rebounded from a down debut season with Seattle in which he tallied a .651 OPS. The 32-year-old hit .265/.326/.495 with 26 homers and 78 RBI in 138 games last season. Polanco, who was mostly used as a DH, had an outs above above average of minus-4 in the field.

J.T. Realmuto, C, Philadelphia Phillies

J.T. Realmuto, 34, last season failed to record a .750-plus OPS for the first time in a decade. The three-time All-Star catcher hit .257/.315/.384 with 12 home runs and 52 RBI.

Tyler Rogers, RHP, New York Mets

Tyler Rogers tallied the fourth-most holds this past season with 32 as he split time between the San Francisco Giants and the Mets. The submarine pitcher recorded a 1.98 ERA in 77.1 innings over 81 total appearances. Rogers, who turns 35 in December, had 48 strikeouts, seven walks and a 0.944 WHIP.

Max Scherzer, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays

Max Scherzer, 41, posted a career-worst 5.19 ERA in 2025 while being limited to 17 starts due to a thumb injury. The three-time Cy Young winner had 82 strikeouts, 23 walks and a 1.294 WHIP in 86 innings. Opposing hitters put up an .810 OPS against Scherzer, the highest mark of his career. It was the second straight season that Scherzer missed extended time after making nine starts in 2024.

Kyle Schwarber, DH, Philadelphia Phillies

Kyle Schwarber finished as the NL MVP runner-up ranking second in the majors in home runs (56), first in RBI (132), fifth in OPS (.928) and fifth in walks (108). The 32-year-old had a slash line of .240/.365/.563 in 162 games. Schwarber, who declined the qualifying offer, hit 187 long balls across his four seasons with the Phillies.

Eugenio Suárez, 3B, Seattle Mariners

Eugenio Suárez last season made his first All-Star Game since 2018, matching his career high in homers (49) and driving in a personal-best 118 runs. The 34-year-old had an .897 OPS and 36 homers in 106 games with the D-backs, but dropped off to a .682 OPS and 13 homers in 53 games after a midseason move to the M’s. His outs above average of minus-5 ranked 32nd among third basemen.

Ranger Suárez, LHP, Philadelphia Phillies

In addition to Schwarber, Ranger Suárez also declined the qualifying offer from the Phillies. The 30-year-old southpaw posted a 3.20 ERA in 2025, his best in a season in which he made at least 20 starts. Suárez, who earned his first All-Star nod the season prior, logged 157.1 innings over 26 starts with 151 strikeouts, 38 walks and a 1.220 WHIP.

Robert Suarez, RHP, San Diego Padres

Robert Suarez opted out of the remaining two years on his deal, which included a pair of $8 million player options. The 34-year-old, who made his MLB debut in 2022, earned his second straight All-Star nod in 2025. Suarez’s 40 saves, in 45 chances, ranked second in the majors. He tallied 70 total appearances, posting a 2.97 ERA with 75 strikeouts, 16 walks and a 0.904 WHIP across 69.2 innings.

Kona Takahashi, RHP, Japan

Kona Takahashi, like Okamoto, has until Jan. 4 to sign with an MLB team. The 28-year-old right-hander recorded a 3.39 ERA and 1.296 WHIP in 196 games over 11 NPB seasons. In 24 games last season, Takahashi had a 3.04 ERA, 88 strikeouts, 41 walks and a 1.230 WHIP across 148 innings.

Kyle Tucker, OF, Chicago Cubs

Following an offseason trade from the Houston Astros, Kyle Tucker earned his fourth straight All-Star nod in 2025. The 28-year-old hit .266/.377/.464 with 22 home runs, 73 RBI and 25 stolen bases. But Tucker, a Gold Glove winner in 2022, tied for 70th among outfielders in outs above average at minus-2 while playing right field.

Framber Valdez, LHP, Houston Astros

Framber Valdez, 32, is the top left-hander in this free agent class. The two-time All-Star has made at least 28 starts and posted a sub-3.70 ERA in each of the last four seasons. He made 31 starts in 2025, posting a 3.66 ERA, 187 strikeouts, 68 walks and a 1.245 WHIP across 192 innings. His 20 quality starts last season tied for the seventh-most in the majors, and the southpaw has tossed eight complete games since 2022, good for the second-most over that span.

Justin Verlander, RHP, San Francisco Giants

Justin Verlander logged 29 starts in his age-42 season. The three-time Cy Young winner recorded a 3.85 ERA, 137 strikeouts, 52 walks and a 1.362 WHIP in 152 innings.

Luke Weaver, RHP, New York Yankees

Luke Weaver was deployed as a full-time reliever for the second straight season in 2025. The 32-year-old recorded a 3.62 ERA, 72 strikeouts, 20 walks and a 1.021 WHIP in 64.2 innings over 64 appearances. Weaver converted eight of his 12 save chances.

Devin Williams, RHP, New York Yankees

Devin Williams, a two-time Reliever of the Year winner, had a rocky first season with the Yankees. The 31-year-old posted a career-worst 4.79 ERA with 90 strikeouts, 25 walks and a 1.129 WHIP in 62 innings over 67 appearances. Williams was 18-for-22 in save chances.

When you think about the Mets' offseason and what the team will look like at the start of the 2026 campaign, there are a few things that immediately come to mind.

One is the future of the offensive core, which was broken up on Sunday night when Brandon Nimmo was traded to the Rangers for Marcus Semien.

Another is the free agency of Pete Alonso, who could return but whose power would have to be replaced externally if he signs elsewhere. 

Then there's the starting rotation, which will very likely be bolstered in a big way -- with a trade for a top-of-the-rotation arm seeming likely.

Regarding the bullpen? 

What the relief corps looks like in 2026 will have a lot to do with Edwin Diaz, who -- like Alonso -- is a free agent the Mets would like to bring back.

As New York goes about rebuilding the bullpen, here's how things are shaking out...

The Locks

Brooks Raley and A.J. Minter. That's it.

And Minter, who missed most of last season after surgery to repair a torn lat, will likely be a few weeks behind to start the season.

Ryan Helsley, Tyler Rogers, and Gregory Soto -- who were all acquired at last season's trade deadline -- are free agents.

Ryne Stanek is also a free agent, and Drew Smith's option for 2026 was declined. Smith had been working his way back from Tommy John surgery.

Meanwhile, Reed Garrett and Dedniel Núñez are both expected to miss the entire season after undergoing TJS.

Raley and Minter are both legitimate late-game weapons, and Raley was tremendous in 2025 after returning from his own Tommy John surgery. In 30 appearances over 25.2 innings, he posted a 2.45 ERA (2.12 FIP) and 0.77 WHIP.

The Internal Candidates

Huascar Brazoban figures to be in the mix again, and hard-throwing prospect Dylan Ross could also be a factor.

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

But in an eight-man bullpen that has only two locks as of now (and perhaps just one if Minter is delayed), it's fair to believe the Mets will only rely on one or perhaps two of the aforementioned internal candidates out of the gate.

That means there is tons of work to do.

The External Candidates

I've said it a bunch of times this offseason, and I'll say it again: re-signing Diaz should be the easiest move the Mets make all offseason.

Will Sammon of The Athletic recently reported that contract length is currently a "sticking point" between the Mets and Diaz, with New York possibly hoping to keep a potential deal to three years and Diaz wanting five.

To me, that reads like an easy compromise should be doable -- offer Diaz four years at right around the same average annual value he was making before he opted out of the final two years of his deal. That would mean a contract worth roughly $80 million.

If another team offers Diaz five years at $100 million or more, it could be understandable for the Mets to not match it. But not going to four years if necessary would be strange, especially considering that the alternative closing options will all almost certainly get multiyear deals.

One of them is Devin Williams, who -- like Diaz -- was born in 1994. Despite Williams having a relatively down campaign in 2025, his stuff remains elite. Per multiple reports, the Mets have already expressed interest in Williams.

Another option is Robert Suarez, who is entering his age-35 season and has a scintillating fastball. Like Williams, the Mets have reportedly shown interest in Suarez.

There's also Pete Fairbanks, who is entering his age-32 season and has been one of the best relievers in baseball since 2020. He's on the market after his option was declined by the cost-conscious Rays. 

In an ideal world, the Mets would re-sign Diaz and add one of the above three pitchers as a setup man. But that could be easier said than done, especially if all three have options to close elsewhere.

Other intriguing relief arms on the market include Kenley Jansen, Emilio Pagan, Luke Weaver, and Kyle Finnegan. In the case of Jansen, it's possible he would want to close since he's chasing the 500 save mark. 

Red Sox acquiring pitcher Sonny Gray in trade with Cardinals: Report originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Red Sox have made an early move to bolster their starting rotation.

The Red Sox have acquired right-handed pitcher Sonny Gray in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals, the team announced Tuesday. Jon Heyman of the New York Post first reported the news.

Boston is sending right-hander Richard Fitts and left-hander Brandon Clarke to St. Louis in exchange for Gray and cash, as first reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Here are the full terms of the deal, with MassLive’s Chris Cotillo reporting the Cardinals are sending $20 million to Boston:

• Red Sox receive: RHP Sonny Gray, $20 million
• Cardinals receive: RHP Richard Fitts, LHP Brandon Clarke

Gray, 36, posted a 4.28 ERA with a 1.234 WHIP over 32 starts for the Cardinals last season. Those aren’t remarkable numbers, but Gray did boast impressive command, leading the majors in strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.29) with 201 strikeouts to just 38 walks.

A three-time All-Star, Gray has pitched for five different teams — the Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees, Cincinnati Reds, Minnesota Twins and Cardinals — over 13 MLB seasons.

Gray signed a three-year, $75 million contract with St. Louis in 2024 and was set to make $35 million this season. According to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, however, the Red Sox are reworking his contract to a $31 million salary in 2026 with a mutual-option buyout of $10 million after the season.

So, with $20 million coming in from St. Louis, Boston essentially is on the hook for $21 million of Gray’s salary for one year. That’s a relatively fair price to pay a pitcher of Gray’s age and stature.

At the moment, Gray would slot in as a middle-of-the-rotation arm behind Garrett Crochet and Brayan Bello, giving the Red Sox an experienced pitcher with strong command who can eat innings.

Rookies Payton Tolle and Connelly Early showed plenty of promise last season and could round out the rest of the rotation. Both young hurlers are relatively unproven, however, so you could argue Craig Breslow and Co. still need to add more starting pitching — preferably a big name like Minnesota Twins right-hander Joe Ryan, who has been linked to Boston in trade rumors.

Tuesday’s trade for Gray — with old friend and Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom — is a clear sign the Red Sox are in “win now” mode. But how they add around Gray will go a long way in determining whether this move was worthwhile.