The Colorado Rockies brought in Josh Byrnes from the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers to become their general manager and turn around a floundering franchise.
Byrnes will team again with Paul DePodesta, who was hired Nov. 7 as the Rockies' president of baseball operations. The two joined forces in Cleveland in the 1990s, before DePodesta went to the Oakland Athletics and Byrnes joined the Rockies to work with then-GM Dan O'Dowd.
"I’m incredibly excited to be able to bring Josh into our group,” DePodesta said in a statement Wednesday. “Few executives in baseball share his combination of intellectual curiosity, breadth of experience, and on-field successes. We are extremely fortunate to add him, as he immediately strengthens our entire baseball operation.”
Byrnes joins a team coming off a third straight 100-loss season. He's fresh off winning a World Series with the Dodgers for a second straight season. He also was with the Dodgers when they won in 2020.
The 55-year-old Byrnes takes over for Bill Schmidt, who stepped down after the season and following a long tenure with the team in a variety of roles.
“I’m thrilled to be returning to the Rockies organization, especially at such an exciting time for the future of the franchise,” Byrnes said. “Working alongside Paul again is an incredible opportunity and I’m eager to join him and the rest of the group as we work to bring championship caliber baseball to the Rockies.”
Byrnes knows the NL West well having also been in the front offices with the Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Diego Padres. He broke into the business as an advanced scout in Cleveland. Byrnes was with Boston as an assistant GM when the Red Sox won the World Series in 2004.
Colorado missed the playoffs for a seventh straight season. The Rockies finished 43-119 this year as they narrowly avoided becoming the team with the worst record since the 162-game schedule started in 1961.
Among the first moves by DePodesta was the promotion of Warren Schaeffer to full-time manager. Schaeffer assumed the role on an interim basis after the Rockies fired Bud Black - the winningest manager in franchise history - in May following a 7-33 start.
Colorado boasts a young nucleus that includes All-Star catcher Hunter Goodman and shortstop Ezequiel Tovar. The team also drafted Ethan Holliday with the No. 4 pick last summer. His father, Matt, is Rockies royalty after helping spark 2007's “Rocktober” run that led to the franchise’s only World Series appearance, in which they were swept by Boston.
A chunk of Colorado's payroll is tied up in the contract of often-injured slugger Kris Bryant, who’s played in only 170 big league games since signing a $182 million, seven-year deal before the 2022 season.
CHICAGO — Anthony Kay is returning to the major leagues, agreeing to a $12 million, two-year contract with the Chicago White Sox.
The deal for the left-hander includes a mutual option for 2028, according to a person who confirmed the agreement to The Associated Press on Wednesday on condition of anonymity because it was pending a physical.
The 30-year-old Kay pitched in Japan for the past two years. He last appeared in a big league game on Oct. 1, 2023, with the New York Mets.
The White Sox finished last in the AL Central this year with a 60-102 record, but that was a 19-game improvement from the previous season. They are hoping to take another step forward in 2026 behind a promising group of young players that includes Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel and Chase Meidroth.
Kay joins a bullpen that had a 4.16 ERA and a major league-high 48 losses this year.
Kay was selected by the Mets in the first round of the 2016 amateur draft out of the University of Connecticut. He is 4-2 with a 5.59 ERA in 44 major league games, also playing for Toronto and the Chicago Cubs.
FanSided.com first reported Kay's contract with the White Sox.
It’s understandable if the Mets were frustrated withKodai Senga by the end of last season, with his slow recovery from injuries, with his need for extra rest even when healthy, with his seeming obsession over his mechanics, and with his honest-yet-eyebrow-raising admission in late September that he wasn’t in a position to help the Mets nab a Wild Card spot.
In short, to say he’s high maintenance would seem to be an understatement.
As such, the Mets have made it no secret this offseason they’re open to trading Senga, to the point where, according to The Athletic, the Japanese right-hander reached out recently to let David Stearns know he’d prefer to stay in Queens -- though a 10-team no-trade list in his contract is the only control he has over the situation.
So would the Mets benefit by moving on from Senga? I asked that question of several MLB scouts and executives this week and the consensus answer was no -- that his proven upside and relatively affordable contract make keeping him the more reasonable decision.
“He’s pitched at a high level in two different seasons,” said one scout, referring to 2023 and Senga’s pre-injury 2025. “You’d be selling low on him. You almost certainly wouldn’t get comparable value in return. He’s got the stuff to help you win a championship, so I think you have to roll the dice and hope he’s healthy when it counts most.”
That was the theme of most other responses, though a couple of people did make the case that the Mets theoretically could better spend the $30 million that Senga is owed on the remaining two years of his contract.
But even those suggestions came with disclaimers.
“If dumping his money helps them justify overpaying to keep (Edwin) Diaz or signing a top free-agent pitcher, then maybe it makes some sense,” one team exec said. “But does Steve Cohen really need to do that? If you have his financial power and you’re trying to compete with the Dodgers, you need high-end assets, and even with Senga’s injuries, I’d put him in that category.
“Now if there’s more going on behind the scenes that makes the ballclub feel he just can’t be relied on, that adds a different layer to the situation. But on the surface I can’t see how you’re a better team by trading him.”
As an aside of sorts, there was less of a consensus from the same evaluators as to how far the Mets should go to re-sign Diaz, especially after signing Devin Williams. All agreed that a Williams/Diaz combo would be a championship-worthy weapon, but there was a split on where to draw a line in negotiations for their closer, with only a couple of people willing to give him more than a four-year deal in the $20 million per year range.
“I wouldn’t go to five for $100 (million),” one exec said. “If you believe in Williams, you got a closer on a reasonable deal and you can build depth around him without that type of risky overpay (for Diaz).”
“I’d go to five (for $100 million) to build a super pen,” countered another. “I’d want the protection for Williams too. What Stearns does will probably tell you a little more about him, about how committed he is to making value judgments.”
Aug 31, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga (34) delivers a pitch against the Miami Marlins during the second inning at Citi Field. / Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
In that sense, the decision to trade or keep Senga may be revealing as well. Remember, the Japanese star was a Billy Eppler signing, a year ahead of Stearns’ arrival, and at the time there were concerns about his elbow.
To this point there is no indication the elbow has been an issue, but Senga has been sidelined by a shoulder capsule injury, as well as in-season injuries to his calf in 2024 and hamstring in 2025 that both kept him out for extended periods, and seemed to affect him when he returned to pitching -- in the ’24 postseason and the second half last season.
Still, he was in good form last season before the hamstring injury on June 12th, pitching to a 1.39 ERA over 14 starts, averaging between five and six innings per start. Senga returned a month later and showed flashes of dominance but struggled badly at times while putting up a 6.56 ERA over eight starts, and indicating at one point that he was lacking his usual leg drive.
To his credit, Senga accepted a demotion to the minors. But with the Mets desperate for pitching in late September, he essentially opted not to try to make a start.
“You always want guys to want to take the ball,” said one exec. “But you also want guys to be honest what’s going on with them, so that’s a tough situation. If I was evaluating him for my team going forward, it would be more about the injury history and the certainty. Obviously when he’s healthy he’s a guy you want on the mound.”
With that in mind, another exec pointed out that the way the Dodgers used their pitching depth to win the championship in 2025 could serve as reason enough to keep Senga.
“They had a ton of injuries to their starting rotation,” the exec said. “Look at their innings totals during the season and you’d never believe they were the champs. But they got their top guys healthy for October and that’s how they won.”
It’s true, the Dodgers had only one starter throw more than 112 innings last season, and that was Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who totaled 173.2 innings. Tyler Glasnow threw only 90 innings, while Blake Snell threw 61, Shohei Ohtani 47 and Roki Sasaki 36.
Yet all of them played important roles in the postseason.
“You can’t plan on that,” said the exec, “but when you have the Dodgers’ depth you can manage injuries with an eye on the big picture and still have the talent to reach the post-season. I don’t know if the Mets are quite there yet but with the young pitching they used late in the season, they seem to be developing the kind of depth where it would make sense to keep Senga.”
To that point, one scout noted that for all the injuries and missed time, Senga has shown he can be tough-minded when he does pitch.
“I’ve seen him make pitches to get out of trouble a bunch of times,” the scout said. “He seems to be able to set up the forkball and command it when he really needs to. So he looks like a guy you’d want pitching big games.”
The numbers bear out that observation. For his career Senga has allowed a .170 batting average against with runners in scoring position, and in 2025 that average was just .155 -- even including his poor second half performance.
All in all, then, there is plenty of reason to believe Senga could still be a difference-maker. If the Mets don’t believe he’ll stay healthy, you can understand wanting to trade him, but with a 2026 championship as the goal, they may be better off taking another shot with him.
The Boston Red Sox ended their three-year postseason drought in 2025, but they must continue bolstering their roster if they hope to be taken seriously as a World Series contender. To do so, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow should explore more major trades this winter.
Boston already made a significant splash by acquiring veteran right-hander Sonny Gray from the St. Louis Cardinals. It also added organizational depth by trading for infielder Tristan Gray and catcher Ronny Hernandez.
There are still moves to be made as we gear up for this weekend’s Winter Meetings. Regardless of your thoughts on a 36-year-old Sonny Gray at this stage of his career, the Red Sox could use another frontline starting pitcher. They also need a slugger or two, plus a second baseman to stabilize what continues to be a revolving door of a position for the club.
Fortunately for Boston, there are a handful of intriguing names who reportedly could be had for the right price. Here are five trade targets the Red Sox should inquire about this winter:
Joe Ryan, RHP, Minnesota Twins
We’ll start with the obvious. Joe Ryan is the name constantly connected to the Red Sox in trade rumors, and it’s easy to understand why.
The Red Sox reportedly pursued Ryan at the 2025 trade deadline but couldn’t get the Minnesota Twins to bite on an offer. Now would be a good time to revisit those trade talks with Minnesota potentially undergoing a rebuild.
Ryan, 29, has been rock-solid since his 2021 rookie campaign and reached a new level in 2025. The right-hander posted a career-best 3.42 ERA with a 1.035 WHIP, 194 strikeouts, and 39 walks through 171 innings (31 games) in his first All-Star season.
Under team control through 2027, adding Ryan would require a hefty trade package. That shouldn’t dissuade Breslow from aggressively pursuing an arm that would immediately earn the No. 2 spot in the rotation.
Ragans was an All-Star in 2024, when he finished fourth in the American League Cy Young voting. The soon-to-be 28-year-old amassed a 3.14 ERA and 1.14 WHIP that season with 223 strikeouts and 67 walks in 32 starts.
Injuries plagued Ragans in 2025, limiting him to only 13 starts. Don’t let the 4.67 ERA fool you, however. He posted a 2.50 FIP with 14.3 strikeouts per nine innings, so the Cy Young-caliber stuff was still there.
Like Ryan, Ragans fits the mold as a true No. 2 starter behind Garrett Crochet. He’s under team control through 2028.
Freddy Peralta, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers
Looking for a more affordable starting pitcher on the trade market? Perhaps Peralta is more your style.
Peralta, 29, has been the subject of trade rumors as he enters his contract year with Milwaukee. A trusted arm in the Brewers’ rotation since 2018, the right-hander is coming off his best season. He finished 2025 with a 2.70 ERA and 1.075 WHIP with 204 strikeouts and 66 walks in 33 starts (176.2 innings). He earned his second All-Star nod and was fifth in the National League Cy Young race.
The Red Sox need a reliable everyday second baseman. Six players spent time at the position in 2025, which is actually an improvement from the 11 who played second in 2024.
The Diamondbacks appear open to trading Marte for young pitching, and that should pique Boston’s interest. The 32-year-old has been among the game’s best hitters for the last three years, including two of his three All-Star seasons in 2024 and 2025. Last year, he slashed .283/.376/.517 with 28 homers and 72 RBI.
The D’backs signed Marte to a team-friendly six-year, $116.5 million contract last April, so it’d take a haul to acquire him. He’s worth a look if Arizona actively pursues a deal, though someone like free agent Jorge Polanco would be a more realistic option to fill the second base void.
Brendan Donovan, IF/OF, St. Louis Cardinals
Although Donovan wouldn’t be as sexy an addition as Marte, the super utility man would be a major upgrade at second base. He’d also be capable of filling in at any other infield position and both corner outfield spots.
Donovan, who turns 29 next month, has been a model of consistency for St. Louis since entering the league in 2022. You can expect 10 to 15 home runs with an OPS in the high 700s to go along with his rock-solid defense at the aforementioned positions.
Donovan is under team control through 2027. There’s a strong chance the Cardinals deal him as ex-Red Sox CBO Chaim Bloom continues to retool the roster, so Breslow should inquire about making his second big trade with St. Louis this offseason.
If the Tigers aren't willing to trade Tarik Skubal this offseason, the Mets' best bet when looking to add an impact starting pitcher via trade this offseason could be calling the Brewers about right-hander Freddy Peralta.
And after waffling on the possibility of dealing Peralta, Milwaukee is considering "cracking the door open for trade discussions," reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, who notes that interest in Peralta is "significant."
Peralta, 29, is set to make just $8 million this season in what is his final year before free agency.
The cost-conscious Brewers have made a habit of trading their most valuable players in the final year or two of their deal.
They traded pending free agent Corbin Burnes during the 2023-24 offseason and pending free agent Devin Williams last offseason. At the 2022 trade deadline, the Brewers dealt Josh Hader to the Padres when he still had a year and change of team control remaining.
So Peralta getting moved this offseason would keep with the above philosophy.
For the Mets, Peralta would be a perfect fit atop a rotation that is expected to include Nolan McLean, Clay Holmes, Sean Manaea, and David Peterson.
Oct 4, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Freddy Peralta (51) pitches against the Chicago Cubs during the second inning of game one of the NLDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at American Family Field. / Michael McLoone - Imagn Images
It's unclear what the Brewers would want in exchange for Peralta, but it's fair to believe they would want at least one of New York's highly thought of young starters -- Brandon Sproat or Jonah Tong -- as part of a deal.
Peralta is coming off a phenomenal 2025 season, where he had a career-best 2.70 ERA in 176.2 innings. He posted a 1.07 WHIP, allowed just 124 hits, and struck out 204 batters -- a rate of 10.4 per nine.
Since transitioning in 2021 from mainly a relief option to the starting rotation, Peralta has been one of the best pitchers in baseball. In 139 starts over the last five years, Peralta has a 3.30 ERA and 1.09 WHIP and has fanned 895 batters in 738.1 innings while allowing just 536 hits. He has also been reliable when it comes to taking the ball, tossing 165.2 innings or more reach of the last three seasons.
His ability to miss bats and limit hits is elite, as is his stuff.
Peralta relies mainly on a four-seam fastball (which he threw 53 percent of the time this past season), a changeup, and a curve. He'll also mix in a slider.
In 2025, his pitching run value graded out in the 97th percentile, via Baseball Savant. And all of his individual pitches were tremendous -- the fastball was in the 84th percentile, the breaking balls were in the 88th percentile, and the changeup was in the 96th percentile. Looking at Peralta's advanced metrics, he was near the top of the league in xERA, xBA, average exit velocity, whiff percentage, strikeout percentage, hard hit percentage, and extension.
If the Mets don't land Peralta, other possibilities on the trade market include Joe Ryan and Pablo Lopez of the Twins, Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera of the Marlins, and MacKenzie Gore of the Nationals.
SNY's Joe DeMayo answers your Mets prospect questions...
What is your opinion of Elian Peña and what are the chances he is a phenom who could make the major leagues by 20? - @JeopardyJesseC on X
I, and more importantly, the Mets, are incredibly high on Peña, who ranked as the No. 9 prospect in the Mets system in my latest update.
After signing with the Mets for a franchise record $5 million in January, Peña started his pro career in an 0-26 stretch in the Dominican Summer League.
In the remaining 46 games, Peña looked a lot more like the player they thought they were getting. He hit .341/.463/618 (1.081 OPS) with 13 doubles, a triple, nine home runs, 32 RBI, 18 stolen bases and walked more (33) than he struck out (29). He also had two separate three-home run games.
From a tools standpoint, Peña possesses strong bat-to-ball skills with a compact, quick swing and an advanced knowledge of the strike zone. This even dates to prior to him turning professional at either showcases or even in batting practice, where he would refuse to swing at pitches he deemed outside the zone as not to make a habit out of it.
From a power perspective, scouts project him to be above average with a chance for more as he physically matures. There have been public comparisons to multi-time All-Star Rafael Devers.
Peña may have the highest upside of any prospect in the Mets system, and it would not shock me if he cracked top 100 prospect lists in the next 12 months.
Despite that, making the big leagues at 20 years old might be a tall ask. Peña will be 18 years old for the entirety of the 2026 season, where he will come stateside and either play for the Florida Complex League Mets or go straight to Low-A St. Lucie. To make it to the major leagues by 20, he would need to rise through every minor league level in just two years.
Could it happen? I try not to rule anything out, and if there is a prospect who could do it, Peña might be the one. I just think that is an aggressive timeline and leaves little room for error and development. He is an exciting prospect, and it could be a quicker ascent than your typical international free agent signing -- just maybe not to the big leagues in two years.
Could A.J. Ewing make a huge jump on prospect lists this year? - @JahrellC on X
Absolutely. Ewing was the biggest riser in the Mets organization in the calendar year 2025. He just missed making the preseason top 30 list and climbed all the way to No. 6 in my most recent ranking.
In 124 games split between three levels, reaching Double-A, Ewing hit .315/.401/.429 (.830 OPS) with 26 doubles, 10 triples, three home runs and 70 stolen bases.
His offensive profile is tailored to bat-to-ball and limiting swing-and-miss. There was a point in the season when I wondered if Ewing would finish with more stolen bases than strikeouts.
He's currently spraying line drives and utilizing his legs on balls into the gaps. The next step in his development will be adding strength and impacting the baseball more.
As the Mets' farm system continues to grow into one of the best in baseball, Ewing is a prospect who likely will land just outside of top 100 lists when the major publications update those.
If Ewing can improve upon what he did in 2025, I suspect he will find his way into those top 100 lists. And as some prospects graduate from the Mets list, he could find himself very high in a midseason update.
They could also go internal in left and fill center from outside the organization.
Let's break it down...
The Internal Candidates
Before the Nimmo trade, president of baseball operationsDavid Stearns was touting prospectCarson Benge, noting that he would enter spring training with a chance to win the starting center field job.
While Benge might be a better long-term solution in a corner outfield spot, he could obviously be a fit in center to start the 2026 campaign if his bat is deemed ready.
After dominating Double-A Binghamton last season to the tune of a .317/.407/.571 triple slash in 32 games, Benge struggled after being promoted to Triple-A Syracuse -- posting a .583 OPS. He caught fire over the last week of the season, though, reaching base 12 times in his final 31 plate appearances of the season while belting a pair of home runs, a double, and a triple.
/ SNY
If the Mets go internal in center and Benge isn't ready (or they use him in left field instead), they could theoretically go defense-first and hand the job to Tyrone Taylor.
Taylor's bat was an issue in 2025, as he put up an OPS+ of just 70 after being about average in 2024 (OPS+ of 98). But his defense remained elite. He was worth three Outs Above Average (in the 84th percentile), had an arm value that graded out in the 98th percentile, and his arm strength was also terrific (82nd percentile).
It stands to reason that if the Mets use Taylor as the starting center fielder, they will have upgraded the offense in multiple other spots in order to counterbalance the possible minimal offensive production from center.
Jett Williams could also be in the mix as an internal option, though it seemed notable that Stearns did not mention him as an Opening Day possibility while discussing Benge's chances of breaking camp.
That means it's fair to believe Williams wouldn't be viewed as an answer from the jump.
There's also the possibility Williams is traded this offseason, especially now that his potential long-term home of second base is blocked by Semien.
The External Candidates
If the Mets go the free agent route for a center fielder, the most obvious fit could be Harrison Bader.
Bader had a very good year at the plate for the Twins and Phillies in 2025, hitting .277/.347/.449 with 17 home runs and 24 doubles in 146 games. He was especially strong for Philadelphia down the stretch after being acquired at the trade deadline, posting an .824 OPS in 50 games. He was also elite defensively, worth seven Outs Above Average (in the 92nd percentile).
For the Mets, a reunion with Bader would give them a center fielder with pop and likely result in Taylor being a fourth outfielder -- a role he's better suited for than starting.
Another option could be signing Cody Bellinger and using him in center field until Benge is deemed ready. But that would seemingly leave left field unsettled.
There are also two very intriguing trade possibilities.
Jul 18, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Chicago White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. (88) hits a solo home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fourth inning at PNC Park. / Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Luis Robert Jr., whom the Mets had interest in acquiring at last season's trade deadline, is available again. This time around, the White Sox -- who are in a deep rebuild -- are expected to deal him.
The 28-year-old will earn $20 million in 2026 and has a club option for $20 million for 2027. That means the Mets can easily move on if he doesn't succeed, or easily retain him at a reasonable cost if he excels.
Robert emerged as one of the best young players in baseball in 2023, posting an .857 OPS and blasting 38 homers in a career-high 145 games. But it's been a struggle for him at the plate since -- he had a .657 OPS in 2024 and .661 OPS in 2025.
The tools, including elite bat speed and an ability to use his plus speed to swipe bases (he had 33 last season) are still there, though. And Robert turned a corner offensively in the second half of the 2025 campaign, slashing .297/.350/.469 in 35 games. But his season ended in late August after he suffered a hamstring strain.
Twins star Byron Buxton is also reportedly available, but his situation is complicated.
Buxton has a full no-trade clause, meaning he can veto a trade to any team.
He's also struggled to stay on the field, playing 100 or more games just three times during his 11-year career -- that includes 126 games last season and 102 in 2024.
When healthy, Buxton is among the most dangerous hitters in baseball and a tremendous defensive center fielder, making him a tantalizing option.
Dundee United are winless in their last 11 league meetings with Rangers (D3 L8) since a 1-0 victory in August 2021.
Rangers have won each of their last three league visits to Dundee United, last winning more in a row in August 2003 (run of five).
Dundee United have kept just one clean sheet in their last nine home league games (W3 D1 L5), doing so in a 2-0 win over Aberdeen in September.
Rangers remain unbeaten in their last 17 away league games (W8 D9), their longest run since May 2021, when they went 21 without losing on the road – a run which was ended by Dundee United in August 2021.
Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin remains winless in 16 Scottish Premiership games against Rangers as a manager (D2 L14) – the only side he has faced more than twice in the competition without yet winning.
With a no-trade clause in his pocket, it was an immediate yes for Sonny Gray when he found out the Cardinals were dealing him to the Red Sox this offseason.
There were a number of factors that played into the veteran right-hander’s decision to okay the deal, and one of them is the heated rivalry with the Yankees.
Gray, of course, had a stint to forget after being dealt to the Bronx from the Athletics ahead of the 2017 deadline.
While he’s grateful for how those struggles helped him grow both on and off the field, he’s extremely excited to team up with one of their most-hated foes this season.
“It feels good to go to a place where it’s easy to hate the Yankees,” he said. “It’s easy to go out and have that rivalry, and go in full-force, just full steam ahead -- I like the challenge, I appreciate the challenge, I accept the challenge.”
Gray admitted that he never wanted to be dealt to the Big Apple in the first place, and while he was there, he simply felt that he couldn't be himself.
The 35-year-old ended up being traded to the Reds during the 2019 offseason, and after fighting through some early-season struggles, was able to regain his dominant form, putting together his second All-Star appearance.
He lasted for three years in Cincy, then enjoyed a two-year stint in Minnesota, and spent the past two seasons with the Cardinals before being dealt to the Sox.
Though there’s some concern about him back under the bright lights with a big market club, Gray is confident Boston will be the perfect fit for him this time around.
“I followed along last year," he said. "I felt like it would be a good situation, because I’ve always said I wanted to go to a market that is super competitive, a big market that wants to win -- I know I can thrive in that situation.
“I've wanted another opportunity to prove to myself and just go and be myself, and Boston checked all of the boxes -- it’s a situation that works for me and one that I'm comfortable in, that's what's important for me.”
Another notable starting pitching option is off the market for the Giants in MLB free agency.
Right-hander Cody Ponce, who has spent the last four years playing overseas and won the 2025 KBO MVP, reportedly has agreed to a three-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays worth $30 million.
San Francisco reportedly was “involved” in talks for Ponce, but his price tag ended up being too steep, The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly reported Tuesday.
The 31-year-old Ponce has 20 games of MLB experience, pitching to a 5.86 ERA for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2020 and 2021 before spending the next three seasons in Japan. He then moved to the Hanwha Eagles of the KBO in 2025, when he went 17-1 with a 1.89 ERA across 29 starts en route to winning the Choi Dong-won Award — given to the league’s top starting pitcher.
The former second-round pick in the 2015 MLB Draft has Bay Area connections; he is married to 49ers tight end George Kittle’s sister Emma.
Ponce’s signing comes a day after Baggarly reported the Giants “do not anticipate” signing star Japanese righty Tatsuya Imai this offseason. The three-time NPB All-Star is expected to earn a contract worth over $100 million after being posted last month by the Saitama Seibu Lions.
The Blue Jays also already added another big-name free-agent starter, signing Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million contract last week.
However, even with those names off the board for San Francisco, Buster Posey and the Giants’ front office still have options in the starting pitching market — namely Chris Bassitt and Max Scherzer, who both pitched for Toronto’s AL pennant-winning roster in 2025.
On the latest episode of The Mets Pod presented by Tri-State Cadillac, Connor Rogers and Joe DeMayo react to the news that the Mets agreed to a deal with reliever Devin Williams, while delivering a full preview of next week’s MLB Winter Meetings.
First up, the guys look at the deal for Williams, including what it means for the Mets and the future of Edwin Diaz.
Later, Connor and Joe dive into stories of friction in the Mets clubhouse, explore trade scenarios surrounding Kodai Senga, break down deals for Dylan Cease and Ryan Helsley, and go Down on the Farm in search of more relief help.
The show wraps up with a Mailbag featuring questions about Tatsuya Imai, Juan Soto as DH, Luisangel Acuña, and more.
Be sure to subscribe to The Mets Pod at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
When the Rangers best defenseman Adam Fox was crushed by Brandon Hagel during the Tampa Bay victory over New York, no member of the home team went after Hagel.
Veteran hockey writer Al Greenberg – watching from The Garden press box – told me that he was disappointed that not a single revengeful move was made.
It was interpreted by Greenberg – and many others – that the non-reaction was a signal that the Rangers lack toughness. But upon further review, no retaliation was in order because the Hagel hit is the kind sanctioned by the National Hockey League.
Because it was completely and eminently legal; a perfect hit, as a matter of fact.
It was the kind of clean bodycheck that historic Rangers defensemen such as Bill Juzda, Bill
Moe, and Bill Gadsby – right up to Ryan Lindgren and Jacob Trouba – have delivered.
How can anyone take issue with Hagel?
1. His stick was down.
2. He made contact with good posture.
3. He finished through the hands and arms.
4. It was well-executed just as you'd find in a reputable hockey manual.
5. If a hit is to be finished; Hagel showed how.
Too often, clean hits that do damage to a foe inspire retaliation no matter what because of emotion not reason. One veteran Rangers fan I know insisted that – in his eyes – legal hit or not, didn't matter to him. "Get back at Hagel" was his theme.
As for those who claim the Rangers are too soft, Sam Carrick has proven otherwise as well as Will Cuylle – plus Matt Rempe when he eventually returns.
Super scout Jess Rubenstein studies the Rangers as intensely as anyone I know. When The Maven asks him if the Rangers lack toughness, his response intrigues me.
"It's not a lack of toughness," says Rubenstein, "they are emotionally fragile!"
“For teams that are in the market for high-end starting pitching and willing to deal big league talent to get it, the Royals represent one of the most interesting potential trade partners of the offseason,” Speier wrote. “Kansas City isn’t hiding its willingness to deal a rotation member for an outfielder. ‘Our starting pitching, we have some depth there,’ said Royals general manager J.J. Piccolo. ‘A lot of teams are looking for starting pitching, so if we have what they may be interested in, and they have an outfielder that would be of interest, then there’s potentially the opportunity to make a deal.’
“Is anyone, including left-hander Cole Ragans, off limits? ‘I wouldn’t say off limits,’ said Piccolo, who noted that the Royals were reluctant to deal either Seth Lugo or Michael Wacha after the two veteran right-handers committed to them via free agency. ‘There would have to be a really big return for one (starter) in particular.’
“That starter, of course, is Ragans. Though the Royals would prefer a right-handed-hitting outfielder, they won’t be tethered to the notion — making their considerable interest in Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran at the trade deadline notable.”
While it’s up for debate whether the 36-year-old Gray could be Boston’s No. 2 starter behind Garrett Crochet, Ragans has ace upside. The soon-to-be 28-year-old placed fourth in the 2024 American League Cy Young vote, finishing with a 3.14 ERA and an AL-best 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings. He’s under team control through 2028 after signing a bargain $13.25 million contract extension last year.
That said, there are injury concerns. Ragans missed time last season with groin and rotator cuff ailments, limiting him to only 13 starts (61.1 innings pitched). He posted a 4.67 ERA, though his 2.50 FIP and 14.3 K/9 suggest he still had his Cy Young-caliber stuff.
A first-round draft pick by the Texas Rangers in 2016, Ragans has undergone two Tommy John surgeries — the first in March 2018 and the second in May 2019. His 2024 All-Star campaign marked the only full season in his four-year MLB career.
It would almost certainly take more than just Duran to pry Ragans from the Royals. Similar to last offseason’s Garrett Crochet blockbuster, multiple top prospects would likely have to be involved. Slugging outfielder Jhostynxon “The Password” Garcia, left-hander Connelly Early, and southpaw Payton Tolle are among the Red Sox prospects who could entice Kansas City.
With the Crochet and Gray deals, Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has proven willing to part ways with promising prospects in exchange for a “win-now” arm. If Ragans is truly on the trade block, Breslow shouldn’t shy away from making another big splash to upgrade Boston’s rotation from good to great.
With Ragans in the mix, the Red Sox’ rotation would look something like this:
Garrett Crochet, LHP
Cole Ragans, LHP
Sonny Gray, RHP
Brayan Bello, RHP
Kutter Crawford, RHP
Other possible contributors include Connelly Early, Patrick Sandoval, Payton Tolle, and Hunter Dobbins.
That’s a potentially elite rotation, especially if Bello can build off the best season of his young career. The No. 5 spot would remain a question mark, but that 1-4 could match up against most starting staffs in MLB.
Ragans should be a top trade target for Breslow and the Red Sox. The free-agent market for starting pitching is underwhelming — even more so now that Dylan Cease signed a mega deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. Adding Ragans to the mix and signing a slugger or two would point Boston toward contention again in 2026.
“It feels good to me to go to a place now where, you know what, it’s easy to hate the Yankees, right?” Gray said. “It’s easy to go out and have that rivalry and go in it with full force, full steam ahead.”
As you might expect, there’s context here. The Oakland Athletics dealt Gray to New York at the 2017 MLB trade deadline, and he never really adjusted to the move. While Gray posted a respectable 3.72 ERA (albeit with a 1.255 WHIP) in 11 starts down the stretch of the 2017 season with the Yankees, he regressed significantly in 2018 to the tune of a 4.90 ERA and 1.496 ERA in 30 appearances.
In fact, Gray struggled so much in pinstripes that New York demoted him to the bullpen in August of 2018 while giving his rotation spot to Lance Lynn. Five months later, the Yankees traded Gray to Cincinnati, where he immediately rebounded and became an All-Star for the Reds in 2019.
“It just wasn’t a good situation for me,” Gray said of playing for the Yankees. “It wasn’t a great setup for me and my family. I never wanted to go there in the first place.
“When that was happening, and we were in Oakland and getting traded — that was a long time ago — I never wanted to go there. So then I was there, and it just didn’t really work for who I am.
” … I just wasn’t myself. I just didn’t feel like I was allowed to go out there and be Sonny.”
Newest Red Sox Sonny Gray on his time with the Yankees:
Now, Gray finds himself on the other side of the rivalry, where he’ll face New York 13 times this upcoming season as a member of the rival Red Sox. And considering Gray’s rough stats at Yankee Stadium — he owns a 6.06 ERA and 1.644 WHIP over 101 career innings in New York — it’s fair to wonder how he’ll fare in the pressure cooker that is the Bronx.
But Gray says he’s stronger now after that rough stint in New York.
“I do appreciate my time there, because … I do feel like the last seven years of my career, my life and everything has been better,” Gray said. “I’ve been a better baseball player, husband, everything from having that experience and going through that.
” … I like the challenge, I appreciate the challenge, I accept the challenge. But this time around, it’s just go out and be yourself.”
The Red Sox’ first series against the Yankees in 2026 begins on April 21, and here’s hoping Gray takes the hill so he can play the villain role vs. New York.
