Browsing: longterm

After back-to-back winters in which they aggressively pursued the free-agent market, the early signs this offseason suggest the Dodgers could explore a different path.

They have not materialized as the kind of clear-cut frontrunner for top free-agent prize Kyle Tucker, as many around the industry had expected over the summer.

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They have downplayed their few areas of potential roster “need,†touting their returning talent and internal depth instead.

While they have staked out a few early targets in free agency — specifically in the bullpen, where back-end relievers Devin Williams and Raisel Iglesias have emerged as two names of interest, according to multiple people with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly — they could nonetheless be hesitant to add another longer-term contract to their already aging core.

Even with more than $60 million coming off the books from last yearâ€s payroll, their focus “is less about how do we just spend money,†general manager Brandon Gomes said at this weekâ€s annual general managers†meetings, “and it’s much more about who’s available in the market, whether that’s free agency or otherwise, to make this team as good as possible to try to win a third [World Series] in a row.â€

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That “otherwise†might be where the Dodgers best line up to make impact moves this winter.

The trade market, given the current state of their roster, could better suit both their near- and long-term goals.

In the short term, the team could use an outfielder. While Andy Pages and Teoscar Hernández will occupy two starting spots in that position group, others behind them on the depth chart, like deadline acquisition Alex Call and recently promoted minor-leaguer Ryan Ward, might be used in more of platoon roles. And after watching Michael Conforto struggle in left field last year, finding a more established upgrade would certainly help the Dodgers†three-peat quest.

Thatâ€s why the Dodgers were seen as such a logical fit for Tucker coming into the offseason. After their exorbitant spending the last couple winters, even his potentially $400-$500 million price tag didnâ€t seem out of their range.

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The Dodgers, however, already have five players in their 30s signed to contracts that could extend into the 2030s.

They also have a burgeoning crop of outfield prospects — highlighted by Josue De Paula, Zyhir Hope, Eduardo Quintero and James Tibbs III — who are on track to break into the big leagues by 2027, if not the end of next season.

Those are the kind of circumstances that disincentivize additional lucrative, long-term deals; especially for a Dodgers franchise that remains focused on keeping its championship window open as long as possible.

“I think it’s always a balance of, how do you win this year without falling off that cliff [later down the line]?†Gomes said, echoing a common refrain of top executive Andrew Friedman.

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This winter, the trade market could be the answer, presenting opportunities to add impact players in the present without incurring the same kind of long-term financial risk and commitment.

There is utilityman Brendan Donovan of the St. Louis Cardinals, whom the Dodgers were linked to at last yearâ€s trade deadline and would add further versatility to their roster (all while making just over $5 million in salary and coming with still two years of team control).

There is, potentially, Steven Kwan of the Cleveland Guardians, a splashier name who is less likely to move, but is considered one of the best left fielders in the sport (and also projected for a relatively modest $9 million salary with free agency still two years away).

There is a glut of other possibilities around the league, as well — especially for pitching-hungry teams like, for example, the Boston Red Sox, whose overabundance of outfield depth could prompt Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu to be available in exchange for young arms.

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The Dodgers and their top-ranked farm system have that in spades. Their crop of young arms could be a key area for them to deal from in any potential offseason trades. It’s the kind of valuable trade bait that few other contenders could easily match.

The Dodgers would still be selective, of course, all-too-aware of the fact that preserving pitching depth will be crucial coming off the burdensome toll of consecutive World Series.

They wonâ€t be entirely punting on the free-agent market, either.

Bullpen additions remain a priority, whether it be Williams or Iglesias (whom the Dodgers would likely prefer on shorter-term deals), or a pivot to another option depending on how their markets develop (there will be plenty, including past trade targets Pete Fairbanks and Ryan Helsley).

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And while Tucker doesnâ€t seem to fit their plans, there could be other free-agent options to consider. Familiar face Cody Bellinger is the next best outfield bat, and could also slide to first base later in an extended contract (mitigating some of his long-term risks). Harrison Bader is someone who was on the Dodgers†radar at last yearâ€s deadline, and could be had on a shorter-term deal.

For now, the trade market seems like a place the Dodgers could do their primary shopping this winter; providing a potential middle ground for them to bolster next yearâ€s roster, while preserving some flexibility in the seasons to follow.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Ahead of the 2025 season, it was fair to wonder whetherBrett Baty was about to get his last, best chance to show he could be a big part of the Mets’ future.

In parts of three seasons with New York after making his debut late during the 2022 season, Baty’s performance at the plate wasn’t just underwhelming — there also seemed to be a confidence issue.

Over 602 plate appearances spanning 169 games between 2022 and 2024, Baty slashed just .215/.282/.325 with 15 homers. He hit the ball on the ground way too much, had too many poor at-bats, and watched as the Mets’ long-term third base job seemingly slipped away.

But while Mark Vientosstaked his third base claim in 2024 as he popped 27 homers in 111 regular season games before having a power surge during New York’s run to the NLCS, he relinquished it in 2025 — leading to an opportunity for Baty, who also got plenty of time at second base.

And even though Baty didn’t break the door down once given his chance, he finally started to put it all together.

In 432 plate appearances spanning 130 games this past season, Baty hit .254/.313/.435 with 18 home runs and 13 doubles. His .748 OPS dwarfed his previous career-best OPS of .633, his OPS+ of 111 was solidly above league average, and his defense at third base was smooth and reliable.

But with the Mets entering an offseason where the offensive core could be shaken up, could Baty be impacted?

Should Baty be part of the calculus going forward, or is it time to explore a trade?

New York Mets third baseman Brett Baty (7) rounds the bases after hitting a two run home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the fourth inning at Citi Field. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images

WHY IT COULD MAKE SENSE TO LET BATY GO

Baty did a lot of things right in 2025, but he still hits the ball on the ground a ton.

His 51.0 percent groundball rate was improved from 2024 (54.5 percent) but still well above the MLB average of 44.2 percent. Baty also strikes out at a pretty high clip for someone who doesn’t hit for a lot of power. And he won’t make an impact on the bases.

It can be argued, though, that it’s not really Baty’s performance/profile that could make his situation tenuous, but the presence of others.

In other words, with Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor, and Brandon Nimmolocked in, it’s hard to envision the Mets making a big offensive addition unless it’s at third base or first base.

If that move comes at first base in the form of Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami, perhaps they’ll simply slot Baty back in at third base. But in a world where New York re-signs Pete Alonso, would they be comfortable handing third base to Baty and basically running back the same offense that was so hit-or-miss in 2025?

What if Alonso walks, the Mets miss on Murakami, and sign/trade for a stopgap first baseman for 2026 who doesn’t offer a ton offensively?

In that scenario, it’s fair to think they’d look to bolster the offense elsewhere, with third base being a sensible spot to upgrade. And if they go that route, free agent Alex Bregman— who is a plus offensive player and a plus defender — could make a lot of sense.

Baty can also play second base, but the presence of top prospect Jett Williams — whose big league debut should come in 2026 — complicates the long-term view there.

New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets second baseman Brett Baty (7) rounds the bases after hitting a two run home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the second inning at Citi Field. / Brad Penner – Imagn Images

WHY IT COULD MAKE SENSE TO KEEP BATY

In addition to Baty’s standard offensive numbers, his advanced metrics also told a nice story in 2025.

His bat speed was elite, while his hard hit percentage, barrel percentage, and xSLG were all well above average. Baty was also above average when it came to xwOBA, average exit velocity, and chase percentage.

And while the Mets possibly shaking up the offense might make Baty’s future a little more uncertain than it would have otherwise been, his ability to play strong defense at third base is a huge plus to consider as David Stearns and the front office look to fortify the team’s run prevention.

Even in a world where the Mets aren’t sold on Baty as a starting player or simply want to go in a different direction at third base, he could still provide lots of value as a versatile bench player capable of handling third base, second base, and perhaps corner outfield in a pinch. He could also theoretically be part of the answer at designated hitter.

There’s also Baty’s age (26 for all of next season), cost, and team control to consider.

He won’t become arbitration-eligible until after the 2026 season, is under team control through 2029, and made just $774,000 in 2025.

So the Mets have no reason to be in a rush to make a final determination on Baty.

Aug 19, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; New York Mets third base Brett Baty (7) hits a solo home run against the Washington Nationals during the sixth inning at Nationals Park. / Amber Searls-Imagn Images

VERDICT

Unless there’s a potential trade partner that locks in on Baty as a key target in a deal that would bring an impact player back to New York, it should be an easy choice to keep him.

Depending on how the offseason goes, Baty could enter the season as the starting third baseman, second baseman, or a key bench player.

And while Williams and Benge should be lineup options at some point in 2026, it will be a big surprise if either player is part of the plan by Opening Day.

There’s also a possibility that the Mets trade Jeff McNeil this offseason. The departure of McNeil, who is entering the final year of his contract, would make the presence of Baty even more important.

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Oct 13, 2025, 12:41 PM ET

DETROIT — Detroit Tigers general manager Scott Harris said he extended manager A.J. Hinch’s contract during the 2025 season and insisted ownership will provide the resources necessary to sign ace Tarik Skubal to a long-term deal.

Harris and Hinch had a news conference Monday morning, wrapping up their season that ended last week with a 3-2, 15-inning loss at Seattle in Game 5 of the AL Division Series and looking ahead to next year and beyond.

“I wish we weren’t here right now,” Harris said. “I wish we were in Toronto, preparing for Game 2 of the ALCS.”

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Harris said he approached Hinch during the season, his fifth in Detroit, about extending his contract for a second time and they reached a deal quickly. Harris also signed Hinch to a long-term contract in 2023.

“He’s one of the best managers in the game,” Harris said.

Harris declined to say how long Hinch is under contract.

“We want him to be here as long as he’s willing to be here,” Harris said. “I want to work with him as long as I can possibly work with him.”

The Tigers would also like to have Skubal report to work in Detroit for years to come but know that will be costly. He won the AL Cy Young Award and was the league’s pitching Triple Crown winner in 2024. He followed that with a career-low 2.21 ERA and a career-high 241 strikeouts.

“He’s the best pitcher in baseball,” Harris said. “He’s hopefully going to win a second Cy Young.”

Skubal signed a $10.15 million, one-year contract during the last offseason – avoiding salary arbitration – and he’s set to become a free agent after the 2026 season.

To keep him off the market, team owner Chris Ilitch would have to spend many millions.

Harris insisted Ilitch will support the organization with what is needed for payroll, including what it would take to keep the 28-year-old lefty long term.

“I have no concerns about that,” Harris said.

Harris does have concerns about why the Tigers collapsed in September, when they blew the biggest lead in division or league history, and their poor performance at the plate in the postseason.

“I deserve to get those questions and we deserve the negative narrative that is swirling around this team,” he said.

Detroit had the best record in baseball for much of the season, then slumped into the trade deadline when Harris did not make a major move.

While Harris did not regret passing on pitchers he was offered, he said it is fair to question why he didn’t add a bat to the lineup.

“Maybe we should’ve,” he said.

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DETROIT — Detroit Tigers general manager Scott Harris said he extended manager A.J. Hinchâ€s contract during the 2025 season and insisted ownership will provide the resources necessary to sign ace Tarik Skubal to a long-term deal.

Harris and Hinch had a news conference, wrapping up their season that ended with a 3-2, 15-inning loss at Seattle in Game 5 of the AL Division Series and looking ahead to next year and beyond.

“I wish we werenâ€t here right now,†Harris said. “I wish we were in Toronto, preparing for Game 2 of the ALCS.â€

Harris said he approached Hinch during the season, his fifth in Detroit, about extending his contract for a second time and they reached a deal quickly. Harris also signed Hinch to a long-term contract in 2023.

“Heâ€s one of the best managers in the game,†Harris said.

Harris declined to say how long Hinch is under contract.

“We want him to be here as long as heâ€s willing to be here,†Harris said. “I want to work with him as long as I can possibly work with him.â€

The Tigers also would like to have Skubal report to work in Detroit for years to come, but know that will be costly. He won the AL Cy Young Award and was the leagueâ€s pitching Triple Crown winner in 2024. He followed that with a career-low 2.21 ERA and a career-high 241 strikeouts.

“Heâ€s the best pitcher in baseball,†Harris said. “Heâ€s hopefully going to win a second Cy Young.â€

Skubal signed a one-year, $10.15 million contract during the last offseason — avoiding salary arbitration — and heâ€s set to become a free agent after the 2026 season.

To keep him off the market, team owner Chris Ilitch would have to spend many millions.

Harris insisted Ilitch will support the organization with what is needed for payroll, including what it would take to keep the 28-year-old lefty long term.

“I have no concerns about that,†Harris said.

Harris does have concerns about why the Tigers collapsed in September, when they blew the biggest lead in division or league history, and their poor performance at the plate in the postseason.

“I deserve to get those questions and we deserve the negative narrative that is swirling around this team,†he said.

Detroit had the best record in baseball for much of the season, then slumped into the trade deadline when Harris did not make a major move.

While Harris did not regret passing on pitchers he was offered, he said it is fair to question why he didnâ€t add a bat to the lineup.

“Maybe we shouldâ€ve,†he said.

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William Saliba has agreed a new long-term contract at Arsenal. The 24-year-old centre-back has been a mainstay of Mikel Artetaâ€s team since the 2022-23 season and his decision to extend is a huge boost, not least as he has been a target for Real Madrid.

Salibaâ€s existing terms run until June 2027 and getting him to re-sign has been a priority for the clubâ€s sporting director, Andrea Berta, and the rest of the hierarchy. Arsenal are primed to confirm the deal, which has been months in the making.

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Saliba was asked in July whether he would re-sign. “Yes, hopefully,†he said. “There is nothing now but there is a good conversation with my agent and the club. Letâ€s see.â€

Saliba is considered to be Artetaâ€s defensive leader and one of the teamâ€s most important figures. He played more Premier League minutes than any other Arsenal outfielder in each of the past two seasons; the club had the competitionâ€s meanest defensive record in both.

Signed in the summer of 2019 from Saint-Étienne for £27m, he was loaned back to them for the season before spending the second-half of 2020-21 on loan at Nice. He played on loan at Marseille in 2021-22, when he was named in the Ligue 1 team of the season. He has been in the Professional Footballers†Associationâ€s Premier League team of the season for the past three years.

Salibaâ€s central defensive partner Gabriel Magalhães signed a contract extension in June while Arsenal also tied down Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri to new deals over the summer.

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WWE and TNA are moving forward into a new chapter of their historic working alliance. As a highly-anticipated creative program kicks off, new details are being leaked on just how complex plans are.

Shawn Michaels and Carlos Silva led their brands into another battle on Tuesday’s live NXT episode. The 12-minute main event saw NXT Champion Oba Femi defend his title against fellow WWE talent Trick Williams, who also had his TNA World Championship on the line. The referee called the match when TNA’s Mike Santana, who was on commentary, got into it with Williams at ringside.

For days there had been talk of another massive interpromotional brawl, which was fueled by TNA wrestlers sitting in the crowd for Tuesday’s episode. The competition hit the ring after the NXT vs. TNA title match ended in a No Contest, and this emptied the locker-room as male and female stars from both companies began brawling while the crowd went wild.

Several TNA wrestlers were also seen backstage throughout Tuesday’s show. The company was represented by Eric Young, Matt Cardona, Moose, Frankie Kazarian, Cedric Alexander, The IInspiration, Steve Maclin, Steph De Lander, Mance Warner, Lei Ying Lee, Xia Brookside, Zachary Wentz, and Victoria Crawford.

Michaels made it known that the war is not over. WWE’s Senior Vice President of Talent Development shared a post-show clip from behind-the-scenes.

“This doesn’t end here @ThisIsTNA. #WeAreNXT,” Shawn Michaels wrote.

This doesnâ€t end here @ThisIsTNA. #WeAreNXTpic.twitter.com/Ys7a5gajar

— Shawn Michaels (@ShawnMichaels) September 24, 2025

The warning from Michaels fueled speculation on WWE sending a crew of Superstars to TNA’s Impact tapings. Now word is that the NXT vs. TNA storyline will be a major part of the build to the 21st Bound For Glory pay-per-view, which is scheduled for Sunday, October 12 in Lowell, MA at the Tsongas Center.

WWE Has Big Plans For NXT vs. TNA

The NXT vs. TNA invasion angle kicked off to major buzz this month, and sources are now revealing how this storyline will be a longterm program involving top talents from both brands. Fightful Select adds that the creative direction is set to continue well through Bound For Glory.

NXT is set to have “an accelerated presence” on WWE programming, apparently to help with buzz for the TNA invasion angle. WWE brought several familiar faces, and notable names, to NXT this week, including talents that have not worked the NXT-TNA partnership until now. While there are some wrestlers that WWE officials do not want featured, there is talk of using some former Superstars or legends, including The Hardys.

Fans recently noticed how TNA does not have a TV taping scheduled for the week after Bound For Glory, but they do have three Impact tapings scheduled for November 13-15 at a venue to be named in Orlando, Florida. The latest report from backstage is that this scheduling is not an accident as it will factor into the NXT vs. TNA storyline going well through Bound For Glory.

Sources could not confirm what is planned, but it was noted that we could see “something unconventional or different” for TNA TV tapings coming out of Bound For Glory. In regards to rumors of TNA taping at the WWE Performance Center, it was said that the dates would not be listed on ticketing websites this early, if that is the plan.

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