Needs for the Guardians are obvious to all. The likelihood of doing what everyone knows is necessary is very slim.

BA is beginning it's winter Top 10 projections and lenghty chats for all 30 teams, one at time. CLE's comes in early December.
Meanwhile today they rate the Nationals and one of their best is LHP Alex Clemmey, a CLE 2nd round draft pick out of high school. Traded for Lane Thomas.
Thomas was a big help getting the G's into the playoffs last season, and his absence was precisely what the Guardians were lacking this season, to hit behind Jose,
If we'd got 2 similar years from him as 2024 the deal could be a win/win. I'm afraid we may be majors losers on this one.

Clemmey is a big strong lefty; only age 20; having reached AA. Control is the question for him.

Ht: 6'6" | Wt: 205 | B-T: L-L
Age: 20
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
Adjusted Grade: 40

Track Record: The Guardians drafted Clemmey out of a Rhode Island high school in the second round in 2023, going nearly $1 million over slot to sign him for $2.3 million. Cleveland dealt him to the Nationals at the 2024 trade deadline as part of the package for Lane Thomas. Clemmey logged 116.2 innings in 2025 and led all Nationals minor league pitchers with 136 strikeouts but also 73 walks. He reached Double-A Harrisburg in mid August and saved his best work for last, when he posted a 2.04 ERA with 15 strikeouts and five walks in his final 17.2 innings.

Scouting Report: Clemmey’s exciting stuff gives him the potential to become a top overall lefthanded pitching prospect. It will come down to control, after he walked more than 14% of batters in 2025 to rank 11th worst among minor league pitchers with at least 100 innings. The 6-foot-6, long-limbed Clemmey has worked hard to streamline and repeat his mechanics, and his zone and strike rates on his fastball continue to creep upward. Opposing hitters have a hard time seeing his 93-94 mph four-seam fastball that reaches near 98. His arm slot and low release height make his heater difficult to square up for batters of both hands. He upped his sinker usage in 2025 to introduce a new wrinkle. Scouts would like to see him improve his fastball command to his glove side. Clemmey’s mid-80s slider has plus potential but wasn’t the same type of swing-and-miss weapon as it had been at Low-A in 2024. He threw many more changeups in 2025 to develop the high-80s pitch with above-average potential and good fade.

The Future: Clemmey exudes confidence and is a strong competitor with the athleticism to continue improving his command, which will determine his future role. He has the raw talent to become a No. 3 or 4 starter or potentially a high-leverage relief weapon.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 40.

Shane Bieber’s shocking $16M decision: Why the ex-Guardians ace stunned baseball by staying in Toronto

Updated: Nov. 05, 2025, 3:50 p.m.|Published: Nov. 05, 2025, 11:33 a.m.

By Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio — In a move that stunned the baseball world, former Guardians ace Shane Bieber opted into his $16 million player option with the Toronto Blue Jays rather than testing free agency. The decision sent shockwaves through the MLB hot stove season, with many observers expecting the former Cy Young winner to pursue a lucrative long-term contract on the open market.

On the latest Cleveland Baseball Talk podcast, hosts Paul Hoynes and Joe Noga expressed their surprise at Bieber’s unexpected choice.

“It would qualify as a shock,” Hoynes said. “All along I thought this was kind of a platform year for him. He came back, made it back to the big leagues from Tommy John surgery, made seven starts for the Blue Jays after the Guardians traded him at the deadline, then pitched very well in the postseason. He had re-established himself and was ready to go back out on the post on the free agent market.”

Bieber, who returned from Tommy John surgery in 2025, impressed during his brief stint with Toronto, posting a 3.57 ERA across seven regular-season starts while showcasing a rejuvenated fastball that averaged 92.6 mph. Even more impressively, he performed admirably during Toronto’s deep playoff run, which ended with a heartbreaking World Series Game 7 loss.

The decision appears to be about more than just money, with Noga suggesting it “really does feel like a comfort move right now.” Toronto’s front office features several executives with Cleveland roots, and the roster includes multiple former Guardians teammates, creating a familiar environment for Bieber.

“There was talk, there was a sense that he wanted to finish what the Blue Jays started and going into that, that deep postseason run, maybe there’s an emotional factor there,” Noga explained.

The podcast hosts also addressed whether Bieber’s surprising decision changes how they view the trade that sent him from Cleveland to Toronto. Hoynes wondered if Bieber would have made the same choice had he remained with the Guardians and completed his recovery in Cleveland.

Noga was definitive in his response: “In my mind, I think he wanted out of Cleveland, and I don’t think he knew what a good opportunity Toronto would be. When he found out, that’s why he decided to stay.”

The move strengthens Toronto’s rotation heading into 2026, potentially pairing Bieber with Kevin Gausman. With Chris Bassitt and Max Scherzer hitting free agency, Bieber’s decision provides stability to a Blue Jays team looking to build on their World Series appearance.

“That’s still a really a talented ball club and, and Bieber only makes it better,” Hoynes noted.

As Bieber prepares to face the gauntlet of the AL East rather than test free agency, Hoynes perfectly summarized the unpredictable nature of the pitcher’s career choices: “Shane Bieber, the man of the mystery.”

“Well, there you go. When you think he’s going to zig, he zags,” Noga added.

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Ranking all 30 MLB rosters as the offseason gets going

November 7th, 2025

Where does each team start the 2025-26 offseason? It’s not necessarily the exact same place where they ended the 2025 regular season (or postseason).

Even though it’s only been a few days since the conclusion of a thrilling World Series, roster machinations are already in full swing. Players have become free agents, and decisions have been made in regards to contract options and qualifying offers.

What does all this mean? It means that, at least for the moment, Bo Bichette is not a Blue Jay, Kyle Schwarber is not a Phillie, Pete Alonso is not a Met, and so on. Since no one has really made any meaningful additions yet, we’ll kick the winter off by doing exactly what we’ve done for the last several years, which is to rank the teams 1-30 based on their rosters right now.

As usual, we’ll do that using the data from FanGraphs, which use projections based on current depth charts. The fact that some roster spots look nothing like they will on Opening Day is exactly the point. The roster you had a week ago or a month ago isn’t the roster you have now. This helps us set a good starting point to see where everyone stands right now, and what they’ll need to do in order to contend for next season.

The 30 teams, as of Friday, start with …

1. Dodgers
2. Yankees
3 [tie]. Mariners
3 [tie]. Braves
5. Mets
6. Blue Jays
7. Red Sox
8. Orioles
9. Phillies
10. Astros
11 [tie]. Brewers
11 [tie]. Royals
13. Tigers
14. Padres
15. Rays
16. Cubs
17. Rangers
18. Twins
19. Cardinals
20. D-backs
21. Athletics

22. Guardians
Top free agents: RP Jakob Junis, OF Lane Thomas

Biggest needs: Middle infield, center field, right field, first base, pitching depth

We could go on about how badly the Guardians need some thump in the lineup – outscoring only Colorado and Pittsburgh isn’t good enough – but really, we’ve been talking about this annually for about a decade now. There are, to be fair, several interesting young players who could make an impact now or in the near future, like Chase DeLauter, George Valera, Travis Bazzana, Jorge Brito, etc. There’s maybe some pitching depth questions, too, especially given the uncertainty surrounding the future of closer Emmanuel Clase.

23. Reds
24. Giants
25. Pirates
26. Marlins
27. Angels
28. Nationals
29. White Sox
30. Rockies

Mike Petriello is a stats analyst for MLB.com, focusing on Statcast and Baseball Savant, and is also a contributor to MLB Network.

https://www.mlb.com/news/where-every-ml ... -offseason

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No more "uncertainty about closer Emmanuel Clase"

Dodgers Sign Edwin Diaz

By Steve Adams | December 12, 2025 at 3:40pm CDT

December 12th: The Dodgers officially announced the signing today.

December 9th: For the second straight offseason, the Dodgers are signing the top relief arm on the market. They’ve reportedly agreed to a three-year, $69MM contract with now-former Mets closer Edwin Diaz. It’s a record-setting annual value for a reliever, breaking the $20.4MM record that Diaz himself already held. Diaz’s contract with the Dodgers contains $4.5MM in deferred salary annually. The net-present value, for luxury tax purposes, is roughly $21.1MM.

Diaz, a Wasserman client, returned to the open market this winter when he opted out of the final two seasons of the precedent-setting five-year, $102MM contract he signed with the Mets the last time he was a free agent. The right-hander had been guaranteed $38MM over the final two seasons of that contract, so by opting out and testing the market, he secured himself an additional one year and $31MM in guarantees. The Mets, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, offered Diaz a three-year, $66MM deal with “slight” deferrals.

The 31-year-old Diaz (32 in March) has spent the past seven years in Queens and, after a rocky first campaign, has turned in a collective 2.36 ERA (2.12 SIERA, 2.15 FIP) with a mammoth 40.8% strikeout rate and 8.9% walk rate. He’s piled up 144 saves in 332 appearances as a Met.

For the Dodgers, Diaz represents the most on-the-nose means of addressing a problem that nearly doomed them in the postseason: a lack of reliable bullpen help. Injuries to Evan Phillips, Tanner Scott, Brusdar Graterol and others left the Dodgers with a thin enough stock of trustworthy relievers that L.A. turned to Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto (one day after he threw nearly 100 pitches) in pivotal high-leverage settings during their World Series run. That they even progressed to the World Series was largely attributable to historic performances from starters Yamamoto, Snell, Glasnow and Shohei Ohtani in the postseason’s earlier rounds.

The Dodgers have now signed the top reliever on the market in consecutive offseasons. They inked Tanner Scott to a four-year, $72MM pact last winter, though that deal contained $21MM worth of deferred money, thus knocking down the present value. Scott’s first year in L.A. didn’t go at all as hoped; he limped to a 4.74 ERA with improved command but lesser velocity and strikeout rates. After yielding 11 home runs in the 2022-24 seasons combined, Scott served up 11 round-trippers in his first season as a Dodger.

Certainly, they’ll hope for better results with Diaz, whose track record is lengthier and steadier than that of Scott. While he’s naturally had some year-to-year variance in his earned run averages — as is the case for any reliever — Diaz has been at 3.52 or better in each of the past five seasons, including three sub-2.00 campaigns. He’s punched out at least 34.6% of his opponents each season along the way, and since a shaky walk rate in 2021, he’s sat between 7.7% and 9.3% in that regard for four straight seasons.

That’s not to say there aren’t any red flags at all with regard to Diaz. His average fastball velocity has dipped in two consecutive seasons. While this past season’s average of 97.2 mph was still well above average, it’s also two miles per hour shy of Diaz’s 2022 peak. He also gave up considerably more hard contact. Diaz’s 88.5 mph average exit velocity and 39.7% hard-hit rate were both the second-highest marks of his career, trailing only his disastrous 2019 season (his first as a Met). Neither is a glaring issue, particularly considering Diaz maintained elite strikeout and swinging-strike rates (38% and 18%, respectively), but he’ll want to avoid allowing those negative trends to continue, however slight they may currently be.

Diaz will slot into the ninth inning, pushing Scott to a setup role alongside Alex Vesia, Blake Treinen, Anthony Banda, Brock Stewart and Graterol. Will Klein, Ben Casparius and Jack Dreyer all had solid or better seasons in 2025, but if everyone is healthy — far from a given — there’s only room for one of that trio in the final bullpen spot. Of course, injuries will inevitably create opportunities for many of the Dodgers’ overqualified depth arms, and each of Klein, Casparius, Dreyer and Edgardo Henriquez have minor league options remaining.

The Dodgers have paid the luxury tax in (more than) three consecutive seasons and are more than $60MM over the $244MM first-tier luxury threshold, meaning they’ll pay a 110% tax on the AAV on Diaz’s contract. However the annual salaries break down, he’ll cost them an additional $25.3MM in taxes alone. Assuming an evenly distributed $23MM per season, RosterResource, now projects next year’s Dodgers payroll at just over $359MM (although that does not account for substantial deferrals to Ohtani, Scott, Freddie Freeman, etc.).

The Mets would have been subject to those same penalties had they matched or topped this offer. Diaz reportedly entered the market seeking a five-year contract. When that didn’t materialize, he clearly pivoted to a record-setting, shorter-term arrangement. The extent of the deferrals in New York’s offer aren’t yet clear, but there’s no indication (yet, anyway) that the Dodgers’ offer includes any deferred money.

While New York couldn’t have known when signing Devin Williams to a three-year, $51MM pact that Diaz would also sign for three years and a total of $18MM more, the results from those two high-end relievers will now be carefully watched by Mets fans for the next three seasons. If Williams returns to form, it’ll look like a savvy pivot to get a comparable reliever at a lesser rate. If not, there will be plenty of second-guessing and criticism from the fan base.

Of course, owner Steve Cohen also clearly has the resources to have simply won the bidding on both relievers, but that’s ultimately not the route the front office chose. They’ll now look to other avenues as they seek to continue adding to the bullpen. The Mets were open to re-signing Diaz even after adding Williams, and while this deal clearly went past their comfort zone, there are other high-end arms still available — Robert Suarez, most notably. Choosing to let Diaz walk also frees up further resources for a potential re-signing of Pete Alonso or perhaps a run at another target of note.

The Mets bid farewell to Diaz, who rejected a $22.025MM qualifying offer, with only minimal compensation for his departure. Due to their status as luxury tax payors, they’ll receive a compensatory draft pick after the fourth round of next summer’s draft. The Dodgers, meanwhile, will surrender their second- and fifth-highest selections in next year’s draft. The league-allotted cap on their personal spending pool for international amateur free agents will also be reduced by $1MM.

Such considerations tend to be ancillary for the market’s top-spending clubs. Perennial luxury payors consider them the cost of doing business in the deepest waters of the free agent pool. The Dodgers have punted draft picks to sign Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman (among others) in recent seasons. For them, the allure of adding a closer with nearly unrivaled dominance takes precedence as they try to assemble a roster capable of winning three consecutive World Series for the first time since the 1998-2000 Yankees.

The Athletic’s Will Sammon first reported the agreement. Sammon and colleague Ken Rosenthal were also the first to report the three-year term. ESPN’s Jeff Passan broke the total guarantee. Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported the Dodgers’ emerging interest in Diaz shortly before the agreement became public. Sherman reported on the deferrals.

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Does the Dodgers Rotation Need Tigers’ Tarik Skubal?

Jason Fray

December 12, 2025

10:30 am

Objectively speaking, the Los Angeles Dodgers possess the best starting rotation in baseball.

One wouldn’t think that the organization would look to upgrade an already big-time roster strength given a more pressing hole in the outfield.

However, with Tarik Skubal presumably available via trade, the back-to-back AL Cy Young Award winner seems like an ideal fit for the Boys in Blue.

Doug McKain of Dodgers Nation dove full bore into this thought process during his show on Thursday. Skubal might not be a must-get for a team loaded with arms. However, as McKain detailed, Skubal fits the bill because he’s an elite talent.

This front office has shown constantly that the aim is to go collect as much talent as possible. There’s an argument to make that Skubal is the best starting pitcher in the game today — at the very least within the top-three across the sport.

As McKain says, it would only make sense that the Dodgers would pursue Skubal given past pursuits of stars in the forms of Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Blake Snell, and most recently Edwin Diaz.

It’s unclear as to what the Dodgers would have to give up for Skubal in a possible deal. Presumably Detroit would want a combination of MLB ready players to keep the team in contention, and young, controllable assets for the long haul.

The thought of a Skubal-Yoshinobu Yamamoto pairing atop the rotation is something no other team could conceivably match. There’s also the element of Skubal being a free agent at year’s end. Would the Dodgers insist on a contract extension being agreed upon before pulling the trigger on a deal? Or would they be okay having Skubal as a one-year rental/ mercenary?

Plenty of intriguing questions still remain pertaining to this elite player and the back-to-back Champs.

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Dodgers Heavily Pursued All-Star Outfielder Steven Kwan at Trade Deadline: Report

Sam Garcia

August 2, 2025

The Los Angeles Dodgers reportedly spent most of Thursday heavily pursuing All-Star outfielder Steven Kwan from the Cleveland Guardians.

The Dodgers wanted to add another impact bat to their lineup that could replace left fielder Michael Conforto. But instead of acquiring another outfielder, they gave up James Outman for Minnesota Twins reliever Brock Stewart.

Simply put, the Guardians’ asking price for Kwan was too high for the Dodgers. { Cheepskates!! } It has not been reported what Cleveland wanted from Los Angeles, but they asked the San Diego Padres for their No. 1 overall prospect Leo De Vries.

The Padres ultimately traded De Vries in a package with other prospects to the Athletics for closer Mason Miller and starting pitcher JP Sears. San Diego wanted to avoid trading De Vries and showed that when they did not include him in an offer to the Boston Red Sox for left fielder Jarren Duran.

However, Miller and Sears were enough for the Padres to deal De Vries.

The Guardians may have requested rookie catcher Dalton Rushing, who was the Dodgers’ No. 1 overall prospect in 2024. But Los Angeles did not seem open to trade the young star.

“I just don’t see a world in which he’s moved anyway, and I think he’s smart enough to realize that. I don’t think it’s going to impact him. I really don’t,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said a few days before the trade deadline.

Even though Los Angeles did not make any blockbuster moves at the deadline, Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes is content with the team’s current roster.

Los Angeles leads their division and are getting back stars like third baseman Max Muncy and starting pitcher Blake Snell.

Kwan would have been a solid addition to the Dodgers’ lineup but the organization was not willing to pay the price he commanded. And it seems no MLB team was willing to pay for Kwan, as the Guardians ultimately did not trade him at the deadline.

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Dodgers Interested in Blockbuster Trade With Guardians For Emmanuel Clase, Steven Kwan: Report

Valentina Martinez

July 18, 2025

The Los Angeles Dodgers are expected to make a big move at the July 31 trade deadline, but speculation has swirled as to where the front office will look to improve the roster.

Travis Rodgers of ESPN LA revealed there are whispers regarding a potential trade with the Cleveland Guardians for right-handed reliever Emmanuel Clase and left fielder Steven Kwan.

Clase is sporting a 2.91 ERA with 42 strikeouts and a 1.233 WHIP across 43.1 innings of work in 2025. He also has racked up 20 saves on the season.

Kwan is hitting .285 with six home runs, 32 runs batted in and an OPS of .741 this season. Both have been All-Stars in the past.

“Kwan immediately slides into left field. Your Michael Conforto problem is solved,” Rodgers said. “Steven Kwan is way better than Michael Conforto. And you slide Emmanuel Clase into that ninth inning, who’s having a good year. Not quite a prime Clase year, but a very, very good year. Here’s what it may cost you going the other way: Justin Wrobleski, Ben Casparius, Josue De Paula, and one more prospect. Four guys.”

If president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman was able to orchestrate a blockbuster trade for Clase and Kwan, the Dodgers would improve two weak areas of the roster. Tanner Scott’s struggles this season have given the defending champions reason to look at the trade market for answers.

Meanwhile, it remains uncertain whether Conforto will turn a corner, though he had shown improvement the final two weeks before the All-Star break.

Whether the Guardians would be willing to give up both Clase and Kwan is still a mystery; however, the return package is certainly a hefty price for the Dodgers, who would be losing some of their best young arms and prospects in the trade.

There is certainly doubt a package featuring Wrobleski, Casparius, De Paula and another prospect would be enough for Cleveland to pull the trigger. There is an argument to be made that the Dodgers would have to add another notable name such as Dalton Rushing or Hyeseong Kim to sweeten the deal — but that may be too much for LA at that point.

Regardless, Rodgers explained why he thinks the Guardians would be willing to give up Clase and Kwan.

“Two starting pitchers, which are very hard to come by,” Rodgers said of the Dodgers sending Wrobleski and Casparius to Cleveland.

Guardians divisional rival add slugger to long-term core as Cleveland sits silent

By Henry Palattella

7 hours ago

Another day, another American League Central signing.

A day after the Kansas City Royals signed Lane Thomas to a one-year contract, they inked Maikel Garcia to a five-year, $52.5 million contract that will keep the infielder in Kansas City for the long-term. Meanwhile, the Guardians haven’t done much of anything outside of adding three unheralded relievers to their bullpen.

The deal was first reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

Even though there’s no guarantee that Garcia’s contract will age well, it’s still a bit disappointing to see a division rival ink such an important player to a contract extension at a time when Steven Kwan’s contract status is a talking point among Guardians fans.

Mikael Garcia is going to be a thorn in the Guardians' side for the forseeable future

The contract comes on the back of a career year for Garcia, who slashed .286/.351/.449 with 16 home runs and 74 RBI in 160 games while being named a first time All-Star. He ended up beating out José Ramírez for the American League Gold Glove at third base.

While he struggled a bit in his first taste of MLB action (.251 batting average in 289 games from 2022 to ‘24), he hit a new level in 2025 that helped him earn a big contract. He’s a Super Two player, so the contract will cover all three of his arbitration-eligible years along with two years of free agency.

Even if the Royals are banking on Garcia to continue a breakout, they decided they’d rather sign him to a contract at a discount as opposed to waiting and running the risk of his price tag increasing.

It also helps that the Royals also have Bobby Witt Jr. under contract for nine more seasons as a part of the 11-year, $288.8 million he signed prior to the 2024 season. Although the Royals finished last season with a disappointing 82-80 record after making it to the postseason the season prior, Witt and Garcia create a dangerous tandem on the left side of the infield.

Garcia’s playing in 35 games against the Guardians (the second-most he has against any team) and he’s hit .248 with four home runs and 17 RBI in those games. He hit .317 against the Guardians last season.

The Guardians have plenty of young players who stand out as extension candidates. They could get in on the ground floor for a player like Parker Messick or CJ Kayfus, or try to ink Kyle Manzardo or Cade Smith to a contract before their price gets higher (not dissimilar to what the Royals did with Garcia).

While there’s still a chance the Guardians' front office could ink someone to an extension at spring training (which they’ve done in years prior), there will be a little more pressure on them to do so after the Royals jumped the line on Garcia.


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Latest Shane Bieber injury update shows the Guardians may have dodged a bullet

By Henry Palattella

Dec 11, 2025

While Shane Bieber pitched well down the stretch for the Toronto Blue Jays, he was on the mound for a moment that will live on in baseball history forever.

With Will Smith up with two outs in the 11th inning of Game 7 of the World Series, Bieber threw a slider that caught too much of the plate that Smith sent into Toronto’s bullpen.

After starting the season rehabbing on the back fields at Guardians spring training, Bieber just being on the mound for the biggest moment of the season was an accomplishment in itself, even if it ended in heartbreak for Canada.

But just because he was back on the mound doesn’t mean that he was fully healthy during that time, as The Athletic’s Mitch Bannon published a story earlier this week about how Bieber “dealt with forearm fatigue” at the end of the 2025 season.

Bieber surprised all of the baseball world by picking up his $16 million player option for 2026 earlier this offseason instead of testing free agency, and Bannon’s report about Bieber’s injury adds a bit of context to that.

There's a good chance the Guardians win the Shane Bieber trade long-term

According to Bannon, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said that Bieber is “in a strong position” for the start of 2026, but that they’re planning on taking things week-to-week with the 30-year-old.

That kind of thinking should be familiar to Guardians fans considering Bieber spent most of the final 2 1/2 seasons of his time in Cleveland existing in a weird injury space.

After tossing 200 solid innings in 2022, Bieber missed nearly two months with elbow inflammation in 2023 before undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2024 after two fantastic starts.

Going into the season, Bieber seemed like a lock to be traded at that deadline since he was set to be a free agent after the season, but his injury complicated that.

Instead, he reupped with the Guardians on a one-year, $14 million contract with a $16 million player option for 2026 that he picked up last month.

While Bieber put together a solid showing with the Blue Jays after being acquired at the trade deadline (3.57 ERA in 40 1/3 innings), the Guardians have a good chance to win the trade long-term thanks to Khal Stephen.

While Stephen, who the Guardians acquired from the Jays for Bieber in a one-for-one swap, only managed to throw 11 1/3 innings at Double-A with the Guardians due to right shoulder impingement, he’s currently ranked as Cleveland’s No. 6 prospect, per MLB Pipeline.

The Guardians have a well-deserved reputation of being one of baseball’s best at getting the most out of pitchers, and Stephen seems an obvious heir to Bieber’s throne as one of the best developmental pitching success stories.

t’s hard to imagine the Blue Jays would rush Bieber back into action considering they added Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce to an already stellar rotation, so he should get every chance to get healthy before taking the mound.

And even if that results in him looking like a front-line starter again, it’s important to remember all of the uncertainty surrounding this version of Bieber. While trading him away was a gut punch for the fanbase, it was a move that could set the Guardians up for long-term success.

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Mets' Francisco Lindor Sends Message After Troubling MLB Free Agency News

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Dec 13, 2025 5:25 PM ET

Francisco Lindor has spent the last five years of his career with the New York Mets, and he has thrived in Queens.

The 32-year-old shortstop has provided elite defense up the middle while posting a .267 batting average, a .346 on-base percentage, an .811 OPS, 31 home runs and 86 RBIs across 160 games. Yet the landscape around him will look different in 2026.

Many of Lindor’s longtime teammates who were with the club when he arrived from the Cleveland Indians in 2021 have departed in free agency.

Most notably, first basemanPete Alonso signed a five-year, $155 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles, while closer Edwin Diaz inked a three-year, $69 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

As the news became official that both of his longtime teammates had moved on, Lindor took to social media to share heartfelt messages. He reposted the Mets’ graphic thanking Alonso with the caption,

Much love,

a simple but genuine nod to their years together in New York.

For Diaz, who shares Puerto Rican roots with Lindor, he wrote,

Te quiero mi hermano,

a message that translates to

I love you, my brother

. The phrase carried a deeper meaning, reflecting not only their shared heritage but also the bond they built as teammates through the highs and lows of recent seasons.

Lindor’s words underscored the respect and affection he holds for both Alonso and Díaz, even as their careers take them in different directions. For Mets fans, it was a reminder of the camaraderie that defined this era of the team.

For the Mets, the departures of Alonso and Diaz create troubling questions about the roster’s strength heading into 2026. The front office moved quickly to sign Jorge Polanco to a two-year, $40 million deal, but asking him to replace Alonso at first base is a gamble given that Polanco has never played the position before.

The front office also added reliever Devin Williams earlier in the offseason on a three-year, $51 million contract, yet even with his talent, he represents a downgrade from Díaz’s dominance in the ninth inning.

These moves, combined with the team’s collapse in the second half of last season, have fueled concerns that the Mets are operating with limited payroll flexibility and settling for short-term fixes.

In this environment, Lindor’s continued excellence becomes even more critical. A five-time All-Star, two-time Gold Glove winner, four-time Silver Slugger and Platinum Glove recipient, he must remain the steady force driving the Mets forward.

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Edwin Diaz has stinging words for Mets fans after Dodgers introduction

By Kevin Henry | Last updated Dec 13, 2025 9:04 AM ET

It's already been a tough offseason for the New York Mets, and words offered by Edwin Diaz after his introduction as the newest member of the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday certainly added some salt into the still-fresh wounds in Queens.

I chose the Dodgers because they're a winning organization, and they have everything to win; It will be pretty easy to win.

Diaz said on Friday

Those are tough words coming from a reliever who evolved into one of the game's biggest ninth-inning weapons during his six seasons with the Mets. His 48 saves over the past two seasons continued what has been a stellar career for the 31-year-old right-hander who signed a three-year, $69 million deal with the Dodgers during the recent MLB winter meetings.

Edwin Diaz is right about the Dodgers and Mets

In his first moments in a Los Angeles jersey, Diaz spoke the truth on Friday when it comes to the current states of the Dodgers and Mets. Los Angeles is coming off back-to-back World Series titles and is hoping that Diaz is finally the answer to what has been a maddening search for the Dodgers to find a steady answer in the game's late innings. On the other coast, however, the Mets have seen the shape of their roster morph in big ways this offseason with Brandon Nimmo traded to the Texas Rangers, Pete Alonso signing with the Baltimore Orioles and Diaz moving across the country to lead the Dodgers bullpen.

Additionally, while the Mets have seen defections, their division rivals have made bold moves, with the Philadelphia Phillies keeping slugger Kyle Schwarber and the Atlanta Braves adding closer Robert Suarez in recent days.

All of that shines a spotlight on the words Diaz spoke on Friday. The Dodgers have everything in place to win, including four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani and an All-Star lineup. The Mets? Well, it feels like the opposite of that in Queens at the moment, with Mets fans wondering exactly what president of baseball operations David Stearns has as a plan to keep the Mets in contention for the National League East title and a postseason berth.

Diaz chose "a winning organization" this offseason when he signed with the Dodgers. Coming off an 83-79 season last year and a bloodbath of an offseason so far, those words shine a glaring spotlight on the current state of the Mets.

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Maikel, Royals agree to 5-year extension with option for 2031 (source)

December 12th, 2025

Anne Rogers

KANSAS CITY -- Beginning when they signed him out of Venezuela as a teenager in 2016, the Royals have seen Maikel Garcia develop through their system first as a potential utilityman, then as a rising everyday player, to this year as an All-Star and Gold Glove Award winner at third base.

Mikael Garcia is going to be a thorn in the Guardians' side for the forseeable future

Now they’re keeping him anchored to the left side of the infield with Bobby Witt Jr.

This past season was Garcia’s breakout campaign with the Royals, his fourth season in the big leagues. He slashed .286/.351/.449 across 160 games, hit a career-high 16 home runs, drove in a career-high 74 RBIs and stole 23 bases while earning his first All-Star appearance, winning his first Gold Glove and finishing 14th in AL MVP voting.

He ended up beating out José Ramírez for the American League Gold Glove at third base.

Adding to the club’s optimism that he’ll continue to improve is Garcia’s swing decisions, which led to an 86.5% contact rate in ‘25, a 20.8% chase percentage and 15% whiff percentage. Garcia walked 62 times and struck out just 84 times in 666 plate appearances last season.

Garcia accumulated 5.8 WAR (per Baseball Reference) in 2025, and added with Witt’s 7.1 bWAR, the Royals’ left side of the infield was worth 12.9 WAR with both in their age-25 seasons. Making sure the club maximizes the prime years of Garcia and Witt is a priority for Kansas City, which also has Salvador Perez for two more seasons and Vinnie Pasquantino, who is entering his first arbitration-eligible season, as the core of their lineup.

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Royals come out ahead in Brewers swap, netting Isaac Collins, Nick Mears for Angel Zerpa

By Keith Law

Dec. 13, 2025Updated 8:08 pm CST

The Milwaukee Brewers and Kansas City Royals lined up for a trade Saturday night, with Kansas City sending left-handed reliever Angel Zerpa to Milwaukee for outfielder Isaac Collins and right-handed reliever Nick Mears. The teams have yet to announce the deal officially, but it has been confirmed by The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. I can see the logic of the deal for the Royals right away, but I’m struggling to understand it for the Crew.

Zerpa kills left-handed batters but has had a platoon split his whole career, even after a reasonably successful move to the bullpen in 2023. Over his career, he has allowed a .282/.340/.470 line to righties, and his line versus righties was a little worse (.303/.356/.483) in 2025.

Outfielder Isaac Collins made his MLB debut in 2024 at age 27, started 2025 on the Brewers bench, and eventually played so well he ended up a regular, with a .268/.368/.411 line for the season. He’s a very disciplined hitter, with strong walk rates throughout his time in the Colorado Rockies and Brewers systems, and posted a chase rate of 18.4 percent last year, putting him among the top 2 percent in baseball.

Collins is also a plus defender in left, with a below-average arm that keeps him from playing somewhere else. The Royals got absolutely nothing from their outfield last year, and particularly from left field, where Drew Waters and a few others combined for a .224/.291/.348 line Collins could easily top even if there’s some regression in his second big-league season — not that I think there’s a specific reason to expect it in his case. I wish he hit the ball harder, but if he had, he would have been in the majors some time before 2024. A left fielder who gets on base and plays plus defense without power is an unusual profile, but it was enough for Collins to accumulate a 2.6 fWAR/2.1 bWAR in 441 plate appearances last season.

Right-handed reliever Nick Mears comes from a very high slot with an above-average to plus slider. He improved his control substantially in the time he was with Milwaukee to turn himself into a capable middle reliever. He’s better against right-handed batters, but his platoon split is small enough that he can go full innings, with more power allowed to lefties last year but not the year prior. If there’s a difference between him and Zerpa, it’s that Zerpa might have some upside remaining with the addition/alteration of that third pitch, whereas Mears probably is what he is.

The Royals clearly benefit from this trade — Collins is easily a two-win upgrade over Waters, and Mears for Zerpa might be a wash.

I’m surprised the Brewers would make the trade, not just because it looks like a 2 WAR loss on paper, but because Collins’ OBP would have led the entire team if he’d played enough to qualify. (The same is true of Andrew Vaughn, who had 254 plate appearances as a Brewer.)

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( KC is Dealing- Hope the Guards don't sit on their hands too long.

If Jac Caglianone has a break out year as I've read predictions that he will, and Lane Thomas bounces back, added to the recent editions of Isaac Collins and signing Maikel Garcia to that long term deal could spell T R O U B L E for the Guards )

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Making sense of Friday's flurry of trades

Rays trade B. Lowe (Pirates), Baz (Orioles); Phillies deal Strahm to Royals

December 19th, 2025

Thomas Harrigan is a reporter for MLB.com.


Friday brought a flurry of trade activity, with three prominent deals going down in a matter of hours.

The Rays were involved in two of them, sending second baseman Brandon Lowe to the Pirates in a three-team trade that also included the Astros and dealing starter Shane Baz to the Orioles for a package of prospects. Earlier in the day, the Phillies traded left-handed reliever Matt Strahm to the Royals for righty Jonathan Bowlan. (Philadelphia also picked up lefty reliever Kyle Backhus in a separate trade with the D-backs.)

Here’s a breakdown of these major moves from the perspective of each of the teams involved, looking at what each gained and lost, why they did it and what might be next.

Rays

Added: OF Slater de Brun, C Caden Bodine, RHP Michael Forret, OF Austin Overn, OF Jacob Melton, RHP Anderson Brito, Competitive Balance Round A Draft pick

Subtracted: 2B Brandon Lowe, RHP Shane Baz, OF Jake Mangum, LHP Mason Montgomery

At first glance, the Rays’ trades of two key players looks like a clear nod to the future. But the combination of payroll flexibility and prospect capital they acquired also leaves open the possibility of a much more aggressive play aimed at improving their standing in the short term.

Tampa Bay’s earlier connection to the D-backs’ Ketel Marte is worth noting now that the team has an opening at second base.

Pirates

Added: 2B Brandon Lowe, OF Jake Mangum, LHP Mason Montgomery

Subtracted: RHP Mike Burrows

The Pirates have been focused on adding a big bat throughout the offseason, and after falling short on free agents Josh Naylor and Kyle Schwarber, they finally achieved their goal. Lowe becomes Pittsburgh’s starter at second base, a position that generated a .650 OPS (eighth worst in MLB) for the team in 2025.

The 31-year-old Lowe recorded a .785 OPS this past season while hitting 31 home runs, 11 more than the Pirates’ team leader, Oneil Cruz. Burrows had a solid rookie season, but he was expendable for a Bucs team that has plenty of starting pitching.

Orioles

Added: RHP Shane Baz

Subtracted: OF Slater de Brun, C Caden Bodine, RHP Michael Forret, OF Austin Overn, Competitive Balance Round A Draft pick

The Orioles entered the offseason with a clear priority: bolstering their rotation. That need grew more pressing after they traded Grayson Rodriguez to the Angels for outfielder Taylor Ward in November. But while Baltimore had remained active over the past few weeks, signing first baseman Pete Alonso and closer Ryan Helsley, among others, the club had yet to add a notable starting pitcher.

That changed Friday when the Orioles traded four prospects -- their No. 6 (de Brun), No. 10 (Bodine), No. 11 (Forret) and No. 30 (Overn) prospects per MLB Pipeline -- and a Draft pick (33rd overall in 2026) to the Rays for Baz, a 26-year-old righty with three years of team control remaining. Baz had an up-and-down season in 2025, but he put his past injury woes behind him by making 31 starts and flashed impressive stuff that hints at the potential for further growth. Baz could also benefit from the move to a new home park -- he posted a 5.90 ERA and a 1.97 HR/9 at George M. Steinbrenner Field, the Rays' temporary home this past season, compared to a 3.86 ERA and 0.86 HR/9 on the road in 2025. It's also possible the Orioles aren't done augmenting their starting staff.

Astros

Added: RHP Mike Burrows

Subtracted: OF Jacob Melton, RHP Anderson Brito

The Astros addressed one rotation spot by signing Ryan Weiss to a one-year deal after his successful stint in Korea, but additional reinforcement was still needed for a staff facing both injury-related question marks and the potential free-agent departure of Framber Valdez.

To that end, the Astros paid a steep price to land Burrows, a 26-year-old right-hander who posted a 3.94 ERA with a 4.00 FIP and a 9.1 K/9 over 96 innings as a rookie in 2025, in a three-team trade with the Pirates and Rays. Houston surrendered its No. 2 (Melton) and No. 7 (Brito) prospects in the deal.

Phillies

Added: RHP Jonathan Bowlan, LHP Kyle Backhus

Subtracted: LHP Matt Strahm, OF Avery Owusu-Asiedu

After finalizing a two-year, $22 million deal with right-handed reliever Brad Keller on Thursday, the Phillies sent Strahm and his $7.5 million salary to the Royals in exchange for Bowlan, a pre-arbitration righty. The move was primarily a cost-saving measure, freeing up additional funds as the team looks to re-sign catcher J.T. Realmuto. A strained relationship with Strahm also may have factored into the decision, per a report from The Athletic.

The Phillies added to their left-handed relief depth with a separate trade for Backhus, another pre-arb player, sending Minor League outfielder Owusu-Asiedu to Arizona in the deal. However, with José Alvarado and Tanner Banks in the fold, Backhus will likely need to compete for a spot in Philadelphia’s bullpen next spring.

Royals

Added: LHP Matt Strahm

Subtracted: RHP Jonathan Bowlan

Less than a week after trading lefty reliever Angel Zerpa to the Brewers for outfielder Isaac Collins and righty Nick Mears, the Royals landed Zerpa’s replacement in Strahm, one of the top relievers in the game over the past three years. Strahm, who can become a free agent next offseason, began his MLB career with Kansas City nearly a decade ago before being traded to the Padres in 2017.

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[While the Royals are dealing the Guards continue to sit on their fingers and twirl. The Royals are slowly playing catchup with the Guards. In fact, and in my opinion, they have. If Jac Caglianone has the breakout year that many have suggested, and Lane Thomas lives up to his expectations, the Royals could overtake the Guards in 2026. The acquisition of Matt Strahm has definitely added strength to an already formidable pitching staff. With Maikel Garcia and Bobby Witt Jr anchoring down the left side of the infield, they already cancelled out the Guardian's advantage at those positions. The key lies on the performances of Thomas and Caglianone. Can they cancel out whoever the Guards determine is the proper fit in centerfield and rightfield?]

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That’s an elite combination of quality and quantity that virtually any bullpen would benefit from adding, and the Royals are no exception. Strahm figures to join closer Carlos Estevez and righty Lucas Erceg at the back of the Kansas City bullpen to create the best late-inning trio the Royals have had since the 2015 club’s “three-headed monster” of Greg Holland, Wade Davis, and Kelvin Herrera. With solid arms like Nick Mears, John Schreiber, and Daniel Lynch IV set to cover the middle innings, it’s not hard to imagine the Royals entering 2025 with one of the stronger top-to-bottom bullpens in the American League thanks to this trade. Mears just came over in the same trade that netted Isaac Collins for the Royals but sent lefty Angel Zerpa to the Brewers. Sending out Zerpa cut into Kansas City’s lefty relief group but they have quickly pivoted to Strahm to restock in that department

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Royals Address Outfield Weaknesses, but Is More Help Needed?

After bringing in Lane Thomas and Isaac Collins, are the Kansas City Royals set in the outfield, or do more moves need to be made?

The Kansas City Royals finished 82-80, just their second winning season since they won the 2015 World Series. Unfortunately, they missed the postseason, a disappointment given they went 86-76 and reached the ALDS in 2024.

Even though they won four fewer games in 2025, the Royals were not bereft of talent.

Bobby Witt Jr. and Maikel Garcia both made the All-Star team, and they ended up posting fWAR marks of 8.0 and 5.6, respectively. They also won Gold Glove awards, and Garcia received a five-year extension to keep him and Witt in Kansas City until at least 2030.

In addition, Vinnie Pasquantino stayed healthy and led the Royals in home runs (32) and RBI (113). Salvador Perez wasn’t far behind, as he hit 30 home runs and collected 100 RBI. After back-to-back triple-digit RBI totals, the Royals rewarded Perez with a two-year extension to keep the catching legend in Kansas City.

The pitching staff also produced a stellar campaign, despite being plagued by injury.

The pitching staff ranked 6th in baseball in ERA and ninth in pitching fWAR. Michael Wacha and Kris Bubic posted fWAR marks over 3.0 last year, and Cole Ragans posted a 2.1 fWAR despite only pitching 61.2 innings due to a shoulder injury. Lastly, Royals closer Carlos Estevez led the league in saves, something that hasn’t been done by a Royals reliever since Dan Quisenberry.

Unfortunately, what brought the Royals down in 2025 was their ineptitude in the outfield, especially at the plate.

Kansas City’s outfielders ranked last in batting average (.219), wRC+ (70), and fWAR (-1.4). When looking at the Royals on an individual outfielder basis, only two Royals outfielders sported fWAR marks over 1.0: Kyle Isbel and Mike Yastrzemski (who didn’t join the Royals until after the trade deadline).

Clearly Royals GM JJ Picollo made improving the outfield a priority this offseason, whether through trade or free agency. So far, he’s been true to his word, acquiring free agent Lane Thomas and Isaac Collins via a trade with Milwaukee (reliever Nick Mears also came with Collins in the deal for Kansas City reliever Angel Zerpa).

Let’s break down those crucial moves and determine whether or not the Royals must acquire one more outfielder this offseason to help solidify their divisional and playoff chances for 2026.







Can Lane Thomas Bounce Back in Kansas City?

The Royals’ first outfield acquisition was Lane Thomas, whom they acquired on a one-year, $5.2 million deal. Kansas City made the deal official on social media on Wednesday.

Thomas is coming off a rough, injury-plagued 2025 season in Cleveland. With the Guardians last year, he only played 39 games and didn’t do much in that sample. In 142 plate appearances, the outfielder slashed .160/.246/.272 with a 48 wRC+ and -0.5 fWAR. While that stat line is brutal, he was affected by wrist and foot injuries all season, landing on the IL three times.

The Royals are hoping that a healthy Thomas can bounce back in his new surroundings, especially as a right-handed outfield bat — something the Royals lacked last year. Kansas City right-handed outfielders ranked 28th in baseball in wRC+ with a 59 mark.

For his career, Thomas has had a 135 wRC+, .208 ISO, and 0.48 BB/K ratio against lefties. He also produced a 99 wRC+ in 528 plate appearances last year with the Nationals and Guardians and a 109 wRC+ in 2023 with the Nationals. At the very least, the Royals could utilize him as a fourth outfielder who can play all three positions and definitely slide into the lineup against left-handed starting pitchers.

An interesting trend to watch with Thomas is whether being out of Cleveland will result in a favorable bounce back.

In 329 plate appearances with the Guardians, Thomas slashed .189/.258/.340 with a .598 OPS. When looking at his xwOBA rolling chart, he saw a sharp drop in xwOBA after the trade deadline in 2024, and it never bounced back in 2025 (though the latter was likely due to injuries).







Based on his xwOBA trend over his career, Thomas has shown an ability to bounce back after down seasons, with 2021 and 2023 being prime examples. The Royals are banking on Thomas having one of his patented rebounds in Kansas City, with the hope that he is fully healthy to do so.







Collins Brings a Disciplined Approach to the Lineup

After acquiring Thomas, the Royals made a bold move, trading away Angel Zerpa to the Brewers for Nick Mears and Isaac Collins. While Mears brings a much-needed, high-velocity arm to the bullpen, the Collins move is the prize of the deal.

As an older rookie at 27 years old, Collins finished fourth in the NL Rookie of the Year race. In 441 plate appearances, the former Creighton product slashed .263/.368/.411 with a 122 wRC+, nine home runs, 56 runs scored, and 16 stolen bases. He ended up accumulating a 2.6 fWAR in 130 games, which was tied for the fifth-best mark among Brewers position players last season.

While the results were solid, it’s Collins’ approach that made him such a desired target by the Royals this offseason.

Not only did Collins post a 12.9% walk rate, but he also sported a BB/K ratio of 0.61. His 18.4% chase rate ranked in the 98th percentile, and his 22.5% whiff rate ranked in the 63rd percentile. Add that with solid defense, and it makes sense why Picollo traded away a valuable pitching asset like Zerpa to Milwaukee for Collins.

Here’s what Picollo said about Collins in a recent piece by MLB.com Royals beat writer Anne Rogers:

“He’s the type of player that we value,” Picollo said. “Versatility, the speed component, there’s a defensive component. Ball in play, on base. It’s a very well-rounded player that I think is what our offense needs. He’ll fit very well.”

Collins did regress at the end of the season for the Brewers, as he hit .191 in September. That said, he still posted a .345 OBP that month. Collins’ ability to still get on base despite a slump is a trait that can boost the Royals’ lineup immensely in 2026, especially since Kansas City ranked 22nd in OBP a season ago.

While Thomas will probably start the year out as a fourth outfielder who could work himself into a starting role with a hot start, Collins could likely be Kansas City’s Opening Day left fielder.

That is, of course, the Royals don’t make another big splash this offseason.






Could Jarren Duran Be Next for Kansas City?

One name that is frequently listed as a trade target for the Royals this offseason is Jarren Duran of the Boston Red Sox. Duran was reportedly a trade target of Kansas City at the trade deadline last season, and it seems like the Royals have maintained interest in acquiring him this winter.

That said, the Red Sox seem keen on getting a return that includes Ragans. As of now, it doesn’t appear like Picollo and the Royals are willing to budge just yet.

Duran is coming off a solid season for Boston in 2025. In 696 plate appearances, the former Long Beach State product slashed .256/.332/.442 with a 111 wRC+, 16 home runs, 86 runs scored, 84 RBI, and a 3.9 fWAR.

That said, last season was a regression from 2024, when he posted a 131 wRC+, 6.8 fWAR, and made the All-Star team (and earned All-Star MVP honors).

With other high-profile outfielders like Roman Anthony and Wilyer Abreu, Boston may not be interested in an expensive long-term deal to keep Duran. Thus, it makes sense that the Red Sox would float him in trade talks to get something of value now, just in case he regresses further in 2026.

As for the Royals, Duran represents a tough dilemma.

On one end, Kansas City has followed a more responsible blueprint, similar to those of strong small-market franchises like Milwaukee, Tampa Bay, and Cleveland. On the other hand, this is a city used to winning, with an owner, John Sherman, who’s willing to open the pocketbook for the right players.

The extension to Witt in 2024, Ragans’ and Wacha’s last year, Lugo’s at the end of 2025, and Garcia’s this winter illustrates that.

The Royals will likely be improved with Collins and Thomas. ZiPS projected the Royals to be an 82-to-86-win team before those transactions, so their additions will likely bump that win total by a game or two.

The acquisition of Duran could further catapult the Royals from a fringe playoff team to a pennant contender, especially if the pitching staff can return to 2024 form (both in health and performance).

The main question now for Picollo is this: How much is Duran worth in their eyes? Would they be willing to give away an asset like Ragans? And if not, would a package involving a pitcher like Kris Bubic or Noah Cameron be enough for Boston, which is still questionable at the end of the rotation?

Just Baseball’s Jordan Leandre pondered this question and presented several scenarios, showing how complex this trade could be for both squads.

Do the Royals need Duran to be competitive and improve in 2026? Probably not. Collins, Thomas, and a rejuvenated Jac Caglianone may be enough.

That said, a player like Duran could be the much-needed boost they need to truly turn around an outfield that was such a glaring weakness over the past two seasons (-0.3 fWAR from 2024 to 2025; good for 28th in baseball).

Three Trade Packages the Royals Can Make for Jarren Duran

One of the worst-kept secrets this offseason is the Kansas City Royals‘ pursuit of outfield help.

Over the weekend, they lost right fielder Mike Yastrzemski to the Atlanta Braves, signed free agent Lane Thomas, and acquired Isaac Collins in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers.

The only thing more publicized than the Royals’ pursuit of outfielders is the Boston Red Sox having too many. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported ahead of the Winter Meetings that there was a 50% chance that Jarren Duran is traded this offseason — an equal percentage for Wilyer Abreu.

League-wide reporting suggests Duran has the most suitors, or he’s at least the most poachable of the bunch. Either scenario makes sense; Abreu remains somewhat an unknown entering his age-26 season, while Duran has an All-Star Game MVP and 6.8-fWAR season under his belt.

The Royals were heavily linked to Duran all winter. That is, until they acquired Collins; the dream died there.

And yet, it re-birthed less than 48 hours later with a report from Ken Rosenthal that the Royals still covet the 29-year-old outfielder.

The Royals ranked 30th in fWAR in left and right field in 2025, tied for 24th in center field. Overall, Kansas City’s outfield contingent amassed -1.4 fWAR and a league-worst 70 wRC+. So, they added two outfielders but shouldn’t say no to three.

Re-enter Duran, stage left.

It’s believed the Red Sox want lefty ace Cole Ragans for their team leader in fWAR the past two seasons. An ambitious ask, but the ask, nonetheless.

It’s hard to fathom Kansas City wanting to part with its ace while posturing as a contender in 2026. The good news is, they should be able to find middle ground.

But how? Let’s take a look at some trade packages that might get it done.

Trade Package No. 1

Royals Get: OF Jarren Duran
Red Sox Get: LHP Kris Bubic, C Blake Mitchell, and LHP David Shields

The Red Sox have an abundance of starting pitching but some uncertainty around who they No. 2 is behind Garrett Crochet.

Bubic comes in with checkered medicals, the latest being a rotator cuff injury that derailed his first All-Star campaign in 2025. However, the southpaw is one of the game’s nastiest arms — when healthy.

Last year, he was in the 89th percentile in chase rate and 76th percentile for whiff rate. That’s in addition to being an elite extension guy and having a grounder-centric batted-ball profile. He’s not elite at getting ground balls, but he’s firmly above average.

His changeup and sweeper were deadly in 2025, keeping opponents under a .200 batting average against with two homers. He’s not the same dominant fastball archetype Boston sought last winter, but varying looks in a rotation works as well.

He is a rental, so that’s another wrinkle Boston would have to contend with.

Mitchell was the first catcher taken in 2023; the same draft the Red Sox took Kyle Teel. Boston since traded Teel (for ace Garrett Crochet) and now can replenish the farm with a mid-minors top prospect. He’s still raw, but his plate discipline is sublime. Last season, he walked 20.8% of his plate appearances in 60 games.

He strikes out a ton, and the strikeout issues weren’t offset by power in 2025 like it was in 2024. He’s still something of a project, but Boston’s closest thing to MLB-ready catching depth behind Jason Delay is Brooks Brannon or Nathan Hickey.

Shields ranked No. 7 on JB’s most recent rankings for Kansas City’s farm system last December. He followed up that ranking by dominating across 18 starts in A-Ball. He struck out 81 to just 15 walks, posted a 2.01 ERA and 2.68 FIP in 71.2 innings.

Trade Package No. 2

Royals Get: OF Jarren Duran
Red Sox Get: RHP Luinder Avila, RHP Ben Kudrna, and C Ramon Ramirez

Avila made 13 appearances in MLB last season and, to put it mildly, dominated.

It was a small sample size, but Avila struck out 16 and allowed just seven hits in 14 innings. His fastball clocked in at 95.8 mph on average, with a slider holding opponents to a sub-.100 batting average in MLB.

Command remains an issue for him, but he was effectively wild out of the bullpen in 2025.

Kudrna hasn’t put it together as a prospect yet, but he’s got some impressive secondaries. Unfortunately, his fastball isn’t overpowering enough to make up for inconsistent command. Last season, he had a 5.30 ERA and 4.22 FIP in 24 appearances. His walks per nine was 4.3 and, while he struck out 22.9% of batters, he struggled missing bats in general.

Perhaps a change of scenery benefits him, as well as joining forces with Red Sox pitching coach Andrew Bailey, who has a reputation for elevating the stuff of those he works with.

Lastly, Ramirez gives the Red Sox a mid-minors catching prospect similar to the previous proposal with Mitchell. In A-Ball last year, he slashed .244/.339/.442 with 11 home runs and a 120 wRC+ in 70 games.

He’s projected to open the season in Double-A as well, according to FanGraphs. So, while not as far along in his development as Mitchell, still serves as a potential option later in the season.

Catcher isn’t as urgent a need as it became last season for Boston, who returns Carlos Narvaez and Connor Wong in 2026. However, after Delay in Triple-A, it gets pretty bleak.

Trade Package No. 3

Royals Get: OF Jarren Duran, LHP Kyle Harrison, and IF David Hamilton
Red Sox Get: LHP Kris Bubic and C Carter Jensen

Trade package No. 3 becomes a bit more involved, as there becomes real debate as to who the best player moved is. In 2026, that is still likely Duran. However, looking at 2027 and beyond, Jensen could be in the running for best catcher in the AL.

In JB’s top 100 prospects November update, Jensen came in at No. 14. He’s got a cannon for an arm, and the early returns on his MLB batted-ball data were elite.

His Prospect Savant page is bloody as well. In 2025, he was in the 93rd percentile or better in barrel rate, hard-hit rate, 50th-percentile exit velocity, 90th-percentile exit velocity, and xwOBA. He got 69 plate appearances in MLB and slashed .300/.391/.550 with 0.7 fWAR and a .444 xwOBA.

It’s silly to prorate his production over a grander sample, but I’ll do so just for perspective. He played at a 6.6 fWAR pace over 650 plate appearances.

Naturally, that costs the Red Sox more in return, especially given the scarcity of true two-way catchers.

The additions of Sonny Gray, Johan Oviedo, and, in this scenario, Bubic would drop Harrison out of the top seven options going into Spring Training. The Red Sox traded Quinn Priester in April, so there’s precedent here.

For the Royals, they get a 24-year-old lefty and somewhat reset their rotation with nearly a full slate of service time and two minor-league options at their disposal.

Lastly, Hamilton brings somewhat of a Duran vibe to him. He’s a bit erratic on the basepaths, but he’s overall a valuable runner. He’s not a power bat but can run into a handful. Metrically, he’s a good –albeit frustrating — defender at second base.

He’s struggled to produce with inconsistent playing time but put up 1.5 fWAR as a platooning second baseman in 2024.

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