San Francisco Giants star Jung Hoo Lee was detained by US Customs and Border Protection at LAX on Wednesday over a “paperwork issue,” his team confirmed Wednesday night.
“Earlier today,” the Giants said in a statement to the Associated Press, “Jung Hoo Lee experienced a brief travel issue at LAX due to a paperwork issue.
“The matter was quickly clarified with the appropriate authorities, and he has since been cleared to continue his travel. We appreciate the professionalism of all parties involved.”
Giants star Jung-Hoo Lee was traveling to California for an event, according to the report. WireImage
The 27-year-old outfielder was traveling ahead of a scheduled appearance at a Giants FanFest event on Saturday, according to the report.
Lee’s agent, Scott Boras, told The Post on Wednesday night everything “is now resolved” and the baseball player continued on to Arizona following the delay.
The 27-year-old outfielder was detained by US Customs and Border Protection at LAX Wednesday after forgetting travel documents according to a report. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
San Francisco Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s office had reportedly been working with federal officials to secure his release prior to the matter getting sorted out.
Spring Training for the Giants begins in Scottsdale in three weeks.
Lee signed a six-year deal with the Giants in December 2023 worth $113 million.
In his first season in San Francisco, Lee — who previously starred in the KBO before joining the MLB — was limited to just 37 games due to injury.
This past season, he was able to play in 150, and he recorded a .266 batting average with eight home runs, 55 RBI and 10 stolen bases.
“This is probably helping,” Bichette said Wednesday at Citi Field, where he was introduced as the new Mets third baseman. “To be that close, you never know when you’re going to get that opportunity. But I think this team has an opportunity to let me get there.”
He brings an authoritative right-handed bat to a lineup that subtracted Pete Alonso, who accepted a $155 million offer over five years from the Orioles.
Last year, Bichette posted a .311/.357/.483 slash line with 18 homers and 94 RBIs in 139 games before missing the final three weeks of the regular season (he returned for the World Series) with a left knee sprain.
The question isn’t so much what Bichette will bring offensively — he’s posted an OPS of at least .800 in six of his seven major league seasons — but whether he can adapt to his new position, third base.
New Met Bo Bichette talks to the media during his introductory press conference on Jan. 21, 2026 at Citi Field. Corey Sipkin for New York Post
Accompanied by his family, which included his father Dante — a former outfielder with the Brewers, Angels and Rockies, Reds and Red Sox — Bichette said he expects to succeed in the transition from shortstop (he also played second base in the World Series).
“It’s going to take work to be good at something and I’m willing to put in that work and we’ll get after it,” Bichette said. “I’m already getting after it. But we’ll get after it more when I get down to Port St. Lucie.”
The revamped Mets infield also includes Marcus Semien at second base with Jorge Polanco at first base. Both are also former shortstops.
“I think there’s probably going to be a lot of days this season where we are playing four shortstops on the infield, and that’s a pretty distinct advantage,” Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said. “I definitely think there’s going to be a learning curve. I’m not trying to dismiss that at all.
New Met Bo Bichette poses for a picture outside a snowy Citi Field during his introductory press conference. Corey Sipkin for New York Post
“We’re probably going to make a mistake or two, but we’re also going to have an elite range around the infield and that’s pretty exciting.”
Bichette was close to accepting an offer from the Phillies — the team’s president of baseball operations, Dave Dombrowski called it a “gut punch” to lose him. But Stearns downplayed the angle of the Mets stealing a player from a top division rival.
“I understand that fans find that satisfying,” Stearns said. “I think we need to make sure we are acquiring players, and especially at acquisitions of this magnitude, that we are acquiring players that fit what we want to do, not remove them from another team.”
The Mets filled another hole this week by acquiring center fielder Luis Robert Jr. in a trade with the White Sox for Luisangel Acuña and minor league pitcher Truman Pauley. Stearns struck again Wednesday night, landing ace Freddy Peralta in a trade with the Brewers.
Stearns was asked if he could envision adding another piece to the lineup.
“I would say I feel good about where our position grouping is,” Stearns said. “But at this point in the offseason you can never predict what is going to happen. Different things emerge. We’re not going to close the door on anything.”
New Met Bo Bichette poses for a picture with manager Carlos Mendoza during his introductory press conference at Citi Field. Corey Sipkin for New York Post
Bichette indicated he’s communicated multiple times in recent days with Semien, his former teammate with the Blue Jays. The 35-year-old Semien arrived in a November trade with Texas for Brandon Nimmo.
“[Semien] is a good one, he showed me the ropes, he’s a hard worker, he’s all business,” Bichette said. “He’s a competitor. He was a great mentor for me and I’m sure that in some ways I will still look up to him.”
Semien hasn’t visited Citi Field since his trade to the Mets and had a question for Bichette.
“He asked me what the clubhouse looks like and I had good reviews,” Bichette said.
The Mets and White Sox were in contact for a long time.
New York showed interest in dynamic center fielder Luis Robert Jr. ahead of last year’s deadline, but Chicago ultimately decided to hold onto him and exercise his club option.
Talks reignited this winter with the Mets still in search of outfield help, and the two sides were finally able to come to terms on an agreement on Tuesday night.
In exchange, New York sent Luisangel Acuña and RHP Truman Pauley to Chicago.
While there are some red flags in his profile, the 28-year-old Robert brings an intriguing change of scenery candidate into the everyday centerfield role in Flushing.
For the White Sox, the deal not only opens up some financial flexibility, but it also adds another intriguing young piece in Acuña to their up-and-coming roster.
The 23-year-old is someone GM Chris Getz says they’ve been tracking for a long time.
“It really is about being able to bring in Acuña,” Getz told reporters Wednesday. “We’re talking about a player that comes with five-plus years of control. One of the younger, more exciting players in our game who hasn’t really gotten a runway at the major league level.
“I know over in New York, they did not want to get rid of him, that’s because of how valuable he can be with a team. Now, he was on a roster that didn't really allow him to show what he could do on a regular basis, and we're going to be able to provide that."
Acuña showed flashes of that upside the White Sox value, but he was ultimately never able to carve out a consistent everyday role with the crowded infield in the Big Apple.
He has just 13 XBH’s and a .640 OPS over his first 214 big-league at-bats.
The youngster wasn’t going to receive that opportunity again with the Mets adding Marcus Semien and Bo Bichette this winter, but now he’ll get his shot in Chicago.
The newly dubbed Mrs. Bichette donned a blue and orange New York or Nowhere hat, adding more Mets colors with her top.
Alexis and Bo posed together on the steps of the home team’s first base dugout with a snow-covered field in the background at the Queens baseball park.
The day at Citi Field came just weeks after the couple wed in a ceremony that had a number of his former Blue Jays teammates in attendance.
The nuptials took place the first weekend of January and appeared to be held at The Urban Stillhouse by Horse Soldier in St. Petersburg, Fla., according to images posted on social media.
Blue Jays infielder Ernie Clement was among those invited and spoke about it before the big day.
The New York Mets infielder Bo Bichette poses on the field with his wife Alexis Angerman after his introductory press conference at Citi Field, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, in Queens, NY. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
“Somehow, I was lucky enough to get the invite. I’m honoured, truly, because him and his lady are just the best,” Clement said on the “Off the Roster” podcast, per the Toronto Star.
Bichette, who is expected to shift to third third base in New York, donned the Mets jersey and cap for the first time on Wednesday during a press conference at Citi Field.
He spoke glowingly of what the Mets are putting together in Queens and his belief in the ballclub.
The New York Mets infielder Bo Bichette and his wife Alexis Angerman walk to the field after his introductory press conference at Citi Field, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, in Queens, NY. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
“With a lot of prayer and conversations with my family and my agents and even some friends, came to the conclusion that it was very obvious that I wanted to be a Met,” he said. “Mr. Cohen and David [Stearns] have put together an organization 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 a part of this city.”
The Dodgers did not go into this offseason anticipating they’d ultimately sign Kyle Tucker.
Even up until a couple weeks ago, their chances of nabbing the four-time All-Star –– given their preference for a shorter-term deal –– seemed more wishful than expectant.
Kyle Tucker was introduced by the Dodgers at a press conference on Wednesday. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Yet, here Tucker was on Wednesday afternoon: Shaking hands with Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and general manager Brandon Gomes. Slipping into a white No. 23 Dodgers jersey and a blue LA cap. Being formally introduced at a Chavez Ravine press conference, shortly after his blockbuster four-year, $240 million contract with the club was finalized and announced.
“When we started the offseason and [were] talking about various fits on the trade market, free agent market, there was really nobody that moved our World Series odds for 2026 more than Kyle Tucker,” president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said.
The Dodgers said Kyle Tucker will play right field. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
And in the end, despite the early uncertainty, the Dodgers once again prevailed in a high-priced sweepstakes.
To the two-time World Series victors, go the spoils of another superstar acquisition.
“It’s a first-class experience,” Tucker said of joining the Dodgers. “Playing here is exciting.”
As Tucker officially joins the Dodgers, here are three takeaways from Wednesday’s press conference about how the signing came to be, and how the outfield slugger will aid their bid for a World Series three-peat.
A late, but fitting, match
At the start of the offseason, the Dodgers’ plan for pursuing Tucker was simple.
They would reach out with interest, as they do with almost all top free-agent players. They would let it be known up front they were looking for a shorter-term pact (initially, their preference was for up to three years, per sources, given their pre-existing long-term commitments and the looming uncertainty of next winter’s CBA negotiations). Then, they would see how Tucker’s market developed, and whether or not he received the 10-plus year, $400-plus million type offers he was widely projected to field.
“At the beginning of the offseason, you don’t know what the likelihood of that is,” Friedman said. “All you can do is kind of state your strong interest and sell as much as you can.”
Other clubs made their own enticing pitch to the two-time Silver Slugger and Gold Glove-winning right fielder.
Kyle Tucker agreed to sign with the Dodgers last week. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
In December, Tucker had an in-person meeting with his perceived top suitor, the Toronto Blue Jays –– who gave him a tour of their spring training facilities (conveniently located near his offseason home in Tampa) and would eventually pony up the longer-term offer he was believed to be seeking (albeit, at 10 years and only $350 million, per The Post’s Jon Heyman).
By early January, the New York Mets had entered the picture, too, pursuing Tucker with a shorter-term proposal sweetened by an eye-popping $50-plus million in annual salary (their final offer was four years and $220 million).
The Dodgers, however, stayed in contact with Tucker’s camp throughout. Early last week, they held a video call with the 29-year-old in which he expressed an encouraging “level of engagement,” Friedman said. Suddenly, hopes were raised that the sides could find a pathway to a deal.
Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes and manager Dave Roberts posed with Kyle Tucker on Wednesday. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“When we’ve seen these kinds of shorter-term, higher-AAV deals, I don’t think they’ve ever come when [the player] also had a really long, significant deal [they were considering] as well,” Friedman said. “He had that opportunity. And so for us, it was about selling the opportunity to play with these guys, to play in front of these fans, to play in this city, to connect with this community.”
And, of course, to make a lot of money while doing it.
An ‘easier’ decision in the end
While Friedman acknowledged negotiations with Tucker’s camp “started lower” than the eventual $240 million agreement the sides would eventually strike, the Dodgers ramped up their efforts in the closing days of Tucker’s free agency –– buoyed by the financial windfalls that have come with their back-to-back titles and Ohtani-driven revenue boosts.
Their final bid included $60 million in annual salary (the second-highest in the sport, behind only Shohei Ohtani), a $64 million signing bonus (which will help offset the $30 million in payments that Tucker agreed to defer) and opt-outs after both the second and third seasons of the deal (which will allow Tucker to test the market again in a couple years).
Based on net-present value, which accounts for deferrals, Tucker’s $57 million AAV is a new MLB record.
“Really, it’s as simple as, we’re in a really strong position organizationally, financially, and we feel an immense pressure to pour back into our fans,” Friedman said.
Kyle Tucker played last season with the Cubs. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Added Gomes: “When we had the opportunity to do it –– and this was a real chance to fill a hole that would really impact our team –– we did it. So it was one of those things where we were waiting around and being in contact, and then things developed pretty quickly over 5-7 days.”
Still, Tucker cited the Dodgers’ organizational success and talent-laiden roster as a primary appeal to him, as well.
“The team these guys put together and assembled, to give a great product for the fanbase and the city, to go out there and compete for a championship, kind of speaks for itself,” Tucker said. “Taking all of that into account, wanting to be a part of it, I think it’s very special.”
Thus, Tucker came to his final decision last Thursday night, describing his decision to pick the Dodgers as “a little bit easier” in the end.
“That was ultimately what we wanted to do,” he said, “is come here, and be a part of that, and try to win another World Series.”
The new right fielder
The reason the Dodgers were willing to splurge on Tucker (whose signing pushes their luxury tax payroll back above $400 million for a second-straight season, a threshold no other MLB team has ever crossed) is because he instantly addresses their only remaining area of need for 2026.
Before, the Dodgers had a corner outfield opening, with a potential Alex Call/Ryan Ward platoon representing their best in-house option. Now, Tucker will be the primary right fielder, shifting Teoscar Hernández to left with Andy Pages in center.
Tucker also gives the Dodgers lineup –– at times too top-heavy and inconsistent last year –– another impact hitter capable of being both a slugging and on-base threat.
He will likely either second or third in the batting order, according to Roberts.
“He brings power, discipline, athleticism and consistency, all qualities we feel strongly help contribute to winning championships,” Gomes said.
Roberts set expectations for Tucker –– who has been one of the game’s most consistent producers over the last five seasons, but has recorded just one top-five MVP finish in his career –– even higher.
“Do I think [he could be] an MVP candidate?” Roberts asked rhetorically. “Absolutely.”
About how he doesn’t have the heart to play through injuries.
About how his $240-million contract was an overpay for a player with only one top-five finish in MVP voting.
Kyle Tucker was introduced as the newest member of the Dodgers in a press conference on Wednesday. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Introduced as the Dodgers’ latest addition in a Wednesday morning news conference, the 29-year-old outfielder said his understated personality shouldn’t be mistaken for absence of passion.
“I know what I try and do on the field and what I bring in the clubhouse,” Tucker said.
Which would make sense.
Players without internal drives usually don’t develop the kind of well-rounded game that made Tucker the grand prize of this free-agent market. They might have their moments, but they don’t maintain their performance levels for enough time to become four-time All-Stars, as Tucker has.
An absence of passion is alarming for a region in which Dwight Howard failed the Lakers, Anthony Rendon destroyed the Angels and Chip Kelly obliterated UCLA football, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he was certain Tucker has the fortitude that belongs on a high-character team.
“There’s an inner fire I’ve seen,” manager Dave Roberts said.
President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said he picked up on that in his conversations with Tucker.
He was signed to a 4-year $240 million contract. AP
Friedman said Tucker showed he valued the details of the game. He said Tucker was interested in how the Dodgers could assist him in becoming a better player, whether it be in the batter’s box, in the outfield, or on the basepaths.
“Having a guy who has achieved what he has, but still has that mentality of, ‘How do I get better?’” Friedman said. “Those are the guys that make it easier to bet on.”
Friedman wondered how much the public perception of Tucker has been hurt because he doesn’t have an “outward, exuberant personality.”
Judging by his introductory news conference, Tucker is Shohei Ohtani without his disarming smile.
The 29-year-old outfielder said his understated personality shouldn’t be mistaken for absence of passion. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
His delivery was monotone. He registered no emotion as he relayed a light-hearted story about Freddie Freeman FaceTiming him to tell him to not do “anything stupid.”
About the only time Tucker became animated was when he leaped to the defense of Roberts when I teased the manager for not relinquishing his No. 30 jersey to him. (Roberts wears the number in honor of late mentor Maury Wills.)
There were traces of his emotional investment, however.
“I try and do my best out there, regardless of how I feel or what the situation is,” he said.
Tucker was slowed by injuries over the last two years.
He spoke about what he could contribute to the team when he was slumping — by moving runners over, by making pitchers work, by drawing walks.
Tucker will wear No. 23 with the Dodgers, inheriting a number once worn by Adrian Gonzalez. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“Little things like that can add up to a lot of wins throughout the season,” he said.
Tucker played in the postseason in each of the last seven years and said he was looking forward to returning with the Dodgers.
“I’m fired up,” he said.
Perhaps Tucker’s personality will emerge in time. Los Angeles can have that effect on players.
Tucker will wear No. 23 with the Dodgers, inheriting a number once worn by Adrian Gonzalez.
Gonzalez was known as an introvert when he was acquired by the Dodgers in a blockbuster trade in 2012. By his second season with him, he was raising his hands to the sides of his helmet as if they were Mickey Mouse ears. He quickly became one of the most popular Dodgers of his generation.
His previous no. 30 is worn by Dave Roberts in honor of of late mentor Maury Wills IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
And, remember, it was only a couple of years ago that Mookie Betts’ focus was being questioned. Two more World Series championships and a successful move to shortstop have dispelled any misgivings about Betts’ dedication.
As were the cases with Gonzalez and Betts, the Dodgers believe there’s more in Tucker than he has shown.
“I do think that Kyle’s mindset on the micro, the day-to-day, just winning a baseball game, that’s in line with what we do,” Roberts said.
The manager continued, “Do I think [he could be] an MVP candidate? Absolutely. Do I think he can win a Gold Glove? Absolutely.”
Tucker does that, and he could be in line for another contract with the Dodgers. Tucker’s deal is for four years, with opt-outs after the second and third years.
“In two or three years, we’ll know a lot more about things than we do now,” Friedman said.
More specifically, they’ll know more about how seriously Tucker takes the game. They’ll know if he can be more than a reinforcement on an already-loaded roster. They’ll know if he is the caliber of player, and person, around which a championship team can be built.
LOS ANGELES — To say that Dave Roberts and Maury Wills were close is an understatement. Wills, the Dodgers’ all-time stolen base leader and six-time National League steals leader, took the base-stealing Roberts under his wing when Roberts was playing, and became a confidant for two decades, until Wills died in 2022.
“He was a friend, a father, a mentor, all of the above for me. This one is a tough one,” Roberts said after Wills’ death three and a half years ago. “He showed me to appreciate my craft, and what it is to be a big leaguer. He just loved to teach. A lot of where I get my excitement, my passion, my love for players is from him.”
Twenty-three different Dodgers players have worn number 30 since Wills last donned the uniform in 1972, including Roberts from 2002-04 when he was playing for the Dodgers. Roberts resumed wearing number 30 when he took over as manager in Los Angeles for the 2016 season.
So it was going to be a tall order for Kyle Tucker, who wore number 30 in his last five seasons with the Houston Astros, and also in 2025 with the Chicago Cubs, to keep wearing that same number with the Dodgers. But he had to at least try.
“I kind of knew the reasoning behind having the number 30, but I was like, I’m just gonna take a shot in the dark here and see what happens,” Tucker said during his introductory press conference at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday. “I wasn’t necessarily expecting it.”
“It was a fun conversation Tuck and I had, and it was more — you know, Maury and I just had a great relationship,” Roberts said Wednesday. “One of the things that he was like, ‘Gosh, when I die I hope no one else wears that number.’ It’s really near and dear to me, so we talked about it.”
The Dodgers typically only retire uniform numbers of Hall of Famers who go into Cooperstown representing the team, with only two exceptions to date — Jim Gilliam and Fernando Valenzuela. Roberts is well on his way down the Hall of Fame path, having won three championships and five pennants in his 10 years on the job.
Roberts is one of only 11 managers to win the World Series at least three times. Nine of the other 10 are in the Hall of Fame, and Bruce Bochy will likely join them as early as 2027, depending on whether he decides to keep managing. Same for the 16 National League/American League managers with at least five pennants under their belt — 14 already in Cooperstown, plus Bochy and Roberts.
Another connection to Wills is that in 2003, the middle year of Roberts’ three seasons playing in Los Angeles, he was teammates with utility man Jason Romano, who is now Tucker’s agent at Excel Sports.
With 30 unavailable, Tucker chose to wear number 23 with the Dodgers. That was the number worn by Michael Conforto, who’s one year with the Dodgers last season did not work out as either side planned. Though Tucker is going to play right field — with Teoscar Hernández shifting to left field, which both Roberts and Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman confirmed on Wednesday — he’s essentially directly replacing Conforto, who played left field last season. So perhaps it’s fitting that he’s wearing the same number.
But Tucker had a different reason for choosing it. That was the number worn by Michael Brantley, the longtime Guardians outfielder who played the final five seasons of his career (2019-23) in Houston, alongside Tucker’s rise to a full-time player and eventual four-time All-Star.
“With me going to 23 — I mean, [Roberts] looking up to Maury Wills and kind of being his mentor and everything coming up, and him wanting to wear that for him — kind of the same thing with me, with 23 and Michael Brantley,” Tucker explained. “He’s the guy I hung out with a lot coming up in Houston, and he was a phenomenal ballplayer and one of my close friends. That played a big part into my choice going with that.”
The active New York Mets acquired ace pitcher Freddy Peralta and right-hander Tobias Myers from Milwaukee on Wednesday night in a trade that sent two top prospects to the Brewers.
Milwaukee received pitcher Brandon Sproat and minor league infielder/outfielder Jett Williams.
We have acquired RHP Freddy Peralta and RHP Tobias Myers from Milwaukee in exchange for RHP Brandon Sproat and minor league INF Jett Williams.
Peralta gives the Mets a frontline starter after their rotation faltered in the second half of a disappointing 2025 season. The move came hours after the Mets formally introduced free agent addition Bo Bichette at Citi Field, and one night after they obtained talented center fielder Luis Robert Jr. in a trade with the Chicago White Sox.
Peralta went 17-6 with a 2.70 ERA last season, when he led the National League in wins and finished fifth in Cy Young Award voting. He earned his second All-Star selection after getting his first nod in 2021.
The 29-year-old right-hander is set to make $8 million this year and can become a free agent following the World Series. He becomes the latest former Brewers player acquired by Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns, who ran Milwaukee’s front office from 2015-23.
Myers, 27, was 9-6 with a 3.00 ERA as a rookie in 2024 before going 1-2 with a 3.55 ERA in 22 appearances last year.
AP Sports Writer Steve Megargee in Milwaukee and AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report.
The active New York Mets acquired ace pitcher Freddy Peralta and right-hander Tobias Myers from Milwaukee on Wednesday night in a trade that sent two top prospects to the Brewers.
Milwaukee received pitcher Brandon Sproat and minor league infielder/outfielder Jett Williams.
We have acquired RHP Freddy Peralta and RHP Tobias Myers from Milwaukee in exchange for RHP Brandon Sproat and minor league INF Jett Williams.
Peralta gives the Mets a frontline starter after their rotation faltered in the second half of a disappointing 2025 season. The move came hours after the Mets formally introduced free agent addition Bo Bichette at Citi Field, and one night after they obtained talented center fielder Luis Robert Jr. in a trade with the Chicago White Sox.
Peralta went 17-6 with a 2.70 ERA last season, when he led the National League in wins and finished fifth in Cy Young Award voting. He earned his second All-Star selection after getting his first nod in 2021.
The 29-year-old right-hander is set to make $8 million this year and can become a free agent following the World Series. He becomes the latest former Brewers player acquired by Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns, who ran Milwaukee’s front office from 2015-23.
Myers, 27, was 9-6 with a 3.00 ERA as a rookie in 2024 before going 1-2 with a 3.55 ERA in 22 appearances last year.
AP Sports Writer Steve Megargee in Milwaukee and AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report.
Outfielder Kyle Tucker at his introductory press conference at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday. Tucker signed a four-year, $240-million contract to join the Dodgers. (Ronaldo Bolaños / Los Angeles Times)
This was pretty audacious, even by the Dodgers’ standard. Their $17-million left fielder flopped last year, so they threw $240 million at another corner outfielder to supplement the three most valuable players already in their lineup.
Still, as Kyle Tucker smiled for the cameras at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, it was hard to imagine this one man could sign here and take down the 2027 season.
On Tuesday the Athletic quoted one ownership source that portrayed the Tucker signing as a tipping point that made it “a 100 percent certainty” owners would push for a salary cap when the collective bargaining agreement expires this fall. Owners have been complaining about the Dodgers’ signings of Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell and Tanner Scott, and on and on, and it sounds silly that the signing of one Kyle Daniel Tucker would turn the owners in a direction many of them already indicated they want to go.
“I agree,” said the man who signed him, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman.
If baseball comes up with new rules next year, the Dodgers will abide by them. Until then, Friedman said, their “only focus” is on delivering the best possible product to the fans who pack Dodger Stadium every night and shop the team store like crazy. In return, he said, the Dodgers can sell themselves to stars like Tucker.
“A destination spot is where players and their families feel incredibly well taken care of,” Friedman said. “If they're playing in front of 7,000 people, they don’t feel that as much.
“Playing in front of 50,000 people, and seeing the passion and how much people live and die for the Dodgers each summer and each October, I think, adds to the experience and allure of playing here.”
He also said this, which might infuriate some fans and perhaps some owners outside Los Angeles: “This isn’t just about, let’s spend a lot of money.”
If the Dodgers’ spending habits border on satire to you, well, the Onion got there first. Two decades ago, when fake news actually meant fake, the Onion ran this headline: “Yankees Ensure 2003 Pennant By Signing Every Player In Baseball.”
The Yankees led the major leagues in payroll that year and for the next 10 years. They won the World Series once in that span, in 2009. They have not won since.
So, when the Dodgers splurged last winter, Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner offered a measured response.
"It's difficult for most of us owners to be able to do the kind of things that they're doing," Steinbrenner told YES Network. "We'll see if it pays off."
It did. The Dodgers won their second consecutive World Series. They made more money on ticket sales alone in 2024 than roughly half the 30 teams made in total revenue. Same for their local television revenue.
There’s more: an estimated $200 million in sponsorship revenue last year — thank you, Shohei. In all they took in an estimated $1 billion last year — an MLB record — meaning they spent close to $600 million in player payroll and luxury taxes and still made money.
At that level the cries that owners of other teams should just spend more start to ring a bit hollow. They should spend more, of course. But the issue is how to persuade owners to spend another $100 million when the Dodgers still might outspend them by $300 million.
The Yankees can do the kind of things the Dodgers do, and the San Diego Padres have shown how fans in a small market turn out when an owner is more concerned with winning than profit. However, the implosion of cable and satellite television means that local media revenues have cratered for teams outside large markets.
More than half of MLB teams never have paid anyone the $240 million the Dodgers committed to Tucker. The Dodgers committed even more to Ohtani, Yamamoto and Mookie Betts.
The owners could agree that teams should share more revenue, with luxury tax penalties not just in cash but also in restrictions that would hamper the ability to compete, something more significant than the loss of a couple of draft picks.
But that Tucker deal: The Dodgers committed $64 million in a signing bonus — never mind the salary! — to a player they arguably did not need. Owners will be very happy to argue the luxury tax has failed and only a salary cap will stop the Dodgers and New York Mets.
Kyle Tucker's contract includes a $64-million signing bonus. (Ronaldo Bolaños / Los Angeles Times)
This was part of that Onion satire in 2003: “Yankees manager Joe Torre, whose pitching rotation prior to the mass signing lacked a clear seventh ace, now has the luxury of starting each of his hurlers twice a season.
“ ‘As they say, you can never have enough pitching in this league,’ Torre said.”
Let’s see: Yamamoto, Ohtani, Snell, Glasnow, Roki Sasaki, Emmet Sheehan. That might be six aces. And, since you never can have enough pitching: Ben Casparius, Kyle Hurt, Landon Knack, River Ryan, Gavin Stone, Justin Wrobleski. There might be a seventh ace in there, or on the trade market during their coming walk year: Freddy Peralta of the Milwaukee Brewers, or even Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers.
A salary cap would provide cost certainty that likely would enable owners to sell teams for more money. Whether a salary cap would solve the issue of competitive balance is questionable — in the capped NFL, the AFC championship game has included either the New England Patriots or Kansas City Chiefs for 15 consecutive years — but that would be the owners’ pitch.
So would this: You could compete with the Yankees for the first two decades of this century, but you just can’t compete with these Dodgers, even if that reflects less on payroll and more on management, a dash of October randomness, and that horrendousfifth inning of Game 5 of the 2024 World Series.
In 1994, when owners called off the World Series rather than surrender their pursuit of a salary cap, the following season started a month late, and even then the owners did not get a cap. If they really want a cap, baseball insiders say, the owners will have to vow to stick together and support doing what the NHL owners did to secure one: calling off an entire season.
For the Dodgers and their fans, that is someone else’s problem, at least for this year. In Los Angeles, the prevailing question is not “Salary cap?” but “Three-peat?”
Tucker likely will bat “second or third” in the Dodgers’ lineup, manager Dave Roberts said. He’ll better the defense by playing right field, allowing Teoscar Hernández to move to left field.
Of all the potential offseason acquisitions the Dodgers discussed, Friedman said, “There was really nobody that moved our World Series odds for 2026 more than Kyle Tucker.”
I asked Tucker how he felt about supposedly having so much power that his signing could shut down what owners say is a troubled sport.
“I think baseball is in a good spot,” Tucker said. “We have phenomenal attendance around the world. … Fans are being very supportive of their teams and their players and their organizations. I think it’s a good thing having that interaction with everyone, and I think it’s just going to grow the game from there, as long as we can — as a league and as players — continue growing the fan base.”
Ohtani and the Dodgers are rock stars, as evidenced by the team selling out of $253 seats next to the on-field stage at the annual fan festival next week.
The players will not be playing. They will appear for short interviews with team broadcasters.
Seats in the stands are available from $28 to $153, for an event that was free three years ago. While fans and owners of other teams complain, the Dodgers shake it off and find ways to make even more money.
Life is good when you’re the champions. Enjoy it this year, Dodgers fans. If a lockout is happening next January, as it likely will be, the fan festival will not be happening.
Former Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig, right, outside the federal courthouse in downtown Los Angeles in 2023. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Yasiel Puig's name conjures indelible images to Dodgers fans. Mammoth home runs. Laser-like throws from the outfield. Distributing goodie bags during visits to Children's Hospital Los Angeles.
Also, tardiness to games, impulsive base-running mistakes and — more recent and egregious — charges of lying to federal investigators about his suspected involvement in illegal sports betting.
Puig, 35, is on trial this week in Los Angeles federal court, charged with obstruction of justice and two counts of making false statements to investigators. He faces up to 20 years in prison.
In August in his most recent public comment, Puig posted a statement on X that included: "This story isn't over yet, and you weren't told the full story the first time.''
A timeline of Puig's tenure with the Dodgers, his admitted illegal gambling and his interactions with federal investigators that led to the criminal charges:
The "Wild Horse"
Aug. 2018 photo of former Dodger outfielder Yasiel Puig in a game against the Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)
Legendary Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully began calling Puig the "Wild Horse" for his prodigious, untamed talent soon after the player was called up to the big leagues in 2013 at age 22, less than a year after he arrived from Cuba.
Puig's multiple thwarted attempts at escaping his home country and the successful journey in 2012 that included a cigarette boat, smugglers, extortion, death threats and a staged kidnapping in Mexico by members of a drug cartel were revealed in a 2014 L.A. Magazine feature.
Puig quickly cemented himself in the Dodgers lineup and endeared himself to fans, hitting four home runs in his first five games and batting .436 with 44 hits in his debut month, ranking second all-time behind Joe DiMaggio's 48 hits. Puig finished the season with 19 home runs and a .319 batting average in 104 games, finishing second in rookie-of-the-year voting.
He remained a fearsome presence in the lineup for six years and was fearless in the playoffs, hitting five homers and driving in 18 runs in the 2017 and 2018 postseasons. His three-run homer in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers vaulted the Dodgers to the World Series.
Yet his unpredictable behavior and off-the-field antics prompted Times columnist Bill Plaschke to welcome a trade: "Puig captured the hearts of Dodger fans, but lost the trust of his team. He won moments, but cost games. He was their biggest star, but also their biggest clubhouse burden."
Puig was traded after the 2018 season to the Cincinnati Reds, who then traded him midway through the 2019 season to Cleveland. He never played again in the major leagues, disappearing into the relative anonymity of pro ball in Korea, Venezuela, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.
Federal gambling probe leads to Puig
Dodgers Manny Machado, left, and Cody Bellinger, middle, celebrate Yasiel Puig's three-run homer in Game 7 of the 2018 NLCS. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
An investigation into a sprawling, illegal gambling business run by ex-minor league pitcher Wayne Nix of Newport Coast led to Puig, who allegedly frequently placed bets through Nix and an intermediary, prosecutors said in court filings.
Puig allegedly placed 899 bets on football and basketball games and tennis matches through a Costa Rica-based website associated with Nix from July to September 2019. Puig soon owed Nix $282,900 for sports gambling losses, according to court documents.
Meanwhile, Puig became a U.S. citizen. Prosecutors allege that he lied to the government as part of his naturalization process in 2019, denying on an application and an in-person interview that he had ever gambled illegally or received income from illegal gambling.
During his last month as a Major League Baseball player, Puig rented a helicopter for a 45-minute ride to the Catskill Mountains to visit a summer camp for children with cancer and other often terminal diseases. He danced and sang with kids and crowd-surfed through the room. He tossed batting practice, visited kids in the infirmary and signed autographs.
“Today,” Puig tweeted, “was one of the best days of my life.”
Puig charged with lying to investigators
Aug 2016 photo of Yasiel Puig swinging at his helmet after a ground ball out against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix, Ariz. (Christian Petersen / Getty Images)
In January 2022, federal investigators interviewed Puig on a video conference with his lawyer present for 90 minutes. Puig denied knowledge of the Nix gambling business. He was warned by investigators that lying to them was a crime.
"The government privately advised defendant's then-counsel that defendant's statements were contrary to evidence the government had already obtained during the Nix Gambling Business investigation,'' prosecutors wrote in the trial memorandum. "Counsel conferred with his client outside the presence of the government, but defendant did not change his prior statements.''
In a recorded message to a friend two months later, Puig allegedly described his interview with investigators, saying in English: "I no said nothing, I not talking." The recording was entered into evidence by prosecutors.
Nix and associates Edon Yoshida Kagasoff and Howard Miller pleaded guilty in April 2022 to charges of conspiracy to operate an illegal sports gambling business. Nix, who also pleaded guilty to filing a false tax return, is awaiting sentencing. Kagasoff, an Agoura Hills accountant, was sentenced to six months of probation and ordered to forfeit $3,164,563 in illicit gains.
Puig was charged by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles in August 2022 with one count each of making false statements and obstruction of justice. He quickly agreed to plead guilty to one count of lying to federal authorities and pay a $55,000 fine. He would serve no jail time and be placed on probation.
Weeks later, however, he decided he wanted to back out of the agreement, and a judge ruled that he could do so because he had not yet entered his guilty plea in court.
"I want to clear my name,'' Puig said in a statement at the time. "I never should have agreed to plead guilty to a crime I did not commit.''
Keri Axel, one of Puig's lawyers, discovered numerous messages that a person named "Agent 1" in court documents had sent to her client. Agent 1 — who was revealed in court Wednesday as Donny Kadokawa — asked Puig several times to speak about the federal investigation, but he declined, she said.
Until Axel saw the messages, she said in court, she did not realize how often Agent 1 and an associate contacted Puig for information on the investigation, how often Puig refused to tell them about the investigation, and the potential that her client was entrapped.
Of the video interview in which Puig is alleged to have lied to investigators, Axel said: “Mr. Puig, who has a third-grade education, had untreated mental-health issues, and did not have his own interpreter or criminal legal counsel with him.”
"I don’t know why people like to say bad things about me and believe it," he wrote on Twitter on Nov. 20, 2022. "They like makings me look like a monster because of way I looks maybe. All my life’s I been told to be quiet and do what I was told. No mores."
The trial is underway
Prosecutors responded to Puig reneging on the plea agreement by charging him with one count of obstruction of justice and two counts of making false statements to federal officials.
Jury selection concluded Tuesday. Testimony began Wednesday with the prosecution calling Kadokawa, who became friends with Puig in 2019 at Kadokawa's youth baseball camp in Hawaii.
Kadokawa is "Agent 1" in court documents. He placed and accepted bets from others and helped Nix by demanding and collecting money owed to Nix by bettors, prosecutors said in a court filing.
Kadokawa testified that he placed numerous bets on behalf of Puig, who soon owed thousands of dollars. The trial is expected to last several days.
Insert your joke about how the Yankees’ offseason can officially start now.
We’re kidding -- we know Trent Grisham accepted the qualifying offer, they traded for Ryan Weathers, and kept some other important players from last year’s roster. But Bellinger really was the linchpin, tipping point or whatever of what’s been a relatively quiet Yankee winter.
Now that the most important addition has agreed to return, perhaps the Yankees can explore further moves using some of the players whose potential playing time just shrunk.
Met target Freddy Peralta would sure be a good rotation add in the Bronx, too, right? More on that in a sec.
First, though, let’s acknowledge the obvious: Bellinger is a natural fit as a Yankee, and his return seemed obvious despite how long it took and reported interest from the Mets and Blue Jays, among others.
In 2025, his first year playing for his dad’s old team, Bellinger looked like he’d grown up in the system. He’s a very good player who hits for power and contact, can play all three outfield positions, and is an asset running the bases. He could be their starting left fielder and even play the other spots as load management demands.
His swing fits the ballpark -- his OPS at home was nearly 200 points higher than his road number last year and he slugged 18 of his 29 home runs at Yankee Stadium. Another year playing there could only help him figure out more ways to exploit his advantages there.
Last year, he recorded 5.1 WAR, according to Baseball Reference, his highest since he was NL MVP with the Dodgers in 2019.
Great signing, especially since they held firm at five years for a player who is already 30. Bellinger reportedly will be paid $162.5 million over that span, unless he triggers one of his opt-outs. Good player in place, good news for the Yankees.
But what’s next? The Yankees have a sudden surplus of outfielders. The two young players, Jasson Domínguez and Spencer Jones, who likely would have gotten playing time in left field had Bellinger gone elsewhere, now don’t have regular lineup duty.
Could they use either to upgrade another spot? Hmmm.
May 9, 2025; West Sacramento, California, USA; New York Yankees outfielder Jasson Dominguez (24) rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the Athletics during the third inning at Sutter Health Park. / Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images
We say that at least one of them should be used that way.
The Yankees have multiple starters on the roster, but they have a rotation need. Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón are both coming back late as they complete recovery from surgery. They added Weathers to a group that includes last year’s ace, Max Fried, wunderkind Cam Schlittler, Will Warren and Luis Gil.
But the fickle nature of pitching and all the possible health pitfalls that come with that job, it probably would serve the Yankees to add someone like Peralta, the Brewers’ ace, who has one more year remaining at $8 million before he hits free agency. He’s the prize of the trade market, unless Detroit swaps Tarik Skubal.
If Domínguez or Jones has no spot in the majors going forward, why not make one part of a young-player package for Peralta, who was fourth in the NL in ERA (2.70), led the circuit with 17 wins and had his third consecutive 200-strikeout season?
The Yankees were baseball’s most prolific offense last year, averaging 5.24 runs. They led in homers, too -- their 274 was 30 more than the Dodgers, but maybe more run prevention could help them push deeper into October in 2026.
Prime AL East rivals Toronto and Boston have already made major additions this offseason, so the division is souped up. The Yankees, as of right this minute, aren’t hugely different from last year, unless you count Devin Williams and Luke Weaver departing from the bullpen.
They still could use more contact hitting. Yes, Bellinger does contact. But he was on the team last year when they still needed more of it. More bullpen help could serve, too.
But the Yanks have a chance to make a rotation splash and they should, drawing from their cache of promising outfielders. Would either Domínguez or Jones, plus a young pitcher from the top end of their highly-regarded set of prospect arms, do it?
Time to find out. The Yankee offseason is still going, even after they brought Bellinger back.
The White Sox are thrilled with their return for Luis Robert Jr.
Less than 24 hours after dealing the All-Star centerfielder to the Mets in exchange for infielder Luisangel Acuña and pitching prospect Truman Pauley, White Sox general manager Chris Getz gushed about acquiring a player “the industry has been really high on.”
“It’s really about being able to bring in Acuña, get access to him,” Getz told reporters about the trade Wednesday. “We’re talking about a player with five-plus years of control, one of the younger, exciting players in our game who hasn’t really gotten a runway at the major league level.”
The Mets traded Luisangel Acuña to the White on Tuesday. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Acuña, 23, joined the Mets at the 2023 trade deadline as the centerpiece of the deal that sent legendary pitcher Max Scherzer to the Rangers.
MLB.com ranked the speedster as New York’s third-best prospect in 2024, and he impressed in his brief major league debut that year, slashing .308/.325/.641 with three homers and six RBIs in 14 games.
He got off to a strong start in 2025, earning NL Rookie of the Month honors for April before falling into a deep slump and being demoted to Triple-A.
The Mets shuttled Acuña between the majors and minors the rest of the year as he hit a paltry .234 with no home runs and eight RBIs over 95 games.
Still, Getz believes Acuña’s speed and versatility – with experience at second base, third base, shortstop and in the outfield – make him a prime breakout candidate with consistent playing time.
“We’re talking about a player with five-plus years of control, one of the younger, exciting players in our game who hasn’t really gotten a runway at the major league level."
He already flashed some of that potential earlier this month with a historic Venezuelan winter league performance, hitting four home runs.
“I know [the Mets] didn’t want to get rid of him,” Getz said. “I know that. That’s because of how valuable he can be to the team.
“Now, he was on a roster that didn’t really allow him to let him go out there and show what he could do regularly. We’ll be able to provide that.”
After a strong start to 2025, Acuña shuttled between the majors and Triple-A the rest of the year. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Getz’s faith in Acuña echoed that of Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns during the GM Meetings in November.
“Acuña is such a unique player because the floor is so high of what he can provide,” Stearns said. “He’s such a good defender, a gifted defender at multiple positions, and an elite baserunner. So the offensive contribution doesn’t need to be elite for him to solidify an everyday role on a major league team.
“I still have very high hopes for him. We need to see a little bit more offensive contribution than we’ve probably seen previously, but he is a very, very good defensive player and there’s a real role for that on a good team.”
In a Wednesday Instagram post, Acuña bid farewell to the Mets, expressing gratitude for his time with the organization before addressing his “new chapter.”
The Mets acquired Luis Robert Jr., who is coming off two disappointing seasons but offers tantalizing speed, defense and offensive upside. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“Today, I begin a new chapter,” the post read. “Chicago, I’m ready to take on this challenge on the South Side. I’m thankful to the Chicago White Sox organization for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. I arrive with excitement, commitment, and a strong desire to continue growing both as a player and as a person.”
The Mets’ signing of Bo Bichette, who was officially introduced at Citi Field on Wednesday, tacked on to New York’s existing surplus of infielders, thus making Acuna expendable.
In what’s been a busy offseason for the White Sox – highlighted by the signing of Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami – Acuña also became the club’s latest acquisition of a former top Mets prospect.
Chicago has already signed left-hander Anthony Kay, the Mets’ 2016 first-round pick, to a two-year deal after his stint in Japan, and also took a flier on outfielder Jarred Kelenic.
As Eric Stephen covered on January 20, the Dodgers have a bevy of promising outfielder prospects in their minor league system. On Wednesday, Baseball America dropped its Top 100 prospect list, listing the following farmhands:
20. Eduardo Quintero, CF/OF
24. Josue De Paula, RF/OF
45. Mike Sirota, CF
63. Zyhir Hope, CF
In comparison, there have been changes, especially when compared to last year’s list, which was headlined by Roki Sasaki. In addition to Sasaki, Dalton Rushing, Alex Freeland, and Jackson Ferris dropped off the list due to major league promotion or being supplanted by other talent.
While these four outfield prospects are quite promising, they are at least a couple of years away from playing in The Show in Los Angeles, even with an aggressive promotion schedule, which would be unlikely with the signing of Kyle Tucker, announced and introduced on Wednesday.
Quintero is now the Dodgers’ #1 prospect per BA, making the jump from #7 in 2025. Quintero was previously unranked in BA’s previous Top 100 list. Quintero played at both Low-A Rancho Cucamonga and High-A Great Lakes in 2025, hitting .293/.415/.508 with 19 home runs and a 152 wRC+ in 113 games.
De Paula is now the Dodgers’ #2 prospect per BA, making the jump from #4 in 2025. De Paula is no stranger to Baseball America’s overall rankings, as he was ranked eighteenth overall in 2025 and thirty-third overall in 2024. De Paula primarily played in High-A Great Lakes in 2025, hitting .263/.406/.421 with 12 home runs in 98 games, before promotion to Double-A Tulsa.
Sirota, who was acquired in the Gavin Lux trade, is now the Dodgers’ #3 prospect per BA, making the jump from #25 in 2025. Josh Norris of BA identified Sirota as one of his candidates to rise within the top 100, blaming his knee injury for his current rank:
The Northeastern-bred outfielder was off to a scalding start in the Midwest League before his season ended. Still, the reviews were clear: He has the toolset and polish to jump to the head of Los Angeles’ cluster of talented outfielders.
As previously mentioned, Sirota was working on a monster season after being promoted to Double-A with a slash line of .333/.452/.616 with 32 extra-base hits in 59 games in A-ball before his injury.
Hope, who was acquired in the Michael Busch trade, is now the Dodgers’ #4 prospect per BA, making the slight jump from #5 in 2025. Hope primarily played in High-A with a .265/.377/.428 slash line, 13 home runs, and 27 doubles before also being promoted to Double-A Tulsa.
As it stands, these four outfielder prospects should be quite entertaining to watch develop over the next couple of seasons in Tulsa and, eventually, barring major setbacks, Triple-A Oklahoma City before donning the pantone of Dodger blue.
Bo Bichette encountered the New York skyline for the first time knowing this wasn't just a stopover — it was now his professional home, for 2026 and maybe the next three years.
And while Bichette is a pretty worldly dude — his mother is Brazilian, his father played a dozen years in the big leagues and he spent his first six seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays — he admitted a new sensation upon this descent.
"When I landed," Bichette told reporters on Jan. 21, "I looked around and saw the city and it hit a little bit different than it does when you come as a road player. As a road player, you try to ignore all of it.
"When I landed, I kind of soaked it in and realized, ‘This is something. This is massive.’ It’s pretty cool."
The New York Mets think Bichette joining their rotating cadre of superstars is pretty cool, too.
Now, an 83-win disappointment won't be followed by a desultory and failed winter. Now, the Mets look an awful lot like the Steve Cohen Mets again.
"Mr. Cohen and David," says Bichette, "have put together an organization that wants to win every year, a chance to win the World Series every year. And a roster that backs that up."
Almost.
While integrating Bichette's 181 hits, 14.5% strikeout rate and career .330 batting average with runners in scoring position, there's just one major hole in the roster — and Stearns knows it.
Mets' next target: Starting pitcher
The marriage of hedge fund kingpin Cohen and Stearns, who made his bones running an efficient shop in Milwaukee, has been largely successful. Stearns got out of the way when Cohen wanted to lavish $765 million on Juan Soto, while Cohen has abided by Stearns' desire to avoid big-dollar commitments to starting pitchers.
Yeah, about that.
The Mets are coming up on the opening of spring camp with a rotation pocked with youngsters (Nolan McLean, perhaps Jonah Tong) and a gaggle of whose ability to deliver significant innings might be in some question (Clay Holmes, Kodai Senga, David Peterson).
The cherry on top of what's already expected to be a $500 million outlay for salary and luxury taxes? A serviceable, if not dominant, starting pitcher.
Stearns knows this. And expects to fulfill it.
"My preference is to add a starting pitcher," Stearns told SNY following Bichette's press conference. "I’ve been open and honest about that through the entirety of the offseason.
"I can’t say with certainty we’ll 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, plenty of time before Opening Day, so we’ll see where it heads."
This is a pretty rosy statement if you're a Mets fan. Fishing in multiple markets is an interesting concept, which suggests the Mets would be engaged in the short-term veteran pool (such as reuniting with Chris Bassitt, Justin Verlander or Max Scherzer) yet perhaps keeping an eye on if bigger prizes fall to them (Framber Valdez, most notably, and to a lesser degree Zac Gallen).
Perhaps that means a medium-term commitment to a Lucas Giolito type, or a swingman situation with a Zack Littell or Nick Martinez. The Mets could also try to trade for Milwaukee Brewers ace Freddy Peralta or Washington Nationals left-hander MacKenzie Gore, but in dealing for those reasonably priced arms, the Mets lose their biggest advantage: Financial might. Either way, Stearns is on it, and a medium to major addition would make the entire Mets starting group look much better.
Chemistry test
Something went foul in the Mets' mix at the end of last season, when their four-month freefall coalesced in a final-day elimination. Not that there weren't logistical reasons to change the team's complexion, most notably by shipping out Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil, and moving on from Pete Alonso.
Yet if it's impossible to measure what the Mets gain through subtraction, they can be sure the infield additions of Bichette and Marcus Semien are significant.
Those dudes are dawgs.
"One of the most competitive right-handed hitters in our sport," Stearns says of Bichette. "Incredible baseball aptitude. Anyone who’s watched him sees that very, very clearly.
"He intensely wants to win. Throughout that (negotiating) process it’s that intense desire to win that came through loud and clear."
For his part, Bichette is thrilled to reunite with Semien, who spent one year as Bichette's double-play partner in Toronto, hit 45 home runs and moved on to a $175 million contract — and a 2023 World Series championship — in Texas.
"I have a special relationship with him," says Bichette, who was 23 and in his first full major league season in 2021. "That was someone who taught me the ropes, showed me how to be a professional, someone who I respect a ton. It definitely adds to the excitement to get to play with him again."
Better yet, the Mets' Louis Vuitton lineup ensures that Semien, now 35, can lurk in its bottom third, not a bad piece of real estate for a guy whose adjusted OPS fell below league average last year, but still produced 3.3 WAR.
A winter less nuclear
To be certain, this was not a happily-ever-after kind of day in Queens.
Bichette has opt-out clauses after each of the first two seasons of this deal and, since he doesn't turn 28 until March, will be in prime position to cash in even more significantly next winter. Robert is a free agent after this season.
And perhaps the pitcher Stearns ultimately lands will be on a one-year deal, too.
That's OK. Cohen plays this market like a craps player spreads his chips around the board, seeing some vanish and re-loading for the next roll. Just a week ago, it looked like Cohen and Stearns crapped out.
Now they have Bichette and Robert in hand, a pitcher on the way and a winter narrative, shifted.
