Category: Baseball

The Mets made a trade with the Twins on Thursday night, acquiring utilityman Vidal Brujan for cash considerations.

Brujan, 23, has spent five seasons in the big leagues, most recently with the Braves. 

In 2025, Brujan appeared in 59 games, slashing .244/.298/.302 with an OPS of .600 with the Cubs, Orioles and the aforementioned Braves. He was claimed by the Twins in January but was designated for assignment on Jan. 21 before the Mets came in and traded for him. 

What makes Brujan appealing to president of baseball operations David Stearns and the Mets is his versatility. Brujan has started at all three outfield spots, shortstop, third base and second base. He's played most of his games at second, but has appeared in 67 games (33 starts) in the outfield.

In a corresponding move to make room for Brujan on the roster, the Mets designated LHP Richard Lovelady for assignment.

The Mets made a big splash when they acquired RHP Freddy Peralta in a trade with the Brewers on Wednesday, but it wasn't without cost.

New York sent prospects Brandon Sproat and Jett Williams to Milwaukee to complete the deal for Peralta and reliever Tobias Myers. It was a bittersweet day in Mets land as Williams was often at the top of the organization's prospect lists, including SNY's Joe DeMayo, who had him ranked No. 3 on his latest rankings -- behind only Nolan McLean and Carson Benge. 

He was also ranked No. 71 in Baseball America's top 100 prospects list ahead of the 2026 season. 

About 24 hours after the deal was made official, Williams posted a message to the Mets and fans as he embarks on a new journey with the Brewers.

"To the Mets organization, thank you for giving me an opportunity and for allowing me the space to grow - through both failure and success. Thank you to the fans for welcoming me with open arms and supporting me through every high and low. To my teammates and everyone in the organization, you will always have a special place in my heart."

Williams was drafted 14th overall by the Mets in the 2022 draft and had a taste of the Triple-A level by the 2024 season, but was slowed down by injury. The infielder/outfielder returned to have a bounceback 2025 between Binghamton and Syracuse, slashing .261/.363/.465 with an OPS of .828 across 130 games. He smashed 17 home runs, drove in 52 runs and stole 34 bases.

 

🙏🏻🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/CSPIAMwW0n

— Jett Williams (@jettwilliams04) January 22, 2026

Spring training is fast approaching, but not fast enough for me. These days, we are in a serious baseball content drought: MLB The Show is in end-of-life, most of the major names have been signed, and the trade market is coming to a standstill. All I have left to keep me going these days is the 40 in 40s. Most recently, I read what Isabelle Minasian wrote about Emmerson Hancock. The article was a good read. Until now, I did not know Hancock was the 6th overall pick, which makes the Mariners’ development of him interesting, especially considering the success they’ve had with other guys who didn’t have as much upside, like Bryan Woo or Bryce Miller. Hancock is not the only player to raise these kinds of questions. The Mariners currently have a plethora of players who may, in fact, be on their last chance or close to it. Through circumstance, injury, or just plain chance, these are players who now find themselves on the outside looking in of the opening day roster, which raises a few questions for me: 

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Mariners fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Now, obviously, there may be other players you have opinions about, but let me explain why I chose who I chose. 

Cole Young could become the starting second baseman right out of spring training, or even third base if things don’t work out for Williamson over there. While a bad run for Young could mean starting in Triple-A and allowing the Mariners to run out whoever for 2-3 months while Young builds up some momentum again in the minors. Williamson is in a similar boat to Young; it seems they are going to go with him at third, but I would hesitate to call it a sure thing. Williamson had some good moments last year and looked solid, but is going to take more than 76 OPS+ to be a core contributor on this team at a power premium position, at least I think it should. Luke Raley didn’t see much action last year due to injury, but even when he was healthy, he still didn’t see an uptick in use and went unused in the playoffs. Raley has to come out of the gate hot. He has some value as a utility player for outfield and first, but with the addition of Refsnyder, it’s hard to say how Raley fits on this roster moving forward. 

Bryce Miller was haranged by injury, inconsistancy and poor performance last year, I imagine mostly stemming from his repeated elbow issues. Miller has shown he can be dominant. I fully expect him to return to form and more this season; I don’t think there’s any reason to expect less. Now, I’ll preface this by saying I am a well-known Canzone hater. Now, Canzone has had flashes, but I’m ready to see him put it together if he can. However, if he can’t, I support ending the Canzone experience. Emmerson Hancock’s name still haunts the comments on these posts. What is there to say that Isabelle hasn’t said already? He’s 26, a former top pick, now is the time show us he’s got it. The random usage, being called up and down at a whim, I’m sure, takes its toll mentally and physically. But Hancock has got to show up with a new gear this year, or I fear his time as a Mariner may be soon drawing to a close. 

Of course, I can’t let you go without seeing the results from last week. So let us get into it. Last week I asked you all if you thought the Mariners were done this offseason, and boy did people let me know:

Vast majory of you said know. I think that’s cope (formerly known as Edge) but I guess we shall see. If there is going to be a deal, it will be the NL Central, either the Cubes or the Cardinals, but I really think the asking price for Nico Horner or Brenden Donovan is too high. That being said, competitive teams make competitive moves; you rarely miss prospects when you’re playing in October. Plus, while the cost is high now, it might only get higher at the deadline, or depending on where teams are at, become nonexistent.

In relation to that we also asked if you thought the Mariners had a World Series leve roster as they are right now, the results were less straightforward:

Slight lean towards “I don’t know,” but really it’s split into thirds. Obviously, we still have yet to see how this group will play over the course of a full season. Personally, I don’t think the Mariners have made massively impactful changes that put them over the top, but I guess that depends on how much they need to get over the hill.

Regardless, let us know what you think in the comments and survey below…or I guess above in this case.

One Major Red Flag in the Astros’ Projected 2026 Rotation

By now, Astros fans have likely seen the wave of national articles and social media posts projecting Houston’s starting rotation for the 2026 season. Most of the attention has understandably centered on Lance McCullers Jr. and his prominent inclusion in many of those forecasts. But beyond the familiar names, there’s a far more concerning trend hiding in plain sight.

Every projected Astros starter being discussed is right-handed.

Call me crazy, but running out a rotation made up entirely of right-handed pitchers on a daily basis doesn’t feel like a formula for sustained success. Yes, the organization is expected to move on from left-hander Framber Valdez, but if Colton Gordon is truly the only left-handed starting option currently in the system, that signals there is still significant work ahead for Dana Brown and the Astros’ front office.

Whether that solution comes as part of a larger trade perhaps clearing the current infield logjam while adding young pitching talent, or through a more targeted deal specifically aimed at addressing this imbalance, it’s hard to believe the Astros are comfortable entering spring training with such a glaring lack of left-handed starters. At least one, if not multiple, southpaws should be on their radar before camp opens.

That’s not to say the projected rotation lacks quality. In fact, there’s plenty to like from top to bottom. Hunter Brown has firmly established himself as the ace and anchor of the staff, and there’s little reason to believe his trajectory is anything but upward. Replacing Framber Valdez with Tatsuya Imai was a savvy move by the front office, providing a strong presence near the top of the rotation.

Christian Javier and Spencer Arrighetti are expected to factor into the top five, while newcomers Mike Burrows and Ryan Weiss bring intriguing upside as potential contributors. McCullers, entering the final year of his contract, will be given every opportunity to earn a rotation spot. Should he fall short, veteran arms such as Jason Alexander and J.P. France could pitch their way into consideration. Even young prospects like A.J. Blubaugh will be given a legitimate chance to prove they belong among the club’s top six starters.

The Astros have already indicated that early-season scheduling, injury management, and workload concerns will lead them to deploy a six-man rotation. That makes the lack of left-handed balance even more noticeable. As things currently stand, Colton Gordon appears to be the lone left-handed starter with a chance to be utilized when the team breaks camp. Whether he secures a permanent spot in the rotation or not is going to be determined by how he pitches this spring along with injuries and potential additions to the club.

For that reason alone, expect Dana Brown to remain active and creative in the coming months. Adding at least one left-handed starter before Opening Day feels less like a luxury and more like a necessity.

One way or another, the Astros’ 2026 rotation will change between now and Opening Day. The question isn’t if Dana Brown adds a left-handed arm, it’s who? how? and how soon?

While this move will be overshadowed by the MacKenzie Gore trade, Paul Toboni made another waiver claim. This time he picked up Gus Varland from the Diamondbacks. He is the older brother of Blue Jays reliever Louis Varland and has some similarities. To make room on the 40-man roster the Nationals DFA’d Riley Adams.

The Nationals have claimed right-handed pitcher Gus Varland off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks and designated catcher Riley Adams for assignment.

— Nationals Communications (@NationalsComms) January 22, 2026

While Varland did not pitch in the MLB in 2025 and had an injury riddled season, he has MLB experience. He had a really strong season in 2024, posting a 3.42 ERA in 26.1 innings with 27 strikeouts. If he can get back to that form in 2026, he can be a nice piece for the Nats bullpen.

At just 29 years old, Varland still has time on his side as well. Varland has an exciting fastball/slider combination that can get big league outs. His fastball sat at 95 MPH in 2024, but it has a ton of carry at the top of the zone. The heater is comfortably his best pitch and he throws it over 55% of the time. Varland’s primary secondary pitch is a high-80’s slider, but he also mixes in a changeup.

He is an interesting piece to add to a wide open mix in the Nats bullpen. With Varland and Paxton Schultz in the fold, Paul Toboni has created some more bullpen depth. The high leverage spots are a concern, but it feels like the bullpen has more capable bodies now.

On the other side of the coin, the Nats DFA’d Riley Adams, who has been with the team for a while. Adams was part of a deal that sent Brad Hand to the Blue Jays. While he has not been great, getting a big leaguer for Hand is a win. In his time with the Nats, Adams posted a .640 OPS.

The Nationals have claimed Gus Varland off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks and DFA’d catcher Riley Adams.

Adams, acquired in the sell-off in 2021 for Brad Hand, hit .215 with a .640 OPS in five seasons with the Nationals.

— Andrew Golden (@andrewcgolden) January 22, 2026

Adams has some eye-popping tools, most notably his elite bat speed. His 78.3 MPH average swing speed is one of the best marks in the sport. He also has an absolute cannon of an arm. However, he was just unable to fully put things together.

Adams will turn 30 this year, so time is not really on his side anymore. He is also out of options, so it feels unlikely that he gets claimed. Given some of the tools, I would not be shocked if he got claimed though.

Obviously, this move will be overshadowed by the Gore trade, but it could be a decent pickup for the bullpen. Paul Toboni is making his mark on this roster, there is no denying that.

Tyson Lewis saw his name etched in the annals of internet history earlier today by claiming the #8 spot in this year’s Red Reporter Community Prospect Rankings. Congrats to Tyson on the incredible honor!

By now you know the new voting rules here. There will be an embedded poll at the bottom of this post where you can cast your vote until the poll closes, but if that’s stripped out for you for some reason there will exist a link right here to take you to Google Forms to vote. Both of those will magically disappear when voting closes, though, so that internet chicanery cannot come in after the fact, dump votes, and change the already created history of the world.

Here’s how the list has materialized so far:

1. Sal Stewart
2. Alfredo Duno
3. Rhett Lowder
4. Hector Rodriguez
5. Edwin Arroyo
6. Cam Collier
7. Steele Hall
8. Tyson Lewis

A few new names have been added to the voting mix for spot #9. Have at it with the votes!

Chase Petty, RHP (23 years old)

2025 at a glance: 6.39 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, 102/58 K/BB in 112.2 IP with AAA Louisville Bats (International League); 13 ER in 6.0 IP with Cincinnati Reds

Pros: Three plus pitches, including a fastball that flirts with 100 mph and 60-grade slider and cutter

Cons: Lit up in first cups of MLB coffee, and struggled in AAA after being sent back down

Petty has long been on the radar of every scout in the game, a former 1st round pick of the Minnesota Twins out of high school (whom the Reds had eyes on drafting back then, too). He was the centerpiece of the deal that sent Sonny Gray the other way, and he’s pitched his way onto multiple Top 100 overall prospect lists since.

Of course, he’s also pitched his way back off those same lists, with much of his work in 2025 doing just that. He was shelled at the big league level, though that’s with the caveat that he’d just turned 22 years old when that went down. The stuff’s still there, he’s just struggled to blend it all together for long enough stretches to show he can be an effective big league starter. The hope is that the lumps he took in 2025 paired with a mostly healthy offseason for the first time in a while will send him into 2026 both ready and with something to prove.

Aaron Watson, RHP (19 years old)

2025 at a glance: Drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2nd round of the 2025 MLB Draft out of Trinity Christian Academy (FL); signed overslot $2.7 million bonus to forego commitment to the University of Florida

Pros: 6’5” frame; potential 60-grade slider; fastball that runs up to 96 mph from a three-quarter arm slot and already has a solid three-pitch mix with his change rotated in

Cons: Did not pitch professionally after being drafted, so he’s a complete unknown

One glimpse of Watson on the mound and you immediately think yep, I bet that guy can turn into a pretty dang good pitcher. He’s got an ideal frame to produce downhill offerings, and his fastball/slider mix is already something on which he can hang his hat.

However, command of all three of his pitches – specifically a very developmental changeup – will be what he needs to work on to begin to move quickly through the ranks. He possesses a good ‘feel’ at the moment in terms of what pitches to throw, which part of the zone to attack vs. which hitters, etc., but how well he can build in more deception with his offerings will be vital.

Jose Franco, RHP (25 years old)

2025 at a glance: 3.11 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 118/54 K/BB in 110.0 IP split between AA Chattanooga Lookouts (Southern League) and AAA Louisville Bats (International League)

Pros: Fastball that flirts with triple digits with ease

Cons: Secondary pitches need work, and that’s impacting his overall command (and ability to limit walks)

Franco turned 25 years old in November and earned a promotion to the 40-man roster of the Reds shortly thereafter due to his consistent performance across the upper levels of their farm system.

The Reds have a few hulks they’ve put on the mound in recent years, and Franco thoroughly qualifies. He’s listed at 6’2” and an oddly specific 257 lbs, and his size and frame allows him to tap into his excellent fastball velocity with ease. It’s the pitch he misses bats with the most, but how well he can differentiate his breaking pitches (and improve his changeup command) will determine whether or not he can a) get left-handed hitter out with aplomb and b) avoid ending up in the bullpen.

He’s been a late bloomer, in part due to injuries that cost him his entire 2023 season, and if he continues the path he’s been on since getting healthy there could be a whole lot more from him as early as 2026 for Cincinnati.

Carlos Jorge, OF (22 years old)

2025 at a glance: .251/.342/.355 with 6 HR, 40 SB in 469 PA with High-A Dayton Dragons (Midwest League)

Pros: Plus speed; former infielder moved to CF in 2023 and in 2025 looked like a natural there; plus speed; shaved 12.5% off K-rate from down 2024 season; 60-grade arm strength a weapon in CF

Cons: ISO declined for third straight year, this time precipitously; prone to extreme streakiness

If you threw out every other stop of Carlos Jorge’s pro career and just focused on the good ones, he’d already be ranked by now. The good parts of the best of his years have been quite tremendous, all told. He’s flashed great speed (40 steals in 2025), good pop for a small-ish CF (12 HR in 2023 and 2024; .483 SLG in the cavernous Florida State League in 2023), and the ability to play pretty elite CF defense (as recently as 2025).

However, he’s added some real clunkers in there, too. He hit just .220/.291/.394 with a K-rate over 31% at Dayton in 2024, and that came on the heels of hitting just .239/.277/.398 in 23 games once he reached Dayton at the end of 2023.

Maybe it’s just Dayton, where he was again in 2025 in a much better all-around year, even though his power dried up again. He’ll surely begin with AA Chattanooga of the Southern League in 2026, and at 22 (with his position in CF now settled) the former 2B might finally have a one-track shot to focus on his all around game in a new locale. After acing his move on defense, shaving off a ton of strikeouts, and bumping his walk rate back up over 11.1% (where it’s been for most of his career), perhaps 2026 will have a lot more in store for him.

Zach Maxwell, RHP (25 years old)

2025 at a glance: 4.50 ERA, 5.64 FIP, 13/4 K/BB in 10.0 IP with Cincinnati Reds; 4.17 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 59/32 K/BB in 49.2 IP with AAA Louisville Bats (International League)

Pros: Huge. Literally gigantic (6’6”, 275-ish lbs). Throws gas (100 mph+) with a devastating slider (70-grade). And he’s titanic.

Cons: Struggles with control (6.1 BB/9 across 172.1 IP in his minors career)

Maxwell, a former 6th round pick out of Georgia Tech, throws the ball up to 102 mph with his heater, and it’s clear that hitters have just about as little idea where it’s actually going to be as Maxwell himself. That’s the rub here, really, in that Big Sugar has the pure stuff to turn even the best hitters into guessers, and it comes down to whether they’ll guess wrong more often than Maxwell misses the zone in each and every PA.

If they swing, though, they’re likely going to miss, and that’s why he’s right in the mix for a spot in Cincinnati’s bullpen again in 2026 after making his debut there in 2025. He can be a bit wild if it’s effectively wild, and that’s a tightrope he’s been walking since his days back at North Paulding HS in Dallas, Georgia. When he’s locked in, though, the heater is backed up by an absolutely devastating slide piece, and that two-pitch mix – again, when he’s locked in – is good enough to be closer material. He’s just got to continue to refine his delivery.

Leo Balcazar, SS/2B (22 years old)

2025 at a glance: .263/.339/.381 with 12 HR, 8 SB in 560 PA split between A+ Dayton Dragons (Midwest League) and AA Chattanooga Lookouts (AA Southern League); .277/.340/.340 in 103 PA with Peoria Javelinas (Arizona Fall League)

Pros: Good strike zone judgement and plate discipline (52/75 BB/K in 2025); well-rounded tools, continuing to improve off ACL surgery

Cons: Not a ton of power yet; some question whether he’ll be able to stick at SS long term

It’s easy to forget just how good of a start Balcazar had to his pro career after signing with the Reds for $100,000 out of Venezuela. He posted an .882 OPS in 2021 in Dominican Summer League play, an .886 OPS in 2022 with the Arizona Complex League Reds, and was off to a wicked start (.897 OPS) across the first 18 games of his 2023 season with Class-A Daytona before he tore his ACL.

2024 was a bit of a rough year for him, however, as the layoff and working back from the surgery clearly impacted his performance (.264/.295/.354 in 410 PA). However, 2025 saw him look a lot more like his former explosive self – both at the plate and in the field – and he clearly was healthy enough once again as he logged a combined 663 PA across all leagues.

He’s still just 21 years of age (22 in June of 2026), and if he’s shaken the rust off completely and enters this season after a normal winter, there’s a chance we see a whole lot more from him, too.

Arnaldo Lantigua, OF (20 years old)

2025 at a glance: .268/.345/.519 in 206 PA with ACL Reds (Arizona Complex League); .261/.318/.445 in 129 PA with Class-A Daytona Tortugas (Florida State League)

Pros: Above-average bat speed and raw power; mashes left-handed pitching; good eye at the plate

Cons: Likely destined for corner OF as his range is a concern, though his arm continues to play

The Cincinnati Reds helped the Los Angeles Dodgers sign Roki Sasaki by shipping them international bonus pool money, and in return for it they landed Lantigua, who only turned 20 in December after holding his own across 32 games in the brutal hitting environment of the Florida State League (where right-handed hitters, in particular, are seriously stifled).

You wont see Lantigua winning sprint titles. You won’t see him making plays in the outfield that simply wow you. There’s not a batting title in his future, I don’t imagine. However, there’s a very real chance he continues to evolve into a classic bat-first corner outfielder who can swat over 30 homers a season, and that’s something the Reds have (as you may have noticed) really failed to produce off their farm for quite some time. He’s not on this list because he’s well-rounded, in other words, but the bat/power combo is a skillset where he’s really impressive already at such a young age, and that’s unique among this class.

Another day, another major move for the Mets. 

After acquiring a pair of pitchers in Freddy Peralta and Tobias Myers in a trade with Milwaukee late Wednesday night, Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns met with the media via a video call on Thursday afternoon to talk about the trade, which sent top prospects Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat to the Brewers, the possibility of a Peralta extension, and much more.

Here's what Stearns had to say...

How the Peralta trade came to be

"Similar to a lot of discussions that can happen over the course of the offseason, these began in November when the offseason started, and they took a lot of twists and turns, and involved a lot of different names at different points, different constructs, different sizes of deals. I think talks probably accelerated over the last few days and ultimately we were able to get it across the line for both sides last night."

Is a Peralta extension in the works?

"I’m not going to speculate on that on day one here. We’ll let Freddy get acclimated to the organization. Any conversations that we may have or have in the future, I think we’ll do our best to keep private and not talk about publicly."

With recent moves, where do Mets fit in NL East picture?

"We’ve got a really tough division. We’ve got some really good teams and some teams that are getting better. Until we win a division, we can’t claim that we’re at the top. So, we’ve got to keep going and we’ve got to keep working."

On giving up major prospects

"We recognize that we’ve parted with some very good young players here, players who are going to have good major league careers, and that’s part of it when you’re acquiring a very good player in return. Brandon [Sproat] is going to be a good player, it was very tough for us to give him up, and I do not think we would have given him up in a deal where there was not a starting pitcher coming back."

...

"It's always tough to give up good players, and those are two really good players. It’s also the reality of what it costs to acquire good players coming back. We’re acquiring one of the better starting pitchers in baseball, a guy who has been really consistent. It was going to hurt and it does hurt, giving up good players hurts. Those guys are going to be playing in Milwaukee for a long time. We’re going to be competing against them. We’re also really excited to get Freddy and Tobias here, and I think both of those guys are going to help us."

The plan for Tobias Myers

"I think Tobias, first and foremost when you look at him, he fills up the zone. He goes right after people, he can zone up pretty much his entire arsenal. He’s not afraid. He’s pitched well in very big moments, as we saw firsthand a couple of years ago. And it’s also the versatility and being able to have success in both the rotation and the bullpen. We like his ability to give us multiple innings out of the pen when needed, and also flex into the rotation if that’s the way it goes."

J.T. returns as Phils navigate turbulent free agency, catcher felt ‘undervalued' originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

J.T. Realmuto pulled into third base, stared at the Phillies’ dugout, covered his eyes and held up three fingers. Citizens Bank Park was rocking.

He had just delivered a bases-clearing triple in Game 1 of the National League Division Series off the Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani. Phillies up 2-0.

It was Realmuto’s hardest-hit ball since 2020 — 111.5 mph.

But who remembers that now?

The Phillies went on to lose the NLDS in gut-wrenching fashion, and the hit that opened the scoring and jolted the city faded into the abyss.

At the end-of-season press conference, however, manager Rob Thomson couldn’t stop praising the then–free-agent catcher.

“I’ve had a lot of great catchers [that] I’ve been around. [Jorge] Posada, [Iván] Rodríguez, for a short period of time. It goes on and on and on,” Thomson said. “This guy, to me, is the most prepared guy I’ve ever been around, as a catcher.

“He will spend hours watching video, making up his own game plan, and then matching it up with Caleb, and talking with the pitchers,” the skipper continued. “He’s got a great feel for in-game adjustments, when to go to the mound, when to change the pitch, when to change location… He’s just that good.”

The offseason opened quietly. The Phillies re-signed Kyle Schwarber, bought low on Adolis García and added relievers — including Brad Keller — through free agency and trades. There were tweaks, but not sweeping changes.

For weeks, the club had a three-year offer on the table for Realmuto.

Then came Bo Bichette.

Philadelphia’s pursuit of the infielder shifted the feel of the offseason. Had the Phillies landed Bichette, a reunion with Realmuto would have been unlikely.

Bichette ultimately signed with the Mets. Less than an hour later, the Phillies finalized Realmuto’s return on a three-year, $45 million deal.

For many, the emotional swing of those 24 hours reshaped the offseason narrative — from the excitement of chasing Bichette to the underwhelming feeling of turning over a familiar roster.

When the Realmuto deal became official and the club addressed the media, the tone wasn’t celebratory. It was candid.

“I know how the game works and I know there’s certain values on players and at the end of the day, I just value myself in what I do for the team and the clubhouse differently than what the Phillies did for a while,” Realmuto said. “So that’s why it took longer than it, maybe, should have.”

Realmuto’s clubhouse value and impact on the pitching staff is, in many ways, immeasurable.

Since being acquired in 2019, he has caught more innings than any catcher in baseball — 6,699.2 — nearly 1,200 more than the next closest. Over that span, Phillies starting pitchers have posted the highest WAR in the majors (103.5) according to FanGraphs, forced the softest contact (88.1 mph average exit velocity) and ranked top 10 in both strikeout and walk rate.

According to FanGraphs’ defensive run value, Realmuto ranks third at the position with 91.2 — a difficult number to sustain over seven seasons of heavy usage.

That influence shows up daily. It showed up again when Cristopher Sánchez learned his catcher was coming back.

“I got goosebumps,” Sánchez said through an interpreter. “I just know the pivotal part that he is of the team, and me personally, I just wanted him back so bad.

“To me, he’s one of the best catchers in baseball,” he continued. “Obviously, he’s had a huge impact on me… every time I walk in, J.T.’s already in the kitchen, he has a laptop in his hands, he’s looking at the opposing team, going over the [scouting] report, helping us out, and I just think that’s a testament to him and the preparation he puts in for us to go out there and be able to thrive.”

The praise has never been the issue. The challenge, as Thomson noted back in October, is “putting a dollar sign” on that underlying value.

Realmuto acknowledged his offensive production has dipped — but bristled at how the rest of his impact is weighed in negotiations.

“Yeah, it’s definitely frustrating… I know that I haven’t had my best years the last couple years, but I do believe that it’s not like age or physically related. It’s something that I can improve on and work on and be better for the years to come.”

From a peripheral standpoint, 2025 was one of the least productive offensive seasons of Realmuto’s career. Among qualified catchers, he posted the lowest slugging percentage (.384) and OPS (.700) at the position — the lowest and second-lowest marks, respectively, of his 12 big-league seasons.

October has told a different story.

Realmuto hit .353 with a 1.118 OPS in the NLDS and has collected 11 extra-base hits since the start of the 2023 postseason, posting an .816 OPS across his last 21 playoff games.

Realmuto, who once held the highest average annual value ever for a catcher after signing a five-year, $115.5 million deal, still believes the position remains undervalued.

“For me, it sucks that like the catchers, in my opinion, are just undervalued in this game, as far as contracts and dollars go,” he said. “I truly believe it’s one of, if not, the most important position on the field. So like, I just enjoy fighting for that.”

Left-hander Tanner Banks echoed the sentiment — with a smile.

“From a pitching standpoint, I know he’s got a great rapport with the starting pitching and the relievers that are coming back and I collectively think I could speak for us all and say we’re excited,” Banks said Tuesday.

He also acknowledged the difficulty in quantifying Realmuto’s value.

“It’s hard to put a number on, but a catcher’s in every play of every game. So there’s an extreme value there. You think about a starting pitcher — how good is a starting pitcher if you don’t have your counterpart there, helping you call shots and navigate a lineup three times?”

As with his 2021 free agency, Realmuto again found himself at a negotiating crossroads. This time, though, the leverage shifted.

When Bichette went elsewhere, the Phillies moved quickly — and decisively.

“The dollars looked different and luckily, you know, after the Phillies missed out on an opportunity there at the end, they called back and were able to make something happen, and improve their offer and get to a place that we were happy with.”

Either way, the Phillies have their leader behind the plate.

With Ranger Suárez now gone in free agency, Realmuto’s role as the voice and backbone of the pitching staff becomes even more critical — especially with top prospect Andrew Painter entering the picture.

In the end, both sides landed where they wanted to be.

“We always wanted to bring J.T. back. That was always a priority for us,” Dave Dombrowski said. “We’re thrilled that [he’s] back.”

“The whole time, this is where we wanted to be,” Realmuto added. “I’m glad we’re back here and this is where we want to be the whole time. So really, my focus was just on my legacy here and being able to finish my career with the Phillies.”

Just after I wrote that a MacKenzie Gore trade seemed unlikely, Paul Toboni pulled the trigger. He sent Gore to the Texas Rangers for a five prospect haul. While the Nats did not get Sebastian Walcott, they got five quality pieces from Texas. The return consists of SS/3B Gavin Fien, RHP Alejandro Rosario, 2B Devin Fitz-Gerald, 1B Abimelec Ortiz and OF Yeremy Cabrera.

Full trade, per ESPN sources:

Rangers get: LHP MacKenzie Gore

Nationals get: 3B Gavin Fien, SS Devin Fitz-Gerald, RHP Alejandro Rosario, 1B Abimelec Ortiz and and OF Yeremy Cabrera

A big return for the Nationals. Fien was the 12th pick last year. Evaluators love Fitz-Gerald.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 22, 2026

The headliner of the return is Fien, who was selected 12th overall by the Rangers last year. He was a shortstop in high school, but is likely to move to third base. Fien was one of the most impressive hitters in last year’s class with a really nice blend of hitting ability and power.

Analytically inclined scouts loved Fien’s bat speed and plate discipline. While his swing is not the most traditional, he made plenty of contact on the showcase circuit. He may not be a top 100 prospect yet, but with a strong year, he can surge on to the list.

What you need to know about new Nats prospect Gavin Fien
-12th overall pick in 2025 MLB Draft
-Demolished top prep arms in summer before senior year, posting a 1.262 OPS
-Analytics people love him for his strong plate discipline and bat speedpic.twitter.com/SOKv6ECNmV

— Paul Cubbage (@PaulCubbage23) January 22, 2026

Admittedly, this is a bit of an underwhelming headliner for Gore. However, that is the reason the Nats were able to get five interesting pieces in this deal. Toboni had a choice, he could swing big for one top 50 type prospect or get a grab bag of solid pieces. He chose the latter option, and only time will tell if he is right. 

Most of my trade suggestions had the Nats going after a big name headliner, but only getting one or two other pieces. Toboni decided to do something different, which is a bit of a gamble. However, it is one that could pay off in a big way.

There is a world where Fien and Fitz-Gerald are top 100 prospects. As Jeff Passan noted, evaluators loved Fitz-Gerald. He is a switch hitter with a really nice blend of contact and power. Fitz-Gerald is not much of a defender, but scouts think he could be serviceable at second base.

Alejandro Rosario is an interesting case. He was a top 100 prospect in 2024, but went down with a torn UCL in 2025, missing the whole season. However, it has been reported that he did not get his Tommy John Surgery until a couple weeks ago and will miss all of 2026 as well. A weird situation, but if the 2024 version of Rosario returns, his upside is massive.

The squatty 5’10 230 pound Abimelec Ortiz is the fourth prospect in the deal. The 23 year old slugger hit 25 homers in the minors last year and has very good bat to ball data. He should have a chance to compete for reps at 1B or DH. 

Abimelec Ortiz finished 2025 with 25 HR and a 124 wRC+ across AA and AAA. In 165 PA at AAA, he put up a .953 OPS w/ a 53.8% Hard-Hit%, .377 xwOBA, & an 88.6% Z-Contact%. He's raked in his professional career & put up a 33 HR campaign back in 2023 in just 109 games. pic.twitter.com/MMPJ6zCv8X

— Running From The OPS (@OPS_BASEBALL) January 6, 2026

The last piece is 20 year old outfielder Yeremy Cabrera. He is a speedster who also has some power upside. It is more of a throw in, but he is better than your average throw in. 

Prospect rankings in Rangers' top 30 per MLB Pipeline/Baseball America:

SS Gavin Fien: 2/3
RHP Alejandro Rosario: 6/13
INF Devin Fitz-Gerald: 12/8
OF Yeremy Cabrera: 16/14
1B Abimelec Ortiz: 18/NR https://t.co/yji1lbdfon

— Bobby Blanco (@Bobby_Blanco) January 22, 2026

Overall, the package is solid, but unexpected. It is pretty similar to the Shane Baz deal that went down between the Rays and the Orioles. The Nats needed to add more depth to their farm system and they did that here. Only time will tell if this is the right move, but I am intrigued.

We’re now less than three weeks from pitchers and catchers reporting to Salt River Fields, and it feels like the D-backs’ off-season remains a work in progress. With all respect to Taylor Clarke, the bullpen has barely been touched. We don’t know who will be replacing Lourdes Gurriel in left field on Opening Day. Arizona is still waiting to find out what will happen with regard to the bonus draft pick connected to Zac Gallen [despite a report in December the Cubs were “close to finalizing an agreement” with him]. But perhaps no topic, outside of the Ketel Marte trade rumors, has been more discussed than a potential reunion with Paul Goldschmidt.

Goldy remains the best position player in franchise history, putting up an average of almost five bWAR across his eight seasons with the team. That included six All-Star appearances, and a trio of top three finishes in MVP voting, as well as likely the best value extension in franchise history. But, with one season left to go on that contract, Mike Hazen dealt Goldschmidt to the St. Louis Cardinals, for Carson Kelly, Luke Weaver, Andrew Young and a competitive balance pick, which became Dominic Fletcher. Even though none of those panned out long-term, given it was in exchange for just one year of Goldy, you’d be hard pushed to call it a bad trade.

It is fair, however, to ask why the team did not work out a contract extension with Goldschmidt. The Cardinals certainly did, agreeing a five-year, $130 million deal before the following Opening Day. After a shaky first season in St. Louis, the deal turned out a good price for St. Louis. Goldschmidt posted 20.9 bWAR over the 2020-2024 period included in the extension. It included Goldschmidt finally snaring the NL MVP honor in 2022, which had eluded him with the D-backs. However, the Cardinals failed to get past the wild-card round in three successive years, Goldscbmidt hitting just .174 (4-for-23) in the postseason over that contract.

When it expired, he went to the Bronx, signing a one-year deal worth $12.5 million with the New York Yankees. Aged 38 by the time the Yankees exited in the AL Division Series against the Blue Jays, it seems that Father Time might finally be catching up to him. Paul struggled significantly against right-hand pitching in 2024 and 2025. Across a total of 853 plate-appearances there, he hit only .237/.284/.367 for a .651 OPS. Goldschmidt was still solid against left-handed pitchers, albeit in a smaller sample (335 PA). He hit .315/.389/.522 for a .911 OPS there over the last two seasons. Goldschmidt hit the open market again this winter.

The case for Goldschmidt

Right now, the plan for the D-backs would involve a platoon of left-hander Pavin Smith and right-hander Tyler Locklear. However, Locklear ended up missing the end of the season with injury, after a collision at first with Boston’s Connor Wong, when trying to field and an errant throw from Jordan Lawlar. Whether due to that, or a pre-existing condition, subsequent evaluation determined Lockler needed surgery both on his ulnar collateral ligament (elbow) and labrum (shoulder). While there’s been no news since, Paul Gambadoro said at the time that Locklear could return late in spring, but would potentially miss the first month of the season before being 100%.

There’s also the question of how good he will be. Locklear came over from the Mariners in the Suarez trade, but did not impress before the injury. Across 31 games as a Diamondback, he hit just .175, with a .529 OPS and 43 strikeouts over 116 PA. It is true that Tyler only turned 25 in November, and has less than fifty games of experience at the major-league level. Which is fine, if the team is punting on 2026, and thinking about Locklear as a long-term solution. Let him take his licks this year, and hopefully, he’ll become capable of taking over full-time down the road.

But if the team is committed to competing in 2026 – and, at least publicly, that seems to be the approach Hazen is advocating – Locklear might not be good enough, even after he has fully recovered from those surgical processes. Signing Goldschmidt as a one-year platoon partner, to face left-handed pitching, while Smith gets the bulk of the at-bats against righties (where he has a career .772 OPS), might not be the worst thing in the world. There’s also a lot of residual love in the fanbase for Goldschmidt, understandably so. Bringing him back and allowing him to finish his career where it started could perhaps end up in Goldy entering Cooperstown as a Diamondback.

The case against Goldschmidt

The biggest obstacle to Paul returning to the desert, might well be Paul himself. On the latest edition of Snakes Territory, Jack Sommers reports [around ninety seconds in] that Goldschmidt still thinks he’s worth an everyday spot in the line-up, rather than having a roster spot and getting fewer starts on the weak side of a platoon. The D-backs are not willing to pay the obviously increased salary due to an everyday player – Jack reckoned they are more or less capped at around a $5 million salary for the spot. He also mentioned the Padres as a possible alternative landing spot, who could be willing to give Goldschmidt that everyday job and the matching price.

There hasn’t been much chatter otherwise regarding where Goldschmidt might go. The fact, again, we are less than one month away from spring training, and Paul is still unemployed, suggests there may be a gap between what he wants, and what teams are looking for – both in role and cost. There’s also the question of how much Goldschmidt wants to return – to the same team and GM which wouldn’t extend him, and traded him instead. According to Nick Piecoro, writing at the time of the trade to St. Louis, “Sources indicated that preliminary conversations with Goldschmidt’s camp left the Diamondbacks less than confident they would be able to reach an agreement.”

Does he hold a grudge? It doesn’t seem that the laid-back Paul we knew would be the kind to do so, instead accepting that it was (to misquote The Godfather) “not personal, Goldy – it’s strictly business.” But it doesn’t appear he is (yet) willing to bend on his demands for the season, and give a home-town discount in financial or other areas. As the trade of Goldschmidt shows, Mike Hazen makes decisions with his head, not his heart, even when these are unpopular with the fans. I don’t expect this to change: if Goldschmidt is going to be a D-back in 2026, I think it’ll be on the team’s terms. Otherwise, expect an alternative – perhaps someone like Ty France.

What do you reckon? Should the team sign Goldschmidt or not? That’s what the comments are for…

MacKenzie Gore scored the Nationals a haul.

Washington traded the lefty hurler to the Rangers on Thursday, according to The Post’s Jon Heyman.

The Rangers shipped minor leaguers Gavin Fien, Alejandro Rosario, Abimelec Ortiz, Devin Fitz-Gerald and Yeremy Cabrera. FanSided reported.

Fien, a prized shortstop and the first-round pick of the Rangers last year, was the franchise’s No. 2 prospect, according to MLB.com.

Gore, 26, went 5-15 for the woeful Nationals last season, with a 4.17 ERA over 30 starts with 185 strikes over 159 2/3 innings. He led all Nats pitchers with a 3.0 WAR.

He now joins a rotation that includes Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi.

The Yankees were among the teams reported to be interested in Gore’s services this offseason as they prepare to open the season without aces Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon and Clarke Schmidt.

All three hurlers are working their way back from various injuries.

The Texas Rangers landed the most coveted arm remaining on the trade market when they acquired MacKenzie Gore from the Washington Nationals in exchange for five prospects, the clubs announced Jan. 22.

Gore, 26, earned his first All-Star nod in 2025, and while he faded a bit in the second half, still possesses one of the most dominant left-handed arms in the game. He established career highs in strikeouts (185) and strikeouts per inning (10.4) last season for Washington.

Part of the return package includes shortstop Gavin Fien, as the No. 12 overall pick in the 2025 draft joins the No. 1 overall, Eli Willits, in Washington's system. 

The Rangers finished last season 81-81, their second consecutive non-winning season since taking the 2023 World Series. They traded second baseman Marcus Semien to the New York Mets, non-tendered slugger Adolis Garcia and have been relatively quiet this offseason otherwise. 

Now, they can slot Gore between the right-handers Nathan Eovaldi and Jacob deGrom atop the rotation, giving them a potentially dominant starting pitching look. 

That's assuming Gore, whose fastball reaches 98 mph, cleans up some of his peripherals. He posted a 1.35 WHIP last season and walked 3.6 batters per nine innings. Yet after the trade of Freddy Peralta from Milwaukee to the New York Mets Jan. 21, Gore was the clear-cut best remaining arm on the trade market - and he comes with two years of club control before becoming eligible for free agency.

Gore joined Washington as one of the centerpieces of the blockbuster 2022 deal that sent Juan Soto to San Diego. While the trade worked out splendidly for the Nationals, with Gore, shortstop CJ Abrams and slugger James Wood emerging as foundational pieces, the Nationals lost 91, 91 and 96 games in the three full seasons since that deal. 

Their most recent struggles preceded the firing of manager Dave Martinez and longtime GM Mike Rizzo. Now, the original rebuilding structure is getting torn down as new GM Paul Toboni tries to construct a winner anew. 

In addition to Fien, a high school draftee from Temecula, Calif., the Nationals will receive right-hander Alejandro Rosario, a 24-year-old who sat out all of last season due to Tommy John surgery. Abimelec Ortiz (Class AAA outfielder, 23), Devin Fitz-Gerald (Class A infielder, 20) and Yeremy Cabrera (Class A outfielder, 20) are also headed to Washington. 

MacKenzie Gore trade details

Texas Rangers receive:

• LHP MacKenzie Gore

Washington Nationals receive:

• SS Gavin Fien
• RHP Alejandro Rosario
• 1B/OF Abimelec Ortiz
• INF Devin Fitz-Gerald
• OF Yeremy Cabrera

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MacKenzie Gore trade to Rangers details as Washington deals All-Star

MLB Trade Rumors: The Texas Rangers have acquired starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore from the Washington Nationals, per reports. Texas is sending five prospects, including 2025 first rounder Gavin Fein.

Well, we have been saying that the Rangers needed to add another starting pitcher. It appears they have done so.

Gore, who turns 27 next month, is a lefthander who was picked third overall in the 2017 draft out of Whiteville High School in North Carolina. He was a consensus top-10 prospect heading into both 2020 and 2021, but a disappointing 2021 season that saw him start poorly at AAA, miss time due to blisters and general ineffectiveness, and ultimately make just 12 starts in affiliated ball (half of them below AAA) before struggling in three Arizona Fall League starts saw him plummet in the rankings.

He started 2022 in the minors, but ended up making 13 starts and three relief appearances in the bigs for the Padres before being traded to the Washington Nationals in the Juan Soto deal while on the injured list with elbow issues.

From 2023-25, Gore has posted a 4.15 ERA in 89 starts covering 469.1 IP, with 517 Ks against 186 walks and 62 homers. Last season he threw 159.2 innings in 30 starts, with a 4.17 ERA, a 3.74 FIP and a 4.33 xERA.

We will update as more information becomes available.

UPDATE — According to Evan Grant, along with Fein, the Nats are getting Abi Ortiz, Devin Fitz-Gerald, Alejandro Rosario, and one other prospect. The unknown prospect is not, he says, Sebastian Walcott or Caden Scarborough.

UPDATE II — The fifth prospect is reportedly Yeremy Cabrera.

Fein is the guy in the deal who you feel like could make the Rangers regret the deal.

Ortiz had a strong final couple of months of 2025, but he’s a bat-only guy who wasn’t a lock to be added to the 40 man roster this offseason. He was, of course, ultimately added, which means that Gore will replace Ortiz on the 40 man.

Rosario was a super-exciting prospect at the end of 2024, a guy who was on most top 100 lists. He then was diagnosed with a torn UCL in the spring, needed Tommy John surgery, didn’t actually have Tommy John surgery for a while, and it isn’t clear whether he actually has had it or not (ed. note — he had it on January 13, so nine days ago). He was not going to be pitching again until 2027, so you see why the Rangers would be willing to part with him, given his injury situation.

Fitz-Gerald was the Rangers’ 5th round pick in 2024. He performed well in the ACL in 2025, and earned a promotion to Hickory to finish out the season.

Cabrera was a $10,000 international signee who turned heads in 2024. He spent the 2025 season at Hickory, slashing .256/.364/.366 with 43 stolen bases.

Their ranks on the Rangers’ BA list:

Fein — #3

Fitz-Gerald — #8

Rosario — #13

Cabrera — #14

Ortiz — N/R

I will offer more extensive thoughts on Gore later on tonight.