So, what did he really end up with? His new contract combined with the $30 million he received from the Mets in 2025 pencils out to six years and $185 million \u2014 even more than he was looking for a year ago. Credit his agent Scott Boras for getting it done with a creative short-term-to-long-term approach, his initial \u201cpillow\u201d with the Mets leading to the O\u2019s deal.<\/p>\n
Now we\u2019ll see if Boras Corp. can get a similar result for another client, Alex Bregman, who signed a similar \u201cpillow\u201d contract with the Red Sox last offseason and is now back on the market seeking long-term security. The Cubs, Red Sox and Tigers appear to be the most interested at this point, but there are others with interest as well.<\/p>\n
Mets messTakeaway: The Mets have ruined their clubhouse, alienated their fans and it may be too late to fix<\/p>\n
One of the things that really stood out to me at Mets camp in spring training was how good the clubhouse culture was. Three players who really stood out in that regard were Brandon Nimmo, D\u00edaz and Alonso, among others. It\u2019s really hard to fathom that all three have either been traded or are allowed to leave in free agency this winter.<\/p>\n
The Nimmo trade did bring back Marcus Semien, who is a culture-builder himself. However, he\u2019s 35 years old and in decline. When the Mets signed Devin Williams before D\u00edaz agreed to his deal, it made it easier to say a quick goodbye without giving the Mets a chance to match his offer with the Dodgers. Alonso told us last year that the Mets didn\u2019t respect the fact he played 162 games a year even when he was banged up, didn\u2019t cherish his power numbers, and instead focused on the fact that he might not age well and is a below-average defender at first base.<\/p>\n
There isn\u2019t yet science that can 100 percent correctly predict when each individual player declines, and although Years 4 and 5 of the Alonso deal will be risky and he\u2019ll be DHing at some point in the next three years, the Orioles can count on games played and 120 homers over that span. In terms of defense, the O\u2019s know he picks and scoops and his bat will more than make up for whatever he gives back defensively in terms of range. Plus, his positive energy and ability to play in New York should not be taken for granted. The same is true for Nimmo and D\u00edaz.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s OK if David Stearns wants to build the Mets like he did the Brewers and win with run prevention, athleticism, defense and pitching. However, keep in mind, not everyone can play in New York. It is a particularly difficult environment for young prospects who will be dealing with at times overwhelming media and fan scrutiny, especially if they struggle. The GM job is much different in New York than it is in a smaller market. Big-market teams need superstars that will perform predictably rather than betting heavily on young players to develop.<\/p>\n
The Mets committed $765 million to Juan Soto and now have let his lineup protector in Alonso go. Mets fans will get to watch Soto be pitched around because of it. He could walk 150 times next season.<\/p>\n
The Mets could pivot and make it work by signing Kyle Tucker and either Bregman or Bo Bichette and then focus on pitching and land Framber Valdez and Michael King. That type of aggressiveness is what New York teams need. However, it appears the Mets and Stearns are going to do it their way, and I certainly hope it works for them just like I hope my lottery ticket hits tomorrow.<\/p>\n
![\"Aug](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/USATSI_23971506-scaled.jpg\")
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\n The Rangers are listening on Corey Seager. (Jerome Miron \/ USA Today Network via Imagn Images)<\/p>\n
Big-name buzzTakeaway: Big names are being tossed around in trade discussions more than usual<\/p>\n
There were a lot of big names being talked about in trades at the meetings. Here\u2019s just some of the rumblings:<\/p>\n
\u2022 The Rangers are listening on Corey Seager, the Diamondbacks on Ketel Marte and the Phillies are begging someone to take Nick Castellanos.<\/p>\n
\u2022 While the Tigers probably won\u2019t trade Tarik Skubal, they are taking offers. The Brewers are in discussions on Freddy Peralta, the Mets will trade Kodai Senga or David Peterson and the Marlins have both Edward Cabrera and Sandy Alcantara available.<\/p>\n
\u2022 The Cardinals will move Brendan Donovan, the Giants will listen on Bryce Eldridge, the Padres are shopping Jake Cronenworth and Nick Pivetta, the Astros are trying to move Christian Walker and Jake Meyers, the Royals will move a starter for a power-hitting left fielder and the Red Sox will trade Jarren Duran if they get the right corner infielder or starting pitcher.<\/p>\n
You get the point \u2014 a lot of big names are being discussed, which could lead to some huge deals between now and spring training.<\/p>\n
No. 1 starter marketTakeaway: Tarik Skubal is probably going nowhere, but Freddy Peralta will probably be dealt<\/p>\n
Behind the scenes, Tigers owner Chris Ilitch seems to favor keeping Skubal and signing him to a fair-market deal. However, with Skubal just one year away from free agency, it appears almost impossible for them to sign him before he gets there. As much as I personally think they should trade Skubal for the biggest haul possible and then try to re-sign him in free agency, it sounds more like they\u2019ll keep him and try to win this year and then deal with him in the open market next winter.<\/p>\n
I think that approach is too risky for the long term and could set the organization back, as it did for the Angels when they didn\u2019t trade Shohei Ohtani and just got back draft-pick compensation. For what it\u2019s worth, the Tigers are listening to offers but don\u2019t seem motivated to get serious on trading him.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, it appears the Brewers are not only listening on Peralta, but they are also considering all offers at this point. It seems likely now that he will be moved because he\u2019s a top-five Cy Young Award finisher and will pitch on a very affordable $8 million salary for 2026, making his trade value that much higher than expected.<\/p>\n
Trade trendsTakeaway: Trade talks focused on young major-league talent rather than prospects<\/p>\n
Several GMs told me that this year\u2019s meetings included more trade talks than they could remember from past meetings, which should lead to a lot of deals in December and January. Most striking was that almost all of the trade talk had to do with proposed major-leaguer-for-major-leaguer swaps rather than deals involving prospects for major-league players. This left some organizations with strong farm systems looking for major-league help frustrated.<\/p>\n
Pirates not serious spendersTakeaway: The Pirates\u2019 effort on Kyle Schwarber, Josh Naylor was simply eye wash<\/p>\n
There were a lot of people celebrating the Pirates for making offers for free agents Schwarber and Josh Naylor. However, once the news got out that they offered Schwarber four years, $125 million and Naylor five years, $80 million, it became clear that the offers were more about being able to say they were willing to spend that money than they were a sincere attempt to get the player. They knew even if they offered the exact same money each player eventually got, or even $5 million to $10 million more for each player, they weren\u2019t going to get either one.<\/p>\n
If a non-contending team like the Pirates wants to sign stars like Schwarber and Naylor away from their playoff teams, they have to grossly overpay or they\u2019ll never get them. It\u2019s what the Nationals did with Jayson Werth and the Tigers with Magglio Ordonez and Pudge Rodriguez.<\/p>\n
My point is this: The Pirates\u2019 offer for Schwarber should have been six years, $180 million to $200 million; and for Naylor, six years, $120 million. Even then, it\u2019s unlikely the players would have signed, but at least it would have given the players and their families something to think about. Once the Pirates become the highest bidder on a big free agent, only then will we know they mean business. For now, it\u2019s just eye wash.<\/p>\n
Another trade deadline?Takeaway: Agents are now clamoring for a winter trade deadline<\/p>\n
There were several agents in the lobby suggesting that MLB consider instituting a winter trade deadline because they felt trade talks were hampering their negotiations with free agents. I chuckled at the idea because of course they would like that. If there were a Dec. 10 trade deadline, it would shut down all trades until spring training, and then the only way the clubs could improve would be through bidding wars for free agents. That scenario would only help their clients get better deals.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re going to throw out a winter trade deadline, then a free-agent deadline has to go with it, and neither is going to happen. It\u2019s like suggesting a salary cap without a floor; it just doesn\u2019t work \u2014 you need both.<\/p>\n
![\"Edwin](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/GettyImages-2237030641-scaled.jpg\")
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\n Signing Edwin D\u00edaz is another example of how the Dodgers are in their own space on a spending level. (Justin Casterline \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Dodger dominanceTakeaway: The Dodgers have now separated themselves from other large-market teams<\/p>\n
The Los Angeles Dodgers should change their name to the World Dodgers because that\u2019s what they are now \u2014 a team with a worldwide following. They are now in a completely different category from other large-market teams such as the Yankees, Mets, Phillies and Red Sox. They are now in a market of their own called the \u201cMassive Market.\u201d Their CBT tax alone this year will be higher than 16 teams\u2019 entire payrolls. At this moment, they are arguably the most successful sports franchise in history.<\/p>\n
They also have one of the smartest baseball executives on the planet leading them in Andrew Friedman. Signing the league\u2019s best closer, D\u00edaz, plugged the team\u2019s biggest hole. That done, now he\u2019ll focus on a corner outfielder to put his dynasty of a team on track to be the favorite for a three-peat. The Dodgers are winning because they make smart decisions from top to bottom, and they are helped by having more financial resources than any other team \u2014 and they aren\u2019t afraid to spend them.<\/p>\n
Last year, the Dodgers committed $72 million over four years to Tanner Scott as the closer. It didn\u2019t work, so now they have dropped another $69 million for D\u00edaz. If they make a mistake \u2014 which they rarely do \u2014 they can quickly cover it up with the checkbook because they are the only member of the Massive Market.<\/p>\n
Braves building upTakeaway: Atlanta doing a solid job of building roster depth<\/p>\n
The Braves have done an excellent job building depth on their major-league roster with a quality fifth infielder in Mauricio Dub\u00f3n, who can play second base, shortstop and third base, protect them from injuries and allow them to rest their starters. They also did a great job in landing Mike Yastrzemski as their fourth outfielder. He crushes right-handed pitching and can play all three outfield positions, with most of his playing time expected in left field on days in which Jurickson Profar DHs.<\/p>\n