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Sonny Gray is traded to the Red Sox

We knew the St. Louis Cardinals would make a move this winter, as they are in the midst of a transition to better times. And now, the process has begun.

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Misouri outfit has just traded starting pitcher Sonny Gray to the Boston Red Sox after Gray waived his no-trade clause to leave St. Louis.

In return, Chaim Bloom, who just danced with his former team, gets his hands on two pitchers, left-hander Brandon Clarke and right-hander Richard Fitts.

Gray’s contract has been reworked for one year plus a mutual option. His salary in 2026 will be $31 million plus a $10 million mutual option buyout. The gunner will therefore essentially earn $41 million for one year. For their part, the Cards will send no less than $20 million to Boston to cover part of this fee.

The right-hander will leave the Cardinals after two seasons there and join a Boston rotation that needed reinforcements to surround Garrett Hook. Gray finished last season with a record of fourteen wins against eight losses and an earned run average of 4.28, also making 201 strikeouts in the process.

Sure, Gray will be able to give the Low Reds innings, but Sox chief of baseball operations Breslow has said he’s aiming for a number-two starter, which Gray is not.

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Angels interested in Cody Bellinger

The Los Angeles Angels haven’t reached the playoffs since 2014 and have finished with a record below the .500 mark in the last nine seasons.

And if the California outfit doesn’t want to relive Groundhog Day, they have a glaring need for both a left-handed hitter and an outfielder, specifically in center field. In fact, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Angels are interested in Cody Bellinger with a view to moving him to everyday center field in 2026.

Bellinger played primarily left field for the New York Yankees last season, but also played in the other two outfields. The fact that he hits from left combined with his excellent defense would be a perfect match for what the Angels are looking for.

Los Angeles currently has a reliable outfielder in its line-up in Jo Adell, with Mike Trout and Jorge Soler clearly full-time, or near-full-time, hitters of choice, and Taylor Ward having been traded to the Baltimore Orioles in return for the services of pitcher Grayson Rodriguez.

The Angels won’t be alone, however, as the Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays are also interested, to name but a few.

The Southern California representatives have around $40 million to spend this winter, and Bellinger is expected to land a six-year contract in the $160 million range on the free agent market.

It’s about time the Angels got their hands on a big fish, but even if Bellinger were to land in Los Angeles, there would still be several gaps to address before they pull themselves out of the doldrums.

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“I want to beat the Dodgers”: Japan’s Tatsuya Imai doesn’t want to go to L.A

The Los Angeles Dodgers control the Japanese market in terms of baseball. They’re popular there because of the presence of Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki.

They’re also popular because they’re good and they’ll play games in Asia once in a while.

It’s easy to think that Japanese people coming into MLB want to play for the Dodgers. It’s a big club that has money, has players from Japan, is on the West Coast…. and wins games in October.

What more could you ask for?

Not everyone, however. Tatsuya Imai, the Japanese pitcher who will sign his first MLB contract in the next few weeks, is still choosing his team.

And he doesn’t want to play with a team that already has a Japanese player.

But it goes even further: the gunner doesn’t want to go to the Dodgers either… in order to beat them. He wants to bring them down to earth and beat them to win a ring.

In his eyes, that would be the most significant thing in his life.

We know that some players from Japan like it better to be in a club where there are no other guys from the country. Sometimes that’s part of the culture there, which is different from North America.

And we know that not all players want to play in markets like L.A.

However, it’s curious to hear Imai make such a statement, considering that cutting yourself off from a potential team in the middle of the autonomy process is not the best negotiating tactic. But at least it’s clear.

Note that the Yankees’ name often comes up in the Imai file.

PMLB
  • Shohei Ohtani will take part in the World Classic.

  • Kyle Stowers, in Miami to stay?

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Dustin Pedroia understands his former teammate Rafael Devers

In a very interesting interview on the Baseball Isn’t Boring podcast, Dustin Pedroia revisited the deal that brought Rafael Devers from Boston to San Francisco.

The former Red Sox legend had nothing but good things to say about the recent member of the Giants organization, praising in particular his batting stroke. He also mentioned that he understood the Devers of 2025, as a similar situation had once happened to him in his career, and that it had shaken him to the core.

The signing of another second-cushion player

Let’s go back in time to 2013. The Boston Red Sox win the World Series to the delight of Red Sox Nation. Dustin Pedroia was on fire and at the top of his game. That year, he and his club agree to an eight-year, $110 million contract extension, effective the following year. All seemed well and he was, as they say, on cloud nine.

Then, on February 23, 2015, he learned that his team was signing another second baseman like himself, prospect Yoan Moncada, for several tens of millions of dollars. Then came the questioning, which he says is perfectly normal, because we’re human after all. He couldn’t understand why this money hadn’t been invested to fill other gaps in the line-up.

I thought I was their guy. I thought they loved me as much as I loved them. – Pedroia on Moncada’s arrival

So yes, Devers went through the same thing as his former teammate this year when Craig Breslow brought another third baseman in Alex Bregman into the locker room for tens of millions of dollars too. However, one story ended better than the other.

The way to react

Pedroia used the Cuban’s arrival as motivation to perform better. In the end, Moncada played just eight games for Boston and then moved on to the Chicago White Sox, which brought Chris Sale in return. Still!

In Devers’ case, however, it was as if Bregman’s arrival had totally destroyed him. He seemed to spoil the atmosphere in the dressing room. It’s probably no coincidence that the Red Sox began to perform better following his departure.

Adversity says a lot about a human being’s character. Every reaction is different, and that’s the beauty of human nature and of athletes, whatever the sport.

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Yankees: Hal Steinbrenner takes fans for suitcases

The New York Yankees, as we all know, are a money-printing machine. The team’s popularity extends beyond baseball, and few teams have more revenue than they do in the world of professional sports.

I’m not telling you anything here. But that’s because you’re not the club’s owner, Hal Steinbrenner.

The latter, in fact, spoke to the media today. And what we learned from his press conference is that he really does take the fans for a ride.

First of all, Steinbrenner said that it’s not fair to say that the Yankees are a profitable organization. He cites the fact that the club has big expenses, which means they add up quickly.

Nothing less.

The club makes no secret of the fact: it would ideally like to reduce its wage bill, as long as the club can aspire to win the World Series. And in reality, this is understandable: any company would like to pay less for big results.

This one’s still okay.

Steinbrenner isn’t opposed to the idea of a salary cap (which, in reality, would be detrimental to the Yankees’ advantage). That said, he’s adamant that if there’s a cap, there should also be a salary floor.

And again, it’s not exactly a measure that would benefit the Yankees.

What’s clear is that Steinbrenner’s comments don’t exactly suggest that he’s desperate for his club to win the World Series again. Rather, his main priority seems to be to ensure a level playing field among the 30 MLB clubs and to limit spending.

Had this come from the Rockies’ owner, it would have made sense. But coming from a Steinbrenner, I don’t need to tell you that it doesn’t go over very well in the Bronx.

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MLB en bref : Les Rockies gardent leur gérant | Salvador Perez le capitaine

Les Rockies gardent leur gérant

Warren Schaeffer a fini l’année à l’intérim. Tous les clubs ont maintenant un gérant.

Tout est possible pour les Mets

David Stearns a brassé les cartes et son proprio a les moyens de ses ambitions.

Il n’en demeure pas moins que d’échanger Brandon Nimmo a brisé le coeur des Mets.

Salvador Perez le capitaine à la Classique mondiale

Évidemment.

Oui, les Marlins et les Pirates veulent dépenser

Ils sont liés à plusieurs noms sur le marché.

Les Rangers voulaient vraiment sauver de l’argent

Ils n’ont pas jasé aux Red Sox pour leurs voltigeurs. Donc ce n’est pas tant que le Texas voulait un voltigeur : c’est que le club ne voulait plus le contrat de Marcus Semien.

Est-ce que Freddy Peralta sera échangé?

Et si oui, où?

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Nolan Arenado: he won’t be easy to trade

Last year, Nolan Arenado was almost traded to the Houston Astros. The interested party said no.

Eventually, his name circulated elsewhere in baseball (notably Anaheim), but he missed his window to be traded. So he stayed in St. Louis for the entire 2025 season.

I don’t think he’s unhappy in St. Louis, anyway.

This year, with the youngsters growing on the Cardinals, there’s a greater sense of urgency to trade the star player, whose best years are clearly behind him.

But even if St. Louis were to withhold salary (Arenado is due $37 million over the next two years) and the principal interested party still knows how to play defensively, one wonders who will want him.

Mike Petrillo (MLB.com) has written a paper on the subject… and clearly, we realize that the question is a good one. And why? Because very few clubs can and potentially want to go after him. And Arenado, even if he’s less careful than last year, can say no to a deal.

Could the Red Sox, who came close to acquiring him a year ago, obtain his services if Alex Bregman were to sign elsewhere? Maybe, yes.

I can see the Tigers being interested in Arenado. I see the Phillies in the mix. But those clubs certainly won’t be in the running until better options are on the table.

In reality, I agree with the basic text’s conclusion: it’s perhaps the Angels who have the best chance of getting their hands on Arenado. The guy grew up around here, and he must realize that his dream of playing for the Dodgers isn’t going to happen.

To be continued… but not in the very short term.

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The Red Sox will spend this winter

After a somewhat disappointing 2025 campaign, the Boston Red Sox will look to improve their lineup this winter, which is on the right track. The Massachusetts representatives need to make at least two personnel moves if they are to compete with the top teams in the American League’s Eastern Section.

And it appears that, for a rare occasion recently, the Bas Rouges will be spending more than usual this off-season. Indeed, according to Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic, Boston’s plan is to spend over the $244 million luxury tax threshold this winter.

It remains likely that the club will spend beyond the $244 million threshold for 2026. That said, to add a top-notch starting pitcher as well as at least one big bat and one or two relievers, the team will need to be active on both the free agent and trade markets.

Bringing Alex Bregman back into the fold is the most likely route, as the Red Sox have already seen what he can do for the organization. Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso, however, are two other big names who have been linked to Boston.

A reunion with Alex Bregman remains on the table, while Pete Alonso and Kyle Schwarber remain the main targets on the roster. Recently-assigned Japanese MLB outfielder Kazuma Okamoto offers another option for the club as a right-handed first baseman.

If the Red Sox take care of the middle of the offensive order and add a quality arm to the starting rotation, they’ll be in a good position at the start of the 2026 season.

Let’s not forget that the Bostonnais will be able to count on the services of Roman Anthony for the entire campaign, who posted a .292 batting average with eight long balls, 32 runs produced, 40 bases on balls and 18 doubles in 71 games played.

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Edwin Diaz and the Mets: the length of the contract is an issue

The New York Mets have been in the news since last night (Sunday), following their deal that sent highly-regarded outfielder Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers in return for Marcus Semien.

So, David Stearns’ off-season is well and truly underway, and he seems ready to do anything to improve a team that needs to put the 2025 campaign behind it.

But perhaps not everything. Indeed, in an article published after the transaction that sent Nimmo to other climes, Will Sammon of The Athletic stated that there is a stumbling block in the contract negotiations between Edwin Diaz and the Mets.

Sammon noted that, while Diaz would like a contract similar to the five-year, $102 million deal he received from New York in November 2022, Queens’ representatives would prefer to offer him a deal for fewer years, probably somewhere around three.

This poses a problem for the Mets, as one imagines that other teams would be willing to offer Diaz a five-year pact for roughly the same amount, given that he has long since proven himself to be one of the best relievers in Major League Baseball.

The Toronto Blue Jays come to mind, and while it’s not customary for the club to spend on a number-one reliever, they are in desperate need of one. With a Diaz in the Jays line-up in 2025, they would have finished the season with a World Series ring.

We’ll see if the Mets or Diaz are willing to put water in their wine to bring the 31-year-old back to the Big Apple. If not, he’ll find himself with another Major League Baseball team willing to give him what he thinks is his true value.

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Brandon Nimmo deal helps Red Sox

Just last night (Sunday), the Texas Rangers and New York Mets surprised the baseball world by completing a trade involving Brandon Nimmo and Marcus Semien.

While this is a game-changer for Cody Bellinger’s situation on the free agent market, with the Mets now a dancing partner, it also benefits the Boston Red Sox on the trade market.

Indeed, Boston had to be excited about a deal like this, as this is a team with not one, but two quality outfielders who could potentially change addresses, namely Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu.

On the one hand, Nimmo is 32 years old and had signed an eight-year, $162 million contract with five seasons remaining. Over the past three campaigns, he has posted a batting average of .254 with 72 long balls, 250 runs batted in, 31 stolen bases and 82 doubles in 458 games played. This represents an average of 24 home runs, 83 runs batted in, 10 stolen bases and 27 doubles per year.

In comparison, Duran has played 419 games over the past three seasons and posted a .276 batting average with 45 bombs, 199 runs batted in, 82 stolen bases and 123 doubles. That’s an average of 15 long balls, 66 runs produced, 27 stolen bases and 41 doubles per season. It’s also worth mentioning that the outfielder is 29 years old, three years younger than Nimmo, and won’t become free as a bird until 2029.

Abreu, meanwhile, has played 247 games over the past two years and is the best defensive player of the three, having already won two Gold Gloves. He won’t become a free agent until 2030.

If five seasons with an expensive Nimmo can get you a Marcus Semien plus $5 million in cash, the Red Sox can get their hands on a very large package for Abreu or Duran.

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