Category: Baseball

Jeff Kent will finally have a permanent home in Cooperstown.

The longtime infielder, who spent five seasons with the Mets during the mid-1990s, earned induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday via the Contemporary Baseball Era committee ballot.

The magic number for enshrinement was 12 votes from the 16-person group -- a mark of 75 percent that's also required for candidates on the annual BBWAA ballot -- and of the eight players under consideration, only Kent earned enough support (14 votes).

Kent's election was long overdue in the eyes of many voters and fans. He hit 351 of his 377 home runs as a second baseman, making him baseball's all-time leader at the position. He also collected 2,461 hits across 17 seasons, and 510 of them came in a Mets uniform.

In his 10th and final year on the BBWAA ballot (2023), Kent earned a personal-best 46.5 percent of the vote.

Among the Contemporary Era candidates who fell short was Don Mattingly, and his hopes of receiving a plaque in the Hall of Fame will once again linger for a few more years.

The former Yankees capatin was denied entry for a 19th time on Sunday, as he fell six votes shy on the ballot.

Mattingly's next crack at the Hall of Fame will come in 2028, when the Contemporary Era committee votes again. But the latest results reaffirm the chances of him achieving the feat are rather slim. 

In spite of collecting 2,153 hits, nine Gold Gloves, and one AL MVP award across 14 seasons (1982-95), Mattingly never came remotely close to crossing the 75-percent threshold in 15 years on the BBWAA ballot. He topped out at 28.2 percent in 2001, his first year as a candidate.

Interestingly enough, Mattingly received less 2025 support than another former New York first baseman in contention. Carlos Delgado, who slugged his way through four 2000s seasons with the Mets, finished with a second-best nine votes on the Contemporary Era ballot.

Delgado received an insufficent 3.8 percent of the 2015 BBWAA vote -- his first year in the running -- which disqualified him from future ballots. Nevertheless, he was one of baseball's most feared sluggers during the Steroid Era, as he smacked 473 homers and 483 doubles (2,035 totals hits) in 17 seasons.

Baseball icons Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Dale Murphy, Gary Sheffield, and Fernando Valenzuela were the other six players denied Hall of Fame honors on Sunday.

A Chavez Ravine dream was yet again dashed on Sunday.

Fernando Valenzuela was once more denied induction to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Fourteen months removed from his death at the age of 63 in October 2024, and 27 years removed from the end of a pitching career measured by more than just wins, losses and ERA, Valenzuela failed to be elected for the 2026 Hall of Fame class by the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee — a 16-person group that once every three years considers players from the 1980s or later who had not been elected to the Hall through the traditional media vote.

Needing 12 votes from that committee to attain Hall of Fame status, Valenzuela instead came up short by receiving fewer than five.

Read more:Shaikin: It's past time to elect Fernando Valenzuela to the Hall of Fame

Because Valenzuela didn’t receive five votes, he will be ineligible to be back on the Contemporary Era Committee’s ballot in 2028. The next time the committee could review his case won’t be until 2031.

Until then, his name will remain among the most notable snubs from Hall of Fame induction.

In his first year of traditional Hall of Fame voting eligibility in 2003, Valenzuela received just 6.2% of the writers’ vote, far from the 75% threshold required for election. In 2004, his name fell off the ballot after garnering a vote total of just 3.8%.

The problem then was that Valenzuela did not boast typical Hall of Fame numbers. Though he was a six-time All-Star, a Cy Young and rookie of the year award winner in 1981, and World Series hero in the Dodgers’ championship run that season, the left-hander posted only a 3.54 ERA in his 17-year, 173-win, 2,074-strikeout career, and amassed only 37.3 wins above replacement according to Baseball Reference.

Of the other 90 pitchers in the Hall of Fame, only one fellow modern-era inductee (Jesse Haines) had a career WAR below 40.0 and a career ERA above 3.50 (excluding players from the Negro Leagues).

Valenzuela’s impact, however, was defined far more than by just production and statistics — seemingly epitomizing the Hall's motto of “preserving history, honoring excellence, connecting generations” with a career that changed the popularity of both the Dodgers and the sport.

Ever since his historic “Fernandomania” rookie season in 1981 — which started with eight consecutive victories for the then-20-year-old southpaw, and ended with his Cy Young, rookie of the year and World Series honors — the Mexican-born hurler had been an enduring cultural icon.

Valenzuela’s success greatly expanded baseball’s reach in Mexico and Latin America. His celebrity fueled a boom in Dodgers fandom, especially among Los Angeles’ Hispanic base.

This winter, hopes of that legacy being recognized in Cooperstown were rekindled when Valenzuela was named as one of eight finalists to be considered by the Hall of Fame’s Contemporary Era Committee.

He joined a group that also had Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Carlos Delgado, Jeff Kent, Don Mattingly, Dale Murphy and Gary Sheffield — all of whom were evaluated by a 16-person panel made of former Hall of Fame inductees, former general managers, writers and a statistician, plus two current MLB owners (one of them, Arte Moreno of Angels).

In the end, only Kent (a former MVP and five-time All-Star who spent the final four years of his career with the Dodgers) received enough votes to earn a Hall of Fame election.

Bonds, Clemens and Sheffield joined Valenzuela among those to receive fewer than five votes.

Though Valenzuela never quite recaptured the heights of that singular 1981 campaign, he remained a celebrated and uniting figure over the rest of his 11-year Dodgers career, as well as in stops with the Angels and San Diego Padres, among others, over the back half of his playing days.

Read more:World Series hero Miguel Rojas agrees to return to Dodgers on one-year deal

And since he first dropped off the traditional Hall of Fame ballot 21 years ago, there has been a persistent push from many in the baseball community — and especially the Dodgers’ fan base — to get Valenzuela into Cooperstown.

In 2023, the Dodgers even broke their unofficial rule of retiring only the numbers of the club’s Hall of Fame players, adding Valenzuela’s No. 34 to its ring of honor in a long-overdue celebration.

But for now, that will remain the most recognizable honor of Valenzuela’s contribution to the sport.

Once again, a doorway to Hall of Fame induction has been closed.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Jeff Kent avoids joining Barry Bonds Hall of Fame debate after earning own nod originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Former Giants star second baseman Jeff Kent finally earned a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday after being elected by the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee.

However, his longtime teammate in San Francisco, Barry Bonds, again failed to garner enough support to make it to Cooperstown.

Now that Kent is set to be enshrined in the Hall, what does he think of Bonds’ controversial case to have the same honor? The 2000 NL MVP was asked that very question shortly after Sunday’s announcement.

“Barry was a good teammate of mine,” Kent told reporters. “He was a guy that I motivated and pushed — we knocked heads a little bit. He was a guy that motivated me, at times in frustration, in love at times. …

“I don’t think I ever saw a better player play the game overall. Everything that he did, every phase of the game, maybe other than throwing, I don’t know if Barry had such a great arm. But every phase of the game, Barry was one of the best players I ever saw play the game. Amazing. So for me, I’ve always said that.

“I’ve always avoided the specific answer you’re looking for because I don’t have one. I don’t. I’m not a voter, but I can say that he was a teammate that helped me. I believe I helped him. I believe he was one of the best baseball players I ever saw. You know, if you’re talking about moral code and all that, I’m not a voter, and I’m trying to stay away from all of that the best I can because I really don’t have an opinion.

“I’ve left it. It doesn’t matter to me anymore. And I know he’s been argued amongst a lot of baseball elites about if he ought to be in or not, and, you know, keep having that argument. And, you know, you argue through it, and if he’s not, he’s not, and if he is, he is. And it’s not going to matter to me one way or the other.”

Bonds’ Hall of Fame debate long has been a topic among baseball media and fans, and Sunday’s setback certainly reignited that discussion online. But Kent still opted not to take a side even after his own election.

Nevertheless, it’s understandable that Kent doesn’t feel the need to add much to the conversation; after all, he likely is asked about Bonds all the time, and the two have a rather complicated history between them.

Bonds now will have to wait until 2031 to be reconsidered for the Hall of Fame, so the debate will have to continue for a few more years before there’s any resolution.

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Barry Bonds' snub from Hall of Fame sparks disgruntled social media reactions originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Social media was sent into a frenzy on Sunday night after MLB announced the shocking results of the Hall of Fame Contemporary Baseball Era ballot.

To the surprise of many, the results revealed that Giants icon Jeff Kent is the lone name bound for Cooperstown in July, while his former teammate and San Francisco great Barry Bonds — and six others — didn’t make the cut.

Here are the votes in full detail, followed by some interesting social media posts about Bonds enduring exclusion once again.

Giants legend Jeff Kent elected to Hall of Fame; Barry Bonds snubbed again originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

ORLANDO — One of the most feared sluggers to ever wear orange and black was elected to the Hall of Fame on Sunday, but it wasn’t the one whose case has been discussed most often over the past couple of decades. 

In a bit of a surprise, Jeff Kent, the all-time leader in homers by a second baseman, was elected by the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee on Sunday. Kent was on the ballot with former teammate Barry Bonds, who failed to receive enough support and will have to wait a few years longer for another shot. 

Kent was the only one of eight players on the ballot to receive more than the 12 votes necessary. He had support from 14 of 16 voters and was the only player in double-digits. Bonds received fewer than five votes, the Hall of Fame announced, so he will not be eligible for the committee again until 2031.

Bonds and Kent reached the committee after falling short on the traditional BBWAA ballot. In his 10 years on that ballot, Bonds maxed out at 66 percent, short of the 75 percent required for induction. Kent reached 46.5 percent in 2023, his final year on that ballot, but got in during his first time being judged by a committee.

“I gave no thought to it,” Kent said on MLB Network. “This is overwhelming. Overwhelming … It’s a moment of satisfaction of the things that I did right in my career and the things that I consistently stuck to, the hard work, the gratification that you get from playing the game the right way. I loved the game, I loved the game, and still do.”

Kent will become the 62nd player in the Hall of Fame who has worn a Giants uniform. He said on MLB Network that he will go in as a Giant, noting that his best years came with Dusty Baker and he reached the World Series in San Francisco. 

“I want to congratulate Jeff on his well-deserved induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame,” Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey said in a statement. “Jeff’s competitive fire, leadership, and production anchored so many great Giants teams, and his legacy is firmly cemented in our franchise’s history. We’re incredibly proud to see him honored among the all-time greats.”

While Kent rarely is seen around Oracle Park these days, Bonds is a regular, often helping current Giants in the cage before batting practice and providing guidance in the clubhouse. He does not speak often about his Hall of Fame status, but at times over the years — most notably at Willie McCovey’s 80th birthday party — it has been clear what the honor would mean. 

Many in the BBWAA stubbornly held firm on Bonds, Roger Clemens and others who fell off the traditional ballot due to PED connections, but by any statistical measure, Bonds’ induction is a no-brainer. On stats alone, he would have gotten in when first eligible a dozen years ago. 

Kent’s case has been fascinating, and it was a bit surprising that he failed to gain any traction in his 10 years on the ballot. A five-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger Award winner, Kent is one of the best-hitting middle infielders in MLB history. He won the 2000 MVP Award after hitting 33 homers and driving in 125 runs, and he finished his career with 377 homers, 2,461 hits, and 55.4 Wins Above Replacement. 

Kent ranks 22nd all-time in WAR among second basemen, and 13 of the men ahead of him are already in Cooperstown. He ranks first in homers as a second baseman and third in RBI. 

This year’s Contemporary Baseball Era Committee was made up of seven Hall of Famers (including Juan Marichal), six current or former executives, and three veteran members of the media. The group met on Sunday to discuss the six position players and two pitchers on the ballot. 

While Kent can now celebrate, Bonds is running out of time. Starting this year, any candidate who does not receive at least five of 16 votes in multiple appearances on an Era Committee ballot will not be eligible for future consideration. Bonds might have just one more shot at Cooperstown, and it won’t come for years.

Next year’s round should also be kind to the Giants, as it will consider managers, executives and umpires. Bruce Bochy, Baker and Brian Sabean all could be under consideration next December to be part of the 2027 Hall of Fame class. Bochy and Baker, in particular, are considered near-locks to get inducted. 

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The Yankees' offseason, so far, has been uneventful.

Aside from some minor signings, and one big qualifying offer being accepted, New York has yet to fill out its roster to try to get back to the World Series. While division rivals like the Red Sox and Blue Jays have already made big splashes, Yankees GM Brian Cashman is seemingly biding his time. While the team's needs and priorities are very obvious, the Yankees enter the MLB Winter Meetings with a lot of questions and even more work to do.

Here's a checklist of what the Yankees need to do this week during the Winter Meetings in Orlando...

Bring Cody Bellinger back

The biggest offseason move the Yankees need to make is to re-sign Bellinger. Cashman got a steal when he made the trade with the Cubs last offseason to bring the former NL MVP to The Bronx. Bellinger had one of his best seasons as a pro and helped the Yankees lengthen the lineup and shore up the defense in the outfield. He won games single-handedly with his defense alone this past season and has proven that he's perfect for the pinstripes. 

It's clear Bellinger is Cashman's priority this offseason, just as Juan Soto was a year ago. And while that pursuit didn't pan out, Cashman can't possibly allow Bellinger not to return, especially when teams like the Dodgers and Mets are vying for his services.

It won't be easy, Bellinger — who is represented by Scott Boras — will look to have a lucrative multi-year deal and the Yankees may have to go further than they otherwise might be comfortable with; that's how important Bellinger is to the 2026 Yankees. Aaron Judge and Trent Grisham can't be the only veterans in the outfield next season while they try to capture lightning in a bottle with Jasson Dominguez or Spencer Jones. 

Enact Plan B if Bellinger leaves

This offseason is becoming eerily similar to last year. Soto took the money to go to the Mets and Cashman had to pivot, and pivot he did.

Cashman traded for Bellinger and Devin Williams while signing Max Fried. The GM's moves worked and helped the Yankees tie the Blue Jays for the best record in the American League. Now, what could Cashman do for an encore?

If the Yankees can't re-sign Bellinger, Cashman needs to be ready to enact his Plan B. Whether that's signing Kyle Tucker or trading for an outfielder like Steven Kwan, the longtime GM has to show the fans that if Bellinger doesn't come back, the outfield will be just fine. 

Cashman has to be creative; he's done it before, and he may need to do it again. Hopefully, he's prepared.

Fill out the bullpen

Two moves the Yankees have made this offseason are re-signing Ryan Yarbrough and picking up Tim Hill's option, which helps fill holes in the bullpen, but there's still work to be done. 

Devin Williams is gone and Luke Weaver is still a free agent. Cashman and the organization have been great at creating a bullpen in the past and I expect this year to be the same. Perhaps a reunion with Weaver is on the way, or signing former Padres closer Robert Suarez to pair with David Bednar is a possibility. And, who knows, perhaps a trade could happen in the same way Williams was acquired. 

Figuring out the outfield is the priority for the Yankees, but finishing up the bullpen is second on the list and Cashman needs to address it soon.

Get greedy and sign a starter

The Yankees' starting rotation is set ... when it's healthy.

Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon will miss the start of the 2026 season, but they will be back. But there may be questions about their effectiveness when they do return. Cashman and the Yankees also have to wonder if they can fully trust the trio of Luis Gil, Will Warren and Cam Schlittler for another season. 

The Yankees can give themselves some comfort by splurging on another starter either in free agency or via trade. 

There are some intriguing buy-low, reclamation projects like Zac Gallen or Merrill Kelly who can shore up the back of the rotation. Miami has controllable starters like Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera that can be traded for as well. The rotation is definitely low on the list of priorities for the Yankees, but with so many question marks, it can't hurt to have as many starters as possible and if Cashman brings one in, the younger arms become trade pieces for the aforementioned outfielder.

Dispel all payroll questions

Heading into the Winter Meetings, there's been a lot of chatter about the Yankees' 2026 payroll and whether or not Hal Steinbrenner is willing to go over $300 million, including comments from Steinbrenner himself. They currently sit at around $283.6 million (after taxes), so there's not a lot of wiggle room for the Yankees if they hope to improve their team. 

I find it hard to believe the Yankees would operate below $300 million, so Cashman could show the baseball world — and Yankees fans — that they are ready to spend this offseason by signing a Bellinger or a handful of names. Not to rush the process, but leaving the Winter Meetings without a deal done would not quell fears. It'll be even worse if targets like Bellinger and Tucker sign elsewhere.

The Mets have already made two bold moves this offseason -- trading Brandon Nimmo to the Rangers for Marcus Semien and signing Devin Williams to bolster the back end of the bullpen.

With New York looking to rebound following a season with sky high expectations that ended with them missing the playoffs, expect more boldness -- especially with now seeming like the right time to trade some of the team's top prospects if the right impact player is available.

Here's what the Mets' checklist should be as David Stearns and Co. attend the MLB Winter Meetings this week in Orlando...

Re-sign Edwin Diaz

I said it right after the 2025 season ended, and nothing has changed. Re-signing Diaz should be the easiest decision the Mets make this offseason. 

With Williams on board, the team has added a usually lights-out reliever whose relatively down 2025 campaign feels like an aberration -- with that belief bolstered by Williams' underlying numbers and the fact that his changeup remained one of the most dominant pitches in the sport.

But Williams should be part one of two, and the endgame has him serving as the setup man and handing the ball to Diaz to close things out.

Much has been made of the Nimmo trade, and how it could be a sign that Stearns isn't sentimental when it comes to retaining fan favorites. But bringing Diaz back wouldn't be about pleasing the fan base. It would simply be the right baseball move for a team that is trying to win the World Series. 

New York indicated after signing Williams that they remain interested in bringing Diaz back, and they have to know that it will take at least four years to get it done. So their willingness to signal their continued interest in Diaz after inking Williams suggests they'll eventually be comfortable going to four years.

The big question, then, is whether any team is willing to offer Diaz a five-year contract, and if the Mets would match it. Taking all of the reporting into account, it doesn't seem like it will be the Dodgers, Yankees, or Red Sox who go long for Diaz. It could be the Blue Jays, but reports have connected them more to the relievers a tier below Diaz. Toronto is also in on Kyle Tucker, and is trying to re-sign Bo Bichette.

All of this points to a sensible resolution between the Mets and Diaz, who has been clear about his desire to stay. If some team does offer five years, perhaps the Mets can strike a balance by upping the average annual value on a four-year deal and making it just as appealing as any hypothetical five-year one.

Try to get clarity on Pete Alonso's plan

As was the case last offseason, it can be argued that Alonso is the best fit for the Mets and that the Mets are the best fit for Alonso.

But his free agency could drag out anyway, with reports that he's seeking a seven-year deal.

While a seven-year deal (or even a six-year contract) doesn't feel likely, Alonso and agent Scott Boras are under no obligation to give up that hope quickly. And that leaves the Mets in a tough spot.

They're going to need to add serious power, whether it's achieved by re-signing Alonso or signing/trading for someone else. But they can't afford to wait until January to find out if a reunion with Alonso is likely.

If they determine Alonso's asking price is too high, or that he's simply not willing to compromise in the next few weeks, they might have to pivot -- which could potentially result in the end of Alonso's tenure in Queens.

What that pivot could look like is anyone's guess, but free agent Kyle Schwarber is among the interesting possibilities.

Address the starting rotation

It was the failure of the rotation that was most responsible for dooming the Mets' 2025 season. And their biggest task this offseason is adding pitchers to it who help ensure that it doesn't wilt again.

While the easiest way to add impact pitching could be signing free agent Framber Valdez, it can be argued that it isn't prudent to give a 32-year-old pitcher a long-term deal.

There are less expensive options on the free agent market, like Ranger Suarez and Michael King, but they come with their own question marks.

If the Mets believe in 27-year-old Japanese ace Tatsuya Imai as a No. 3 starter with the upside to be more, he could make the most sense as the free agent they set their sights on.

But New York needs to add a legitimate top of the rotation arm, and the best way to do that is by turning to the trade market, where Joe Ryan and Freddy Peralta are the best fits (assuming Tigers ace Tarik Skubal isn't available).

As is noted above, this could be the offseason for the Mets to dangle some of their top prospects if the right trade comes along. A deal for Ryan or Peralta would qualify.

Explore the outfield possibilities

The Nimmo trade means that there are now holes in both left field and center field, and there are a whole bunch of different ways the Mets can go.

Stearns said before the Nimmo trade that prospect Carson Benge could possibly break camp as the starting center fielder. Now, the possibility exists that he begins the season as the starting left fielder.

The presence of Tyrone Taylor gives the Mets a defense-first option to play center, but it seems unlikely they'd go internal in both center and left -- unless they bolster other positions in a big way.

There's also a chance the future of Alonso impacts what the Mets do in the outfield.

For example, if Alonso leaves, it would make sense for New York to be more inclined to spring for someone like free agent Cody Bellinger.

There are also intriguing trade options, including Jarren Duran of the Red Sox, Luis Robert Jr. of the White Sox, and Byron Buxton of the Twins -- players who should fit in a world with or without Alonso.

Resolve the situations with Kodai Senga and Jeff McNeil

Despite Stearns saying after the Nimmo for Semien trade that McNeil is on board with what the Mets are doing, it feels pretty likely that he will be playing elsewhere in 2026.

With just one year remaining on his deal, it shouldn't be difficult to find interested teams for the versatile 33-year-old. In the event the Mets don't find anyone willing to give fair value, they could always keep McNeil and have him be a super utility player.

The situation with Senga is much trickier.

Senga's upside is enormous, but he hasn't been on the mound enough (Stearns himself said it would be "foolish" to rely on Senga for 30 starts in 2026). Part of that is due to injury, and part of it is due to issues with Senga's mechanics and comfortability -- something that led to him going to the minors late last season, working on things, and deciding he wasn't able to contribute to the big league team after that minor league stint.

He is set to earn $30 million over the final two guaranteed years of his contract. And given what pitchers have been getting on the free agent market, Senga should be appealing to teams who think they can get his mechanics right and keep him healthy. But the Mets shouldn't be giving him away.

Other possible trade candidates include Ronny Mauricio, Luisangel Acuña, and Mark Vientos.

Five questions for Giants to answer as they head to annual MLB Winter Meetings originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

ORLANDO — In at least one area, the Giants are getting solid reviews for their early offseason work. 

They have put together a coaching staff that includes needed experience around first-year manager Tony Vitello, but also young coaches who have built strong reputations while coming through the ranks with other organizations. Throw in the additions of Bruce Bochy, Javier Lopez and Curt Casali to the front office, and Vitello and president of baseball operations Buster Posey will be surrounded by a group that looks well-rounded on paper.

None of that will matter, though, if the roster doesn’t get better, and on that front, the Giants have been quiet. 

The only free-agent contract thus far has gone to lefty reliever Sam Hentges, who will try to join Erik Miller as bullpen lefties as he recovers from shoulder and knee surgeries. The Giants also have added some depth to their outfield, but their most notable offseason move thus far has been a departure. Marco Luciano, formerly their top prospect, was claimed by the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday.

That left the Giants with an open 40-man spot as they flew to Florida for Major League Baseball’s annual Winter Meetings. Will they use it on a big-time starter or a closer in the coming days? Is a trade already in the works? Was that simply so they can take part in Wednesday’s Rule 5 Draft?

We’ll find out over the next week. This is the busiest stretch of the offseason calendar, and Posey and general manager Zack Minasian have plenty of work left to do. Here are five questions that the organization should answer in Orlando …

Will They Spend?

This is the time of year when rumors fly and every story includes quotes from anonymous sources, but as the stove started to heat up in November, a lot of people seemed to ignore a very important piece of information. 

Giants chairman Greg Johnson went on the record in October and hinted at what was to come, telling John Shea of The San Francisco Standard that the organization would be “very cautious” about $100 million deals for pitchers. Johnson also mentioned the long-term commitments the team has made in recent years to players like Willy Adames, Matt Chapman, Rafael Devers and Jung Hoo Lee. 

“I think the risk is having too many people on similar six-year-type deals that create less flexibility to the payroll,” he told Shea. 

The Giants actually have been pretty transparent about where they stand financially, even though their preferences are incredibly frustrating to fans. Sources this week confirmed The Athletic’s reporting that Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai likely is out of their comfort zone, and that’s not a surprise if you go back to those quotes from Johnson. This all goes back to the regular season, though.

When the Giants traded for Devers and the roughly $260 million left on his deal in June, some high-ranking team employees were told there essentially was no wiggle room to keep adding money at the July deadline. That didn’t end up mattering because the team cratered so dramatically that Posey ended up selling, not looking to add. 

Months later, the Giants head to Orlando with more than $50 million that they can spend before they start bumping up against the first tax line. But they also are concerned about items that won’t impact their 2026 40-man roster. When you combine Vitello’s salary with his buyout and the $4 million still owed to Bob Melvin, the Giants will be paying an MLB-high $10.5 million to the manager spot in 2026. They owe Blake Snell $17 million on Jan. 15 as a delayed signing bonus for a two-year deal that didn’t work out.

Posey is unique among his peers in that he is part of the ownership group and a member of the board of directors, and he has shown an ability to get his partners to shell out more than planned, particularly with the Devers deal. He also operates in silence, which is worth remembering during this Imai chase.

Even if the Giants end up out on Imai, they still should have the financial ability to add two starting pitchers. The next week will reveal how far they’re willing to go, though. 

Attendance was way up in 2025 and season ticket renewal numbers were strong, so fans will be rightfully annoyed if the Giants stick to the spending plan that they have put out there publicly over the past two months and get outbid for the top free agent starters. 

Can They Get Creative? 

If we can step back and defend part of that plan for a moment … the truth is that many long-term, nine-figure pitching deals become disasters. And paying for high-end relievers is usually a bad idea, as well. 

It’s somewhat understandable if the Giants prefer two- or three-year deals for starters and want to stay away from the closers getting $15 million-plus on the open market, but if that’s the case, they do have to find other ways to add real talent. Their position player core is strong enough to get to the MLB playoffs, and with a lockout looming, 2026 is crucial. By the time there’s labor peace, the core is going to be a bit old. 

If Posey has a huge trade for a reliable starting pitcher up his sleeve, this is the time. This is a good offseason to be looking to make that kind of splash, too. The Minnesota Twins reportedly are pulling their guys off the market, but Freddy Peralta, MacKenzie Gore, Kris Bubic and others might be moved in the next week.

Making that kind of deal requires parting with good prospects, but Luciano’s path was a reminder that prospect-hoarding doesn’t always pay off. The Giants are also much better positioned to deal than they were a year ago thanks to some promising developments within their system. 

Their recent international classes have been strong with another good group on the way in January, and three of their top prospects — Josuar Gonzalez, Gavin Kilen and Jhonny Level — are middle infielders at a time when their big league shortstop is on a long-term deal. There are some really intriguing arms in the low minors. Posey was a firm no when the Boston Red Sox initially asked about Bryce Eldridge, but with Devers looking comfortable at first, there’s at least some possibility that the front office could change its mind.

This would seem to be the time to take a big swing and trade a couple of younger prospects for a pitcher who could help in 2026. Years from now, that might hurt, or we might forget those names altogether. If the Giants aren’t going to fish in the deep waters in free agency, this is a risk they need to take.

What About The Other Side? 

The front office’s preference is to deal mostly with minor league free agents, waiver claims and lesser-known veterans when rebuilding the bullpen, and so far that’s been the way they’ve operated. Lefty Reiver Sanmartin was claimed from the Cincinnati Reds, and Hentges got a modest $1.4 million after a solid run in Cleveland. 

Throw those two in with Miller and Matt Gage and the Giants probably are fine from the left side. Miller was just about fully recovered from elbow soreness by the end of September, and the staff can wait and see who else stands out in Scottsdale. 

The right side of the bullpen needs help, though, and Posey and Minasian probably need to get at least two high-leverage options for Vitello, who will be judged in large part on how he handles late-game decisions in his first year.

Devin Williams and Ryan Helsley already are off the board, and their deals seemed pretty reasonable. Edwin Diaz will be way too pricey, but Robert Suarez might end up closer to the Williams/Helsley range and Pete Fairbanks would be a nice fit on a short-term deal.

Posey said on the “Giants Talk” podcast last month that he anticipates a competition for the closer spot, indicating they won’t spend on the higher-end arms. But the Giants do need to find a favorite for that competition, and at the moment that player isn’t on their roster. They also need a good option for the eighth. A Tyler Rogers reunion would be the obvious move, but that’s not nearly as much of a slam dunk as it seemed when he was traded away. 

The Giants hung around early in 2025 because they had one of the game’s best bullpens. Getting a few new right-handers to throw into the late-inning mix in 2026 is a necessity.

Who Stays, Who Goes? 

It took four decades — from Chili Davis to Heliot Ramos — for the Giants to develop another homegrown MLB All-Star outfielder, a not-so-fun fact that makes the current makeup of their 40-man roster fascinating. The Giants have nine outfielders in those 40 spots, including four homegrown players. It won’t be a comfortable winter for those four, though. 

With the additions of Justin Dean and Joey Wiemer, the front office is signaling that a new mix will be out on the grass next season. That’s particularly noteworthy for Luis Matos, who — like Luciano — is out of minor league options. Wade Meckler and Grant McCray also have been bumped down the depth chart by the additions of Dean, Wiemer and Drew Gilbert. 

Ramos is the starting left fielder, but he could hear his name in trade rumors this month — mostly because there just aren’t a whole lot of other young Giants who could be the centerpiece of any kind of noteworthy deal.

There will be changes to this large outfield group before the spring, and possibly before the end of the Winter Meetings. The big question, though, is whether Posey and Minasian feel additions are needed.

With Ramos in left and Lee in center, the Giants could opt to go with a right-field platoon of the left-handed Gilbert and right-handed Wiemer, which would be excellent defensively and take up very little payroll space. But there still are some veterans out there who could provide more certainty. 

What Does Tony Think?

At the GM Meetings last month, Posey joked that he had to schedule coaching interviews around Vitello’s many podcast and TV appearances. The new manager is good in front of the camera, and the Giants are thrilled with the way he has been able to represent them on a national stage.

Those interviews had a common theme, though. Vitello hasn’t been asked much about his current players, and it’ll be interesting to see if he gives more away in Orlando. He’ll meet with reporters multiple times, and it’s probably time for the focus to turn from how he got here to where he’s headed. 

Is there a young player who really stands out to him? Will there be a notable change in the way the Giants run the bases and defend? Does this new staff have a plan to get Ramos back to his 2024 ways, or fix Hayden Birdsong’s command issues? What does he want to see from Eldridge? 

The manager search took up all of the oxygen in the room when Posey and Minasian met with the media in early October, and the past month has been about finding coaches. But it’s time for everyone involved to start offering some more specifics about how 2026 will look better than 2025. 

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

• On the eve of the Winter Meetings, a report from MLB.com had the Mets "among the favorites" for left-handed starter Framber Valdez
• The Tigers remain "engaged" with teams in trade talks for lefty Tarik Skubal, per an ESPN report
• Mets (and Yanks) are also among the "most interested clubs" in starters Tatsuya Imai and Michael King
• The trade buzz in Miami indicates there's a "strong possibility" the Marlins move one of their starters this offseason (Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera)
• WATCH: Which big-name pitchers should the Mets target? That was the debate on SportsNite
• David Stearns made an addition, claiming right-hander Cooper Criswell off waivers from the Red Sox
• On the diamond in the Dominican, Ronny Mauricio smacked a homer in his winter ball debut
• Speaking of bats, would Kyle Schwarber be a good fit in Queens? That was the conversation on Baseball Night in NY
• Reliever Devin Williams talked about joining the Mets on a three-year deal, and new additions to his pitching arsenal
• WATCH: Williams on Diaz potentially re-signing: 'More good arms is always a good thing'

Mets youngster Ronny Mauricio made his 2025 Dominican winter league debut with LIDOM on Friday night and showed off his power.

In his second at-bat of the game, Mauricio took a 1-2 low-and-in fastball and launched it an estimated 401 feet to give his team -- Tigres del Licey-- a 3-0 lead.

Ronny Mauricio blasts a home run in his second at-bat in winter ball pic.twitter.com/gqd0ZE6Klz

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) December 6, 2025

Mauricio, who was the team's DH, finished 1-for-5 with two strikeouts, but that blast was a welcome sight for the young infielder and the Mets.

The 24-year-old is playing in winter ball for the first time since he suffered a knee injury that required surgery in 2023, which wiped out Mauricio's 2024. This past season, Mauricio showed flashes but was not consistent enough at the plate to warrant everyday playing time, especially when the team was in the midst of a playoff spot.

Mauricio finished the year slashing .226/.293/.369 with an OPS of .662 to go along with six home runs and driving in 10 RBI across 61 games.

With the roster in flux, Mauricio will look to try and make a roster spot this spring, but he'll have to beat out Brett Baty, who had a bounceback 2025. There's also a chance Mauricio will get traded this offseason. His performance at winter ball this year could go a long way for teams to take a chance at the once-touted prospect.

The Mets made a strong addition to their bullpen this week, signing righty Devin Williams to a three-year deal. 

Williams comes to Queens after spending last season on the other side of town with the Yankees. 

The 31-year-old had a bit of an up-and-down start to his time in the Bronx, but was able to find his footing and showed flashes of his dominant form over his last few outings of the regular season and playoffs. 

He'll now look to carry that production over to his first season in orange and blue. 

Williams met with the media over Zoom on Friday afternoon to discuss joining the Mets, potentially teaming up with Edwin Diaz on the backend of the bullpen, and some new additions to his arsenal… 

Why the Mets were a good fit…

Williams feels comfortable in New York after his one-year stint with the Yanks. 

He is familiar with David Stearns and his process from their time together in Milwaukee, but there was one big factor that ultimately came into him picking the Mets in free agency. 

“They’re a team that wants to win,” the two-time NL Reliever of the Year winner said. “Steve [Cohen] is doing all that he can to put a winning product out on the field and I’d love to be a part of that.”

On potentially teaming up with Diaz…

Williams said every team he spoke to before signing offered him the closer’s role. 

He’s currently penciled into that spot for the Mets, but things, of course, could change over the next few weeks with the team still showing interest in signing Diaz back off the open market. 

The long-time closer seems comfortable with the situation either way.

“I think it’s just a good situation,” Williams said. “If he comes back, then I think we’re going to have a really good backend of the bullpen -- more good arms is always a good thing.”

New additions to the arsenal…

Williams has essentially been a two-pitch pitcher his entire career (fastball, changeup). 

But this offseason, he’s continued tinkering with his cutter, which he threw just twice all of last year, and he's planning on leaning on the pitch a bit more this season. 

The righty has also continued working on adding a gyro slider to the mix for next year.

It’s something he’s been developing for years, though he hasn’t put it into play yet.

“I’m just playing with those two,” Williams said. “Just seeing if I can add those two to what I do, and just give myself a little more breathing room with the fastball and changeup.”

The two-time All-Star is also eager to see how new pitching coach Justin Willard and the Mets' highly-regarded pitching lab can help him continue to improve his game. 

"They have a track record of helping guys improve on things they already do, or maybe adding in things," he said. "So I think that they'll be able to help me, and I'm really curious to see what they have for me."

The Mets have added to their pitching depth, claiming RHP Cooper Criswell off waivers from the Red Sox.

Boston signed Criswell to a guaranteed one-year deal above the league minimum this offseason, with hopes of it helping him sneak through waivers when they wanted to clear his 40-man roster spot. 

Instead, the right-hander drew plenty of interest after being DFA'd Thursday, and lands in the Big Apple. 

Criswell served as a versatile swingman during his time in Boston, contributing in the rotation and long relief. 

He enjoyed a strong first season with the club, pitching to a 4.08 ERA in 26 appearances (18 starts). 

The 29-year-old then spent the majority of last year down in Triple-A, appearing in just seven MLB games, before his campaign ended in late-August due to elbow inflammation. 

Prior to the injury, he had a 3.57 ERA and 24.5 percent strikeout rate in 16 games (14 starts) with Worcester. 

Criswell does not have any minor league options remaining.