Browsing: deals

WWE has a lot of things going at once, and they also have a ton of history. Those archives used to live on the WWE Network, but now theyâ€re on Peacock. That may change soon enough.

Sean Ross Sapp reported on Fightful Select that WWEâ€s deal with Peacock for the companyâ€s library ends at the close of 2026. This raises some big questions about where the footage will go after that.

The report said that they asked WWE in an official capacity multiple times about the status of the library but did not receive a response. However, several sources within the company shared what they expect.

Sources reportedly told the outlet that the content will likely be rolled out on YouTube and the Vault channels owned by WWE. WWEâ€s presence on YouTube is viewed as a factor in a possible deal with Google.

That being said, sources reportedly do not expect WWE to upload the full library. WWE has been satisfied with the performance of its Vault channels and the financial return they produce, and the channels are viewed internally as a method to build audiences. No source indicated a change to Vault beyond the possibility of more content being added.

WWE Network split NXT, documentaries, and premium live events into individual rights fees that generated revenue for WWE. The library was packaged with PLEs and Saturday Nightâ€s Main Event in the Peacock deal, and that part of the agreement expires soon. Needless to say, this could be confusing for fans who want to dive into the archives.

People within WWE reportedly said the library was not the main draw that many fans assumed. It was a strong part of the initial Peacock agreement, but on its own was not seen as something that would bring in a high rights fee. Another source reportedly said WWE will consider any offer for the library that makes sense but will continue with the YouTube approach if no such offer materializes.

We will have to see what happens to WWEâ€s archives in the future. Some fans may not be watching old footage on a daily basis, but it is also very nice to know where those matches can be found.

Whatâ€s your take on WWEâ€s latest deal and where their archives may go next? Do you think that they need to go back to the WWE Network for $9.99 a month? Let us know what you think in the comments section!

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With the announcement that they had agreed to a new TV rights deal with AMC last week, TNA finds itself in a position of strength, at least in terms of visibility, for the first time in over a decade. They also find themselves with a new source of income, something that is rather important given 2025 is about to turn into 2026, and the promotion reportedly has many of their contracted wrestlers set to hit the free agent market soon, and some talents even reportedly wrestling without deals.

Unfortunately, that TV money may have come too late for TNA to retain some of their talent. In the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported that WWE had already begun engaging in talks with certain unnamed WWE talent, in a situation Meltzer described as similar to that of WWE stars Jordynne Grace and Joe Hendry. Both Grace and Hendry had been TNA stars that began working with WWE as part of the TNA/”NXT” talent exchange, with WWE later signing them once their TNA deals expired.

One TNA talent confirmed that TNA had been slow in offering new extensions to existing talent, which was attributed to the promotion waiting to finalize the AMC deal. Talents now expect that TNA will be making formal extension offers in the immediate future, and talents believed to be waiting for offers from TNA are Mustafa Ali, Jake Something, AJ Francis, Steve Maclin, Zachary Wentz, and former TNA World Heavyweight Champion Mike Santana.

It wasn’t confirmed whether those TNA stars were the names that WWE had engaged with in contract talks. Of the group, Ali, Francis, Maclin, and Wentz all previously wrestled for WWE, and a recent report on Ali’s contractual status suggested the door could be open for a WWE return. Some speculated that Santana could be WWE bound himself after he unexpectedly dropped the TNA Championship to Frankie Kazarian, though such rumors were later disputed.

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By Ella Jay

Dec. 5, 2025 11:20 am EST

Cindy Ord/Getty Images

Since 2023, Ring of Honor’s weekly programming has largely aired on the HonorClub streaming platform, with episodes occasionally being uploaded to YouTube as well. In contrast, ROH’s sister promotion of All Elite Wrestling is in the midst of a multi-year media rights deal with Warner Bros. Discovery that sees its weekly content aired on TNT, TBS, and HBO Max. On the ROH Final Battle media call, ROH owner and AEW CEO Tony Khan addressed the possibility of moving ROH to a bigger platform, specifically a television network.

According to Khan, he’s received multiple “great” offers to boost ROH to television, but so far, none of them have truly won him over. “I have had opportunities at times to move ROH to TV and from great media partners,” he said, “but right now, we have to look at the AEW situation. AEW’s got a media rights deal with a half-billion dollar contract. Given that I have a half-billion dollar contract to produce wrestling television, I really want to make sure I get good rights fees and that the situation for ROH is not necessarily equal to what we get with AEW because it’s fairly historic for a challenger wrestling brand to have the kind of media rights that we do and the kind of following that AEW has.

“ROH, I’m very interested in having an ROH TV show. I think that the media rights have to be certainly not necessarily equal or definitely not greater than, but I do think I want to get a rights fee that makes sense and the perfect situation with a media partner.”

As it stands, Khan confirmed that ROH pay-per-views and weekly “ROH on HonorClub” programming are bringing in “really good” revenue despite being behind the paywall of HonorClub. Even the occasional shows on YouTube are said to be getting a positive reception as well.

Khan Says It’ll Take A ‘Combination’ Of Factors To Sell Him On A ROH TV Deal

Gary Gershoff/Getty Images

When asked to further elaborate on his criteria for Ring of Honor to potentially onboard to a bigger stage, Khan noted that he is considering a combination of components.

“It’s not any one factor,” he said. “It’s got to be the right fit. To me, it’s got to be the right media partner, but also the money has to be right. And it’s got to be the combination of the two things. There’s times where we had great media offers and there’s times where we’ve had offers of money. When they line up with the right media partner and the right money [I’d make the deal]. Certainly when you get a deal like we’ve got with TBS and TNT and HBO Max, that’s one of those great situations where it’s the perfect combination.”

In the current, $555-million dollar agreement between AEW and Warner Bros. Discovery, “AEW Dynamite” and “AEW Collision” continue to air on TBS and TNT, respectively, with the ability to simultaneously stream them on HBO Max made available as well. HBO Max, which has since been named as AEW’s primary pay-per-view partner, also allows subscribers to purchase and stream AEW PPVs at a discounted rate.

Final Battle, ROH’s next pay-per-view event, will emanate from Columbus, Ohio later tonight. Matches include the ROH Women’s Pure Championship tournament finals between Deonna Purrazzo and Billie Starkz, ROH Women’s Television Champion Mercedes Mone vs. Red Velvet, and ROH World Champion Bandido defending his title in a Survival of the Fittest match. The latest episode of “ROH on HonorClub,” aired Thursday night, notably saw Queen Aminata forfeit her spot in the semi-finals of the Women’s Pure Title tournament.

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit ROH with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

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It seems Giannis Watch has taken another turn.

Sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania on Wednesday that Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo and his agent are having conversations with the franchise about the two-time MVP’s future — with Milwaukee or elsewhere.

Antetokounmpo, who the Bucks said suffered a right calf strain early in their win over the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons, could miss time. But whether he is on the court or not, speculation about this saga’s next step will continue.

Where do things currently stand between player and franchise? Can general manager Jon Horst, who has never shied away from making deals to build around the Bucks superstar, swing another to bolster the supporting cast? And which landing spots make the most sense should Milwaukee open trade talks for Giannis?

Our NBA insiders examine the trade market and best potential fits for Antetokounmpo, including five deals that could reshape the 2026 NBA title race and beyond.

Jump to a section:
Where the Giannis saga stands
Can Bucks build around Giannis?
Giannis to: ATL | NY | HOU | SA | GS

Where do Giannis and the Bucks stand right now?

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Giannis exits game with non-contact injury

Giannis Antetokounmpo exits the game after appearing to suffer a noncontact injury.

A hush fell over Fiserv Forum only three minutes into Wednesday’s game against the Pistons, when Antetokounmpo crumpled to the court with a calf injury. And although the Bucks believe they have avoided the worst-case scenario — coach Doc Rivers said the team has ruled out an Achilles injury — they will still wait for MRI results to see how long their star will be sidelined.

Before the game, Rivers vehemently denied the idea that the team and Antetokounmpo have begun discussing the next steps, pointing to the Bucks’ current skid — Wednesday was just their second win in the past 10 games — as the reason Antetokounmpo’s future was in question.

Speculation also swirled around Antetokounmpo because he recently cleared out his social media feed, although a source close to him told ESPN he had done so a few weeks ago, not in response to the team’s recent struggles.

Milwaukee has believed a strong season would be enough to quell speculation, but the team went 0-4 when their two-time MVP was sidelined last month with a groin injury.

Sources within the organization told ESPN on Wednesday they were hopeful that when Antetokounmpo and Kevin Porter Jr. are healthy, the Bucks could start playing better in the coming weeks. And they saw some proof of that when Milwaukee rallied for a victory behind 26 points from Porter Jr. with Antetokounmpo sidelined.

“I think [Giannis] will be proud of us that we were able to come back and finish the game, get a win,” Porter said after the contest.

Still, the rest of the league will be monitoring Milwaukee closely. Sources from several teams told ESPN they were meeting soon to discuss a potential trade package for Antetokounmpo, targeting Dec. 15, when players across the league who signed this past offseason can be moved.

One thing to keep in mind is that Antetokounmpo is eligible to sign a four-year, $275 million extension with Milwaukee or a team he is traded to starting on Dec. 1, 2026. A team trading for Antetokounmpo will need to have confidence that an extension is likely to happen before giving up significant players or draft picks. If there is no extension, Antetokounmpo will likely become a free agent in the 2027 offseason.

— Jamal Collier

Can the Bucks still improve the roster around Giannis?

Don’t underestimate Horst when it comes to improving the roster around Antetokounmpo. Since 2020, Milwaukee has made 17 trades, including deals for Jrue Holiday, Damian Lillard and Kyle Kuzma. With limited options this past summer, Horst took an unprecedented move, waiving and stretching the contract of Lillard to sign free agent center Myles Turner. As the Bucks tumble in the standings, and with Antetokounmpo’s future in Milwaukee in question, Horst will be asked if there is yet another move to bolster the supporting cast.

It’s unlikely such a deal will be available.

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While every player on the Bucks roster is eligible to be traded starting Dec. 15 except for Ryan Rollins and AJ Green — Rollins won’t be eligible until Jan. 15 and Green not at all — Milwaukee has boxed itself into a corner in terms of tradeable options.

The roster features 11 players earning between $2.2 million to $5.1 million, which leaves the Bucks with $60 million in contracts from Turner, Kuzma and Portis. All three players have at least two years remaining. More importantly, the Bucks don’t control their own first-round pick until 2031, leaving them with one tradeable first in that year’s draft or in 2032. Milwaukee sending Pat Connaughton to the Charlotte Hornets to make room to sign Turner has left the Bucks with no second-rounders.

One area of strength? The Bucks are below both luxury tax aprons enough to take back salary in a potential deal. They do owe $20.2 million to Lillard in each of the next five years, including this season.

— Bobby Marks

Five Giannis trades that would shake up the title race

Atlanta Hawks get:

Giannis Antetokounmpo
Cole Anthony

Bucks get:

Trae Young
Zaccharie Risacher
2026 first-round pick (via better of Pelicans and Bucks)
2027 first-round pick (top-four protected, via worse of Pelicans and Bucks)
2029 first-round pick (top-four protected 2029 to 2031, unprotected in 2032 if not conveyed)
2031 first-round pick (top-four protected in 2031 if eligible, otherwise unprotected in 2032)

Note: Trade cannot be completed until Dec. 15

The Hawks have the unique ability to help Milwaukee regain its own picks as part of a post-Giannis rebuild. Technically, Atlanta only controls shares of picks from the Bucks and New Orleans Pelicans, who got them in the Jrue Holiday trade five years ago. However, the better of their two picks in 2026 could very well land in the top five and even the lesser of their 2027 selections should be solid.

Milwaukee would surely ask for Wisconsin native Jalen Johnson in trade talks, but I would hold the line there if I’m the Hawks. As is, they’re giving up a former No. 1 pick and a reasonable shot at another one in 2026, a worthy risk given the potential for Atlanta to become the East favorite with this trade. Sending out a budding star in Johnson, whose five-year, $150 million extension now looks like a bargain, for just two guaranteed years of Antetokounmpo in a non-glamour market would be too much to ask.

Flipping Young to a third team would probably make the most sense for the Bucks. In a worst-case scenario, however, Young’s contract would potentially give Milwaukee cap relief as soon as this summer.

— Kevin Pelton

Houston Rockets get:

Giannis Antetokounmpo
Thanasis Antetokounmpo

Bucks get:

Alperen Sengun
Fred VanVleet
2027 first-round pick (unprotected, via Suns)

With a 13-5 record, the No. 2 offense and the No. 3 defense in the league, the Rockets might not want to upset the apple cart. But if they could upgrade from Sengun to Antetokounmpo, they would have to at least consider it, given their chance to knock off the Oklahoma City Thunder and win a title this season and next.

For all of Sengun’s many strengths, his efficiency is still only average, while Antetokounmpo is one of the most efficient, highest-usage scorers in NBA history. He would fit perfectly in Houston’s physical, paint-based offense while still supplying the same sort of frontcourt playmaking as Sengun.

For Milwaukee, Sengun represents the best player it could realistically acquire in a trade: a 23-year-old offensive center who should make his second All-Star team this season. Partnering with Ryan Rollins in Milwaukee, Sengun would serve as the foremost building player for the next era of the Bucks, who they need given their lack of first-round picks in upcoming drafts. Houston likely wouldn’t want to offer many picks if they’re including Sengun in a deal, but a future unprotected first-rounder from Phoenix is enticing even if the Suns are playing better basketball this season.

— Zach Kram

New York Knicks get:

Giannis Antetokounmpo
Jericho Sims

Bucks get:

Karl-Anthony Towns
Pacome Dadiet
Tyler Kolek
2026 first-round pick (top-eight protected, via Wizards; otherwise, second-round selections in 2026 and 2027)
2028 first-round swap (worse of Bucks or Trail Blazers for Knicks)
2030 first-round swap (worse of Bucks or Trail Blazers for Knicks)
2032 first-round swap

Note: Trade cannot be completed until Dec. 15

Let’s be clear: The Knicks, after trading five first-round picks for Mikal Bridges last year, have no chance of landing Giannis if the Bucks open trade talks with multiple teams. New York has to hope Antetokounmpo pegs it as his desired destination. The Knicks can no longer trade any of their own first-round picks, only swaps and one first-rounder from the Washington Wizards that is top-eight protected this year and converts to second-round picks if not conveyed.

Certainly, a New York offer would include significant talent. This construction uses Towns, an All-NBA third-team pick a year ago, as matching salary. Alternate packages would likely be built around OG Anunoby and Josh Hart. If for some reason Milwaukee wants to build the best team possible without Antetokounmpo, the Knicks can help it get there.

More realistically, the Bucks would need to find a taker for Towns, who would supply additional draft picks. New York’s first-round swaps hold some value for Milwaukee because they happen to fall in the same years the Bucks’ own first-rounder is swapped to the Portland Trail Blazers. So there’s a chance for Milwaukee to move back up even if the Knicks are higher in the standings those seasons.

— Pelton

San Antonio Spurs get:

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Bucks get:

Stephon Castle
Harrison Barnes
Kelly Olynyk
Jordan McLaughlin
2027 first-round pick (via Hawks)
2029 first-round pick
2032 first-round pick

Pairing Antetokounmpo with Victor Wembanyama would make for the most fascinating basketball experiment. The price to accelerate San Antonio’s timeline wouldn’t be cheap, costing a set of first-round picks and Castle, the reigning Rookie of the Year.

Still, the potential to team up two MVP candidates in the frontcourt might be too great for the Spurs to resist. Since drafting Wembanyama, they’ve already traded future assets for one veteran All-Star, De’Aaron Fox, and Antetokounmpo is a much more valuable player than the former Kings point guard. If Wembanyama is healthy, a team with Fox, Antetokounmpo and Wembanyama — let alone rookie guard Dylan Harper, Devin Vassell and standout reserves Luke Kornet and Keldon Johnson — could compete for the title this season. After all, the Spurs are 15-6 with Fox, Castle, Harper and Wembanyama all missing time. And the Giannis-Wemby pairing could dominate for the next several seasons.

Castle would be a prime pickup if the Bucks have to trade their two-time MVP, as he seemed in the midst of a sophomore leap before straining his left hip flexor last month. This deal would also allow them to refill some of their barren draft coffers — albeit not with their own picks. Milwaukee could additionally try flipping Barnes, a veteran having a solid season, for additional picks at the trade deadline.

— Kram

Golden State Warriors get:

Giannis Antetokounmpo
Thanasis Antetokounmpo

Bucks get:

Draymond Green
Jonathan Kuminga
Buddy Hield
2026 first-round pick
2028 first-round pick
2030 first-round pick (if 1 through 20)
2032 first-round pick

This would be a Hail Mary trade for both teams.

Milwaukee could give Kuminga plenty of runway to see if he’s a long-term keeper, reroute Green, a proven winner and still elite defender, to a contender and extract the maximal pick package from Golden State, hoping that some of those outlying picks could be extremely lucrative once Stephen Curry retires.

For the Warriors, a blockbuster trade would represent an attempt to break out of the funk that has plagued them this season. Adding Antetokounmpo would be a supercharged version of last season’s trade for Jimmy Butler III and create a championship-caliber core, potentially with enough depth behind that star trio to scare the Thunder and the West’s best teams.

Except for a partially protected pick they owe to the Wizards in 2030, the Warriors still possess all of their future first-rounders. They need to decide whether they’re holding onto those picks to build for a post-Curry future, or whether they want to go all-in to pry open Curry’s championship window one final time.

— Kram

The best trade for Milwaukee is…

The thinking in Milwaukee should be how to get two bites of the apple: players on controllable contracts that can help now and first-round picks to rebuild draft selections.

There is no incentive for the Bucks to enter a full-scale rebuild. Therefore, what Atlanta could offer — Young, Risacher and four first-rounders — would be too much to pass up.

The Hawks deal has tremendous appeal because the Pelicans’ first-round pick in June could easily end up at No. 1. Combined with their own, the Bucks would likely have two first-rounders in the lottery. The Bucks would also get three additional firsts in future years.

Risacher would give Milwaukee a big athletic wing they lack and who isn’t eligible for an extension until the 2027 offseason. Any apprehension comes with the cost of Trae Young’s next contract. He is eligible to sign up to a four-year, $229 million extension and can be a free agent in July if he declines his player option.

• Despite the Knicks’ inclusion of Karl-Anthony Towns, their offer should be a nonstarter due to the lack of first-rounders — aside from the Wizards’ top-eight protected pick in 2026 — headed to Milwaukee.

• The Warriors trade, meanwhile, is probably the best value when it comes to first-round picks. Even with Antetokounmpo, the roster will continue to age, leaving the first-rounders in 2028 and 2030 as possible lottery picks in a potential post-Curry era.

• A Spurs trade involving Castle gives the Bucks a player they can build around that has three years remaining on his rookie contract. Although Barnes is starting and having one of his better shooting seasons, he and Kelly Olynyk are salary filler. While there are three unprotected first-rounders included, the Bucks’ concern would be how much value the Spurs’ 2029 and 2032 first-rounders actually hold with Antetokounmpo, Wembanyama, Fox and Harper anchoring a chase for a title in San Antonio.

• Houston’s deal features Sengun as the best player included in any of the trades who also has four years left on a non-max contract. However, can he and Myles Turner play together, or is it best to do the trade and worry about that later? (The Bucks would have $60 million per season tied up in two centers.) VanVleet has a player option for next season and would give Milwaukee a starting-caliber point guard if he opted-in. The 2027 first-rounder via Phoenix holds value because it is unprotected, but it could easily land outside of the lottery if the Suns start to this season is any indication of their trajectory.

— Marks

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1. The first question on everyoneâ€s mind: Does this mean the Edwin Díaz era is over in Queens, or is there a chance they are going to try to build a super bullpen?

The Williams signing doesnâ€t take the Mets out of the mix for Díaz, but itâ€s certainly a nice insurance policy if Díaz signs with another club. But even if the Mets bring back their closer, letâ€s not forget that Williams has had some of his greatest seasons in a setup role.

Williams won the Trevor Hoffman Award in 2020 while setting up for Josh Hader, then made the All-Star team in 2022 in the same role before Hader was traded a couple weeks later. And although Williams would surely like to close, his new contract is paying him “closer money,†so whether that means pitching the eighth or ninth likely wonâ€t be as important for him.

The Mets ranked ninth in the Majors last season with a 3.93 bullpen ERA, and that was with Díaz posting a 1.63 ERA in a bullpen-high 66 1/3 innings. We knew the Mets were going to be in the bullpen market this winter with Díaz on the open market, but rival executives have assumed that New York would be looking to acquire at least two relievers if not more, so the idea of them building a super bullpen would not be a shock to anybody.

2. If the Mets do move on from Díaz, they have presumably “saved†some money with this Williams deal, presumably to target a big name elsewhere. Of the remaining top free agents, who do you think they are most likely to sign?

Well, some of that could depend on whether the Mets still make a push to re-sign Díaz, who will cost them somewhere in the range of $20 million per year over four or five seasons. And even if Díaz goes to another team, I would expect the Mets to spend some more money on the bullpen as mentioned above.

As for the top free agents, the most likely scenario is a reunion with Pete Alonso, though thatâ€s hardly a lock. If Alonso leaves New York, the Mets could pivot to Kyle Schwarber to replace the thump in the lineup. And while sources donâ€t tab the Mets as favorites for Kyle Tucker or Cody Bellinger, New York does have a vacancy in the outfield after trading Brandon Nimmo. Given the Mets†payroll and Steve Cohenâ€s desire to win, I will never say never when it comes to any free agent ultimately landing in Queens.

3. Weâ€ve seen two big-name relievers (Williams and Ryan Helsley) go off the market in the last few days. Should we expect there to continue to be a run on relievers? And if so, who do you think is next?

Even with Williams and Helsley off the market, there is no shortage of proven back-end relievers available. Díaz is the top option available, but heâ€s also going to be the most expensive.

With Williams signing for three years and $45 million and Helsley getting two years and $28 million from the Orioles, the market for non-Díaz closers appears to have been set. That should get things moving on the relief market, so it wouldnâ€t be a surprise to see more late-inning options start to come off the board.

After Díaz, the next tier of free-agent relievers includes Robert Suarez, Pete Fairbanks, Emilio Pagán and Tyler Rogers. Luke Weaver, Kyle Finnegan and Kenley Jansen also offer closing experience for teams seeking back-end bullpen help.

If I had to guess who would be next, I would go with Fairbanks. According to sources, the Blue Jays and Marlins are among the teams interested in the former Rays closer, while the Orioles were also in on him before the Helsley deal.

4. Williams was the closer for the Yankees last year, and Weaver is also a free agent. Should we assume they will be a player for one of the top remaining relievers, such as Díaz or Suarez?

Just as we expected the Mets to be in the market for a closer with Díaz on the market, itâ€s been a given that the Yankees will be looking for bullpen help this offseason. But David Bednar was excellent for the Yankees in his 22 appearances after the Trade Deadline (10 saves, 2.19 ERA) and could be the closer next season, making it less urgent to spend big on one of the top relievers. Thatâ€s not to say the Yankees wonâ€t be in the market for another reliever or two, it just doesnâ€t need to be Díaz or Suarez.

The Yankees are still trying to bring back Bellinger, or, if he signs elsewhere, replace him with another impact bat. Starting pitching is also on New Yorkâ€s wish list as Gerrit Cole will be returning from Tommy John surgery, Carlos Rodón will miss the start of 2026 following surgery to remove a bone spur from his throwing elbow and Clarke Schmidt is expected to miss most of next season following his own Tommy John surgery.

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Major League Baseball’s clubs are not averse to taking part in the annual shopping frenzy that is Black Friday. As much of the country is out scouring for deals in stores and online, front-office executives throughout baseball are doing the same on the trade and free-agent markets.

It’s the time of year that teams look to fine-tune existing rosters for a championship push or work toward a complete overhaul in a rebuilding effort. But regardless of the motive, the Hot Stove season has seen its fair share of player movement around Thanksgiving.

Below is a closer look at some of the biggest transactions completed at the onset of the holiday shopping season.

Nov. 26, 2021
Mets make big splash, add three bats

The Mets went free-agent shopping on Black Friday, reaching deals with outfielders Starling Marte and Mark Canha and infielder Eduardo Escobar for a combined $124.5 million in guaranteed money. All three veterans went on to contribute to a Mets club that won 101 games. Canha posted a .367 OBP, Marte combined 16 homers with 18 steals despite being limited to 118 games, and Escobar started slowly but reached the 20-homer mark with a strong second half (.825 OPS).

Nov. 27, 2015
Blue Jays land a lefty

In 2015, the Blue Jays inked free-agent left-hander J.A. Happ as one of the first major signings of the offseason. Toronto’s holiday purchase proved to be a success as Happ enjoyed a career year, going 20-4 with a 3.18 ERA across 32 starts in the regular season. Happ also pitched well in the postseason as the Jays advanced to the American League Championship Series, which they lost to World Series runner-up Cleveland.

Nov. 28, 2014
Toronto gets its star

A rebuilding A’s team traded away one of its promising young stars on Black Friday in 2014, shipping third baseman Josh Donaldson to the Blue Jays for Brett Lawrie, Franklin Barreto, Kendall Graveman and Sean Nolin. In his first season with Toronto, Donaldson won the AL Most Valuable Player Award, leading the Majors in runs (122) and RBIs (123). He helped the club reach the postseason in consecutive seasons (2015-16), something the franchise hadn’t done since 1992-93.

Nov. 26, 2010
V-Mart rolls into Motor City

The Tigers scored one of the top bats on the market in 2010, signing Victor Martinez to a four-year deal in the middle of an aggressive offseason for Detroit. With the exception of a lost ’12 season due to an offseason ACL tear in his left knee, Martinez was a steady source of production in the Tigers’ lineup for seven seasons (.290, 115 HR, 540 RBIs) until his retirement after the 2018 season.

Nov. 22, 2007
Hunter pulls SoCal swap

The Angels and Torii Hunter surprised the baseball world by agreeing to a five-year deal on Thanksgiving night at a Del Taco in Corona, Calif., in 2007. Hunter was in Southern California for a free-agent meeting with the Dodgers, but he ultimately signed with the Halos after sharing a fast-food meal with then-general manager Tony Reagins. Hunter enjoyed five successful seasons in Anaheim, batting .286 with 105 home runs. He made the All-Star team twice with the Angels and also won two Gold Glove Awards and a Silver Slugger Award.

Nov. 24, 2006
El Caballo goes to Houston

The Astros signed Carlos Lee, who provided immediate returns on the investment by making the All-Star team in his first season with the club. He averaged 22 home runs and 90 RBIs across his six seasons with Houston.

Nov. 25, 2005
A win-win trade

The White Sox and Phillies completed a mutually beneficial trade on Black Friday in 2005 that sent Jim Thome to Chicago and Aaron Rowand to Philadelphia. Thome hit 42 homers and drove in 109 runs in his first season with the Sox, while Rowand helped the Phils win their first National League East title in 14 years in ’07 with his lone All-Star campaign in Philadelphia.

Nov. 24, 2005
Marlins, Red Sox pull off a blockbuster

While most Americans were sharing a Thanksgiving meal in 2005, the front offices of the Marlins and Red Sox were hard at work orchestrating a seven-player trade. The deal sent Hanley Ramirez, Jesus Delgado, Harvey Garcia and Anibal Sanchez to Miami in exchange for Josh Beckett, Mike Lowell and Guillermo Mota. Both sides ultimately proved prosperous, as the Marlins received financial relief and a franchise player in Ramirez, and the Red Sox picked up two key pieces to their ’07 World Series title run in Beckett and Lowell.

A top Minor League prospect at the time of the trade, Ramirez went on to win the NL Rookie of the Year Award in 2006. In six-plus seasons with the Marlins, he earned three straight All-Star nods from 2008-10, and he was the NL’s batting champion in ’09. Beckett and Lowell, meanwhile, each had career years in ’07, when Boston took home its second World Series championship in four seasons. Beckett won 20 games with a 3.27 ERA, while Lowell set personal bests for hits (191), batting average (.324), on-base percentage (.378) and RBIs (120).

Nov. 28, 2003
Red Sox acquire an ace

In perhaps the most notable of Black Friday deals, Theo Epstein, then the general manager of the Red Sox, spent Thanksgiving dinner at Curt Schilling’s Paradise Valley, Ariz., home in 2003, hoping to recruit the potential Hall of Famer to Boston.

A trade was already in place that would send Casey Fossum, Brandon Lyon, Jorge De La Rosa and Mike Goss to Arizona in exchange for Schilling. All that remained was Epstein convincing Schilling to waive his no-trade clause. Negotiations spilled over to Black Friday, when the two sides eventually struck an agreement.

“If we didn’t sign Curt, it probably would have been the worst Thanksgiving of my life,” Epstein said.

Epstein’s holiday recruiting efforts, of course, helped Boston snap its 86-year title drought as Schilling, and his famously bloody sock, was instrumental to the club’s World Series run in both 2004 and ’07.

Nov. 24, 1989
Rangers upgrade their defense

The Rangers signed center fielder Gary Pettis in 1989. The five-time Gold Glove Award winner gave Texas a standout defender patrolling the outfield for two seasons in ’90-91.

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Whether you’re looking for gifts for loved ones or just loading up your own collection, ’tis the season for great deals in the baseball card and collectibles world. To help sort things out, we’ve compiled some of the more interesting deals out there right now.

Be sure to bookmark this page and check back over the long holiday weekend straight through to Cyber Monday, as we’ll be updating the list as more deals are posted.

Save 40% On A BA Subscription

We’re calling it “our biggest sale ever,” and for good reason: Because it is.

From now until 11:59 p.m. ET on Cyber Monday (Dec. 1), you can save 40% on any one-year digital subscription to Baseball America or combo subscription (website and a year of the print magazine) by using code BA40 at checkout.

We have never offered such a big discount before, and the extra insight you’ll have on fantasy baseball and card collecting alone (never mind just being the smartest baseball fan in the room) could help you cover for the cost of the subscription in no time.

Collectibles From Topps & Fanatics

As of now, the major card retailers (Topps, Panini and Leaf) have yet to announce any specific deals for Black Friday weekend.

But Topps did drop one early holiday gift for collectors last week, finally announcing that certain products on their site will now earn Fancash, which can be used on their sister sites such as Fanatics, their Fanatics Collect auction site and Fanatics Live breaking site.

And don’t forget that there are some major baseball card releases scheduled to drop in the coming weeks, including Topps Allen & Ginter on Dec. 3, Topps Chrome Update (featuring the hunt for Debut Patches) on Dec. 10 and both Topps Cosmic Chrome and Panini Prospect Edition on Dec. 17 (dates subject to change).

Speaking of Fanatics, they will be having sales all weekend, starting with 30% off on Wednesday, and then up to 60% off through Cyber Monday. Various discount codes will be displayed at the top of the site, and keep your eye out for free shipping options, as well. Keep in mind, however, that discounts often don’t apply to some of their baseball card offerings.

Here are three Fanatics pro tips:

• First and foremost, if you don’t already have the Fanatics app, get it. Not only do you earn $5 in Fancash just for downloading it, but you earn up to 5% in Fancash for all in-app purchases (as opposed to 1-2% on the site). And if you pay with the Fanatics credit card in the app, you earn 9% Fancash. The app also has “challenges” for certain shopping milestones that can earn you even more Fancash. One prominent example (which you will need to sign up for in the app) is offering $20 in bonus Fancash for any single $200+ in-app purchase made before Jan. 1, 2026.

• Even if you don’t have the Fancash credit card, you should still check your credit cards to see if they offer Fanatics-specific cash back opportunities. Most cards offer either 5% or 10% cash back once activated.

• You can often find discounted Fanatics gift cards on the sites of major retailers. In recent years, Best Buy and BJ’s have offered such discounts. And because delivery on digital gift cards is almost instantaneous, you can use these gift cards on already-discounted Fanatics merch and get free shipping in most cases.

Minor League Sales & Auctions

The official Minor League Baseball online store is offering 30% off most items through Dec. 1 with promo code CYBERWEEK. You can also check the online shops for specific MiLB teams for even more discounts.

The Minor League Baseball auction site is currently holding their 2025 ‘Year in Review’ auction, which features a ton of cool specialty jerseys and other stuff from all across the minors.

Deals On Baseball Caps, Gear, Collectibles, Conventions & More

The MLB Auction site has a bunch of cool collectibles available, including a Derek Jeter holiday auction and a Red Sox Foundation scholarship auction. And speaking of good causes, the New York Yankees Foundation is once again holding its virtual holiday food drive, during which you can get two free Yankees tickets for 2026 with every $40 donated to the cause. Every entry is also automatically entered to win autographed memorabilia from 2025 Hall of Famer CC Sabathia.

The Hall of Fame started early this year, offering 30% off everything in their online store, which includes baseball cards, autographed collectibles, jerseys, caps and more. Plus, Hall members get an extra 10% off (so 40% total), plus free shipping.

New Era is offering 30% off on their site on Black Friday and sales up to 60%. And you can get free shipping on orders over $100.

Another shop I really like for caps is Mickey’s Place up in Cooperstown, N.Y. I discovered it on a trip to the Hall of Fame some years back, and their selection of caps is amazing. All the stuff from the majors and minors that the big shops are usually sold out of, they’ll have in stock. And they’re offering 10% off online through Dec. 8.

Gamestop has gotten into the hobby in a big way in recent years, and their most intriguing holiday offering actually comes on Dec. 6, when they host their first-ever “Trade Anything Day.” For this event, you can literally bring in just about anything to receive $5 in store trade-in credit (some restrictions apply, so read the info on their site for details).

How about bats, gloves and other gear? Our friends at Louisville Slugger, Wilson and EvoShield have started launching their Black Friday specials, as well, with deals from 30% to 60% off.

Or maybe you’re looking for a fun collectibles event to attend next year? Tickets are already on sale for Fanatics Fest in New York City from July 16-19, 2026 (there are various discount codes floating around the web), and tickets go on sale on Cyber Monday (Dec. 1) for the National Convention in Chicago from July 29 to Aug. 2, 2026.

Baseball Card Retailers

Our friends at Blowout Cards have already dropped a ton of huge deals leading up to Black Friday weekend, and they tell us that even more are coming as the week goes on, so stay tuned for that. Plus, a handful of random customers who place orders with Blowout will get bonus Baseball America goodies included with their order.

Steel City Collectibles has also started posting its Black Friday deals, as has Dave & Adam’s.

Make sure to check back at those sites all weekend for even more deals, and remember that most of these retailers offer free shipping with a $199 purchase.

And be sure to show your local card shop some love all weekend long, especially on Small Business Saturday. You can find a ton of great locations on the interactive map on Topps’ website. And if you haven’t already, remember that the MVP Buyback period has opened, so bring in your eligible Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge cards to participating shops for $20 and more of store credit.

National retail chains such as Amazon and Walmart often offer deals on various baseball cards and collectibles, so keep an eye out there, too. Another pro tip: There are always great Black Friday weekend sales on sleeves, top-loaders and other supplies on Amazon, so it’s a good time to stock up.

Stay Informed All Year Long With Free Baseball America Newsletters

And finally, want something you can get for free not just during Black Friday, but all year? Our Baseball America newsletters are just the thing for you and the baseball fans in your life.

Again, we’ll continue to update this story as more retailers add discounts and special promotions. And make sure to also check in on sites like eBay for discount codes and more for all of your holiday shopping needs.

Happy Thanksgiving and happy shopping!

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The MLB Hot Stove is here, and you can track all of the activity from the 2025-26 MLB offseason with our convenient free agent tracker.

The tracker, which is based on Matthew Pouliotâ€s Top 100 MLB free agents, covers each of the big names and the information you need to know.

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Once a player signs with a team, or a decision is made about an option, the relevant contract information is added along with a link to a blurb write-up from Rotoworld.

Bookmark this page and check back throughout the MLB offseason! Weâ€ll keep track of it all.

Donâ€t forget: Check out the Rotoworld player news feed for all the latest news, rumors, and transactions as MLBâ€s Hot Stove gets underway!

Player

POS

2025 Team

2026 Team

Contract info.

Kyle Tucker

OF

Cubs

Dylan Cease

SP

Padres

Bo Bichette

SS

Blue Jays

Alex Bregman

3B

Red Sox

Framber Valdez

SP

Astros

Pete Alonso

1B

Mets

Cody Bellinger

1B/OF

Yankees

Kyle Schwarber

DH/OF

Phillies

Ranger Suárez

SP

Phillies

Tatsuya Imai

SP

Japan

Josh Naylor

1B

D-Backs/Mariners

Mariners

Five-year deal

Munetaka Murakami

1B/3B

Japan

Edwin Diaz

RP

Mets

Michael King

SP

Padres

Eugenio Suárez

3B

D-Backs/Mariners

Devin Williams

RP

Yankees

Brandon Woodruff

SP

Brewers

Lucas Giolito

SP

Red Sox

J.T. Realmuto

C

Phillies

Zac Gallen

SP

Diamondbacks

Merrill Kelly

SP

D-Backs/Rangers

Kazuma Okamoto

2B/3B

Japan

Chris Bassitt

SP

Blue Jays

Shota Imanaga

SP

Cubs

Ryan Helsley

RP

Cardinals/Mets

Harrison Bader

OF

Twins/Phillies

Gleyber Torres

2B

Tigers

Robert Suarez

RP

Padres

Tyler Mahle

SP

Rangers

Trent Grisham

OF

Yankees

Jorge Polanco

2B

Mariners

Ha-Seong Kim

SS

Rays/Braves

Raisel Iglesias

RP

Braves

Ryan Oâ€Hearn

1B/OF

Orioles/Padres

Tyler Rogers

RP

Giants/Mets

Max Muncy

3B

Dodgers

Justin Verlander

SP

Giants

Luis Arraez

2B/1B

Padres

Pete Fairbanks

RP

Rays

Brad Keller

RP

Cubs

Max Scherzer

SP

Blue Jays

Marcell Ozuna

DH

Braves

Cody Ponce

SP/RP

KBO

Kenley Jansen

RP

Angels

Dustin May

SP/RP

Dodgers/Red Sox

Victor Caratini

C

Astros

Kyle Finnegan

RP

Nationals/Tigers

Luke Weaver

RP

Yankees

Mike Yastrzemski

OF

Giants/Royals

Zach Eflin

SP

Orioles

Steven Matz

SP/RP

Cardinals/Red Sox

Seranthony Domínguez

RP

Orioles

Adrian Houser

SP

White Sox/Rays

Emilio Pagán

RP

Reds

Cedric Mullins

OF

Orioles/Mets

Drew Pomeranz

RP

Cubs

Anthony Kay

SP

Japan

Nick Martinez

SP/RP

Reds

José Alvarado

RP

Phillies

Tomoyuki Sugano

SP

Orioles

Michael Soroka

SP/RP

Nationals/Cubs

Danny Jansen

C

Rays/Brewers

David Robertson

RP

Phillies

Zack Littell

SP

Rays/Reds

Foster Griffin

SP

Japan

Paul Goldschmidt

1B

Yankees

Germán Márquez

SP

Rockies

Willi Castro

UTIL

Twins/Cubs

Starling Marte

OF

Mets

Josh Bell

1B

Nationals

Jose Quintana

SP

Brewers

Miguel Rojas

INF

Dodgers

Tyler Kinley

RP

Rockies/Braves

Walker Buehler

SP

Red Sox/Phillies

Isiah Kiner-Falefa

UTIL

Pirates/Blue Jays

Patrick Corbin

SP

Rangers

Austin Hays

OF

Reds

Max Kepler

OF

Phillies

Michael Kopech

RP

Dodgers

Michael Lorenzen

SP/RP

Royals

Phil Maton

RP

Cardinals/Rangers

Gregory Soto

RP

Orioles/Mets

Hunter Harvey

RP

Royals

Tyler Anderson

INF

Angels

Miles Mikolas

SP

Cardinals

Rhys Hoskins

1B/DH

Brewers

John Means

SP

Guardians

Michael Conforto

OF

Dodgers

Rob Refsnyder

UTIL

Red Sox

Lane Thomas

OF

Guardians

Jordan Montgomery

SP

Diamondbacks

Martín Pérez

SP

White Sox

Pierce Johnson

RP

Braves

Luis Rengifo

INF

Angels

Chris Paddack

SP/RP

Twins/Tigers

Tommy Kahnle

RP

Tigers

Kirby Yates

RP

Dodgers

José Leclerc

RP

Athletics

Miguel Andujar

3B/OF

Athletics/Reds

Shawn Armstrong

RP

Rangers

Aaron Civale

SP

Brewers/White Sox/Cubs

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The New York Jets are keeping at least one of their young stars for now.

Running back Breece Hall was not traded before Tuesday’s deadline and will presumably play out his current contract that expires at the end of the season.

It was a different approach from Jets’ defensive stars Quinnen Williams—who was traded to the Dallas Cowboys—and Sauce Gardner—who was sent to the Indianapolis Colts.

Hall reacted to these deals in a since-deleted tweet:

New York linebacker Jermaine Johnson II also shared his thoughts:

ESPN’s Rich Cimini reported in August that Hall would seek a similar contract to those of the Buffalo Bills’ James Cook (four years, $48 million) and the Los Angeles Rams’ Kyren Williams (three years, $33 million) if he played well during the 2025 season.

Yet Hall’s future with the team that selected him in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft was also under the spotlight prior to this development since the 2025 campaign was the final one on his rookie deal.

That spotlight was even brighter in April when Cimini speculated New York might put the 24-year-old on the trade block ahead of the 2025 draft and focus on signing other players.

“Hall is among a handful of players up for a contract extension, most notably cornerback Sauce Gardner and wide receiver Garrett Wilson—both drafted the same year as Hall,” Cimini wrote. “It will be difficult to keep them all long term.

“Hall is a gifted player who would attract interest if dangled in trade talks.”

The Iowa State product seemed to react to such an idea:

NFL insider Josina Anderson also reported ahead of the first round of the 2025 draft that Hall was potentially available in trade talks, although Jets general manager Darren Mougey said shortly after that, “I haven’t had any talks with any teams about Breece Hall,” per Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic.

Head coach Aaron Glenn also told reporters multiple times during the season he didn’t want to trade the running back.

Alas, the Jets decided to keep Hall instead of trading him, potentially signaling a plan to keep the running back beyond this season.

The versatile playmaker seemed well on his way to stardom with 681 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns in his first seven games as a rookie, but his first year was cut short because of a torn ACL. To Hall’s credit, he bounced right back in his second year with 1,585 yards from scrimmage and nine touchdowns.

He was effective again during his third season in 2024 with 1,359 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns, although he did post a career-worst 4.2 yards per carry.

That total was much smaller than the 5.8 yards per carry he posted as a rookie, which led to some questions about his explosiveness moving forward.

He followed that performance with 581 rushing yards, 178 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

The Jets clearly believe in his ability to continue making plays in the future, and Hall figures to remain an integral part of their offense going forward. However, the team will still need to make a decision on the young star in the offseason.

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Premier League leaders Arsenal will switch their attention to the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening, when they host Brighton at the Emirates.

Mikel Arteta’s side will be hoping to continue their recent positive momentum for this fourth round clash and it’s not too late to get your hands on some last minute tickets to see the in-form Gunners in action.

So if you’re either at a loose end this Wednesday evening or fancy a half term treat, here’s all you need to know.

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Last minute tickets to Arsenal vs Brighton

Arsenal host Brighton in the Carabao Cup fourth round (Image credit: Getty Images)

Arsenal stretched their lead at the top of the table to four points on Sunday afternoon, when Eberechi Eze’s goal was enough to claim all three points against his former side Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium.

That made it four Premier League wins on the bounce and seven straight victories in all competitions for Arteta’s men, who are looking to end a 22-year wait for the title.

Arsenal head into Wednesday’s Carabao Cup tie as Premier League leaders (Image credit: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

But the Gunners also have a pedigree in the League Cup, having reached the final eight times, lifting the trophy in both 1987 and 1993.

They will be facing a Brighton side who have struggled for consistancy this season, having won three, drawn three and lost three in the Premier League, but hit League One Barnsley for six in the third round of the Carabao Cup to book in an Emirates date.

The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.

With both teams eager to book a place in the quarter-finals, it promises to be an exciting night in north London.

For an unforgettable occasion, Arsenal’s premium Club Level tickets deliver a truly elevated matchday for the Champions League.

Guests are guaranteed superb, cushioned seating and exclusive lounge access, opening a generous two-and-a-half hours before kick-off, making sure you can soak up the atmosphere early.

An exterior view of Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium (Image credit: Getty Images)

The package includes a vouchered food item for a substantial meal, four complimentary drinks, and a half-time beverage, ensuring you are well catered for.

Additionally, you receive a £5 merchandise voucher and a complimentary Museum Tour, rounding out this comprehensive experience for home supporters.

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