Category: Sports News

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MLB awards season is officially underway, with the announcement of this year’s top rookies Monday serving as the opening act in a week celebrating baseball’s best from the 2025 season. 

The Athletics’ Nick Kurtz took home the Jackie Robinson AL Rookie of the Year Award unanimously. His teammate, shortstop Jacob Wilson, finished second with 23-second place votes. The Red Sox’s Roman Anthony finished third in the race with three second-place votes and 15 votes for third.

Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin was also named NL Rookie of the Year on Monday.

This year’s Rookie of the Year ballot came with a new wrinkle, as it was expanded from three to five spots, affording voters the opportunity to recognize a few more rookies from the season that was. (For reference, MVP ballots have long featured 10 spots, and Cy Young ballots expanded from three to five in 2010). 

Each award’s electorate is made up of two representatives from each of the 15 chapters of the Baseball Writers Association of America coinciding with the 15 markets in each league, amounting to a total of 30 voters. This year, two of the 30 voters for AL Rookie of the Year were members of our MLB team: Russell Dorsey from the Chicago chapter and Jordan Shusterman from the Cleveland chapter. 

[Get more Athletics news: A's team feed]

While Kurtz’s unanimous award came as no surprise, considering how dominant he was at the plate, there were several other intriguing storylines among AL rookies that made the remainder of the ballot a challenge to fill out. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how Dorsey and Shusterman voted, and what motivated their support for the five players included on their ballots.

Jordan Shusterman’s ballot

• 1. Athletics 1B Nick Kurtz

• 2. Athletics SS Jacob Wilson

• 3. Red Sox OF Roman Anthony

• 4. Red Sox C Carlos Narváez

• 5. Royals LHP Noah Cameron

Russ Dorsey’s ballot

• 1. Athletics 1B Nick Kurtz

• 2. Red Sox OF Roman Anthony

• 3. Athletics SS Jacob Wilson

• 4. Royals LHP Noah Cameron

• 5. White Sox SS Colson Montgomery

Wow, Nick Kurtz is amazing

It wasn’t just that Nick Kurtz was the best rookie in the 2025 class, which he was. The A’s young first baseman was one of baseball’s best hitters. And while he burst onto the scene with his four-homer game against the Houston Astros on July 25, it was only the tip of the iceberg for the 22-year-old slugger. If you need to know just how absurd Kurtz’s season was, take a look at any advanced metric, including his eye-popping 170 wRC+ in 489 plate appearances. Kurtz joined MVPs Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge as the only players in MLB with an OPS over 1.000 this past season and got additional hardware for his outstanding season in the form of the AL Silver Slugger Award for first base. The A’s slugger showed that debuting in the big leagues less than a year after being the No. 4 overall draft pick was no problem for him. Kurtz capped off his stellar rookie campaign leading all rookies in home runs, runs scored, RBI, walks and OPS. — Dorsey

Blue Jays pitcher Trey Yesavage might have rightfully stolen headlines as the most remarkable story from the 2024 draft class, but what Kurtz did at the plate in his debut season just a year after being drafted deserves ample acknowledgement as historic in its own right. Kurtz’s 1.002 OPS was the sixth-highest ever for a rookie with at least 450 plate appearances in a season, and he finished tied for fifth in the AL in home runs with 36, despite playing only 117 games. Kurtz’s peak came midsummer, when he hit an outrageous .395/.480/.953 across 23 games in July, headlined, of course, by his six-hit, four-homer game on July 25. 

And while that epic showing was the apex of his rookie campaign, Kurtz hardly fell off afterward, demonstrating that his red-hot July wasn’t much of an outlier. From his four-homer game through the end of the season, Kurtz hit .271/.394/.530, good for a 154 wRC+ that ranked 11th in MLB over that span. While his sky-high strikeout rate and struggles against southpaws represent moderate red flags, this version of Kurtz is doing more than enough damage to warrant the whiffs and platoon splits. And considering he’ll turn just 23 before Opening Day next year, it’s entirely reasonable to think Kurtz will improve upon his current weaknesses and unlock an even higher offensive ceiling in short order, establishing himself as one of the game’s most feared sluggers for years to come. — Shusterman

G Fiume via Getty Images

Jacob Wilson vs. Roman Anthony for second

After a dreadful first half, the Red Sox surged to the second AL wild-card spot after Roman Anthony arrived on June 9, going 57-38 from then on. And with Boston looking for offensive consistency, baseball’s No. 1 prospect provided that spark. Anthony’s .396 on-base percentage jumps off the page, but the rookie phenom’s well-rounded game was impossible to deny, as he sported a .292 batting average and .463 slugging percentage before his season ended early due to an oblique strain.

What was tough about my second-place vote is that it was impact vs. body of work. Jacob Wilson was as consistent as any player in this season’s rookie class, and there was a time before Kurtz’s arrival when he was likely going to claim the Rookie of the Year Award. But what ultimately led me to vote for Anthony second and Wilson third is that I don’t believe the Red Sox make the postseason without Anthony’s spark and instant impact in the lineup. You could see that in the fact that the Red Sox weren’t the same after his injury. Wilson had a phenomenal campaign, but he didn’t raise the level of play for the A’s like Anthony did for the Sox. — Dorsey

The Red Sox indisputably played their best baseball with Anthony in the lineup, and they sorely missed him down the stretch and into October. And if we’re choosing which American League rookie I’d want on my team for the long haul, I’d take Anthony over Wilson, considering his significant offensive upside, and I’d even consider choosing him over Kurtz. 

Ultimately, this award is about which players had the most outstanding rookie seasons, and I considered the playing time and positional difference to be a wide enough gap to give Wilson the edge over Anthony on my ballot. Wilson started 124 games at shortstop, while Anthony started 32 games in right field, 17 games in left and another 17 at DH. Even if Wilson’s glove didn’t grade out especially well and might eventually fit best at second base, that pure workload as a rookie at a premium position was meaningful, especially with Wilson also boasting a fairly compelling offensive résumé.

He finished tied with Bo Bichette for second in the American League with a .311 batting average, and his 13 home runs far outpaced both my and many evaluators’ expectations for his slugging output. Wilson might not hit the ball hard, but he has already demonstrated a knack for translating his elite contact ability into extra-base hits in a way that lends optimism that he can be an all-around offensive threat in the majors. Given their wildly different skill sets, Wilson and Kurtz are a tremendously fun duo for the Athletics to build their lineup around. — Shusterman

Don’t forget about Noah Cameron

In a down year for rookie starting pitchers, Royals rookie left-hander Noah Cameron separated himself from the rest of the pack this season. Cameron got an opportunity to pitch every fifth day in a Kansas City rotation that was beat up for most of 2025, and he made the most of his chances. In his first 13 starts, Cameron allowed more than three earned runs just three times, showing that he was more than capable of sticking in the rotation. While Cade Horton got much more love on the National League side for his contributions to the Cubs’ success, Cameron, who finished fourth in the ROY race with three second-place votes, deserves similar love for his body of work in ‘25. — Dorsey

In the wild-card era, before 2025, 18 pitchers threw at least 130 innings in their rookie season while recording an ERA under 3.00, including just four in the American League. All 18 received Rookie of the Year votes, with five winning the award outright and another seven finishing runner-up. Enter Cameron, whose 2.99 ERA in 138⅓ innings across 24 starts helped stabilize an injury-ravaged Royals rotation all summer — a large enough sample of stellar run prevention to warrant inclusion on my ballot. 

Cameron was a delight to watch do his thing in 2025, a crafty lefty with two distinct breaking balls that graded out as elite pitches per run value, including a curveball that rated as one of the best of its kind across the league. While his modest peripherals and velocity indicate he might not have much more upside than what he demonstrated, Cameron still showed enough to suggest that the Royals could feature a terrific trio of left-handers in 2026 if Cole Ragans and Kris Bubic can return fully healthy. — Shusterman

Russ’ final pick: Colson Montgomery

The fifth spot on my ballot came down to two players who both deserved recognition. One was Red Sox catcher Carlos Narváez, and the other was White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery. Narváez had the body of work on his side, and while being the starting catcher for a playoff team is one hell of an argument, Montgomery’s power production was hard to deny. The White Sox rookie hit 21 homers in just 255 at-bats and finished the season with a very respectable .841 OPS.

Montgomery’s season is in many ways similar to Gary Sánchez’s 2016 rookie campaign, in which he burst on the scene with 20 homers in 53 games. Sánchez owned a ridiculous 1.032 OPS and did it over the last two months of the season. Sánchez finished as ROY runner-up that season, and while that was too high for Montgomery in this year’s class, there’s precedent for a similar body of work being recognized. Also, while not known for his defense, Montgomery finished the season as a well-above-average defender at shortstop, with plus-seven defensive runs saved and plus-six outs above average putting him top-10 among shortstops in both categories. — Dorsey

Jordan’s final pick: Carlos Narváez

Montgomery’s power production, plus his surprisingly stout defense at shortstop, were difficult to overlook, and yes, he played the same number of games as Anthony (71), so the sample size on its own was not necessarily disqualifying. But in the end, I opted to vote for a catcher in Narváez who made an impact on a playoff team, emerging as one of Boston’s more unlikely key contributors after he arrived via a rare trade with the rival Yankees last winter. 

Russ rightly pointed out how much better Boston played once Anthony joined the lineup, and Narváez had a similar effect over the entirety of the season: The Red Sox went 67-40 — a .626 winning percentage — in Narváez’s 107 starts behind the dish and just 22-33 otherwise. That’s mostly a reflection of his work as a defender, with Narváez rating as a plus blocker, plus framer and nearly unrivaled at controlling the running game while regularly receiving praise from his pitching staff as a worthy field general and game-caller. 

And while his second-half decline at the plate resulted in a mediocre 99 wRC+ (.241/.306/.419) by the end of the season, even league-average production with a plus glove at catcher amounts to an immensely valuable player. In a season that began with substantial hype surrounding Boston’s top three prospects in Anthony, Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer, it was Narváez who emerged as Boston’s second-best rookie in 2025 and snagged a spot on my ballot in turn. — Shusterman

Jan. 21, 12:44 p.m.

The Mets are still in contact with the Brewers about a potential trade for Brewers ace Freddy Peralta, reports Will Sammon of The Athletic.

With New York recently signing Bo Bichette and trading for Luis Robert Jr., their offense appears largely set, perhaps paving the way for them to zero in on an addition for the top of the rotation.  

In addition to the Mets, the Dodgers and Yankees have both been linked to Peralta, who is set for free agency after the 2026 season but who is reportedly open to signing an extension.

Peralta is coming off a phenomenal 2025 season, where he had a career-best 2.70 ERA in 176.2 innings. He posted a 1.07 WHIP, allowed just 124 hits, and struck out 204 batters -- a rate of 10.4 per nine.

Since transitioning in 2021 from mainly a relief option to the starting rotation, Peralta has been one of the best pitchers in baseball. 

In 139 starts over the last five years, Peralta has a 3.30 ERA and 1.09 WHIP and has fanned 895 batters in 738.1 innings while allowing just 536 hits. He has also been reliable when it comes to taking the ball, tossing 165.2 innings or more reach of the last three seasons.

Jan. 20, 11:17 a.m.

The Dodgers remain interested in trading for Brewers ace Freddy Peralta, reports Katie Woo of The Athletic.

Woo cites the rotation injuries Los Angeles dealt with last season as one reason why the club could be entertaining Peralta, but adds that the Dodgers will only complete a trade for him if they feel there is a "real need."

As things currently stand, the Dodgers are expected to enter the season with a top four that is made up of No. 1 starters: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow.

Beyond the aforementioned four are Roki Sasaki -- a starting pitcher who was a bullpen weapon for Los Angeles in the 2025 playoffs -- and Emmet Sheehan. 

Depth options include River Ryan and Gavin Stone.

The Mets and Yankees have both been linked to Peralta, who has one year remaining before free agency.

Jan. 18, 7:06 p.m.

The Mets "still hold interest" in signing Cody Bellinger, according to The Athletic's Will Sammon, but have "other names to watch" in the outfield via free agency and potential trades.

Those are Harrison Bader, the St. Louis Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar, the Houston Astros' Jake Meyers, and Luis Robert Jr. of the Chicago White Sox, according to Sammon.

Bader, 31, is the only free agent. He slashed .277/.347/.449 with 17 home runs and 54 RBI in 146 games for the Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies this past season.

Jan. 17, 6:13 p.m.

With starting pitching still a priority for New York this offseason, the Mets have shown interest in a reunion with right-hander Griffin Canning, reports The New York Post's Jon Heyman. 

However, they're not alone as the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago White Sox are also in on the 29-year-old, per Heyman.

Canning pitched well for New York after signing a one-year deal last offseason, but he tore his Achilles in late June, which ended his 2025 campaign.

After five seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, the right-hander had his best season with the Mets. He went 7-3 in 16 starts and pitched to a career-best 3.77 ERA. Overall, Canning is 32-37 with a 4.65 ERA across 115 games (110 starts).

Jan. 14, 2:25 p.m.

Left-handed pitcher Ranger Suarez is signing a five-year deal with the Red Sox, per multiple reports. 

The contract is worth $130 million.

With Suarez off the board, it could conceivably pave the way for Mets target Framber Valdez to sign soon.

Valdez, 32, is two years older than Valdez, meaning a shorter-term deal than the one Suarez inked is possible.

The Orioles, who have been heavily linked to Valdez, were also reportedly in the mix for Suarez. 

Jan. 10, 12:45 p.m.

The Mets have recently talked with the Washington Nationals about LHP MacKenzie Gore, On SI's Pat Ragazzo reports.

Although, Ragazzo notes, "the asking price for Gore is said to be astronomically high and nothing appears to be close on this front." 

New York has reportedly discussed dealing top prospects for a pitcher this offseason, but Nolan McLean and Carson Benge appear to be off limits.

Gore, 26, went 5-15 with a 4.17 ERA and a career-high 185 strikeouts over 159.2 IP across 30 starts in 2025. Despite his 2025 All-Star nod, it was a bit of a drop-off from his 2024 season, in which he owned a 10-12 record and 3.90 ERA over 32 starts.

The lefty avoided arbitration with Washington for the 2026 season, agreeing to a $5.6 million deal earlier this week. He is arbitration eligible in 2027 before becoming a free agent in 2028.

Jan. 10, 9:40 a.m.

As the Mets continue to look for ways to upgrade their starting pitching this offseason, Brewers ace Freddy Peralta continues to be a name that pops up.

According to a report from The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon, Milwaukee is looking to acquire "a young, major-league ready replacement" in exchange for the 29-year-old right-hander.

Among the teams pursuing a potential trade for Peralta, the report says that New York "might be in the best position to part with a prized young arm – and they can do it without offering top prospect Nolan McLean."

Mets top prospects Brandon Sproat (25), Jonah Tong (22), and Christian Scott (26) are all mentioned as potential trade options. Scott made nine starts in 2024 before missing the entire 2025 season due to Tommy John surgery, but is nearing the end of his rehab. Tong started five games in 2025 after being called up at the end of August, while Sproat made four starts after his September call-up.

Other teams with young arms that could be in position to acquire Peralta include "the Atlanta Braves (JR Ritchie), New York Yankees (Carlos Lagrange, Elmer Rodríguez), Boston Red Sox (Payton Tolle, Connelly Early) and Los Angeles Dodgers (River Ryan, Emmett Sheehan, Gavin Stone)," The Athletic notes.

Jan. 9, 11:20 a.m.

Another potential Mets trade target is off the board. 

According to Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic, the Diamondbacks will hold onto INF Ketel Marte.

Marte has been one of the more popular names on the trade market, and the Mets reportedly showed interest earlier this offseason.

While Marte presented an intriguing option to boost New York's offense, his fit was always a bit uncertain with Marcus Semien locked in as the everyday second baseman. 

Dec. 30, 10:12 a.m.

Japanese ace Tatsuya Imai's posting window closes on Jan. 2, which means his potential deal with an MLB club must be official by then.

With the clock ticking, Imai is expected to continue having meetings with interested teams this week, per Will Sammon and Katie Woo of The Athletic. 

SNY MLB Insider Andy Martino reported earlier this offseason that the Mets would be in on Imai, but did not expect it to be a "full-tilt pursuit" as was the case with Yoshinobu Yamamoto two offseasons ago. 

Imai, 27, has been outspoken about his desire to beat the Dodgers -- not join them. His market remains a bit of a mystery, though Jack Curry of YES reported last week that the Yankees were not expected to sign him.

In 163.2 innings over 24 starts last season for the Seibu Lions, the right-hander had a 1.92 ERA and 0.89 WHIP while allowing just 101 hits and striking out 178 -- a strikeout rate of 9.8 per nine.

Over eight seasons pitching for Nippon Professional Baseball, Imai has a 3.15 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. But he has reached another level over the last four seasons, posting earned run averages of 2.04, 2.45, 2.34, and 1.92.

Imai's stuff is considered plus. It includes a fastball that sits in the mid-90s and can reach 99 mph. He also has a splitter, slider, and cutter. 

Dec. 27, 11:30 p.m.

The Mets may’ve lost one competitor in the Luis Robert Jr. trade sweepstakes. 

The Reds could potentially be out of the mix on the White Sox outfielder after signing JJ Bleday to a one-year deal and acquiring Dane Myers from the Marlins on Saturday. 

Cincy, of course, was the other team rumored to be in talks with Chicago for the 28-year-old. 

The Mets have long shown interest in Robert, who is coming off another up-and-down campaign but is viewed as a potential change of scenery candidate. 

He hit .293 with a 124 wRC+ in the second half before a hamstring issue ended his season. 

Dec. 26, 8:45 a.m.

Count the Mets – along with the San Francisco Giants and Baltimore Orioles – among the teams that have reportedly met with free-agent starter Framber Valdez, according to The New York Post's Jon Heyman.

New York's interest in the left-hander has been a topic of much speculation this winter. Earlier this month, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com said the Mets were "among the favorites" to sign Valdez. However, it has also been reported that the Mets are "reluctant to hand out long-term offers" to the top free agent starting pitchers left on the market.

Valdez, 32 as of November, pitched to a 3.66 ERA and 1.245 WHIP over 31 starts and 192 innings last year. Over the past four seasons, the lefty has been quite a dependable starter for the Houston Astros, tossing 767.2 innings over 121 starts (with eight complete games) while posting a 3.21 ERA.

Dec. 23, 3:00 p.m.

Ketel Marte has been one of the buzzier names on the trade market this winter. 

Numerous teams have expressed interest in the three-time All-Star, and according to reports, the Mets threw their name into the mix after trading Jeff McNeil to the A’s. 

How Marte would fit on New York’s roster is a big question, but whether Arizona would actually move him is another. 

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic said Tuesday on Foul Territory that the team likely won’t deal him unless they receive young pitching in return. 

With that being said, they do seem motivated to find a partner with his 10-and-5 rights looming. 

If that is indeed the case, the Mets certainly would be a fit with so many talented young arms in their system. 

Reports have indicated all winter that Nolan McLean is unavailable, but they've been open to listening on Jonah Tong or Brandon Sproat in the right deal.

You’d have to figure the two-time Silver Slugger award winner would be that type of player. 

The big question again, though, is where Marte would fit with Marcus Semien penciled in as the everyday 2B. 

The 31-year-old does have experience in center, but he has mainly played second the past two seasons. 

Dec. 23, 10:41 a.m.

With the Mets reportedly prioritizing a right-handed bat, one option is free agent outfielder Austin Hays.

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Mets have discussed Hays internally, and the team "has some interest" in adding him. 

Hays, 30, had a nice season with Cincinnati in 2025, posting a 105 OPS+ with 15 homers and 64 RBI.

An eight-year MLB veteran, Hays has feasted on left-handed pitching throughout his career, posting an .819 OPS with 25 home runs and 88 RBI against southpaws.

Dec. 22, 8:35 p.m.

The Cincinnati Reds are in trade talks with the Chicago White Sox for slugger Luis Robert Jr., reports the Cincinnati Enquirer's Gordon Wittenmyer.

The Mets and Chicago have also been "engaged in trade talks" for Robert, Bob Nightengale of USA Today previously reported on Dec. 21.

Robert is under contract for $20 million in 2026 and has a club option worth the same amount for 2027.

The White Sox "are said to be willing to eat maybe half of the 2026 salary" for the center fielder, Wittenmyer notes. 

Robert played just 110 games in 2025 and struggled at the plate when healthy, hitting .223 with 14 home runs, 12 doubles, and 53 RBI. He did steal a career-high 33 bases and had a career-high 40 walks.

Dec. 21, 8:44 p.m.

Any level of interest the Mets expressed in Willson Contreras this winter is now irrelevant, as the St. Louis Cardinals dealt the first baseman to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for three pitchers, as first reported by ESPN's Jeff Passan.

While rumors linking the Mets to Contreras picked up some speed earlier in the month, The Athletic reported last week that kicking the tires on the three-time All-Star took the back seat amid their free-agent deal with infielder Jorge Polanco, who's expected to see more work at first base in 2026.

Dec. 21, 11:34 a.m.

The Mets and Reds are engaged in trade talks for White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. and pitching depth would likely be the asking price, reports Bob Nightengale of USA Today.

It's unclear if a deal will occur, but the White Sox made a big free-agent splash Sunday morning, signing Japanese star and Mets target Munetaka Murakami to a two-year, $34 million deal.

Robert, who turns 29 next season, has yet to flourish as a star slugger. While he produced a career-high 38 home runs across 145 games in 2023, he hit a measly .224 with just 28 homers between 2024 and 2025 (210 total games).

Robert owns a career .259/.313/.455 slash line, however, and offers above-average defense in center field -- a position of need for the Mets. He also stole a career-best 33 bags on 41 attempts in 2025.

Slated to earn $20 million this coming season, Robert also has a 2027 club option worth the same amount before he becomes a free agent.

Dec. 21, 10:23 a.m.

Third baseman Munetaka Murakami is in agreement with the Chicago White Sox on a two-year, $34 million contract, per ESPN's Jeff Passan. 

With Pete Alonso signing in Baltimore, Murakami had become an intriguing corner infield option, given his monster power numbers. Murakami hit 265 career home runs in eight pro seasons in Japan, including 56 big flies in 2022, when he was just 22 years old. 

Murakami has had his issues with strikeouts, though, an issue he'll look to improve on as he joins a White Sox team that has not won more than 61 games in a season since 2022.

Dec. 16, 12:16 p.m.

The Mets are "very in" on Cody Bellinger, reports Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.

In addition to the Mets, Bellinger has also been heavily linked to the Yankees.

Most projections have Bellinger getting a deal for five or six years.

For the Mets, Bellinger could fit in left field, center field, or at first base -- where the newly-acquired Jorge Polanco could be in the mix. 

Bellinger had a strong season for the Yanks in 2025, slashing .272/.334/.480 with 28 homers, 25 doubles, 98 RBI, and 89 runs scored in 152 games.

His defense is viewed as above average in left field -- something that would be welcomed following the trade of Brandon Nimmo, whose defense had been regressing. 

Dec. 14, 10:25 a.m.

Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras has been a hot name in Mets rumors of late, but it sounds like the club's interest in Contreras may not have been as strong as previously thought. 

According to Katie Woo of The Athletic, while the Mets did in fact inquire about the catcher-turned-first-baseman, "their interest was secondary," with the Jorge Polanco signing reinforcing that point. 

The expectation for the Mets is that Polanco will get most of his at-bats as a first baseman or as a DH, though he has the ability to play every position along the infield. With Polanco's versatile background, the Mets could still look to add a full-time first baseman.

Dec. 12, 3:19 p.m.

The Red Sox, who recently missed out on both Kyle Schwarber in Pete Alonso, have interest in Mets trade target Willson Contreras, reports Chris Cotillo of MassLive.

Per Cotillo, the Sox also remain interested in free agent Alex Bregman as well as potential trades for Ketel Marte and Isaac Paredes. 

Contreras, who is entering his age-34 season, has two years and $36.5 million remaining on his contract -- plus a club option for 2028. 

He was a plus offensive player (123 OPS+) and above average defender at first base (90th percentile, 6 OAA) in 2025. So he certainly fits the mold of what David Stearns is looking for.

As far as what the rebuilding Cardinals would want, it's fair to believe that they would be seeking a controllable big league player and/or prospects.

LAS VEGAS — If you are a Mets fan, wherever you stand on the notion of a new contract for Pete Alonso, you almost certainly find yourself wondering if the Polar Bear has indeed played his final home game in Queens.

Guess what? You have company.

Here are two other parties who have no idea how this will play out: The team and the player.

In the early days of the offseason, a perception has seemed to congeal that Alonso is a goner, and that Mets president of baseball operation David Stearns does not want him.

The former is inaccurate because it is way premature. The latter is inaccurate because … well, it just is.

There seems to be, among many fans, a perception of Stearns as a cold technocrat who can’t understand the emotional connection fans feel toward a player. That is not true. This same supposed technocrat spent his childhood sneaking a radio into his bed to listen to Gary Cohen and Bob Murphy on school nights.

In terms of attachment to the Mets, Stearns is one of you. And like you, he knows Alonso delivered an outstanding offensive season in 2025, and a subpar defensive campaign. Unlike you, Stearns’ job — an element of his dream job, by the way —  is to decide how many years and dollars that is worth to the franchise, and to avoid a contract that will end up hurting the team he loves.

Another oft-repeated inaccuracy is that Stearns did not want to sign Alonso last winter, and that Steve Cohen did. My information was always that the two were aligned on wanting the player but fearing the downside of a long commitment.

They were both happy to have Alonso on team in 2025 — which, in fairness, he almost certainly would not have been had any other club offered a four- or five-year contract. Alonso re-signed with the Mets on a two-year deal that included an inevitable opt-out after year one.

My hunch is that both Stearns and Cohen would be happy to welcome Alonso back in 2026, albeit with a significant increase in at-bats as designated hitter. They like the person and the ballplayer.

The complications begin when we talk about the term. It’s hard to imagine an increased willingness to offer Alonso four or five years, now that he is 12 months older.

But it’s also hard — no, it’s impossible — to predict how Alonso’s second shot at free agency will proceed. And therefore it is simply too early to say with any confidence or accuracy that a Boston or a Tampa Bay or whoever else will offer five years, and that Alonso will leave town.

Interest in Imai, but how much?

The Mets will be in on free agent pitcher Tatsuya Imai, whose NPB team, the Seibu Lions, will post this offseason. But I don’t expect the team to mount a Yoshinobu Yamamoto-style, full-tilt pursuit.

Why? Evaluators like Imai but suggest that he is no sure thing to succeed as an MLB starter. His mid-to-high ‘90s fastball might or might not play here; industry opinion on that is mixed.

Imai is an interesting option and should prompt conversations with any club in search of pitching, the Mets included. But the early word at the GM Meetings is that he will not captivate the industry on quite the same level that Yamamoto did two winters ago, when he spurned the Mets and Yankees to sign a 12-year, $325 million contract with the Dodgers.