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Ha-Seong Kim Out Four To Five Months Following Hand Surgery

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The Braves announced this afternoon that infielder Ha-Seong Kim suffered a hand injury while in South Korea and underwent surgery to repair a torn tendon in his right middle finger. The procedure was performed today in Atlanta and the expected recovery time is 4 to 5 months, per the announcement. MLB.com’s Mark Bowman reports that Kim suffered the injury after falling on ice.

It’s a brutal revelation for the Braves, who claimed Kim off waivers from the Rays back in September in hopes of luring him to Atlanta for the 2026 season as well. While he opted out of his player option for the 2026 campaign, he eventually re-signed with the Braves on a one-year, $20MM deal back in December. Bringing Kim back into the fold was one of their biggest splashes this winter, alongside the addition of Robert Suarez to the back of the bullpen. Kim also figured to address perhaps the biggest weakness of their entire roster; the team’s 54 wRC+ at shortstop last year was dead last in the majors, and their 0.4 fWAR at the position bested only the Guardians and Rockies. When healthy, Kim is a reliable three-to-four win player thanks to his roughly league average bat and phenomenal defense.

Unfortunately, “when healthy” is becoming an increasingly key phrase when discussing Kim’s career. He suffered a torn labrum in his right shoulder in August of 2024 that brought his time with the Padres to an abrupt end, leaving him sidelined for the stretch run and the Padres’ efforts to get past the eventual World Champion Dodgers in a hotly contested NLDS that San Diego ultimately lost in five. The Rays had enough faith in his talent to sign Kim to a two-year guarantee last winter, even knowing that he would miss the first few months of the season while rehabbing from surgery on his aforementioned torn labrum. That gamble did not pay off. Kim didn’t make his Rays debut until after the All-Star break last year as recovery from surgery took longer than expected, and he wound up heading back to the injured list multiple times due to back and calf injuries.

Kim seemed like a lock to pick up his 2026 player option when he was claimed off waivers by Atlanta, but a solid showing in 24 September games with the Braves convinced him to test the market. That proved to be a savvy decision, as the Braves ultimately brought him back on a higher salary than he would’ve made had he simply accepted his $16MM option. While the deal cost Atlanta an extra $4MM, it was easy to see why they’d be willing to make that bet on a player with Kim’s talent, particularly given their needs at shortstop and the thin market around the rest of the roster. Kim could certainly help to rejuvenate what was a sluggish offense last year by providing a massive upgrade over incumbent shortstop Nick Allen, who was traded to Houston earlier this winter.

They’ll now have to wait to feel that impact until near the end of the first half, at the earliest. The early end of Kim’s recovery timeline would put him back on the field in mid-May, but he well might need extra time to ramp up after missing all of Spring Training and spending much of last year on the injured list as well. In the meantime, the Braves have utility man Mauricio Dubon to turn to as their everyday shortstop. Dubon is miscast as an everyday regular but should be a decent enough fill-in option. Losing his versatile glove from the bench puts pressure on the rest of the roster, and an Atlanta offense that looked generally complete this morning could now clearly use another addition, even if that player is just a depth option.

Bringing someone like Isiah Kiner-Falefa into the fold would certainly help stabilize things, but after the Braves scaled their payroll up by nearly $50MM this winter (according to RosterResource) with the additions of Kim, Suarez, and Mike Yastrzemski it’s hard to say if there’s room in the budget for even that sort of mid-level signing. The market for shortstop help is exceedingly thin at this point, but perhaps a depth signing like Jorge Mateo could help fill out the roster until Kim returns. Of course, president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos is known for his creativity and could look to explore the trade market for help. Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner has been widely discussed in trade rumors this winter, particularly after the club’s recent signing of Alex Bregman, and has played shortstop well in the past. The Mets have a cadre of infield talent that’s been squeezed out by the Bo Bichette deal, but it’s unclear if the team would be willing to trade someone like Ronny Mauricio or Luisangel Acuna within the division.

Red Sox “Remain Active” In Efforts To Upgrade Catching Tandem

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While much of the focus for the Red Sox this offseason has been on their efforts to upgrade the rotation and fill out their corner infield mix, the team has also been connected to a number of catchers in recent months. They were reportedly involved in the market for J.T. Realmuto throughout the winter before he returned to Philadelphia on a three-year deal, and the team was also connected to Victor Caratini shortly before he signed on with the Twins on Friday. Those efforts to improve behind the plate don’t seem to be going away, as Sean McAdam of MassLive reported today that the team “remain[s] active” in their attempts to upgrade behind the plate after the signing of Caratini, who he emphasizes they were “very much involved” in the market of.

Those efforts shouldn’t be taken as a knock against Carlos Narvaez, who turned in an impressive 2025 season that earned him a sixth-place finish in AL Rookie of the Year voting thanks to a combination of league average offense at the plate and elite defense behind it. It seems likely that Narvaez would remain the primary catcher in Boston even if they were to find another backstop to bring into the mix. That said, there’s certainly signs Narvaez could use more support if the Red Sox are going to maximize his effectiveness. Narvaez caught 952 innings last year, ninth-most among catchers in 2025. While that’s not quite as much as the most used regulars like Realmuto and William Contreras, Narvaez still caught nearly 200 more innings than fellow rookie backstop Drake Baldwin.

That’s not terribly meaningful on its own, but given that Narvaez slumped badly at the plate in the second half with a .187/.233/.387 slash line after the All-Star break it’s fair to wonder if a lighter defensive workload could allow Narvaez to maintain his offensive numbers deeper into the season without a similar fall-off in 2026. Getting Narvaez off his feet more often could be easier said than done, however, thanks to the shakiness of Boston’s catching situation behind him. Connor Wong is currently set to serve as the club’s primary backup. He’s always been a lackluster defender behind the plate, however, and last year slashed just .190/.262/.238 in 188 trips to the plate.

It shouldn’t take someone like Caratini or Realmuto to upgrade over that paltry production. With that being said, the market for catching in free agency is exceptionally thin now that those two (and old friend Danny Jansen) have signed. Gary Sanchez and Jonah Heim are among the best catchers still available in free agency at this point, and it’s fair to wonder if the Red Sox see either as a substantial upgrade. Perhaps a turn to the trade market could be in the cards, as McAdam notes that the Red Sox have previously discussed both Dalton Rushing with the Dodgers and former Red Sox prospect Kyle Teel with the White Sox. Neither of those talks appeared to gain much traction, but it’s entirely possible the team could continue to look to the trade market for catching help over the final weeks leading up to Spring Training.

The Royals have been frequently attached to Jarren Duran in trade talks, but the team appears pessimistic on their chances to land him and would surely balk at including top prospect Carter Jensen in a package for his services, while prospect Blake Mitchell might be too far from the majors for Boston’s tastes. The Yankees have previously seemed open to shopping J.C. Escarra, though they might be more hesitant to do so now that Ben Rice appears poised to take over first base full-time after bouncing between first base, DH, and catcher last year. Perhaps the Phillies would be willing to part with Rafael Marchan now that Realmuto is back in the fold, or the Twins’ signing of Caratini could clear a path for Ryan Jeffers to be dealt.

Even if some of those names are available, however, the Red Sox might also find themselves outbid in the market for catching help by teams like the Rays and Astros that appear to have a larger need behind the plate. As lackluster as Wong’s production was last year, he was an above-average hitter as recently as 2024 and it’s certainly not impossible to imagine him bouncing back. If the Red Sox don’t find the right deal, they could always just add a depth piece like Matt Thaiss or Luke Maile in free agency on a minor league deal and plan on Wong opening the season as Narvaez’s backup.

Royals “Increasingly Unlikely” To Trade For Jarren Duran, Brendan Donovan

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The Royals have been fairly active this offseason on the trade market and have already worked out deals that brought outfielder Isaac Collins (alongside righty Nick Mears) and lefty setup man Matt Strahm to Kansas City. They’ve explored bigger trades than those throughout the winter as well, but Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported recently that the club is “increasingly unlikely” to be successful in their efforts to trade for either Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran or Cardinals utility man Brendan Donovan. While that doesn’t completely rule out the club pulling off one of those deals, it’s surely disappointing news for Royals fans who had been dreaming on a big trade.

Upgrading the team’s lackluster outfield mix has been a priority in Kansas City this winter, and either Duran or Donovan surely offer a big boost. Duran is a full-time outfielder who has experience in both left field and center field, and would likely play center for the Royals if acquired. That would push Kyle Isbel into a depth role and move Lane Thomas over to right alongside Jac Caglianone. Donovan, meanwhile, is capable of playing all over the infield and outfield. If acquired, he’d likely split time between the outfield corners and second base. That would cut into playing time for Collins in left field, Caglianone in right field, and Jonathan India at second base while also moving Thomas into a timeshare with Isbel in center.

Either of those situations would substantially improve the Royals’ lineup, but it seems a deal coming together is a long shot at this point. That’s not necessarily a shock. The team’s top trade chip at this point might be southpaw Kris Bubic, but both Duran and Donovan are valuable enough that it would be hard to see them being moved for a rental player. Other pitchers on the roster like Cole Ragans and Noah Cameron would surely be more attractive, but taking a long-term piece out of the rotation that’s helped buoy the Royals to their solid 2024 and ’25 seasons (alongside Bobby Witt Jr.’s emergence as a superstar) seems like a tough pill for the team to swallow.

Without further additions, that would leave the team with Collins as the regular in left field, Isbel in center, Caglianone in right, and Thomas spelling Isbel and Caglianone against left-handers. Dairon Blanco, Kameron Misner, and Drew Waters are depth options as well, though none is a lock to make the Kansas City roster at this point. It’s hard to see that group being anything more than below average, as the Royals posted the worst wRC+ in the majors (73) on the grass last year. Collins (122 wRC+) should be a substantial improvement over the production the club got out of left in 2025, and Caglianone could certainly take a step forward after a tough rookie campaign. But Thomas’s 48 wRC+ last year makes it hard to count on him offering impact to the team, while Isbel and the depth pieces seem unlikely to take meaningful steps forward.

Of course, Donovan and Duran aren’t the only ways the team could improve its offense. Perhaps a free agent like Mike Tauchman or Austin Hays will fall through the cracks and be available for relatively cheap later this offseason. It’s also possible that a different trade could come together. Players like Luis Robert Jr. of the White Sox, Jesus Sanchez of the Astros, and Ramon Laureano of the Padres have all found themselves in trade rumors this year, and while none has been directly connected to the Royals at this point it would certainly make sense for Kansas City to check in. Given the team’s pursuit of Donovan, perhaps even an infielder who could either take up a utility role themselves or push India into that sort of role could make sense. Cubs infielders Nico Hoerner and Matt Shaw and Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. are among the players who have seen their names pop up in rumors lately, as have the Mets’ many young infield talents. Trade whispers in Queens, specifically, may only grow louder in the aftermath of the club’s recent signing of Bo Bichette.

Nationals Avoid Arbitration With Cade Cavalli

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10:15am: Cavalli will make $862.5K in 2026, according to a report from MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. The club option is worth $4MM and comes with a buyout of $7.5K, guaranteeing Cavalli $870K in total.

9:14am: The Nationals announced this morning that they have avoided arbitration with right-hander Cade Cavalli. The sides agreed to a one-year deal today that includes a club option for the 2027 season. Financial details of the deal are not yet clear. Cavalli was one of 18 players to exchange filing figures with his team after failing to reach an agreement prior to the deadline earlier this month. Cavalli filed at $900K, while the Nationals filed at $825K.

That $75K gap between the two sides was the smallest among the 18 players and teams to exchange figures. Even with such a tiny gap in negotiations, however, there was no guarantee that an arbitration hearing would be avoided. Teams overwhelmingly subscribe to the “file and trial” approach towards arbitration at this point, and the Nationals are no exception. Teams tend to hold a firm line in arbitration negotiations and are willing to fight over even small amounts of money. That’s partially because player salaries tend to build off themselves throughout arbitration, and even a small pay bump in an early year of arbitration can snowball into much larger gains for the player three or four years down the road. In addition, arbitration hearings are so focused on precedent that offering one player a salary above the usual range can create an outlier case for players and agents to use as a comparison point in future hearings.

In this case, the Nationals and Cavalli have bridged the gap by using a loophole in the arbitration system. By attaching a club option to the deal, it technically becomes a multi-year arrangement that cannot be used as a reference point in future arbitration negotiations and hearings. Without the cloud of creating a new precedent hanging over the negotiations, the Nationals were surely more comfortable being flexible with Cavalli and were more motivated to avoid what could have been a messy arbitration hearing that runs the risk of damaging the club’s relationship with a former top prospect who could remain a key part of their team for years to come.

Looking ahead to 2026, Cavalli will attempt to build off of a 2025 season where he made it back to the majors for the first time since 2022 and delivered a decent 4.25 ERA across ten starts. He struck out 18.3% of his opponents while walking 6.8%. Solid underlying metrics, including a 4.09 SIERA, suggest that Cavalli could be a solid mid-rotation arm for the Nationals next year even if him reaching the ace-level ceiling fans in D.C. were surely dreaming on when he was selected 22nd overall in the 2020 draft appears unlikely at this point. Cavalli will join MacKenzie Gore (assuming he isn’t traded before the season begins), Foster Griffin, and Brad Lord among the team’s likely starters headed into the years. Josiah Gray, Jake Irvin, and Mitchell Parker are among the possible options to fill out that group.

Bloom: Cardinals “Have Room” For Right-Handed Outfielder

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The Cardinals’ Winter Warmup fan event is this weekend, and newly-minted president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom took questions directly from fans as part of the festivities. As noted by Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, one of those questions was about former Cardinals (and current free agent) Harrison Bader’s availability on the market. In his response to that question, Bloom suggested that the same has “room” for a right-handed outfielder on the roster before acknowledging that Bader is a possibility to fill that void. Bloom declined to discuss Bader’s asking price, or any other specifics of contract talks.

It’s worth emphasizing that Bader, 32 in June, was the direct subject of the question Bloom was asked. That makes him being named as a potential fit less meaningful than it would be in other circumstances, though he would certainly be a solid addition for the club that took him in the third round of the 2015 draft. Bader ended his Cardinals career back in 2022, when he was traded to the Yankees in exchange for Jordan Montgomery over the summer. He left the Cardinals with a career .246/.320/.409 slash line, good for a wRC+ of 98. That roughly average offense was paired with elite defense in center field and a handful of stolen bases, and the outfielder was coming off a particularly strong 2021 campaign where he won a Gold Glove in center field and posted a 108 wRC+ with 16 homers in just 103 games.

Bader has generally struggled since leaving St. Louis, with lackluster stints playing for the Yankees, Reds, and Mets across the 2023 and ’24 seasons. With that being said, however, 2025 proved to be a career year for him. After signing with the Twins, he spent most of his time in left field out of deference to incumbent star Byron Buxton, but Bader managed to make up for the drop down the defensive spectrum with his bat. He hit a respectable .258/.339/.439 during his time in Minnesota, then kicked things up a notch when he was traded to Philadelphia and moved back to center field. Over his final 50 games last season, Bader slashed an excellent .305/.361/.463. That brought his overall season line up to .277/.347/.449 (122 wRC+) in a career-high 146 games, with 17 homers, 11 stolen bases, and +7 Outs Above Average.

It was a very impressive season, to be sure, and in a free agent class that lacks much right-swinging outfield talent it was enough to make a multi-year deal a reasonable ask for Bader as he reached the open market. Early in the offseason, a reunion with the Phillies seemed like the most likely outcome, but the team instead opted to bring Adolis Garcia into the fold to round out their outfield mix. With Garcia poised to patrol right and top prospect Justin Crawford likely to open the season in center field, there isn’t much room for Bader in the Philadelphia outfield mix at this point. Bader’s market has been fairly quiet outside of those early rumors of a Phillies reunion, which could open the door for a team like the Cardinals to try and be opportunistic.

St. Louis is far from the only team that stands out as a plausible fit for Bader, of course. Reunions with the Mets and Yankees could make sense, as well, particularly if Cody Bellinger winds up signing elsewhere. The Royals, Rays, and Guardians could use outfield help, but might not have the resources to mount a substantial pursuit of Bader. The Diamondbacks and Giants have a bit more financial muscle to flex and could theoretically make room for an outfield addition, but may prefer to stick with their internal options. Austin Hays, Miguel Andujar, Chas McCormick, and Randal Grichuk are among the alternatives to Bader available in free agency for teams looking for a right-handed outfielder this winter.

Poll: What’s Next For The Red Sox Infield?

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The Red Sox were faced with a tough loss over the weekend when star third baseman Alex Bregman left the team to sign with the Cubs on a five-year, $175MM deal. That contract came in just $10MM ahead of Boston’s own offer in terms of sticker price, but deferred money and the lack of a no-trade clause further depreciated the Red Sox’ offer relative to that of the Cubs. The loss of Bregman left chief baseball officer Craig Breslow to search for a pivot, and he found just that yesterday when he signed southpaw Ranger Suarez to a five-year deal.

The $130MM pact places Suarez alongside Garrett Crochet and Sonny Gray as a member of Boston’s front of the rotation headed into the season, but it did little to address the hole that Bregman’s departure creates on the infield. Yesterday’s deal helped to bring down the temperature among fans in Boston and ease the pressure on Breslow to find a star, but it’s not hard to see why an addition could still be attractive given the number of question marks and overall lack of impact all around the roster.

Trevor Story delivered a 20/20 season last year but will be 33 years old this year and just played 100 games in a season for the first time since 2021. Marcelo Mayer and Kristian Campbell entered last season as two of the game’s top prospects but Mayer has a checkered injury history of his own while there’s been some indications the Red Sox could prefer Campbell in the outfield rather than the infield. Neither was an above-average hitter in 2025, either. While both are young enough for a potential big step forward, a team with World Series aspirations like the Red Sox would be taking a big risk if they hang their hopes on young talents figuring it out. Ceddanne Rafaela has experience at second base, but is one of baseball’s top defensive center fielders and might be wasted at the keystone.

It would be easy to say the Red Sox should simply sign one of the top infielders available in free agency, and there’s certainly merit to the argument. The Red Sox are a big market club that just dumped Rafael Devers’s salary on the Giants over the summer. RosterResource estimates a $266MM payroll for the club in terms of luxury tax dollars headed into 2026, a figure that falls $20MM behind the Yankees and $45MM behind the Blue Jays even when looking only at their rivals in the AL East.

On the other hand, Boston’s payroll is already the highest it’s ever been in terms of luxury tax dollars. Even the actual cash outlay is second only to the 2022 team in the post-Mookie Betts era. Trading away someone like Jordan Hicks or Masataka Yoshida could help but neither has huge trade value right now.

But they don’t have a ton of options left in free agency. Bregman is a Cub and Bo Bichette reportedly has an agreement in place with the Mets. Eugenio Suarez is still out there but it’s unclear how willing the Sox are to spend on him.

Perhaps the trade market is the best bet. the addition of Suarez only further bolstered a rotation that has an excess of quality options. Using a young pitcher like Payton Tolle, Connelly Early, or Kyle Harrison as part of a package to land an impact infielder certainly seems attractive. The team also has an excess of outfield talent at the moment, particularly given the fact that both Yoshida and Triston Casas figure to be battling for playing time at DH. Trading Casas or an outfielder like Jarren Duran could make sense to clean up that logjam somewhat.

The Diamondbacks have reportedly taken Ketel Marte off the market but recent reporting has suggested that maybe Boston will try to change that stance. Even if he’s not realistic, there are still plenty of intriguing players who could be available via trade. Boston could make a third trade with the Cardinals and their newly-minted president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom in order to bring super utility man Brendan Donovan into the fold, though he would do little to balance a heavily left-handed lineup. Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner could be another option, though all indications are that Chicago would need to be overwhelmed in order to move their longtime infielder. It could be easier to pry away Matt Shaw, but the youngster isn’t much more well-established than Mayer and Campbell at this point, which could make him an imperfect fit for the team.

Perhaps the most attractive trade candidate out there at the moment would be Astros infielder Isaac Paredes, who was pushed off third base in Houston by the acquisition of Carlos Correa and has no clear path to everyday at-bats with his current team given the presence of Christian Walker and Yordan Alvarez at first base and DH respectively. Paredes is no match for Bregman defensively, but Bregman himself showed that a player who benefits from the Crawford Boxes in Houston can enjoy similar success hitting off/over the Green Monster at Fenway Park. As a 124 wRC+ hitter over the past four years, Paredes would add a viable middle-of-the-order bat to the Boston infield and create an intriguing, high-upside corner infield duo with newly-minted first baseman Willson Contreras.

Perfect as that fit might seem on paper, however, the Astros have signaled their reluctance to moving him — despite what looks like an overcrowded infield mix. Regular playing time for Paredes would be just one Spring Training injury away, and GM Dana Brown said publicly in November that he has “no interest” in moving the righty-swinging slugger. With free agent alternatives dwindling on the open market, plenty of suitors for both Donovan and Hoerner that the Red Sox would need to compete with, and hesitance on the part of the Cubs and Astros to part with their players, pulling off a trade could be easier said than done at this stage of the offseason.

That leaves us to circle back to the possibility that the team doesn’t add a regular to the lineup this winter. Mayer and Campbell could enter camp as the favorites for third and second base respectively, though if the team remains committed to trying Campbell in the outfield, David Hamilton and Romy Gonzalez could form a platoon at the keystone or Rafaela could shift back to the infield. If the Red Sox were to go this route, they would surely add a veteran infielder like Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Yoan Moncada, or Ramon Urias to the lineup in order to provide some competition for the youngsters in Spring Training and overall improve the depth of what would be an injury-plagued infield mix. While it would be a risky move to rely mostly on internal options, it would offer Mayer and Campbell the best opportunity to carve out everyday roles for themselves and might be the only option at the team’s disposal if they aren’t able to pull off some kind of trade in the ten weeks remaining before Opening Day.

How do MLBTR readers think the Red Sox will look to round out their infield? Will they turn to a free agent like Suarez, even if it means finding a way to dump salary elsewhere on the roster? Could they instead try and work out a trade for someone like Paredes, Hoerner, or Donovan? Or will they instead rely primarily on their internal options? Have your say in the poll below:

The Opener: Tucker, Roster Moves, Fan Events

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Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world today:

1. Tucker aftermath:

The Dodgers made waves last night when they landed star outfielder Kyle Tucker on a four-year, $240MM deal that shattered AAV records and affords him opt-out opportunities after the second and third seasons. Though the Dodgers were commonly listed as one of Tucker’s three potential landing spots in his final days on the open market, the deal is still an upset of sorts, given that both the Mets and Blue Jays were more heavily linked to him over the past couple weeks. It remains to be seen how Toronto and New York will pivot after missing out. Perhaps the Blue Jays could look to ramp talks with star infielder Bo Bichette back up. Either team could feasibly try to pivot towards the No. 2 outfielder on this year’s market, Cody Bellinger.

As for the Dodgers, it’s worth wondering whether there will be any subsequent moves. They could deal from what’s now an even more crowded and star-studded big league roster — Teoscar Hernandez’s name has already popped up in rumors a bit this winter, even before the Tucker deal — and they also have several top-tier outfield prospects (e.g. Josue De Paula, Zyhir Hope) whose path to the majors is further obfuscated by the latest blockbuster acquisition.

2. Incoming roster moves:

The Rockies, Red Sox, and Dodgers are all going to need to make 40-man roster moves in the coming days as their respective recent signings of Willi Castro, Ranger Suarez, and Tucker become official. The most likely way for those clubs to clear up that 40-man roster space is by simply designating a player for assignment, though it’s also possible that any of those teams could look to work out a trade that creates space on their 40-man roster by acquiring non-roster players. The Dodgers already went down that road not too long ago when they traded outfielder Esteury Ruiz to the Marlins.

3. Cubs, Reds hosting fan events:

With spring training less than a month away, teams around the league are hosting fan events to get their fan bases excited for the upcoming season. This weekend, two clubs are hosting events: the annual Cubs Convention in Chicago is scheduled to take place today, tomorrow, and Sunday, while today and tomorrow will also play host to Redsfest in Cincinnati. Cubs Con will be highlighted by a ten-year reunion for the World Series-winning 2016 team, while both events will both have a number of current and former players involved. Events like this can often (but not always) produce quotes of note from team owners, front offices and/or managers that provide some insight into the remainder of the offseason and the outlook for the upcoming campaign. Full schedules and ticketing details for the Cubs’ and Reds’ respective fan events can be found at these links, courtesy of MLB.com.

Reds Sign Pierce Johnson

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Jan. 15: The Reds have formally announced the signing. There’s a mutual option for the 2027 season on the contract as well, though since mutual options are never exercised by both parties, that amounts to little more than an accounting measure to push some of the $6.5MM salary to the ’27 books (by way of an option buyout).

Jan. 12: Johnson is guaranteed $6.5MM, reports Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.

Jan. 11: Right-hander Pierce Johnson is headed to the Reds, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. The details of the contract are not yet known. Johnson is represented by John Boggs & Associates.

Johnson, 34, was a first-round pick all the way back in 2012. He made his big league debut in 2017 but didn’t stick in the majors right away and eventually headed to Japan in 2019 to pitch for the Hanshin Tigers. The result was a dominant 1.38 ERA over 58 2/3 innings of work in NPB, and Johnson then returned to the majors in 2020 and posted strong numbers overall across three seasons with the Padres.

Missing most of the 2022 campaign due to injury, however, put Johnson in an awkward position entering free agency following the year. He caught on with the Rockies and struggled badly, posting a 6.00 ERA during his time in Colorado, but was still an attractive enough target to be dealt to the Braves at the trade deadline. Upon arriving in Atlanta, he looked like a different pitcher, turning in a a 0.76 ERA, 36% strikeout rate, and 5.4% walk rate across 24 appearances down the stretch for the Braves.

It was a performance so impressive that Atlanta chose to extend Johnson on a fresh two-year deal that guaranteed him $14.25MM, including a $250K buyout on a $7MM club option for the 2026 season. Johnson posted a 3.36 ERA and 3.77 FIP overall across 115 1/3 innings in the next two seasons, but he was unable to carry over the pinpoint command he had flashed down the stretch in 2023. His peripherals declined, culminating in the righty striking out a diminished (but still strong) 24.8% of his opponents this past year, and the Braves ultimately chose to buy out his 2026 option.

Now headed into his age-35 season, Johnson will join a Reds team that managed to squeak into the playoffs last year and has its sights set on returning in 2026. After re-signing Emilio Pagan to serve as the club’s closer, Cincinnati has continued to retool its bullpen by adding Caleb Ferguson and now Johnson. That trio should be joined by Tony Santillan to make a formidable late inning relief corps for the Reds, while former starters like Graham Ashcraft and Connor Phillips provide some upside but likely slide into lower-leverage roles. With a stacked rotation led by Hunter Greene and Andrew Abbott, Terry Francona’s pitching staff looks solid headed into the season.

The question for the Reds headed into 2026 is mostly focused around the club’s lineup. While Elly De La Cruz is a budding superstar and players like TJ Friedl and Spencer Steer have proven themselves to be quality role players, it’s hard to know if the Reds’ lineup will produce enough on offense to carry them back to October. Players like Noelvi Marte and Matt McLain have shown great promise in the past but have also struggled badly at times. The same can be said for reclamation projects JJ Bleday and Ke’Bryan Hayes. If the Reds have more planned this offseason after adding Johnson, adding more to the lineup would be the best way to improve the roster, whether that’s through free agency or perhaps a trade of someone like right-hander Brady Singer, who’ll be a free agent next winter.

The Opener: Tucker, Bregman, International Signing Period

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On the heels of an update to the market for this winter’s top free agent, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world today:

1. Tucker nearing decision?:

The market for star outfielder Kyle Tucker seems to be moving toward a conclusion. Earlier this morning, the New York Post’s Jon Heyman reported that Tucker could land somewhere as soon as today. The Mets, Blue Jays, and Dodgers have generally been viewed as the favorites for his services, and Heyman suggests it would be a “major upset” for Tucker to sign elsewhere at this point. The Blue Jays are the only team known to have extended Tucker a long-term offer, although the specifics aren’t known. The Mets have been reported at varying times over the past few days as having a $50MM AAV on the table for Tucker and also having offered a four-year deal. The Dodgers, for their part, appear to be the wild card in the Tucker bidding. Playing in L.A. surely holds its own appeal as the Dodgers head into 2026 in search of a three-peat, but it’s unclear what sort of offer the club has on the table for Tucker, if a formal one has been presented at all.

2. Bregman presser today:

The Cubs are hosting an introductory press conference for newly-signed third baseman Alex Bregman this morning at 10:30am CT. President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer and Bregman’s agent, Scott Boras, figure to be in attendance. The presser could offer some insight into how the Cubs plan to handle their newly-crowded infield. Bregman will presumably push Matt Shaw off of third base and into a utility role barring a trade involving either Shaw himself or second baseman Nico Hoerner. Hoerner, in particular, has seen his name come up in trade rumblings this winter, even as reports have indicated the Cubs aren’t inclined to move him and would need to be overwhelmed with an offer in order to do so.

3. 2026 international signing period opens:

The 2026 signing period for international amateurs has begun and will remain open until December 15. Teams have set bonus pools ranging from $8,034,900 to $5,440,000 for the upcoming period that they can allocate however they see fit — including trading bonus allotments in $250K increments. (A team can only acquire a maximum of 60% of its originally allotted pool, however.) Many of the most highly-regarded prospects in the class have had handshake agreements in place with MLB clubs for years before they were old enough to sign, so for plenty players at the top of the class their destination is already known. Among the top prospects available are Venezuelan shortstop Luis Hernandez (tied to the Giants), Venezuelan outfielder Francisco Renteria (tied to the Phillies), and Dominican shortstop Wandy Asigen (tied to the Mets). There’s excellent coverage of international amateur free agency at Baseball America, MLB.com, and BeisbolFR.com (among others), and we’ll aim to have a roundup of some of the top signings on MLBTR later today as well.

Latest On Mets’, Blue Jays’ Pursuit Of Kyle Tucker

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8:55am: ESPN’s Jeff Passan was a guest on Sportsnet in Toronto this morning and reported on air that the Blue Jays have been “the only team that has shown the willingness to go as deep as 10 years, potentially” (video link). Passan adds that a decision from Tucker could occur before the end of the week.

7:08am: The Mets have made a four-year offer to star outfielder Kyle Tucker, according to a report from Mike Puma of the New York Post. MLBNetwork Radio’s Jim Duquette suggested yesterday that the Mets were “likely” to extend their offer to four years yesterday. Tyler Ward reported as early as yesterday morning (prior to Duquette’s report) that the Mets had offered $200MM over four years.

Tucker, 29 this weekend, has had an unusually quiet market by the standards set by other recent top free agents like Juan Soto, Shohei Ohtani, and Aaron Judge, each of whom signed in December. Things have begun to ramp up in a big way this past week, however, and all signs have pointed towards a trio of teams emerging as the most likely landing spots for the multi-time All-Star: the Mets, the Blue Jays, and the Dodgers. Previous reporting has indicated that the Blue Jays have a long-term deal on the table for Tucker, while the Mets have preferred a shorter-term arrangement at a premium average annual value. Concrete reporting regarding the Dodgers’ pursuit of Tucker has been minimal, but previous comments by the front office throughout the winter have suggested a hesitance towards adding another long-term deal to their aging roster and blocking elite top outfield prospects like Zyhir Hope and Josue De Paula long-term.

Reporting on the Mets’ offers to Tucker has varied throughout the week. Initial reports suggested the club had made a three-year offer to Tucker within the $120MM to $140MM range, and later reporting indicated that the Mets had offered a $50MM AAV without a specific number of years attached to that report. This latest report of a four-year offer also comes without a specific AAV attached to it. That leaves open the possibility that New York has multiple offers on the table for Tucker, with varying annual salaries and contract structures that all fall under the more general umbrella of short-term with relatively high annual salaries. Of course, it’s also possible that the Mets have simply raised their offer over the past few days.

If owner Steve Cohen and his front office have offered Tucker $200MM or more over the next four seasons, that would surely be a difficult package to turn down without an incredible long-term offer. Tucker would be in line to re-enter free agency ahead of his age-33 season, and while he’d likely need to settle for another shorter-term contract headed into his mid-thirties it’s worth remembering that Kyle Schwarber landed a five-year, $150MM contract with the Phillies as a DH-only slugger headed into his own age-33 season earlier this winter. In that context, it’s not difficult to imagine Tucker earning $350MM or more over the remainder of his playing career if he were to complete a four-year deal at a $50MM AAV and sign another contract or two afterwards. It’s also possible (and perhaps even likely) that a shorter-term arrangement would come with at least one opt-out opportunity somewhere in the deal that would make it even easier for Tucker to return to free agency in search of a more lucrative offer.

On the other hand, it’s not hard to argue that Tucker is worth the exact sort of incredible long-term offer that would be worth passing on $200MM over four years in favor of. An All-Star in four consecutive seasons, Tucker finished fifth in AL MVP voting back in 2023 and since then has posted 9.2 bWAR and 8.7 fWAR in just 214 games with a .274/.388/.507 (152 wRC+) slash line to show for it. A tough second half with the Cubs last year and injuries that have limited him to that relatively light volume of games over the past two years have seemingly caused some level of concern among interested clubs, but the upside of adding a perennial MVP candidate to the middle of the lineup in his prime years is undeniable.

MLBTR’s own prediction for Tucker’s contract at the outset of the offseason was an 11-year, $400MM pact. That sort of contract would be a no-brainer to choose over a shorter-term deal, even at a $50MM AAV. How far below that figure a long-term offer could come in before Tucker would start to more seriously consider a short-term, high-AAV pact would surely depend on Tucker’s own personal tolerance for risk and desire for stability. It would certainly be bold to eschew something even in the range of the $330MM deal Bryce Harper landed in Philadelphia during the 2018-19 offseason, but a fair counterargument to that would be that Harper himself well might have come out ahead financially had he instead signed the reported short-term, $45MM AAV offer he received from the Dodgers that winter and returned to the market in a few years’ time.

Wherever Tucker will ultimately land, and whatever contract structure he will ultimately settle on, it’s increasingly likely his free agency is hurtling towards a conclusion in the coming days. The New York Post’s Jon Heyman reported earlier this morning that a decision from Tucker’s camp could come as soon as today, and given the frenzy of reporting over the past few days it seems likely that the parties involved are all in the process of making their top offers as Tucker nears a decision.

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