With spring training looming, Zac Gallen's market seems to be finally gaining steam.  The Baltimo...

<p>With spring training looming, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/9755" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/9755">Zac Gallen</a>'s market seems to be finally gaining steam.</p><p>The Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs, and Arizona Diamondbacks - Gallen's team for the last seven seasons - are showing interest in the veteran right-hander, <a href="https://x.com/MLBNetwork/status/2016285842591891751">Jon Heyman of MLB Network</a> reports.</p><p>Gallen is one of the best starting pitchers left on the free-agent market despite coming off a difficult 2025. He posted a career-worst 4.83 ERA and 8.2 K/9 along with a 1.26 WHIP in 192 innings with Arizona last season.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>However, Gallen's just two years removed from finishing third in NL Cy Young voting as the ace of the D-Backs' 2023 NL pennant-winning staff. The 30-year-old is also one of the more durable starters in baseball, making at least 28 starts every year since 2022 and throwing at least 180 innings in three of the last four seasons.</p><p>If Gallen can bounce back in 2026, he'd be a great help to any of the reported clubs bidding for his services. The Cubs, Orioles, and D-Backs have all acquired starting pitching this winter but would benefit from slotting Gallen atop their rotations, where he'd lengthen their staffs.</p><p>Gallen rejected the D-Backs' qualifying offer in November, meaning he's tied to draft-pick compensation should he sign with another team before Opening Day.</p><p>The Los Angeles Angels and San Diego Padres also checked in on Gallen, although they're considered long shots to land him, according to Heyman.</p><p> </p>

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 15: Zac Gallen #23 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches in the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Chase Field on September 15, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona.

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Report: Orioles, Cubs, D-Backs interested in Gallen

Nathan Rourke is staying on the West Coast, as the CFL's reigning Most Outstanding Player has agr...

<p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///cfl/players/149469" href="https://thescore.com/cfl/players/149469">Nathan Rourke</a> is staying on the West Coast, as the CFL's reigning Most Outstanding Player has agreed to a two-year extension with the BC Lions.</p><p>Rourke was scheduled to become a free agent next offseason before signing the extension.</p><p>"I'm honoured to continue my lifelong dream as a professional football player with the BC Lions," Rourke <a href="https://www.bclions.com/2026/01/27/rourke-remains-home-through-2028/?utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=dhtwitter&amp;utm_content=app.dashsocial.com/bc-lions/library/media/634535645">said</a> in a statement. "I'm fortunate to be part of an organization that believes in me and trusts me to lead both on and off the field. ... This organization has redefined family for me and I'm excited to keep chasing the goal of bringing a Grey Cup back to the West Coast."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Rourke, 27, is coming off a historic 2025 campaign that saw him join Hall of Famer Russ Jackson as the only Canadian QBs to be named MOP. He passed for a Canadian single-season record 5,290 yards along with 31 touchdowns and a 70.4 completion percentage. The dual-threat pivot also ran for 564 yards - tops among quarterbacks and eighth in the league overall - and 10 rushing majors.</p><p>The Oakville, Ontario, native was originally drafted by BC second overall in 2020. He briefly left the Lions in 2023 to pursue NFL opportunities before returning in August 2024.</p><p>BC went 11-7 last year to finish second in the West Division, but the team was eliminated by Saskatchewan in the West final. The Lions haven't played in a Grey Cup game since their most recent win in 2011.</p>

REGINA, CANADA - NOVEMBER 8: Nathan Rourke #12 of the BC Lions throws a pass during warm-up before the CFL Western Final game between the BC Lions and Saskatchewan Roughriders at Mosaic Stadium on November 8, 2025 in Regina, Canada.

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Lions extend CFL MOP Rourke through 2028

Pittsburgh Pirates icon Andrew McCutchen doesn't seem pleased with how the team is treating him b...

<p>Pittsburgh Pirates icon <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/1105" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/1105">Andrew McCutchen</a> doesn't seem pleased with how the team is treating him before what could be the final year of his career.</p><p>McCutchen, who's currently a free agent, had harsh words for his longtime team Saturday, hours after Pirates general manager Ben Cherington was noncommittal about re-signing him.</p><p>"Andrew has meant a ton to the team. He's had an incredible run at two different times," Cherington told fans who asked about McCutchen at Saturday's PiratesFest, according to <a href="https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2026/01/24/piratesfest-ask-management-accountability-bob-nutting-travis-williams/stories/202601240016">Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette</a>. "Certainly his legacy as a Pirate is secure. Everybody with the Pirates, it's our desire to maintain a really good relationship with Andrew well into the future. Then we come back to our team. What is the job? The job is to build a team that gives us the best chance to win games when you're at the ballpark in June and July."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>He added: "Our approach this offseason has been laser-focused on what gives us the best chance to win more baseball games in Pittsburgh than we have in the past seasons. That's gonna continue to guide our decisions. So much respect for Andrew. That relationship is really important to us. We'll continue to communicate with him directly as the team comes together. We have more work to do."</p><p>Cherington's words apparently didn't sit well with McCutchen. Late Saturday, the 39-year-old lashed out at the Bucs on X while responding to Pittsburgh radio host Josh Rowntree, who suggested that the team should move on.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">I wonder, did the Cards do this Wainwright/Pujols/Yadi? Dodgers to Kershaw?Tigers to Miggy? The list goes on and on. If this is my last year, it would have been nice to meet the fans one last time as a player. Talk to them about my appreciation for them over the years. Shake that… <a href="https://t.co/oB8Nq1bjng">https://t.co/oB8Nq1bjng</a></p>— Andrew McCutchen (@TheCUTCH22) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheCUTCH22/status/2015280376088781216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>"If this is my last year, it would have been nice to meet the fans one last time as a player," McCutchen wrote. "Talk to them about my appreciation for them over the years. Shake that little kid's hand or hug the fan that's been a fan since (Roberto) Clemente. You see, this is bigger than baseball! Bigger than looking at a 40-man roster and cherry-picking numbers that fit your agenda or prove why your opinion matters. The fans deserved at the very least to get that opportunity."</p><p>McCutchen's spent 12 of his 17 big-league seasons in Pittsburgh, where he broke out as a star and a beloved Pirate during the early 2010s. He was named 2013 NL MVP after leading the team to its first winning record and playoff appearance in 21 years.</p><p>Pittsburgh traded him (and Gerrit Cole) after the 2017 season, when both homegrown stars were nearing free agency. McCutchen played for four teams over the next five seasons before returning to the Pirates in 2023.</p><p>McCutchen hit .239/.333/.367 with 13 homers and 57 RBIs across 551 plate appearances as the Pirates' primary DH in 2025. In August, he told <a href="https://x.com/JMackeyPG/status/1957540927875989595">Mackey</a> that he wanted to keep playing in 2026. But when asked at that time if he wanted to come back to Pittsburgh, McCutchen stated that winning was his priority and he'd "have to take care of my business first."</p><p>The five-time All-Star reiterated his outlook in his comments Saturday.</p><p>"(I don't know) what the future holds for me at the present moment, but what I do know is, though I am 39, on the back end of my career, I still work everyday to be better than I was the year before," he wrote. "If there wasn't a burning desire to continue this journey, I would be home surrounded by my family, in which no one would judge or be surprised. But not yet. There's more work to do, and I'm not done, no matter what label to you try to stamp on me. Rip the jersey off of me. You don't get to write my future, God does."</p>

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 30: Andrew McCutchen #22 of the Pittsburgh Pirates looks on after a fan fell from the stands during the seventh inning against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park on April 30, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

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McCutchen rips Pirates after GM's comments on uncertain future with team

San Diego Padres right-hander Yu Darvish, who won't pitch in 2026 while recovering from elbow sur...

<p>San Diego Padres right-hander <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/2901" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/2901">Yu Darvish</a>, who won't pitch in 2026 while recovering from elbow surgery, refuted a report that claimed he's decided to retire.</p><p>Earlier Saturday, <a href="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/01/24/padres-pitcher-yu-darvish-set-to-retire/">Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune</a> reported that Darvish had informed the Padres of his plan to walk away from baseball. While the 39-year-old did acknowledge in a post on X that he's considering "voiding (my) contract" with the Padres, he insisted that no decision has been made.</p><p>"Right now, I am fully focused on my rehab for my elbow, and if I get to a point where I can throw again, I will start from scratch again to compete," Darvish wrote. "If once I get to that point I feel I can't do that, I will announce my retirement."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">You may have seen an article, and although I am leaning towards voiding the contract, there’s still a lot that has to be talked over with the Padres so the finer details are yet to be decided. <br>Also I will not be announcing my retirement yet. <br>Right now I am fully focused on my…</p>— ダルビッシュ有(Yu Darvish) (@faridyu) <a href="https://twitter.com/faridyu/status/2015178902596206685?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>"Yu has not made a final decision yet. This is a complicated matter we are still working through," Darvish's agent, Joel Wolfe, added in a statement obtained by <a href="https://x.com/Feinsand/status/2015173744705020369">Mark Feinsand of MLB.com</a>.</p><p>Darvish is under contract with the Padres through 2028. If he were to walk away now, he'd forfeit the $43 million left on his deal, barring a negotiated buyout settlement with the team.</p><p>Those negotiations may already be underway, as people involved in the process told Acee that details regarding a buyout amount still need to be worked out. Darvish may indeed be open to giving up a large chunk of the contract, sources told Acee.</p><p>Darvish has made 31 starts for San Diego over the last two seasons because of elbow problems and a personal issue in 2024. He missed the first three months of last season while recovering from elbow inflammation.</p><p>The 39-year-old made his 2025 debut in early July and posted a career-worst 5.38 ERA with 68 strikeouts and 14 homers allowed over 15 regular-season starts. He started Game 3 of San Diego's wild-card series but lasted just one inning and took the loss in what may have been his final major-league appearance. A few weeks later, he underwent internal brace surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament, ending his 2026 season before it started.</p><p>Darvish has compiled a 3.65 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 2,075 strikeouts (placing 80th all time) across 297 big-league starts with the Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, and Padres. He's a five-time All-Star and two-time Cy Young runner-up. He led the majors with 277 strikeouts in 2012.</p><p>Darvish is the only Japanese-born pitcher to record 2,000 strikeouts in the majors, and his 115 MLB wins are second only to Hideo Nomo among his countrymen. He and Nomo are the only pitchers with 3,000 combined strikeouts across MLB and Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.</p>

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 30: Yu Darvish #11 of the San Diego Padres pitches against the New York Mets during the fifth inning at Petco Park on July 30, 2025 in San Diego, California.

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Darvish refutes report that claims he's retiring

Washington Nationals president of baseball operations Paul Toboni strongly rejected the notion th...

<p>Washington Nationals president of baseball operations Paul Toboni strongly rejected the notion that his team is actively trying to move shortstop <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/12501" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/12501">CJ Abrams</a> as part of the team's rebuild.</p><p>The San Francisco Giants apparently made an aggressive push to acquire Washington's All-Star shortstop and then shift him to second base, sources told <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6994852/2026/01/23/sf-giants-cj-abrams-trade-talks-josuar-gonzalez/?utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mlbtw&amp;source=mlbtw">The Athletic's Andrew Baggarly</a>. However, the sides couldn't get a deal done.</p><p>"We'll field calls. I'll give you the cliche response that probably every GM in every sport gives, which is we'd be dumb not to listen, right? But it's not something like we're calling other teams and looking to trade CJ," Toboni told <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Orc9hSfPWrI">106.7 The Fan's Grant &amp; Danny</a> when asked whether he's had discussions with rival executives about Abrams. "And part of the reason why I say that is because I think maybe more so than anyone on our roster, our staff is excited to get their hands on CJ and really work with him from a developmental standpoint."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Toboni added: "While we'll always listen, we're gonna take it day-by-day and see what comes our way. And if there's something that makes sense, hey, we'll talk about it. But it hasn't even come close at this point in time."</p><p>When asked if he sees Abrams playing shortstop for the Nationals, Toboni replied: "I do, yes."</p><p>Even before the team <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3461908" href="https://thescore.com/news/3461908">dealt</a> <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/12506" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/12506">MacKenzie Gore</a> to Texas for five prospects, Abrams was seen as a potential trade piece for the rebuilding Nationals. The 25-year-old is one season removed from making the All-Star team and has three years of team control (including 2026) remaining.</p><p>San Francisco was apparently willing to part with its No. 2 prospect, shortstop Josuar Gonzalez, in a deal for Abrams, according to Baggarly. Other Giants prospects reportedly discussed with Washington included left-handers <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/18888" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/18888">Carson Whisenhunt</a> and Jacob Bresnahan, outfielder Bo Davidson, and shortstop Jhonny Level.</p><p>Abrams, who's played 13 games at second in the majors, would've joined a strong Giants infield featuring first baseman <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/5400" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/5400">Rafael Devers</a>, shortstop <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/4784" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/4784">Willy Adames</a>, and third baseman <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/5380" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/5380">Matt Chapman</a>.</p><p>Instead, he'll remain a cornerstone of the Nationals for the foreseeable future. Abrams, who put up a .748 OPS with 19 homers in 144 games last season, will form one half of a rotating double-play combo with both <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/9620" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/9620">Luis García Jr.</a>, whom Toboni said will split time between first and second, and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/12677" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/12677">Nasim Nuñez</a> in 2026.</p><p>The Giants, meanwhile, must now look for a second baseman elsewhere. They <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3454466" href="https://thescore.com/news/3454466">reportedly</a> held conversations with the St. Louis Cardinals about <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/13675" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/13675">Brendan Donovan</a> and spoke to the Chicago Cubs about <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/10637" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/10637">Nico Hoerner</a> earlier this winter. San Francisco was also apparently involved in trade talks with the Miami Marlins about starter <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/9569" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/9569">Edward Cabrera</a> before he was dealt to the Cubs, according to Baggarly.</p><p>Despite being linked to multiple top position players, San Francisco has done little this winter to improve its position player group. Potential backup catcher <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/15546" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/15546">Daniel Susac</a>, a Rule 5 Draft selection in December, is the only bat whom the team has added since the offseason began.</p><p>The Giants' new plan is to try and find a bat in free agency, where they're targeting veteran outfielder <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/5438" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/5438">Harrison Bader</a>, Baggarly reports.</p><p> </p>

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 26: CJ Abrams #5 of the Washington Nationals rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the Chicago White Sox at Nationals Park on September 26, 2025 in Washington, DC.

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Nats' Toboni denies shopping Abrams amid Giants' reported pursuit

Memphis Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant will miss at least three weeks because of a sprained ulnar ...

<p>Memphis Grizzlies superstar <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/62077" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/62077">Ja Morant</a> will miss at least three weeks because of a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow, the team announced Saturday.</p><p>The injury will keep Morant - who's been the subject of trade rumors for the last month - sidelined beyond the Feb. 5 trade deadline.</p><p>Morant apparently sustained the injury during the Grizzlies' home loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday. It's unclear when or how it happened, although nothing appeared to be amiss during that contest. He scored 23 points in nearly 30 minutes of action against Atlanta, and missed a potential game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>However, Morant ended up missing Friday's loss to New Orleans because of the ailment.</p><p>The elbow issue continues an injury-plagued season for Morant, who's played in just eight games since Nov. 15 because of a lingering calf issue. Morant only returned from that ailment six days ago.</p><p>The 26-year-old has averaged 19.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per game across 20 contests in 2025-26.</p>

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - DECEMBER 30: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at FedExForum on December 30, 2025 in Memphis, Tennessee.

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Grizzlies' Morant sidelined through trade deadline with elbow injury

The face of the Cleveland Guardians isn't going anywhere.  Cleveland and superstar third baseman ...

<p>The face of the Cleveland Guardians isn't going anywhere.</p><p>Cleveland and superstar third baseman <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/4066" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/4066">José Ramírez</a> have agreed to a four-year, $106-million extension, sources told <a href="https://x.com/JeffPassan/status/2015126919394525631">ESPN's Jeff Passan</a>. The new agreement is being tacked onto the final three years and $69 million of his current deal, turning it into a restructured seven-year, $175-million contract.</p><p>As with his original contract, the new deal includes a full no-trade clause and doesn't contain any opt-outs, a source told <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6995697/2026/01/24/jose-ramirez-guardians-contract-extension/">Zack Meisel of The Athletic</a>. Ramírez also gets a slew of award bonuses, with the amounts now doubled from what they were previously, according to <a href="https://x.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/2015107224029278293">The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal</a>.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The restructured deal will see Ramírez earn $25 million per season starting this year, according to <a href="https://x.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/2015106761095553340">The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal</a>. That figure increases his 2026 salary by $4 million in 2026 and $2 million in '27 compared to the structure of his original contract, according to <a href="https://legacy.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/cots/american-league/cleveland-guardians/">Cot's Contracts</a>. It also includes $70 million in deferrals spread out over 10 years, Passan adds.</p><p>This agreement keeps Ramírez in Cleveland through his age-40 season, all but ensuring he'll finish his career as a Guardian. The 33-year-old's firmly established as one of the franchise's all-time greats; he ranks top three in Guardians history in nearly every important offensive category and is their all-time leader in plate appearances and extra-base hits. Barring injury, he'll surpass Terry Turner for the team's games played record - a mark that's stood since 1918 - in early April.</p><p>Ramírez's latest pact marks the second time that he's chosen to sign a seemingly team-friendly contract instead of pursuing millions more in free agency. He inked his original $141-million extension in April 2022, prior to starting what would have been a contract year. The Guardians were close to trading him to the Toronto Blue Jays or San Diego Padres before that deal got done, according to Meisel.</p><p>Originally signed by Cleveland out of the Dominican Republic in 2009, Ramírez reached the majors in 2013 and broke out three years later while leading the team to the 2016 AL pennant. The nine-time All-Star is a lifetime .279/.353/.504 hitter with 1,668 hits, 285 homers, 949 RBIs, and 287 steals across 13 seasons. Ramírez is one of only five players with at least three career 30-30 campaigns, while his six Silver Sluggers are tied with Mike Schmidt for second most at third base, trailing only Wade Boggs.</p><p>Ramírez enjoyed another stellar year in 2025, hitting .283/.360/.503 with 30 homers, 85 RBIs, and 44 stolen bases to record his second straight 30-40 season. He finished third in AL MVP voting - the fourth time he's been an MVP finalist - while also winning a Silver Slugger and being named a Gold Glove finalist.</p><p>Despite locking up its star, Cleveland is still projected to sport one of MLB's lowest payrolls in 2026. Its current payroll of around $97 million ranks 29th out of 30 teams, according to <a href="https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/tax/_/year/2026">Spotrac</a>.</p><p>Although they've generally operated as a low-budget team, the Guardians have enjoyed significant on-field success over the last decade, with seven playoff appearances since 2016 and division titles in three of the last four seasons. However, they were eliminated in the wild-card round by the division-rival Detroit Tigers in October despite having home-field advantage, extending the club's championship drought to 78 years.</p>

CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 14: José Ramírez #11 of the Cleveland Guardians jokes with the Miami Marlins dugout during the sixth inning at Progressive Field on August 14, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio.

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Report: Guardians, Ramírez agree to 4-year, $106M extension

The New York Mets finally found their ace.  New York acquired two-time All-Star right-hander Fred...

<p>The New York Mets finally found their ace.</p><p>New York acquired two-time All-Star right-hander <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/9771" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/9771">Freddy Peralta</a> from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for top prospects <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/16155" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/16155">Jett Williams</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/18990" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/18990">Brandon Sproat</a>, the teams announced Wednesday.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Freddy Peralta on his IG story:<br><br>“LGM! 🐫🧡💙”<br><br>(via IG/fpd04____) <a href="https://t.co/JDwr0aSmyt">pic.twitter.com/JDwr0aSmyt</a></p>— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) <a href="https://twitter.com/SNY_Mets/status/2014192241686843903?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>The Mets also received right-hander <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/13648" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/13648">Tobias Myers</a> in the deal.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Peralta will earn $8 million in 2026 after the Brewers picked up the club option on his contract in November. The 29-year-old will be a free agent next winter.</p><p>Until then, he'll serve as the Mets' No. 1 starter, giving the rotation the anchor it desperately needed. Peralta's coming off a career-best season in Milwaukee, where he posted a 2.70 ERA, 3.64 FIP, and 1.07 WHIP along with 204 strikeouts and an NL-best 17 wins over 33 starts. For his efforts, the Dominican native finished fifth in NL Cy Young voting.</p><p>Since making his big-league debut in 2018, Peralta has been a mainstay in the Brewers' rotation throughout the first half of this decade. He's one of only two pitchers, along with the Toronto Blue Jays' <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/8145" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/8145">Dylan Cease</a>, to record 200-plus strikeouts in each of the last three seasons, according to <a href="https://x.com/SlangsOnSports/status/2014173266135372135">Sarah Langs of MLB.com</a>.</p><p>Peralta's also familiar to Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns, who was the Brewers' general manager during most of Peralta's tenure in Wisconsin. Stearns initially traded for Peralta, then a Seattle Mariners prospect, in December 2015 and signed him to his current $15.5-million contract in 2020.</p><p>"Acquiring Freddy adds another established starter to help lead our rotation. Throughout the offseason, we sought to complement our rotation with another front-end pitcher, and we're thrilled we are able to bring Freddy to the Mets," Stearns said, per <a href="https://x.com/SNY_Mets/status/2014184295993127252">SNY</a>.</p><p><strong>Mets' projected 2026 rotation</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th>Pitcher</th>
<th>Throws</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Freddy Peralta</td>
<td>RH</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Nolan McLean</td>
<td>RH</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>David Peterson</td>
<td>LH</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>Clay Holmes</td>
<td>RH</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5</td>
<td>Sean Manaea</td>
<td>LH</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6</td>
<td>Kodai Senga</td>
<td>RH</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>Acquiring Peralta completes a busy week for the Mets. The club also recently signed star infielder <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/9615" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/9615">Bo Bichette</a> to a $126-million contract and added former All-Star outfielder <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/9624" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/9624">Luis Robert Jr.</a> in a trade with the Chicago White Sox.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">What an incredible week. Let’s go Mets !</p>— Steven Cohen (@StevenACohen2) <a href="https://twitter.com/StevenACohen2/status/2014182951592906856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>The Mets beat out a crowded field of suitors, including the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, and Boston Red Sox, to land Peralta.</p><p>Meanwhile, Milwaukee receives two of New York's top young players in the deal. Williams and Sproat were ranked by <a href="https://www.mlb.com/milb/prospects/mets/">MLB Pipeline</a> as the Mets' No. 3 and No. 5 prospects, respectively, prior to the trade.</p><p>Williams, 22, was the Mets' first-round pick (14th overall) in 2022. The Dallas native split his 2025 season between Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse, hitting a combined .261/.363/.465 with 17 homers, 52 RBIs, and 34 stolen bases across 486 plate appearances. Listed at just 5-foot-7, Williams is a versatile talent, with experience playing second base, shortstop, and center field.</p><p>Sproat, a right-handed pitcher, made his big-league debut late last campaign. In four September starts for the Mets, the 22-year-old put up a 4.79 ERA with 17 strikeouts. He spent most of 2025 in Triple-A, where he posted a 4.24 ERA and 124 WHIP with 113 strikeouts and 53 walks across 26 appearances (25 starts).</p><p>Myers owns a lifetime 3.15 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with 165 strikeouts and 51 walks over 188 2/3 big-league innings since 2024. The 27-year-old spent his rookie season in Milwaukee's rotation before the club used him as both a starter and reliever this past year. He has one minor-league option left and won't reach free agency until 2030.</p><p>To make room for Myers on the 40-man roster, New York designated right-hander <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/13601" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/13601">Cooper Criswell</a> for assignment.</p>

TORONTO, ON - AUGUST 29: Freddy Peralta #51 of the Milwaukee Brewers pitches in the fourth inning during a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on August 29, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

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Brewers trade Peralta to Mets in 4-player deal

The Los Angeles Angels are re-signing free-agent third baseman Yoán Moncada on a one-year, $4-mil...

<p>The Los Angeles Angels are re-signing free-agent third baseman <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///wbc/players/5008" href="https://thescore.com/wbc/players/5008">Yoán Moncada</a> on a one-year, $4-million contract, sources told <a href="https://x.com/JonHeyman/status/2014142092210061391">Jon Heyman of the New York Post</a>.</p><p>Moncada was the Angels' primary third baseman in 2025 after joining the club on a similar one-year pact last winter. Although thumb and knee injuries limited the 30-year-old to 84 games in 2025, he hit .234/.336/.448 with 12 homers and 35 RBIs across 248 plate appearances. Despite the abbreviated season, those totals marked Moncada's best offensive numbers in five years.</p><p>However, he struggled defensively at the hot corner. Once a sure-handed defender, Moncada rated as one of the worst third basemen in baseball last year, accruing minus-10 defensive runs saved and minus-13 outs above average. Meanwhile, his arm strength ranked in the 24th percentile. He also failed to play in 100-plus games for a third straight season.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Both sides are hoping the reunion will help Moncada rediscover some of his old form in 2026. A strong first-half performance could also position the Angels to trade him if they're out of contention leading up to the deadline.</p><p>Moncada will presumably regain the everyday third-base job in Anaheim. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/18783" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/18783">Christian Moore</a>, the Halos' 2024 first-round draft pick who made his big-league debut last summer, had been projected to take over the job. But with Moncada back in the fold, Moore can start at his natural position of second base, while <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/13794" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/13794">Vaughn Grissom</a> moves into a utility role.</p><p>The Angels, coming off their 10th straight losing season and second consecutive 90-loss campaign, are having a busy winter, though most of their moves have been marginal. In addition to bringing Moncada back, they inked former All-Stars <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/12291" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/12291">Alek Manoah</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/8362" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/8362">Jordan Romano</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/2077" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/2077">Drew Pomeranz</a>, and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/3735" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/3735">Kirby Yates</a> to one-year deals. The team also traded for Grissom, outfielder <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/12300" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/12300">Josh Lowe</a>, and starter <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/12265" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/12265">Grayson Rodriguez</a>.</p><p>Originally signed by Boston after defecting from Cuba in 2015, Moncada is a lifetime .252/.332/.426 hitter with 105 homers and 374 RBIs across parts of 10 big-league seasons with the Angels, Red Sox, and Chicago White Sox.</p>

CLEVELAND, OHIO - JUNE 01: Yoán Moncada #5 of the Los Angeles Angels looks on during the seventh inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on June 01, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio.

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Report: Angels bring back Moncada on 1-year, $4M deal

The New York Mets acquired former All-Star center fielder Luis Robert Jr. from the Chicago White ...

<p>The New York Mets acquired former All-Star center fielder <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/9624" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/9624">Luis Robert Jr.</a> from the Chicago White Sox for infielder <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/15424" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/15424">Luisangel Acuña</a> and right-handed pitching prospect Truman Pauley, the teams announced Tuesday.</p><p>The Mets are taking on the remainder of Robert's contract, <a href="https://x.com/Joelsherman1/status/2013831220715467219">Joel Sherman of the New York Post</a> reports. He's set to earn $20 million in 2026 and comes with a $20-million club option or $2-million buyout for 2027.</p><p>"We've got financial flexibility now to bring in (more) talent. We're going to be very active," White Sox general manager Chris Getz said following the trade, according to <a href="https://x.com/ChuckGarfien/status/2014011196458844425">Chuck Garfien of Chicago Sports Network</a>.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Robert spent his entire six-year career with the White Sox, who signed him as an amateur free agent after he defected from Cuba in 2016. His best season came in 2023, when he was named an All-Star and won a Silver Slugger after hitting .264/.315/.542 with 38 homers, 80 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases. He won a Gold Glove and placed second in AL Rookie of the Year voting in 2020.</p><p>The Mets are hoping that a change of scenery will help the 28-year-old rediscover his form. Last season, Robert hit a career-low .223/.297/.364 with 14 homers, 53 RBIs, and 33 steals over 110 games while missing significant time with a hamstring injury. He's suffered from multiple ailments over the last few seasons, including a knee strain in 2023 and a hip flexor strain in 2024.</p><p>"Obviously the talent is real," Getz said of Robert, according to <a href="https://x.com/scottmerkin/status/2014020273603752201">MLB.com's Scott Merkin</a>. "Unfortunately, he hasn't had the consistency that he had hoped or we had hoped. I know that he cares about the game deeply, he wants to play well. It's a challenging game. I know injuries have really held him back."</p><p>Despite his offensive struggles, Robert remains a solid defender, tallying seven outs above average in center last year.</p><p>Robert will presumably take over as New York's everyday center fielder, with <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/4063" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/4063">Tyrone Taylor</a> sliding over to left field. Top prospect <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/19109" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/19109">Carson Benge</a>, who had been projected to break camp in center field prior to Robert's addition, could also still make the team as a corner outfielder.</p><p>Robert's right-handed bat will also help balance out what had been a lefty-heavy Mets lineup. He's the second righty bat added by the club in a few days following its signing of star infielder <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/9615" href="/mlb/players/9615">Bo Bichette</a> to a three-year, $126-million contract.</p><p>The Mets added Robert to their outfield after being spurned by superstar <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/8173" href="/mlb/players/8173">Kyle Tucker</a>, who rejected their $220-million offer in favor of a four-year, $260-million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. New York <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3458825" href="https://thescore.com/news/3458825">reportedly</a> had interest in <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/4899" href="/mlb/players/4899">Cody Bellinger</a> on a short-term contract before landing Robert.</p><p>New York now heads into 2026 with four new bats - Robert, Bichette, first baseman <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/3558" href="/mlb/players/3558">Jorge Polanco</a>, and second baseman <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/3420" href="/mlb/players/3420">Marcus Semien</a> - in its lineup. The club traded stalwart <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/3045" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/3045">Brandon Nimmo</a> to Texas for Semien in November and allowed franchise icon <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/8674" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/8674">Pete Alonso</a> to depart in free agency.</p><p>Acuña, the younger brother of Atlanta Braves superstar <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/8292" href="/mlb/players/8292">Ronald Acuña Jr.</a>, owns a .248/.299/.341 slash line with three homers, 14 RBIs, and 16 steals across 109 big-league games since 2024. He spent last season bouncing between New York and Triple-A Syracuse as a utility infielder.</p><p>The 23-year-old is a natural infielder and has experience playing second, third, and shortstop. Acuña's also been adding center field to his repertoire this winter, making 17 appearances in center while playing winter ball in Venezuela. He could head into spring as a candidate to earn the White Sox everyday center field job.</p><p>Pauley, 22, was the Mets' 12th-round draft pick out of Harvard this past summer. He recorded 91 strikeouts in 70 1/3 innings as a sophomore and made three professional starts in Low-A after being drafted.</p>

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 25: Luis Robert #88 of the Chicago White Sox at bat against the Kansas City Royals at Rate Field on August 25, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.

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White Sox trade Robert to Mets

The National Baseball Hall of Fame welcomed two new members Tuesday, as the BBWAA elected Carlos ...

<p>The National Baseball Hall of Fame welcomed two new members Tuesday, as <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3460429" href="https://thescore.com/news/3460429">the BBWAA elected</a> Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones into the class of 2026. Here are the biggest takeaways from the vote.</p><p><strong>Punishment served</strong></p><p>There are undoubtedly going to be a lot of folks outside of Houston - and particularly in Los Angeles - who are steamed at seeing Beltrán get the call because of his prominent role in the 2017 Astros' sign-stealing scandal. It's understandable as a fan, to be sure. But his election also signals that it's time for everyone to move on.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>To quickly review: Beltrán was the only Astros player publicly named in the commissioner's report on the scandal. Beltrán initially denied involvement, but was then cited as a central figure in the scheme. After that, he lost his job as Mets manager - a position he'd held for barely two months - before ever managing a game.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/554732/cropped_GettyImages-119901854.jpg?ts=1673903960" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/554732/w220xh124_GettyImages-119901854.jpg?ts=1673903960 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/554732/w320xh180_GettyImages-119901854.jpg?ts=1673903960 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/554732/w640xh360_GettyImages-119901854.jpg?ts=1673903960 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/554732/w768xh432_GettyImages-119901854.jpg?ts=1673903960 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/554732/w1080xh607_GettyImages-119901854.jpg?ts=1673903960 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Joe Robbins / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Between losing the Mets job and waiting four years to get into Cooperstown, it's fair to say that Beltrán has now served his "punishment" of sorts. And that's enough. The entire saga, while blatantly against the rules, was nothing new to baseball, and not on the same level as other scandals. The history of illegal sign-stealing is well documented, dating back to the 1900s. Heck, the Astros weren't even the only team doing it in 2017. That was the same year the Boston Red Sox - who played Houston in the 2017 playoffs - were caught <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/05/sports/baseball/boston-red-sox-stealing-signs-yankees.html">using an Apple Watch</a> to steal opponents' signs.</p><p>Like they did with Roberto Alomar over his spitting incident, many voters decided to play gatekeeper for a couple of years to send some kind of message to Beltrán about his transgressions. Based on the vote totals, some may still hold it against him. That's their prerogative. But now he's officially served his time, and we can move on to celebrating his brilliant career.</p><p><strong>Changing trends</strong></p><p>Tuesday's election will be remembered as a celebration of center fielders, but it was also a big day for modern players with non-traditional Hall of Fame resumes. One player in particular, longtime Mariners ace Félix Hernández, should be pumping his fist after seeing the results.</p><p>Hernández was perhaps the biggest beneficiary of this year's wide-open ballot, leaping from 20.6% in his 2025 debut to 46.1% on this year's vote. That's a jump of 25.56%, giving him the largest year-over-year gain since modern BBWAA voting began in 1966, per <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/notmrtibbs.com/post/3mcvewd7qfk2g">Hall of Fame tracker Ryan Thibodaux</a>. It's an incredible turn of events for a player who many feared was going to go one-and-done last winter.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/84766/cropped_USPW_261967.jpg?ts=1768959812" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/84766/w220xh124_USPW_261967.jpg?ts=1768959812 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/84766/w320xh180_USPW_261967.jpg?ts=1768959812 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/84766/w640xh360_USPW_261967.jpg?ts=1768959812 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/84766/w768xh432_USPW_261967.jpg?ts=1768959812 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/84766/w1080xh607_USPW_261967.jpg?ts=1768959812 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports</span></figcaption></figure><p>Voters are starting to show that they're open to re-evaluating what a modern Hall of Famer looks like. This is of particular importance on the mound, where traditional benchmarks like high inning and win totals are going extinct. As Hernández is rising, Cole Hamels - the one newcomer with a legitimate chance of sticking around - debuted at 23.8%. Can he ride King Félix's coattails up the ballot? It's early, and Hamels will have to win a lot of folks over, but the early returns for the lefty are certainly positive.</p><p>All of this also applies to Chase Utley on the position player side. The Phillies great saw his support jump by nearly 20% from 2025, no doubt thanks to the logjam having been cleared above him. Utley's a favorite of the analytics crowd, and ranks among the greatest second baseman ever despite missing significant counting milestones such as 2,000 hits or inexplicably failing to win a Gold Glove. Now, he's maybe a year or two away from writing his speech.</p><p>Overall, it was a very good day for modern players whose cases are deeper and lack the more traditional round numbers associated with baseball immortality. What makes a Hall of Fame player changes with each era, and we're starting to see what 21st-century Baseball Hall of Famers will look like.</p><p><strong>A celebration of center</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/492759/cropped_GettyImages-81592850.jpg?ts=1703607088" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/492759/w220xh124_GettyImages-81592850.jpg?ts=1703607088 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/492759/w320xh180_GettyImages-81592850.jpg?ts=1703607088 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/492759/w640xh360_GettyImages-81592850.jpg?ts=1703607088 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/492759/w768xh432_GettyImages-81592850.jpg?ts=1703607088 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/492759/w1080xh607_GettyImages-81592850.jpg?ts=1703607088 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Sports Illustrated / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>For a position of such importance, it's kind of stunning to see that until Tuesday there were just 25 primary center fielders (including Negro League stars) in the Hall of Fame. Even more shocking was the fact that writers had elected just two center fielders this century before putting Jones and Beltrán in.</p><p>Jones, the first Curaçao native to reach Cooperstown, is being honored for his defense. He's the first player to be elected on the BBWAA ballot after failing to reach the 2,000-hit mark while playing entirely in the expansion era (since 1961). He did have some very good offensive years in Atlanta - perhaps even better than you might remember - but it's the glove that got him to Cooperstown. Defense matters, especially in center, and it's great to see the voting bloc finally reward a master of fielding at his position.</p><p>Beltrán, meanwhile, was simply the best of the best. A true five-tool talent, he's one of only eight players with 300 homers and steals, led multiple teams to October, and was highly regarded for both his skill and intelligence. There's no doubt that he would have reached 3,000 hits if not for some hard-luck injuries.</p><p>Here's hoping that the elections of Beltrán and Jones open the door for some long-overdue corrections in center field. Save for the active Mike Trout, Kenny Lofton, Cleveland's base-stealing wizard who unjustly went one-and-done in 2013, is now the best retired center fielder outside Cooperstown by <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/jaws_CF.shtml">JAWS</a>. Jim Edmonds, another defensive wizard who didn't have the offensive counting numbers, has also gone overlooked for too long.</p><p><strong>Quick hits</strong></p><ul>
<li>Alex Rodriguez finished with 40% of the vote in Year 5. Is that a sign that the tide is turning for the all-time great shortstop and face of the steroid era? Probably not. A-Rod's still going to need a major push to get over the 75% hump. It feels like he's headed for the same fate as Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens: aging off in the 65% range and then being shut out by committees.</li>
<li>Manny Ramirez, whose all-time great offense was stained by two PED suspensions near the end of his career, finishes his 10 years of eligibility having failed to crack the 40% mark. His fate now rests in the Era Committee's hands, and they've been very unkind to known PED users.</li>
<li>Andy Pettitte is another pitcher who's smiling tonight. The Yankees icon had another big jump and is now almost in the 50% range. Time isn't on his side - he's got two years left in front of the writers - but if nothing else he'll finish his 10 years of eligibility in a good spot to go in via the committees.</li>
<li>It's a bit surprising to see longtime closer Francisco Rodríguez, who ranks sixth all-time in saves, not gain more traction after Billy Wagner's election last year. Relievers are very hard to judge, but Rodríguez now is arguably the best closer outside the Hall, and he's stuck at 11.8%.</li>
<li>Jimmy Rollins and Bobby Abreu failed to get the big surges they were counting on. Rollins may be able to ride Utley's wave into the Hall over the long term, but Abreu - an oft-overlooked talent even when he was playing - is simply stuck in the mud.</li>
</ul>

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HOF takeaways: Beltrán's election helps baseball move on from Astros scandal 

Cooperstown's population is increasing by two.  Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones were elected to t...

<p>Cooperstown's population is increasing by two.</p><p>Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones were elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Beltrán, in his fourth year of eligibility, received 84.2% of the vote, while Jones garnered 78.4% in his ninth year of candidacy.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="2026 HOF voting results" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-VgOzJ" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/VgOzJ/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="826" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}});</script></figure><p>The two longtime center fielders join Era Committee selection Jeff Kent to round out the Hall of Fame's class of 2026. They'll be officially inducted on July 26 in Cooperstown.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Beltrán, the fifth Puerto Rican-born player elected to Cooperstown, is one of only eight players who collected at least 300 homers and 300 steals, and he sits in the top 30 all-time in extra-base hits and doubles. The nine-time All-Star won two Silver Sluggers, three Gold Gloves, and the 1999 AL Rookie of the Year award over his 20-year career with seven teams, most notably with the Kansas City Royals, New York Mets, and Houston Astros.</p><p>Beltrán's also one of the greatest postseason hitters ever, slashing .307/.412/.609 over 65 playoff contests across seven Octobers. His most famous playoff run came in 2004, when he carried the Astros to the NLCS by hitting .435/.536/1.022 with eight homers and six steals. He returned to Houston in 2017, winning a World Series in his final season.</p><p>Beltrán's election was likely delayed due to his involvement in the 2017 Astros' sign-stealing controversy. The only player publicly named in the scandal, he lost his job as Mets manager before ever managing a game. Beltrán narrowly missed going in last year, garnering 70.3% of the vote in 2025.</p><p>Jones is widely considered to be one of the greatest defensive center fielders in baseball history. His 10 Gold Gloves are tied with Ken Griffey Jr. for second-most among center fielders, with only Willie Mays and Roberto Clemente winning more in the outfield.</p><p>But the Curaçao native could also hit, posting a lifetime .823 OPS with 434 homers and 1,289 RBIs across 17 big-league seasons, primarily with the Atlanta Braves. Jones won the NL Hank Aaron Award and a Silver Slugger in 2005 after hitting 51 homers for the Braves. He's one of four players to hit 400-plus homers and win at least 10 Gold Gloves, alongside fellow Hall of Famers Griffey, Mays, and Mike Schmidt.</p><p>Jones broke in with the Braves as a teenager in 1996, serving as their center fielder for 11 years during the latter stages of their NL East dynasty. He suffered a steep decline in production at age 31 and spent several years as a platoon outfielder with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, and New York Yankees before playing his final two seasons in Japan.</p><p>His election completes a remarkable climb to immortality. After debuting at 7.3% in 2018, Jones didn't jump above the 10% mark until his third year of eligibility. After that, he slowly gained momentum and reached above 60% two years ago, setting the stage for Tuesday's result.</p><p>"It was very close for me to be off the ballot," Jones said, according to <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3460559" href="https://thescore.com/news/3460559">The Associated Press</a>. "To go all the way from 7% and be in the Hall of Fame is a great honor."</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Lowest debut vote pct, eventually elected by BBWAA, since return to annual voting in 1966:<br><br>2018 Andruw Jones: 7.3%<br>2018 Scott Rolen: 10.2%<br>2016 Billy Wagner: 10.5%<br>2019 Todd Helton: 16.5%<br>1970 Duke Snider: 17.0%<br>1998 Bert Blyleven: 17.5%</p>— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/SlangsOnSports/status/2013761834822578575?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Beltrán and Jones are just the ninth and 10th center fielders elected by the BBWAA since voting began in 1936. Only two other primary center fielders - Kirby Puckett (2001) and Griffey (2016) - have been voted in by writers in the 21st century.</p>

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Beltrán, Andruw Jones elected to Baseball Hall of Fame

With the 2026 Baseball Hall of Fame class set to be announced Tuesday, nine of theScore's news ed...

<p><em>With the 2026 Baseball Hall of Fame class set to be announced Tuesday, nine of theScore's news editors submitted their own mock ballots with the players they believe are worthy of enshrinement in Cooperstown.</em></p><h3>Inducted</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-Lu3IP" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/Lu3IP/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="171" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}});</script></figure><p>We increased Cooperstown's population by three. Ramirez and Rodriguez - two of the greatest players of their, or any, generation - get our call despite their ties to performance-enhancing drugs. Ramirez and Rodriguez both saw their support rise significantly in our vote after they each fell 11% short last year. Jones, meanwhile, makes the cut in our vote for a second straight year; he also received 78% from our writers in 2025.</p><h3>Missed the cut</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-NHPfz" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/NHPfz/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="234" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}});</script></figure><p>Surprisingly, Beltrán - the overwhelming favorite to get a call Tuesday - missed the cut again. Last year, he fell one vote short in our election; this time, his vote share fell by nearly 20%. The big winner was Hernández, who narrowly missed election. Hamels also had a strong showing in his debut on the ballot.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Notables falling off our ballot</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-FiVwg" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/FiVwg/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="565" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}});</script></figure><p>This year's crop of first-time candidates is very weak, and it showed in our vote. Aside from Hamels, none of the newcomers received votes from our editors. Seven returnees also failed to earn our vote this year.</p>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/34182264/related

theScore's mock Baseball HOF ballot: A-Rod, Manny lead our 3-man class

The Baseball Writers' Association of America will announce the results of the 2026 Hall of Fame b...

<p>The Baseball Writers' Association of America will announce the results of the 2026 Hall of Fame ballot Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET. This year's vote will be fascinating, with potential ramifications for both the short and long term. To get you ready, let's dive into some of the biggest questions about the 2026 ballot.</p><p><strong>Who's up for election anyway? </strong>The 2026 ballot contains 27 names, including 12 first-time candidates and one in his 10th and final year of eligibility. Players need 75% of the vote to be elected; those who earn less than 5% will be dropped from future ballots. </p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Player</th>
<th>Pos.</th>
<th>Year on ballot</th>
<th>2025 vote share</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Bobby Abreu</td>
<td>RF</td>
<td>7th</td>
<td>19.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Carlos Beltrán</td>
<td>CF</td>
<td>4th</td>
<td>70.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ryan Braun</td>
<td>LF/RF</td>
<td>1st</td>
<td>N/A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mark Buehrle</td>
<td>SP</td>
<td>6th</td>
<td>11.4%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Shin-Soo Choo</td>
<td>OF</td>
<td>1st</td>
<td>N/A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Edwin Encarnación</td>
<td>DH/1B/3B</td>
<td>1st</td>
<td>N/A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Gio González</td>
<td>SP</td>
<td>1st</td>
<td>N/A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Alex Gordon</td>
<td>LF/3B</td>
<td>1st</td>
<td>N/A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Cole Hamels</td>
<td>SP</td>
<td>1st</td>
<td>N/A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Félix Hernández</td>
<td>SP</td>
<td>2nd</td>
<td>20.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Torii Hunter</td>
<td>CF/RF</td>
<td>6th</td>
<td>5.1%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Andruw Jones</td>
<td>CF</td>
<td>9th</td>
<td>66.2%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Matt Kemp</td>
<td>OF</td>
<td>1st</td>
<td>N/A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Howie Kendrick</td>
<td>2B/1B/LF</td>
<td>1st</td>
<td>N/A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nick Markakis</td>
<td>RF</td>
<td>1st</td>
<td>N/A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Daniel Murphy</td>
<td>2B/1B</td>
<td>1st</td>
<td>N/A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dustin Pedroia</td>
<td>2B</td>
<td>2nd</td>
<td>11.9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hunter Pence</td>
<td>RF</td>
<td>1st</td>
<td>N/A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Andy Pettitte</td>
<td>SP</td>
<td>8th</td>
<td>27.9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Rick Porcello</td>
<td>SP</td>
<td>1st</td>
<td>N/A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Manny Ramírez</td>
<td>LF/RF</td>
<td>10th</td>
<td>34.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Alex Rodriguez</td>
<td>SS/3B</td>
<td>5th</td>
<td>37.1%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Francisco Rodríguez</td>
<td>RP</td>
<td>4th</td>
<td>10.2%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jimmy Rollins</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>5th</td>
<td>18.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Chase Utley</td>
<td>2B</td>
<td>3rd</td>
<td>39.8%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Omar Vizquel</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>9th</td>
<td>17.8%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>David Wright</td>
<td>3B</td>
<td>3rd</td>
<td>8.1%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p><strong>Why is this first-year class so weak? </strong>This really is one of the thinnest crops of debutants in ages. The pandemic-shortened 2020 season might have something to do with it - but truthfully, there's no good answer. Sometimes it just works out this way.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p><strong>Seriously, though. Not one newcomer has a shot at first-ballot induction? </strong>No. Most of the first-timers are already assured of going one-and-done. Still, it's an honor to simply make the ballot, and these players all had tremendous careers they should be proud of.</p><p><strong>OK, that's all fair. But are you telling me that not one first-time candidate will get to 5%? </strong>Well, there is one: Cole Hamels is currently polling at 31.5% on <a href="https://www.bbhoftracker.com/">Ryan Thibodaux's tracker</a>. Not only is he assured of coming back in 2027, he also might have a real shot at getting in down the road.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/61567/cropped_REU_2021896.jpg?ts=1768770127" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/61567/w220xh124_REU_2021896.jpg?ts=1768770127 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/61567/w320xh180_REU_2021896.jpg?ts=1768770127 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/61567/w640xh360_REU_2021896.jpg?ts=1768770127 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/61567/w768xh432_REU_2021896.jpg?ts=1768770127 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/61567/w1080xh607_REU_2021896.jpg?ts=1768770127 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters</span></figcaption></figure><p>Hamels doesn't immediately stand out as a HOF starter: He only led his league in one major category (WHIP in 2008) and never finished higher than fifth in Cy Young voting. But he did quietly author a stellar career as a workhorse left-hander, ranking 12th in innings pitched (2,698) and seventh in strikeouts (2,560) since 2000. Playoff heroics, most notably winning both the 2008 NLCS and World Series MVPs while leading the Phillies to a title, and a no-hitter also boost his resume. On the metrics side, Hamels sits 72nd in S-JAWS and 71st in bWAR - well back of the HOF averages, but also on par with and even ahead of multiple Cooperstown inductees and several other well-known "borderline" names, including Johan Santana and Félix Hernández.</p><p>Last year, we <a href="https://www.thescore.com/mlb/news/3170224">outlined</a> how Hernández will serve as the test case for what makes a modern Hall of Fame pitcher. Hamels now seems to be joining him as a pitching bellwether, and he might get off to a better start than his ballot-mate did in 2025.</p><p><strong>Cool! But if there's no first-ballot lock, will the writers pitch a shutout? </strong>Barring something truly unforeseen, Era Committee selection <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3421766" href="https://thescore.com/news/3421766">Jeff Kent</a> will have company on stage in July. The weak first-year class allows writers to begin clearing the ballot's backlog, starting with the likely election of Carlos Beltrán.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/555282/cropped_GettyImages-119843882.jpg?ts=1674142477" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/555282/w220xh124_GettyImages-119843882.jpg?ts=1674142477 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/555282/w320xh180_GettyImages-119843882.jpg?ts=1674142477 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/555282/w640xh360_GettyImages-119843882.jpg?ts=1674142477 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/555282/w768xh432_GettyImages-119843882.jpg?ts=1674142477 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/555282/w1080xh607_GettyImages-119843882.jpg?ts=1674142477 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Joe Robbins / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Though he never led a major offensive category and missed out on major milestones due to some hard-luck injuries, prime Beltrán was arguably his generation's greatest center fielder. A true five-tool talent, he's one of only eight players to record at least 300 career homers and steals. He ranks top 30 all time in both doubles and extra-base hits, owns the highest stolen-base percentage (86.4%) among players with at least 300 attempts, and has the third-most defensive runs saved (38) in center since the stat was introduced in 2003. Beltrán's a hair below the average HOF center fielder in both JAWS and b-WAR; everyone above him in both categories, save for the active Mike Trout, is already in.</p><p>At this point, the only reason it's taken so long to get him in is his prominent role in the Astros' sign-stealing scandal. Beltrán was the only active player named in the commissioner's report on the scandal, and the revelation cost him his job as Mets skipper before he even managed a game. Beltrán reached Cooperstown's doorstep last January when he received 70.3% of the vote; of the 26 players who crossed the 70% threshold without reaching 75% since modern BBWAA voting began in 1966, only four failed to be elected the following year, according to <a href="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/jaws-and-the-2026-hall-of-fame-ballot-carlos-beltran/">FanGraphs' Jay Jaffe</a>.</p><p>Beltrán's now at 88.9% in the tracker, with a net gain of 12 on returning ballots and 100% of support from first-time voters. He's going in.</p><p><strong>Who else has a legitimate chance? </strong>Based on the tracker, Andruw Jones is the only other candidate who should be keeping his phone charged Tuesday. Jones has a legitimate case as the greatest defensive center fielder ever. He's got the hardware - 10 Gold Gloves, trailing only Willie Mays and Roberto Clemente among outfielders; the stats - his 235 <a href="https://stathead.com/tiny/OTMLW">fielding runs</a>, a metric that tracks defense across all eras, are 50 more than second-place Mays in center; and the highlights to dazzle in the eye test.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/N4S3jCCck1w?si=gwIUl7E7Jtt8q1kH" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure><p>Jones' defense was so great that it credibly builds his entire Hall of Fame case, even accounting for his rapid decline at age 31. Without that sudden drop-off and a late-career move to Japan, he likely would've reached 2,000 MLB hits and maybe even 500 homers. Jones was a better hitter than you might remember - he won the Hank Aaron Award for his 51-homer 2005 season - but the lack of round offensive numbers forces his defense to carry the load. That's hurt his case with traditional voters and slowed his climb toward Cooperstown. Writers have never elected a player who played entirely in the expansion era (since 1961) and finished with fewer than 2,000 hits.</p><p>Jones, who debuted at 7.3% in 2018, finished above 60% in each of the last two cycles and is polling in this year's tracker at 83.8%. So yes, even if it's not as cut-and-dried as Beltrán, Jones has a real chance at election.</p><p><strong>What about the steroid guys?</strong> Manny Ramirez, arguably the best right-handed hitter since World War II, was twice suspended by MLB for using PEDs. He's polling barely below 40% in his final year of eligibility. Alex Rodriguez, maybe the greatest shortstop ever and the face of the 2013 Biogenesis drug scandal, has a net gain of nine in the tracker, but his final numbers will almost certainly drop. It's just not going to happen for them. First-year candidate Ryan Braun - who was suspended for his own role in Biogenesis, two years after having a 50-game PED ban overturned on a technicality - will go one-and-done. His numbers never came close to the Hall's standard anyway.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/493182/cropped_GettyImages-51725767.jpg?ts=1733765799" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/493182/w220xh124_GettyImages-51725767.jpg?ts=1733765799 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/493182/w320xh180_GettyImages-51725767.jpg?ts=1733765799 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/493182/w640xh360_GettyImages-51725767.jpg?ts=1733765799 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/493182/w768xh432_GettyImages-51725767.jpg?ts=1733765799 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/493182/w1080xh607_GettyImages-51725767.jpg?ts=1733765799 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Vince Bucci / Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure><p>The only candidate to watch with a known history of banned substance use is Andy Pettitte. He was named in the Mitchell Report and later admitted to using human growth hormone (a banned substance that's technically not a steroid) while recovering from an injury in 2002. Pettitte never failed a drug test after MLB began its program in 2004. Despite being far from a statistical lock, the Yankees icon is once again rapidly gaining support and seems poised to make a major jump for the second straight year.</p><p><strong>Since it's so wide-open, who else could make big gains? </strong>The two names with skyrocketing support are Chase Utley and Félix Hernández. Utley, the Phillies' rock during their great late-aughts run, failed to reach 2,000 hits and inexplicably never won a Gold Glove. Yet he still ranks among the best second basemen ever based on an array of metrics. It seems like more voters are realizing this: After a very strong showing in his first two years, Utley's polling at 68.1% in the tracker with a net gain of 20.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/116363/cropped_USPW_718341.jpg?ts=1720909883" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/116363/w220xh124_USPW_718341.jpg?ts=1720909883 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/116363/w320xh180_USPW_718341.jpg?ts=1720909883 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/116363/w640xh360_USPW_718341.jpg?ts=1720909883 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/116363/w768xh432_USPW_718341.jpg?ts=1720909883 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/116363/w1080xh607_USPW_718341.jpg?ts=1720909883 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Evan Habeeb / USA TODAY Sports</span></figcaption></figure><p>Hernández's stock is soaring in Year 2. His net gain of 44 votes is by far the highest in the tracker, putting him in position to make a gigantic year-over-year leap. King Félix should have plenty of reason to smile Tuesday.</p><p><strong>Other names to watch? </strong>Bobby Abreu, Mark Buehrle, and Jimmy Rollins are polling OK but still need tons of help. If Rollins can maintain his standing for now, the rapid rise of Utley - his longtime double-play partner - could help him in the long run, be it with the writers or a committee. For Abreu, another overlooked Phillies great, and Buehrle, who ate innings like nobody else in the 21st century, it's a bit of a different story because time is just not on their side. They should be hoping for more marginal gains to simply get into the 30% range, which might let them dream of a miracle.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/317270/cropped_GettyImages-1046819728.jpg?ts=1538276269" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/317270/w220xh124_GettyImages-1046819728.jpg?ts=1538276269 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/317270/w320xh180_GettyImages-1046819728.jpg?ts=1538276269 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/317270/w640xh360_GettyImages-1046819728.jpg?ts=1538276269 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/317270/w768xh432_GettyImages-1046819728.jpg?ts=1538276269 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/317270/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1046819728.jpg?ts=1538276269 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Jim McIsaac / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>And don't forget about Dustin Pedroia and David Wright, a pair of one-team icons who were flying toward Cooperstown before getting cut down by injuries. Their candidacies are still young, and after hanging onto their spots last year, they've both picked up a bit of new support in the tracker. Where they finish Tuesday could tell us a lot about future voting trends.</p>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/34180232/related

Biggest questions about 2026 Baseball HOF ballot

Houston Rockets superstar Kevin Durant reached another milestone Sunday when he passed Hall of Fa...

<p>Houston Rockets superstar <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/345" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/345">Kevin Durant</a> reached another milestone Sunday when he passed Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki for sixth place on the NBA's all-time scoring list.</p><p>Durant entered the game against the New Orleans Pelicans needing 17 points to overtake Nowitzki. He recorded his 31,561st career point on a free throw with 15.2 seconds left in the fourth quarter.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">KD PASSES DIRK FOR 6th ON THE ALL-TIME SCORING LIST 🤩 <a href="https://t.co/WLTAofswqU">pic.twitter.com/WLTAofswqU</a></p>— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/2013072800463061029?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Nowitzki, who entered the Hall of Fame in 2023, offered his congratulations to Durant in a video.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTrNIVcDFC0/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTrNIVcDFC0/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div>
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<script async="" src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></figure><p>Durant spoke in reverential terms about Nowitzki, whom he competed against during his first 12 seasons. The 37-year-old battled Nowitzki's Dallas Mavericks in three playoff series while he was still with the Oklahoma City Thunder.</p><p>"I always said I wanted to be that respected, I wanted to be that revered by my teammates, by a city, by media, by everybody who watches the game, and I felt like Dirk was the embodiment of that," Durant said postgame. "And I try to emulate as much as I can all the great players, but I took a little bit from Dirk - a lot from Dirk, actually. He knows.</p><p>"One of my trainers was good friends with Dirk. He was a rookie, played one season in the NBA, was a rookie with Dirk, so he learned a lot from him, and I was able to take some of his stuff and incorporate it into my routine. So I'm very grateful for Dirk, Holger (Geschwindner, Nowitzki's coach and mentor), what they brought to the game, because without them I wouldn't have seen the game from this perspective. He means a lot to me, man."</p><p>This is the second time in a little over a week that Durant has leapfrogged an NBA legend on the scoring list. He moved past Wilt Chamberlain for seventh place Jan. 10.</p><p>Next up for Durant is Michael Jordan, who sits in fifth place with 32,292 points.</p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Order</th>
<th>Player</th>
<th>Points</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>LeBron James</td>
<td>42703*</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Kareem Abdul-Jabbar</td>
<td>38387</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Karl Malone</td>
<td>36928</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>Kobe Bryant</td>
<td>33643</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5</td>
<td>Michael Jordan</td>
<td>32292</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6</td>
<td>Kevin Durant</td>
<td>31562</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7</td>
<td>Dirk Nowitzki</td>
<td>31560</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p><em>*before Los Angeles Lakers played Sunday</em></p><p>Durant finished with 18 points in Houston's 119-110 win over New Orleans.</p>

HOUSTON, TX - JANUARY 18: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets dribbles the ball during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on January 18, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE

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Durant passes Nowitzki for 6th on all-time scoring list

Two-time All-Star reliever Ryan Pressly announced his retirement Saturday after 13 big-league sea...

<p>Two-time All-Star reliever <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///wbc/players/3675" href="https://thescore.com/wbc/players/3675">Ryan Pressly</a> announced his retirement Saturday after 13 big-league seasons.</p><p>"After spending the last 19 years in professional baseball, I've made the decision to hang up my cleats and step away from the mound," Pressly wrote in a statement obtained by <a href="https://x.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/2012622332183908488">Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic</a>. "It's bittersweet, but what a ride it's been.</p><p>"... The friendships - from bullpen brothers to vets who mentored me along the way - those bonds last a lifetime. I'll miss the banter in the 'pen, the inside jokes that kept us loose on those high-leverage nights. But I'm fired up for this next chapter with my family and chasing whatever adventure comes next. Grateful beyond words."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Pressly, 37, struggled during what ended up as his final season with the Chicago Cubs. Chicago traded for him last winter to serve as its closer, but he tallied just five saves while posting a 6.1 K/9 rate in 41 1/3 innings before being released in August.</p><p>An 11th-round pick by the Boston Red Sox in 2007, Pressly reached the majors with the Minnesota Twins in 2013 and spent parts of six seasons there. However, he's best remembered for his seven-year run with the Houston Astros, where he morphed into a dominant bullpen anchor.</p><p>After joining the Astros at the 2018 trade deadline, Pressly became virtually unhittable, posting a 0.77 ERA down the stretch while finishing the year with 101 total strikeouts. Between August 2018 and May 2019, the native Texan set an MLB record with 40 consecutive scoreless relief appearances, a feat that's since been matched by <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/5307" href="/mlb/players/5307">Josh Hader</a>.</p><p>Pressly also turned into a force in October, during which he put up a lifetime 2.78 ERA with 60 strikeouts and allowed just one homer in 47 playoff appearances. His 2022 postseason was one for the ages, as he didn't allow an earned run in 11 innings and was on the mound to save Houston's second World Series championship. His '22 run was part of a longer 22 2/3-inning scoreless streak that stretched across three postseasons.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zOqPFh5-9kc?si=LJkimvuVfBCYombq" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure><p>Pressly retires having collected a 3.33 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 721 strikeouts, and 117 saves across 667 big-league appearances. His 2.78 postseason ERA sits 10th all time among relievers with at least 40 playoff innings, and he's one of just seven relievers to record at least 60 career playoff strikeouts.</p><p>Pressly will be eligible to appear on the Hall of Fame ballot beginning in 2031.</p>

HOUSTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 2: Ryan Pressly #55 of the Houston Astros reacts after inducing an inning ending ground out against the Tampa Bay Rays during the eighth inning at Minute Maid Park on August 2, 2024 in Houston, Texas.

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Former All-Star reliever Pressly retires after 13 seasons

The Baltimore Orioles' search for starting pitching might be leading them to a future Hall of Fam...

<p>The Baltimore Orioles' search for starting pitching might be leading them to a future Hall of Famer.</p><p>Baltimore is among the teams showing interest in veteran right-hander <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/195" href="/mlb/players/195">Justin Verlander</a>, sources told <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6978152/2026/01/16/mlb-free-agency-orioles-justin-verlander-zac-gallen/?source=emp_shared_article">Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic</a>. However, the sides don't appear to be close to a deal, and the rest of Verlander's market remains unknown.</p><p>Verlander, who turns 43 in February, is coming off a solid 2025 season with the San Francisco Giants. After a slow start, he authored a dominant second half and finished the campaign with a 3.85 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and 137 strikeouts across 29 starts. Those numbers marked a nice rebound from his career-worst 2024 campaign with the Houston Astors.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Baltimore is looking to return to contention following a disappointing last-place finish in 2025. Upgrading the rotation has emerged as a major need for the club, which has already acquired <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/9593" href="/mlb/players/9593">Shane Baz</a> via trade and re-signed veteran <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/5202" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/5202">Zach Eflin</a>.</p><p>Still, it's clear the Orioles aren't satisfied with those additions. Beyond Verlander, Baltimore is reportedly pursuing left-hander <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/8415" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/8415">Framber Valdez</a>, arguably the best starter left in free agency. But the organization may not want to give up a compensatory draft pick to sign Valdez, who rejected the Astros' qualifying offer in November, according to Rosenthal.</p><p>With many top free-agent arms tied to draft-pick compensation and star trade targets likely demanding high-prospect costs, signing Verlander to a short-term deal could be Baltimore's best option. Even if he replicated his 2025 numbers, he'd give the Orioles a steady veteran presence with plenty of playoff experience at the back of the rotation.</p><p>Baltimore would also represent something of a homecoming for Verlander, who grew up almost three hours south of Camden Yards in Manakin-Sabot, Virginia. He's also familiar with the Orioles' president of baseball operations, Mike Elias, who was part of the Astros' front office when they traded for him in 2017 en route to a World Series title.</p><p>Verlander is the majors' active leader in wins (266), starts (555), innings pitched (3,567.2), and strikeouts (3,553). The three-time Cy Young Award winner and 2011 AL MVP has won five strikeout titles, led his league in ERA twice, and authored a 300-strikeout season in 2019.</p>

TORONTO, ON - JULY 18: Justin Verlander #35 of the San Francisco Giants looks on against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning in their MLB game at Rogers Centre on July 18, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

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The Toronto Blue Jays emerged as the high bidders for Kyle Tucker, but it wasn't enough to lure h...

<p>The Toronto Blue Jays emerged as the high bidders for <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/8173" href="/mlb/players/8173">Kyle Tucker</a>, but it wasn't enough to lure him north of the border.</p><p>Toronto's final offer to Tucker was for $350 million over 10 years, <a href="https://x.com/jonheyman/status/2012504551505465639?s=46">Jon Heyman of the New York Post</a> reports. It's unclear if the proposal contained any deferrals.</p><p>The Blue Jays' reported bid topped the Los Angeles Dodgers' winning offer by $110 million in total value. Had Tucker signed in Toronto, it would've marked the seventh-richest deal in MLB history.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The Blue Jays were reportedly the only team to offer Tucker the long-term deal he was thought to be seeking, as the Dodgers and New York Mets tabled four-year deals with high average annual values.</p><p>Tucker ultimately <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3454642" href="https://thescore.com/news/3454642">signed</a> with the two-time defending champions on a reported four-year, $240-million contract featuring $30 million in deferrals and opt-outs after the 2027 and '28 seasons. The Dodgers apparently structured the deal to include a $64-million signing bonus, with $54 million paid up front.</p><p>Tucker joins his new teammate <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/9519" href="/mlb/players/9519">Shohei Ohtani</a> as the only players to have contracts with average annual values above $60 million. Although the deferrals reduce its present-day AAV to $57.1 million, that mark is still well above the former record of $51 million set by <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/8271" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/8271">Juan Soto</a> last offseason.</p><p>New York reportedly offered Tucker $220 million, with no deferrals and a $75-million signing bonus. After he spurned that proposal, the Mets pivoted and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3457049" href="https://thescore.com/news/3457049">apparently</a> signed longtime Blue Jays star <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/9615" href="/mlb/players/9615">Bo Bichette</a> to a three-year, $126-million deal.</p><p>For the Blue Jays, losing Tucker to the Dodgers is the latest blow in what seems to be turning into a heated rivalry. Ohtani's high-profile free-agency saga ended with him choosing Los Angeles over Toronto in the winter of 2023. Last offseason, the Dodgers outbid the Blue Jays to land prized Japanese phenom <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/19077" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/19077">Roki Sasaki</a>. All the off-field drama boiled over this past October when L.A. and Toronto met in a dramatic seven-game World Series that ended with the Dodgers narrowly winning a second straight title.</p><p>Tucker will still take the field at Rogers Centre in 2026, when the Dodgers visit Toronto for a World Series rematch from April 6-8. L.A. will travel to Citi Field to face the Mets in a three-game series beginning July 24.</p>

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 9: Kyle Tucker #30 of the Chicago Cubs looks on against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on June 9, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Cubs 4-3 in extra innings.

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The Philadelphia Phillies wasted no time reuniting with an old friend after missing out on Bo Bic...

<p>The Philadelphia Phillies wasted no time reuniting with an old friend after missing out on <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/9615" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/9615">Bo Bichette</a>. </p><p>Philadelphia agreed to to a three-year, $45-million contract with free-agent catcher <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///wbc/players/3087" href="https://thescore.com/wbc/players/3087">J.T. Realmuto</a>, sources told <a href="https://x.com/ByRobertMurray/status/2012230898645622985">Robert Murray of FanSided</a>. The contract includes annual award bonuses and performance incentives that could raise the deal's total value to $60 million, per <a href="https://x.com/JonHeyman/status/2012234972694745401">Jon Heyman of the New York Post</a>.</p><p>Realmuto, who will turn 35 in March, has spent the last seven seasons as the Phillies' primary catcher. He's won two Gold Gloves and two of his three career Silver Sluggers during his time in Philadelphia.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The Oklahoma native is coming off a tough 2025 season, though. His .257/.315/.384 slash line was his worst since his rookie campaign with the Miami Marlins in 2015. He also showed defensive decline; his minus-2 defensive runs saved was the third-lowest total among catchers with at least 900 innings, and he ranked in the seventh percentile of framing.</p><p>Realmuto did continue to excel in some areas, however, leading all catchers in putouts and double plays while catching an NL-high 30 runners stealing. Additionally, his 1.86 pop time ranked in the 99th percentile. Offensively, Realmuto hit 12 homers, marking the 11th straight campaign that he's recorded at least 10 round-trippers, and also stole eight bases.</p><p>The Phillies were thought to be the front-runners for Bichette in recent days. Had they signed the infielder, Realmuto would have wound up elsewhere due to the payroll ramifications. But when Bichette <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3457049" href="https://thescore.com/news/3457049">shocked</a> the baseball world Friday by reportedly agreeing to a three-year, $126-million deal with the rival New York Mets, Philadelphia quickly pivoted back to its longtime catcher.</p><p>His return gives Philadelphia another much-needed right-handed bat in what is projected to be a lefty-heavy lineup. Including top prospect <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/17816" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/17816">Justin Crawford</a>, the Phillies currently have six projected regulars who hit from the left side. The team already tried to correct this imbalance in December by signing outfielder <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/8821" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/8821">Adolis García</a>.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/10155" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/10155">Rafael Marchán</a> was projected to start behind the plate if Realmuto departed and will now likely serve as his backup. Philadelphia also has <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/5839" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/5839">Garrett Stubbs</a> on its 40-man roster, although both Stubbs and Marchán are out of minor-league options. Minor-league free agents <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/12442" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/12442">Mark Kolozsvary</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/12295" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/12295">René Pinto</a> will also be candidates to win the backup job in spring training.</p>

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 06: J.T. Realmuto #10 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates after hitting a double during the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game two of the National League Division Series at Citizens Bank Park on October 06, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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Report: Phillies, Realmuto reunite on 3-year, $45M deal

After months of trying, Steve Cohen finally lured another superstar to Flushing. It just wasn't t...

<p>After months of trying, Steve Cohen finally lured another superstar to Flushing. It just wasn't the guy anybody expected.</p><p>The New York Mets landed infielder <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/9615" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/9615">Bo Bichette</a> on a three-year contract, a source told <a href="https://x.com/WillSammon/status/2012208449103216832">Will Sammon of The Athletic</a>. The deal is worth $126 million and includes full <a href="https://x.com/JonHeyman/status/2012211828898619612">no-trade</a> protection, according to <a href="https://x.com/JonHeyman/status/2012209043905925450">Jon Heyman of the New York Post</a>.</p><p>Bichette receives <a href="https://x.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/2012209604675977551">opt-outs</a> after the 2026 and '27 seasons and also gets a $5-million opt-out bonus, a source told <a href="https://x.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/2012209787056926748">The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal</a>. There's apparently no deferred money in the deal.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Completion of the agreement is pending a physical, Sammon adds.</p><p>A natural shortstop, Bichette will shift to third base for the Mets, sources told <a href="https://x.com/JonHeyman/status/2012210900707525109">Heyman</a>. The 27-year-old has never played a professional inning at the hot corner and hadn't played anywhere but shortstop in the majors until shifting to second base during the 2025 World Series. Bichette has consistently ranked as one of the worst defensive shortstops in baseball but expressed an openness to moving off the position throughout the offseason.</p><p>New York already had a star shortstop in <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/2909" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/2909">Francisco Lindor</a> and acquired veteran <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/3420" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/3420">Marcus Semien</a> - Bichette's onetime double-play partner in Toronto - to play second base earlier this winter.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/12406" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/12406">Brett Baty</a> had been projected to man third before Bichette's arrival. Now he's expected to shift into more of a super-utility role, according to <a href="https://x.com/JonHeyman/status/2012213082940940455">Heyman</a>. Baty has mostly played third and second in the majors but did man left field for one inning in 2023.</p><p>Offensively, Bichette instantly improves the Mets' lineup, giving them more left-right balance plus some additional punch at the top of the order alongside Lindor and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/8271" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/8271">Juan Soto</a>. The Florida native is a two-time AL hits leader and was on pace to do it for a third time in 2025 before a knee injury halted his regular season in early September.</p><p><strong>Mets' projected 2026 lineup</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Order</th>
<th>Player</th>
<th>Pos.</th>
<th>Bats</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Francisco Lindor</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>S</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Juan Soto</td>
<td>RF</td>
<td>L</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Bo Bichette</td>
<td>3B</td>
<td>R</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>Jorge Polanco</td>
<td>1B</td>
<td>S</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5</td>
<td>Marcus Semien</td>
<td>2B</td>
<td>R</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6</td>
<td>Brett Baty</td>
<td>DH</td>
<td>L</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7</td>
<td>Francisco Alvarez</td>
<td>C</td>
<td>R</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8</td>
<td>Carson Benge</td>
<td>LF</td>
<td>L</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9</td>
<td>Tyrone Taylor</td>
<td>CF</td>
<td>R</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>Bichette, a lifetime .294/.337/.469 hitter, has averaged 196 hits, 24 homers, and 41 doubles per 162 games over his seven-year career. His .311 average was tied for second in the majors last year.</p><p>The Mets' deal with Bichette comes barely 12 hours after they were spurned by <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/8173" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/8173">Kyle Tucker,</a> who <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3454642" href="https://thescore.com/news/3454642">signed</a> his own short-term contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. New York reportedly offered Tucker $220 million over four years but came up $20 million short of the Dodgers' final offer.</p><p>His signing also comes after the Mets saw franchise pillars <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/8674" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/8674">Pete Alonso</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/5384" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/5384">Edwin Díaz</a> depart in free agency. The team responded to those losses by signing <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/3558" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/3558">Jorge Polanco</a> to play first base, trading for Semien, and adding relievers <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/11736" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/11736">Devin Williams</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/5394" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/5394">Luke Weaver</a>.</p><p>Cohen beat out his NL East rivals, the Philadelphia Phillies, for Bichette's services. The Phillies, who were seen as the favorites following a reportedly positive meeting earlier this week, offered him a seven-year contract in the range of $190 million to $200 million, sources told <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6977518/2026/01/16/phillies-bo-bichette-offer-mets/?source=emp_shared_article">Matt Gelb of The Athletic</a>. However, Philadelphia wasn't willing to do a short-term, high-AAV deal because of luxury tax concerns, Gelb reports.</p><p>The Phillies apparently thought they had an agreed-upon deal with Bichette on Thursday night, before the Mets swooped in at the last moment, sources told <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2026/01/16/mlb-free-agent-contracts-kyle-tucker-bo-bichette-trade-rumors/88215830007/">USA Today's Bob Nightengale</a>.</p><p>The Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, and Toronto Blue Jays were also connected to Bichette this winter.</p><p>Bichette had spent his entire seven-year career to date with the Blue Jays and had previously expressed a desire to remain in Toronto alongside fellow star and good friend <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/8267" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/8267">Vladimir Guerrero Jr.</a> However, he became squeezed out of the Blue Jays' crowded infield after their signing of <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/20140" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/20140">Kazuma Okamoto</a>. It was also <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3456988" href="https://thescore.com/news/3456988">reported</a> Friday that Bichette had some long-term concerns about Rogers Centre's artificial surface, likely due to his history of leg issues.</p><p>Because he rejected their qualifying offer earlier this winter, the Blue Jays will receive a compensatory draft pick after the fourth round of the 2026 draft. New York, meanwhile, will forfeit its second- and fifth-highest draft picks, along with $1 million from its international bonus pool, as a penalty for the signing, per <a href="https://x.com/MLBDraft/status/2012212783903850601">MLB Pipeline</a>.</p>

TORONTO, CANADA - OCTOBER 23: Bo Bichette #11 of the Toronto Blue Jays works out in the infield during World Series Workout Day ahead of Game 1 of the World Series at Rogers Centre on October 23, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

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Report: Mets land Bichette on 3-year, $126M deal

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Simon Sharkey-Gotlieb

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