The holidays are a mega-busy time, of course, and you don’t have to be Kris Kringle himself to have lots to do.
Take David Stearns, for example.
The Mets’ baseball boss is reshaping the roster this winter, having already waved goodbye to blue-and-orange stalwarts from Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo to Edwin Díaz and Jeff McNeil.
He’s added Marcus Semien, Jorge Polanco, Devin Williams and Luke Weaver, among others -- but there’s more to do.
So, David, bundle up and head out to the stores -- no, wait, that’s us last-minute holiday shoppers. Stearns does need to make some moves, though, even if it’s without the frenzy of Fifth Avenue or a bedecked mall.
That’s where we come in, as helpful elves. We offer a wish list for the Mets to complete over the rest of the baseball hot stove season. Check it twice, if you like.
An ace
The Mets have a lot of rotation inventory right now, don’t they?
Nolan McLean seems assured of a spot, since he was one of the best pitchers in baseball over his eight starts last season. Clay Holmes was really good in his first season in the rotation, finishing ninth in the NL in ERA, and is a lock, too. David Peterson had a wobble or two, but also was terrific for a long stretch. Can Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea rebound? We’ll see. And then there’s Jonah Tong and Brandon Sproat, two very promising prospects.
But there’s no top-of-the-rotation monster.
Yes, we know McLean could become that. But pitching is such a precious commodity and generally needed in such bulk during the slog that is 162 games that it makes sense for the Mets to pursue a No. 1. That could come in free agency or trade.
They’ll be involved if Tarik Skubal or Freddy Peralta become available. Should they explore Framber Valdez or Ranger Suarez, both free agents? Maybe their appetite is only whetted if either will sign a short-term deal.
Whatever happens (or doesn’t), it sure feels like the Mets need an ace as a holiday home run. The same way a certain generation of kids needed the original Xbox, right?
A CF fix
There are numerous ways the Mets could cover center field this year, but it’s tricky because of highly-regarded prospect Carson Benge. Benge, who turns 23 next month, is the center fielder of the future, isn’t he? Stearns even said early in the offseason that Benge could push to break spring camp with the Mets in ‘26.
Of course, Benge has only 103 plate appearances as high as Triple-A -- he started last season in Brooklyn and ascended.
If he’s almost ready, they only need a stopgap and maybe they can start Tyrone Taylor for a month or so while Benge gets more seasoning. Or, if they go for a big splash, they could sign Cody Bellinger, use him in center until Benge is ready and then put Bellinger in left. Or use Bellinger at first base. The one drawback is that Bellinger is likely to command a long-term, pricey deal. Stearns has been trimming commitments this winter, at least so far.
Oct 2, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger (35) runs to home plate in the fourth inning against the Boston Red Sox during game three of the Wildcard round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Yankee Stadium. / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
But Benge batted .178 with a .583 OPS in Triple-A, so he may need a longer stage of development in the minors. In that case, Bellinger fits nicely in center, maybe for all of 2026. If not him, Luis Robert Jr. of the White Sox, appears available in trade.
Or perhaps someone like Harrison Bader would serve well, especially with Bader coming off his best bat season (.796 OPS, 17 homers). Bader, as Mets fans doubtless remember, is a sensational defensive outfielder. Run prevention, anyone?
More relief
Not to get Grinchy about this, but the Mets bullpen, even with the work already done, needs more.
Williams will close, Weaver will be the top setup man and the Mets seem to have lefties covered with Brooks Raley and A.J. Minter. Maybe Sproat can morph into a multi-inning relief weapon, the Athletic reported the Mets are examining that idea.
The Mets were 27th in starter innings last season, so their relievers got a lot of work. They had the third-most relief innings in MLB. They were 15th in bullpen ERA -- better than both World Series teams, incidentally -- and had the sixth-highest bullpen WAR, according to FanGraphs. Maybe they were riding on Díaz’s coattails, no? He had a tremendous season.
In any case, another high-leverage arm, whether by trade or free agency, would do more to comfort the Met fan than a fresh egg nog in front of a warm fireplace this time of year.
A second at first?
Polanco figures to play a lot of first, a role he said he began preparing for last season while with the Mariners.
As a former middle infielder, he surely has the hands to make the transition, right? Of course, the Mets have charged a guy with one pitch of game experience at the position with helping them boost their run prevention. There’s risk involved.
So perhaps they’ll look to add at the position.
Paul Goldschmidt, a free agent with a great glove who bats right handed, is available. Yes, that’s yet another former Yankee crossing over, but maybe he fits this niche need.
Here’s another idea: Eugenio Suarez on a short deal would fit their need for righty thump and give them another option at third base. Since they are moving players to first base this winter, perhaps Suarez can get reps there, too. He played there three times last year, which is more than Polanco did.
The Phillies’ bullpen focus continued Monday with the signing of right-hander Zach Pop, pushing the club’s 40-man roster to 39 and reinforcing where much of its winter attention has been directed.
Bullpen additions shape outlook for 2026
At the Trade Deadline in July, the Phillies’ priority was finding a lockdown closer. They acquired Jhoan Duran, but inconsistent middle relief exposed weakness down the stretch and in the NLDS. Those struggles have informed much of the club’s offseason work.
Last week, the Phillies signed right-hander Brad Keller to a two-year, $22 million deal, adding a steady late-inning option.
“We love Keller,” president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said at Friday’s media availability. “We really think he’s one of the best in the business. We really like the way the bullpen now shapes up.”
Keller emerged as one of the league’s more reliable relievers in 2025, posting a 2.07 ERA over 69 2/3 innings. The 30-year-old was particularly effective in a setup role, facing 135 batters in the eighth inning, limiting opponents to a .135/.179/.189 slash line.
“All of our scouting work, our analytical work, our pitching people — between Caleb [Cotham] and the rest of the group — everybody thinks he’s a legit back-end type guy,” Dombrowski said.
The metrics support that confidence. Keller’s average fastball velocity jumped 3.4 mph from 2024 (93.7) to 2025 (97.1). That coincides with his shift from the rotation to the bullpen in a full-time capacity.
“I wouldn’t say I expected a four-mile-per-hour jump,” Keller said during his introductory press conference Monday. “But I did feel like I worked really hard, cleaned up mechanical things and started focusing on using my lower half.”
The bullpen has continued to evolve. The Phillies traded left-hander Matt Strahm to Kansas City for right-hander Jonathan Bowlan, then acquired left-hander Kyle Backhus from Arizona later that same day. The result is a deeper, more diverse group built around matchups and versatility at Rob Thomson’s disposal.
Update on Realmuto
The Phillies remain without a definitive everyday option behind the plate.
Entering his age-35 season, a three-year contract would be rare. Per MLB Trade Rumors, only two catchers have signed deals of that length entering that age season: Carlos Ruiz (three years, $26 million in 2013) and Yadier Molina (three years, $60 million in 2017).
Ruiz posted a .670 OPS and averaged 1.4 WAR over that span. Molina produced a .738 OPS with an average 1.5 WAR. Since joining the Phillies in 2019, Realmuto has averaged 3.6 WAR per season.
Whether Philadelphia ultimately meets Realmuto’s price or looks to an alternative, his value — both offensively and in managing a pitching staff — remains significant. Any contingency plan would more likely come via trade than from a thin free-agent catching class.
Where the payroll stands
The Associated Press tracks payroll figures for all 30 clubs each season.
Last season, the Phillies’ payroll was reported at $264,314,134, representing an increase of more than $50 million year over year. Whether the club reallocates money via trade or adds Realmuto as the final 40-man spot remains to be seen.
Harper commits to World Baseball Classic
Bryce Harper’s 2026 campaign will begin early.
The Phillies’ first baseman announced on Instagram that he intends to represent Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
“Put the colors on my chest for the first time when I was 15,” Harper wrote. “No other feeling like it. I’m excited to announce I will be representing Team USA this year in the WBC.”
Harper, 33, joins Kyle Schwarber, who announced his commitment moments before he re-signed with the Phillies. The tournament runs from March 5–17 during Spring Training.
Team USA manager Mark DeRosa had a need at first base. He found his answer.
All-Star first baseman Ryan O'Hearn and Pirates agree to a $29 million, 2-year deal, AP source says By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer The Associated Press PITTSBURGH
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates took another step toward being a contender in 2026, agreeing to a $29 million, two-year contract with All-Star first baseman/outfielder Ryan O'Hearn that's designed to give one of the worst offenses in the majors a boost.
A person with knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the deal includes $500,000 annually in performance bonuses. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because it was not yet official.
O'Hearn receives the first multiple-year free agent deal the Pirates have agreed to since 2016. The left-handed slugger is coming off the best season of his big league career. He hit .281 with 17 home runs and 63 RBIs in 2025 and made the All-Star team for the first time while playing for Baltimore and San Diego.
The rare splurge by the Pirates is their second significant acquisition in less than a week. Pittsburgh acquired two-time All-Star second baseman Brandon Lowe from Tampa Bay on Dec. 19 as part of a three-team deal that included sending starting pitcher Mike Burrows to Houston.
Pittsburgh has vowed to build around a pitching staff that includes reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes and rookie Bubba Chandler. The Pirates are coming off a 71-91 season in which the offense finished at or near the bottom of the majors in most significant statistical categories, including runs and home runs.
O'Hearn gives Pittsburgh a bit of versatility. He has played both first base and a corner outfield spot. The Pirates have the left-handed hitting Spencer Horwitz at first, though O'Hearn could see time there and perhaps in the outfield alongside Oneil Cruz and two-time All-Star Bryan Reynolds.
O'Hearn is a career .252 hitter, but his numbers improved as he became a reliable contributor during his 2 1/2 seasons with the Orioles, who traded him to the contending Padres at the deadline. He is batting .277 with 46 homers and 182 RBIs since 2023 and now finds himself playing half his games in a ballpark where the 21-foot-high Clemente Wall starts just 320 feet from home plate.
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This story has been corrected. A previous version reported incorrectly that O'Hearn played for Kansas City in 2025.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
All-Star first baseman Ryan O'Hearn and Pirates agree to a $29 million, 2-year deal, AP source says By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer The Associated Press PITTSBURGH
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates took another step toward being a contender in 2026, agreeing to a $29 million, two-year contract with All-Star first baseman/outfielder Ryan O'Hearn that's designed to give one of the worst offenses in the majors a boost.
A person with knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the deal includes $500,000 annually in performance bonuses. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because it was not yet official.
O'Hearn receives the first multiple-year free agent deal the Pirates have agreed to since 2016. The left-handed slugger is coming off the best season of his big league career. He hit .281 with 17 home runs and 63 RBIs in 2025 and made the All-Star team for the first time while playing for Baltimore and San Diego.
The rare splurge by the Pirates is their second significant acquisition in less than a week. Pittsburgh acquired two-time All-Star second baseman Brandon Lowe from Tampa Bay on Dec. 19 as part of a three-team deal that included sending starting pitcher Mike Burrows to Houston.
Pittsburgh has vowed to build around a pitching staff that includes reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes and rookie Bubba Chandler. The Pirates are coming off a 71-91 season in which the offense finished at or near the bottom of the majors in most significant statistical categories, including runs and home runs.
O'Hearn gives Pittsburgh a bit of versatility. He has played both first base and a corner outfield spot. The Pirates have the left-handed hitting Spencer Horwitz at first, though O'Hearn could see time there and perhaps in the outfield alongside Oneil Cruz and two-time All-Star Bryan Reynolds.
O'Hearn is a career .252 hitter, but his numbers improved as he became a reliable contributor during his 2 1/2 seasons with the Orioles, who traded him to the contending Padres at the deadline. He is batting .277 with 46 homers and 182 RBIs since 2023 and now finds himself playing half his games in a ballpark where the 21-foot-high Clemente Wall starts just 320 feet from home plate.
___
This story has been corrected. A previous version reported incorrectly that O'Hearn played for Kansas City in 2025.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Boston parted ways with right-hander Hunter Dobbins and minor-league righties Yhoiker Fajardo and Blake Aita. Dobbins, a former top pitching prospect in the Red Sox system, showed potential in his first taste of big-league action before suffering an ACL tear in July. Fajardo was the No. 8-ranked Red Sox prospect, per SoxProspects.com, while Aita landed just outside the top 30.
Is Contreras worth that price? Ian Cundall of SoxProspects.com shared his take on the trade in a recent conversation with NBC Sports Boston.
“I thought it was a fair return,” Cundall said. “They didn’t have to give up any of their top prospects, and Fajardo is the best prospect there. Obviously, Dobbins is a separate case since he’s already graduated.”
The Red Sox initially acquired Fajardo from the Chicago White Sox for reliever Cam Booser last offseason. The 19-year-old has shown high upside, but one noticeable flaw may have resulted in his departure.
“The issue with him, and it’s something that is a trend with actually all three pitchers in this deal, is he just really struggles to strike guys out with his fastball,” Cundall said. “And if we know one thing with Craig Breslow, they want in zone swing and miss, and especially on the fastball. You see guys like Garrett Crochet or Aroldis Chapman, all the guys he’s acquiring at the major league level, that’s what they do. Unfortunately, that’s the weakest part of Fajardo’s game.”
As for Aita, Cundall sees the 22-year-old having some future success as a reliever, but he isn’t someone that Red Sox fans should lose any sleep over trading away.
“His best thing is he can really spin a breaking ball,” Cundall said. “He’s got a sweeper and a curveball, and the sweeper is one of the highest spin rates in the org. … But I think other than the sweeper, it’s more kind of like an average fringy arsenal. Long-term, he’s probably best suited for the bullpen.
“I think he could be a pretty decent reliever there, because if you can spin a breaking ball like he can, you’re gonna get a shot at the major leagues. He’s a pretty high floor guy, but I’m just not sure how much upside there is there.”
Dobbins, of course, was the headliner of Boston’s trade package. The 26-year-old amassed a 4.13 ERA and 1.28 WHIP with 45 strikeouts and 17 walks over his first 13 MLB appearances (11 starts). A torn ACL ended his rookie year prematurely, but he was expected to battle for the No. 5 spot in the 2026 Red Sox rotation.
“I always go back to, you have to give something to get something,” Cundall said. “When you look at the Red Sox, their first base production they’ve had gotten in the last few years has just been unacceptable. That’s supposed to be one of your marquee offensive positions. I think their wRC+ (Weighted Runs Created Plus) was 86 or something last year. You can’t have that and then also a bad defense, which is the other aspect that they’ve had.
“I think with Contreras, when you look at the available options, he’s making half as much money as Pete Alonso. He’s a substantially better defender. And yes, Alonso’s gonna hit more home runs, but I think when you look at the end of the day, their overall production like wRC+, it’s gonna be pretty similar, because Contreras can get on base, he’s gonna hit 20 to 25 home runs. He’s gonna hit a lot of doubles at Fenway, especially given his ability to pull the ball in the air. Obviously, he’s an above-average defender at first. So I think that he fits well.”
Like Fajardo and Aita, Dobbins has struggled to get whiffs on his fastball. Cundall believes that’s a big reason the Breslow-led front office was comfortable including him in the deal.
“You can get by on that for a few weeks or a few months, but it’s just hard to get by without a bat-missing fastball at the major leagues to be anything more than a back-end starter year after year,” Cundall said. “I think that’s the thing with Dobbins is, as much as I love the mentality, the personality, the way he pitches, there’s a lot to like there. He’s got a really wide-ranging arsenal, he can really mix and spin things.
“But at the end of the day, you’ve got to be able to establish your fastball, and he just doesn’t really have that pitch right now. … So to me, he’s more of a back-end type, and they just got an everyday upgrade at first base on a very reasonable deal.”
With Contreras in the fold, it’ll be interesting to monitor how the Red Sox proceed with fellow first baseman Triston Casas. Casas missed most of the 2025 campaign due to a ruptured patellar tendon and will have to battle for a role on the 2026 club with Contreras expected to be the primary first baseman.
As for Boston’s pitching depth without Dobbins, it’s still in solid shape with Kutter Crawford, Patrick Sandoval, Connelly Early, Payton Tolle, Kyle Harrison, and the newly acquired Johan Oviedo expected to compete for spots at the back end of the starting rotation.
Boston parted ways with right-hander Hunter Dobbins and minor-league righties Yhoiker Fajardo and Blake Aita. Dobbins, a former top pitching prospect in the Red Sox system, showed potential in his first taste of big-league action before suffering an ACL tear in July. Fajardo was the No. 8-ranked Red Sox prospect, per SoxProspects.com, while Aita landed just outside the top 30.
Is Contreras worth that price? Ian Cundall of SoxProspects.com shared his take on the trade in a recent conversation with NBC Sports Boston.
“I thought it was a fair return,” Cundall said. “They didn’t have to give up any of their top prospects, and Fajardo is the best prospect there. Obviously, Dobbins is a separate case since he’s already graduated.”
The Red Sox initially acquired Fajardo from the Chicago White Sox for reliever Cam Booser last offseason. The 19-year-old has shown high upside, but one noticeable flaw may have resulted in his departure.
“The issue with him, and it’s something that is a trend with actually all three pitchers in this deal, is he just really struggles to strike guys out with his fastball,” Cundall said. “And if we know one thing with Craig Breslow, they want in zone swing and miss, and especially on the fastball. You see guys like Garrett Crochet or Aroldis Chapman, all the guys he’s acquiring at the major league level, that’s what they do. Unfortunately, that’s the weakest part of Fajardo’s game.”
As for Aita, Cundall sees the 22-year-old having some future success as a reliever, but he isn’t someone that Red Sox fans should lose any sleep over trading away.
“His best thing is he can really spin a breaking ball,” Cundall said. “He’s got a sweeper and a curveball, and the sweeper is one of the highest spin rates in the org. … But I think other than the sweeper, it’s more kind of like an average fringy arsenal. Long-term, he’s probably best suited for the bullpen.
“I think he could be a pretty decent reliever there, because if you can spin a breaking ball like he can, you’re gonna get a shot at the major leagues. He’s a pretty high floor guy, but I’m just not sure how much upside there is there.”
Dobbins, of course, was the headliner of Boston’s trade package. The 26-year-old amassed a 4.13 ERA and 1.28 WHIP with 45 strikeouts and 17 walks over his first 13 MLB appearances (11 starts). A torn ACL ended his rookie year prematurely, but he was expected to battle for the No. 5 spot in the 2026 Red Sox rotation.
“I always go back to, you have to give something to get something,” Cundall said. “When you look at the Red Sox, their first base production they’ve had gotten in the last few years has just been unacceptable. That’s supposed to be one of your marquee offensive positions. I think their wRC+ (Weighted Runs Created Plus) was 86 or something last year. You can’t have that and then also a bad defense, which is the other aspect that they’ve had.
“I think with Contreras, when you look at the available options, he’s making half as much money as Pete Alonso. He’s a substantially better defender. And yes, Alonso’s gonna hit more home runs, but I think when you look at the end of the day, their overall production like wRC+, it’s gonna be pretty similar, because Contreras can get on base, he’s gonna hit 20 to 25 home runs. He’s gonna hit a lot of doubles at Fenway, especially given his ability to pull the ball in the air. Obviously, he’s an above-average defender at first. So I think that he fits well.”
Like Fajardo and Aita, Dobbins has struggled to get whiffs on his fastball. Cundall believes that’s a big reason the Breslow-led front office was comfortable including him in the deal.
“You can get by on that for a few weeks or a few months, but it’s just hard to get by without a bat-missing fastball at the major leagues to be anything more than a back-end starter year after year,” Cundall said. “I think that’s the thing with Dobbins is, as much as I love the mentality, the personality, the way he pitches, there’s a lot to like there. He’s got a really wide-ranging arsenal, he can really mix and spin things.
“But at the end of the day, you’ve got to be able to establish your fastball, and he just doesn’t really have that pitch right now. … So to me, he’s more of a back-end type, and they just got an everyday upgrade at first base on a very reasonable deal.”
With Contreras in the fold, it’ll be interesting to monitor how the Red Sox proceed with fellow first baseman Triston Casas. Casas missed most of the 2025 campaign due to a ruptured patellar tendon and will have to battle for a role on the 2026 club with Contreras expected to be the primary first baseman.
As for Boston’s pitching depth without Dobbins, it’s still in solid shape with Kutter Crawford, Patrick Sandoval, Connelly Early, Payton Tolle, Kyle Harrison, and the newly acquired Johan Oviedo expected to compete for spots at the back end of the starting rotation.
On the latest episode of The Mets Pod presented by Tri-State Cadillac, Connor Rogers and Joe DeMayo head into New Year’s looking at a very new Mets team for 2026.
The guys break down the bullpen after the addition of Luke Weaver, react to the trade of Jeff McNeil to the A’s for a young pitching prospect, discuss the many former Yankees who have become current Mets, and wonder whether or not Cody Bellinger could join that group.
Connor and Joe also go Down on the Farm to talk about international prospect Wandy Asigen, and answer Mailbag questions about David Stearns possibly hiring a GM, the appeal of Luis Robert Jr, and an interesting hypothetical trade scenario for Tarik Skubal.
Be sure to subscribe to The Mets Pod at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Burch is coming off elbow surgery, but will be ready to pitch during the 2026 season.
The 28-year-old reliever is yet to make his big-league debut.
Burch began his professional career as an undrafted free agent with the Phillies in 2019, but was traded to the Orioles for INF Freddy Galvis a few years later.
He remained in Baltimore's system until he was scooped up by the Rockies in the Rule 5 Draft last offseason.
After missing the entire campaign to injury, though, the righty elected to hit free agency and now he lands with the Mets.
Burch has a 3.71 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 12 saves, and 186 strikeouts in his minor league career.
It’s always good to have another adult in the room with a bunch of kids.
The Athletics acquired veteran Jeff McNeil in a trade with the New York Mets on Monday. The 33-year-old utility player is expected to fill into the hole at second base, a big need for the A’s heading into the offseason.
McNeil, who has played all eight of his MLB seasons with the Mets, is excited to join a promising young core.
“It’s a super fun team to watch,” McNeil said Tuesday to reporters over a Zoom call (h/t Martín Gallegos). “I watched quite a bit of their games [from] New York. … Just a super fun, young team. They have a great young core. I just want to do my part to help them out. I’m super excited to be a part of it. I think we’re going to have a good squad.”
The eight-year MLB veteran joins an infield that already boasts AL Rookie of the Year Nick Kurtz at first base and runner-up Jacob Wilson at shortstop.
The A’s had six different players make starts at second base in 2025. Having an established veteran to slot in at the position without much thought will make life easier for manager Mark Kotsay.
“I feel like our middle infield this year is probably going to strike out the least amount in the league with Wilson,” McNeil noted. “He’s a free swinger. I love watching that guy hit. He’s so much fun. We’re both free swingers and like to put the ball in play quick and make things happen… I can’t wait to play with him.”
McNeil, as of now, has the most MLB service among A’s position players, and the second-most on the overall roster behind starting pitcher Luis Severino’s 10 years.
That helps the A’s front office meet an intangible need on top of their positional gaps.
“I thought he was a really good fit in a lot of ways,” A’s general manager David Forst told MLB.com’s Martín Gallegos. “His overall experience — let’s be honest, we still have a generally young roster without a ton of experience, particularly on the position-player side. I think he brings a lot to the table in terms of having played in that market, played in the postseason, and bringing a lot of experience to our clubhouse.”
The addition of the two-time MLB All-Star also will help boost an already potent lineup that came into form particularly in the latter half of the season. The A’s offense hit for a .260 batting average in their 64 games after the break, the fifth-best in MLB during that span.
McNeil, a Central Coast native, returns to his home state. He also has family ties near his new home ballpark, according to Gallegos.
Jeff McNeil on getting traded to A's: "It seems like [the Mets] are going in a different direction, so I knew it was a possibility. I'm super excited to be an A now. Definitely a crazy day yesterday, but I couldn't be happier."
With the second base position seemingly locked down in Sacramento, Forst told Gallegos that the team likely will look at internal candidates at third base. Young prospects Max Muncy and Darell Hernáiz started 30 and 17 games, respectively, at the position and figure to be the leading candidates along with Brett Harris.
Forst and the A’s now probably will their offseason focus on acquiring another piece for the starting pitching rotation.
It’s always good to have another adult in the room with a bunch of kids.
The Athletics acquired veteran Jeff McNeil in a trade with the New York Mets on Monday. The 33-year-old utility player is expected to fill into the hole at second base, a big need for the A’s heading into the offseason.
McNeil, who has played all eight of his MLB seasons with the Mets, is excited to join a promising young core.
“It’s a super fun team to watch,” McNeil said Tuesday to reporters over a Zoom call (h/t Martín Gallegos). “I watched quite a bit of their games [from] New York. … Just a super fun, young team. They have a great young core. I just want to do my part to help them out. I’m super excited to be a part of it. I think we’re going to have a good squad.”
The eight-year MLB veteran joins an infield that already boasts AL Rookie of the Year Nick Kurtz at first base and runner-up Jacob Wilson at shortstop.
The A’s had six different players make starts at second base in 2025. Having an established veteran to slot in at the position without much thought will make life easier for manager Mark Kotsay.
“I feel like our middle infield this year is probably going to strike out the least amount in the league with Wilson,” McNeil noted. “He’s a free swinger. I love watching that guy hit. He’s so much fun. We’re both free swingers and like to put the ball in play quick and make things happen… I can’t wait to play with him.”
McNeil, as of now, has the most MLB service among A’s position players, and the second-most on the overall roster behind starting pitcher Luis Severino’s 10 years.
That helps the A’s front office meet an intangible need on top of their positional gaps.
“I thought he was a really good fit in a lot of ways,” A’s general manager David Forst told MLB.com’s Martín Gallegos. “His overall experience — let’s be honest, we still have a generally young roster without a ton of experience, particularly on the position-player side. I think he brings a lot to the table in terms of having played in that market, played in the postseason, and bringing a lot of experience to our clubhouse.”
The addition of the two-time MLB All-Star also will help boost an already potent lineup that came into form particularly in the latter half of the season. The A’s offense hit for a .260 batting average in their 64 games after the break, the fifth-best in MLB during that span.
McNeil, a Central Coast native, returns to his home state. He also has family ties near his new home ballpark, according to Gallegos.
Jeff McNeil on getting traded to A's: "It seems like [the Mets] are going in a different direction, so I knew it was a possibility. I'm super excited to be an A now. Definitely a crazy day yesterday, but I couldn't be happier."
With the second base position seemingly locked down in Sacramento, Forst told Gallegos that the team likely will look at internal candidates at third base. Young prospects Max Muncy and Darell Hernáiz started 30 and 17 games, respectively, at the position and figure to be the leading candidates along with Brett Harris.
Forst and the A’s now probably will their offseason focus on acquiring another piece for the starting pitching rotation.
Pool play will run from March 4-March 11 followed by the quarterfinals from March 13-14, the semifinals from March 15-16 and the championship game on March 17.
Where is the 2026 World Baseball Classic being played?
Group stage games will be played across four cities and three countries:
Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan
Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Daikin Park in Houston
loanDepot park in Miami
The quarterfinals will be held in Houston and Miami, while the semifinals and finals will be played in Miami.
Which teams are in the 2026 World Baseball Classic?
The WBC features 20 teams which are split into four different pools for the opening round. Each pool is assigned to one host city for the first round.
Here’s a breakdown of the pools and host cities:
Pool A (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
Canada
Colombia
Cuba
Panama
Puerto Rico
Pool B (Houston)
Brazil
Great Britain
Italy
Mexico
United States
Pool C (Tokyo, Japan)
Australia
Chinese Taipei
Czechia
Japan
Korea
Pool D (Miami)
Dominican Republic
Israel
Netherlands
Nicaragua
Venezuela
How does the World Baseball Classic work?
The WBC opens with a round robin where teams play one game against each of the other clubs in their pool. The top two teams from each pool then advance to the knockout rounds, which are single-elimination.
Teams from Pools A and B will play quarterfinal games in Houston, while clubs from Pools C and D will play in Miami.
Pool play will run from March 4-March 11 followed by the quarterfinals from March 13-14, the semifinals from March 15-16 and the championship game on March 17.
Where is the 2026 World Baseball Classic being played?
Group stage games will be played across four cities and three countries:
Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan
Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Daikin Park in Houston
loanDepot park in Miami
The quarterfinals will be held in Houston and Miami, while the semifinals and finals will be played in Miami.
Which teams are in the 2026 World Baseball Classic?
The WBC features 20 teams which are split into four different pools for the opening round. Each pool is assigned to one host city for the first round.
Here’s a breakdown of the pools and host cities:
Pool A (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
Canada
Colombia
Cuba
Panama
Puerto Rico
Pool B (Houston)
Brazil
Great Britain
Italy
Mexico
United States
Pool C (Tokyo, Japan)
Australia
Chinese Taipei
Czechia
Japan
Korea
Pool D (Miami)
Dominican Republic
Israel
Netherlands
Nicaragua
Venezuela
How does the World Baseball Classic work?
The WBC opens with a round robin where teams play one game against each of the other clubs in their pool. The top two teams from each pool then advance to the knockout rounds, which are single-elimination.
Teams from Pools A and B will play quarterfinal games in Houston, while clubs from Pools C and D will play in Miami.
Jeff McNeil’s time in the Big Apple has come to an end.
The Mets have long been floating the former batting champ in trade talks, and on Monday they finally reached an agreement to ship him off to the A’s along with cash.
New York receives 17-year-old pitching prospect Yordan Rodriguez in return.
While he seemingly didn’t have a home in the Big Apple anymore, the A’s feel the veteran McNeil will slot in perfectly with their young up-and-coming roster.
“He's a really good fit in a lot of ways,” GM David Forst told Martín Gallegos of MLB.com. “His experience -- let’s be honest, we still have a generally young roster without a ton of experience, particularly on the position-player side.
“I think he brings a lot to the table in terms of having played in that big market, played in the postseason, and just bringing a lot of experience to our clubhouse.”
That developing core is headlined by AL Rookie of the Year Nick Kurtz, the slap-hitting Jacob Wilson, slugger Brent Rooker, catcher Shea Langeliers, power-hitting lefty Tyler Soderstrom, and dynamic outfielder Lawrence Butler.
The 33-year-old should bring a nice boost to their offense taking his newly-developed approach at the plate to the hitter-friendly confines of Sutter Health Park.
McNeil is currently penciled in as their everyday second base, but things could always change over the next few months, as the organization also values his versatility.
Frost views his skillset similar to another veteran he’d signed in the past.
“That he has that much versatility,” the GM said. “I see it a lot like when we acquired Ben Zobrist a long time ago -- just knowing you have some options and you can do some other things on the roster is great.”
McNeil, of course, has logged an appearance at every position except pitcher and catcher over the years.
He finishes his time with the Mets as a .284 hitter with 80 HR, 367 RBI, and a .779 OPS.
There's a good chance the Islanders will have their leading scorer back after the Holiday break.
Bo Horvat officially rejoined the team for practice on Monday afternoon, donning a red non-contact jersey.
Horvat still has some hurdles to clear, and is doubtful for Tuesday's game against the Devils.
The team is, however, targeting Saturday's meeting with the Rangers for his potential return to the lineup.
"It was nice, he was wearing a non-contact jersey today and it seems like things are going the right way," Patrick Roy said. "I'm doubtful for tomorrow but obviously it was good to see him back out there."
It certainly is a welcome sight, as the star winger has missed the last four games with a lower-body injury.
Horvat went down in significant pain and was unable to put any weight on his left foot after getting tangled up and twisting it during a Dec. 11 meeting with the Anaheim Ducks.
The team didn't have much of an update afterwards, but ruled him day-to-day at the time.
Now, just under two weeks later, Horvat has been able to take some encouraging steps towards getting back out there.
New York has gone 1-2-1 in the four games he's missed.
Talk about changing the narrative: With three major moves in a period of six days, David Stearns turned the Mets’ offseason around in dramatic fashion and restored the faith that fans seemingly had lost in him for much of the long baseball winter.
In acquiring Bo Bichette, Luis Robert Jr., and Freddy Peralta, Stearns filled important needs, added some star power, and finally gave fans a reason to re-channel the emotions they’d been voicing since the departures of Pete Alonso, Edwin Diaz, Brandon Nimmo, and Jeff McNeil.
In doing so, Stearns also changed his offseason grade in a major way.
I’m not giving him a final grade just yet, however, in case he has any surprises planned in the next few weeks. For the moment, I’m simply updating the individual grades again, as we keep a running tally of the moves the Mets make this winter.
The grades:
FREDDY PERALTA ACQUIRED IN TRADE
In the deal with the Milwaukee Brewers, Stearns paid a high price for only one guaranteed season of Peralta, who can be a free agent after the season. The Mets gave up two of their top prospects: right-hander Brandon Sproat and middle infielder Jett Williams.
That said, it was a move Stearns had to make for the Mets to have championship aspirations in 2026, getting a No. 1-type starter to anchor a rotation that goes into a new season filled with questions about Kodai Senga, Sean Manaea, and David Peterson.
Peralta’s presence also takes some pressure off Nolan McLean to take his stunning late-season success and carry it into 2026 with the pressure of filling the need for an ace.
Peralta may not be the definition of an ace, largely because he averaged only 5.1 innings per start last season, but he pitched with dominance, as indicated by his 2.70 ERA and 204 strikeouts in 176.2 innings. And at 29, turning 30 in June, he should still be in his prime.
In addition, the Mets did well to give up Sproat rather than Jonah Tong, whom the Brewers first asked for, and the Mets had built up their farm system to be able to make a trade like this and still have prospect depth.
Finally, getting right-hander Tobias Myers in addition to Peralta was significant, as the Mets believe Myers can be an important multi-inning reliever or even spot starter for them.
GRADE: A
LUIS ROBERT JR. ACQUIRED IN TRADE
The beauty of this deal from a Mets’ perspective is that it’s low-risk, high-reward, a gamble on Robert’s upside that’s worth taking largely because Steve Cohen can take on the center fielder’s $20 million salary for 2026 without flinching.
Whether the gamble pays off is anybody’s guess, however, after two seasons marked by underperformance and injuries. The Mets are hoping Robert finds the form that made him an All-Star in 2023, when he hit 38 home runs and put up an .857 OPS, and they believe a change of scenery -- from the drudgery of playing for the Chicago White Sox to a chance to play high-stakes games in New York -- will benefit him in a big way.
At worst, the Mets know they’re getting a premium defensive center fielder they have control over for two seasons, if they choose to pick up another $20 million option for 2027.
To get Robert, the Mets gave up Luisangel Acuña, a talented middle infielder, in part because there’s no place for him to play in Queens. They also gave up low-minors pitcher Truman Pauley.
GRADE: B+
Sep 2, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette (11) throws to first to get Cincinnati Reds third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes (not pictured) out in the second inning at Great American Ball Park. / Katie Stratman - Imagn Images
BO BICHETTE SIGNED: 3 YEARS, $126 MILLION
For starters, it was impressive that Stearns had laid the groundwork for a Bichette deal so that he was able to pivot and sign the former Toronto Blue Jays shortstop within 12 hours or so of losing out on Kyle Tucker.
Bichette’s numbers as a high-average hitter with considerable pop speak for themselves, but perhaps most notable is that he has been one of the best clutch hitters in baseball throughout his career. He led the majors in hits with runners in scoring position last season, hitting .381 in those spots, and his career average with RISP is .330 with a .904 OPS.
Scouts say he excels in the clutch in part because he’s a smart hitter who makes adjustments with runners on base, recognizing how pitchers are trying to get him out, and oozes confidence in a way that some say is reminiscent of Derek Jeter.
"As the son of a big leaguer (Dante Bichette) he just seems comfortable in any situation," said one scout. "In big spots he trusts his ability and keeps it simple, like Jeter did. He’s just a really tough out when it counts most."
As such, Bichette, who may still be ascending at age 28 (come March), figures to be the guy to hit behind Juan Soto, dangerous enough that pitchers won’t pitch around Soto constantly. Also, as a right-handed hitter he gives the Mets’ lineup some needed balance, essentially replacing Alonso in that sense anyway.
He needs to prove he can play third base, but shortstops usually can make that move without great difficulty. Bichette’s range, which ranked worst among shortstops last season, shouldn’t be as much of an issue at third, but it’s something to watch.
I give Stearns credit for being willing to break up the core that failed to deliver when it counted most for the last several years, the only exception being 2024. This trade with the Texas Rangers was the first move in that direction. In addition Stearns got out from under an expensive contract that likely wasn’t going to age well, with five years and $102.5 million remaining.
That said, taking on Semien’s three years and $72 million remaining is a major gamble as well. His defense at second base is an upgrade over McNeil but Stearns’ run-prevention philosophy may not be such an easy sell at Citi Field if Semien’s offensive decline of the last two years continues at age 34.
When this trade was made on Nov. 23, I felt like it would ultimately be judged on how Stearns replaced Nimmo’s offense. So far there are still questions about how the Mets will do that, with left field likely to be filled by some combination of Tyrone Taylor, perhaps Brett Baty, and rookie Carson Benge -- who will be given the chance to win the spot out of spring training.
GRADE: C
New York Yankees relief pitcher Devin Williams (38) reacts after defeating the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium / Brad Penner - Imagn Images
Much like the Nimmo trade, I felt this signing had to be evaluated by what came next. It had home run potential if paired with the re-signing of Edwin Diaz, but after the Mets either botched the Diaz negotiations or were OK with letting him leave - it’s still hard to be sure about which - it now feels like much more of a gamble.
Williams’ struggles in the Bronx in 2024 seemed very much related to the pressure of being the closer on such a big stage. That he eventually righted himself would seem to be a good sign, but it was also only long after he’d been removed as the Yankees’ closer.
So it’s fair to wonder how he’ll fare with the expectations of filling Diaz’s shoes as the Mets’ closer. The numbers say his stuff is still elite but scouts who watched him regularly say pressure affected the command of both his fastball and signature changeup.
In a sense, the Bichette signing also impacts the Polanco deal, no longer making him the most significant offseason acquisition with the expectation of replacing Alonso’s offense, even if he is expected to be the Mets’ primary first baseman.
As such, I changed the grade on this move.
As a complement to Bichette, Polanco is a solid signing, coming off a strong age-31 season for the Seattle Mariners in which he slugged .495 and hit 26 home runs, plus two more off Tarik Skubal in the postseason. And, like Bichette, he has been a very good clutch hitter, hitting .337 with runners in scoring position last year, and .400 w/RISP and two outs — as well as a .306 career hitter with RISP.
Of course, he also has a history of inconsistency from year to year, perhaps due somewhat to injuries, and he has no real in-game experience playing first base, even if the Mariners gave him a crash-course at the position last season in case he was needed.
Bottom line: the Mets needed another accomplished hitter to ensure Polanco alone wasn’t expected to make up for the absence of Alonso in the lineup. Now they have one.
GRADE: Adjusted from C to B
New York Yankees relief pitcher Luke Weaver (30) reacts after striking out Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia (not pictured) to end the top of the eleventh inning at Yankee Stadium / Vincent Carchietta - Imagn Images
This is the one acquisition so far that didn't feel connected to anything else the Mets may or may not do. Instead, it feels like a good gamble, signing Weaver to be one of the primary setup men for Williams, knowing it wasn’t so long ago he excelled in the role of closer for the Yanks in 2023.
The right-hander lost his way last season, but many baseball people believe Weaver’s struggles were related to tipping his pitches, which he eventually admitted messed with him mentally. Presumably he’s had time to make corrections, in which case his fastball-changeup combination, similar to Williams’ arsenal, will again be effective.
GRADE: B
JEFF MCNEIL TRADED IN SALARY DUMP
There wasn’t much doubt McNeil would be moved after the departures of Nimmo and Alonso. Whether a breakup of the core proves meaningful remains to be seen, but clearly Stearns believed major change was needed -- and McNeil’s reported dust-ups with Francisco Lindor may have added to that belief.
In any case, going into his age-34 season in 2026, McNeil is a long way from the batting champ who hit .326 in 2022, hitting .238 and .243 the last two seasons, so he wasn’t expected to bring back much of a return. In trading him to the Athletics, the Mets got back a lottery ticket of sorts: 17-year old right-hander Yordan Rodriguez.
More to the point, the A’s are taking on $10 million of McNeil’s $15.75 salary this season, the last on his four-year contract. The Mets are eating $5.75 million and potentially $2 million more if the A’s don’t’ pick up McNeil’s 2027 club option for another $15.75 million for 2027.
With the addition of Bichette, Baty now figures to fill the utility role that otherwise might have been handled by McNeil had he stayed.
