Category: MLB

Where Giants stand in collaborative search for Tony Vitello's new coaching staff originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

LAS VEGAS — As Buster Posey settled into a corner of a conference room at The Cosmopolitan on Tuesday afternoon, a large crowd gathered a few feet away for Paul DePodesta, who was named Colorado Rockies president of baseball operations last week after a decade in the NFL. It was a reminder that for all the heavy lifting ahead for Posey and the Giants, there are other organizations with bigger holes to fill.

Unlike DePodesta, Posey at least has his manager. Most of the rest is still up in the air, though. 

At the annual General Managers meetings, Posey said the front office and new manager Tony Vitello are closing in on finalizing contracts with several coaches, but announcements were not imminent Tuesday afternoon. There are some, however, who know they will be back.

Assistant hitting coach Oscar Bernard, quality control coach Taira Uematsu and bullpen catcher Eliezer Zambrano all have been informed they’ll be back, Posey said. There will be new leadership atop the hitting and pitching groups, and possibly new base coaches. Matt Williams was told early in the offseason that he wouldn’t return, and the status of first base coach Mark Hallberg is to be determined. 

“He’s one of those that we’d love to have back, but he has been kind of a popular guy with some other teams, as well,” Posey said of his former Florida State teammate. “We’re working through that.”

Catching coach Alex Burg is in a similar spot, balancing external interest with the Giants’ offer. Posey also said that Ron Wotus will be back in a similar role to the last few seasons, working with the front office, big leaguers and visiting minor league affiliates. Hitting coach Pat Burrell will remain with the organization but will not be on Vitello’s staff, and assistant hitting coach Damon Minor also has been let go. 

While it’s not yet official, Vitello’s first addition was former San Diego Padres manager Jayce Tingler. It would seem like an obvious fit to make Tingler the bench coach or associate manager, but Posey said the front office isn’t ready to announce his exact role.

The Giants are believed to be closer to hiring a hitting coach than a pitching coach. J.P. Martinez, the incumbent on the pitching side, had hoped to remain, but he ended up taking a job as the bullpen coach for the Atlanta Braves. Bullpen coach Garvin Alston also hoped to return, but he was let go, too. 

“With nothing being a guarantee [in San Francisco] for J.P., I think he took the bird in hand,” Posey said. “We were still going through the process with him. We hadn’t told him that he was not going to be returning. I’m a J.P. fan and had a good talk with him when he took the [Braves] job. I told him I think he’s going to be successful and maybe we’ll see him down the road.”

While Ryan Vogelsong has been rumored as a potential replacement for Martinez, he is not in the mix, per sources. Another former Posey teammate does have an increased role, though. Former Giants reliever Javier Lopez has been added to the front office in an advisory role. 

There are a lot of holes to fill, and all of Vitello’s picks will get a bit of extra scrutiny given the manager’s lack of MLB experience. But Posey said the group is trying to avoid feeling rushed. There’s plenty of offseason left and the interviews will continue this week, with Posey and Vitello leading the way. General manager Zack Minasian, assistant GM Jeremy Shelley and VP of analytics Paul Bien also have been part of the process. 

Posey let Bob Melvin handle his own staff, but has been much more involved in helping Vitello fill out his first big league coaching staff. He said the process has been “a collaboration.”

“I think you’re going to be most productive in that way,” he said. “I don’t think it would be fair for me to come in and say I’m going to choose every single person. That’s just not the way I think is best, or vice versa, for [Vitello] to operate that way, as well.”

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Why Jeff Passan claims star reliever Devin Williams is ‘perfect' Giants addition originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

As the annual General Managers Meetings in Las Vegas have begun, so have the offseason transactions. 

There have been no splashy free agent signings in the early days of MLB’s Hot Stove season, but that doesn’t stop media speculation on potential fits for different teams. 

One “perfect” transaction for the Giants would be to sign free-agent relief pitcher Devin Williams, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.  

“As many live arms as the Giants have in their bullpen, Randy Rodriguez’s Tommy John surgery leaves them thin enough at the back end that prioritizing a dependable ninth-inning option makes sense,” Passan wrote in a recent column. “And even if the best non-Díaz reliever in free agency struggled at times this past season, [Williams’] stuff did not tick backward, and the underlying numbers continue to say he’s elite.” 

San Francisco’s bullpen looked elite early in the 2025 MLB season. But, with surgery knocking out the All-Star Rodriguez, trading away Camilo Doval and Ryan Walker struggling in the closer role, any back-end bullpen additions make sense for the Giants. 

The Giants could prove to be a desirable location for free-agent pitchers. 

“The Giants have plenty of options. They’ve got money to spend, and while their lineup is mostly set, their rotation and bullpen are in flux,” Passan wrote. “San Francisco is among the most attractive pitchers’ parks in baseball, which is the sort of thing that plays at the top and bottom of markets.” 

As Passan noted, Williams did not have a statistically great 2025 season with the New York Yankees. In 67 appearances, the two-time MLB All Star posted a 4.79 ERA, a career high in his seven-year career. 

Williams, however, boasts one of the league’s deadliest changeups. His knockout pitch helped him earn the closing role with the Milwaukee Brewers.  

In his best season, Williams finished the 2023 campaign with 36 saves in 40 opportunities along with a 1.53 ERA. 

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Why Bruce Bochy is confident in Tony Vitello's success as new Giants manager originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

While many talking heads question new Giants manager Tony Vitello’s coaching experience, one World Series-winning manager sees no issue. 

Bruce Bochy, former Giants manager and newly appointed special advisor to baseball operations, explained his confidence in Vitello’s ability in an interview on KNBR’s “Murph and Markus” show.  

“I can tell you this, he knows the game, man. He’s smart,” Bochy said. “He’s worn a lot of hats. He’s been a coach. He’s been a pitching coach. It wasn’t an easy road to get to being the head coach of Tennessee. I mean, he grinded his way up to where he got there, and he’s earned this, I think, when you look at the success that he’s had.” 

Bochy said he recently met with Vitello in Nashville, Tennessee. Despite the two having just a few conversations, Bochy is thoroughly impressed with the Giants’ new skipper. 

“And just to me, he’s got a great way about him,” Bochy explained.  “You know, [he] speaks well. He’s got a great feel for people, and to me, that’s the most important job that he’ll have is managing his people, and he’s so good at that. And so, I really think he’s going to have a lot of success in the major leagues.” 

Vitello’s interpersonal skills were a part of what stood about to president of baseball operations Buster Posey when conducting the search for the new Giants manager. Bochy seems to agree that Vitello has what it takes to lead the group. 

Nevertheless, Vitello’s jump to MLB surely will provide its challenges. Bochy was asked what the biggest challenge will be in that jump from college baseball. 

“I’d say more than anything, it’s just the number of games. You’re talking 162 games, and hopefully more,” Bochy said. 

The former Giants manager was known for his bullpen management, leading San Francisco to three World Series titles. Bochy highlighted that as a large focus in the longer seasons. 

“In college, I’m sure you got your horses out there and every game you’re doing all you can to win every game, similar to what the [MLB] postseason is once you get there,” Bochy noted. “But during a regular season, you got to remember, man, it’s a long season. It’s a grind. You got to watch your horses. You got to take care of them so they’re fresh down the stretch.” 

With advisors such as Bochy on his side, Vitello is making the jump to MLB with an exceptional supporting cast. 

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Giants' Tony Vitello hire is ‘insulting' to former MLB manager Joe Maddon originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Giants are taking a risk with their historic hire of Tony Vitello as their next manager, and not everyone loves the move.

Specifically, former MLB manager Joe Maddon, who joined KNBR 680’s “Murph & Markus” on Tuesday and explained why he was insulted by San Francisco’s decision to hire a manager straight from the collegiate level.

“Quite frankly, I’m using the word ‘insulting’ only from the perspective that you don’t have to have any kind of experience on a professional level to do this job anymore,” Maddon said. “Because when I was coming up, you had to have all that, you had to go through the minor leagues, you had to ride your buses. I was a scout, I started in 1981, I finally get a managerial job in 2006. There was a rite of passage, a method to get to that point. So to think somebody can just do what you took 20-some years to be considered qualified to, it is kind of insulting.”

Maddon then proceeded to wish Vitello well while oddly comparing the new Giants manager’s lack of MLB experience to other high-profile jobs around the country that are being filled by candidates who might not have the traditional experience in their respective fields, including New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.

“Now, having said that, the next part is, I wish him nothing but the best, because I watch videos of the guy and I can actually understand why it’s perceived that he’s ready to do something like this,” Maddon added. “I guess the overarching point is, in today’s world, prerequisites to get jobs of this caliber, even jobs like the Mayor job of New York City now, it doesn’t require the years of experience that you may have had to have gone through in the past.

“I think communication skills, perceived leadership skills, those are the kind of things that become more valid or important and not necessarily having kind of like, internal knowledge, working knowledge of the craft at hand, which would be Major League Baseball or running a city. It’s not just baseball, it permeates throughout the entire world right now.”

Maddon then was asked if Vitello’s hire is a good or bad thing for baseball moving forward.

“I don’t think it’s either, I just think it’s baseball,” Maddon explained. “It’s going to be a good thing for the Giants if it works out well, which honestly, I am rooting for him. I didn’t know of him until he was hired and then I started looking at videos and then I said ‘Oh, I get it. I understand why.'”

Does he?

It’s safe to assume neither Vitello nor the Giants care.

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The easiest and cleanest way for the Mets to add a top-of-the-rotation starter to their staff this offseason is to turn to the free agent market, where the headliners are Framber Valdez, Dylan Cease, Michael King, and Ranger Suarez.

Ahead of his age-32 season, Valdez is the oldest of the available top starters. And he'll be seeking a huge deal.

King, who will be entering his age-31 season in 2026, was tremendous for the Padres in 2024 as he transitioned from relieving to starting. But he made just 15 starts in 2025 as he dealt with a nerve injury in his throwing shoulder and also lost time due to a knee injury.

Suarez, who turned 30 in August, might be the safest bet -- but he's also the least imposing. He has allowed 8.6 hits per nine during his eight-year career, is not a big strikeout guy, and has never thrown 158 innings or more in a season.

Then there's Cease, whose upside is sky high.

Entering his age-30 season, Cease has finished in the top-four in Cy Young voting two of the last four seasons. And he eats tons of innings. However, he's coming off a campaign where he had a 4.55 ERA, and has been maddeningly inconsistent.

With Suarez not an ideal fit, Valdez in line for a monster contract, King having serious injury concerns, and the up and down Cease possibly looking at a deal as long as six years, could a trade make the most sense for the Mets?

And if so, should Brewers ace Freddy Peralta be near the top of New York's list?

Here are the pros and cons of dealing for Peralta... 

PROS

Peralta is coming off a phenomenal 2025 season, where he had a career-best 2.70 ERA in 176.2 innings. He posted a 1.07 WHIP, allowed just 124 hits, and struck out 204 batters -- a rate of 10.4 per nine.

Since transitioning in 2021 from mainly a relief option to the starting rotation, Peralta has been one of the best pitchers in baseball. 

In 139 starts over the last five years, Peralta has a 3.30 ERA and 1.09 WHIP and has fanned 895 batters in 738.1 innings while allowing just 536 hits. He has also been reliable when it comes to taking the ball, tossing 165.2 innings or more reach of the last three seasons..

His ability to miss bats and limit hits is elite, as is his stuff. 

Peralta relies mainly on a four-seam fastball (which he threw 53 percent of the time this past season), a changeup, and a curve. He'll also mix in a slider.

In 2025, his pitching run value graded out in the 97th percentile, via Baseball Savant. And all of his individual pitches were tremendous -- the fastball was in the 84th percentile, the breaking balls were in the 88th percentile, and the changeup was in the 96th percentile. 

Looking at Peralta's advanced metrics, he was near the top of the league in xERA, xBA, average exit velocity, whiff percentage, strikeout percentage, hard hit percentage, and extension.

Peralta is also almost unbelievably inexpensive, set to make just $8 million in 2026 in what is his final year before free agency. 

CONS

There is no guarantee the Brewers will trade Peralta, so the Mets hitching their wagon to that possibility could be fruitless.

But the Brewers have often dealt players who are entering their walk year, and in some cases have traded key players with more team control than that.

They traded pending free agent Corbin Burnes during the 2023-24 offseason and pending free agent Devin Williams last offseason. At the 2022 trade deadline, the Brewers dealt Josh Hader to the Padres when he still had a year and change of team control remaining.

If Milwaukee makes Peralta available, though, it could cost a ton to acquire him.

It's very rare to be able to get a pitcher of Peralta's caliber on such a team-friendly contract, meaning it will likely require the Mets parting with a package of players it would pain them to surrender.

There's also the risk of giving up a huge package for what could amount to just one year of Peralta's services.

Looking at Peralta the pitcher, there really aren't many red flags.

His walk rate is a tick high and he doesn't induce many ground balls. But that's pretty much it. 

VERDICT

David Stearns is obviously very familiar with Peralta from his time with Milwaukee, which can't hurt. 

And if the Mets are unable to pry Tarik Skubal from the Tigers, Peralta -- or Joe Ryan of the Twins, or Sandy Alcantara of the Marlins -- should be the fallback plan.

Giants trade Mason Black to Royals for right-handed pitcher Logan Martin originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

LAS VEGAS — The annual General Managers Meetings mostly are about laying the groundwork for moves that might happen later in the offseason, but the Giants made a minor trade Tuesday on the first full day of the event in Las Vegas. 

San Francisco acquired right-handed pitching prospect Logan Martin from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for right-hander Mason Black, who had been designated for assignment last week after a couple of waiver claims. Black will get an opportunity to try and contribute in the American League, while the Giants get a 24-year-old who does not have to take up a spot on their 40-man roster and potentially can help down the line. 

“We had to make a decision on Mason and we’re fortunate to get an arm-strength starter back in the system,” general manager Zack Minasian said Tuesday morning. 

Martin, a 12th-rounder out of Kentucky in 2023, pitched in High-A last season, posting a 3.45 ERA across 22 starts. He has a 3.49 ERA in three minor-league seasons, although his strikeout rate has dipped in Single-A. Martin, who relies primarily on a mid-90s four-seamer and a cutter, currently is pitching in the Arizona Fall League.

The Giants have tried to add young pitching in every deal over the past year and plan to be aggressive in adding depth at all levels this offseason. At the same time as they DFA’d Black, who struggled in his big-league stints, they acquired lefty reliever Reiver Sanmartin from the Cincinnati Reds and outfielder Justin Dean from the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Those two waiver claims were the first for the organization since before the 2025 season. Minasian said the front office liked Sanmartin’s versatility and noted he has big-league experience. Dean joins a crowded outfield group on the 40-man roster, but the Giants consider him to be the best defender of the group and the fastest baserunner. Minasian said adding a lefty relief option and potential bench outfielder “felt like two things that fit the roster at this time.”

“We’re happy to have him on,” he said of Dean, who appeared in the World Series with the Dodgers. “We’ll see what he can do in Arizona (next spring).”

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Trout National does not formally open until April. But, when you’re Mike Trout, you can invite your friends to play a couple rounds on the course that carries your name.

And so it was that Trout, the best player in Angels history, last week welcomed Torii Hunter, one of the most popular and respected players in Angels history. The course, designed by Tiger Woods and his team, is located in Trout’s hometown of Millville, N.J., and includes a refueling stop in “a concrete bunker tucked behind the 14th tee and styled like a classic baseball dugout.”

Said Hunter: “It’s a great course.”

Hunter could have managed his former teammate next season, had the Angels chosen him to replace Ron Washington. However, for the second time in three years, the Angels interviewed Hunter for their managerial vacancy and then hired someone else — this time, former Angels catcher Kurt Suzuki.

Read more:Two Cleveland Guardians pitchers charged with betting on pitches: 'They betrayed America's pastime'

Hunter, speaking Monday at Pelican Hill Golf Club in Newport Coast before a fundraiser for Major League Baseball’s Urban Youth Academy in Compton, said he interviewed with Angels general manager Perry Minasian.

Hunter said he believed Suzuki would do well in the position and had no hard feelings about the process.

“It was a great interview,” Hunter said. “We had a good talk. It just didn’t work out.

“The opportunity presented itself. They were looking for a manager, and they decided to interview me for the job. They told me to.

“I still love the Angels. That’s why I did it. That's why I wanted to do it.”

He felt the same way about his original team, the Minnesota Twins. He said he “put my name in the hat” for the Twins’ managerial vacancy and had informal discussions with the team, but no formal interview.

Hunter declined to discuss details of his interview with Minasian.

Read more:MLB free-agent tracker: Kyle Tucker and Kyle Schwarber among 13 players getting a qualifying offer

The Angels have baseball’s longest playoff drought, now at 11 years, and have finished in last place in back-to-back seasons. Hunter said prospects need to get to Anaheim and start playing with the young players already there.

“I think those guys have got a couple of years under their belts,” he said. “It’s time to go out there and really compete.”

The Angels’ minor league system is widely regarded as one of baseball's thinnest. Hunter, who worked as a special assistant to Minasian last season, said he sees a fair amount of talent at the lower levels of the system.

“Maybe they don’t win the World Series next year,” Hunter said. “Maybe they don't go to the playoffs.

“A shift in the team dynamic depends on the pieces that they add. But, in the next two years, you’re going to see these guys, and they’ll be a force to be reckoned with.”

Hunter said he is unsure yet whether his business interests — he owns five restaurants and two coffee shops, in addition to commercial real estate investments — will allow him to continue as an Angels special assistant. He hopes to do so.

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

“I love Kurt Suzuki,” Hunter said. “I played with him with the Twins in 2015, and I played against him forever. I love everything about him. I would love to be there to help him along the way if I can.”

Suzuki agreed to a one-year contract, which puts him in the uncomfortable position of being a lame duck before he manages his first game.

“I think he’ll be fine,” Hunter said. “You’ve got to give him time, and a chance to get to know the fellas. The guy is smart, he’s intelligent, he’s got great relationship skills. So, be patient.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Phillies can't ‘run it back' in 2026 after Dodgers repeat originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Running it back. Three words Phillies fans are tired of hearing.

The Phils have reached the postseason for four straight years, and for four straight years, they’ve come up short. They shocked everyone with a run to the 2022 World Series, only to fall to the Astros in six games. When a core stays together that long – and produces a similar ending each October – change becomes expected.

Yet 15 players on the 2025 Opening Day roster were also on the 2022 team. It’s a battle-tested group, but the results are stale.

Even after a 96-win season, urgency hangs over the franchise because of one unavoidable obstacle in the National League:

The Dodgers.

Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell – their star power feels endless, especially after winning back-to-back World Series titles.

In 2024, their rotation fell apart with injuries to Tyler Glasnow, Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May and Emmett Sheehan. It didn’t matter. They slugged their way to a championship.

In 2025, the script flipped. This time, the Dodgers were healthy but their bats went cold. Again, it didn’t matter. Yamamoto carried them. He made five postseason starts, threw two complete games – the first pitcher to do that since 2001 – and posted a 1.45 ERA. After throwing 96 pitches in Game 6, he still came out of the bullpen in the Game 7 finale and tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings. World Series MVP was an automatic for the second-year right-hander.

President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski put it bluntly when asked about L.A. at the end-of-season presser:

“The Dodgers have a really good club … We battled them, and I think we’re in the same neighborhood – but we didn’t beat them and we have work to do in order to do that.”

Now, it’s clear. If the Phillies want to win a championship, the path runs directly through Los Angeles – the team that eliminated them in the NLDS this past season.

So how do they change their identity? It’s challenging to pinpoint, but there are a number of options the Phillies could pick from.

Starpower: Ketel Marte

On Monday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that the Diamondbacks are “motivated” to trade three-time All-Star Ketel Marte.

He’s coming off another elite year in Arizona, slashing .283/.376/.517 with 28 doubles and 28 homers in 126 games. It marked his third straight season with at least 25 home runs, 60 walks and 70 RBIs. The 32-year-old has cemented himself as the best at his position.

The switch-hitting Marte is the kind of hitter who changes a lineup overnight. In 2025, he posted an .891 OPS vs. lefties and .893 vs. righties, offering zero platoon vulnerability. His contract is just as appealing: six years left (player option in 2031), roughly $19 million AAV and only $28 million over the next two seasons.

Trading for him wouldn’t prevent the Phillies from spending elsewhere – including a potential Kyle Schwarber reunion.

He’s performed against the team that matters. Marte has a career .290 average and .804 OPS versus the Dodgers. And over the last two seasons, he’s slashed .321/.418/.560.

He’s also been a standout performer in October. In 21 postseason games, he’s hit .344 with a .974 OPS and 13 extra-base hits.

Acquiring Marte would take real capital. The deal starts with one of Aidan Miller or Andrew Painter plus infielder Bryson Stott, who is under control through 2027. It would be uncomfortable, but it’s a move that could change everything for the Phils.

Shuffle the pieces and add

Bryce Harper has been at the center of conversation this offseason – both for production and for where he plays. Dombrowski made one thing clear after questioning Harper’s “elite” status during his media session: he views Harper as the first baseman going forward.

But if Harper moved back to right field, everything opens up. And if defense is the concern for a 33-year-old Harper in the outfield, the Phillies just played 33-year-old Nick Castellanos out there – who posted a league-low -12 outs above average.

Returning Harper to the outfield gives the Phillies the freedom to chase a middle-of-the-order bat at first base.

Pete Alonso should be the first call.

Alonso tallied 264 homers and 712 RBIs in seven seasons with the Mets. Drop that kind of production behind Harper and pitchers have no escape route. And if the Phillies brought back Schwarber too?

A top four of Trea Turner, Schwarber, Harper and Alonso truly gives you a solid chance against Los Angeles in a playoff series.

The championship window isn’t closed – but it’s not open forever. If the Phillies want to win with this core, adding another star or two to Harper and Turner is how you do it.

Lean into the youth

Miller, Justin Crawford and Painter could push their way to the majors in 2026 and the Phillies might just open the door.

Dombrowski hinted that they could force their way onto the roster. “There will be some people we’re open-minded to being with our big-league club next year coming out of spring training,” he said. “Justin Crawford is one of them. Painter’s another one… I wouldn’t even preclude Aidan Miller from being that type of guy.”

Miller, 21, put together an .864 OPS with 43 extra-base hits and 59 steals in 2025. He’s only played shortstop in the minors, but if the Phillies view him as an option at second or third, it gives them flexibility to move either Stott or Alec Bohm – who enters his final year of arbitration.

Crawford brings contact and speed the Phillies haven’t had in their outfield. He hit .334 with 46 steals last season. The Crawford-Miller combination introduces something this core could use more of: true athleticism.

Painter remains the biggest wild card. After missing two full seasons recovering from Tommy John surgery, he returned in 2025 with command issues. But his stuff hasn’t gone anywhere. A fastball that touches triple digits with that size and extension isn’t common, and the Phillies know it.

There’s another arm quickly rising: Gage Wood. Their 2025 first-round pick threw a no-hitter in the College World Series and struck out 69 batters in 37 2/3 innings in his final year at Arkansas. He could make his way to the majors.

Leaning into youth could also mean acquiring young, controllable talent at a position of need – like catcher. That could include Baltimore’s All-Star Adley Rutschman, Seattle’s top catching prospect Harry Ford or prospects Carter Jensen and Blake Mitchell in Kansas City.

New blood doesn’t eliminate offseason splash moves. It complements them. And it could force evolution in Philadelphia.

Dombrowski summed it up best. “We have a good club with a lot of good players, but you don’t have unlimited [funds] … We will be open-minded to get better and make moves.”

The Dodgers aren’t slowing down and the Phillies can’t either.

Whether it’s starpower, restructuring the roster or giving the youth a chance to start, standing still isn’t an option — not when the team you’re chasing keeps hoisting the Commissioner’s Trophy.

Henry Russell/Yahoo Sports

MLB awards season is officially underway, with the announcement of this year’s top rookies Monday serving as the opening act in a week celebrating baseball’s best from the 2025 season. 

The Athletics’ Nick Kurtz took home the Jackie Robinson AL Rookie of the Year Award unanimously. His teammate, shortstop Jacob Wilson, finished second with 23-second place votes. The Red Sox’s Roman Anthony finished third in the race with three second-place votes and 15 votes for third.

Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin was also named NL Rookie of the Year on Monday.

This year’s Rookie of the Year ballot came with a new wrinkle, as it was expanded from three to five spots, affording voters the opportunity to recognize a few more rookies from the season that was. (For reference, MVP ballots have long featured 10 spots, and Cy Young ballots expanded from three to five in 2010). 

Each award’s electorate is made up of two representatives from each of the 15 chapters of the Baseball Writers Association of America coinciding with the 15 markets in each league, amounting to a total of 30 voters. This year, two of the 30 voters for AL Rookie of the Year were members of our MLB team: Russell Dorsey from the Chicago chapter and Jordan Shusterman from the Cleveland chapter. 

[Get more Athletics news: A's team feed]

While Kurtz’s unanimous award came as no surprise, considering how dominant he was at the plate, there were several other intriguing storylines among AL rookies that made the remainder of the ballot a challenge to fill out. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how Dorsey and Shusterman voted, and what motivated their support for the five players included on their ballots.

Jordan Shusterman’s ballot

• 1. Athletics 1B Nick Kurtz

• 2. Athletics SS Jacob Wilson

• 3. Red Sox OF Roman Anthony

• 4. Red Sox C Carlos Narváez

• 5. Royals LHP Noah Cameron

Russ Dorsey’s ballot

• 1. Athletics 1B Nick Kurtz

• 2. Red Sox OF Roman Anthony

• 3. Athletics SS Jacob Wilson

• 4. Royals LHP Noah Cameron

• 5. White Sox SS Colson Montgomery

Wow, Nick Kurtz is amazing

It wasn’t just that Nick Kurtz was the best rookie in the 2025 class, which he was. The A’s young first baseman was one of baseball’s best hitters. And while he burst onto the scene with his four-homer game against the Houston Astros on July 25, it was only the tip of the iceberg for the 22-year-old slugger. If you need to know just how absurd Kurtz’s season was, take a look at any advanced metric, including his eye-popping 170 wRC+ in 489 plate appearances. Kurtz joined MVPs Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge as the only players in MLB with an OPS over 1.000 this past season and got additional hardware for his outstanding season in the form of the AL Silver Slugger Award for first base. The A’s slugger showed that debuting in the big leagues less than a year after being the No. 4 overall draft pick was no problem for him. Kurtz capped off his stellar rookie campaign leading all rookies in home runs, runs scored, RBI, walks and OPS. — Dorsey

Blue Jays pitcher Trey Yesavage might have rightfully stolen headlines as the most remarkable story from the 2024 draft class, but what Kurtz did at the plate in his debut season just a year after being drafted deserves ample acknowledgement as historic in its own right. Kurtz’s 1.002 OPS was the sixth-highest ever for a rookie with at least 450 plate appearances in a season, and he finished tied for fifth in the AL in home runs with 36, despite playing only 117 games. Kurtz’s peak came midsummer, when he hit an outrageous .395/.480/.953 across 23 games in July, headlined, of course, by his six-hit, four-homer game on July 25. 

And while that epic showing was the apex of his rookie campaign, Kurtz hardly fell off afterward, demonstrating that his red-hot July wasn’t much of an outlier. From his four-homer game through the end of the season, Kurtz hit .271/.394/.530, good for a 154 wRC+ that ranked 11th in MLB over that span. While his sky-high strikeout rate and struggles against southpaws represent moderate red flags, this version of Kurtz is doing more than enough damage to warrant the whiffs and platoon splits. And considering he’ll turn just 23 before Opening Day next year, it’s entirely reasonable to think Kurtz will improve upon his current weaknesses and unlock an even higher offensive ceiling in short order, establishing himself as one of the game’s most feared sluggers for years to come. — Shusterman

G Fiume via Getty Images

Jacob Wilson vs. Roman Anthony for second

After a dreadful first half, the Red Sox surged to the second AL wild-card spot after Roman Anthony arrived on June 9, going 57-38 from then on. And with Boston looking for offensive consistency, baseball’s No. 1 prospect provided that spark. Anthony’s .396 on-base percentage jumps off the page, but the rookie phenom’s well-rounded game was impossible to deny, as he sported a .292 batting average and .463 slugging percentage before his season ended early due to an oblique strain.

What was tough about my second-place vote is that it was impact vs. body of work. Jacob Wilson was as consistent as any player in this season’s rookie class, and there was a time before Kurtz’s arrival when he was likely going to claim the Rookie of the Year Award. But what ultimately led me to vote for Anthony second and Wilson third is that I don’t believe the Red Sox make the postseason without Anthony’s spark and instant impact in the lineup. You could see that in the fact that the Red Sox weren’t the same after his injury. Wilson had a phenomenal campaign, but he didn’t raise the level of play for the A’s like Anthony did for the Sox. — Dorsey

The Red Sox indisputably played their best baseball with Anthony in the lineup, and they sorely missed him down the stretch and into October. And if we’re choosing which American League rookie I’d want on my team for the long haul, I’d take Anthony over Wilson, considering his significant offensive upside, and I’d even consider choosing him over Kurtz. 

Ultimately, this award is about which players had the most outstanding rookie seasons, and I considered the playing time and positional difference to be a wide enough gap to give Wilson the edge over Anthony on my ballot. Wilson started 124 games at shortstop, while Anthony started 32 games in right field, 17 games in left and another 17 at DH. Even if Wilson’s glove didn’t grade out especially well and might eventually fit best at second base, that pure workload as a rookie at a premium position was meaningful, especially with Wilson also boasting a fairly compelling offensive résumé.

He finished tied with Bo Bichette for second in the American League with a .311 batting average, and his 13 home runs far outpaced both my and many evaluators’ expectations for his slugging output. Wilson might not hit the ball hard, but he has already demonstrated a knack for translating his elite contact ability into extra-base hits in a way that lends optimism that he can be an all-around offensive threat in the majors. Given their wildly different skill sets, Wilson and Kurtz are a tremendously fun duo for the Athletics to build their lineup around. — Shusterman

Don’t forget about Noah Cameron

In a down year for rookie starting pitchers, Royals rookie left-hander Noah Cameron separated himself from the rest of the pack this season. Cameron got an opportunity to pitch every fifth day in a Kansas City rotation that was beat up for most of 2025, and he made the most of his chances. In his first 13 starts, Cameron allowed more than three earned runs just three times, showing that he was more than capable of sticking in the rotation. While Cade Horton got much more love on the National League side for his contributions to the Cubs’ success, Cameron, who finished fourth in the ROY race with three second-place votes, deserves similar love for his body of work in ‘25. — Dorsey

In the wild-card era, before 2025, 18 pitchers threw at least 130 innings in their rookie season while recording an ERA under 3.00, including just four in the American League. All 18 received Rookie of the Year votes, with five winning the award outright and another seven finishing runner-up. Enter Cameron, whose 2.99 ERA in 138⅓ innings across 24 starts helped stabilize an injury-ravaged Royals rotation all summer — a large enough sample of stellar run prevention to warrant inclusion on my ballot. 

Cameron was a delight to watch do his thing in 2025, a crafty lefty with two distinct breaking balls that graded out as elite pitches per run value, including a curveball that rated as one of the best of its kind across the league. While his modest peripherals and velocity indicate he might not have much more upside than what he demonstrated, Cameron still showed enough to suggest that the Royals could feature a terrific trio of left-handers in 2026 if Cole Ragans and Kris Bubic can return fully healthy. — Shusterman

Russ’ final pick: Colson Montgomery

The fifth spot on my ballot came down to two players who both deserved recognition. One was Red Sox catcher Carlos Narváez, and the other was White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery. Narváez had the body of work on his side, and while being the starting catcher for a playoff team is one hell of an argument, Montgomery’s power production was hard to deny. The White Sox rookie hit 21 homers in just 255 at-bats and finished the season with a very respectable .841 OPS.

Montgomery’s season is in many ways similar to Gary Sánchez’s 2016 rookie campaign, in which he burst on the scene with 20 homers in 53 games. Sánchez owned a ridiculous 1.032 OPS and did it over the last two months of the season. Sánchez finished as ROY runner-up that season, and while that was too high for Montgomery in this year’s class, there’s precedent for a similar body of work being recognized. Also, while not known for his defense, Montgomery finished the season as a well-above-average defender at shortstop, with plus-seven defensive runs saved and plus-six outs above average putting him top-10 among shortstops in both categories. — Dorsey

Jordan’s final pick: Carlos Narváez

Montgomery’s power production, plus his surprisingly stout defense at shortstop, were difficult to overlook, and yes, he played the same number of games as Anthony (71), so the sample size on its own was not necessarily disqualifying. But in the end, I opted to vote for a catcher in Narváez who made an impact on a playoff team, emerging as one of Boston’s more unlikely key contributors after he arrived via a rare trade with the rival Yankees last winter. 

Russ rightly pointed out how much better Boston played once Anthony joined the lineup, and Narváez had a similar effect over the entirety of the season: The Red Sox went 67-40 — a .626 winning percentage — in Narváez’s 107 starts behind the dish and just 22-33 otherwise. That’s mostly a reflection of his work as a defender, with Narváez rating as a plus blocker, plus framer and nearly unrivaled at controlling the running game while regularly receiving praise from his pitching staff as a worthy field general and game-caller. 

And while his second-half decline at the plate resulted in a mediocre 99 wRC+ (.241/.306/.419) by the end of the season, even league-average production with a plus glove at catcher amounts to an immensely valuable player. In a season that began with substantial hype surrounding Boston’s top three prospects in Anthony, Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer, it was Narváez who emerged as Boston’s second-best rookie in 2025 and snagged a spot on my ballot in turn. — Shusterman

Jan. 21, 12:44 p.m.

The Mets are still in contact with the Brewers about a potential trade for Brewers ace Freddy Peralta, reports Will Sammon of The Athletic.

With New York recently signing Bo Bichette and trading for Luis Robert Jr., their offense appears largely set, perhaps paving the way for them to zero in on an addition for the top of the rotation.  

In addition to the Mets, the Dodgers and Yankees have both been linked to Peralta, who is set for free agency after the 2026 season but who is reportedly open to signing an extension.

Peralta is coming off a phenomenal 2025 season, where he had a career-best 2.70 ERA in 176.2 innings. He posted a 1.07 WHIP, allowed just 124 hits, and struck out 204 batters -- a rate of 10.4 per nine.

Since transitioning in 2021 from mainly a relief option to the starting rotation, Peralta has been one of the best pitchers in baseball. 

In 139 starts over the last five years, Peralta has a 3.30 ERA and 1.09 WHIP and has fanned 895 batters in 738.1 innings while allowing just 536 hits. He has also been reliable when it comes to taking the ball, tossing 165.2 innings or more reach of the last three seasons.

Jan. 20, 11:17 a.m.

The Dodgers remain interested in trading for Brewers ace Freddy Peralta, reports Katie Woo of The Athletic.

Woo cites the rotation injuries Los Angeles dealt with last season as one reason why the club could be entertaining Peralta, but adds that the Dodgers will only complete a trade for him if they feel there is a "real need."

As things currently stand, the Dodgers are expected to enter the season with a top four that is made up of No. 1 starters: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow.

Beyond the aforementioned four are Roki Sasaki -- a starting pitcher who was a bullpen weapon for Los Angeles in the 2025 playoffs -- and Emmet Sheehan. 

Depth options include River Ryan and Gavin Stone.

The Mets and Yankees have both been linked to Peralta, who has one year remaining before free agency.

Jan. 18, 7:06 p.m.

The Mets "still hold interest" in signing Cody Bellinger, according to The Athletic's Will Sammon, but have "other names to watch" in the outfield via free agency and potential trades.

Those are Harrison Bader, the St. Louis Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar, the Houston Astros' Jake Meyers, and Luis Robert Jr. of the Chicago White Sox, according to Sammon.

Bader, 31, is the only free agent. He slashed .277/.347/.449 with 17 home runs and 54 RBI in 146 games for the Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies this past season.

Jan. 17, 6:13 p.m.

With starting pitching still a priority for New York this offseason, the Mets have shown interest in a reunion with right-hander Griffin Canning, reports The New York Post's Jon Heyman. 

However, they're not alone as the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago White Sox are also in on the 29-year-old, per Heyman.

Canning pitched well for New York after signing a one-year deal last offseason, but he tore his Achilles in late June, which ended his 2025 campaign.

After five seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, the right-hander had his best season with the Mets. He went 7-3 in 16 starts and pitched to a career-best 3.77 ERA. Overall, Canning is 32-37 with a 4.65 ERA across 115 games (110 starts).

Jan. 14, 2:25 p.m.

Left-handed pitcher Ranger Suarez is signing a five-year deal with the Red Sox, per multiple reports. 

The contract is worth $130 million.

With Suarez off the board, it could conceivably pave the way for Mets target Framber Valdez to sign soon.

Valdez, 32, is two years older than Valdez, meaning a shorter-term deal than the one Suarez inked is possible.

The Orioles, who have been heavily linked to Valdez, were also reportedly in the mix for Suarez. 

Jan. 10, 12:45 p.m.

The Mets have recently talked with the Washington Nationals about LHP MacKenzie Gore, On SI's Pat Ragazzo reports.

Although, Ragazzo notes, "the asking price for Gore is said to be astronomically high and nothing appears to be close on this front." 

New York has reportedly discussed dealing top prospects for a pitcher this offseason, but Nolan McLean and Carson Benge appear to be off limits.

Gore, 26, went 5-15 with a 4.17 ERA and a career-high 185 strikeouts over 159.2 IP across 30 starts in 2025. Despite his 2025 All-Star nod, it was a bit of a drop-off from his 2024 season, in which he owned a 10-12 record and 3.90 ERA over 32 starts.

The lefty avoided arbitration with Washington for the 2026 season, agreeing to a $5.6 million deal earlier this week. He is arbitration eligible in 2027 before becoming a free agent in 2028.

Jan. 10, 9:40 a.m.

As the Mets continue to look for ways to upgrade their starting pitching this offseason, Brewers ace Freddy Peralta continues to be a name that pops up.

According to a report from The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon, Milwaukee is looking to acquire "a young, major-league ready replacement" in exchange for the 29-year-old right-hander.

Among the teams pursuing a potential trade for Peralta, the report says that New York "might be in the best position to part with a prized young arm – and they can do it without offering top prospect Nolan McLean."

Mets top prospects Brandon Sproat (25), Jonah Tong (22), and Christian Scott (26) are all mentioned as potential trade options. Scott made nine starts in 2024 before missing the entire 2025 season due to Tommy John surgery, but is nearing the end of his rehab. Tong started five games in 2025 after being called up at the end of August, while Sproat made four starts after his September call-up.

Other teams with young arms that could be in position to acquire Peralta include "the Atlanta Braves (JR Ritchie), New York Yankees (Carlos Lagrange, Elmer Rodríguez), Boston Red Sox (Payton Tolle, Connelly Early) and Los Angeles Dodgers (River Ryan, Emmett Sheehan, Gavin Stone)," The Athletic notes.

Jan. 9, 11:20 a.m.

Another potential Mets trade target is off the board. 

According to Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic, the Diamondbacks will hold onto INF Ketel Marte.

Marte has been one of the more popular names on the trade market, and the Mets reportedly showed interest earlier this offseason.

While Marte presented an intriguing option to boost New York's offense, his fit was always a bit uncertain with Marcus Semien locked in as the everyday second baseman. 

Dec. 30, 10:12 a.m.

Japanese ace Tatsuya Imai's posting window closes on Jan. 2, which means his potential deal with an MLB club must be official by then.

With the clock ticking, Imai is expected to continue having meetings with interested teams this week, per Will Sammon and Katie Woo of The Athletic. 

SNY MLB Insider Andy Martino reported earlier this offseason that the Mets would be in on Imai, but did not expect it to be a "full-tilt pursuit" as was the case with Yoshinobu Yamamoto two offseasons ago. 

Imai, 27, has been outspoken about his desire to beat the Dodgers -- not join them. His market remains a bit of a mystery, though Jack Curry of YES reported last week that the Yankees were not expected to sign him.

In 163.2 innings over 24 starts last season for the Seibu Lions, the right-hander had a 1.92 ERA and 0.89 WHIP while allowing just 101 hits and striking out 178 -- a strikeout rate of 9.8 per nine.

Over eight seasons pitching for Nippon Professional Baseball, Imai has a 3.15 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. But he has reached another level over the last four seasons, posting earned run averages of 2.04, 2.45, 2.34, and 1.92.

Imai's stuff is considered plus. It includes a fastball that sits in the mid-90s and can reach 99 mph. He also has a splitter, slider, and cutter. 

Dec. 27, 11:30 p.m.

The Mets may’ve lost one competitor in the Luis Robert Jr. trade sweepstakes. 

The Reds could potentially be out of the mix on the White Sox outfielder after signing JJ Bleday to a one-year deal and acquiring Dane Myers from the Marlins on Saturday. 

Cincy, of course, was the other team rumored to be in talks with Chicago for the 28-year-old. 

The Mets have long shown interest in Robert, who is coming off another up-and-down campaign but is viewed as a potential change of scenery candidate. 

He hit .293 with a 124 wRC+ in the second half before a hamstring issue ended his season. 

Dec. 26, 8:45 a.m.

Count the Mets – along with the San Francisco Giants and Baltimore Orioles – among the teams that have reportedly met with free-agent starter Framber Valdez, according to The New York Post's Jon Heyman.

New York's interest in the left-hander has been a topic of much speculation this winter. Earlier this month, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com said the Mets were "among the favorites" to sign Valdez. However, it has also been reported that the Mets are "reluctant to hand out long-term offers" to the top free agent starting pitchers left on the market.

Valdez, 32 as of November, pitched to a 3.66 ERA and 1.245 WHIP over 31 starts and 192 innings last year. Over the past four seasons, the lefty has been quite a dependable starter for the Houston Astros, tossing 767.2 innings over 121 starts (with eight complete games) while posting a 3.21 ERA.

Dec. 23, 3:00 p.m.

Ketel Marte has been one of the buzzier names on the trade market this winter. 

Numerous teams have expressed interest in the three-time All-Star, and according to reports, the Mets threw their name into the mix after trading Jeff McNeil to the A’s. 

How Marte would fit on New York’s roster is a big question, but whether Arizona would actually move him is another. 

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic said Tuesday on Foul Territory that the team likely won’t deal him unless they receive young pitching in return. 

With that being said, they do seem motivated to find a partner with his 10-and-5 rights looming. 

If that is indeed the case, the Mets certainly would be a fit with so many talented young arms in their system. 

Reports have indicated all winter that Nolan McLean is unavailable, but they've been open to listening on Jonah Tong or Brandon Sproat in the right deal.

You’d have to figure the two-time Silver Slugger award winner would be that type of player. 

The big question again, though, is where Marte would fit with Marcus Semien penciled in as the everyday 2B. 

The 31-year-old does have experience in center, but he has mainly played second the past two seasons. 

Dec. 23, 10:41 a.m.

With the Mets reportedly prioritizing a right-handed bat, one option is free agent outfielder Austin Hays.

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Mets have discussed Hays internally, and the team "has some interest" in adding him. 

Hays, 30, had a nice season with Cincinnati in 2025, posting a 105 OPS+ with 15 homers and 64 RBI.

An eight-year MLB veteran, Hays has feasted on left-handed pitching throughout his career, posting an .819 OPS with 25 home runs and 88 RBI against southpaws.

Dec. 22, 8:35 p.m.

The Cincinnati Reds are in trade talks with the Chicago White Sox for slugger Luis Robert Jr., reports the Cincinnati Enquirer's Gordon Wittenmyer.

The Mets and Chicago have also been "engaged in trade talks" for Robert, Bob Nightengale of USA Today previously reported on Dec. 21.

Robert is under contract for $20 million in 2026 and has a club option worth the same amount for 2027.

The White Sox "are said to be willing to eat maybe half of the 2026 salary" for the center fielder, Wittenmyer notes. 

Robert played just 110 games in 2025 and struggled at the plate when healthy, hitting .223 with 14 home runs, 12 doubles, and 53 RBI. He did steal a career-high 33 bases and had a career-high 40 walks.

Dec. 21, 8:44 p.m.

Any level of interest the Mets expressed in Willson Contreras this winter is now irrelevant, as the St. Louis Cardinals dealt the first baseman to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for three pitchers, as first reported by ESPN's Jeff Passan.

While rumors linking the Mets to Contreras picked up some speed earlier in the month, The Athletic reported last week that kicking the tires on the three-time All-Star took the back seat amid their free-agent deal with infielder Jorge Polanco, who's expected to see more work at first base in 2026.

Dec. 21, 11:34 a.m.

The Mets and Reds are engaged in trade talks for White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. and pitching depth would likely be the asking price, reports Bob Nightengale of USA Today.

It's unclear if a deal will occur, but the White Sox made a big free-agent splash Sunday morning, signing Japanese star and Mets target Munetaka Murakami to a two-year, $34 million deal.

Robert, who turns 29 next season, has yet to flourish as a star slugger. While he produced a career-high 38 home runs across 145 games in 2023, he hit a measly .224 with just 28 homers between 2024 and 2025 (210 total games).

Robert owns a career .259/.313/.455 slash line, however, and offers above-average defense in center field -- a position of need for the Mets. He also stole a career-best 33 bags on 41 attempts in 2025.

Slated to earn $20 million this coming season, Robert also has a 2027 club option worth the same amount before he becomes a free agent.

Dec. 21, 10:23 a.m.

Third baseman Munetaka Murakami is in agreement with the Chicago White Sox on a two-year, $34 million contract, per ESPN's Jeff Passan. 

With Pete Alonso signing in Baltimore, Murakami had become an intriguing corner infield option, given his monster power numbers. Murakami hit 265 career home runs in eight pro seasons in Japan, including 56 big flies in 2022, when he was just 22 years old. 

Murakami has had his issues with strikeouts, though, an issue he'll look to improve on as he joins a White Sox team that has not won more than 61 games in a season since 2022.

Dec. 16, 12:16 p.m.

The Mets are "very in" on Cody Bellinger, reports Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.

In addition to the Mets, Bellinger has also been heavily linked to the Yankees.

Most projections have Bellinger getting a deal for five or six years.

For the Mets, Bellinger could fit in left field, center field, or at first base -- where the newly-acquired Jorge Polanco could be in the mix. 

Bellinger had a strong season for the Yanks in 2025, slashing .272/.334/.480 with 28 homers, 25 doubles, 98 RBI, and 89 runs scored in 152 games.

His defense is viewed as above average in left field -- something that would be welcomed following the trade of Brandon Nimmo, whose defense had been regressing. 

Dec. 14, 10:25 a.m.

Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras has been a hot name in Mets rumors of late, but it sounds like the club's interest in Contreras may not have been as strong as previously thought. 

According to Katie Woo of The Athletic, while the Mets did in fact inquire about the catcher-turned-first-baseman, "their interest was secondary," with the Jorge Polanco signing reinforcing that point. 

The expectation for the Mets is that Polanco will get most of his at-bats as a first baseman or as a DH, though he has the ability to play every position along the infield. With Polanco's versatile background, the Mets could still look to add a full-time first baseman.

Dec. 12, 3:19 p.m.

The Red Sox, who recently missed out on both Kyle Schwarber in Pete Alonso, have interest in Mets trade target Willson Contreras, reports Chris Cotillo of MassLive.

Per Cotillo, the Sox also remain interested in free agent Alex Bregman as well as potential trades for Ketel Marte and Isaac Paredes. 

Contreras, who is entering his age-34 season, has two years and $36.5 million remaining on his contract -- plus a club option for 2028. 

He was a plus offensive player (123 OPS+) and above average defender at first base (90th percentile, 6 OAA) in 2025. So he certainly fits the mold of what David Stearns is looking for.

As far as what the rebuilding Cardinals would want, it's fair to believe that they would be seeking a controllable big league player and/or prospects.

LAS VEGAS — If you are a Mets fan, wherever you stand on the notion of a new contract for Pete Alonso, you almost certainly find yourself wondering if the Polar Bear has indeed played his final home game in Queens.

Guess what? You have company.

Here are two other parties who have no idea how this will play out: The team and the player.

In the early days of the offseason, a perception has seemed to congeal that Alonso is a goner, and that Mets president of baseball operation David Stearns does not want him.

The former is inaccurate because it is way premature. The latter is inaccurate because … well, it just is.

There seems to be, among many fans, a perception of Stearns as a cold technocrat who can’t understand the emotional connection fans feel toward a player. That is not true. This same supposed technocrat spent his childhood sneaking a radio into his bed to listen to Gary Cohen and Bob Murphy on school nights.

In terms of attachment to the Mets, Stearns is one of you. And like you, he knows Alonso delivered an outstanding offensive season in 2025, and a subpar defensive campaign. Unlike you, Stearns’ job — an element of his dream job, by the way —  is to decide how many years and dollars that is worth to the franchise, and to avoid a contract that will end up hurting the team he loves.

Another oft-repeated inaccuracy is that Stearns did not want to sign Alonso last winter, and that Steve Cohen did. My information was always that the two were aligned on wanting the player but fearing the downside of a long commitment.

They were both happy to have Alonso on team in 2025 — which, in fairness, he almost certainly would not have been had any other club offered a four- or five-year contract. Alonso re-signed with the Mets on a two-year deal that included an inevitable opt-out after year one.

My hunch is that both Stearns and Cohen would be happy to welcome Alonso back in 2026, albeit with a significant increase in at-bats as designated hitter. They like the person and the ballplayer.

The complications begin when we talk about the term. It’s hard to imagine an increased willingness to offer Alonso four or five years, now that he is 12 months older.

But it’s also hard — no, it’s impossible — to predict how Alonso’s second shot at free agency will proceed. And therefore it is simply too early to say with any confidence or accuracy that a Boston or a Tampa Bay or whoever else will offer five years, and that Alonso will leave town.

Interest in Imai, but how much?

The Mets will be in on free agent pitcher Tatsuya Imai, whose NPB team, the Seibu Lions, will post this offseason. But I don’t expect the team to mount a Yoshinobu Yamamoto-style, full-tilt pursuit.

Why? Evaluators like Imai but suggest that he is no sure thing to succeed as an MLB starter. His mid-to-high ‘90s fastball might or might not play here; industry opinion on that is mixed.

Imai is an interesting option and should prompt conversations with any club in search of pitching, the Mets included. But the early word at the GM Meetings is that he will not captivate the industry on quite the same level that Yamamoto did two winters ago, when he spurned the Mets and Yankees to sign a 12-year, $325 million contract with the Dodgers.