MLB

“We’ve definitely been listening on him,” Bloom said. “It’s not a surprise. I mean, he’s still one of the better pitchers in the league. We value him very highly. Just with where we are and thinking long term, we’ve talked to him, and I think we all feel like there might be something that makes sense, but we’ll continue to explore that.” Gray has a full no-trade clause, but he’s thought to be open to waiving it if the right destination comes about. One problem is that his three-year, $75 million contract was heavily backloaded, and he’s owed $35 million next season and perhaps a $5 million buyout of his 2027 option (it’s $30 million, and he can opt out of it if a team exercises it). The Cardinals will probably need to eat some of that in order to get a substantial return.

It’ll be interesting to see how the Astros go about navigating their outfield. They’ve already indicated that Yordan Alvarez will see more left field time and that Jose Altuve is again slated to play both second base and left field. The club still has Jake Meyers in center, with breakout prospect Zach Cole and Jacob Melton also options there. Another big bat would be nice, but shutting out Smith, who could be greatly improved as a sophomore, might be a mistake, and Sánchez, if he isn’t moved, would probably do solid work against righties, even though he was a disappointment after being picked up from Miami.

The Orioles have already brought back Andrew Kittredge, but he’s likely to be a setup man if things work out the way the team hopes. “Ideally, we’re going to acquire somebody who has closer experience, that’s good against righties and lefties,” Elias said. “There are a few teams (trying to do) that. Maybe there’s not enough to go around. But it’s at the top of our list.”

If spring training started today, the Rays would have Joe Boyle, Ian Seymour, Jesse Scholtens and Joe Rock vying for one rotation spot behind Shane McClanahan, Drew Rasmussen, Ryan Pepiot and Shane Baz. The Rays, though, apparently would prefer to have another Zack Littell-type pitcher around to add to their depth. If that works out, it’d probably take an injury to someone to avoid a return to Triple-A for Boyle, Seymour and the rest.

It’s the better of the two kinds of thoracic outlet surgery, so McNeil is already recovering well and is expected to be ready for spring training. There’s been some talk that the Mets might look to move him this winter, but he can be penciled in as the primary second baseman for now.

Lavender was the Rays’ Rule 5 draft pick and missed 2025 while recovering from an internal brace procedure. He’ll provide some depth — assuming good health — for the Mets’ minor-league staff to open 2026.

As expected, it was a landslide, with the right-hander taking all 30 first-place votes. Cristopher Sánchez received all 30 second-place votes, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto finished third. Skenes finished with a win-loss record of just 10-10, but voters saw through it with a 1.97 ERA, 216/42 K/BB over his 187 2/3 innings with the Pirates. It’s the second time a player has won the award a year after winning the Cy Young, joining Doc Gooden. He’ll deservedly be one of the first pitchers off the board come 2026.

Skubal beat out finalists Garret Crochet and Hunter Brown to win his second consecutive Cy Young. Skubal received 26 of the 30 first-place votes, with Crochet getting the other four. He’s the first to do it in the American League since Pedro Martinez back in 1999-2000, which is pretty good company. Skubal finished 2025 with a 241/33 K/BB ratio and 2.59 ERA, and while there’s some question as to where he’ll be playing in 2026, he’ll be well worth taking early in every league he’s eligible to play in.

Taylor forged a 4.91 ERA and 54/15 K/BB over his 36 2/3 innings with the White Sox in 2025. The right-hander has the stuff to be a starter, but it sounds like Chicago is more comfortable using him out of the bullpen at this stage of his career. Unless it’s pitching at the end of games, there’s very little fantasy appeal; even with the ability to miss bats.

Hader, 31, missed the final six-plus weeks with a strain in his left shoulder. Brown told reporters that the stopper was “progressing well” in his recovery. There’s a good chance Hander will be ready to roll for the start of the 2026 season, assuming no setbacks.