ORLANDO, Fla. — Right-hander Drew Anderson and the Tigers agreed to a one-year contract, $7 million. Detroit general manager Scott Harris said Monday.
The deal includes a $10 million team option for 2027.
Anderson, 31, spent spring training with the Tigers in 2024 on a minor league contract and struck out 14 over eight innings while allowing seven runs and nine hits. He had a 3.86 ERA in nine games with Triple-A Toledo, then asked to be released and signed with SSD Landers in South Korea.
He went 23-10 with a 2.91 ERA over parts of two seasons in South Korea, striking out 403 and walking 104 in 287 1/3 innings.
Anderson last pitched in the major leagues with Texas in 2021 and then spent two seasons with Hiroshima in Japan's Central League.
He is 1-3 with a 6.50 ERA in two starts and 17 relief appearances over five big league seasons with Philadelphia (2017-19), the Chicago White Sox (2020) and the Rangers.
Ahead of the MLB Winter Meetings, the chatter was that the Detroit Tigers would be listening to offers for potential Mets target Tarik Skubal, the back-to-back AL Cy Young Award winner and a free agent to be after the 2026 season.
On Monday, Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris gave a clear indication that there will indeed be "listening" and "exploring" when it came to the left-hander (and any player in the organization), but that might be as far as it goes.
“I’ve been pretty clear since I’ve been here,” Harris said in Orlando. “I don’t believe in untouchables at any level. So anyone in our organization, at any level. It’s not a commentary on Tarik specifically. Sort of a blanket team-building approach. I think I can’t do my job without listening.
“I can’t do my job without exploring anything that may or may not have legs. Some are maybe very likely moves, and some are going to be extremely unlikely. But you can’t actually fully vet those opportunities unless you are willing to listen. So that’s how we’re doing it.”
Harris, speaking on MLB Network, added later, "My job is to make this organization better. I need to find ways to make this organization better, which means that I need to listen to every opportunity."
On the eve of the meetings, ESPN's Buster Olney reported Detroit would "continue to be engaged" with teams interested in acquiring the ace, and that the asking price would be "enormous."
Enormous because the talent is so immense. Over his last two seasons, he's posted a 2.30 ERA (2.47 FIP) and 0.906 WHIP with 469 strikeouts and 68 walks in 387.1 innings over 62 starts.
If acquired, the Mets would face another hurdle in working on keeping the 29-year-old around for the long term: Skubal is represented by Scott Boras.
When the Tigers attempted to extend Skubal, it was reportedly not just a non-competitive offer, but one that was relatively insulting. Safe to say that while that isn't much of an indication of the starter's asking price, it is something the Mets would certainly be able to avoid.
In the meantime, Skubal is relatively inexpensive, expected to make roughly $18 million for his final season of arbitration.
SNY MLB Insider Andy Martino reported earlier this offseason that the Tigers have expressed interest in Brett Baty in the past.
David Stearns said Monday at the Winter Meetings that rehabbing Mets pitchers Christian Scott and A.J. Minter have been progressing well this offseason.
Scott is wrapping up his recovery from Tommy John surgery, which sidelined him for the entirety of last season, and he’s in line to be a full participant by the time spring training comes.
That’s certainly encouraging news for the Mets’ pitching depth.
The 25-year-old was the first of New York’s influx of young talent to crack the majors, and he showed some of his high upside before going down to injury.
Scott pitched to a 4.56 ERA and 1.20 WHIP over his first nine big-league outings.
Minter, meanwhile, remains a bit less certain for the beginning of the season.
The veteran left-hander continues recovering from a lat injury that sidelined him for the season in late May, but if he does miss time, it is only expected to be brief.
Minter looked strong in his 13 appearances prior to the injury, and he is expected to play a key role in New York’s bullpen again after picking up his $11 million player option.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts answers questions during a news conference at the MLB winter meetings in Orlando on Monday. (John Raoux / Associated Press)
It’s been an offseason of few acquisitions thus far for the Dodgers.
So much so that, on the first day of MLB’s annual winter meetings at the Signia by Hilton Orlando on Monday, the most intriguing rumor surrounding the team had to do with a potential subtraction from their big-league roster.
According to multiple reports, Teoscar Hernández has come up in the Dodgers’ trade talks with other teams this winter. USA Today went as far as saying the club was “shopping” the two-time All-Star, who is entering the second season of the three-year, $66-million deal he signed last offseason.
Dodgers right fielder Teoscar Hernández hits a sacrifice fly to score Dodgers' Will Smith during the Game 7 of the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Nov. 1. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
“Teo certainly fits [our roster still],” Roberts said. “He’s helped us win two championships. He’s one of my favorites.”
“That doesn't feel likely,” Gomes added of the possibility of trading Hernández. “Obviously, you can never say never on those types of things. I know that's come up [in reports]. But that's not something we anticipate at all."
The idea of the Dodgers trading Hernández has felt like a long shot from the start. Though the 33-year-old slugger suffered an inconsistent and injury-plagued regular season in 2025 — both at the plate, where he had 25 home runs but hit only .247, and especially defensively, where he had several notable lapses after moving to right field — the 10-year veteran has made crucial contributions in each of the Dodgers’ two World Series runs the last couple years, and has served in a mentor role to young players in the clubhouse; none more so than Andy Pages.
Granted, moving Hernández could help the Dodgers get younger, which has been a goal for the front office this offseason as they try to navigate their aging and expensive roster. And his salary could be repurposed if the team were to make a splashier free-agent signing.
But for now, the Dodgers continue to express belief in their current core, with Roberts noting Monday that “we're very confident with where the roster is right now” and that “there's really no big splash we feel needs to be made.”
Plus, moving Hernández would also only further exacerbate the team’s pre-existing need for outfield help, as the club continues to evaluate both the free agent market (where players such as Cody Bellinger or Harrison Bader figure to be better, and more affordable, fits than a likely $400-million signing of top free-agent option Kyle Tucker) and trade possibilities (such as Brendan Donovan or Lars Nootbaar of the St. Louis Cardinals, Jarren Duran or Wilyer Abreu of the Boston Red Sox or — in a less likely scenario — Steven Kwan of the Cleveland Guardians).
Roberts did leave the door open to potentially moving Hernández back to left field, where he spent the majority of 2024 for the Dodgers before shifting over to his more natural right field position last year.
Still, in Roberts’ eyes, Hernández’s defense was “at least average” in right after an August series in Colorado when he made a couple particularly glaring mistakes on fly balls. His career-long defensive metrics have also been stronger in right field than left.
“I do think that with the versatility [of our roster] and how we potentially shape this roster, there's some options,” Roberts said. “But right now, he's our right fielder.”
Dodgers continue to assess bullpen options
Padres relief pitcher Robert Suárez celebrates after San Diego defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sept. 27. (Gregory Bull / Associated Press)
One area the Dodgers do still seem more eager to make an addition this offseason is in the bullpen, even as they voice confidence in improved performances from the returning members of last year’s disappointing group.
“Getting a high-leverage reliever,” Roberts said, “is never a bad thing.”
The Dodgers have attempted to sign some big-name, back-end relievers already this winter, from Raisel Iglesias (who ultimately returned to the Atlanta Braves on a one-year, $16-million deal, despite the Dodgers reportedly making a similar offer to the veteran right-hander) to Devin Williams (who went to the New York Mets on a three-year, $5- million deal, despite the Dodgers’ interest in him dating back to last offseason).
The team had strong interest in Williams, according to a person with knowledge of the situation who wasn’t authorized to speak publicly, even as his bidding reached the level of multi-year offers.
That could offer some insight into the club's pursuit of another current relief target: Former San Diego Padres closer Robert Suárez.
The Dodgers have expressed interest in Suárez, as the Athletic first reported. And, with the hard-throwing right-hander set to turn 35 next March, he has only been projected to sign a two- or three-year contract. Time will tell if that’s out of the Dodgers’ comfort zone.
If the team strikes out at the top of the market — Edwin Díaz still looms as the biggest free-agent closer, but is expected to be out of the Dodgers’ preferred price range — there could be other alternatives.
Pete Fairbanks, the former Tampa Bay Rays closer whom the Dodgers inquired about at last year’s deadline, remains a potential option, although the team has not yet targeted him aggressively. The Dodgers have also expressed interest in re-signing Evan Phillips, despite not tendering him a contract as he recovers from a Tommy John surgery.
Familiar face Michael Kopech could also be a fallback alternative after spending the last year and a half in Los Angeles, though he was unable to pitch in this past postseason because of injuries.
Faith in Tanner Scott, Mookie Betts rebounds
Dodgers pitcher Tanner Scott throws from the mound and surrenders a lead against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Aug. 31 at Dodger Stadium. (Carlin Stiehl/Los Angeles Times)
One constant message the Dodgers have reiterated when discussing their bullpen this offseason has been their continued faith in Scott, despite his 4.74 ERA and woeful 23 of 33 mark in save opportunities last year.
Both Roberts and Gomes noted on Monday that Scott was potentially hampered by injuries last year.
“I think there were just some things he kept under wraps about his body,” Roberts said of the 31-year-old left-hander, who missed a month in the second half of the season with forearm inflammation. “Some stuff that he just, honestly, he never felt right all year.”
“I think when he went down with the elbow injury, my sense is Tanner is a tough guy and wants the ball, but that was bothering him for a while,” Gomes added, while also noting that “there was a lot of batted ball luck and things that would be very hard to repeat again” that contributed to his disappointing debut season.
“We’ve seen it happen with elite relievers before,” Gomes continued. “So I’m very confident that Tanner is gonna come back and have a great season for us and be a big part of our success.”
Another player the Dodgers are banking on improvements from is Mookie Betts, who was a Gold Glove finalist defensively after switching to shortstop last season but suffered a career-worst campaign at the plate (.258 average, .732 OPS and only 20 home runs in 150 games).
“He had a tough, tough offensive year,” Roberts said. “He did. He's human, but it's easy to bet on a bounce-back year for Mookie on the offensive side for sure.”
A big reason why: Betts figures to be able to spend more time this offseason working on his swing and rebuilding the strength he lost following a bout with a serious stomach virus at the start of last season. Last winter, Betts spent the majority of his offseason work preparing for his full-time move to shortstop — a position Roberts confirmed he will play again in 2026.
“I'm sure in some way, he now knows that he is a double-plus shortstop,” Gomes said. “He will put in the work to maintain that. He now probably just has a little more bandwidth to balance it all out.”
Etc.
Dodgers second baseman Tommy Edman forces out Toronto's Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at second base during Game 4 of the World Series on Oct. 29. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
— Gomes said utilityman Tommy Edman’s recent ankle surgery was a debridement procedure to address the injury that nagged him during the second half of last season. Edman’s recovery will likely leave him limited at the start of spring training, but the team does not “expect it to affect a meaningful part of the season,” Gomes added. Edman is also expected to be able to play both the infield and outfield next season, after his injury limited him to mostly infield duties last year.
— Brusdar Graterol is expected to be “full go” next spring, Gomes said, after the reliever missed all of last year recovering from a shoulder surgery. Fellow reliever Brock Stewart “will be a little delayed” after missing the end of last year with his own shoulder surgery, Gomes said, “but we don’t think it’s going to be anything [that lingers] too deep into the season at all.”
— Shohei Ohtani is expected to be making full-length pitching starts from the beginning of next season, but Roberts noted the club could be strategic in giving him extra days off between his pitching outings: “I do feel that giving him six, seven, eight days off to kind of allow him to continue to stay rested and build up, I think that's in our process. But again, we have a long way to go [before making final decisions].”
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza discussed a number of topics on Monday at the Winter Meetings…
Nimmo trade, Semien addition
Like everyone else, Mendoza was caught off guard by the Brandon Nimmo trade.
While he only managed the outfielder for the past two seasons, he had to sit back and pause for a moment after David Stearns revealed the deal was completed with the Rangers.
While losing Nimmo is a tough blow, he is excited to add Marcus Semien to the mix.
“I wasn’t an easy decision,” he said. “Because of how much Brandon represented and what he meant to the team. At the same time, when you’re talking a guy coming back like Marcus Semien, there’s a lot of the same traits there.
“The qualities, makeup, he’s a proven winner, and also gives us the ability to improve on the right side of the infield. But it was a tough one, wishing Brandon nothing but the best, because as a manager, he represented everything.”
Williams added to the ‘pen
Mendoza is also excited about the Mets’ other big addition, this one in the bullpen.
While they are still trying to retain All-Star closer Edwin Diaz in free agency, Devin Williams brings experience and a significant boost to the backend of New York’s ‘pen.
“We’re talking about one of the best relievers for the past few years,” Mendoza said. “He’s a guy that is used to pitching in high-leverage and has closing experience -- we’re looking for help there, and the fact that we got one, I was excited.”
Carson Benge’s development
Some of the work the Mets still have in front of them this winter is in the outfield.
They now have openings in left and center after moving on from Nimmo.
Stearns indicated on Monday in Orlando that, as things stand, Jeff McNeil would likely see a majority of the reps in left, but Benge would also be in the mix.
Benge is coming off a strong first full campaign in the organization, in which he hit his way up to Triple-A before season's end.
He finished the year hitting .281 with 15 homers, 73 RBI, and a .857 OPS.
“He’s an exciting player,” Mendoza said. “He’s a guy who can impact the baseball, controls the strike zone, a pretty good defender, has the makeup -- there’s just a lot to like about this kid. I keep hearing his name since we drafted him, now here he is putting himself in a position where he’s going to show up ready to compete for a spot on our roster.”
Changes to the coaching staff
Monday presented Mendoza with the first opportunity to address the numerous changes to the coaching staff.
Hitting coaches Eric Chavez and Jeremy Barnes, pitching coach Jeremy Hefner, third-base coach Mike Sarbaugh, first-base coach Antoan Richardson, and bench coach John Gibbons are some of the most notable ones to go.
They've been replaced by a whole new group, including four promotions from within the organization.
"Not a lot of easy decisions," Mendoza said. "Especially with the chair I'm sitting in as the manager, you develop so many relationships with these guys, but at the same time, I'm excited about the guys we were able to bring on board.
"You're talking about continuity and team chemistry, we brought up four guys from player development. Guys who are used to our players, our processes, our system, the relationship with players. I was very proud of the fact that we're not only promoting players, but also giving a chance to some of the coaches that are grinding in the minor leagues."
Juan Soto will likely have to move to DH at some point during his 15-year deal with the Mets, but don’t expect it in 2026.
Carlos Mendoza indicated on Monday at the Winter Meetings that he will continue to use Soto consistently in right field this season.
“He doesn’t like DHing,” the skipper said. “He takes pride in being a good defender, and he will continue to do so. The schedule will dictate sometimes dealing with physical stuff and you’re trying to keep his bat in the lineup, the DH may come in to play, but if he’s feeling good enough, he’s going to be out there in right field.”
Soto appeared in just three games as the DH during his first season in Queens.
He worked hard with outfield coach Antoan Richardson on improving defensively during spring training, but still finished with a minus-13 Fielding Run Value and minus-12 Outs Above Average during his first season in Queens.
Still, David Stearns indicated earlier this offseason that the team believes he can turn things around with the glove.
"Juan is one of our players we believe can perform better defensively than he did last year," he told Mike Puma of the NY Post. "I think he believes that he’s going to work hard on it this offseason -- he’s motivated to do that, and he’s proven at previous times in his career that he can perform better in right field."
Keeping Soto regularly in right leaves the DH spot open for a potential Kyle Schwarber addition in free agency.
Pete Alonso could also be in the mix for more DH at-bats if he were to return to the club.
A few years ago, Cody Bellinger's once-promising career – the NL Rookie of the Year in 2017 and MVP in 2019 – looked to be over after batting .193 with a .611 OPS in his final 239 games with the Los Angeles Dodgers. But after two solid years on Chicago's Northside and a terrific year in The Bronx, he enters free agency as one of baseball’s hot commodities.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone says there’s a lot to love about the 30-year-old outfielder’s game.
“Who he was in the room, his performance between the lines on both sides of the ball, his athleticism, his versatility,” the manager said Monday at the MLB Winter Meetings. “Who wouldn't want a player like that?”
During his (so far) lone season in pinstripes, Bellinger's on-field contributions totaled 29 home runs, 98 RBI, with a .272/.334/.480 slash line for an .813 OPS (125 OPS+ and wRC+) while ranking in the 93rd percentile in outs above average (seven) and with 12 defensive runs saved.
But with free agency, the power and decision of where he plays next is up to him for the second time in his career, something Boone is content with waiting to see how it plays out.
“He's earned the right now to get to this point of his career of free agency as still a relatively young man,” Boone said. “We’ll see what happens, we’ll see how it shakes out. As far as the player and the person, he’s a good one."
Boone said he hasn’t been part of the recruitment process, adding he doesn’t typically do that with players who have been with the club previously.
“They know who we are, they know what we’re about,” the skipper said. “Certainly, if there comes a point where – and this isn’t just for Cody, this is with anyone – when it gets to a point where we’re starting to get down the road, or being in conversations, I’ll certainly have conversations with guys where I see it fit.”
Out in left field
Part of the conversation around bringing back Bellinger would be: What does that mean for Jasson Dominguez’s opportunity to play more in left field?
“We’re back into the hypothetical again,” Boone said with a smile when asked about Dominguez’s opportunities. “Right now, reality is JD is a young, talented player that got real experience at the big-league level last year. Had a lot of success, had some struggles along the way with it, but I think we all see a really talented player there.”
Of course, while the situation is hypothetical now, reality could come calling at some point in the not-too-distant future.
“If the situation presents itself down the road where you end up having a lot of good players for not enough spots,” Boone said, “you figure it out. You work it out. And then competition plays a big role, too. Those things kinda work themselves out.”
New York Yankees left fielder Jasson Domínguez (24) gestures after hitting a three run double in the sixth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium. / Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
He added: “We’ll cross that bridge when we get there, if and when something like that comes up.”
Dominguez returned to the Dominican to “get more at-bats” playing winter ball, which Boone called something that will be “very valuable” to the 22-year-old.
“Just going down there and playing in that environment and getting some at-bats and continuing to play,” he said, noting that while Dominguez reached 429 plate appearances on the year, that down the stretch he “didn’t play much obviously.”
One area that the Yanks hope to see Dominguez improve is batting from the right side. The switch-hitter posted a .274 average and .768 OPS as a lefty and just a .204 average and .569 OPS as a righty. The manager pointed toward limited at-bats as a reason for that disparity – 325 plate appearances as a lefty to 104 as a righty.
“We’re talking about a very, very young player that didn’t play a ton of minor league baseball, and what suffers from that? The side you don’t hit from as much,” Boone said. “I still think it's a natural side for him, he’s a natural right-handed hitter. I don’t think it’s out of the question that at some point that right hand catches up to the left side, but we’ll see.”
The bigger question regarding Dominguez’s chances is his defense in left field, which was a real liability: He was in the 2nd percintile for outs above average (minus-10).
“Overall, real improvement, but there’s still a long ways to go in that improvement,” Boone said of his defense. “The difference of him February compared to April compared to June, I think there was really big strides. But still a ways to go just in learning the nuances of the position.
“He’s athleticism is a real calling card for him as far as speed and arm strength, and you hope that continues to win the day and eventually gets him to that point where ‘man, now he’s really good out there.’ Still has a lot of development to do in that regard.”
First base for Ben Rice
Rice's bat was the biggest boost for the Yankees last season as he slugged 26 home runs and posted an .836 OPS, but his versatility playing first base and catching helped solve several lineup headaches for the manager. Entering the 2026 season, the club is leaving the option to see him work behind the plate open, while pointing the 26-year-old toward first.
"Right now he's our first baseman," Boone said. "The catching stuff is still very much in play, and then we'll see. We'll see how the offseason unfolds with how we are roster-wise going into spring training, and how much catching that means, or if it is all first base. But definitely see him as our first baseman."
Boone said that he didn't think Rice got "shorted" from working on his defense at first base by working at both spots, and that they will continue to give him time at catcher: "It's an important skill that he possesses that you don't want it to go away, because he's capable back there."
In early November, general manager Brian Cashman told reporters that "more likely than not" he sees Rice at first "without a doubt."
"I view Ben Rice as having an everyday role in the big leagues for us next year, whether it's at first... right now the lane is first base, I have no doubt teams will continue to come after our players, Rice included, for trade conversations," Cashman said at the time. "But as of right now, yeah, he's in our lineup, and the more likely spot would be first base."
The Mets have a number of openings to fill this offseason, but it appears you can officially scratch one off the list.
Carlos Mendoza said Monday at the MLB Winter Meetings that as things stand, Brett Baty will see the majority of the playing time at third base come spring training.
The hot corner was a huge question mark for New York coming into last season, but Baty truly took his game to another level and secured his hold on the everyday job.
“Brett took that step forward,” the skipper said. “It felt like we had a tryout there and Baty just got comfortable and played really well from both sides of the field -- we’ll see what happens, but as of right now Brett will get a lot of the opportunities.”
As for Mark Vientos, Mendoza says the team is preparing the young slugger for all scenarios.
The 25-year-old has been taking reps at both first and third over the winter.
“We aren’t throwing third out the window, and he’s working a lot at first,” he said. “But again, a lot can happen. So the one thing I told him is control the things you can control -- just put yourself in the best position and show up to camp ready to compete.”
Ronny Mauricio also finds himself in a similar position coming off an up-and-down first full pro season.
The biggest thing for him, though, is just staying healthy and ready to go.
“It’s good to see him playing Winter Ball and playing well,” Mendoza said. “He looks good and is in a very good place. He has to come in and compete for a spot on the roster -- there’s flexibility there, but I think the biggest thing is for him to be healthy.
“If we get a healthy-version of Ronny Mauricio, he is an impactful player.”
The Mets’ stance on Pete Alonso continues to stay the same.
Those around the organization have made it clear over the past few months that they’d love to have the free agent slugger back in orange and blue next year and beyond.
David Stearns and Carlos Mendoza reiterated that feeling, speaking at the Winter Meetings on Monday. “Of course I want him,” the skipper said. “You’re talking about a guy that, as a manager, his ability to post every day -- when you don’t have to worry about who is going to play first and hitting in the middle of the lineup, you can’t beat that.”
“We’d love to have him back,” Stearns added. “Pete has demonstrated he’s one of the best offensive players in baseball, and he’s performed at a high level for us -- that would be a priority for any team, and it certainly is for us.”
Alonso is looking to cash in on his highly productive campaign into a long-term deal.
Recent reports indicated that he may be seeking a pact of at least seven years, but an AL official told Joel Sherman of the NY Post that the length isn’t out there.
New York likely won’t be among those, though, with the two sides having so much familiarity.
“Pete knows us really well; we know Pete really well,” Stearns said. “I think he’ll take the time here to perhaps meet with organizations he doesn’t know quite as well, and we’ll be in touch.”
Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns spoke with reporters on several topics at the MLB Winter Meetings in Orlando on Monday, including what work is still to be done with improving the bullpen, an active trade market, and Kodai Senga having an “outstanding” start to his offseason.
‘Open-minded’ on every front
“In any transaction period, and certainly the Winter Meetings, you want to make your team better, and I think we’re focused on doing that,” Stearns said of what he hopes to accomplish this week. “We also know it’s a really long offseason, we’ll see whether we’re able to get anything done here. At this point, it’s too early for me to know that one way or another.
“But I am confident that we’re making progress to ultimately make some transactions that I think will ultimately help our team and our organization going forward.”
When asked if there was a specific area he felt the team needed to improve, the Mets’ top man said they are “open-minded to getting better anywhere.”
“I don’t think there is a segment to our team right now that we can look at or would look at and say ‘that’s a finished product,’” Stearns said. “So we have to be open-minded to all of the above. We’ve been very open, and I’ve been very open from the moment our season ended, that we have to get better at keeping runs off the board.
"And I think we’ve made some progress in doing that, and I think we’re gonna continue to look at areas where we can add players to our team that help us do that.”
Bullpen work to be done
While the defensive improvements – specifically adding second baseman Marcus Semien in a trade with Texas – is at the forefront of keeping runs down, the bullpen is another area that can help achieve that goal. Mets relievers posted a 3.93 ERA with a 1.29 WHIP last year (15th in baseball) and opponents batted .244 off them (tied for 11th worst).
“I wouldn’t say we’re done with our bullpen at this point,” he said. “We recognize that we have slots to fill. Some of those may come through free agency, some of those may come through trades, some of those may come from some internal candidates who we think are poised to take the next step, either in their development or the next step in, perhaps, a role they can occupy at the major league level.
“But, we understand we got some roles to fill in the ‘pen, and I’m confident we’re gonna be able to do so.”
On a busy trade market
“I think the trade market, in general agnostic of position, is pretty active,” Stearns said. “And I think there’s a lot of chatter and has been throughout this offseason among teams in the trade market, it seems. Teams in general are, maybe, a little more open and willing to be creative, to talk about different kinds of structures, to talk about need-for-need type trades at the major league level that maybe we’ve seen over the past couple years at least.”
Does that mean Stearns thinks he’s in a better position to make trades this offseason than his first two offseasons in charge of the club? “I don’t know,” he said. “I think we've had a very successful player development growth and we’ve had a number of players internally throughout our minor league system get better, and I think that’s been recognized throughout the industry.”
Stearns added that when that development happens, you “receive a lot of incoming calls about young players, about prospects.”
“Perhaps there are a few more opportunities to make deals,” he said, and they will “continue to explore” those opportunities and imagine they will “push something over the line this offseason.”
“I know we’ve had, what I would characterize as, productive dialogue with other teams throughout the offseason,” Stearns added later. “We’ve lined up on one trade, and so far we haven’t lined up on others. But I think ultimately we will line up on more.”
Kodai Senga update
“Kodai has had an outstanding offseason,” Stearns said when asked about the right-hander, which he called “the most encouraging development we’ve had in terms of our offseason player progression.”
Senga is coming off an up-and-down season that saw him start off the year very well, pitching to a 1.47 ERA in his first 73.2 innings, only to suffer a hamstring injury and then struggle, posting a 5.90 ERA over his final 39.2 innings, before he was demoted to Triple-A.
“He feels great, he feels as good physically as he has since that 2023 season. He’s going through his normal offseason routine. He’s actually gonna come over to the States at the end of the month and throw here, as well, which I think is a great sign.
“We’re very encouraged about how Kodai is progressing through the offseason.”
As the MLB Winter Meetings roll on in Orlando, Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns met with members of the media to discuss where things currently stand with his club.
Of course, starting pitching has been a hot-button topic for the Mets following a 2025 season that went downhill, in part, due to a starting rotation that simply couldn’t deliver enough innings, whether it was due to injuries or ineffectiveness.
Ask if the Mets would like to add a starter, Stearns said that while the club is certainly keeping all options open, they do have a talented group of young pitchers waiting in the wings.
While Nolan McLean firmly established himself as a part of the 2026 rotation and beyond thanks to his 2.06 ERA over the course of eight major league starts, Brandon Sproat and Jonah Tong could be in line for some more minor league seasoning before becoming full-time members of the Mets’ starting staff.
“I think we’d like to be able to add a starter. We are also really comfortable and like our young starters who are emerging,” Stearns said. “We saw that last year with Nolan McLean. But certainly we’re going to be canvassing where we can to bring in a starting pitcher and help stabilize the staff.”
Outside of the trio of McLean, Sproat, and Tong, the Mets also have names like Jonathan Santucci and Jack Wenniger, among others, who could potentially make an impact in 2026. And that doesn’t even include Christian Scott, who Stearns said should come into spring training without limitations following Tommy John surgery in late 2024.
“I think sometimes we often equate youth with unpredictability. I think young starting pitchers have a pretty good history in this league, especially of late, especially when they have certain stuff packages, of coming up to the big leagues and having success,” Stearns said. “Doesn’t mean we’re going to count on a staff exclusively of young starters, but certainly over the course of the year, we are going to expect significant contributions from a group that we think is really talented and about to get to the major league level.”
Throughout the early parts of the offseason, the Mets have been linked to big-name starting pitchers who could be on the move, either through trades or free agency, such as Tarik Skubal, Freddy Peralta, Michael King, and others.
So if the Mets were in a hypothetical playoff series right now, is the team’s Game 1 starter currently on the roster?
“I don’t know. I don’t think we’ll know that until we get much further along in the offseason and until we get to spring training,” Stearns said. “I also think that often times on opening day, the person you thought was the No. 1 starter in a playoff series, you actually get to the playoff series and it’s someone else. We lived that couple of years ago. I think even really good teams that go on and win a World Series like the Dodgers can live that over the course of a season. I’m less preoccupied by thinking about who is going to start Game 1 of a playoff series than I am about making the transactions that put the best possible team on the field that we can do.”
“You always want more ceiling,” Stearns added. “Do I think we need more ceiling? I don’t think I’d go that far, but you always want more ceiling.”
The National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., received another San Francisco Giants inductee for the class of 2026, former second baseman Jeff Kent.
After receiving no more than 50 percent of the vote in his 10 years on the ballot, Kent was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Contemporary Era committee on Sunday, appearing on 14 of 16 of the ballots. However, one notable name was left off, again, former teammate Barry Bonds.
Bonds didn’t have any hard feelings, sending his former teammate a heartfelt congratulations via Instagram.
Barry Bonds congratulates Jeff Kent on his Hall of Fame nod 🧡🤝
Kent’s six years (1997-2002) with San Francisco as Bonds’ teammate were arguably the best of his career, and he was named NL MVP in 2000. Yet, he declined to comment on whether Bonds should be inducted into Cooperstown.
It could be speculated that Kent’s admission subsequently was related to Bonds’ omission. Bonds earned less than five votes on the Contemporary Era ballot and likely has one more chance to make the Hall of Fame in 2031.
PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks agreed to terms with right-hander Michael Soroka on a one-year, $7.5 million deal, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal is pending a physical.
The 28-year-old Soroka is expected to bolster the back of the D-backs’ starting rotation. He was 3-8 with a 4.52 ERA last season, starting 16 games for the Washington Nationals before getting traded to the Chicago Cubs, where he pitched mostly out of the bullpen.
A 2019 All-Star with the Atlanta Braves, Soroka was one of the game’s best young pitchers, finishing with a 13-4 record and a 2.68 ERA that season. But he tore his right Achilles twice — once in 2020 and again in 2021 — which kept him off the mound for more than two full seasons.
The first day of the Major League Baseball Meetings brought nothing magical to the Phillies, so neighboring Disney World need not worry. Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto and Ranger Suarez remain for sale in the free agent market, and President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski and general manager Preston Mattingly pulled no trades in a very quiet first day.
While many expect a Schwarber signing to be the first domino to fall, when and where the designated hitter opts to take his talents will have a massive effect on how the Phillies will be formed for the 2026 season. The leading contenders for Schwarber’s services appear to be the Phillies, Mets, Red Sox and his hometown Reds. It was reported Sunday night by The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal that the Pirates made a four-year offer worth over $100 million. That doesn’t appear to be a serious threat to offers that will probably go to five years and approach the $150 to $160 million, or more, mark.
Many gathered for the meetings still believe the Phillies to be the front-runners to land the National League’s MVP runner-up, and to bring back Realmuto, who will be 35 entering the regular season. If that is the case, it would certainly appear to be another “run it back” season for an organization that has made the playoffs each of the past four seasons but been eliminated in the first round each of the past two.
If Schwarber should move on, certainly Dombrowski, Mattingly and company must have backup plans that may or may not include Pete Alonso, the all-time home run leader in Mets history. Kyle Tucker is a free agent outfielder that is drawing interest from almost everyone. Cody Bellinger would certainly lend a great glove and bat to a Phillies outfield that is certainly going to look different from last season.
On the trade market, Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte has been linked in some reports to the Phillies, but that would probably require the organization giving away a prospect or two that they may not be comfortable in parting with.
“I don’t like that expression,” said Dombrowski of “running it back” in a sit down with the local Phillies media.
“We’re not running our club back. There’s already some changes (with Justin Crawford in the mix) and (Aiden) Miller is getting close to playing. When I say that, I’m not so sure that when you win 96 games, that you should really look to have to do a lot of things differently .But you’re always looking to get better so it’s very dependent upon if you sign guys, how much money you spend, who else is available. If somebody’s better than what you have then by all means we’re open-minded to it.
“I think (Alec) Bohm’s going to have a much better year offensively. He was hurt last year for a time period. He drove in close to 100 runs two years before that. I think he’s much closer to that type of hitter than he was last year. I think that’s a pretty good addition in itself right there. It’s hard to find right-handed hitters. I’m not sure how it will fall. We’ve explored all different type of options.”
The biggest option for the Phillies, and for some other teams, is the signing of Schwarber. Dombrowski reiterated what he’s been saying since last season about the power-hitter and clubhouse leader.
“I’m just not sure what’s going to happen,” he said. “We continue to have that interest and there’s optimism but the reality is at this point is I don’t really know. I don’t really know.”
And the need-to-know time period is coming quickly for the organization, and Dombrowski and company haven’t hidden their feelings when it comes to that.
“I think that we’ve properly expressed that (they want clarity soon),” he said. “The one thing that I would not have wanted to do is that I want those guys to know how much we respect them, how much we’d like to have them back. At some point you have to move some things forward. I think that’s been properly communicated. I’m not saying that we’re sprinting forward with a lot of different things, but that’s been properly communicated that we’re prepared to shift if we need to.”
The catching position is a tricky one with Realmuto as the Phillies don’t appear to have a viable option to replace the three-time All-Star, also a treasured presence in the clubhouse. The guess is that he’ll be back behind the plate for the next for years, if possible, but if not?
“We have done very, very thorough job, I would say thoroughly on every position, so it’s not just catching, but any position that we might think we’ll have a hole or a void,” said Dombrowski. “We’re prepared. We’re ready to move in any position with priority rankings.”
While Schwarber and Realmuto are the top priorities, forming an outfield isn’t far behind for the organization, which currently boasts a contingent of players who don’t possess a bunch of power in Brandon Marsh, Justin Crawford, Otto Kemp and Johan Rojas.
“We’ve got work to do, is what we need to do,” said Dombrowski of the outfield. “Really, we’ve got a couple of options with Marsh and the situation that we’ve talked about with Crawford, we’re going to give him that opportunity to make the club and we feel good about it. Rojas is out there. We’ve got Kemp who can go out there and play. We’ve talked about trying to find a change of scenery for Nick (Castellanos). Really, we’ve got work to do, is what it comes down to. We continue to try to make things happen.”
Is finding some sort of power out there, particularly if they lose Schwarber, a major concern?
“Not really,” Dombrowski said. “I really have always preferred having a good hitting club that’s a doubles-oriented team. And that doesn’t fit everybody, it’s usually a generality. It means you usually have a better approach, you use the whole field, and you score a bunch of runs like that. And then some guys have power, and they hit a few more home runs than other years. I think some guys might naturally hit more home runs still. I just assume have extra base hits. I think that some guys may do that just in a natural progression.”
There seems to be a variety of ways the 2026 Phillies team could look. Perhaps we’ll find out some more this week as the meetings progress through Thursday.
Stay tuned.
NOTES
•Manager Rob Thomson is scheduled to meet with the media Tuesday afternoon.
•Pete Alonso, who many have suggested could be the replacement for Schwarber should he sign elsewhere, was in Orlando for the meetings.
•Jeff Kent, who holds the record for most home runs by a second baseman with 377, was introduced as the most recent Hall of Fame inductee after being voted in by the Contemporary Era Committee and mentioned Phillies legend Dallas Green as someone who taught him how to play the game during an interview session.
•When asked if an extension for Rob Thomson had been discussed, Dombrowski said: “You would know that would happen when we would make an announcement but we’re not at that spot.”
•Dombrowski said he does not see moving Trea Turner from shortstop or Bryce Harper from first base at this time. He lauded the defensive play of Turner, saying he made great strides.
•Dombrowski said three more arms in the bullpen to add with Jhoan Duran, Matt Strahm, Tanner Banks, Jose Alvarado and Orion Kerkering.
•The Phillies continue to have interest in bringing on Don Mattingly as their bench coach.
But with the MLB Winter Meetings underway, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow should consider some of the top options on the free-agent market. There are several players capable of filling the club’s biggest needs: a middle-of-the-order bat (or two), a No. 2 starter, and a left-handed reliever.
So, which free agents should the Red Sox prioritize? Here are six of the best fits available this winter:
Alex Bregman, 3B
Bregman opted out of the final two years of the three-year, $120 million contract he signed with the Red Sox last offseason. The 31-year-old was a great fit for Boston, serving as a significant defensive upgrade at third base while putting up strong offensive numbers when healthy. He also immediately made his presence felt as a respected veteran in the Red Sox clubhouse.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic recently reported that re-signing Bregman is a priority for Boston. That should come as no surprise. An All-Star for the third time in 2025, Bregman was an MVP frontrunner before he suffered a quad injury in May. He finished the campaign with a .273/.360/.462 slash line, 18 homers, and 62 RBI in 114 games.
Pete Alonso, 1B
The Red Sox must add some pop to the middle of their lineup this winter. A right-handed bat would be ideal, making Alonso the perfect fit.
The “Polar Bear” mashed 38 homers for the New York Mets last season. Not counting the abbreviated 2020 campaign, Alonso has hit at least 34 homers in each season of his seven-year career.
The Red Sox are among the teams Alonso is expected to meet with at the MLB Winter Meetings in Orlando. The 31-year-old would split time between first base and designated hitter in Boston.
Alonso earned his fifth career All-Star nod and appeared in all 162 games last season.
Kyle Schwarber, DH
The Red Sox never should have let Schwarber go in the 2022 offseason. They’ll have a chance to attone for that mistake this winter, with Schwarber joining Alonso as the top sluggers on the free-agent market.
Schwarber finished second in the 2025 National League MVP race after belting an NL-leading 56 homers and tallying an MLB-leading 132 RBI. Like Alonso, the 32-year-old played in all 162 games.
Kyle Schwarber almost hit this ball OUT OF DODGER STADIUM 🤯
The Red Sox acquired Schwarber from the Washington Nationals at the 2021 trade deadline. The three-time All-Star played a huge role in the club’s unexpected run to the American League Championship Series. In 41 games with Boston, he hit seven homers and posted a .957 OPS.
Bo Bichette, INF
If the Red Sox fail to bring Bregman back, Rosenthal reports that “some with the club view Bo Bichette as an intriguing alternative.” It’s easy to see why.
Bichette, 28 in March, is coming off a bounce-back campaign with the Toronto Blue Jays. The two-time All-Star slashed .311/.357/.483 with 18 homers and 94 RBI in 139 games, and he stayed hot in the postseason to lead Toronto to its first World Series appearance since 1993.
With Trevor Story expected to remain Boston’s starting shortstop, Bichette would have to shift to either second or third base. He played five postseason games at second, but otherwise has never played either position in his MLB career.
Regardless, Bichette’s bat will make up for his defensive shortcomings if he can duplicate his 2025 performance.
Michael King, RHP
The Red Sox may be done adding to their rotation after trading for Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo. But if they turn to the free-agent market to add a No. 2 starter, King should be on their radar.
King, 30, performed like an ace upon joining the San Diego Padres. Primarily a reliever for his first five seasons with the New York Yankees, he posted a 2.95 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP over 31 games (30 starts) in 2024.
King’s 2025 campaign was marred by a nerve issue in his right shoulder and left knee inflammation. Those ailments limited him to only 15 starts, in which he amassed a 3.44 ERA and 1.20 WHIP over 73.1 innings. That should make him more affordable than the other top options on the market, with just as much upside.
Taylor Rogers, LHP
Boston’s bullpen was among MLB’s best in 2025, but it could use reinforcements after losing left-handers Brennan Bernardino, Chris Murphy, Steven Matz, and Justin Wilson. If Matz and/or Wilson don’t re-sign, the Red Sox will be in dire need of southpaws relievers. Veteran closer Aroldis Chapman is the only proven option on the current 40-man roster.
Rogers, 35 later this month, notched a 3.38 ERA and 1.38 WHIP with 53 strikeouts and 23 walks across 57 appearances (50.2 innings) with the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs last season. An All-Star in 2021, he’s among the top left-handed relievers available and has a solid track record over 10 MLB seasons.
