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How should Mets rebuild bullpen this offseason? Breaking down internal and external options

When you think about the Mets' offseason and what the team will look like at the start of the 2026 campaign, there are a few things that immediately come to mind.

One is the future of the offensive core, which was broken up on Sunday night when Brandon Nimmo was traded to the Rangers for Marcus Semien.

Another is the free agency of Pete Alonso, who could return but whose power would have to be replaced externally if he signs elsewhere. 

Then there's the starting rotation, which will very likely be bolstered in a big way -- with a trade for a top-of-the-rotation arm seeming likely.

Regarding the bullpen? 

What the relief corps looks like in 2026 will have a lot to do with Edwin Diaz, who -- like Alonso -- is a free agent the Mets would like to bring back.

As New York goes about rebuilding the bullpen, here's how things are shaking out...

The Locks

Brooks Raley and A.J. Minter. That's it.

And Minter, who missed most of last season after surgery to repair a torn lat, will likely be a few weeks behind to start the season.

Apr 16, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; New York Mets pitcher A.J. Minter (33) reacts during the eighth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field.
Apr 16, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; New York Mets pitcher A.J. Minter (33) reacts during the eighth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. / Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Ryan Helsley, Tyler Rogers, and Gregory Soto -- who were all acquired at last season's trade deadline -- are free agents.

Ryne Stanek is also a free agent, and Drew Smith's option for 2026 was declined. Smith had been working his way back from Tommy John surgery.

Meanwhile, Reed Garrett and Dedniel Núñez are both expected to miss the entire season after undergoing TJS.

Raley and Minter are both legitimate late-game weapons, and Raley was tremendous in 2025 after returning from his own Tommy John surgery. In 30 appearances over 25.2 innings, he posted a 2.45 ERA (2.12 FIP) and 0.77 WHIP.

The Internal Candidates

Huascar Brazoban figures to be in the mix again, and hard-throwing prospect Dylan Ross could also be a factor.

Other relievers who could compete for roles include Jonathan Pintaro (who made his big league debut last season), Adbert Alzolay (who is on a two-year minor league deal and missed the 2025 season), Justin Hagenman, Brandon Waddell, Richard Lovelady, Alex Carrillo, and Joey Gerber.

But in an eight-man bullpen that has only two locks as of now (and perhaps just one if Minter is delayed), it's fair to believe the Mets will only rely on one or perhaps two of the aforementioned internal candidates out of the gate.

That means there is tons of work to do.

The External Candidates

I've said it a bunch of times this offseason, and I'll say it again: re-signing Diaz should be the easiest move the Mets make all offseason.

Apr 17, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Edwin Diaz (39) enters the field during the ninth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citi Field.
Apr 17, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Edwin Diaz (39) enters the field during the ninth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citi Field. / Vincent Carchietta - Imagn Images

Will Sammon of The Athletic recently reported that contract length is currently a "sticking point" between the Mets and Diaz, with New York possibly hoping to keep a potential deal to three years and Diaz wanting five.

To me, that reads like an easy compromise should be doable -- offer Diaz four years at right around the same average annual value he was making before he opted out of the final two years of his deal. That would mean a contract worth roughly $80 million.

If another team offers Diaz five years at $100 million or more, it could be understandable for the Mets to not match it. But not going to four years if necessary would be strange, especially considering that the alternative closing options will all almost certainly get multiyear deals.

One of them is Devin Williams, who -- like Diaz -- was born in 1994. Despite Williams having a relatively down campaign in 2025, his stuff remains elite. Per multiple reports, the Mets have already expressed interest in Williams.

Another option is Robert Suarez, who is entering his age-35 season and has a scintillating fastball. Like Williams, the Mets have reportedly shown interest in Suarez.

There's also Pete Fairbanks, who is entering his age-32 season and has been one of the best relievers in baseball since 2020. He's on the market after his option was declined by the cost-conscious Rays. 

In an ideal world, the Mets would re-sign Diaz and add one of the above three pitchers as a setup man. But that could be easier said than done, especially if all three have options to close elsewhere.

Other intriguing relief arms on the market include Kenley Jansen, Emilio Pagan, Luke Weaver, and Kyle Finnegan. In the case of Jansen, it's possible he would want to close since he's chasing the 500 save mark. 

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Sixers downgrade Embiid and George to out for Magic game

Sixers downgrade Embiid and George to out for Magic game  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers made several midday injury status changes Tuesday before their meeting with the Magic.

The team downgraded Joel Embiid (right knee injury management) and Paul George (right ankle sprain) to out. Tyrese Maxey was upgraded from probable with a right shoulder sprain to available. 

Embiid was present after the Sixers’ morning shootaround, wearing a blue practice jersey and taking free throws and jumpers. He’d been listed as questionable on Monday night.

The Orlando game will be Embiid’s eight consecutive absence. Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said Monday that Embiid is “still day-to-day.”

“Just waiting for doctors to clear him,” Nurse said.

George had first been listed as probable. He appeared in his third game of the season Sunday in the Sixers’ defeat to the Heat, logging 20 minutes and posting 10 points on 3-for-10 shooting, five assists, two rebounds, a steal and a block. The most George has played since returning from offseason arthroscopic surgery on his left knee is 25 minutes last Thursday in an overtime win over the Bucks.

“I think we’ve just got to continue to grow his time on the floor,” Nurse said Monday. “The minutes restriction thing has to grow. Hopefully, it keeps heading in the right direction. … I think he’s moving good and the opportunity to get him going and get him some shots is going to be important. … I think conditioning and more minutes and all that stuff just takes a bit of time.”

On top of Embiid and George, the Sixers won’t have VJ Edgecombe (left calf tightness), Kelly Oubre Jr. (left knee LCL sprain) and Adem Bona (right ankle sprain) vs. the Magic. 

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'Who is No. 12?' NBA is discovering Jake LaRavia, who has found a comfort zone with Lakers

Countless fans around the league this season have found themselves exactly where Anthony Edwards did — asking, "Who is this No. 12 on the Lakers?"

"I heard everything. I heard the dude in the crowd, first off, say 'Who's number 12?' I saw Anthony Edwards do his little throw both arms up, like, 'I don't know,'" the Lakers' Jake LaRavia said of his viral moment. "And then, if you saw the video, I put my arms up at the free throw line, so just kind of like playing along with it.

"But I just find that kind of stuff funny. It's amusing to me. It is what it is. I just continue to do what I do."

What LaRavia does is just hoop.

The rest of the nation is about to see what No. 12 can do up close when the Lakers take on the Clippers Tuesday night on NBA Coast 2 Coast on NBC and Peacock — in what will be a critical NBA Cup game.

It’s all about that fit

What matters for role players in the NBA, as much as talent or skill, is fit.

LaRavia brings a well-rounded and a bit of an old-school game that is a hand-in-glove fit in Los Angeles, where he has quickly become a critical cog in the Lakers' attack. While

"The way that we play, and me being able to play off-ball and read when cut, and just when to space the floor and be able to get catch and shoot 3s, and reading closeouts and stuff like that, I definitely feel very comfortable," LaRavia said.

While he's averaging 10.3 points and 4.3 rebounds a game, what makes him invaluable is his willingness to do the little things. He's been a physical and opportunistic defender. He also has consistently played with pace, getting downcourt and finishing plays in transition — occasionally on highlight reel look-ahead touchdown passes from Doncic or Reaves.

Most impressively, he has shown some secondary playmaking skills we haven't seen much from him before.

LaRavia said he played his same game in Memphis and Sacramento (his first stops around the NBA), but the fit is just more natural in Los Angeles. LaRavia's jack-of-all-trades game can get glossed over by scouts and front offices — "But what is he elite at?" — and when the Lakers signed him this summer to fill the shoes of Dorian Finney-Smith, most pundits saw it as a downgrade.

It hasn't been. Not that all those comments ever fazed LaRavia — it's the only way he knows how to play.

"It's kind of just the way I grew up playing," LaRavia said. "I'm from Indiana, kind of Midwest ball, fundamental basketball, cutting, like playing off two feet, all that kind of stuff. It's kind of just, it came, it comes kind of natural."
Coming to the big stage of the Lakers — and playing with Luka Doncic and LeBron James — didn't change his game.

"To be honest, like, my, my whole career has kind of been that," LaRavia said. "Just like, even in college, I wasn't the number one scoring option, but I, but I was the guy that kind of was able to complement that number one scoring option [Note: G-League star Alondes Williams led Wake Forest in scoring LaRavia's final year].

"And it's kind of the same thing here. I play, I play so well off of AR, Luka, and Bron to where, if they're not open, I can still be that kind of secondary shot creator. I'm still able to create my own shot, still able to catch and shoot three, still able to drive and attack the paint and get to the rim."

Playing with Doncic, LeBron

LaRavia said the biggest adjustment coming to the Lakers was playing with Doncic, and now LeBron.

"Just playing off-ball so much, the amount of attention that they draw offensively — with their passing ability — just makes the game so much easier," LaRavia said. "My defender is pulled in or guarding him and I can get cuts to the basket, and they can find me. It's like, even when I don't think I'm open, they see it before I'm even there."
Like on this play from LeBron's first game back

"It was right out of a timeout, and he literally came up to me," LaRavia said of LeBron. "He told me, he said, 'Just cut behind him.' He said, 'Cut behind him and I'll find you.' So when he got the ball on the post, my guy was just not even looking at me, so I just cut behind him."
LaRavia was not even two years old when LeBron made his NBA debut, and getting to play with someone he idolized growing up was special.

"It was dope to finally get on the court with him," LaRavia said. "He brings something to this team that I don't think we really had, just another level of passing ability that he's able to do, and just the force he is on offense, in transition, and when he has the ball in his hands."

What's evident being around these Lakers — something that wasn't always there the past few years — is a genuine connection between the players off the court. These guys like each other.

"The vibes are really high," LaRavia said. “We all get along with each other really well off the court. You see it on the court when we're playing, just what our chemistry is. Yeah, it's a really good group of guys."

NBA Cup

Tuesday night, when the Lakers take the court against the Clippers, it will be a critical NBA Cup game that could decide West Group B — win and the Lakers advance to the quarterfinals, one win away from a trip to Las Vegas for the semifinals and finals. The game is the second of the Coast 2 Coast Tuesday NBA doubleheader on NBC and Peacock.

Don't question the players' motivation for these games.

"I think $500,000 will motivate just about anyone," LaRavia said. "I think half a million dollars is still a good, amount of money to be able to motivate you to want to win games."
These NBA Cup games are regular-season games, as well, so there is motivation there already, LaRavia noted, but added that having a target like a mid-season tournament adds a little something.

"It is cool to just be able to play for something in the middle of the season and be able to get a nice little bonus," LaRavia said.

If the Lakers get that bonus, it will be in no small part due to LaRavia finding his role, his comfort zone on a team that needed him.

How to Watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones. Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.

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Undercooked England will not play for a year until Rugby League World Cup

  • Coach insists more opportunities needed for team

  • Executive knocks back idea England will not be ready

England’s rugby league team will go into next year’s World Cup without playing a fixture for almost an entire year after it was confirmed there was no room in the 2026 Super League schedule to give the national team a mid-season international break.

Following their whitewash defeat to Australia in the Ashes earlier this month, England coach Shaun Wane – whose own position is under review – insisted that there needed to be more opportunities and priority given to the national team if they are to bridge the gap to the all-conquering Kangaroos.

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Jimmy Butler again reminds Warriors he was best pick to be Steph Curry's co-star

Jimmy Butler again reminds Warriors he was best pick to be Steph Curry's co-star originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – Jimmy Butler ran down the right lane of the court and caught a pass from Gary Payton II to finish a 2-on-1 fastbreak. He jumped off two feet, and was vertical with a 7-foot Lauri Markkanen, absorbing the Utah Jazz star before moving the ball to his right and kissing it off the glass for two points. 

The Warriors beat the Jazz 134-117 Monday night at Chase Center to snap a three-game losing streak. Butler was their prize at last season’s trade deadline. Markkanen is the player they highly coveted during the 2024 summer. 

There isn’t a thing the Warriors would change about acquiring Butler as Steph Curry’s co-star alongside Draymond Green. 

“Lauri Markkanen is having an incredible run. He’s been playing at a high level for a couple years now,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Sunday after practice. 

Markkanen going into his game against Golden State was averaging a career-high 29.3 points per game, slightly ahead of Curry, for the seventh-best mark in the NBA. He already had a 51-point game this season, three games of 40 or more points and eight of at least 30 points. The 2023 All-Star and former winner of the NBA’s Most Improved Player looked to be taking a leap as one of the league’s premier scorers, especially at his size. 

Everything Markkanen does as an off-ball 3-point threat who can score in multiple ways for Jazz coach Will Hardy can be imagined in Kerr’s offensive system. The two coaches have history together with Team USA basketball, and Kerr highly respects the younger Hardy’s vision. 

“We see the game in a similar fashion, but to really be proficient in that, you need somebody like Markkanen or Steph or Klay [Thompson],” Kerr said during his pregame press conference. “You need somebody who has to draw that type of attention to create reactions from the defense. What I see is a team that spaces the floor well, that is pushing it, that is playing aggressively, playing confidently. 

“Yeah, they’re hard to guard.” 

So, Kerr stuck someone 10 inches shorter on Markkanen in the Warriors’ first game against the Jazz this season. With Draymond Green and Al Horford out to injuries, Gary Payton II had the job of guarding Markkanen to open the game and a handful of Warriors were part of the Jazz star having his second-worst scoring night of the season. Markkanen scored 17 points, nearly 13 off his previous season average, on 31.6-percent shooting (6 of 19) and only was 1 of 5 from 3-point range. 

He was a minus-20 in 33 minutes. 

Meanwhile, Butler was a plus-19 in 28 minutes, dominating doing what he does best. Always under control, Butler scored 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting, had six rebounds (tied for a team high) and seven assists (one behind Payton’s eight). The furthest shot he took was a 13-foot jumper after recognizing a mismatch being guarded by rookie Walter Clayton Jr. 

Butler rebounded his own first miss, a contested layup through traffic, and tipped it back in for two points. His second miss was a driving layup where Butler expected more contact, and his third actually came from Clayton swiping down and blocking the start of a shot around his waist. 

The summer of 2024 for the Warriors was about Paul George and Markkanen. They dodged a bullet in George, who only played 41 games last year and has played just three this season. Markkanen had a down year last season while playing a lowly 47 games, and Butler, who didn’t get to play against George as a Warrior last season, highly outplayed him in his first game against Utah with Golden State. 

The Warriors’ focus at the trade deadline turned to a Kevin Durant reunion, which didn’t transpire due to KD not wanting to reopen that chapter of his career. Durant didn’t play last April when Butler and the Warriors blew out the Phoenix Suns. He will his Houston Rockets’ game against the Warriors on Wednesday because of a personal family matter. 

Any kind of Warriors what-ifs of Markkanen, George or Durant have been put to rest because of Butler’s presence. The trio of Butler, Curry and Green have played 14 games together this season and are a plus-61 with a 15.0 net rating. Green missed Monday’s win, but the Curry-Butler duo improved to a plus-50 in 15 games this season and they’ve produced a 120.6 offensive rating. 

After beating the Jazz, the Warriors at 10-9 are one game over .500, powered by three players 35 or older that still are elite. The Warriors again were reminded that although Butler wasn’t the franchise’s first pick before knowing he was available, he was the right choice in a move where they were able to keep all their best assets to keep building around him, Curry and Green in their first full season together.

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5 Blackhawks Thoughts Following First 0-3-0 Stretch Of 2025-26

For the first time during the 2025-26 season, the Chicago Blackhawks are in the middle of a 0-3-0 stretch. Losing three regulation games in a row is never a good thing in the NHL, but now the focus has to become finding a way out of the slump. 

A lot has happened during that three-game sample. The first game was a loss to the Seattle Kraken on Thursday night. Chicago had a 2-0 lead but allowed the Kraken to win it in regulation, 3-2. 

The middle game on Friday, the second half of a back-to-back, was a 9-3 clobbering at the hands of the Buffalo Sabres. This, the one road game during this losing streak, was Chicago's worst game of the year. 

The third of three straight losses came on Sunday night against the Colorado Avalanche at the United Center. This was a 1-0 win for the Avalanche. Despite being shut out, the team and head coach believed that they bounced back nicely following the bad game against the Sabres two nights prior. 

"Even with the second, I think if we repeat that performance, we win lots of games," said head coach Jeff Blashill. "The other team is going to push back. That's just the reality of life. I thought we did an excellent job in our structure [and] an excellent job with some of the things we talked about that we didn't do in Buffalo."

Now, at 10-8-4, they are below the playoff line, but they are mixed in with all of the other bubble teams trying to find a way into the top-8. 

These are 5 thoughts following this 0-3-0 stretch ahead of their game against the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday night: 

1. Connor Bedard is incredibly important to the Chicago Blackhawks organization both on and off the ice. Every other fan in the crowd is wearing a #98 jersey, and he is their best player in between the whistles by far. 

They gave him an "A" when Nick Foligno and Jason Dickinson were out of the lineup at the same time, and didn't take it away when Dickinson came back. 

Jeff Blashill also publicly disagreed with the referees after the game on Thursday against the Kraken. Although Bedard doesn't want to be showing up referees during the play, Blashill made it clear he was on his player's side. 

With this new leadership role and his newfound elite scoring touch, the pressure is on Team Canada to select Bedard for the 2026 Winter Olympics. The Blackhawks are doing everything they can to help him on that journey. 

2. Ilya Mikheyev is one of the top penalty killers in the league. He helps them score a handful of goals at even strength, along with his work in the defensive zone, but his work on the PK is second to none. 

There are a few players on the team who have skillsets made for killing penalties, but everything is led by the play of Mikheyev in this situation. The Blackhawks have an 83.3 kill percentage, which is a unit that has been consistently in the top-10 all season long. 

3. Nick Lardis is a high-end prospect. While playing with the Rockford IceHogs this weekend, Lardis scored four goals in two games played. 

This isn't something that directly impacted results for Chicago, as he is still working up to his NHL debut, but he is proving over and over again that he deserves his chance soon.

The Blackhawks have not been without injuries to forwards this season, and Lardis has the pedigree to make him a "next man up" candidate. 

If Lardis continues to make plays and score goals, he may force Kyle Davidson's hand regardless of whether there is an injury or not. 

4. Ryan Greene has had a good stretch of play. With the injuries that the Blackhawks have had this year, Greene has been given opportunities up and down the lineup. 

So far this season, Greene has just two goals and four assists, but his play with and without the puck is helping everyone around him be better. Once he starts finishing a tad bit more, he will be a valuable depth piece on a winning team. 

Against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday, Greene had a handful of high-quality chances to score in the first period alone. Eventually, those will start going in more. Throughout his development, he has never sacrificed playing the right way for offense. If he keeps that mentality, he will carve out a great career. 

5. Early in the season, it seemed like the Blackhawks would eventually have to stop going with the 11/7 strategy. There have been multiple times where a forward gets hurt, and the Blackhawks are down to 10, but the benefit this has on the defense can't be overstated. 

Outside of Matt Grzelcyk and Connor Murphy, all of the Blackhawks' defensemen are young. Having more options allows Jeff Blashill to be easier on them with their ice time. If someone is having a tough stretch, they can play in a smaller role. If someone is playing well, they can earn minutes. 

There is still an outside chance that they move to 12/6 full-time this year, but Ethan Del Mastro, Nolan Allan, and Kevin Korchinski are all down in Rockford as well. The 11/7 strategy may be beneficial to them if they get called up at any point down the stretch. As long as whoever is playing continues trending up, Blashill will keep it going. 

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Red Sox acquiring pitcher Sonny Gray in trade with Cardinals: Report

Red Sox acquiring pitcher Sonny Gray in trade with Cardinals: Report originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Red Sox have made an early move to bolster their starting rotation.

The Red Sox have acquired right-handed pitcher Sonny Gray in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals, the team announced Tuesday. Jon Heyman of the New York Post first reported the news.

Boston is sending right-hander Richard Fitts and left-hander Brandon Clarke to St. Louis in exchange for Gray and cash, as first reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Here are the full terms of the deal, with MassLive’s Chris Cotillo reporting the Cardinals are sending $20 million to Boston:

  • Red Sox receive: RHP Sonny Gray, $20 million
  • Cardinals receive: RHP Richard Fitts, LHP Brandon Clarke

Gray, 36, posted a 4.28 ERA with a 1.234 WHIP over 32 starts for the Cardinals last season. Those aren’t remarkable numbers, but Gray did boast impressive command, leading the majors in strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.29) with 201 strikeouts to just 38 walks.

A three-time All-Star, Gray has pitched for five different teams — the Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees, Cincinnati Reds, Minnesota Twins and Cardinals — over 13 MLB seasons.

Gray signed a three-year, $75 million contract with St. Louis in 2024 and was set to make $35 million this season. According to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, however, the Red Sox are reworking his contract to a $31 million salary in 2026 with a mutual-option buyout of $10 million after the season.

So, with $20 million coming in from St. Louis, Boston essentially is on the hook for $21 million of Gray’s salary for one year. That’s a relatively fair price to pay a pitcher of Gray’s age and stature.

At the moment, Gray would slot in as a middle-of-the-rotation arm behind Garrett Crochet and Brayan Bello, giving the Red Sox an experienced pitcher with strong command who can eat innings.

Rookies Payton Tolle and Connelly Early showed plenty of promise last season and could round out the rest of the rotation. Both young hurlers are relatively unproven, however, so you could argue Craig Breslow and Co. still need to add more starting pitching — preferably a big name like Minnesota Twins right-hander Joe Ryan, who has been linked to Boston in trade rumors.

Tuesday’s trade for Gray — with old friend and Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom — is a clear sign the Red Sox are in “win now” mode. But how they add around Gray will go a long way in determining whether this move was worthwhile.

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Shohei Ohtani announces he will play for Japan in 2026 World Baseball Classic

Shohei Ohtani announces he will play for Japan in 2026 World Baseball Classic originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Shohei Ohtani plans to play for Japan in next year’s World Baseball Classic, the two-way Los Angeles Dodgers star announced on social media Monday night.

Ohtani helped Japan win the 2023 WBC, striking out then-Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout for the final out of the championship game against the United States. He was named MVP of the tournament.

Ohtani won his fourth MVP award this month, shortly after he helped the Dodgers win their second straight World Series title. He returned to the mound this season after not pitching in 2024 while recovering from Tommy John surgery.

In the postseason, he had arguably the best game in major league history, striking out 10 batters and hitting three homers as the Dodgers completed a four-game NL Championship Series sweep of Milwaukee.

Ohtani did not specify in his post whether he plans to pitch for Japan in the WBC, which begins on March 5.

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Here's an updated look at the best remaining MLB free agents

Here's an updated look at the best remaining MLB free agents originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

MLB free agency is much more like a marathon than a sprint.

In leagues like the NBA and NFL, the start of free agency typically coincides with a flurry of activity.

But the activity in MLB free agency tends to be spread out over the course of the winter. Look no further than last offseason, when Pete Alonso and Alex Bregman didn’t strike deals until February.

This year’s free agent class included 13 players who were extended the qualifying offer, and four of them accepted it: New York Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham, Chicago Cubs starter Shota Imanaga, Detroit Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres and Milwaukee Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff.

And those aren’t the only notable free agents staying put. First baseman Josh Naylor (Seattle Mariners), reliever Emilio Pagán (Cincinnati Reds) and slugger Kyle Schwarber (Philadelphia Phillies) re-signed with their respective clubs. Meanwhile, those who found new homes include first baseman Pete Alonso (Baltimore Orioles), starter Dylan Cease (Toronto Blue Jays), reliever Edwin Díaz (Los Angeles Dodgers), reliever Ryan Helsley (Orioles) and reliever Devin Williams (New York Mets).

So, with hot stove season underway, here’s an updated look at the best remaining MLB free agents (this list will be updated as free agents sign; players listed alphabetically by last name):

Luis Arráez, 1B, San Diego Padres

Luis Arráez. (Denis Poroy-Imagn Images)

Luis Arráez, 28, continued to be a singles machine in 2025, with 139 of his 181 hits being base hits. While the three-time batting champion didn’t record a .300-plus batting average for the first time since 2021, his .292 average still tied for 12th-best in the majors. And Arráez, who slashed .292/.327/.392 with eight homers, 61 RBI and 11 steals in 154 games, tied for the second-most hits in all of baseball. He had the lowest strikeout percentage in the majors (3.1%), but also tied for the 10th-worst walk percentage (5%). In the field, Arráez tied for third-worst among first basemen in outs above average at minus-7.

Harrison Bader, OF, Philadelphia Phillies

Harrison Bader‘s age-31 campaign was the best offensive season of his career, as he split time between the Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies. He posted career highs in hits (124), doubles (24), home runs (17), RBI (54) and OPS (.796) while slashing .277/.347/.449 across 146 games. Bader also tied for 18th among outfielders in outs above average (plus-7).

Chris Bassitt, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays

Chris Bassitt. (Troy Taormina-Imagn Images)

Chris Bassitt logged at least 30 starts for the fourth straight season. The 36-year-old recorded a 3.96 ERA, 166 strikeouts and 52 walks in 170.1 innings pitched over 31 starts and 32 total appearances. While Bassitt brought down his 1.462 WHIP from 2024, he still tied for ninth-worst in that category at 1.327.

Cody Bellinger, OF, New York Yankees

Cody Bellinger. (Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images)

Cody Bellinger, 30, declined his $25 million player option following a strong debut season in the Bronx. The 2019 NL MVP hit .272/.334/.480 with 29 home runs, 98 RBI and 13 steals. Bellinger, who made his most appearances since 2019 with 152, tied for 18th among outfielders in outs above average (plus-7).

Bo Bichette, SS, Toronto Blue Jays

Bo Bichette. (Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images)

Bo Bichette, 27, was back to his old self at the dish following a 2024 season where he posted a .598 OPS while being limited to 81 games due to injuries. The two-time All-Star hit .311/.357/.483 with 18 homers and 94 RBI in 139 games. He tied for the second-most hits (181) and second-best batting average in the majors, while also tallying the second-most doubles (44). Bichette, however, tied for last among shortstops in outs above average at minus-13. Bichette declined the qualifying offer from Toronto.

Alex Bregman, 3B, Boston Red Sox

Bregman opted out of two years and $80 million remaining on the deal he signed with the Boston Red Sox last offseason. The 31-year-old is coming off his first All-Star campaign since 2019, hitting .273/.360/.462 with 18 home runs and 62 RBI in 114 games. Bregman, who missed extended time with a quad injury, tied for ninth among third baseman in outs above average at plus-3.

Pete Fairbanks, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays

Pete Fairbanks. (Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)

The Tampa Bay Rays declined a $7 million club option on Pete Fairbanks, allowing the right-hander to hit the open market. Fairbanks, who turns 32 in December, logged career highs in appearances (61), innings (60.1) and saves (27 in 32 chances) last season. He had a 2.83 ERA, 59 strikeouts, 18 walks and a 1.044 WHIP.

Zac Gallen, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks

Zac Gallen. (Joe Rondone-Imagn Images)

Zac Gallen, who declined the qualifying offer, hit free agency on the heels of a subpar 2025 campaign. The 30-year-old hadn’t recorded an ERA higher than 3.65 since 2021, but saw that figure balloon to 4.83 across 192 innings last season. In 33 starts, Gallen posted 175 strikeouts, 66 walks and a 1.260 WHIP. He tied for the fourth-most homers allowed among all pitchers with 31.

Adolis García, OF, Texas Rangers

Adolis García. (Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)

The Texas Rangersdidn’t tenderAdolis García, 32, a contract, allowing the 2023 ALCS MVP to hit free agency. After hitting 39 homers with an .836 OPS in Texas’ 2023 championship campaign, García has recorded two consecutive sub-.700 OPS seasons at the dish. He hit .227/.271/.394 with 19 home runs, 75 RBI and 13 steals in 135 games last season. The 2023 Gold Glove winner posted an outs above average of plus-1 in right field, tying him for 45th among all outfielders.

Lucas Giolito, RHP, Boston Red Sox

Lucas Giolito. (James A. Pittman-Imagn Images)

Lucas Giolito enjoyed quite the bounce-back season after being traded and subsequently waived in 2023 and then missing all of 2024 due to UCL surgery. The 31-year-old posted a 3.41 ERA — his best since 2019 — in 145 innings over 26 starts. Giolito recorded 121 strikeouts and 56 walks with a 1.290 WHIP.

Rhys Hoskins, 1B, Milwaukee Brewers

Rhys Hoskins. (Benny Sieu-Imagn Images)

Rhys Hoskins was limited to 90 games last season as he missed extended time with a thumb injury. The 32-year-old hit .237/.332/.416 with 12 home runs and 43 RBI. He was tied for 11th among first basemen in outs above average at plus-1.

Tatsuya Imai, RHP, Japan

Tatsuya Imai. (Gene Wang/Getty Images)

Tatsuya Imai is one of several Japanese stars who were posted to free agency by Nippon Professional Baseball clubs. Imai, 29, put up a 3.15 ERA in 159 games over eight NPB seasons. The right-hander is coming off his best season, sporting a 1.92 ERA with 178 strikeouts, 45 walks and a 0.892 WHIP in 163.2 innings over 24 games. He has until Jan. 2 to sign with an MLB team.

Kenley Jansen, RHP, Los Angeles Angels

Kenley Jansen. (Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images)

In his age-37 season, Kenley Jansen posted a sub-3.00 ERA (2.59) for the first time since 2021 and a sub-1.000 WHIP (0.949) for the first time since 2018. And the two-time Reliever of the Year converted 29 of 30 save chances. In 62 appearances, Jansen had 57 strikeouts and 19 walks across 59 innings.

Merrill Kelly, RHP, Texas Rangers

Merrill Kelly. (Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)

Merrill Kelly, 37, was moved midseason from Arizona to Texas, finishing with a 3.52 ERA, 167 strikeouts, 48 walks and a 1.114 WHIP in 184 innings over 32 total starts. His numbers did dip following the trade, though, with a 4.23 ERA and 1.247 WHIP in 10 starts with the Rangers. Kelly was sidelined for an extended period due to a shoulder injury in 2024, when he made 13 starts.

Michael King, RHP, San Diego Padres

Michael King. (Denis Poroy-Imagn Images)

Michael King, like Cease, declined the qualifying offer from the San Diego Padres. The 30-year-old is coming off his second straight season as a full-time starter, though he was limited to 15 starts in 2025 due to injuries. King posted a 3.44 ERA across 73.1 innings with 76 strikeouts, 26 walks and a 1.200 WHIP. He had a 2.95 ERA, 201 strikeouts, 63 walks and a 1.192 WHIP across 173.2 innings in 2024.

Nick Martinez, RHP, Cincinnati Reds

Nick Martinez. (Sam Greene-Imagn Images)

Nick Martinez again split time between the rotation and bullpen in 2025, making 26 starts and 14 relief appearances. The 35-year-old saw his ERA rise from 3.10 in 2024 to 4.45 in 2025 and his WHIP go from 1.026 to 1.207. Martinez, who accepted the qualifying offer last offseason, struck out 116 hitters and walked 42 in a career-high 165.2 innings.

Munetaka Murakami, 3B/1B, Japan

Munetaka Murakami. (Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports)

Munetaka Murakami, 25, has until Dec. 22 to sign with an MLB club. The left-handed slugger hit .270/.394/.557 with 246 home runs and 647 RBI in 892 games over eight NPB seasons. Injuries limited Murakami to 56 games last year, but he still hit 22 long balls with a 1.043 OPS.

Ryan O’Hearn, 1B, San Diego Padres

Ryan O’Hearn. (David Frerker-Imagn Images)

Ryan O’Hearn, 32, was an All-Star for the first time in the 2025 season, which saw him dealt from the Orioles to the Padres at the deadline. O’Hearn hit .281/.366/.437 in 144 total games while posting career highs in home runs (17) and RBI (63). He tied for fourth in outs above average at first base (plus-6), where logged 75 appearances.

Kazuma Okamoto, 3B/1B, Japan

Kazuma Okamoto. (Rhona Wise-USA TODAY Sports)

Kazuma Okamoto, 29, hit .277/.361/.521 with 248 home runs and 717 RBI in 1,074 games over 11 NPB seasons. An elbow injury limited Okamoto to 69 games last season, when he hit .327/.416/.598 with 21 homers and 49 RBI. Okamoto has until Jan. 4 to sign with a team.

Marcell Ozuna, DH, Atlanta Braves

Marcell Ozuna. (Dale Zanine-Imagn Image)

After two straight seasons with a .900-plus OPS, Marcell Ozuna saw that figure dip to .756 in 2025. The 35-year-old slashed .232/.355/.400 with 21 homers and 68 RBI in 145 games. Ozuna had hit a combined 79 home runs in the previous two seasons.

Jorge Polanco, 3B/2B, Seattle Mariners

Jorge Polanco. (Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images)

Jorge Polanco rebounded from a down debut season with Seattle in which he tallied a .651 OPS. The 32-year-old hit .265/.326/.495 with 26 homers and 78 RBI in 138 games last season. Polanco, who was mostly used as a DH, had an outs above above average of minus-4 in the field.

J.T. Realmuto, C, Philadelphia Phillies

J.T. Realmuto, 34, last season failed to record a .750-plus OPS for the first time in a decade. The three-time All-Star catcher hit .257/.315/.384 with 12 home runs and 52 RBI.

Tyler Rogers, RHP, New York Mets

Tyler Rogers. (Jim Rassol-Imagn Images)

Tyler Rogers tallied the fourth-most holds this past season with 32 as he split time between the San Francisco Giants and the Mets. The submarine pitcher recorded a 1.98 ERA in 77.1 innings over 81 total appearances. Rogers, who turns 35 in December, had 48 strikeouts, seven walks and a 0.944 WHIP.

Max Scherzer, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays

Max Scherzer. (John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images)

Max Scherzer, 41, posted a career-worst 5.19 ERA in 2025 while being limited to 17 starts due to a thumb injury. The three-time Cy Young winner had 82 strikeouts, 23 walks and a 1.294 WHIP in 86 innings. Opposing hitters put up an .810 OPS against Scherzer, the highest mark of his career. It was the second straight season that Scherzer missed extended time after making nine starts in 2024.

Eugenio Suárez, 3B, Seattle Mariners

Eugenio Suárez. (Steven Bisig-Imagn Images)

Eugenio Suárez last season made his first All-Star Game since 2018, matching his career high in homers (49) and driving in a personal-best 118 runs. The 34-year-old had an .897 OPS and 36 homers in 106 games with the D-backs, but dropped off to a .682 OPS and 13 homers in 53 games after a midseason move to the M’s. His outs above average of minus-5 ranked 32nd among third basemen.

Ranger Suárez, LHP, Philadelphia Phillies

In addition to Schwarber, Ranger Suárez also declined the qualifying offer from the Phillies. The 30-year-old southpaw posted a 3.20 ERA in 2025, his best in a season in which he made at least 20 starts. Suárez, who earned his first All-Star nod the season prior, logged 157.1 innings over 26 starts with 151 strikeouts, 38 walks and a 1.220 WHIP.

Robert Suarez, RHP, San Diego Padres

Robert Suarez. (Denis Poroy-Imagn Images)

Robert Suarez opted out of the remaining two years on his deal, which included a pair of $8 million player options. The 34-year-old, who made his MLB debut in 2022, earned his second straight All-Star nod in 2025. Suarez’s 40 saves, in 45 chances, ranked second in the majors. He tallied 70 total appearances, posting a 2.97 ERA with 75 strikeouts, 16 walks and a 0.904 WHIP across 69.2 innings.

Kona Takahashi, RHP, Japan

Kona Takahashi, like Okamoto, has until Jan. 4 to sign with an MLB team. The 28-year-old right-hander recorded a 3.39 ERA and 1.296 WHIP in 196 games over 11 NPB seasons. In 24 games last season, Takahashi had a 3.04 ERA, 88 strikeouts, 41 walks and a 1.230 WHIP across 148 innings.

Kyle Tucker, OF, Chicago Cubs

Kyle Tucker. (Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images)

Following an offseason trade from the Houston Astros, Kyle Tucker earned his fourth straight All-Star nod in 2025. The 28-year-old hit .266/.377/.464 with 22 home runs, 73 RBI and 25 stolen bases. But Tucker, a Gold Glove winner in 2022, tied for 70th among outfielders in outs above average at minus-2 while playing right field.

Framber Valdez, LHP, Houston Astros

Framber Valdez. (Troy Taormina-Imagn Images)

Framber Valdez, 32, is the top left-hander in this free agent class. The two-time All-Star has made at least 28 starts and posted a sub-3.70 ERA in each of the last four seasons. He made 31 starts in 2025, posting a 3.66 ERA, 187 strikeouts, 68 walks and a 1.245 WHIP across 192 innings. His 20 quality starts last season tied for the seventh-most in the majors, and the southpaw has tossed eight complete games since 2022, good for the second-most over that span.

Justin Verlander, RHP, San Francisco Giants

Justin Verlander logged 29 starts in his age-42 season. The three-time Cy Young winner recorded a 3.85 ERA, 137 strikeouts, 52 walks and a 1.362 WHIP in 152 innings.

Luke Weaver, RHP, New York Yankees

Luke Weaver. (Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images)

Luke Weaver was deployed as a full-time reliever for the second straight season in 2025. The 32-year-old recorded a 3.62 ERA, 72 strikeouts, 20 walks and a 1.021 WHIP in 64.2 innings over 64 appearances. Weaver converted eight of his 12 save chances.

Mike Yastrzemski, OF, Kansas City Royals

Mike Yastrzemski. (Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images)

Mike Yastrzemski had a strong finish to 2025 following a midseason move from the San Francisco Giants to the Kansas City Royals. The 35-year-old arrived in Kansas City with eight homers, 28 RBI and a .685 OPS in 96 games, but he hit .237/.339/.500 with nine home runs and 18 RBI in 50 games with the Royals. Yastrzemski tied for 78th among outfielders in outs above average at minus-3 while mostly playing right field.

Editor’s note: This story was first published on Nov. 25.

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How Steph Curry made NBA scoring history in Warriors' win vs. Jazz on Monday

How Steph Curry made NBA scoring history in Warriors' win vs. Jazz on Monday originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Steph Curry needed fewer than 30 minutes to make NBA scoring history Monday night.

The Warriors star poured in 31 points in 29 minutes, knocking down six 3-pointers in Golden State’s 134–117 win over the Utah Jazz at Chase Center. The performance officially tied Curry with Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo for the most 30-point games played in under 30 minutes in NBA history, with 30 such games each.

Curry now has totaled 1,043 points in 865 minutes across those 30 games, averaging 34.8 points in 28.8 minutes. Antetokounmpo, meanwhile, has recorded 989 points in 831 minutes across 30 games, averaging 33.0 points per 27.7 minutes.

The timing of the tie is notable. Antetokounmpo currently is sidelined with a low-grade left groin strain, leaving his total frozen as the Bucks slide in the standings. Milwaukee dropped its fifth straight game on Monday — a 115–103 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers — continuing a skid that began when Giannis exited the lineup.

Milwaukee will have to wait for Antetokounmpo to return before he can push that mark any further. Golden State, meanwhile, is moving in the opposite direction. The win lifted the Warriors to 10–9, a modest but meaningful step as they try to climb back into the upper half of the Western Conference.

And if Curry keeps delivering this kind of production in under 30 minutes, Golden State’s ascent might just come faster than expected.

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