Here are three things we’ll be looking at around the world of baseball throughout the day:
1. The Mets get their top starter:
A busy week for the Mets got even better last night when the team struck a deal with the Brewers to acquire a right-hander. Freddy Peralta. New York offered two top prospects (Jett Williams again Brandon Sproat) to get to Peralta (and it’s right Tobias Myers), but in doing so they have finally addressed their long-discussed need for top rotation talent. Peralta finished fifth in NL Cy Young voting this past year and is a two-time All-Star.
That pedigree is enough to make him a good choice to mate with Nolan McLean top of the rotation, but questions remain about what’s next for the Mets. Could the team be looking to make another addition, perhaps adding insurance at the back Carson Benge again Luis Robert Jr. in the outer space? New York still has the complexities of starting to dump talent in order to take part in the next trade. McLean’s outstanding 2025 start makes him a rotation lock. Veteran options include Peralta, David Peterson, Kodai Senga, Clay Holmesagain Sean Manaea. Myers, high prospect Jonah Tong and high hopes of the former Christian Scottcoming back in 2024 with Tommy John surgery, all could play in the big league rotation, or each member of that trio has at least one minor league option remaining.
2. Yankees land Bellinger:
The Yankees finally reunited Cody Bellinger yesterday when he agreed to a five-year, $162.5MM deal that gives him the option to opt out after the 2027 and ’28 seasons. The move helps strengthen the team’s outfield, setting up the Yanks to once again rely on the trio of Bellinger, Aaron is the judgeagain Trent Grisham in the grass. That leaves the question of what happens to the young outfielder Jason Dominguez and high hopes Spencer Jonesalthough both could be kept as depth given that Grisham is on a one-year contract. It’s not clear yet if the Yankees are done; Bellinger was the big fish the club wanted, but they were also involved in the Peralta market before Milwaukee’s deal with the Mets. It’s possible they’re circling elsewhere, though the Yanks have already deepened the rotation by acquiring a lefty. Ryan Weathers from the Marlins.
3. Post-Peralta exchange market:
Trading Peralta to the Mets not only takes the first pitcher off the trade market, it also takes the most obvious suitor off the table. That’s an interesting bit of news given that the bullpen still boasts two starters with former rotation pedigrees: lefty. Framber Valdez and, to a lesser extent given his down season in 2025, is fine Zac Gallen. The Orioles are known to be in the market for a top starter this winter, and when they made a deal Shane Baz he added aloud, they never put a stronger arm. The same can be said of the lambs, who made a covenant to promise righteousness Edward Cabrera earlier this month. Atlanta could use another arm but usually doesn’t spend to the extent of Valdez in free agency. The D-backs may not have cap space. Angels save valuable money with Anthony Rendon‘s contract restructuring but are still not dominant players in free agency.
