Category: Sports News

This is the second year we’ve done this, looking at names in the Diamondbacks system who might be able to help the team this season. 2025’s selection was a bit of a mixed bag, shall we say. We were one of the earlier passengers on the Tim Tawa bandwagon, and he ended up playing 74 games for the D-backs. At the other end, Seth Martinez found himself designated for assignment about three weeks after our article. So it’s safe to call my track record “mixed” in this area, and that’s perhaps being kind. But, never one to be daunted by being incorrect, I figured I’d try again this winter.

However, I will expand slightly outside the 40-man roster, because there are certainly some intriguing possible candidates who haven’t yet been added to it. There should certainly be plenty of space to do so, because the D-backs will have at least four players (Corbin Burnes, Justin Martinez, A.J. Puk and Blake Walston) going on the 60-day injured list as soon as it becomes available – theoretically the start of spring training, but effectively Opening Day. I would have Lourdes Gurriel Jr. on there too, but based on recent reports of his progress, he might be looking to come back sooner than early June. If so, then the team might be fine with using the shorter IL for him.

Therefore, for inclusion I’m just going to say that the player in question can’t have appeared for the D-backs previously. This rules out somewhat known names like Cristian Mena and Yilber Diaz. But also less familiar ones like Philip Abner, although you may have blinked and missed his 3.2 innings for the team last year. We begin, instead, with a choice which hardly counts as pushing out the boat. For Kohl Drake is currently the consensus top pitcher in the Diamondbacks farm system. Admittedly, not long ago, “having a pulse” would be a credible main criteria there. But largely courtesy of Merrill Kelly, things are looking better there than they were.

That “pulse” statement is little if any exaggeration. Of all the pitchers in MLB Pipeline’s current top 15 Arizona prospects, half of them came from Texas in the deadline trade for Kelly last July. In addition to Drake, Mitch Bratt and David Hagaman also arrived in the D-backs’ system. But Drake is the highest ranked (#6) and, at the age of 25, is also the closest to the major leagues. Right now, it would appear the left-hander will need help – most likely a health issue affecting more than one expected starter – to crack the Opening Day rotation. But he’s going to be near the top of the list for a call-up when necessary, and from previous history, that will not be long into the season.

Drake was originally an 11th round pick by Texas in the 2022 draft, so has already over-performed. He comes out of Walters State Community College in Morristown, TN, and he has a real shot at becoming their best-known player. So far, that is probably another Ranger, Brett Martin, and you’d be forgiven for going “Who?” Though around SnakePit Towers, it would be reliever Chad Bell, because Mrs. SnakePit rented a house to him one spring training. You’d be forgiven for going “Who?” there as well, but we were excited to see him in action when we visited Seattle in 2017.

After a rough start to his pro career in 2023, posting a 6.36 ERA across 46.2 inning, Drake had a much better 2024. He roared through three levels of the Texas system, starting in A-ball and finishing in Double-A. He dominated the lowest tier, posting a K:BB of 71:9 across just 43 innings, though was relatively old for that level. The ratio did decline at the higher levels, but Kohl was still striking out a batter per inning in Double-A, with a 3.10 ERA across five starts. He returned there to start 2025, and was better still: 12 starts, a 2.44 ERA and an impressive 70 strikeouts across 55.1 innings. Kohl was named Pitcher of the Month in the Texas system for June.

That got him a promotion to Triple-A at the beginning of July, and he spent the rest of the season there, both before and after the trade which brought him into the Arizona system. There’s no denying, Drake struggled in the unforgiving environment of the PCL, allowing 24 hits over 16.2 innings, leading to a 9.18 ERA. He may have been hurt, as his season ended after a decent outing (4 IP, one unearned run) on August 20th. He was placed on the IL with a shoulder sprain the following week, though is expected to be fully recovered when pitchers and catchers report to Salt River Fields next month.

He was added to the 40-man roster earlier this off-season, a no-brainer decision to protect Drake from otherwise being available in the Rule 5 draft. That gives him another benefit over some alternatives, in that there’s no need to make room for him on the larger roster. His velo has increased by 3-4 mph since he pitched in college, now sitting around 93-94 mph. MLB Pipeline says, “His combination of size and a short arm action provides some deception, as does his flat approach angle. If he can continue to get more advanced hitters to chase his curveball and changeup, he could make it as a No. 4 starter.”

It’s interesting to think how the rotation will shape up for the D-backs in the coming seasons. We have Corbin Burnes and Brandon Pfaadt under contract through 2030 (plus two team option years in the latter’s case); if Merrill Kelly’s vesting option kicks in, he and Ryne Nelson are controlled until the end of 2028. And Eduardo Rodriguez is signed through 2027 (plus a rarely-exercised mutual option). Soroka is clearly intended as a stop-gap until Burnes returns. Though health is always a potential factor, it appears that Mena, Drake or any other candidate will need to prove themselves capable of a rotation spot for the next couple of years.

It was a sucker punch.

All week, every national media pundit and baseball writer insisted the Phillies were “heavy favorites” to land free agent infielder Bo Bichette. All week, momentum was building. Meanwhile, negotiations continued. While nothing is ever certain until the dotted line is signed, it sure felt like Bichette was already wearing red and white pinstripes.

And then, a sucker punch to the gut.

After losing out on free agent outfielder Kyle Tucker to the Dodgers, the Mets pivoted and signed Bichette to a surprise, three-year, $126 million contract with an average annual value of $42 million a season. The deal includes opt outs and the end of every year, essentially giving Bichette the option of spending three years in New York with a $42 million AAV, or testing the market again, all by the time he turns 30.

The Phillies, it appears, made a legitimate, longer-term offer that the Bichette camp said it wanted.

After five days of negotiations, the Phils made the offer his camp wanted. Unfortunately, either because Dave Dombrowski and/or John Middleton dragged their feet, or because Bichette and his agent were using the Phillies and slow-playing the market until Tucker signed, New York swooped in and stole Bichette out from under their noses.

Now, not only did the Dodgers land the best free agent outfielder on the market this off-season, the Mets snagged the best infielder and a prime Phillies target, all within a span of less than 24 hours.

However it happened, Dave Dombrowski didn’t land the plane. The results are devastating.

Almost immediately after the Bichette-to-NY news, J.T. Realmuto reportedly agreed to a new contract with the Phillies. It likely was not a coincidence.

Realmuto and his agent had to be quietly smiling to himself somewhere saying, “Oh, I guess you guys need me now, don’t you?”

So, after showing it was willing to pony up $30 million a year over a seven year period for Bichette, is there anyone else the Phillies might give that money to?

The options aren’t great. Harrison Bader could return, especially if it’s just along the lines of a three-year, $45 million contract or something. Eugenio Suarez is a third baseman with a lot of pop (48 HRs, .228 AVG in ‘25), and outfielder Cody Bellinger, whose left-handed bat doesn’t feel like a great fit in this lineup and teams like the Yankees and Blue Jays likely still willing to give him a seven-year deal for too much money.

Not knowing exactly what happened during the negotiations, it’s difficult to make assumptions. But with each passing day a deal wasn’t consummated, and talking heads on TV telling us it almost certainly would, it sure feels in retrospect like Bichette’s agent was using the Phillies to get what he wanted elsewhere.

What does that say about the front office? I guess Don Mattingly, the new bench coach, couldn’t trump the money, huh?

One issue the Phils will have to come to grips with is opt-outs.

So, here we are. Unable to swing any creative trades or haul in Bichette in free agency, Dombrowski is going to run the same roster back again in 2026. The fanbase, understandably, is not excited. In fact, it’s fair to say Phillies fans are crushed by missing out on this player in a way I don’t remember them being for any other free agent over the last 10-15 years.

Dombrowski did a great job convincing John Middleton to spend more money than he planned. He just couldn’t land the player.

Former A’s star Eric Chavez sent a poignant three-word message to the MLB following Kyle Tucker’s agreement with the Dodgers on Thursday night: “Good luck all!”

The six-time Gold Glover took to his Instagram page to share his thoughts on Los Angeles’ latest huge addition, and he let be known he believes the back-to-back World Series champs’ new roster piece will spell trouble for the other 29 teams in The Show.

“You can hope they get hurt, oh wait, they did last year and still won it all,” Chavez wrote. “This might be the best team ever constructed.

“Good luck all!”

Tucker agreed to a four-year, $240 million contract that will give L.A. yet another All-Star bat in a lineup that already featured the likes of Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Will Smith.

Tucker did have a bit of a down season with the Cubs last year — batting just .266 is 136 games — but he’s nonetheless a career .273 hitter who’s belted 29 or more homers in three of the last five seasons.

Chavez was hardly the only fan to note just how potent the Dodgers will be with Tucker on the team — actor Nick Turturro, a diehard Yankees supporter, went off on X after he learned how much better L.A. got with the move.

“MLB, do something!” he said in a video that’s now gone viral. “Enough is enough!”

It’ll be a few more weeks ’til Tucker’s officially swinging a bat in a Dodger uniform, but the baseball world’s clearly bracing for the impact he’s going to have on a team that was already the favorite to win it all in 2026.

The dominos keep falling — not quite in the Phillies' favor originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

In consecutive days, two of the biggest position players on the market signed deals, both landing in the National League.

Kyle Tucker signed a record four-year, $240 million deal with the defending champion Dodgers on Thursday night. Within 12 hours, the Mets pivoted and landed Bo Bichette on a three-year, $126 million contract.

The Phillies were left on the outside.

The move that stings most is Bichette heading to a division rival. Philadelphia had been heavily linked to the Florida native, and the interest appeared to intensify after Tucker came off the board. In many ways, Tucker’s signing is what pushed the Mets toward Bichette.

Steve Cohen has shown a willingness to strike when a top-tier bat becomes available. Last offseason, it was Juan Soto. This winter, it was supposed to be Tucker. When that door closed, Bichette became the pivot.

The Phillies made a real push. It was reported they offered Bichette a seven-year, $200 million deal — a contract that would have made him the highest-paid second baseman in baseball, the position he was best suited to play in Philadelphia. But Bichette chose flexibility, even after requesting the contract structure from the Phils.

His Mets deal includes opt-outs after each of the first two seasons, plus a $5 million buyout after Year 1. That structure allows Bichette, who turns 28 in March, to collect $47 million by the end of 2026 and re-enter the market ahead of his age-29 season — right when the Phillies’ offer would have aligned in total value.

The organization’s stance mattered. The Phillies do not offer opt-outs. That approach has worked for them, but in cases like this, it gives other clubs leverage when flexibility becomes the selling point.

Still, losing Bichette helped clear the path for one of Philadelphia’s top priorities.

The Phillies re-signed J.T. Realmuto to a three-year, $45 million deal. Two days after Ranger Suárez left in free agency for Boston, retaining a leader of Realmuto’s caliber arguably became more important. At 34, he remains central to a pitching staff that has ranked among baseball’s best over the last several seasons.

With pitchers and catchers reporting Feb. 11, there are two ways to view the current state of the roster.

The first is straightforward. The National League got tougher. The Dodgers and Mets added star power. The Phillies improved defensively in the outfield and added bullpen depth, but they did not materially upgrade the offense. The core is a year older, and it is not a young one.

The other view is less emotional but just as valid. This is a team with four straight postseason appearances and back-to-back 95-win seasons. Nothing about the roster suggests it can’t replicate regular-season success. And financially, there is still room to maneuver.

Philadelphia offered Bichette roughly $28.5 million in average annual value. Only $15 million of that went toward Realmuto. That gap leaves open the possibility of another move.

So, what could be on the horizon?

The biggest name

Cody Bellinger remains the most talented position player on the market. The 30-year-old is reportedly seeking a long-term deal and has a reported five-year, $150 million offer from the Yankees.

Adding another left-handed bat would invite criticism, but Bellinger’s numbers complicate that argument. In 2025, he slashed .353/.415/.601 against left-handed pitching, posting a 1.106 OPS — best among qualified left-handed hitters. Kyle Schwarber ranked second at .964. Schwarber led the NL in extra-base hits against lefties; Bellinger led the AL.

Over the past three seasons, Bellinger has averaged a .281 batting average with 29 homers and 107 RBIs per 162 games. Defensively, his versatility — all three outfield spots plus first base — gives him value beyond the bat.

The price is the obstacle. Bellinger will likely command close to $30 million per year, more than the Phillies were willing to offer Bichette. With payroll already sitting near $326 million — beyond the $303 million luxury-tax line that carries a 110 percent penalty — this would be a stretch.

Heart-of-the-order pop

Eugenio Suárez is another name worth revisiting.

Despite a rough finish after a deadline trade to Seattle, Suárez hit 49 home runs in 2025, tying a career high. The swing-and-miss is real — bottom four percent in whiff rate last season — but power would change the Phillies’ lineup.

The Phillies struggled mightily in the cleanup spot last season. Their No. 4 hitters combined for a .720 OPS, 20th in MLB. Realmuto posted a .683 OPS there. Nick Castellanos came in at .651.

A Suárez addition would almost certainly require an Alec Bohm trade. Bohm hit .287 but managed just 11 home runs in 120 games. The Phillies don’t have to move him, but if the goal is improvement in the power department, he remains a place to look.

Another reunion?

Harrison Bader could still be in play.

The 31-year-old outfielder is coming off one of his best seasons: a .796 OPS, 3.9 bWAR and a 117 OPS+. After arriving in Philadelphia, he hit .305 with a .463 slugging percentage and provided energy the club valued.

Durability remains the concern — he’s played more than 120 games just four times in nine seasons — but his postseason toughness stood out. He left Game 1 of the NLDS with a hamstring strain, returned in Game 2 as a pinch hitter and lined a single that sparked the dugout.

If Justin Crawford or Adolis García stumble early, Bader would offer insurance without reshaping the roster.

Buy-low rotation piece

It never felt likely the Phillies would bring back Suárez, but that doesn’t mean the rotation is finished.

Chris Bassitt is one option. The 37-year-old made 32 starts in 2025 with a 3.96 ERA. Over the past five seasons, he has made at least 27 starts each year, posted ERAs under 4.00 in four of them, logged 155-plus strikeouts, and finished top-10 in Cy Young voting three times.

Zac Gallen is another path. The 30-year-old posted a 4.83 ERA last season, his worst as a pro. From 2019 through 2024, he made 143 starts with a 3.29 ERA — third-best among qualified starters in that span. A one-year “get-right” deal in the $13–18 million range could appeal to both sides.

The rotation carries questions. The Phillies believe in Andrew Painter’s talent, but command matters. Taijuan Walker can absorb innings, but consistency remains an issue. Zack Wheeler’s full return to health cannot be assumed.

It’s difficult to believe the Phillies are done.

The market has largely settled. The next move will reveal how this front office views its margin — and how much risk it’s willing to take to close it.

New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change.

Meet the Mets with Bichette.

On Friday, Jan. 16, Steve Cohen, David Stearns and the New York Mets agreed on a three-year, $126 million contract with two-time All Star Bo Bichette.

The stunning move comes after a relatively quiet hot stove stretch for the Amazin’s and bolsters Carlos Mendoza’s club that lost out on the Kyle Tucker sweepstakes and unloaded fan favorites Pete Alonso, Edwin Diaz, Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil over the past three months.

Bichette, who led the American League in hits in 2021 and 2022, joins perennial stars Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto, along with 2025 rookie phenom Nolan McLean and offseason acquisitions Devin Williams, Marcus Semien and Jorge Polanco as the team looks to rebound after a disappointing 83-79 campaign that started promisingly.

“According to sources, the current plan is for Bichette, who has only played shortstop in his major league career with Toronto — and never played an inning at third as a pro — to take over at third base, with Brett Baty playing multiple positions,” The Post reported.

If you’d like to see this re-tooled roster, tickets are available for all 81 Mets 2026 home games at Citi Field on sites like StubHub and Ticketmaster.

At the time of publication, the lowest price we could find on tickets for any one game was $11 including fees on Vivid Seats for the Thursday, April 30 game against the Nationals.

In the event you’d like to see the Mets take on the Yankees in Flushing on May 15-17, prices start at $135 including fees on GameTime.

They won’t go head-to-head with Bichette’s AL champion Toronto Blue Jays at home this year but will play them at the Rogers Centre from June 29 through July 1.

Want to find the matchup that makes the most sense for your schedule (and wallet)?

Our team has everything you need to know and more about how to see the New York Mets at Citi Field in 2026 below.

New York Mets home game tickets

Inventory to see the New York Mets live is available on all verified ticketing sites.

We recommend checking out StubHub, Ticketmaster, Vivid Seats and GameTime to find the seats that makes the most sense for you.

New York Mets season tickets

Diehard fans who want to don blue and orange every time the Amazin’s are at home, you’re in luck.

New York Mets season tickets can be picked up as early as today, right here, right now.

We’ll see you at Citi Field this year … a lot.

Key Mets home games

Every game counts but some come with a little added intrigue.

Here are 10 Mets huge home games at Citi Field — against heated rivals and the return of fan favorites who departed over the offseason — we’re already reserving tickets for this year.

New York Mets full schedule

Fans that plan on seeing Bichette, Lindor, Soto and the squad away from Citi Field can catch the Amazin’s on the road all spring and summer long (including Spring Training in Florida and a three-game stint at Yankee Stadium from Sept. 11-13).

Want to be there?

Tickets for all 192 (!) New York Mets game from February through September can be grabbed here.

Huge New York concerts in 2026

Hoping to see a show or two this year?

Here are just a few of the biggest shows coming to the Big Apple these next few months.

• Bon Jovi (July 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21, 23, 26)

• RUSH (July 28, 30 and Aug. 1, 3)

• My Chemical Romance (Aug. 9)

• Bruno Mars (Aug. 21-22, 25-26)

• AC/DC (Sept. 25)

Curious who else is out and about? Take a look at all the biggest artists on tour in 2026 to find the show that makes the most sense for you.

Why you should trust ‘Post Wanted’ by the New York Post

This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.

In losing Gavin Lux to the Tampa Bay Rays in last night’s three-team deal (that looped in the Los Angeles Angels), the Cincinnati Reds did not really lose an infielder. They did not really lose an outfielder, either.

They lost a left-handed bat.

That’s what Lux had become on this particular Reds roster – no more, no less. His decline defensively was readily evident when given time at 3B and 2B, and the idea of trying to hide him in LF showed he simply didn’t have the instincts required there. It’s impossible to blame him for that, of course, since he’d simply never played out there before, but the reality became that the one (and only) thing he provided to club with was a left-handed bat against right-handed pitching.

A DH who only hit right-handed pitching.

His move to Tampa is the latest in a pretty decent overhaul of the position-player corps on the roster since last July’s trade deadline. Ke’Bryan Hayes came in to claim 3B, and Noelvi Marte was shifted to RF where he’ll presumably get a pretty long leash there. Lux is out, as is Jake Fraley, subtracting a pair of left-handed platoon bats. Santiago Espinal, too, was jettisoned when he simply became far too expensive for his niche role, while lefty JJ Bleday and righty Dane Myers were brought into the outfield mix on the very same day.

Despite all that moving and shaking, up until yesterday it was Lux who at least – on paper – profiled as the guy who’d play a little 2B on days when a right-handed pitcher was on the mound and when Matt McLain would shift over to play SS to give Elly De La Cruz a break. The Reds clearly didn’t really want him in that role – they just traded him, after all – but if the roster froze and that’s who they had, that’s the role he’d have been forced to play. Bleday, though, is a pure outfielder only, as is lefty Will Benson, and while both seem to be the benficiaries offensively from Lux’s move, there appears to still be two clear and obvious voids on Cincinnati’s roster now.

There is no left-handed hitting infielder (aside from Elly, their switch-hitter). There is also no other clear-cut middle infield option, as each of Spencer Steer, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, and even Sal Stewart (despite his 2B experience in the minors) look the part of 1B/3B only guys.

The ‘backup’ shortstop is the everyday 2B, and there is no backup 2B. All that after the Reds said publicly earlier in the offseason how much they want to bake in more rest for Elly after he was ground to a pulp in 2025.

They never actually backfilled the role Espinal had been tasked with last year, and now they have another ‘infield’ void without Lux. The question, though, is whether they can find one guy who can do both, or if they’re still on the hunt for two separate players this late in the offseason.

In house options aren’t exactly the most obvious. They’ve got both Garrett Hampson and Michael Chavis around on minor league deals, though it’s been years since either was really trusted with 2B/SS duties at any level, let alone the big leagues. Edwin Arroyo has the chops for it defensively right this minute, but everyone’s still waiting for the power in his bat to return after a lost 2024 due to shoulder surgery – and he’s still not yet had a single PA at AAA yet. He might be the most logical candidate for that role as early as mid-year, but it would be foolhardy to expect that role to just be etched in stone for him come Opening Day.

So, the Reds have some serious shopping to do, and as we all know they’re going to have to do it with the slightest of budgets.

Luis Rengifo ticks some of the boxes as a free agent, though he’s two years removed from legitimate offensive production (and he, a switch hitter, typically hits lefties from the right side much better than righties from the left side). Luis Arraez is available and a much more known quantity, but he’s years removed from being a legit option on the left side of the infield and will come at a much, much steeper cost. Beyond those two, there’s what remains of Adam Frazier and literally nobody else in free agency who hits from the left side and plays SS/2B.

The trade market, however, opens up a ton more doors for the Reds, and I’m beginning to wonder if the latest series of free agent dominos might have lined one up for them perfectly. Late last night – while the Reds, Angels, and Rays were striking their deal – the Los Angeles Dodgers swooped in to sign star free agent Kyle Tucker away from the New York Mets, who were the presumptive favorites for his signature. The Mets pivoted almost immediately, though, and landed Bo Bichette on his own gargantuan deal this morning. The shift still means the Mets got a star, but the move off Tucker (an outfielder) to Bichette (a shortstop who’ll now play 3B) means New York’s already existing logjam of infielders just got even jammier.

Each of Mark Vientos, Brett Baty, and Luisangel Acuña just watched their paths to playing time get a lot less clear, though none profiles perfectly for what I’ve laid out as a Reds need already. Baty is a 3B primarily with some 2B chops (and none at SS), while both Acuña and Vientos hit from only the right side. It’s former top prospect Ronny Mauricio, though, who now looks like he’d fit on the Reds quite perfectly.

Mauricio will turn 25 in April and hit just .226/.293/.369 in 184 PA with the Mets last year, one year after missing the entire 2024 season at all levels after tearing his ACL in Dominican Winter League action after the end of the 2023 season. He did hit .323/.384/.508 in a small 19 game sample across the minors in 2025 as he worked his way back into form, but irregular playing time never really saw him take off at the big league level despite a swing from the left-side, in particular, that often wows you.

(Technically he’s a switch-hitter, though it’s become pretty clear he’s a guy who should only be leaned on hitting lefty against righties.)

Ronny came up as a shortstop, but with Francisco Lindor entrenched as New York’s future Hall of Famer at the position, the Mets began to move him all over the place. He’s got extensive experience at 3B and 2B, and even logged 26 starts in LF at the AAA level with Syracuse prior to his knee injury. And, most importantly, he’s still cheap as a pre-arb guy (who even has an option remaining if need be). And if the Mets aren’t going to play him, they run the risk of depleting his value even further by simply parking him at AAA once again, leading one to wonder if this winter – especially now that Bichette is around – will be the time they finally deal him elsewhere in exchange for something that fits their roster better.

The question, as it always is, would be just how much it would cost off the Reds farm – or off their active roster. In many ways there is a decent parallel between Mauricio and Arroyo – both ranked routinely on Top 100 overall prospect lists, both with a 2024 totally lost to injury, both still hoping to show a lot more as they move beyond said injuries – and it’s a decent thought process to consider what kind of return would be needed for you to want to deal away Edwin. Mauricio should, in theory, be a little cheaper given that he’s already burned two options and not exactly established himself as a big leaguer, but that’s the same realm of value we’re talking here.

Cincinnati may simply hedge in a cheaper way that’s less impactful to their own roster. That seems like something they’d do, after all, leaning into one of Hampson/Chavis and simply hoping there’s no significant imbalance created. Still, it seems like they’ve got a chance to pounce on someone else’s disjointed roster to directly benefit their own, and it sure would be nice to see them be that aggressive.

Since the 2015 World Series Championship team, the Kansas City Royals have been shut out from claiming another division title. Outside of the 2024 season, where the Royals claimed a Wild Card spot, before being ousted in the ALDS by longtime rival, the Yankees, the Royals haven’t really been in the division title race.

I truly do believe that the Royals win the AL Central crown in 2024 if Lucas Erceg and Vinnie Pasquantino don’t get hurt on the same play, on a night game, in late August in Houston, Texas. (Sorry for upsetting you about reminding you of that.) However, with those injuries the Royals struggled in September and barely hung onto a playoff berth, but they slowly faded out of a divisional crown hunt.

Coming off a somewhat disappointing 2025 season, a winning season, but not reaching their goals, the Royals have been aggressive in the offseason. To me, that reflects why the Kansas City Royals will take the AL Central crown in 2026.

First, let’s talk about what the Royals have done. They have let go of some players who were seemingly never going to figure it out and break through. While I think they still have some moves to improve the team, notably another outfield bat, the Royals have also shored up some weaknesses that have troubled them the last two seasons.

They traded for Kameron Misner, an outfielder with upside potential, while not giving much anything. They signed Alex Lange, a reliever who has back-end-of-the-bullpen experience and could potentially be a bridge guy to Erceg and Carlos Estévez. They traded for Isaac Collins and Nick Mears, while only giving away Angel Zerpa. Collins, a switch-hitting outfielder, can play everywhere and is solid offensively. Mears, another good reliever, can bridge the game to Erceg or Estevez.

They signed Lane Thomas, who albeit wasn’t good last season, mainly because of injuries, but is a right-handed outfielder that mashes lefties and plays a good centerfield. Finally, they acquired Matt Strahm for Jonathan Bowlan from Philadelphia. Strahm, who started with the Royals, is a good reliever. He’s a reliable left-hander that the Royals have needed and can be an 8th or 9th inning guy.

That is just what they have done so far, but I don’t think they are necessarily done. I would like to see them, and I think they’d agree, acquire another veteran left-handed reliever and another outfield bat.

They are being proactive in filling the holes in their roster that have plagued them the last two seasons. Poor outfield production and relying on relievers to do stuff they haven’t before. Getting veterans, especially toward the back of the bullpen, should exponentially benefit the Royals this season.

The other big reason that I think the Royals will break through and take the division this season is because of the lack of productivity from the other four AL Central teams.

Let’s start with the Detroit Tigers. They resigned Gleyber Torres, who has been good for them, and signed future Hall of Fame closer Kenley Jansen. But at this stage, I don’t know how effective Jansen can be this season. They also resigned their big deadline addition from last summer, reliever Kyle Finnegan. The Tigers will still be solid and probably the earlier frontrunner, but they blew a historic 15.5-game division lead to the Guardians. I think that mentally could hurt them, and the Royals can take advantage of that.

Next, the two-time reigning champions, and winners of 3 of the last 4 division titles, the Cleveland Guardians. They haven’t made any notable moves, but they also haven’t lost anyone notable. The team is just really gritty and finds ways to win. Outside of Jose Ramirez and Steven Kwan, they don’t have any star talent, but they have a lot of solid dudes. With that being said, the Royals have been right there each of the last two seasons with Cleveland, and I think they finally overtake them this season.

The Minnesota Twins won the division title in 2023, and they seemed poised to be really good for the foreseeable future. In 2024, they were right in the middle of the divisional race with the Royals and Guardians, but then fell off a cliff and missed the postseason altogether. And then last July, they completely blew up everything, trading away almost all of their talent. And now they are in rebuild mode for the foreseeable future. Just shows how quickly a championship window can close.

Lastly, the laughingstock of the MLB the last couple of years, the Chicago White Sox. They signed international infielder Munetaka Murakami and starter Sean Newcomb. But, while this team showed some flashes last season of potential with their youth, they are still very far away and shouldn’t be a concern for the Royals.

What concerns do you have that might hold the Royals back from winning the division? What team might I have undervalued? Because I think this is finally the year that the Boys in Blue are back on top.

On an emergency episode of The Mets Pod recorded live, Connor Rogers and Joe DeMayo are joined by SNY's Steve Gelbs for real-time reaction to the news that the Mets signed free agent infielder Bo Bichette to a three-year contract. 

The guys break down the deal, and the quick pivot the Mets made after Kyle Tucker chose the Dodgers, plus discuss the positives of Bichette, how he will fit the team, and what it all means for Brett Baty. They also look ahead to what's next, including potential pitching additions and more outfield help.

Later, Connor and Joe go Down on the Farm to cover the official signing of top international prospect Wandy Asigen, and answer Mailbag questions about LarsNootbaar, Austin Hays, and a possible trade match with the Minnesota Twins.

Be sure to subscribe to The Mets Pod at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

So much for the Dodgers being old. 

So much for the concerns about how their offensive firepower could diminish further.

The Dodgers have agreed to a four-year, $240-million deal with Kyle Tucker, and everything suddenly feels different.

President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman could have started the upcoming season waiting to see if veterans such as Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Teoscar Hernandez could continue producing at championship levels. Instead, Friedman chose to be proactive, taking out his interest-free Shohei Ohtani credit card and purchasing the best hitter on the free-agent market.

This won’t be the Last Dance for these Dodgers.

This has turned into a never-ending party that only a lockout and salary cap can stop.

The Dodgers very easily could have done nothing this winter. They won their second consecutive World Series in October, earning their players the right to challenge for a third. Their fans wouldn’t have minded this either, as Mookie and Freddie and Teo have become civic heroes who are on first-name bases with Los Angeles.

An unchanged roster would have presented risks, however. The Dodgers were second in the majors in runs scored last season, but their aging and injury-prone lineup made them susceptible to extended slumps. 

The downside of their dependency on old players was particularly obvious in the World Series. Looking gassed after their 18-inning victory in Game 3, they were crushed in each of the next two games.

The lineup was shaping up to be even older this year.

By the start of the next World Series, Freeman will be 37, Max Muncy 36, and Betts and Hernandez 34.

That doesn’t change.

But the addition of Tucker will improve the team’s roster balance, as he will join a group of players in the primes of their careers including Ohtani (31 years old), Will Smith (30) and Tommy Edman (29).

Tucker will celebrate his 29th birthday on Saturday.

The worst-case scenario for the Dodgers is that Tucker will be a vehicle that helps them extract the most out of Freeman’s and Betts’ post-prime years. In that case, he plays for them for a couple of seasons, voids the remainder of his four-year contract and returns to the free-agent market.

The more desirable outcome is for Tucker to become part of the lasting bridge that links Freeman’s and Betts’ generation of Dodgers to the one that comes next.

The reported opt-out provisions after the second and third years of the deal make Tucker a potential flight risk if he rebounds from two injury-riddled seasons and returns to being a 30-homer, 100-RBI player. If or when Tucker is in that position, the Dodgers should already know what they have in him, not just as a player but as a locker-room presence.

Provided the Dodgers view him as a worthy long-term investment, who would be the favorites to sign Tucker then? The guess here would be the Dodgers.

This winter has underscored how much Ohtani has changed their financial reality.

Ohtani proposed the Dodgers defer all but $2 million of his $70-million annual salary, saving them money in the short term and creating opportunities for them to generate additional revenue by investing the money owed to him. 

The structure of Ohtani’s contract has positioned the Dodgers to take calculated gambles no other team can take.

Reliever performance is notoriously unpredictable, but the Dodgers wagered $72 million last winter on Tanner Scott. The left-hander stunk in his first year with them, a development that would have financially hamstrung any other team. But the Dodgers responded by doubling down and staking another $69 million on Edwin Diaz.

Tucker was also no sure thing, as he was slowed by injuries in each of the last two years. The Dodgers didn’t want Tucker on a long-term deal but positioned themselves to strike if he was willing to settle for a shorter contract with a higher average annual value. That’s what happened. The Mets offered Tucker $220 million, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. The Dodgers offered him $20 million more.

Teams heavily reliant on free-agent signings are in danger of crumbling inelegantly. When the cores of their rosters age, they are stuck with old and expensive players who are difficult to move, which impedes the rebuilding process.

The Dodgers don’t have to concern themselves with any of that. Ohtani has handed them a stack of blank checks, and they aren’t afraid to use them.

Once again, the Dodgers stunned the baseball world.

Once again, they spent big money to land one of the top players in the game.

On Thursday night, the team agreed to a four-year, $240 million blockbuster signing of outfielder Kyle Tucker, adding the four-time All-Star and consensus top free-agent hitter to their already star-studded roster and dynastic core.

The move sent shockwaves through New York (where the Mets saw their own $220 million offer for Tucker spurned), Toronto (where the Blue Jays had offered Tucker a longer-term alternative, to no avail) and much of the rest of the baseball world –– sending a resounding reminder that, even in the wake of back-to-back World Series titles, the Dodgers are showing no signs of complacency with a three-peat now in their sights.

A day later, here are four takeaways from Tucker’s stunning signing, and what it means for the two-time defending champion Dodgers entering 2026:

Dodgers are in their own financial universe

To a large extent, this has been clear for some time. Last year, the Dodgers set an MLB record with their $415 million payroll. Their $169 million luxury tax bill was larger than 12 teams’ entire payroll. 

The Tucker signing, however, was a financial flex of a different caliber.

It ensures the Dodgers will once again surpass $400 million in payroll, threatening to set an MLB record for a second-straight year. It now gives them the two highest annual salary earners in the sport, with Tucker’s $60 million AAV trailing only that of Ohtani. And it came in the kind of bidding war that, despite their interest in Tucker on a shorter-term deal, the Dodgers didn’t always seem likely to win.

After all, for as good as Tucker’s all-around skill set is, he ranks only 11th among hitters in fWAR since 2020 (his breakout MLB season). He has only one career top-five MVP finish, and has not garnered any votes for the award the last two years.

He’s a great player –– but not necessarily a transcendent one.

Which, for the Dodgers, usually tempers how much they’re willing to spend.

But now, with their seemingly endless financial resources and unquenchable thirst to keep stacking championships, the club is discarding old norms and shattering previous expectations. If there’s a hole to fill, and a superstar target open to a shorter-term deal that preserves the club’s long-term flexibility, it hardly seems like there’s any limit they’re not willing and able to exceed.

Their offense was a bigger concern than they let on

What Tucker will bring to the Dodgers is exactly what their potent, but inconsistent, offense will need.

All winter, the team had publicly voiced its confidence in the lineup it was bringing back, a group that scored the second-most runs in baseball last year despite some prolonged slumps. But behind the scenes, the desire to balance the group with a steady and impactful bat like Tucker’s ultimately carried the day.

In Tucker, the team landed one of the most disciplined hitters in the sport, a 28-year-old who has never recorded a 100-strikeout season and possesses some of the lowest chase and whiff rates in the majors. And even in what was a down season last year, Tucker’s .377 on-base percentage was still better than all but two qualified Dodgers hitters. Thus, he should help bolster a Dodgers’ lineup that had been too top-heavy, and too prone to swing-and-miss, at times last year. 

He should be the perfect antidote to their offensive issues in 2025, all while also addressing their last true roster hole in the outfield.

Tucker won’t have to be a leading star

For the notoriously laid-back and spotlight-wary Tucker, the Dodgers also offered a seemingly perfect fit for his easygoing personality.

On the field, he won’t need to carry his new club, likely to slot in behind Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Will Smith in the batting order. Off the field, he won’t have to be a franchise face, either, becoming just the latest big-name player to populate the team’s star-studded clubhouse.

Tucker’s impact could prove to be more profound, of course. He has the capability to be a 30-homer/30-steal player; to rank among the league leaders in everything from batting average, to OPS, to WAR; to be a legitimate MVP contender in his own right, elevating his game to a higher level.

But even if he doesn’t, his consistent production (he has recorded at least 4.2 WAR each of the last five years) is all the Dodgers really need, providing valuable insurance to an offense that could have been in danger of seeing some of its older stars suffer drop-offs over the next couple years.

The offseason is now done — largely

The Dodgers won’t have any big boxes left to check off their winter to-do list now. Short of the Tigers making Tarik Skubal more available for a trade, the team is likely done making major acquisitions.

However, that doesn’t mean there won’t be more transactions ahead.

It’s possible the Dodgers could look to trade a piece from their current roster, either to open space on the 40-man (where they still have a surplus of young pitching and left-handed bullpen depth) or offload some salary to account for Tucker’s massive payday (they held trade talks regarding Teoscar Hernández earlier this offseason, though previously downplayed the possibility of moving him).

They could still pursue more marginal touch-ups, too, having maintained interest in bringing back both utilityman Kiké Hernández and reliever Evan Phillips (who will likely both be out until somepoint later this summer recovering from injuries).

But now, the team has addressed its two biggest needs with two of the biggest signings of the winter, following up its surprise addition of closer Edwin Díaz last month with an even more eye-popping move Thursday that makes Tucker the final significant piece in its three-peat plans.

That sound you heard – besides the “cha-ching” of Kyle Tucker’s bank account – was owners across the league further digging their heels in for a lockout in 2027.

It is not Tucker’s fault, of course, or even the Dodgers’ fault for landing the top free agent hitter on the market with a wild four-year, $240 million contract on Thursday night.

But the latest splashy deal handed out by the back-to-back World Series champions will only intensify the calls for a salary cap, which is at the root of the expected labor battle that looms next winter with the current Collective Bargaining Agreement set to expire in December.

The presumption around the league – even before Tucker agreed to the Dodgers deal – was that there would be a lockout next year, it was just a matter of how long it would last. Owners are expected to push for a salary cap while the union will argue vehemently against it, making for what might be a prolonged dispute that could potentially end up costing the league games.

With the addition of Tucker – whose contract comes with $30 million in deferred money, still giving him a record present-day average annual value of $57.1 million – the Dodgers now have a projected luxury tax payroll of $402.5 million for 2026, per Cot’s Contracts. That figure is more than the bottom-four teams combined in terms of luxury tax payroll, surpassing the sum of the Marlins ($79.3 million), Rays ($93.9M), Guardians ($103.5M) and White Sox ($105.1M).

The Dodgers’ payroll is also nearly $100 million above the highest luxury tax threshold for 2026 ($304 million), with the financial penalties associated with it doing little to deter their spending – which is why many owners will fight for a salary cap, as MLB is currently the only major sport without out one. Even Hal Steinbrenner, whose Yankees currently have a projected luxury tax payroll of $287.8 million, has said he would be in favor of a cap as long as it came with a salary floor.

Ironically, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts – who joked that his team was ruining baseball on the way to a second straight title last October – is actually also among those who would be in favor of a salary cap and floor, despite the institution of one theoretically taking away one of his club’s biggest strengths over the rest of the league.

“Honestly, I think that we have an organization that whatever rules or regulations, constructs are put in front of us, we’re going to dominate,” Roberts said at the winter meetings. “And so just give us the rules, let us know the landscape and then I’ll bet on our organization. So that’s kind of the way I feel.”