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MLB Draft 2025: Signing Bonus Slot Values for First Round Picks

The Washington Nationals selected high school shortstop Eli Willits with the No. 1 overall pick in Sunday’s MLB Draft. Willits, who doesn’t turn 18 until December, is the youngest player selected first since the Seattle Mariners took Ken Griffey Jr. in 1987.

Washington was in position to select Willits after winning the draft lottery in December, despite having only the fourth-best odds to do so—Miami and Colorado had the best odds but fell to seventh and fourth, respectively. The top pick came with a draft slot value of $11,075,900.

Baseball’s slot values offer some wiggle room, unlike rookie contracts in the NFL and NBA, where first-round picks are tied to those leagues’ salary caps and are largely set in stone. NFL teams have the option to sign first-round picks below their draft slot amount but never do. NBA teams can sign first-rounders to contracts that range from 80% to 120% of their slot value, but the agreements are almost always at the max level.

Cam Ward signed a four-year, $48.4 million contract with the Tennessee Titans. Cooper Flagg’s contract with the Dallas Mavericks is worth $62.7 million over four years, although only the first two years are guaranteed.

Compare those to Travis Bazzana, last year’s top pick by the Cleveland Guardians, who received an $8.95 million bonus, 15% lower than the $10.57 million slot value. The Pittsburgh Pirates gave Paul Skenes a $9.2 million bonus, 5% below his slot in 2023. A year before that, Jackson Holliday received an $8.19 million bonus from the Baltimore Orioles, 10% lower than the $9.05 million slot value.

Every pick in the first 10 rounds is assigned a slot value, and a team’s total bonus pool is the sum of those slot values. The Orioles have the highest pool this year at $19.1 million, followed by the Mariners ($17.1 million), Los Angeles Angels ($16.7 million) and Nationals ($16.6 million). The New York Yankees rank last at $5.4 million after MLB lowered their top pick 10 spots for exceeding the second surcharge threshold of the luxury tax, and they also forfeited their second-round pick for signing free agent Max Fried.

When teams sign players below their slot values, it frees up more room to go over slot to sign a high school player who might choose college over a smaller signing bonus. Those negotiations sometimes happen before draft night. Willits was a surprise pick at the top of the draft, as the consensus top two picks were high school infielder Ethan Holliday and LSU pitcher Kade Anderson. They went third and fourth.

Last week, the Nationals fired general manager Mike Rizzo, who led their baseball operations for 17 years. Manager Davey Martinez was also fired last week.

Players selected after the 10th round can be signed for up to $125,000 without the bonus being applied toward the pool allotment, but anything over $125,000 is part of the pool. Last year, the Angels gave 11th-round pick Trey Gregory-Alford a $1.96 million bonus.

The total 2025 bonus pool for the 30 teams is $350 million, up 4.8% from the prior year, which is tied to the growth of MLB revenues. Teams often exceed their bonus allotment but never by more than 5%; up to 5%, the penalty is simply a 75% tax on any overage. Teams face a steeper penalty at higher thresholds, including the loss of draft picks. Spending 5% to 10% above the bonus pool threshold costs a first-round pick, and the penalty reaches two first-round picks at 15%.

In the minor leagues, rookie-level minimum salaries are $20,430 this year, while Triple-A is $36,590. The minimum annual salary in the majors is $760,000 in 2025.

The draft continues Monday afternoon with rounds four through 20.

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Deep Dive on Mets' 2025 draft pick Mitch Voit, who could be a future starting second baseman

The Metsselected two-way player Mitch Voit from Michigan with the No. 38 pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. While he was announced as a two-way player, he hasn’t pitched since his sophomore year, and he will be sent out exclusively as a infielder in pro ball.

Voit grew up in Milwaukee for the first 14 years of his life before moving to Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, where he became close with the family of Cubs manager Craig Counsell, even playing high school ball and a year of college ball with one of his sons.

In 2021 at Perfect Game events he flashed tools, averaging 90 mph off the mound, but he was even more impressive in offensive and defensive drills. He flashed 94 mph exit velocities while touching 93 mph in infield throwing and showing plus straight-line speed with a 6.69 60-yard dash.

He was ranked as the No. 9 high school player in the state, winning the Wisconsin Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year in 2022 after hitting .566 with a 1.431 OPS and posting a 0.52 ERA in 53.2 innings, striking out 86.

Voit started as the Wolverines' third baseman and pitched out of the bullpen as a true freshman. In 54 games he hit .267/.338/.439 with nine doubles, seven home runs, and 32 RBI. He also got into 19 games on the mound and posted a team-leading 3.25 ERA while striking out 25 in 36 innings with five saves. He made the All-Big Ten freshman team and Second Team Baseball America freshman team. He had a brief stint in the Cape Cod League, getting into six games as a third baseman and two games on the mound.

As a sophomore, Voit’s days as a pitcher would come to an end after posting a 5.49 ERA in 10 starts, as he would end up requiring internal brace surgery that he’d have after the college season concluded. He still hit, but his defensive home was more first base and some corner outfield. His offensive game took a big step forward from his freshman year, as he hit .292/.373/.572 with 20 doubles, 14 home runs, and 46 RBI.

Voit entered his junior year as a third-team preseason All-American. It was his first season focusing exclusively on hitting and he made significant strides in aspects of his game. He hit .346/.471/.668 with the same 14 home runs that he hit as a sophomore in 56 games.

The biggest growth came in his approach at the plate, as his strikeout rate as a freshman and sophomore was at 23 and 22 percent, respectively. His junior year he slashed it nearly in half, striking out just 13 percent of the time. At the same time, he nearly doubled his walk rate that was in the eight percent range his first two seasons and spiked to 15.4 percent as a junior. Voit ended up walking (40) more than he struck out (34), while still showing off the ability to barrel the ball and post above average exit velocities, even flashing some plus numbers, though that was with a metal bat.

Voit attended the 2025 MLB Draft Combine, where he made a good impression at team meetings and had an excellent day of batting practice sessions with a max exit velocity of 107.8 mph and hit two home runs over 400 feet, with his max distance at 430 feet.

The Mets' interest in Voit dates back to the preseason in 2025, when he met and stayed in touch with area scout Chad Langley. They were intrigued by the growth in Voit’s first year fully focused on hitting, and that he comes equipped with true plus bat speed and a good feel for bat-to-ball.

The power may be more average than above average, but the batted ball data suggests there is a chance for more in there.

Defensively, Voit stood out at second base, a position he had not played before, ranking fourth among Division I second basemen with 13 defensive runs saved. Now that his arm is healthy, the Mets are likely to have him get some opportunity at third base, where his arm should play well, in addition to second base. He is an above average, nearly plus runner who stole 14 bases in 16 attempts in 2025.

Voit will be 21 for the entire 2026 season and his offensive game has really come into shape this year. He is evaluated as more of a high-floor than high-ceiling player, but there is thought with some swing tweaks, he could tap into a little more power. There is a real chance this is an offensively-driven future starting second baseman.

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Every Yankees pick from Day 2 of 2025 MLB Draft

Here is every Yankeespick from Day 2 of the 2025 MLB Draft...

Round 4, No. 134: LHP Pico Kohn (Mississippi State)

A 6-foot-4 lefty from Verbena, Ala., Kohn pitched to a 4.73 ERA this past season with the Bulldogs, striking out 114 hitters over 80.0 innings of work.

Kohn, who underwent Tommy John surgery in 2023, features a three-quarters delivery while hitting mid-90s with his fastball and mixing in a low-80's sweeper.

Round 5, No. 164: SS Core Jackson (Utah)

The 21-year-old Jackson, who can play both shortstop and second base, began his collegiate career at Nebraska before playing the last two seasons with the Utes.

In 48 games this past season, Jackson slashed .364/.445/.641 with 12 home runs, 44 RBI and 19 doubles.

Round 6, No. 194: RHP Rory Fox (Notre Dame)

A 6-foot-3 righty, Fox pitched to a 3.58 ERA in 14 starts this season. He struck out 64 batters in 64.1 innings.

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Every Mets pick from Day 2 of 2025 MLB Draft

Here is every Mets pick from Day 2 of the 2025 MLB Draft...

Round 4, No. 133: RHP Peter Kussow (Arrowhead High School)

Rated the best prospect in Wisconsin by MLB.com, Kussow has a fastball that tops out at 97 mph as well as an impressive slider.

He is committed to Louisville, but the Mets likely only took him this high with the expectation that they'd be able to sign him.

Round 5, No. 163: RHP Peyton Prescott (Florida State University)

A power reliever whose fastball can reach 100 mph, Prescott's season with FSU ended in late in the campaign, with him set to undergo Tommy John Surgery.

He made 24 appearances for FSU this season, with a 5.15 ERA in 36.2 innings. He struck out 46.

Round 6, No. 193: RHP Nathan Hall (University of Central Missouri)

Hall had a 3.07 ERA and 1.29 WHIP while striking out 11.7 batters per nine in four appearances over 14.2 innings this season.

Round 7, No. 223: RHP Cam Tilly (Auburn)

Tilly worked mainly as a reliever this past season for Auburn, posting a 5.48 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 46.0 innings.

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A mix of youth and chemistry has Red Sox rolling into All-Star break on 10-game winning streak

BOSTON — Many of the Boston Red Sox players started wearing T-shirts during batting practice and in the clubhouse the past week with a quote from teammate Romy Gonzalez written across the front.

It says: “Tremendously locked in.”

They certainly look that way heading into the All-Star break.

On Sunday, Ceddanne Rafaela hit a two-run homer and the Red Sox (53-45) posted their 10th straight victory with a 4-1, series-sweeping win over the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park.

“There’s two things: We’re young and we’re athletic and that doesn’t slump to be honest with you,” said manager Alex Cora, who reminded some of his younger players to lead with energy in late May.

“I talked to some of the kids in Atlanta and their job is to, of course, play as hard as you can,” he said. “I told them: ’There’s no excuse for you guys not bringing the energy every single day. It starts in the clubhouse with the music.”’

The 24-year-old Rafaela has joined three rookies: infielder Marcelo Mayer, outfielder Roman Anthony and catcher Carlos Narváez to give the Red Sox a jolt of successful youth leading them into the break.

Following a series-opening loss in New York on June 6, the Red Sox dropped to 10 1/2 games behind the AL East-leading Yankees. Now, just over a month later, they’re a game behind them for second place, trailing the division-leading Toronto Blue Jays.

“It’s been fun the last 10 days,” said Rafaela, who is hitting .421 with five homers and 15 RBIs during a career-best 10-game hitting streak.

“Yes, we’ve been winning and it’s always good to win,” he said. “I think it’s the most fun I’ve (ever) had.”

Veteran Trevor Story, who had struggled during three-injury plagued seasons with the Red Sox after signing a six-year, $140-million contract as a free agent in March 2022, has picked it up by playing solid defense at short with timely hitting.

“We’re playing well,” Cora said. “Trevor and Rafaela have been amazing.”

The streak comes less than a month after Boston shipped Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants.

Story sees the club believing it has finally found its stride.

“I think we have more of an identity now,” he said. “We’re starting to believe that I think we can win in different ways. Like we’ve shown in this 10-gamer, we can slug, or we can win one-run games, we can steal bases. I think playing good defense is a good part of that. I think it all starts with the pitching, which has been lights out.”

The pitching has been led by All-Star Garrett Crochet, who posted his first complete game, shutting out the Rays on Saturday.

“Yeah, energy, chemistry,” Cora said. “Winning’s better that losing. We’re excited about going to the ballpark.”

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Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani Carry MLB Into the All-Star Break

ATLANTA — As Major League Baseball breaks for Tuesday night’s annual All-Star Game, it’s already been a tumultuous season for a number of teams facing high expectations.

One thing that hasn’t changed coming into the break: Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani are still the headliners of the season. While their teams, the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers, have been struggling recently, the superstars still have them at or near the top of their respective divisions.

The Yankees have straightened out after a six-game losing streak and remain only two games behind the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East. They released veteran infielder D.J. LeMahieu this week, eating the final $22 million owed on his contract, and moved Jazz Chisholm Jr. back to second base from third.

Judge goes into Tuesday night’s game with a first half for the ages: 35 homers, 81 RBIs and a gaudy 1.195 OPS. His batting average has dropped from .402 on May 21 to .355, still handily leading the Major Leagues. The 6-foot-7, 282-pound Judge is on pace to break his AL record of 62 homers set in 2022. He hit his 350th career homer on Saturday, the fastest of any player in MLB history to do so, 182 games earlier than Mark McGwire.

“Please appreciate what you’re seeing with Judge,” Tony Clark, the executive director of the players’ union, said Saturday in an on-field interview prior to the annual Futures Game at Truist Park. “Hitters that size don’t do what he’s doing. Trying to keep all your moving pieces in the same place day in and day out is difficult enough, let alone when your levers are as large as his are.”

The Dodgers, meanwhile, had suddenly lost seven in a row through Friday and had watched their lead over the San Francisco Giants in the NL West shrink from eight games to four in a week before winning the final two games of the series. Perhaps it’s coincidence, but their tailspin has coincided with Ohtani’s return to pitching on June 16.

Since then, Ohtani’s batting average has dipped from .300 to .276 and his OPS from 1.039 to .987. His 32 homers have helped keep the Dodgers in first place, but he’s hit just three of them during the month of July.

Meanwhile, he’s made five starts as a pitcher and thrown a total of nine innings, his max of three innings on Saturday when he allowed a hit, a walk, struck out four Giants, and tossed 36 pitches. Bringing him back to the mound after his second reconstructive right elbow surgery for the first time since Aug. 23, 2023, has turned Ohtani from one of the most prolific hitters in the game to a short-shift pitcher and, for now, a mediocre batter.

Clark thinks it will be a short-term issue, once Ohtani gets used to preparing to pitch every five days while still hitting in the top spot every day.

“He comes off the mound and has to immediately get ready to hit, to lead off,” Clark said, noting the problem is particularly acute at Dodger Stadium. “I’ve never seen that before.”

No one has. Clark said he expects Ohtani to figure it out. “Of all my worries in baseball, Ohtani’s not one of them,” he said.

Try this one: Hitting is down overall in MLB, with a .245 average, three points lower than 2023, when new rules were invoked to speed up the game and eliminate defensive shifts.

The drought has been particularly felt in the NL, which boasts right now only one .300 hitter—Dodgers catcher Will Smith at .323. Freddie Freeman has plummeted from .374 on May 31 to .297. Mookie Betts has never gotten it going offensively this season and is hitting .244, 47 points below his lifetime mark of .291. Is this what his relocation from right field to shortstop has wrought?

Players and franchises have been moved from once comfortable positions with the abandon this season. The Athletics and Tampa Bay Rays have played in minor league ballparks this season with all the accompanying financial and aesthetic  problems.

The teams are the lowest drawing in MLB, with the Rays averaging 9,852 and A’s 9,799 at parks that seat 11,000 (Steinbrenner Field), and 14,000 (Sutter Health Park), respectively.

The A’s are one  of six teams in either league at this point with no shot at making the playoffs. The Rays held their own until playing 16 of their last 19 games on the road prior to the break. They were a half a game out on June 28 and are now 5.5 games back after losing 10 of their last 14.

How this all has skewed the playoff races is still a matter to be determined, Clark said.

“I’d like to be able to wait until all the games are played and then take the numbers and look at them,” he said.

And that leaves us with the All-Star host Braves, who because of injuries and other issues, are among the teams playing way below expectations. They opened 5-13 and have yet to be able to straighten it out. They’re still 11 games under .500 at the break, 12.5 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East and 9.5 games in arrears of the third NL Wild Card spot with eight teams ahead of them. This, despite having the 10th-highest payroll in the league at $232 million.

“We’re just going up and down like a roller coaster,” Marquis Grissom, the former Braves centerfielder and manager of the American League in the Saturday’s Futures Game, said of the Braves. “We get going one minute, the next minute, we don’t.”

The disappointment is palpable in a team that won the World Series as recently as four years ago and has veteran skipper Brian Snitker, in the last year of his contract, looking toward retirement.

“I’ll never say never, because I always felt if I had a say-so, coming down the stretch, that we were going to have a chance,” Hall of Famer Chipper Jones, who managed the National League in the 2025 MLB All-Star Futures Game on Saturday, said. “I’d agree it’s going to be tough. Obviously.”

But while the All-Star break is always a time to take stock of the present, it’s also a chance to look ahead, which is what Grissom was doing in Atlanta. His son, Marquis Grissom Jr., played for the National League futures team. This is just another example of how the game continues to pass from generation to generation, a la Fernando Tatis to San Diego Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr., the latter having had two hits in the 2018 Futures Game, and ex-Braves star Andruw Jones to Druw Jones, an Arizona Diamondbacks product who knocked in a run in last year’s Futures contest.

“With the coaches I have like my father, I’m still old-school, doing hard work,” Grissom Jr., a Triple-A pitcher in the Washington Nationals organization, said. “I still try to learn analytics and do certain things. But the game ain’t changed. I’m still trying to play the same game.”

The All-Star Game itself will offer two of its top kids as starters: Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates representing the NL for the second year in a row, and Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers opening for the AL. 

Perhaps in a sign of the times, Ohtani will not pitch, but he’ll start at DH, his Dodgers manager and the NL manager Dave Roberts said Sunday.

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Roman Anthony is youngest Red Sox player in 60 years to achieve this feat

Roman Anthony is youngest Red Sox player in 60 years to achieve this feat originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Roman Anthony was the No. 1 ranked MLB prospect ahead of his Boston Red Sox debut in June, and after a bit of a slow start, he has really found his groove at the plate.

The Red Sox have entered the All-Star break on a 10-game win streak, which has vaulted them into the second wild card playoff spot in the American League and only two games behind the Toronto Blue Jays for first place in the AL East division.

One player helping lead the Red Sox into the break scorching hot is Anthony. He extended his hit streak to nine games with a double in Sunday’s 4-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park.

Anthony, at 21 years old, is the youngest Red Sox player to have a nine-game hit streak since Tony Conigliaro 60 years ago.

Anthony is batting .389 with four extra-base hits, six RBI, 10 runs scored and a 1.044 OPS during his hit streak. He’s batting .341 with a .431 on-base percentage and a .931 OPS in July so far.

Pushing this hit streak to 10, 15 or even 20 games will be difficult with the Red Sox’ schedule about to get a lot tougher. Boston exits the All-Star break with series versus the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers (in that order).

But the most encouraging aspect of Anthony’s recent hot streak is how comfortable he looks at the plate. He’s not chasing bad pitches. He’s not trying to mash the ball. He’s taking what the opposing pitchers give him and doing as much damage as he can.

The Red Sox are right in the middle of the playoff race, and the second half of the season has the chance to be really exciting. If the Red Sox are going to return to the postseason for the first time in four years, they’ll need Anthony to keep producing like an impact player.

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MLB 2025 Home Run Derby Predictions: Odds, Expert Picks on Cal Raleigh, Oneil Cruz, James Wood, Matt Olson

The 2025 MLB Home Run Derby takes place Monday night and it's going to be one for the memory books as a catcher is the headliner and odds on favorite.

The Mariners' Cal Raleigh is having a historic season with 38 homers, marking the most by a catcher at the All-Star break in history. This season, Raleigh ranks ahead of MVP favorites (and non-HR derby contestants) Aaron Judge (35) and Shohei Ohtani (32) — and now, Raleigh is the favorite to win the Home Run Derby, but will have to overcome some tough historical trends to do so.

Raleigh will become the second-ever player to switch hit in the Derby (Adley Rutschman in 2023, lost 2nd round), plus no catcher has ever won the derby. This is year 39 of the event, so odds are against Raleigh despite him being the favorite.

The Twins' Byron Buxton is having a phenomenal comeback season and has the longest home of this field at 479 feet, while Oneil Cruz of the Pirates is second with a 463 footer and the Nationals' James Wood third at 451.

Matt Olson is also in the field after replacing his Braves' teammate Ronald Acuna Jr., who has dealt with some injuries the last few weeks. To round out the field, the Athletics Brent Rooker, Yankees' Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Junior Caminero of the Rays make up the eight-man field.

Home Run Derby Details & how to watch

  • Date: Monday, July 14, 2025
  • Time: 8:00PM EST
  • Site: Truist Park
  • City: Atlanta, GA
  • Network/Streaming: ESPN / ESPN2

Odds for the Home Run Derby

The latest odds as of Monday morning at BetMGM:

  • Cal Raleigh, Mariners (+275) - $10 to win $27.50
  • Oneil Cruz, Pirates (+350) - $10 to win $25
  • James Wood, Nationals (+400) - $10 to win $40
  • Matt Olson, Braves (+800) - $10 to win $80
  • Brent Rooker, Athletics (+850) - $10 to win $85
  • Byron Buxton, Twins (+900) - $10 to win $90
  • Junior Caminero, Rays (+1000) - $10 to win $100
  • Jazz Chisholm Jr., Yankees (+1400) - $10 to win $140

The Format of the Home Run Derby

During the first round, the eight hitters have three minutes or 40 pitches, whichever comes first, to hit homers.

Each player has an untimed round that continues until three outs occurs following the firs three minute round. If a batter hits a homer longer than 425 feet during the first three minutes or 40 pitches, that player we be awarded with an extra out, like last year.

The semifinals will have a round of two minutes or 27 pitches, whichever comes first, for the four-player field. The first round amount does not carry over into the second round, so the two best head-to-head totals advance to the finals where the format will be the same as the semifinals.

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Marlins and the Orioles

Rotoworld Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) is rooting for Cal Raleigh to win the Derby but likes James Wood and a sprinkle on a long shot:

"Cal Raleigh (+275) is on a truly historic run and he has the chance to accomplish something he manifested as an 8-year-old kid, a Home Run Derby Title. Most of America will be rooting for Raleigh and I will be too, but for the odds and historical aspect of being a catcher and switch hitting, I am not in love with betting on Raleigh.

My personal favorite pick is James Wood (+400). He is a superstar in the making for the Nationals and played four games in Atlanta this season and hit a homer in his first appearance, and has played multiple series in Atlanta over the last season and a half, so he's familiar enough with Truist Park too — something Raleigh is not.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. (+1400) is on pace to shatter his career-high 28 homers. He's only 27-year-old, which is likely his prime or peak. I am bias though. He's the only player I've watched hit a homer in person this year, so I sprinted a few bucks on him for the +1400 value, although I admit, I do not expect Jazz to win."

Drew Dinsick (@Whale_Capper) is rocking with the Georgia native Matt Olson in the derby:

"Matt Olson (+800) is the only player in the field with experience in this unique format and having whatever home field advantage exists in this event, so I think Olson is live and the +800 price is attractive enough to get involved."

Eric Froton (@CFFroton) likes James Wood to bring some hardware back to DC:

"James Wood (+400) has 24 homers and 69 RBI, which both rank tied for 8th in all of baseball. The 22-year-old, 6-foot-7 234-pounder that hits lefty may not be a household name, but he has all the makings of a home run derby winner in his second season."

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of the Home Run Derby

  • No catcher has ever won the Home Run Derby
  • Cal Raleigh leads the MLB with 38 homers
  • 11 of James Wood's 24 homers have gone to centerfield, which leads the MLB
  • Junior Caminero has the second-fastest bat speed in all of baseball this season
  • Byron Buxton (21 homers) is on pace to shatter his career-high 28 homers this season
  • Byron Buxton has the longest homer of the derby field at 479 feet this season
  • Brent Rooker will have his childhood hitting coach toss him pitches in the derby
  • Jazz Chisholm Jr. (17 homers) is on pace to destroy his career-high of 24 from last season
  • Matt Olson is a Georgia native and he attended the derby the last time it was in Atlanta as a fan back in 2000
  • Oneil Cruz hit a baseball 122.9 MPH this season, which ranked the fastest of the tracking era and he has the second-longest homer on the season out of the derby field at 463 feet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
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Pros and Cons: Should Mets trade for Sandy Alcantara?

The Mets' starting rotation situation this year has been wild.

They started off with so much depth that there were questions about how they'd fit everyone in. By the middle of the season, though, a rash of injuries had them reaching into the minors for spot-starters, pondering whether to promote their top pitching prospects, and eventually deploying bullpen games for two of the three Subway Series matchups against the Yankees in early-July.

While the injury to Griffin Canning was season-ending and Tylor Megill's possible return is TBD, things have normalized over the last week.

The Mets are now finally using the rotation they envisioned would be their starting five on Opening Day:

Kodai Senga
Sean Manaea
David Peterson
Clay Holmes
Frankie Montas

Beyond those five pitchers are some intriguing options in Triple-A Syracuse. There's Blade Tidwell, who has been called upon a few times in his rookie year, and two prospects who have the potential to develop into top of the rotation arms: Nolan McLean and Brandon Sproat.

Speaking earlier this month, president of baseball operations David Stearns said he was reluctant to use top prospects for spot starts. But it's possible McLean and Sproat both debut later this summer when they're deemed ready for long-term roles.

Still, while it's nice to picture a future where McLean and Sproat are mainstays in the rotation, it's impossible to rely on them in the heat of a pennant race in what will be their first taste of the majors.

Combine that with an injury question surrounding Manaea (pitching with a loose body in his elbow) and the workload question hanging over Holmes (who has already thrown more innings this season than any other), and New York should be placing a high priority on adding another legitimate starting pitcher via trade.

Should they target Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara?

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara (22) pitches against the Colorado Rockies during the sixth inning at loanDepot Park
Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara (22) pitches against the Colorado Rockies during the sixth inning at loanDepot Park / Sam Navarro - Imagn Images

PROS

When Alcantara is at his best, he is quite literally the top pitcher in baseball.

During his Cy Young campaign in 2022, Alcantara led the majors in WAR (8.0) and innings pitched (228.2) while posting a 2.28 ERA and 0.98 WHIP.

While Alcantara isn't a strikeout machine, he has an overpowering fastball that averages around 97 mph (he throws a four-seamer and a sinker). He also features a slider, changeup, and curve, and has a tendency to make hitters pound the ball into the ground.

In addition to being masterful when he's on, Alcantara is young (in his age-29 season), relatively inexpensive (making just $17.3 million this season), and under team control through 2027.

Aside from undergoing Tommy John surgery, which caused him to miss all of 2024, Alcantara has been very reliable when it comes to taking the ball.

In each of his four full seasons, he has thrown at least 184.2 innings.

Put it all together and you get an almost ideal trade target. Except...

CONS

Since returning from Tommy John surgery at the start of this season, Alcantara has not been himself.

He has an unsightly 7.22 ERA and 1.48 WHIP in 18 starts over 91.0 innings, and advanced stats that are generally poor.

Mar 27, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara (22) looks on against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at loanDepot Park.
Mar 27, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara (22) looks on against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at loanDepot Park. / Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Alcantara is near the bottom of the league when it comes to pitching run value, xERA, xBA, average exit velocity, chase percentage, whiff percentage, strikeout rate, and hard hit percentage.

Meanwhile, his four-seam fastball (his second-most used pitch) is getting clobbered, with batters slugging .551 against it.

The huge caveat here is that it sometimes takes pitchers until their second season back from TJS to round back into form. But the depth of Alcantara's struggles in a pretty large sample this season should be extremely concerning.

It will also take a massive package to obtain him.

When you combine Alcantara's Cy Young upside, his relative youth, his cost, and the team control, it becomes a situation where the Marlins can pit teams against one another until they get an offer that bowls them over. If not, they can hold him until the offseason and hope he rediscovers his Cy Young form between now and then.

The exact return for Alcantara will depend on the type of prospects the Marlins are seeking to headline a deal (pitchers or position players) and their preference when it comes to those prospects' proximity to the majors (are they prioritizing guys who are close to contributing or not).

And it's fair to believe the Mets would lose not just one of their most valued prospects, but two or three of them.

VERDICT

In a world where Alcantara dominates over his next several starts leading up to the July 31 deadline, I could see it making perfect sense for the Mets to swallow hard and hand over a handful of their most prized prospects for him.

Saving that, however, it is impossible to envision a scenario where it would be wise to part with the type of package it would take to get Alcantara when so many questions remain about which version you're getting.

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ICYMI in Mets Land: Key injury updates; Sean Manaea returns

Here's what happened in Mets Land on Sunday, in case you missed it...

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In-game interview hinders Matt Chapman's pre-pitch Willy Adames communication

In-game interview hinders Matt Chapman's pre-pitch Willy Adames communication originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Matt Chapmanusually knows what pitches are coming when playing third base because shortstop Willy Adames has the PitchCom in his Giants hat and relays pitches like a quarterback reading aloud plays.

But that wasn’t the case for a few minutes during San Francisco’s 5-2 extra-innings loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers at Oracle Park on Saturday. Instead, Chapman’s routine with Adames was disrupted when the Roku Channel had the Giants’ third basemen wear an earpiece for an in-game interview during the top of the sixth inning.

And ironically, Chapman was asked on the broadcast how he approaches his defensive alignments and preparation, specifically when playing behind San Francisco right-handed starting pitcher Robbie Ray, Saturday’s starter.

“With Robbie, I think right-handers are going to try to hit something off-speed,” Chapman explained. “The fastball is more of a fly-ball pitch. The off-speeders are the pitches a lot of the right-handers hit off Robbie — sliders or changeups down where they’re reaching for it a little bit.”

“I usually get [the pitch] from Willy [Adames], but the fact that I got my left ear with an earpiece in, I’m having a hard time hearing what pitch is coming,” Chapman added when asked about how he knows what pitch is coming.

Fortunately for all parties involved, the Giants exited the sixth unscathed, and there were no defense lapses, let alone anything involving Chapman.

Surely that’s a relief the broadcaster, considering how Chapman truly does rely on Adames to relay the calls, as he thoroughly detailed in an exclusive interview with NBC Sports Bay Area’s Rich Aurilia from June 9.

“Willy lets me know when off-speed pitches are coming, which really gives me an advantage over at third base. I don’t wear the PitchCom, so Willy tells me what pitch is coming, keeps us communicating; we’re talking about what base we’re throwing to, what to do in certain situations.”

Imagine if Chapman misplayed a ball that cost San Francisco the game because he couldn’t hear Adames relay a pitch? The argument against in-game interviews would have gotten stronger.

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Cora reveals how Crochet has stepped up as a leader for Red Sox

Cora reveals how Crochet has stepped up as a leader for Red Sox originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Garrett Crochet has been one of the best pitchers in all of Major League Baseball through the first half of the 2025 season, and he’s one of the primary reasons why the Boston Red Sox are going into the All-Star break as the hottest team.

Crochet’s latest start came Saturday afternoon against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park. The Red Sox managed to score only one run, but that was enough for Crochet, who tossed his first career complete game. He allowed zero runs on just three hits with zero walks while striking out nine batters.

It was one of many dominant performances he has given the Red Sox in his first season with the team.

Crochet’s impact goes beyond his elite pitching on the mound, though. He’s also helping the team in a profound way off the field.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora explained Crochet’s impact when speaking to reporters before Saturday’s game.

“The leader, to be honest with you,” Cora said, per Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. “Every five days, we know he’s going to be on the mound. But what he’s doing in the clubhouse — you see him in the dugout, he’s always into the games and talking to pitchers. Yesterday, (Greg) Weissert came out, he didn’t like the slider, they were talking about grips and all that.

“He’s very similar to Alex (Bregman) in that sense. Him and Walker (Buehler), well, Walker has more experience obviously, but he is very smart. With the contract (extension), stuff comes with the territory. You have to be that guy. We haven’t had a guy like that in a while. We’ve had some good ones throughout the years. Now that he is here, he is on the Red Sox, he’s doing an amazing job.”

Crochet made his major league debut in 2020 and he’s only 26 years old. But you don’t have to be a 10-year veteran to be a respected leader. And judging by what Cora said above, it sounds like Crochet has fully embraced the leadership role.

This is a very encouraging development for a Red Sox franchise that has a lot of young players it’s trying to develop. One way to accelerate that development is to surround these talented young players with leaders who will set a good example on and off the field. That’s why it is so important to have guys like Bregman and Crochet around.

The Red Sox have taken a 10-game win streak into the break, and as a result, they sit in the second wild card spot in the American League and trail the first-place Toronto Blue Jays by just two games in the AL East division race.

However, the Red Sox have the toughest remaining schedule in the AL, per Tankathon, and they begin the second half of the season with series versus the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers.

For the Red Sox to keep this momentum alive and secure a playoff spot for the first time since 2021, they’ll need Crochet to maintain his Cy Young-level performance. He doesn’t show any signs of slowing down, but he’s already pitched 129 1/3 innings, which is only 17 below his career high for an entire season. Can he stay dominant with a larger workload? Time will tell.

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Ranking the longest homers in MLB Home Run Derby history

Ranking the longest homers in MLB Home Run Derby history originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Major League Baseball’s Home Run Derby has been a summer staple for decades as a predecessor to the annual All-Star Game. With the league’s top sluggers at the plate, the event has also been home to some record-shattering swings.

Fans in all levels of the outfield bleachers have gotten a chance at a souvenir over the years. In rare cases, players have been able to send home runs out of the stadium entirely.

Ahead of the 2025 edition in Atlanta, here is a look at the longest homers in MLB Home Run Derby history.

Longest Home Run Derby homers in the Statcast era

MLB introduced Statcast in 2016 as an accurate way of measuring home run distance and other action on the diamond. It was truly put to the test in 2021, when sluggers made the most of the thinner air at Coors Field in Denver.

Pete Alonso came out on top in the event, but Juan Soto stole the show with a record-setting home run. The then-Nationals outfielder launched a 520-foot blast that nearly cleared the upper deck in right-center field.

Here is where Soto’s moonshot ranks among the longest Home Run Derby homers since 2016.

1. Juan Soto, Washington Nationals, 2021: 520 feet

2. Trevor Story, Colorado Rockies, 2021: 518 feet

3. Pete Alonso, New York Mets, 2021: 514 feet

T-4. Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels, 2021: 513 feet

T-4. Aaron Judge, New York Yankees, 2017: 513 feet

Longest Home Run Derby homers in the Statcast era outside of Coors Field

Soto, Alonso and the rest of the 2021 Home Run Derby field got the advantage of Mile High altitude during their event. When it comes to the seven Statcast-era Derbies held outside of Coors Field, two current Yankees have shown the greatest power.

Before he was the single-season AL home run king, Aaron Judge was clobbering baseballs in the Home Run Derby. He crushed four homers over 500 feet, including one that measured in at 513 feet, before taking home the 2017 Home Run Derby crown.

Judge owns the first four spots when it comes to distance at non-Coors Field Home Run Derbies in the Statcast era, while Giancarlo Stanton rounds out the top five.

1. Aaron Judge, New York Yankees, 2017: 513 feet

2. Aaron Judge, New York Yankees, 2017: 507 feet

3. Aaron Judge, New York Yankees, 2017: 504 feet

4. Aaron Judge, New York Yankees, 2017: 501 feet

T-5. Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins, 2016: 497 feet

T-5. Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins, 2016: 497 feet

Longest Home Run Derby homers before the Statcast era

It’s tough to verify any home run distance prior to Statcast. That said, there were plenty of tape-measure mashes at the Home Run Derby before 2016.

Sammy Sosa put on a power display like never before at the 2002 Home Run Derby in Milwaukee. Slammin’ Sammy supposedly hit seven homers that traveled more than 500 feet, including one that went an estimated 524 feet.

Jason Giambi wound up winning that year’s event, but it is still remembered for Sosa’s offensive fireworks.

Frank Thomas, Josh Hamilton and Bobby Abreu are among the other participants to demolish supposed 500-foot homers at the Derby. Here’s where they rank among the farthest in the pre-Statcast era.

1. Sammy Sosa, Chicago Cubs, 2002: 524 feet

2. Sammy Sosa, Chicago Cubs, 2002: 520 feet

3. Frank Thomas, Chicago White Sox, 1994: 519 feet

T-4. Sammy Sosa, Chicago Cubs, 2002: 518 feet

T-4. Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers, 2008: 518 feet

6. Bobby Abreu, Philadelphia Phillies, 2005: 517 feet

T-7. Mark McGwire, St. Louis Cardinals, 1998: 510 feet

T-7. Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins, 2014: 510 feet

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Home Run Derby Prize Would Double These Sluggers’ 2025 Salaries

Pirates slugger Oneil Cruz has 1 million reasons to swing for the fences during Monday night’s Home Run Derby in Atlanta. 

Three of the eight contestants, including Cruz, are making less this year in salary than the prize purse of $1 million for the Derby winner. 

Cruz, 26 years old; Nationals outfielder James Wood, 22; and Rays infielder Junior Caminero, 22, are all making between $750,000 and $800,000 this year under MLB’s collective bargaining terms for players with fewer than three years of top-level service. 

“When I was like 12, I did some Home Run Derbys,” Wood recently told The Washington Post. “The prizes were like a bat, so it’s a little different now.”

Under the terms of the CBA, the derby runner-up receives $500,000 while the six other participants each go home with $150,000. The batter with the longest home run pockets an additional $100,000.

Cruz is among bettors’ favorites for the event, along with Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh. Braves first baseman Matt Olson will be swinging on home soil, joined by Twins outfielder—and Georgia native—Byron Buxton, Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm and Athletics outfielder Brent Rooker.

Buxton has the second-biggest blast of 2025 so far, a 479-foot homer against the Rangers. Mike Trout’s 484-foot roundtripper from April still leads the league. Raleigh enters Monday’s competition with a league-leading 38 home runs. 

The derby’s $2.5 million overall prize pool was increased in 2019 as part of an agreement with the players association. While then-31-year-old Teoscar Hernandez took home the prize last season, the event has otherwise been a young man’s game; the winner hasn’t been older than 26 since 2015. Giancarlo Stanton (2016), Aaron Judge (2017), Bryce Harper (2018), Pete Alonso (2019, 2021), Juan Soto (2022) and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (2023) won the previous seven editions before landing even bigger paydays for their day jobs. All six hitters will likely be represented in Sportico‘s list of the Top 15 Highest-Paid MLB Players once Guerrero’s new deal fully kicks in.

Judge has said he’d only participate again if the All-Star Game was in New York City, while Shohei Ohtani, who has the third-most homers in the league, cited the current knockout structure in explaining his absence. “With the current rules in place, I don’t think it’s feasible for me to compete well,” Ohtani said in June. The Japanese superstar previously competed in 2021, and the derby format was updated last year. Competitors are now limited to three minutes or 40 swings in the first round, with the top four moving on to a pair of two-minute or 27-swing knockout rounds.

In 2021, Ohtani handed his $150,000 to Angels employees while Alonso has used a portion of his derby earnings to support multiple nonprofit causes. 

The 2024 home run contest averaged 5.45 million viewers, up against Republican National Convention coverage. The All-Star Game averaged 7.44 million viewers. Each player on the winning All-Star Game side gets $25,000. The 2025 Home Run Derby airs on ESPN and ESPN2.

Discussing his decision to join the fray, Cruz said he’s in it for more than the dollars. 

“I’m really, really happy, just because that’s what I do,” Cruz said on Tuesday. “I like to hit balls far. I think I’m going to enjoy it a lot.”

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Red Sox 2025 draft tracker: Boston loads up on pitching in early rounds

Red Sox 2025 draft tracker: Boston loads up on pitching in early rounds originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

After years of targeting position players early in the MLB Draft, the Boston Red Sox are doing their best to balance out their prospect pool.

The Red Sox used three of their four selections on Day 1 of the 2025 MLB Draft on pitchers, headlined by Oklahoma right-hander Kyson Witherspoon, taken in the first round at No. 15 overall. Witherspoon is the first pitcher selected by Boston in the first round since Tanner Houck in 2017.

Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow added another arm in Round 2, selecting Tennessee righty Marcus Phillips at No. 33 overall. After landing a middle infielder — Virginia’s Henry Godbout — with the No. 75 pick, Breslow went back to the pitching well in Round 3 with LSU right-hander Anthony Eyanson (No. 87 overall).

The Red Sox’ work is far from done, as they’ll make a plethora of additional picks over 20 total rounds. Check out the chart below for a live tracker of each Red Sox draft pick, followed by more information on their top selections.

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Round 1, Pick 15: Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Oklahoma

Witherspoon, 20, was ranked seventh on Baseball America’s draft board and 10th on MLB Pipeline’s board. The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder reaches 99 mph with his fastball and also boasts three above-average secondary pitches: a slider, cutter, and curveball:

Last season for the Sooners, Witherspoon posted a 10-4 record with a 2.65 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 124 strikeouts, and 23 walks in 16 starts (95 innings).

“Kyson is a guy we valued highly entering the draft, and we believe he is one of the top college arms in the class,” Red Sox director of amateur scouting Devin Pearson said in a statement. “We think he fits in nicely with our development strengths and has the right makeup to pitch at Fenway park. We couldn’t be more excited to welcome him to Red Sox Nation.”

Round 2, Pick 33: Marcus Phillips, RHP, Tennessee

Phillips, 20, posted a 4-5 record with a 3.90 ERA in 17 starts for the Volunteers last season. The 6-foot-4, 246-pounder struck out 95 batters over 83 innings for Tennessee and boasts a mid-to-high-90s fastball that occasionally reached 100 mph.

Phillips, MLB.com’s No. 61 prospect, was a reliever for the Volunteers in 2024 and could find a major-league role as a hard-throwing bullpen arm.

Round 2, Pick 75: Henry Godbout, INF, Virginia

Godbout, 21, is a well-rounded hitter who slashed .309//397/.497 with eight home runs and 37 RBI in 50 games for the Cavaliers in 2025. He played primarily second base for Virginia last season but also has experience at shortstop and third base.

The No. 72 prospect on MLB.com’s Top 100, Godbout joins a crowded group of middle infielders in Boston’s farm system.

Round 3, Pick 87: Anthony Eyanson, RHP, LSU

Eyanson, 20, transferred from UC San Diego to LSU in 2025 and had a stellar campaign for the College World Series champion Tigers, posting a 12-2 record with a 3.00 ERA over 18 starts while striking out 152 batters over 108 innings.

Eyanson was the No. 40 prospect on MLB.com’s Top 100, which projects his ceiling as a “No. 3 starter if he can improve his fastball shape” while noting he “could wind up as a reliever who relies heavily on his breaking pitches.”

Round 4, Pick 118: Mason White, SS, Arizona

Round 5, Pick 148: Christian Foutch, RHP, Arkansas

Round 6, Pick 178: Leighton Finley, RHP, Georgia

Round 7, Pick 208: Myles Patton, LHP, Texas A&M