Category: Baseball

As the hotel lobby at the Signia by Hilton Orlando filled at MLB’s winter meetings on Tuesday morning, an unexpected prize was falling into the Dodgers’ lap.

Edwin Díaz, the top reliever on this year’s free-agent market, was suddenly slipping away from the incumbent New York Mets, who reportedly made the fan favorite closer only a three-year offer that did little to entice him to re-sign with the team.

The Dodgers, meanwhile, were swooping in late to snatch away the hard-throwing right-hander, submitting a more lucrative three-year bid that would pay Díaz a relief-pitcher-record $23 million per season.

Just like that, the Dodgers had gone from a perfectly content, but unremarkably quiet winter, to one in which they’d once again flexed their financial muscles and stunned the baseball industry.

Read more:Shaikin: Dodgers signing of Edwin Díaz shows they aren't going to worry about a potential salary cap

“There were a lot of scenarios [that could have potentially played out this winter] where we didn't necessarily end up with a top-end reliever,” president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said Tuesday night, while declining to comment on Díaz directly since the transaction wasn’t finalized. “But we just kind of prepared on a bunch of different fronts. And being aggressive, if something lined up, we've known all along [it is something we would do].”

The Díaz signing was an affirmation of the team’s operating procedure on the free-agent market. They always at least target top talent. They always at least stay around the proverbial blackboard, as Friedman calls it, in case a player’s market doesn’t develop as expected. And now, they are armed with the kind of endless resources that can make them a threat to scoop up any rebound.

As they leave Orlando this week and embark on the rest of this offseason, it serves as a reminder:

The Dodgers might not need to make another big move, in the same way they downplayed the need for any big acquisition coming into the winter.

But they’ll certainly be ready to pounce if another opportunity materializes.

"I would say we definitely can,” Friedman hinted when asked if another big move this offseason could be possible. “Whether that makes the most sense within the timing of our roster — there's so many factors that go into it, and any decision you make has a future cost. It’s just weighing that. So, yes, we can. How likely it is, is probably another question."

Start with the top overall available free agent, Kyle Tucker.

The Dodgers are not expected to entertain a long-term contract for the soon-to-be 29-year-old and four-time All-Star. If his bidding war, as projected, results in offers upwards of 8-10 years and $400 million, the club is unlikely to engage; given the glut of long-term contracts already on their books, and the crop of young outfield prospects expected to reach the majors in the next several seasons.

But what if Tucker’s market cools? What if, like Díaz, he is left to consider relatively shorter-term deals with higher annual salaries? Granted, that’s unlikely to happen, considering the wide interest Tucker is reportedly attracting, including from the Toronto Blue Jays and their suddenly big-spending front office. If it does, however, the Dodgers could once again become candidates for a blockbuster, still needing to fill out their outfield as they embark on a quest for a World Series three-peat.

Read more:Dodgers and Edwin Díaz agree to terms in blockbuster move to shore up bullpen

The same dynamic could be in play with other top free agents. The Dodgers have already shown interest in familiar face Cody Bellinger, who could bring both positional versatility and a more refined hitting approach than he had during his first stint with the club. Bo Bichette also presents the kind of balanced offensive profile the Dodgers are believed to seeking, as they try to shore up a lineup that too often was boom-or-bust last year.

Like Tucker, both players are unlikely to fit the Dodgers’ bigger-picture plans if their free agencies develop as expected (with Bellinger pegged for roughly five years and $150 million, and Bichette perhaps eight years and more than $200 million).

But thanks to the team’s flush financial outlook — and the fact that a salary cap could be coming next year, potentially incentivizing extra spending right now — all it could take is a slight cooling in either player’s market to make them more realistic targets for the two-time defending champions.

As long as there isn’t an overburdensome long-term risk, the Dodgers don’t seem afraid of lucrative shorter-term commitments to sustain their newly cemented dynasty.

“We have not only a really talented group of players, but an extremely driven group of players, who want to take care of their legacy and create a dynasty and be part of something really special,” Friedman said. “Because of that mindset, it makes it easier to invest. And do everything we can to help support that and be a part of helping bring that to fruition.”

The Dodgers could alternatively get aggressive on the trade market. Brandon Donovan and Lars Nootbaar of the St. Louis Cardinals are seen internally as fits. Steven Kwan of the Cleveland Guardians would be an even bigger-name addition, albeit is less likely to be dealt this winter.

Then there is the real white whale: Two-time Cy Young Award-winning pitcher Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers.

For now, it’s uncertain at best that Skubal, who will be a free agent after next season and is unlikely to sign a contract extension with the Tigers (or any other team that trades for him) before then, gets moved this winter.

Read more:Dodgers downplay Teoscar Hernández rumors, continue assessing bullpen options

If he does, it figures to come at an extremely steep cost for a starting pitcher with one year remaining of team control.

If there’s any team that has the ammunition to pull it off, however, it’s the Dodgers, with their ample pitching depth and top-ranked farm system. Like with their free-agent pursuits, there is likely to be a limit for how much they’d part with. But if the Tigers seriously consider a trade, it would be no surprise to see the Dodgers be seriously involved.

There are less splashy routes for this offseason to go down, of course. If the Dodgers don’t make another marquee addition, they still feel confident with the roster core they have in place.

Then again, that’s the tone they were striking coming into these Winter Meetings, before swiping away Díaz in the surprise move of the week.

Thus, the baseball world has been put on alert again: The Dodgers won’t be reckless. They want to maintain longer-term flexibility. But if they see value in a top-talent target in the short-term, they won’t be afraid to once again spend big.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

With free agency in full swing this week during the 2025 MLB Winter Meetings, Yankees fans are waiting for Brian Cashman to make a big move.

Although, as the team is potentially looking to cut payroll below $300 million for the 2026 season, Cashman may not be making the same types of moves that people are used to seeing from the club.

"Fans don't really care about those details. They want what they want," Cashman told reporters Wednesday. "Ultimately, what we both want is to have a team that's going to rack up the win totals to push themselves into the postseason and win it all. But it's just the nature of the beast where you get into the frenzy of the winter times. 'Anything at all cost, doesn't matter,' but in reality, it does matter.

"Everything adds up. Everything counts. We're an aggressive franchise, but while being aggressive, we already have some very large commitments, and the more of those you have, the more impact it affects you in other areas. And so everything's tied together. Our ownership has obviously demonstrated year in and year out how massively committed they are. But at the same time, that's not an open blank checkbook either."

The longtime GM went on to discuss the current state of the free agent market, saying it's moving at "glacial speed," but the Yanks are confident in their group and still searching for ways to make a splash.

“We have a strong team," Cashman said. "The job is to make it better and make it stronger. (Saying) it and doing it are two different things. We’re trying to pull that off, and it takes time. There's a lot of time on the board still, and there's a lot of inventory still there, so there's a lot of possibilities in play.”

Cashman added that current talks with free agents have "been tough so far" and any trade proposals haven't made much progress.

“We’re just staying engaged, trying to match up with some things. But it's been tough so far," Cashman added. "Don't like the asks coming our way, and I guess the opposing teams don’t like what I'm trying to pull from them on the trade stuff. We do have some conversations that possibly could lead somewhere.”

Among the "inventory" still out there includes Cody Bellinger, who opted out of his deal with New York to become a free agent this offseason. Cashman said earlier in the week that the Yanks have had dialogue with Bellinger's agent Scott Boras and a reunion with the OF is "still in play." 

He was asked Wednesday if the Yankees can "afford to wait" on resigning Bellinger because they already have youngsters Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones as replacement options, explaining they're taking an "opportunistic" approach when it comes to signings.

"I don't know if it's ‘afford’ to wait. I think we're opportunistic. We like our players. That is a fact," Cashman said. "But there's players outside of our current control system that we also like, and may very well like more and better because there's a lot more certainty there, which comes with cost, whether it's a trade acquisition or free agent dollars. So it's my job to play on that stuff and try to figure that out, and if we come to an area that this makes a lot of sense, then we're ready to pounce and kind of change the equation. 

"But if not, we like what we have, too, at the same time. Jasson Domínguez is on his journey, and Spencer Jones is just beginning his journey. Those are two names, but I got no idea how this is going to play out."

The Yankees selected right-handed pitcher Cade Winquest from the St. Louis Cardinals in the first round of the 2025 Rule 5 Draft.

The selection came as a bit of a surprise, as the Yankees had not made a Rule 5 selection since 2011.

Winquest, 25, was originally drafted by the Cardinals in the eighth round of the 2022 MLB Draft.

Over the course of 58 minor league games (38 starts), Winquest has pitched to a 4.19 ERA with 219 strikeouts in 212.2 innings. 

Winquest finished the 2025 season at the Double-A level, appearing in eight games for Springfield with a 3.19 ERA in 42.1 innings. 

By rule, Winquest must remain on the Yankees’ 26-man active roster (unless he gets placed on the IL) for the entire 2026 season. If the Yankees elect to waive him and he clears waivers, Winquest must be offered back to the Cardinals.

For the second day in a row, the New York Mets have seen a beloved star agree to terms with another team.

Pete Alonso, the Mets’ all-time leader in home runs, has reportedly agreed to a five-year, $155m contract with the Baltimore Orioles. The news comes a day after the Mets’ long-term closer, Edwin Díaz, reached a three-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Related: Phillies near $150m deal for Schwarber while Dodgers reel in top closer Díaz

The 31-year-old slugger had been unable to find a long-term deal last season and returned to the Mets on a shorter contract, which he opted out of after this year’s World Series. While the Mets were interested in re-signing him they reportedly never made an offer once other teams were willing to offer longer, more valuable deals to the the first baseman.

Alonso has spent his entire MLB career with the Mets, and last season broke Darryl Strawberry’s franchise record for home runs. He ends his Mets career with 264 home runs. He was also incredibly popular with the team’s fans due to his good-nature and power, earning the nickname Polar Bear. The Mets also lost another long-term popular player, Brandon Nimmo, last month in a trade with the Texas Rangers.

Alonso had one of the best offensive seasons of his career in 2025 – he hit .272 with 38 home runs and 126 RBIs – but there are concerns about his defense, a weak point for the Mets, and base running, and the Mets appeared reluctant to give him a multi-year deal when they have already have Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor on expensive, long-term contracts.

Over his Mets career, Alonso hit .253 with 264 home runs and 712 RBIs and an OPS of .857. He was the NL rookie of the year in 2019, when he hit 53 home runs, and a five-time All Star.

Alonso joins an Orioles team that finished last in the AL East last season, although they have several young stars such as Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson and Jackson Holliday.

Phillies acquire hard-throwing Curet from Rays in prospect swap originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The offseason is picking up steam, and the Phillies continue to stay active — this time in the trade market.

The club has acquired right-handed pitching prospect Yoniel Curet from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for fellow right-hander Tommy McCollum, according to The Athletic’s Matt Gelb.

Curet, 23, has had stretches of real success in Tampa Bay’s system since signing out of the Dominican Republic in 2019.

Over his first four professional seasons, the Rays’ No. 22 prospect (per MLB.com) made 81 appearances — 61 of them starts — and delivered a 2.96 ERA, 424 strikeouts across 316 innings, reaching Double-A.

Entering this past season, the Rays’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year from 2023 was ranked as Tampa Bay’s No. 2 prospect on FanGraphs.

His 2025 season took a step back. Command issues resurfaced, leading to a career-worst 1.43 WHIP and 31 walks in 62 innings. After a strong five-start run in Double-A (1.45 ERA), Curet was promoted to Triple-A, where the struggles were more pronounced: 21 earned runs in 31 1/3 innings with a 6.03 ERA and 1.92 WHIP.

Curet features a power arsenal that fits a bullpen projection. His five-pitch mix is anchored by a 96–98 mph sinker — graded a 70 on MLB Pipeline’s 20–80 scale — along with a cutter, four-seamer, changeup and slider.

The Phillies believe the swing-and-miss traits translate, and President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski noted that the club views Curet as a reliever and a depth piece as they continue shaping the 40-man roster.

Curet — now the Phillies’ No. 24 prospect on MLB.com — was designated for assignment by Tampa Bay earlier this week and has one Minor League option remaining.

McCollum, 26, has pitched all 165 of his professional games out of the bullpen. He owns a 3.42 ERA with 36 saves in 40 chances across five seasons since signing with the Phillies as an undrafted free agent out of Wingate University in 2021.

With potential bullpen adjustments coming in 2026, this move fits as an early step in reshaping the relief group, particularly in the middle innings.

Giants reportedly among five MLB teams ‘in on' Freddy Peralta trade discussions originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Though the Giants have cautioned that they won’t spend wildly in MLB free agency, president of baseball operations Buster Posey could take a big swing in the trade market.

The Giants are one of five teams currently “in on” trading for Brewers right-handed pitcher Freddy Peralta, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon reported Wednesday, citing people familiar with Milwaukee’s discussions. The addition instantly would upgrade San Francisco’s starting rotation.

Rosenthal and Sammon listed the Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and Houston Astros as other teams currently pursuing Peralta, while the New York Mets “are also believed to be interested.”

The 29-year-old Peralta is coming off his best MLB season. He posted a 17-6 record with a 2.70 earned run average in 33 starts, garnering his second career MLB All-Star selection and finishing fifth in the National League Cy Young Award voting. Due just $8 million in 2026, Peralta will be a free agent after the season.

The Giants, meanwhile, have made clear their aim to prioritize pitching this offseason. Aces Logan Webb and Robbie Ray will return, along with promising right-hander Landen Roupp, but there is an obvious need for at least one reliable starting arm. Peralta would more than fill that void, fresh off three consecutive 30-start campaigns.

As Rosenthal and Sammon report, however, there is plenty of competition and “no deal appears close. Talks are fluid, and the teams interested in Peralta are also exploring free agents and trades for other starting pitchers.”

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The Mets are losing Pete Alonso to the Orioles, who are signing him to a five-year deal worth $155 million, per multiple reports. There are no opt-outs in the contract. 

The move comes a day after the Mets lost Edwin Diaz to the Dodgers on a three-year deal worth $69 million.

With Alonso and Diaz gone, they join former franchise cornerstone Brandon Nimmo as ex-Mets.

Nimmo was traded to the Rangers earlier this offseason for Marcus Semien. 

The Mets had reportedly been unwilling to go beyond three years for Alonso, who gets the long-term deal he desired and couldn't get last offseason, when he returned to the Mets on a two-year deal that contained an option after the first season -- which he exercised upon the completion of the 2025 campaign.

With Alonso gone, the Mets have a massive hole to fill in a lineup that has already downgraded this offseason by dealing Nimmo for Semien.

Alonso served as vital protection for Juan Soto last season, with the burly right-hander slashing .272/.347/.524 with 38 home runs, a career-high 41 doubles, and 126 RBI.

During his seven-year career in New York, Alonso -- who broke the Mets' all-time home run record last season -- hit .253/.341/.516 with 264 home runs, 183 doubles, and 712 RBI over 1,008 games.

Like Diaz, Alonso had repeatedly expressed a desire to stay.

But the Mets, under head of baseball operations David Stearns, are going in a different direction.

It is unclear how the Mets will attempt to fill the power void left by Alonso's departure.

They made a run at Kyle Schwarber, but he re-signed on a five-year deal with the Phillies on Tuesday.

The two biggest names remaining on the free agent market are Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger, but neither possess anything close to the game-changing power Alonso has. And they're both left-handed hitters.

Another option on the free agent market is Eugenio Suarez, who blasted 49 home runs last season. Suarez, a third baseman, could theoretically be used as a designated hitter.

When it comes to free agent first baseman, the Mets could conceivably turn to Japanese stars Munetaka Murakami or Kazuma Okamoto. Murakami has huge power but tons of swing and miss in his game, and is viewed as a poor defender. Okamoto is a strong defender, but does not provide nearly as much power potential as Okamoto.

The Mets' main in-house first base option is Mark Vientos, who is coming off a down offensive season and is relatively untested at the position.

After 18 months of shopping the script, the proposed Lionsgate Television series based on the gambling scandal involving Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter is in development at Starz.

The project will spotlight the audacious theft by Ippei Mizuhara of $16 million from Ohtani to pay off staggering gambling debts. Mizuhara was fired by the Dodgers after the crimes came to light in March 2024. A year later, he was convicted of defrauding Ohtani in federal court and sentenced to 57 months in prison.

Read more:What to know about the Shohei Ohtani interpreter gambling scandal

The series will be produced by Tony Award winner Scott Delman, known for “The Book of Mormon” and “A Raisin in the Sun,” and sports journalist Albert Chen. Alex Convery, who wrote "Air," is on board as showrunner and screenwriter while Justin Lin (the  “Fast and Furious” franchise) will direct, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

“This is Major League Baseball’s biggest sports gambling scandal since Pete Rose — and at its center is its biggest star, one that MLB has hitched its wagon on,” Chen said in a statement to The Times. “We’ll get to the heart of the story — a story of trust, betrayal and the trappings of wealth and fame.”

Lionsgate was having trouble selling the project to companies with media rights agreements with Major League Baseball — Disney, Warner Bros., Discovery, Apple, Netflix and Comcast — because the companies didn't want to jeopardize their relationships with the league, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Lionsgate is the former parent company of Starz, but the two formally separated in May.

The story unquestionably is compelling. Mizuhara befriended Ohtani in Japan when the player who would become the most accomplished hitting and pitching combination in baseball history was an 18-year-old rookie with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.

Ohtani came to the United States in 2018 at age 23, signing with the Angels. Mizuhara soon became his most trusted friend and interpreter, serving as an intermediary between Ohtani and nearly everyone who spoke English, including the media, his agent and Angels officials.

Read more:How athletes and entertainers like Shohei Ohtani get financially duped by those they trust

Mizuhara arranged wire transfers from Ohtani’s bank account without the player's knowledge or permission and impersonated him during more than two dozen phone calls with bank employees, all to feed a gambling habit that accumulated $40 million in losses across thousands of bets.

Mizuhara allegedly collected $142 million in winnings but lost about $183 million.

Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700-million contract with the Dodgers in December 2023 and the scandal came to light three months later. Ohtani was absolved of wrongdoing and described as a victim by federal authorities.

“Ippei has been stealing money from my account and has told lies,” Ohtani said through his new interpreter, Will Ireton, shortly after Mizuhara was arrested. “I never agreed to pay off the debt or make payments to the bookmaker.

“I’m just beyond shocked. It’s really hard to verbalize how I am feeling at this point.”

Ohtani quickly put the episode behind him, leading the Dodgers to World Series championships in 2024 and 2025. He was named National League Most Valuable Player both years.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Phils lose McGarry, select McCambley in Rule 5 Draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

On the final day of the Winter Meetings, the Rule 5 Draft wrapped up in Orlando.

As expected, the Phillies lost Griff McGarry — who they chose not to add to the 40-man roster on Nov. 18 — to the Nationals. Washington took the 26-year-old right-hander with the third pick in the Major League phase.

McGarry, a fifth-round pick out of the University of Virginia in 2021, is coming off one of his best pro seasons. He posted a 3.44 ERA across 21 starts, primarily at Double-A, and struck out 124 batters in 83 2/3 innings. According to MLB.com, his 13.3 strikeouts per nine innings ranked fourth in the Minors.

The Phillies were also active. With the 12th pick in the Major League phase, they selected another 26-year-old righty, Adam McCambley.

The New Jersey native spent five seasons in the Marlins’ system, bouncing between the rotation and bullpen. In his first two years as a starter, the 2020 third-rounder logged a 4.99 ERA over 39 starts. Since shifting primarily to relief, he’s posted a 3.23 ERA over 94 appearances across the past three seasons.

Like McGarry, McCambley is coming off a career year. He recorded a 2.90 ERA between Double-A and Triple-A in 2025, racking up 83 strikeouts over 62 innings. After walking 18 batters in 22 2/3 frames in 2024, he cut his walk rate by more than half to 3.2 walks per nine this past season.

His fastball sits 92–94 mph, and he generates heavy spin and movement on his slider, curveball and cutter, each eclipsing 3,000 rpm.

McCambley is now on the Phillies’ 40-man roster, as the 34th member.

In the Minor League phase, the Phillies added a pair of prospects. With the 24th selection, they took outfielder Austin Murr from the Tigers’ system. With the 42nd pick, they grabbed right-hander Evan Gates from the Giants.

Murr is coming off a strong year. In 72 games at High-A West Michigan, the 26-year-old slashed .280/.386/.451 with 26 extra-base hits and 43 RBIs. Power hasn’t been his calling card, but the former sixth-round pick has shown consistent plate discipline over five pro seasons, carrying a 192-to-275 walk-to-strikeout ratio.

Gates, 27, has worked exclusively out of the bullpen for San Francisco. Over 260 2/3 innings in five seasons, he owns a 3.52 ERA with 307 strikeouts and 113 walks.

The lone Phillie lost in the Minor League phase was catcher Carson Taylor, who went to Seattle. The Phillies originally selected Taylor two winters ago in the Rule 5 Draft from the Dodgers. He hit 16 homers in his first season with the organization in 2024 before a right labrum tear ended his 2025 campaign.

One notable name who will be staying put is 6-foot-4 outfielder Felix Reyes. The 24-year-old returns after winning the Eastern League batting title, hitting .335 in 95 games for Double-A Reading.

What's next after whiffing on Alonso? Red Sox must get creative originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Red Sox entered the offseason in need of at least one middle-of-the-order bat. Nothing they’ve done so far this winter suggests they’re serious about addressing that void.

On Tuesday, they watched old friend Kyle Schwarber return to the Philadelphia Phillies on a five-year, $150 million contract. While Schwarber always seemed like a long shot to return to Boston, it was alarming to see the Red Sox weren’t mentioned with the Baltimore Orioles and Cincinnati Reds as clubs to make competitive offers to the National League MVP runner-up.

The real gut punch came Wednesday. Not only did the Red Sox miss out on slugging first baseman Pete Alonso, but they will also have to see him in the American League East for the foreseeable future. The biggest bat on the market joined the Orioles on a five-year, $155 million deal, and the Red Sox’ offer reportedly wasn’t in the same stratosphere.

Boston whiffed on Alonso two days after chief baseball officer Craig Breslow made this remark at the MLB Winter Meetings:

“I think that the true middle-of-the-order bat that can hit the ball out of the park, has probably an outsized impact on the rest of the lineup because of the way you have to attack someone — the on-base implications it can have,” he said. “And so, again, we’re going to consider all ways of improving the team, but finding someone in the middle of the order and who hits the ball out of the park is a really good place to start.”

Alonso was widely considered the perfect fit for Boston. The five-time All-Star has been one of the premier power hitters in baseball for the last seven years. His right-handed pop would have paired perfectly with Fenway Park, especially in a Red Sox lineup loaded with left-handed bats.

So, now what?

Turning to the trade market

With Schwarber and Alonso off the board, Boston must get creative to add legitimate power to the lineup. Re-signing Alex Bregman alone won’t cut it, and with an underwhelming free-agent class, Breslow and Co. will likely have to explore the trade market to add anyone worth getting excited about.

One intriguing possibility is Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte. The three-time All-Star has recently been linked to the Red Sox in trade rumors, though it will take a significant haul to land him. Arizona is reportedly looking for young, big-league-ready starting pitching in return. Marte signed a six-year, $116.5 million extension with the D’backs last April.

Another name that moves the needle? Corey Seager. Boston has had talks with the Texas Rangers about a potential deal for the five-time All-Star shortstop, according to The Boston Globe. Acquiring Seager seems less likely than Marte, given that the two-time World Series MVP is owed $31 million in each of the next six seasons. Plus, Seager has almost exclusively played shortstop throughout his 11-year career, so either Trevor Story would have to move to second base, or Seager would have to adjust to second or third.

Houston Astros infielder Isaac Paredes and St. Louis Cardinals utility man Brendan Donovan are also on the Red Sox’ reported list of trade targets. While both would be solid additions, neither would be enough to say Boston made the necessary upgrades to its lackluster offense.

Free-agent alternatives

There’s still a chance for Breslow to add power via free agency. Shortstop Bo Bichette and third baseman/DH Eugenio Suarez are the two most appealing options, though both come with caveats.

Bichette is largely considered an alternative to Bregman; otherwise, he’d have to move to second base. Suarez will turn 35 in July and is a defensive liability at third base, though he could move to first or serve as the Red Sox’ designated hitter.

In conclusion

Boston can still salvage what already feels like a disappointing offseason. The most likely path involves parting ways with promising young pitchers, such as left-handers Connelly Early or Payton Tolle, when all principal owner John Henry really had to do was open his wallet.

Boston’s unwillingness to offer competitive deals for Schwarber or Alonso proves that returning to the postseason wasn’t enough to convince Red Sox brass to act like a big-market organization. That’s a discouraging sign for the team’s 2026 chances, and it should infuriate fans who bought back in on the club during the 2025 campaign.

With Kyle Schwarber coming off the board on Tuesday when he signed a five-year deal to stay with the Philadelphia Phillies, the industry expectation became that the position player market would start to move. 

Former Houston Astro and Chicago Cub Kyle Tucker is the biggest name still the open market, and both New York teams have reportedly checked in on the outfielder. 

Per Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Mets, Yankees and “most all big-market” teams have checked in on Tucker, as have the Baltimore Orioles. 

Tucker, 28, was an All-Star for the Cubs in 2025 (his fourth straight All-Star selection), posting a 143 OPS+ with 22 home runs, 73 RBI, and 25 stolen bases. He has a career OPS of .865 and would provide an elite, left-handed bat to whichever teams he signs with. 

From a Mets perspective, Tucker would have provided some needed thump in the lineup, but they’d likely need to do some outfield shuffling, as Tucker has almost exclusively been a right fielder in his career (639 games in right, 72 games in left). The Mets would likely move Juan Soto to left field if they were to sign Tucker. 

The Yankees have a similar situation in the outfield. Trent Grisham is likely locked in to center field, meaning Aaron Judge would stick in right. Tucker would likely need to play left field for the Bombers, as moving Judge to left doesn’t seem to be on the table. 

Yankees GM Brian Cashman has said that the team would "love" to bring back outfielder Cody Bellinger, who has proven he can perform in the Bronx and is a more natural fit in left field (plus has the versatility to play first base). But Tucker would certainly be an enticing option as well. 

Athletics reportedly trade Rule 5 draft pick Ryan Watson to Red Sox originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Athletics reportedly are acquiring another infield prospect, this time from the Boston Red Sox.

Justin Riemer will be joining the A’s organization in exchange for right-handed pitcher Ryan Watson, per MassLive’s Chris Cotillo.  

Red Sox trade Justin Riemer to A’s.

— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) December 10, 2025

To be clear: Red Sox getting Rule 5 reliever Ryan Watson from A’s for minor leaguer Justin Riemer. 1 for 1 deal, per sources.

— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) December 10, 2025

Watson was selected sixth overall by the A’s on Wednesday in the MLB Rule 5 Draft from the San Francisco Giants.  

Riemer, 23, was selected by the Red Sox in the fourth round of the 2023 draft. He played in 76 games with Boston’s High-A affiliate and six for the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs. 

He plays multiple positions, but profiles long-term as a second baseman according to Cotillo. 

The A’s acquired three other right-handed pitchers in the Rule 5 draft: Abel Mercedes, Darlin Pinales and Jorge Marcheco. 

The A’s, however, lost two catchers to the draft: 2022 first-round pick Daniel Susac and Abrahan Gutierrez. 

Susac, a Roseville native, was selected fourth overall by the Minnesota Twins and subsequently traded to the Giants.  

General manager David Forst thinks highly of Susac, but with catchers Shea Langeliers and Austin Wynns with firmly cemented roles on the major league team, the A’s left their former first-round pick unprotected for the Rule 5 draft. 

“The catch-and-throw skills have gotten a lot better,” Forst said. “He may be challenged offensively. Vegas has a way of helping some guys’ numbers, but that’s the case with anybody in this situation. The bat will determine probably if he’s able to stick or not.  

“He has a chance to be in a good situation and they can get him good matchups and that’s when it does work out for guys, is when they have a specific role and fill it.” 

There was universal shock on Tuesday after news broke that Edwin Diaz was leaving the Mets to sign a three-year deal with the Dodgers.

And that shock was not only felt by blindsided Mets fans, but by those in the industry who didn't see this coming and spent all afternoon trying to make sense of it in print and on video.

It was one thing that the Mets had lost Diaz, which was always a possibility, even though it felt remote. That they lost him on a three-year deal was bewildering. That they lost him on a three-year deal to the team they'll have to go through if they want to win a World Series was almost impossible to believe.

But here we are.

As far as what happened at the end of the process between the Mets and Diaz, that doesn't really matter. What matters is that they lost a negotiation for a player they wanted and needed, and also happened to be beloved by the fans.

With there being no indication that Diaz did not want to be a Met -- as alluring as the Dodgers are -- him leaving was truly puzzling.

The Mets needed to get it done, and didn't.

The loss of Diaz understandably dismayed and disoriented a fan base that was already reeling from the slow collapse that was the 2025 season -- one that resulted in an apology from owner Steve Cohen and candid self-reflection from president of baseball operations David Stearns. 

With the backdrop of Diaz leaving amid a so-far-underwhelming offseason, I thought back to this quote that Stearns gave on Sept. 29 in his end-of-season news conference:

"I think on a number of levels there are areas where we can probably be a little more proactive," he said. "And I can be a little more proactive. I think some of these lessons we're still investigating and still fully understanding various aspects of our team. But there are clearly times in the season, times over the offseason, where I can be a little bit more proactive."

You can say the Mets were proactive earlier this offseason while signing Devin Williams to give themselves cover in the event Diaz left. Aside from that? Not so much.

The Mets were unable to close the deal with Diaz.

There are reports that they are hesitant to extend beyond three years for Pete Alonso.

They are reportedly not inclined to offer what it takes to land any of the top free agent pitchers on the market.

As far as trades -- and this could very well change in the coming days -- they have yet to display the willingness to deal what it takes to land a difference-maker.

When it comes to Diaz, you can throw fan sentiment out the window regarding how the Mets were calculating this. That's because doing what it took to bring him back should've been an obvious baseball move. His return thrilling the fans would've been a bonus.

With Diaz gone, the attention now turns to Alonso.

And it can be argued that Alonso is an even more obvious baseball decision than Diaz should've been.

That's because, in the case of Diaz, the Mets protected themselves by signing Williams. And they can further bolster the bullpen by signing a late-inning arm like Robert Suarez or Pete Fairbanks, or trading for someone like Trevor Megill.

If Alonso leaves, where are the Mets turning for the power needed to protect Juan Soto?

It won't be Kyle Schwarber, whom the Mets were seriously interested in before he re-signed with the Phillies on Tuesday on a five-year deal.

You can talk about free agent outfielder Cody Bellinger as something of a replacement for Alonso in the lineup, but you won't be taken seriously if you do. That's because he doesn't come close to providing the power that Alonso does. And his offensive production has varied wildly from year to year.

As the Mets weigh how to proceed with Alonso, it's worth noting that In addition to Diaz, the club has also moved on from Brandon Nimmo this offseason. Trading Nimmo was reasonable, given his regression offensively and defensively, and the fact that there were five years remaining on his contract.

Losing Diaz was not understandable, and using the same tactic with Alonso that they used with Diaz is something the Mets can't afford to do.

That's not to say that they should hand Alonso a blank check.

If some team offers him six or seven years, it will be well within New York's right to walk away. But if this comes down to moving off their reported uncomfortability with extending to a fourth year, they should budge. And going to five years for Alonso -- if that's what the market bears -- would not be a crazy thing to do if needed.

You cannot let fan sentiment dictate what you do, but it has to be a factor. And if keeping a player is smart baseball-wise, the Mets should go the extra mile when those players want to stay and are loved by the fans. They should also make an effort to show those players how wanted they are, perhaps at times letting that break through the cold business of negotiations.