Category: MLB

Last night, two players were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Center Fielders Carlos Beltran and Andruw Jones got the call to Cooperstown. However, the night was not as successful for former Nationals. Daniel Murphy, Howie Kendrick and Gio Gonzalez were all on the ballot for the first time, but did not get any votes.

First off, congratulations to Beltran and Jones. Both had wonderful careers that were Hall of Fame worthy. Jones was the best defensive center fielder of his generation, while also being a prolific power threat. He hit 434 home runs and also won 10 Gold Gloves. 

Beltran was also an elite power/speed guy in center field. He was not as good in the field as Jones, but was a better hitter and had a longer peak. Beltran would have gotten inducted sooner, if not for his connection to the Astros cheating scandal. Despite that blemish, it was not enough to keep him out of the Hall of Fame.

On the other side of the spectrum were the three Nationals players. Daniel Murphy, Howie Kendrick and Gio Gonzalez were the only three players on the ballot not to get any votes. These guys were never going to make the cut, but not getting any votes is interesting.

Players like Rick Porcello, Hunter Pence, Alex Gordon and Shin-Soo Choo all got votes. I would say the trio of former Nats are on the same level as those players. It does not matter that much, but it is a shame they were the only ones to get totally shut out.

Given the fact they did not meet the 5% threshold, Murphy, Kendrick and Gonzalez will be off the ballot. However, next year will be the first year we see Ryan Zimmerman on the ballot. I would be shocked if Zimmerman were totally shut out and think he will meet the 5% threshold. Jordan Zimmermann will also be on the ballot in 2027.

Back to the Nats trio, all of them had very exciting peaks, but did not do enough to get in obviously. Kendrick had the highest WAR of the trio, with 35 wins above replacement. Most of that came with the Angels, but his most memorable moments came in DC. He hit arguably the two biggest home runs in franchise history during the Nats 2019 World Series run.

Kendrick had a really nice career, with a .294 average and an All-Star appearance. He was just never a star player, even if he was a key part to the Nats World Series run. It is a shame he got totally shut out though.

Daniel Murphy had the least amount of WAR, but probably hit the highest peak. He was second in NL MVP voting in his magical 2016 season. Murphy was a hitting machine that year, with a .347 average and 25 homers. He followed it up with another All-Star caliber 2017 season.

Those two years, as well as his 2015 playoff run were the extent of Murphy’s peak, but what a peak it was. He had a nice run on the Mets, but never hit the heights he did in DC. Injuries started to catch up to Murphy after 2017, and he was never the same. He was an elite player, but only for two seasons.

Gio Gonzalez had the longest tenure in DC of the trio and he was very good. He finished third in Cy Young voting in 2012, his first year as a Nat. That was his best season in DC, but he was a solid number 2 or number 3 starter for a long time.

His inconsistent command made him frustrating to watch at times, but he was still a very effective pitcher. Gio posted a 3.62 ERA in 6.5 seasons as a Nat. Obviously, that is not Hall of Fame worthy, but it is still very good.

None of these guys are Hall of Famers, but they were all high end players. Nationals fans will remember all three of these players very fondly. Just getting onto the ballot is very impressive in its own right.

MLB Rumors: Cody Bellinger and the New York Yankees have agreed to terms on a 5 year, $162.5 million deal, per multiple reports. The deal includes opt outs for Bellinger after 2027 and 2028, as well as a full no-trade clause.

Bellinger, 30, has been a curious free agent case in two of the past three seasons. The 2017 Rookie of the Year and 2019 Most Valuable Player was non-tendered by the Los Angeles Dodgers after the 2022 season, having put up a 542 OPS in 2021 and a 654 OPS in 2022. Bellinger signed a one year deal with the Cubs for 2023 that guaranteed him $17.5 million.

Bellinger had a terrific bounceback season, putting up an 881 OPS and 4.8 bWAR. A tepid free agent market for Bellinger after the 2023 season resulted in him not signing until after the 2024 spring training camps had opened up, ultimately entering into a three year, $80 million deal with the Cubs at the end of February that featured opt-outs after years one and two.

Bellinger disappointed in 2024 for Chicago, slashing .266/.325/.426, and the Cubs traded him to the New York Yankees after the season and subsidized some of his salary, ultimately paying $5 million for him to go away in return for pitcher Cody Poteet.

Bellinger excelled once again in 2025, slashing .272/.334/.480 in 152 games while putting up a 5.1 bWAR. Bellinger’s lefty swing benefitted from playing half his games in Yankee Stadium — he put up a 909 OPS at home, compared to a 715 OPS on the road.

Because of that split, a return to New York always seemed to make the most sense for Bellinger. Meanwhile, Bellinger’s good fit in their home park, as well as his defensive versatility, meant that bringing him back made sense for New York, as well. This move technically puts Jasson Dominguez out of the starting lineup, but given the injury histories of Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge, as well as Trent Grisham and Ben Rice not having a long history of hitting well in the majors, Bellinger’s ability to play quality defense at all three outfield spots as well as first base provides the Yankees with valuable defensive flexibility.

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers finalized their four-year, $240 million contract for Kyle Tucker on Wednesday, introducing the All-Star outfielder in a press conference at Dodger Stadium. But they needed to make space on the 40-man roster for the addition of Tucker, so Los Angeles designated outfielder Michael Siani for assignment.

Siani was claimed off waivers on December 12 from the Atlanta Braves, who had claimed the outfielder from the St. Louis Cardinals in November.

A defense-first center fielder, Siani has played parts of the last four seasons in the majors with the Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds. He hit .221/.277/.270 with a 58 wRC+ in 160 career games and 383 plate appearances. He played in 19 games in 2025, none of them starts, with four singles in 17 at-bats plus two walks.

Siani in Triple-A Memphis last season hit .209/.307/.329 with a 71 wRC+ and 24 extra-base hits in 101 games. Between the majors and minors, 641 of Siani’s 673 career defensive starts have come in center field.

This is similar to another recent waiver claim by the Dodgers. Utility man Ryan Fitzgerald was claimed off waivers on January 9, designated for assignment on January 13 with the signing of infielder Andy Ibáñez, then after he cleared waivers on Monday was sent outright to Triple-A Oklahoma City, still in the organization as depth but now off the 40-man roster.

We’ll find out in the next week or so what fate awaits Siani, either claimed or traded elsewhere or possibly sticking around if he clears waivers. With one year, 63 days of service time and as someone who has not previously been sent outright to the minors, Siani wouldn’t be able to refuse an outright assignment should it come to that.

The New York Yankees got their man, and yes, at their price, too.

The Yankees signed free-agent outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger to a five-year, $162.5 million contract Wednesday morning, two officials with direct knowledge told USA TODAY Sports. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal won’t become official until Bellinger passes his physical.

The deal includes opt-outs after the second and third years of the contract, a full no-trade clause and a $20 million signing bonus. If Bellinger opts out after the second year of the contract, he will have earned a nifty $85 million the first two years.

The average $42.5 million salary the first two years is $500,000 higher than Bo Bichette’s three-year, $126 million deal with the Mets, that includes an opt-out after each season.

It was actually during Bichette’s news conference in New York that the Yankees and agent Scott Boras agreed to Bellinger’s deal, setting off a frenzy in New York.

The Yankees, who refused to budge off their five-year proposal, insisted they would not get into a bidding war. They believed all along that no one would outbid them and provide Bellinger the seven-year deal he was seeking.

They proved to be right.

The Los Angeles Dodgers made another big splash by signing Kyle Tucker to a four-year, $240-million contract, and have also been linked to Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Freddy Peralta on the trade front.

Consider that the reigning World Series champs also signed closer Edwin Diaz and may not be done improving their roster this offseason.

This has resulted in their 2026 World Series odds reaching one of the shortest preseason numbers in recent history. Below, we'll look at those odds and compare them to similar teams that breathed the same rarefied air.

2026 World Series odds

Crown the Dodgers, already

The Los Angeles Dodgers opened the offseason at +350 to win the 2026 World Series, according to Sports Odds History. The New York Yankees were closest at +800, and every other team was +1200 or longer.

Things haven't changed drastically since then, for the most part. The Yankees are +850, and the Seattle Mariners are now third on the board at +1200.

However, the Dodgers' odds have shrunk to between +240 (DraftKings, bet365) and +220 (FanDuel), giving them an implied probability of around 29-31% to win a third consecutive Fall Classic. While this is rare, it's not unheard of, and even Los Angeles itself has been here before. Just last winter, the Dodgers went from +400 after winning the 2024 World Series to +350 in December and later +240 by the end of March.

Roki Sasaki and Tanner Scott were their belwether free-agent acquisitions, and this offseason's crop certainly outclasses that, so another trip to the World Series certainly seems a given, particularly for L.A. fans and the "Dodgers are ruining baseball" contingent.

Hold your horses!

While it's true the Dodgers won the World Series, they were pushed to the brink by the Toronto Blue Jays over seven games and even needed a comeback victory to take Game 7.

The Dodgers also saw their World Series odds drop to +350 in September and +500 at the onset of the postseason. The supposed behemoths went 35-30 in the second half, and players like Mookie Betts played below their usual standard. The rotation battled injuries, the bullpen was a real weakness into October, and the outfield was a revolving door. The Edwin Diaz and Kyle Tucker additions shore some of those areas up, but is it premature to consider the World Series all wrapped up in January?

It should. Despite the Dodgers ultimately going wire-to-wire despite some concerns popping up along the way, it's been a minute since we've seen a preseason favorite at +300 or shorter.

The 2005 and 2007 Yankees each peaked at +300 before Opening Day. Neither won the World Series.

And to those decrying the Dodgers' practices as detrimental to the sheer fabric of America's Pastime, the Yankees were +260 or shorter every preseason from 1999 through 2004. While New York won the first two, it didn't claim another title until 2009.

The Yankees did win the 1998 World Series, but they were +600 to do so on April 1. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Braves were +200 and lost to the San Diego Padres in the NLCS. 

The Braves were also shorter than +300 in the 1993 preseason, but lost to the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLCS.

Ultimately, dating back to 1990, 14 teams have had preseason odds at +300 or shorter, and three have gone on to win the World Series. So while itmay be frustrating as a non-Dodgers fan to watch Los Angeles pluck up even more top names while flexing financial fortitude, it doesn't always work out. In fact, it may be more likely that it doesn't. 

That's not to say I'd suggest wagering against them! Until a different team can rise and prove it's got what it takes, the Dodgers are clearly the class of MLB entering the 2026 regular season.

World Series winners' preseason odds

Let's look back at where World Series winners were in the odds board during the preseason.

Year	Winning team	Preseason odds
2025	Dodgers	+240
2024	Dodgers	+350
2023	Rangers	+5000
2022	Astros	+1000
2021	Braves	+1000
2020	Dodgers	+385
2019	Nationals	+1600
2018	Red Sox	+1150
2017	Astros	+1175
2016	Cubs	+660
2015	Royals	+3300
2014	Giants	+2500
2013	Red Sox	+2800
2012	Giants	+2000
2011	Cardinals	+2500
2010	Giants	+2500
2009	Yankees	+500
2008	Phillies	+2000
2007	Red Sox	+700
2006	Cardinals	+700
2005	White Sox	+2200
2004	Red Sox	+400
2003	Marlins	+7500
2002	Angels	+4000
2001	Diamondbacks	+1000
2000	Yankees	+250
1999	Yankees	+200
1998	Yankees	+600
1997	Marlins	+1000
1996	Yankees	+700
1995	Braves	+400
1993	Blue Jays	+600
1992	Blue Jays	+700
1991	Twins	+8000
1990	Reds	+1600

Odds courtesy Sports Odds History

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

The Mets have signed reliever Luis García to a one-year deal, according to Joel Sherman. The deal is pending a physical and is reportedly worth $1.75 million, with the right-hander able to earn $1.25 million in incentives.

García, who turns 39 later this month, split last season between the Dodgers, Nationals, and Angels and pitched to a 3.42 ERA, a 3.28 FIP, and a 1.46 WHIP, with 48 strikeouts in 55 1/3 innings. He finished the year with a 0.8 bWAR and posted a career-best 0.3 HR/9 while striking out 8.7 batters and walking 4.2 batters per nine innings. For his career, he owns a 4.07 ERA, a 3.92 FIP, and a 1.42 WHIP, and has struck out 547 batters in 583 1/3 innings. The Mets will be his ninth team, as he has previously suited up for the Phillies, Padres, Cardinals, Red Sox, and Rangers, in addition to the three clubs that he played for last season.

García is the latest addition to a revamped relief corps for the Mets, joining Luke Weaver and Devin Williams. In addition, A.J. Minter and Brooks Raley will be returning following injury-shortened seasons in 2025, which gives Carlos Mendoza a pretty good group of relievers to rely upon. The remaining spots, pending any additional bullpen moves this winter, will belong to guys like Huascar Brazobán, Richard Lovelady, and a prospects like Dylan Ross.

The St. Louis Cardinals are bringing back a legend, but not in the way that many thought it might happen. The team has announced they have hired Yadier Molina as a Special Assistant to President of Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom.

Here’s the statement shared by the St. Louis Cardinals today about Yadi’s return to the team:

“We are happy to welcome Yadi back to the Cardinals organization,” stated Bloom. “He is an elite competitor, a consistent winner, and one of the greatest ever at his position, and we look forward to many contributions during his visits with us in this new role, both in and out of uniform. Yadi will provide input on our catching program, will advise our staff on catching and game planning strategy, and will give me and our front office valuable perspective from his unique vantage point. Perhaps most important, he will help us nurture in our players the high standards, attention to detail, and championship mindset that are so critical to winning.”

There’s no need to document Yadi Molina’s many career accomplishments. As St. Louis Cardinals fans, most of us can recite them by memory without Google. The big question that immediately comes to my mind is how involved will Yadi really be with the Cardinals. You likely recall back in December of 2023, Yadi was hired by then President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak as a special assistant, but few of us really saw much of Yadi or his involvement. Based on the behavior of the new St. Louis Cardinals front office, I have confidence that we’ll see a more tangible result from Yadi Molina being a part of the team again. Or, at least that is my huge hope.

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He was a left-handed hitting outfielder.
They were a Bronx-based baseball team.
Can I make it any more obvious?

The offseason began with Cody Bellinger exercising his opt-out and hitting the free agent market a year early, eager to take advantage of arguably his best season since he won the 2019 National League MVP. From the beginning, though, it seemed inevitable that he would return to the Bronx and continue to don the same uniform his father wore. Bellinger hyped up the organization. The front office hyped up the player. Like two high school students who broke up due to circumstances but still clearly had a thing for each other, it seemed inevitable that the two would get back together once the dust cleared.

Well, it took long enough. After three months of Scott Boras looking at Cashman, and Cashman looking at Bellinger, the outfielder finally blinked, signing a still-generous, five-year deal worth $162.5 million. And the crowd went wild.

Oh, yeah, the crowd didn’t go wild because it’s Bellinger. Don’t get me wrong, I like the guy, think he’s a solid player, and am glad he’s back. But, much like these two commenters (and many others), I’m simply happy that I won’t be writing up any more Around the Empire posts trying to come up with yet another pun saying that the Yankees are still daring Bellinger to accept their contract.

When it came to the deal itself, our lovely PSA comments’ section could be broken down into three categories. First up, we have the “We’re a better team with him, so I’m happy he’s back” group, who mostly expressed satisfaction — but perhaps not the overenthusiastic excitement that would have followed, say, a Kyle Tucker signing.

Others, however, were not quite as thrilled with the contract, arguing that he does not move the needle enough in what is expected to be a viciously tight American League East in 2026.

Still others, in classic Pinstripe Alley fashion, have already put Bellinger in the rearview mirror and have begun to ask the Bartletian question, “What’s next?”

Oh, and one commenter directly expressed joy that Scott Boras failed to get his client a seven-year deal, although I argue with their notion that Boras rarely loses these days. See, for example: Gerrit Cole’s opt-out last winter, Jordan Montgomery’s failed free agent market, Alex Bregman’s free agency last year, Carlos Correa’s free agency a few years back; basically, anybody not at the extreme top of the market has had a more difficult free agency that they anticipated.

And so, after all this, I return the question to you, dear readers. What are your thoughts on the Yankees’ decision to finally get down on one knee and ask Bellinger to be their left fielder for 2026 — or perhaps, more accurately, on Bellinger finally saying yes?

Vote in our poll, and let us know your thoughts in the comments’ section below!

Cody Bellinger might not have the most impressive underlying hitting metrics in baseball. He doesn’t hit the ball particularly hard, with his average exit velocity in the 24th percentile and his 37.9 percent hard-hit rate in 2025 checking in the 26th percentile. His 70.1-mph bat speed is in the 20th percentile. And we can go on.

So why did the Yankees decide that this profile was worth $162.5 million over five years? Well, Bellinger showed that a hitter doesn’t need to have Giancarlo Stanton or Aaron Judge’s metrics to succeed.

Bellinger was, simply put, an above-average performer in the three things expected from a position player: batting, fielding, and baserunning. He was in the 82nd percentile in Batting Run Value per Statcast, in the 69th percentile in Baserunning Run Value, and in the 91st percentile in Fielding Run Value. His barrel control, consistency, work ethic, and natural talent to put the bat on the ball allowed Bellinger to hit 29 homers and post a 4.9-fWAR season in his inaugural campaign in the Bronx last year, his best output since his MVP year in 2019.

The Bombers determined that a player with 30-homer potential, an elite 13.7-percent strikeout rate, excellent defense, versatility, and a solid track record of production (save for a couple years ravaged by a shoulder injury that he didn’t wait long enough to recover from) was worth investing in.

The negotiation process was grueling and seemed to have no ending in sight. But Scott Boras, Bellinger’s agent, finally realized the Yankees weren’t moving from their five-year offer. The star did get a fair amount of flexibility, though, as there are opt-outs after the second and third season, a $20 million signing bonus, and a full no-trade clause. In the event of a lockout nixing the 2027 campaign—a looming threat—those opt-outs will each slide back a year.

In the end, with the Mets trading for Luis Robert Jr. late on Tuesday, it became clear that they weren’t going to seriously pursue Bellinger anymore. It sounded as though the Blue Jays were internally moving on from their interest as well. Finally, the path towards a deal was smoothed, and now the Yankees can finally plan around Bellinger being back on the squad.

He is likely ticketed for left field, with Trent Grisham in center and Aaron Judge in right. If he’s not moved as part of a package before Opening Day, Jasson Domínguez would be the fourth outfielder, with utilitymen Amed Rosario and José Caballero also available to cover corner outfield spots (DH Giancarlo Stanton would only be an emergency). Essentially, it’s a very similar unit to the end of last year, providing the project with some stability. Grisham could move on after his one-year qualifying offer contract in 2026 as well, and though Bellinger is better in left, he’s at least an option to help and play center if needed in 2027, keeping Judge in his most optimal spot.

Bellinger might not have the ceiling of his early career years anymore, when he used to put up wRC+ finishes in the 160s as he did seven years ago (when the ball was admittedly jumpier). He is now a steady, all-around performer who might not be flashy, but is very much effective in all facets of the game and can even man first as well.

Now that the Yanks have finally checked off Bellinger’s return from their list, the expectation is that they will focus on adding at least one more starter before the start of the season. Perhaps they will also add a bullpen piece or two, now that they know exactly how much money Bellinger will make and for how long.

The roster is still not finished—it would rightly be considered folly for the Yankees to think it’s A-OK—but Bellinger’s return is certainly a positive in the grand scheme of things. He showed the ability to take full advantage of Yankee Stadium’s short porch and finished 2025 with his highest home run total since he hit 47 back in 2019.

Bellinger has no platoon weakness (his 180 wRC+ against lefties was, in fact, much better than his 105 mark vs. righties), and he offers contact, power, speed, athleticism, defense, and pure baseball acumen. He also knows how to handle pressure and the media. Oh, and most importantly, he wanted to stay a Yankee, like his father. Now, he finally gets his wish and he

Negotiations weren’t pretty, but it finally happened: Cody Bellinger is staying a Yankee.

The Mets, after two high-profile lineup moves in recent days, turned toward the bullpen Wednesday.

Luis García, a veteran right-hander who spent last season with three teams, has reached agreement with the club on a one-year contract, The Post’s Joel Sherman first reported.

García, 38, pitched to a 3.42 ERA in 58 appearances last season with the Angels, Nationals and Dodgers.

He became the third new member of a reconstructed Mets bullpen during an offseason in which Edwin Díaz departed to the Dodgers on a three-year, $69 million contract.

Previously, the Mets signed Devin Williams to a three-year, $51 million contract and Luke Weaver a two-year deal for $22 million.

The Mets also have Huascar Brazobán, and lefties Brooks Raley and A.J. Minter in the bullpen.

García averaged 96.9 mph with his fastball last season, which ranked in MLB’s 87th percentile, according to Statcast. He also had a ground ball rate of 49.7 percent, which ranked in the 82nd percentile.

In the past week, the Mets signed Bo Bichette to a three-year, $126 million contract and traded with the White Sox for outfielder Luis Robert Jr.

The Mets are still searching for an arm to bolster the starting rotation.

“I’ve been clear, my preference would be to add a starting pitcher,” president of baseball operations David Stearns said. “It doesn’t mean it’s a certainty we’re going to do it, but yes.”

Framber Valdez remains the top option on the free agent market, and the Mets convened with the left-hander at the GM meetings in November. The trade options could include Tarik Skubal and Freddy Peralta, both of whom are entering their walk year.

Brett Baty will be an option to play first base and left field, according to Stearns. Last season Baty split time between second and third base, but those positions are now occupied by full-time players in Marcus Semien and Bichette.

“We have got a lot of people in the organization who feel Brett Baty is going to be a real good left fielder once he gets some experience out there,” Stearns said.

The Mets also plan to evaluate prospect Carson Benge in left field during spring training and have Tyrone Taylor returning.

“I think we have some options out there, and we’ll continue to see how the offseason goes,” Stearns said.

Spencer Jones may be on the doorstep of The Bronx, yet he can’t crack Baseball America’s top-100 prospect list.

The towering outfielder did not crack the list despite hitting 35 homers and posting a. 982 OPS spanning Triple-A and Double-A this past season.

Four other Yankees cracked the list, headlined by shortstop George Lombard Jr. at No. 46.

Pitcher Elmer Rodriguez (59), 2025 first-round shortstop Dax Kilby (No. 61) and pitcher Carlos Lagrange (93) round out the quartet that qualified.

Baseball America has not been kind to Jones throughout the years, ranking him as its No. 46 prospect before the 2024 season and leaving him off lists since.

He’s certainly a divisive prospect, with some projecting Aaron Judge-like power while others worrying his swing has too many holes and he will strike out way too often.

Jones, 24, slashed .274/.362/.571 with 35 homers, 80 RBIs and 29 steals this past season, and could be part of the Yankees’ Opening Day mix.

It seems he’ll start the year in the minors after Cody Bellinger re-signed Wednesday — provided he’s not traded — affording more opportunities to refine his game.

Four Yankees making the list shows that the system has depth, but their top prospect coming in at No. 46 further revealed that the system lacks top-end talent.

The Bronx Bombers have talked up Lombard for quite some time after drafting him in 2023, but he’s coming off a disappointing season in which he had a .695 OPS in Double-A.

Rodriguez-Cruz shined after arriving in the Carlos Narvaez trade, posting a 2.58 ERA with 176 strikeouts in 150 innings spanning three levels.

Kilby, the No. 39 pick in the 2025 Draft, played in just 18 minor-league games and posted an .898 OPS with 16 stolen bases.

Lagrange rounded out the list after posting a 3.83 ERA with 168 strikeouts in 120 innings spanning Double-A and Single-A.

MLB.com ranked the Yankees’ system 22nd last August, and is more bullish on the team’s prospects than Baseball America.

Lombard is No. 25, Lagrange is No. 74 and Jones ranks No. 99 in their listing, while Rodriguez comes in much lower at No. 97.

Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns was at Citi Field on Wednesday to introduce Bo Bichette, whose deal became official on Tuesday -- shortly before Stearns swung a trade for Luis Robert Jr.

Add Bichette and Robert to the already-signed Jorge Polanco, and New York's offense has been transformed after the departures of Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, and Jeff McNeil.

While Stearns said he's happy with the position player group the Mets now have, they are still in search of a starting pitcher.

"My preference is to add a starting pitcher," Stearns told SNY's Steve Gelbs. "I've been open and honest about that through the entirety of the offseason. I can't say with certainty that we're going to be able to do that, but we remain engaged on a number of different fronts in that market. 

"We've still got plenty of time to go in the offseason, certainly plenty of time to go before Opening Day. And so we'll see where it heads."

The Mets, who have yet to dip into their stable of top prospects in any trade this offseason, could be set up well to deal for a top-of-the-rotation pitcher.

Among the possibilities is Milwaukee Brewers ace Freddy Peralta, whom the Mets are still reportedly pursuing.

If not Peralta, New York could attempt to pry Tarik Skubal from the Tigers, reengage the Padres on Nick Pivetta, or turn to the free agent market.

The best free agent pitcher remaining is Framber Valdez, who has been heavily linked to the Mets and Orioles and could possibly be had on a three-or four-year deal worth around $30 million annually.

As things currently stand, the Mets' rotation includes Nolan McLean, Clay Holmes, Sean Manaea, David Peterson, and Kodai Senga.

Then there are the young starters, led by Jonah Tong, Brandon Sproat, and Christian Scott -- who should be ready to go after recovering from Tommy John surgery.

While the Mets have rotation depth, they also have lots of question marks -- something that obviously isn't lost on Stearns as he continues the club's pursuit of more starting pitching.

STEARNS ON THE LUIS ROBERT JR. TRADE

Robert is one of the best defensive center fielders in the sport, one of the fastest runners, and has elite bat speed.

His offense, while inconsistent, is something you can dream on.

Robert has had two consecutive down seasons, but he showed serious flashes last summer when he slashed .297/.350/.468 in 140 plate appearances over 35 games from July 11 to Aug. 26 -- when his season ended due to a hamstring injury.

"As we looked at Luis Robert, we saw so many of the same skills and tools that allowed him to an elite player just a couple of years ago," Stearns told Gelbs. "All of that is still there. When you see those underlying skills and tools at such a high level, it makes you want to get that guy in your organization. We'll do everything we can to bring the best out of him. We'll do everything we can to keep him on the field, make him comfortable.

"Sometimes just a change of place, a change of scenery gives someone a little bit of a new perspective. We don't know what that is. We don't really know why, but we've all seen it plenty of times in sports. And Luis certainly could be a guy like that."

As Bo Bichette donned his orange and blue Mets cap and No. 19 jersey for the first time on Wednesday afternoon, he made it clear that there was one factor in particular that led to him signing in New York. 

Winning. 

“It was very obvious that I wanted to be a Met,” Bichette explained. “Mr. [Steve] Cohen and David [Stearns] have put together an organization that is looking to win every single year, has an opportunity to win a World Series every single year, and a roster that backs that up. It’s very exciting to be part of this city, one of the best cities in the world, maybe the best city in the world, some of the best fans in the world, and all of that is something I always wanted to be a part of. So, I’m excited to be here and excited to be a Met.”

“My first priority is winning, and obviously this organization is doing everything that they can to do that,” Bichette added later. “The roster is great, like I said, and then just playing in front of fans like this is a pretty cool opportunity. I’m excited to get out there.”

While Bichette, who signed with the Mets on a three-year, $126 million contract, has primarily played shortstop over the course of his major league career with the Blue Jays, the Mets have said he will now make the move to be their everyday third baseman.

And Bichette is ready for the challenge.

“I was open to doing anything if it felt like the place I needed to be,” he said. “And like I said, it became very clear that I wanted to be a Met.”

Stearns stated early in the offseason that run prevention was the team’s top priority when it came to reshaping the roster. But with Bichette at third base and Jorge Polanco at first, the Mets have a pair of starting infielders who are starting at new positions.

Speaking to SNY’s Steve Gelbs on Wednesday, Stearns explained that while there will be growing pains along the way, he believes in the athleticism that the Mets have built in their new infield.

“We’re potentially going to have four shortstops on the dirt a lot of days this season,” Stearns said. “From a range perspective, that’s a real advantage. We should be able to cover a lot of ground.

“Now there are certainly going to be learning moments for Bo and Jorge Polanco as well as they understand the intricacies of their positions. But with Bo we’re talking about someone who knows the game so well, someone who understands the game so well, has been around the game for his entire life, has a great work ethic on the field, has the aptitude. We believe he’s going to get there and get there pretty fast.”

Prosecutors are putting their star witness on the stand on Wednesday in their latest effort to prove former Dodgers star Yasiel Puig committed federal crimes.

Donny Kadokawa was called to testify early in the morning as the second day of Puig’s trial got underway in a Downtown Los Angeles courtroom.

Kadokawa said he met Puig at a Dodgers game and the two later got close in January 2019 after Puig attended a youth baseball camp Kadokawa hosted in Hawaii. 

Kadokawa testified he became the go-between for Puig and bookies, including Wayne Nix, a former Minor League pitcher accused of running a massive illegal gambling operation.

Kadokawa said Puig would place bets to him through text messages, and after just a few weeks of making wagers, he went down 10s of thousands of dollars.

Kadokawa testified he earned a commission from Nix for placing bets for Puig, but he gave it back because he was afraid of possible repercussions due to how much Puig owed.

Prior to the questioning of Kadokawa, Puig’s agent Lisette Carnet told The Post she was certain prosecutors were going to use Kadokawa to try to paint Puig “as this very savvy gambler,” though she claimed the reality was he took advantage of Puig.

She also alleged that Kadokawa “took a deal to basically say that Yasiel was doing something wrong.”

Prosecutors have alleged for several years that Puig placed nearly 1,000 illegal bets in 2019 and then lied to investigators about it in 2022.

The feds claim Puig made multiple false statements to them during an interview. They also allege he later sent an audio message where he could be heard admitting to lying to the investigators.

Puig has been charged with one count of obstruction of justice and two counts of making false statements. If convicted, Puig faces significant prison time.

Puig once cut a deal with prosecutors to close out the case in November 2022, when he agreed to plead guilty to lying to federal investigators, but he later backed out of the pact.

“I want to clear my name,” he said after reneging on the agreement. “I never should have agreed to plead guilty to a crime I did not commit.”

Court documents show Puig’s trial is expected to last a little over a week. Kadokawa testified throughout Wednesday and is expected to return to the stand on Thursday. Puig showed up for the proceedings in a beige suit jacket with a similar-colored turtle neck.

Puig, 35, made his MLB debut with the Dodgers in 2013 and spent several years with the team. He wrapped up his career with the Reds and then Cleveland in 2019.

He later played professionally in South Korea as well as the Mexican League.