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The Mets are losing stars at an alarming rate, the Schwarb-stakes are over and we check in with World Baseball Classic teams ramping up their rosters. I’m Levi Weaver, here with Ken Rosenthal — welcome to The Winter Meetings Windup!
Big Deals: Díaz, Alonso depart Queens
Remember when the Mets were money-bombing every available free agent? This week was … the opposite of that, with Pete Alonso and Edwin Díaz both finding new homes. Let’s get into it:
Alonso signs five-year, $155 million deal with Orioles: The Mets’ franchise leader for home runs (264) is heading to Baltimore.
Last winter, Alonso returned to the Mets on a two-year deal with an opt-out, effectively delaying free agency for a year. This year, the 31-year-old’s market was stronger with the Mets and Red Sox also in the mix. Well, sorta. By the time the Winter Meetings arrived, New York basically said: “Fine, talk to everyone else.” Ultimately, the team didn’t even make him an official offer.
For the Orioles, it was a quick pivot from Kyle Schwarber (more on him below). It’s their biggest — and maybe best — move in an offseason that has already seen them acquire reliever Ryan Helsley and outfielders Taylor Ward and Leody Taveras.
Díaz inks three-year, $69 million deal with Dodgers: You had to know this was a possibility. After winning the World Series in 2024 with a spotty rotation, Los Angeles went out and signed Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki. After repeating in 2025 despite a shaky bullpen, the Dodgers are pointing the money hose at the bullpen.
To be fair, they did unsuccessfully try to address this last offseason. This year, they aimed higher. Since debuting with the Mariners in 2016, Díaz has more saves (253) than any other reliever not named Raisel Iglesias (also 253) or Kenley Jansen (334), even while missing 2023 after injuring his right knee at the WBC. While Diaz is older at 31, he was the highest-ranking reliever on our free-agent big board at No. 11.
Ken’s Notebook: Mets have a big mess to clean up
From my latest column:
Losing franchise stalwarts Díaz and Alonso on back-to-back days is something a Mets fan might have expected from the Wilpon ownership — only with some ridiculous positive spin on how the team will be better for it. Now, fans might wonder if Fred and Jeff Wilpon are practicing voodoo on David Stearns and owner Steve Cohen.
Stearns and Cohen have not said much of anything. That’s to be expected as they start to clean up the mess they’ve created, the baseball equivalent of a flooded kitchen floor. But they had better provide some answers quickly, and with actions, not words.
The Mets, who made no secret of wanting to become the East Coast version of the Dodgers, are nothing of the sort. Change was necessary after the club started last season 45-24, the best record in baseball on June 13, then failed to qualify for a 12-team playoff field. But this kind of change? It’s incredibly jarring. The Mets are operating with a confidence that borders on arrogance, even indifference.
Remember when Cohen took over as owner in late 2020 and said he would be “slightly disappointed” if the Mets failed to win a World Series in three to five years? The Mets are preparing for their sixth season under Cohen, their third under Stearns. And the excitement the two helped create by building a team that reached the National League Championship Series two years ago is fading into exasperation.
Stearns seemed only lukewarm on Alonso last offseason, and he all but signaled Alonso’s departure at this year’s end-of-season news conference, talking at length about the Mets’ need for better run prevention when defense is not Alonso’s strength.
Well, good luck finding a better right-handed hitter to go behind the left-handed Juan Soto. Throughout the industry, quality right-handed bats are in short supply. And both of the top remaining free agents, Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger, hit left-handed.
Staying Put: Schwarber re-signs with Phillies
Schwarber will remain in Philadelphia for five years and $150 million.
He led the NL with 56 HRs last year, putting his career total at 340 over 11 years. Beyond that, Schwarber’s established himself as a clubhouse leader on a team that made the postseason every year since he joined in 2022. As Jayson Stark puts it, he’s a “Phillies legend in the making.”
There were other suitors. The Orioles matched Philadelphia’s offer, while Schwarber’s hometown Reds offered five years at around $125 million. The suddenly spendy Pirates were in the four-year, $120 million range.
Schwarber, who turns 33 in March, has — thus far — only improved with age, posting a career year in 2025, finishing second in MVP voting. Still, even with Schwarber returning, change is coming for the Phillies roster.
The Skenes Scheme: World Baseball Classic squads gearing up
Team USA manager Mark DeRosa spoke Tuesday about the squad’s attempts to bring the level of pitching up this year, to match the star power on the position-player side.
They’re off to a good start. With Paul Skenes on the roster, the recruitment process has been a bit easier.
“He’s certainly changed it,” DeRosa said. “And I think the fear of missing out (is a factor). I think guys who watched in ‘23 and saw the game against Japan, saw the iconic moment between Trout and Ohtani, saw Trea Turner’s grand slam against Venezuela … I just feel like there’s been a groundswell with the United States player, like ‘Alright, it’s time for us to go.’”
Maybe so for players. Convincing their teams might be a little trickier.
Handshakes and High Fives
From Zack Meisel: From Disney World to dive boats: The wildest places MLB execs have made a trade or signing.
Mike Yastrzemski is headed to Atlanta, while Kyle Finnegan appears to be headed back to the Tigers.
The draft lottery results are in: The White Sox will have the first pick next year.
Joe Buck is the latest Hall of Famer, winning the Ford C. Frick award.
Grant Brisbee says Barry Bonds should join Jeff Kent in the Hall of Fame one day.
On the pods: “Rates & Barrels” had a cavalcade of guests this week, including some newsletter writer.
Most-clicked in Monday’s newsletter: Secret Base’s breakdown of Barry Bonds’ beef with Jeff Kent.
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