#roster-construction

#roster-construction

I have conflicted feelings on these comments. A guy like Chris Bassitt would have made this roster better on paper. That's not really something disputed. I think there is an argument if you think that Bryce Elder and/or Joey Wentz are 1-1.5 fWAR/162 starting pitchers, then adding a 2-2.5 fWAR/162 starter for just under $20 million isn't good return on investment and doesn't substantially improve depth when it results on the likely loss of a guy like Elder from the roster entirely.

It's crunch time in Major League Baseball, the last days before the start of spring training for teams to make additions to their rosters. While there are still some interesting free agents left on the market -- most notably starting pitchers Zac Gallen, Chris Bassitt and Justin Verlander -- the recent three-team deal involving the Seattle Mariners, St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays showed that trades might still be in the works,

New general manager Ian Cunningham is stepping into a less-than-ideal situation in Atlanta. On one hand, he has some terrific pieces on both sides of the ball, a reasonable amount of cap space, and a fanbase that knows that 2026 is not a year where we're going to place outsized expectations after eight straight losing seasons. On the other hand, it's a roster with a ton of holes, some very expensive commitments, and a thorny quarterback situation.

They continue to be road warriors as they are 14-7-4 on the road but just 11-7-7 at home. One of the reasons for their success this season is deeper scoring. While they are not an elite offense, they have received more contributions throughout the lineup than they did last season. Forwards Anthony Mantha and Justin Brazzeau have provided that secondary scoring, adding a combined 60 points and both have been a breath of fresh air.

They're in the Super Bowl because they made every right move in constructing their roster. And the Commanders should take notes. The Seahawks have been led primarily by their defense, which leads the league in fewest points allowed. This is despite a unit that lacks big-name superstars or high-profile draft picks, aside from cornerback Devon Witherspoon. Mainly, it's been elite scheming by Macdonald and the youth of Seattle's roster, allowing them to fly around the field.

After spending 12 of his 18 Major League seasons with the Pirates, Andrew McCutchen said back in August that he wanted to return for another season in the black-and-gold, while acknowledging that his shortcomings during the 2025 season. " I have to do what I need to do to...show that I was able to have a good year and still can play the following year," McCutchen said, noting that he didn't want to be just " filling in a spot " and not contributing.

The Cubs made a major splash over the weekend by landing star third baseman Alex Bregman on a five-year deal. As a multi-time All-Star who reliably offers Gold Glove defense at third base and posts offense in the 125 wRC+ range, Bregman is sure to provide a major lift to the club headed into 2026. Strong as the signing is for the team, however, it also creates questions about the future of some of their other players.

According to NBA insider Zach Lowe, there have been teams calling the Heat about Bam's availability via trade. The response has been a resounding "no" from Miami. Even though the Heat continues to have an uneven first half of the season, it does suggest that the team still feels Bam is a huge part of what they're building for the future.

Not too concerned just yet. There's a lot of winter left, and the Mets are going to make moves. They have the money and the prospects to add elite talent. It's clear that Stearns believes the Mets' core wasn't good enough after such a disappointing season. Losing Díaz and Alonso -- on top of trading Brandon Nimmo -- is certainly tough to swallow for Mets fans because those three players were so beloved. The Mets aren't going to stand pat.

Morel finished the 2024 season with a 50 OPS+ in 49 games with the Rays, hitting three home runs and driving in only nine runs. For the season, he slashed .196/.288/.346 with an 81 wRC+ and -1.0 fWAR.