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MLB News

Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Mets Officially Sign Jorge Polanco to 2-Year, $40M Deal; Versatile Role Expected

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The Mets officially signed Jorge Polanco to a reported two-year, $40 million deal on Tuesday. President David Stearns anticipates the 32-year-old will play first base, DH, and other positions, emphasizing his athleticism and versatility. Polanco, who has only one career game at first base, slashed .265/.326/.495 with 30 doubles, 26 homers, and 78 RBI in 138 games last year with the Mariners. The move comes after Pete Alonso's departure, with Polanco not expected to match Alonso's offensive production. Discussions on The Mets Pod also covered his anticipated role and potential trade actions.

Giants Bolster Rotation, Sign Adrian Houser to 2-Year, $22M Deal

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The San Francisco Giants have signed right-handed starting pitcher Adrian Houser, 32, to a two-year, $22 million contract with a club option for 2028, as reported by Jeff Passan. Houser, who turns 33 in February, is coming off a bounce-back 2025 season where he posted a 3.31 ERA with 92 strikeouts and 38 walks over 125 innings across 21 starts for the White Sox and Rays. The Giants are shoring up their pitching staff, and Houser is expected to benefit from Oracle Park's favorable environment.

Giants Sign Reliever Jason Foley to 1-Year Deal Post-Shoulder Surgery

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The San Francisco Giants signed right-handed reliever Jason Foley, 30, to a one-year MLB contract. Foley underwent right shoulder surgery in May 2025, sidelining him for the entire 2025 season. He last pitched for the Detroit Tigers in 2024, recording a 3.15 ERA with 28 saves over 60 innings. The Giants anticipate his return midway through the 2026 season, adding depth to their bullpen as they shore up their pitching staff.

Cubs Re-Sign Lefty Reliever Caleb Thielbar

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The Chicago Cubs have re-signed left-handed reliever Caleb Thielbar, according to sources. This move brings the veteran southpaw back to the Cubs' bullpen, providing depth and experience for the upcoming season.

Foster Griffin Inks $5.5M Deal with Nationals, Eyes Rotation Spot

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Left-hander Foster Griffin has signed a one-year, $5.5 million contract with the Washington Nationals, with an additional $1 million in incentives. Griffin spent the last three seasons pitching for Japan's Yomiuri Giants, where he posted a 2.57 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 25.1% strikeout rate, and 5.5% walk rate over 315.2 innings. Prior to that, he logged eight MLB innings with the Royals (2020-2022). The Nationals expect Griffin to open the 2026 campaign in their starting rotation.

Marsh Projected as Primary Outfielder in Phillies' 2026 Plans

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Phillies president Dave Dombrowski confirmed plans for Brandon Marsh to be a primary outfielder in 2026, alongside Justin Crawford and newly signed Adolis Garcia. Dombrowski indicated that further significant outfield additions are unlikely following Garcia's signing. While Crawford is being positioned as the primary center fielder, Marsh's role in the team's future outfield plans remains central, as reported by Matt Gelb of The Athletic.

Adolis García Signs $10M Phillies Deal, Aims for 2026 Resurgence

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Adolis García, 32, signed a one-year, $10 million deal with the Phillies for 2026, aiming to rebound after injury-plagued 2024-2025 seasons (.675, .665 OPS respectively). The two-time All-Star, non-tendered by Texas, is expected to play right field. Despite recent struggles, Phillies believe his tools remain, focusing on swing approach. García, a 2023 Gold Glover and ALCS MVP, brings elite defense (+36 DRS, 24 rARM) and energy, with coaches set to work on his offensive adjustments.

Red Sox show 'significant interest' in Cardinals' Willson Contreras

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The Boston Red Sox have reportedly shown “significant interest” in acquiring Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras. The 33-year-old, a three-time All-Star, recently transitioned from catcher to first base and has two years, $36.5 million remaining on his contract. Last season, he slashed .257/.344/.447 with 20 home runs and 80 RBI in 135 games, also ranking fourth among first basemen with six Outs Above Average. Boston may need to part with prospects like Connelly Early or Payton Tolle for the veteran slugger.

Rays Weighing Brandon Lowe Trade Amid Free Agency & Salary Concerns

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The Tampa Bay Rays are considering trading second baseman Brandon Lowe, who is a year from free agency and set to earn $11.5 million. Despite interest from teams like the Pirates and Reds, Rays president Erik Neander expressed contentment with keeping Lowe and Yandy Díaz, citing their value and the team's financial position. Lowe, an All-Star, hit 31 homers and drove in 83 runs in 2025, making him a valuable power source at second base. However, the team faces an uphill battle in the AL East and may explore trading Lowe to recoup value and reshape the roster, especially with potential interest in other players like Junior Caminero.

Alonso's Big Fly Ability Impacts Free Agent Market

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Pete Alonso and Kyle Schwarber secured substantial contracts due to their home run hitting prowess. This success is projected to influence and potentially increase the contract values for other available free agent hitters, setting a new benchmark for power hitters in the market.

Schwarber's Big Fly Ability Impacts Free Agent Market

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Pete Alonso and Kyle Schwarber secured substantial contracts due to their home run hitting prowess. This success is projected to influence and potentially increase the contract values for other available free agent hitters, setting a new benchmark for power hitters in the market.

Monday, December 15, 2025

Ha-Seong Kim Re-Signs with Braves for $20M, Set as Primary Shortstop

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Ha-Seong Kim has officially re-signed with the Atlanta Braves on a one-year, $20 million contract, finalized Monday. The 30-year-old shortstop, who declined a $16 million player option from a previous Tampa Bay deal, is expected to be Atlanta's primary shortstop for the upcoming season. Kim, claimed off waivers by the Braves on Sept. 1, batted .234 with five homers and 17 RBIs across the Rays and Braves in 2025, making his season debut July 4 after late-2024 shoulder surgery. GM Alex Anthopoulos expressed hopes for a long-term future and expects Kim to return to his previous production levels. His return positions Mauricio Dubón in a utility role.

Yankees, Orioles, Red Sox Compete for Free Agent RHP Michael King

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Free-agent right-hander Michael King is reportedly being pursued by the Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, and Boston Red Sox. The Yankees are "open to" reuniting with King, 30, whom they traded to the Padres in December 2023. King started 45 of 46 games for San Diego from 2024-25, posting an 18-12 record with a 3.10 ERA and 1.194 WHIP over 247 innings, despite battling injuries in his second year. Yankees manager Aaron Boone praised King's "great stuff and arsenal," while GM Brian Cashman confirmed they are exploring options.

Left-Hander Jake Bennett Traded to Nationals by Red Sox

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Left-handed pitcher Jake Bennett was traded by the Boston Red Sox to the Washington Nationals on Monday, per Jeff Passan. This prospect-for-prospect deal sent Luis Perales to Boston. Bennett is one of the prospects involved who is returning from Tommy John surgery. The trade marks Bennett's departure from the Red Sox organization as he joins the Nationals' system.

Red Sox Acquire Luis Perales, High-Upside Pitching Prospect

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The Red Sox acquired 22-year-old right-handed pitching prospect Luis Perales from the Nationals on Monday in exchange for Jake Bennett, Jeff Passan reports. Perales missed much of 2024 and nearly all of 2025 recovering from Tommy John surgery. Since returning, he has impressed with a fastball regularly reaching triple digits. Despite only 9.2 innings beyond A-ball and a career 12.3% walk rate in the minors, Perales is considered to have significant upside for Boston.

Blue Jays Sign RHP Tyler Rogers to Three-Year, $37M Contract

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The Toronto Blue Jays have signed right-handed pitcher Tyler Rogers to a three-year, $37 million deal. Rogers, who led all of Major League Baseball with 81 appearances last season, becomes the latest addition to Toronto's pitching staff. This move bolsters the Blue Jays' bullpen with a durable and high-volume reliever.

Díaz's $69M Dodgers Deal Deferred Until 2047, Adds to $1.06B Owed

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Edwin Díaz finalized a three-year, $69 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, featuring significant deferred payments extending until 2047. The deal includes a $9 million signing bonus, $14 million salary next year, and $23 million in the subsequent two seasons, with $4.5 million deferred annually. This arrangement elevates the Dodgers' total deferred payment obligations to over $1.06 billion across nine players. Díaz, a three-time All-Star, posted 28 saves and a 1.63 ERA last season for the Mets, striking out 98 in 66.1 innings.

Yu Darvish Undecided on Future After UCL Surgery, May Miss 2026 Season

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Padres pitcher Yu Darvish (elbow) stated Monday he is unsure about continuing his baseball career after completing rehab for his November UCL repair with an internal brace and flexor tendon surgery. He is reportedly considering retirement. Darvish will miss the entire 2026 season and will be 40 years old heading into the 2027 campaign. While he is owed $30 million between 2027-2028, he is currently focused on rehab and will decide his playing future later. In 2025, Darvish posted a 5.38 ERA and 68:19 K:BB over 72 innings across 15 starts.

Ohtani Owed $680M as Dodgers' Deferred Payments Exceed $1 Billion

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Shohei Ohtani is owed a staggering $680 million in deferred payments, contributing significantly to the Los Angeles Dodgers' total deferred obligations now surpassing $1.06 billion. This figure, spread across nine players, highlights the team's strategy of pushing salary payments into the future. The recent contract of Edwin Diaz further increased the total deferred amount, with Ohtani's deal being the largest component.

Phillies Reportedly Moving On From Nick Castellanos After García Signing

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The Philadelphia Phillies' signing of Adolis García reportedly signals the end of Nick Castellanos' tenure, with the team expected to trade or release him before spring training. Castellanos, entering the final year of his five-year, $100 million deal ($20M in 2026), faced frustration over defensive substitutions and posted poor defense (-12 OAA in 2025). While his bat (.252/.303/.416 since 2024) outperformed García's, his declining exit velocity and hard-hit rate, coupled with defensive struggles, prompted the move. The Phillies may need to absorb part of his contract for a trade.