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Alex Rodriguez explains why the Dodgers are good for baseball<\/p>\n
USA TODAY’s Ralphie Aversa chats with MLB legend Alex Rodriguez about the dominant nature of the Dodgers roster.<\/p>\n
Sports Seriously<\/p>\n
LAS VEGAS \u2014 Major League Baseball<\/a>\u2019s general managers gathered this week in Las Vegas, spoke to agents roaming the lobby of the Cosmopolitan, found out who\u2019s actually available in trades, and departed to the airport vowing to keep in touch over the next 3 \u00bd weeks until everyone convenes again at the baseball winter meetings in Orlando.<\/p>\n There were no trades, no major free-agent signings, but GMs walked away armed with at least enough information to begin making calls in the next two weeks before Thanksgiving.<\/p>\n The GMs, much to their dismay, learned that Pittsburgh Pirates<\/a> Cy Young winner Paul Skenes is not available<\/a>, under any circumstance.<\/p>\n \u201cPaul Skenes is going to be a Pirate in 2026,” Pirates GM Ben Cherington said emphatically.<\/p>\n The Detroit Tigers will listen to offers for two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal<\/a>, but unless you\u2019re willing to include your first-born, star players and best prospects, don\u2019t bother calling, they were told.<\/p>\n Skubal, who was in Las Vegas, and agent Scott Boras said they are willing to listen to any contract extension ofers, but the Tigers aren\u2019t ready to stuff a $400 million check in an envelope any time soon.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to be a Tiger for a very long time,” Skubal said.<\/p>\n MLB rumors and latest news<\/p>\n \u2013 The San Diego Padres<\/a>, who announced Thursday they are up for sale, won\u2019t trade All-Star right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. now, but go ahead and check back with their new ownership a year from now .<\/p>\n \u2013 The Los Angeles Dodgers<\/a>, with $87 million coming off the books, will keep folks honest in the Kyle Tucker sweepstakes, but probably won’t be the high bidders \u2013 instead wanting to focus on shoring up their bullpen. They could pursue Edwin Diaz or Devin Williams, but rival executives expect them to go after former Tampa Bay Rays closer Pete Fairbanks, who has 75 saves with a 2.98 ERA the past three seasons.<\/p>\n \u2013 While Williams remains an option for the Dodgers, rival teams have been told that if Williams has his druthers, the St. Louis native would love to stay in the Midwest. The Cincinnati Reds<\/a> have already met with Williams\u2019 representatives.<\/p>\n \u2013 The Toronto Blue Jays<\/a> will be linked to every marquee free agent and could be in play for everyone from shortstop Bo Bichette to right fielder Kyle Tucker to starter Tatsuya Imai to lefties Framber Valdez and Ranger Suarez.<\/p>\n They certainly won\u2019t be interested in all of them, but agents won\u2019t be shy in trying to attach interest to their clients, no matter if there\u2019s an ounce of truth, or not.<\/p>\n \u2013 The Baltimore Orioles plan to spend money, just like the New York Mets<\/a>, Chicago Cubs<\/a>, Atlanta and Yankees.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re going to have an active offseason,\u201d said Jed Hoyer, Cubs president of baseball operations. \u201cTake that for what it\u2019s worth.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2013 Future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander\u2019s next destination could be a return to Houston, where he won a Cy Young award, two World Series titles, and has spring training near his home in Jupiter, Fla.<\/p>\n \u2013 The best position player on the trade market is Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte, who has 10-and-5 rights and can reject any trade by mid-April, but the cost may be prohibitive for suitors.<\/p>\n \u2013 Free-agent All Star closer Edwin Diaz could be the first marquee free agent to sign, but unless someone is willing to meet his asking price of least a five-year, $100 million contract, he could linger on the market for past Thanksgiving.<\/p>\n \u2013 The Milwaukee Brewers<\/a> reiterated they have no intention of trading ace Freddy Peralta, said Matt Arnold, Brewers president of baseball operations. They will listen, but considering Peralta is owed only $8 million in the final year of his contract, would have to be blown away.<\/p>\n \u2013 Teams have inquired about trying to acquire former Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara of the Miami Marlins, but owner Bruce Sherman has told several staff members he definitely plans to have him on the roster at the start of the 2026 season.<\/p>\n \u2013 The Houston Astros plan to keep their infield intact and aren\u2019t interested in trading corner infielder Isaac Paredes or first baseman Christian Walker.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not really trying to pull from the infield in the trade market, simply because we feel like all those guys are going to be part of the top of our lineup,\u201d Astros GM Dana Brown said. \u201cI know we have people talk about Walker. But we haven\u2019t talked about Walker in a trade. Walker\u2019s our everyday first baseman.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2013 The Mets are expected to land at least one high-end starter.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know how many true No. 1 starters are available right now,\u201d said David Stearns, Mets president of baseball operations. \u201cI don\u2019t know how many are actually going to be traded. I don\u2019t know how many are truly available in free agency. But you would always like to find that top of the rotation guy.”<\/p>\n \u2013 The St. Louis Cardinals let everyone know they\u2019re open for business under Chaim Bloom, their new president of baseball operations.<\/p>\n They want to trade starter Sonny Gray and third baseman Nolan Arenado, who are owed a total of $73 million, and are open to moving All-Star Brendan Donovan and outfielder Lars Nootbaar.<\/p>\n \u2013 The Cincinnati Reds have listened, but don\u2019t have any intention of trading ace Hunter Greene, who has three years and $42 million left on his contract.<\/p>\n \u201cLook, I don\u2019t want to rule out anything,\u201d said Nick Krall, Reds president of baseball operations, \u201cBut that\u2019s a hard one to actually say, \u2018Hey, we\u2019re going to trade the guy that has a chance to be the ace of your staff and top-of-the-rotation guy going into the postseason.\u2019\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n \u2013 The New York Yankees badly want to re-sign Cody Bellinger, and although they can afford both players, don\u2019t expect center fielder Trent Grisham to accept their $22.05 million qualifying offer.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re very interested in bringing him back,\u201d Yankees GM Brian Cashman said of Bellinger. \u201cHe\u2019s going to have a lot of choices because he can do a lot of different things\u2026 We would be better served if we could retain him. If not, we\u2019ll have to look at alternative ways to fill it.”<\/p>\n \u2013 The Pirates, who are one of baseball\u2019s most profitable teams, according to baseball officials with access to their finances, are expected to add at least $30 million to their payroll for 2026.<\/p>\n