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The Ultimate Fan’s Holiday Wishlist: Baseball and Football Edition (Sponsored)

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This is a sponsored post from Legends Memorabilia.

This holiday season, Legends Memorabilia Collection (LMC) offers a gift lineup for the ultimate sports fan. From MLB autographs from Hall of Famers and All-Stars to iconic NFL and college
football memorabilia from the biggest names in the game, this curated guide spotlights top items perfect for the holiday gift-giving season!

For the Baseball Aficionado

  1. Freddie Freeman (LMC Exclusive) and Kiké Hernandez 2024 World Series Champs Signed Memorabilia: Celebrate the glory of the 2024 World Series with signed items from LMC Exclusive
    Freddie Freeman and Kiké Hernandez. Whether it’s a signed baseball, jersey, or photo, these collectibles are bound to be treasured keepsakes from the championship. Additionally, send in your own item to be signed to add a personal touch!
  2. Mike Trout (LMC Exclusive) Autographed Items – Special Holiday Pricing: An exclusive deal for the season, LMC offers Mike Trout autographed memorabilia at a special holiday price. As one of baseball’s all-time greats, Trout’s items are a gift any fan would cherish, offering history and legacy for a price that won’t last long. Personal items
    can also be sent in for Trout to autograph, creating a unique keepsake.
  3. Sandy Koufax Autographed Baseball: An autographed baseball from the legendary Sandy Koufax is a collector’s dream. Known for his incredible career with the Dodgers, Koufax’s signed ball is a timeless piece that will impress fans and collectors alike.
  4. Paul Skenes Autographed Jerseys (LMC Exclusive): Perfect for the LSU and Pittsburgh Pirates fans, these Paul Skenes signed jerseys are exclusively available through LMC. Skenes’ impressive career is just beginning, making this an exciting investment in the next big MLB star.
  5. Ted Simmons Autographed Items (LMC Exclusive): A Hall of Fame catcher, Ted Simmons autographed baseballs are ideal for longtime baseball fans. These signed items are the perfect tribute to Simmons’ impressive career.
  6. Patrick Bailey Autographed Items (LMC Exclusive): Known for his skills behind the plate, Patrick Bailey’s signed items make for an amazing gift. This LMC Exclusive brings Giants fans closer to one of their franchise’s future legends.
  7. Kyle Harrison Autographed Items (LMC Exclusive): Kyle Harrison, San Francisco’s pitching phenom, has autographed items available exclusively through LMC. Get an item signed by this rising star before he cements his place in Giants history.

All MLB items include MLB Authentication.

For the Football Fanatic

  1. Detroit Lions – Calvin Johnson and Reggie Bush Autographed Helmets: Celebrate Detroit’s football greats with autographed helmets from two fan-favorite players. Calvin “Megatron” Johnson and Reggie Bush’s signed gear are iconic reminders of their impact on the field and an exciting addition for Lions fans.
  2. LSU Tigers – Tyrann Mathieu and Harold Perkins (LMC Exclusive) Signed Items: LSU fans, look no further! Autographed memorabilia from Tigers legends Tyrann Mathieu and Harold Perkins are available for the ultimate fan experience. Celebrate LSU’s legacy with these iconic signatures from two standout players.
  3. Ohio State Buckeyes – Jeremiah Smith and Jack Sawyer: Buckeye fans can own a piece of Ohio State pride with items signed by rising star Jeremiah Smith and defensive powerhouse and team captain Jack Sawyer. These autographed pieces celebrate both the future and present of Ohio State football, making them a must-have for the true Buckeye faithful.
  4. Ole Miss Rebels – Jaxson Dart and Eli Manning Signed Items: Ole Miss fans can own a piece of Rebels history with items signed by two of their most iconic quarterbacks, Jaxson Dart and Eli Manning. These items celebrate both past and present and are a perfect fit for the Rebel faithful.
  5. USC Trojans – Zachariah Branch (LMC Exclusive) and Reggie Bush: Embrace the Trojan spirit with signed memorabilia from rising star Zachariah Branch and all-time great Reggie Bush. This selection makes the ideal gift for USC fans who love both the team’s future and historic past.

This holiday season, make a sports fan’s dream come true with these unforgettable items from Legends Memorabilia Collection. Whether you’re adding to a collection or gifting a lifelong memory, these exclusive items make for the ultimate surprise under the tree!

MLBTR Podcast: The Rays’ Stadium Plans, Diamond Sports, And Some Offseason Rumors

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The latest episode of the MLB Trade Rumors Podcast is now live on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts! Make sure you subscribe as well! You can also use the player at this link to listen, if you don’t use Spotify or Apple for podcasts.

This week, host Darragh McDonald is joined by Anthony Franco of MLB Trade Rumors to discuss…

Plus, we answer your questions, including…

  • If the Red Sox acquire Garrett Crochet from the White Sox, will they still go after top free agents? (13:15)
  • Could the Reds and Royals line up on a trade involving Jonathan India and Brady Singer or some other Kansas City pitching? (17:25)
  • On the Top 50, none of the writers predicted the Orioles to sign top free agents. Are you underestimating David Rubenstein’s intention to speed up the timeline? (26:05)

Check out our past episodes!

The podcast intro and outro song “So Long” is provided courtesy of the band Showoff.  Check out their Facebook page here!

The Opener: Cy Young Awards, DFAs, MLBTR Chat

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On the heels of yesterday’s deadline to protect players from the Rule 5 Draft, here are three things for MLBTR readers to keep an eye on today:

1. Cy Young Award winners announced:

At 5PM CT, the winners of the Cy Young Award in each league are scheduled to be announced. In the American League, Tarik Skubal is considered the overwhelming favorite after the Tigers lefty led the majors with 228 strikeouts while posting a sterling 2.39 ERA in 192 innings of work. The other finalists in the AL are Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase, who delivered a historic season out of the bullpen where he pitched to a microscopic 0.61 ERA while racking up 47 saves in 74 1/3 innings of work, and Royals right-hander Seth Lugo, who led the majors with 33 starts and posted a 3.00 ERA in 206 1/3 innings of work.

Meanwhile, the National League favorite is Braves southpaw Chris Sale. The veteran entered the year with seven career trips to the All-Star game under his belt but had fallen off the radar over the past half decade due to injuries. His first season in Atlanta may be the very best of his illustrious career, however, as he won the NL Triple Crown with an MLB-leading 2.38 ERA (2.09 FIP) in 177 2/3 innings of work while going 18-3 and striking out 225 batters (32.1 K%). Alongside Sale are Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler, who posted a 2.57 ERA in 200 innings of work with a 3.13 FIP, and Pirates youngster Paul Skenes, who already captured the NL Rookie of the Year Award following a dominant season where he pitched to a 1.96 ERA with a 33.1% strikeout rate but was limited to just 133 innings of work.

2. Will recent DFAs receive trade interest?

A number of interesting players were squeezed off their clubs’ 40-man roster by yesterday’s deadline, and teams will have five days to survey the league for trade interest before they’re forced to place those players on waivers and risk losing them for nothing. Among the notable players of interest to clubs could be former top outfield prospects Brennen Davis of the Cubs and George Valera of the Guardians, both of whom have looked impressive at Triple-A in the past but have dealt with a number of injuries that have thrown them off course. Jordyn Adams, who was the Angels’ first-round pick in 2018, is also available as a youngster who has a bit less prospect pedigree but has already gotten a taste of big league action.

Meanwhile, interesting relief options such as Adbert Alzolay, Richard Lovelady, and Bryan Mata all lost their spots, though each comes with his own warts. Lovelady found some success with the Rays this year but has generally struggled to produce at the big league level throughout his career. Mata has yet to make his big league debut due to a long stretch of injury woes. Alzolay underwent Tommy John surgery late in the season and figures to miss most of the 2025 campaign, but he was excellent for the Cubs in 2023 (2.67 ERA, 22 saves, 26.5 K%, 5.1 BB% in 64 innings).

3. MLBTR Chat today:

A busy day full of deadlines and transactions shook loose a pair of trades yesterday, and the even more significant non-tender deadline is due up later this week. Yesterday’s whirlwind delayed our usual weekday chat somewhat, but anyone with questions regarding Friday’s deadline or their favorite club’s plans for the offseason is in luck nonetheless as MLBTR’s Steve Adams will be hosting a live chat with readers today at 1pm CT. You can click here to ask a question in advance, join the chat when it begins, or read the transcript afterwards.

Stephen Vogt, Pat Murphy Win Manager Of The Year

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The Baseball Writers Association of America announced that Guardians’ skipper Stephen Vogt and Brewers’ manager Pat Murphy were named the respective leagues’ Managers of the Year.

Both men took the award after leading their teams to Central division titles in year one. Vogt took the reins for the Guardians within a year and a half of retiring as a player. He spent one season on Seattle’s staff as bullpen coach before Cleveland tabbed him to replace future Hall of Famer Terry Francona. Vogt took over a team that had a much weaker rotation than the Guardians customarily sport, especially after Shane Bieber went down two starts into the season.

Expectations outside the organization generally weren’t very high. Cleveland nevertheless ran away with the AL Central. They built a lead as big as nine games by the end of June and didn’t look back. The Guardians cruised to a 92-win season, taking 16 more games than they had in 2023. They outscored opponents by 87 runs, largely on the strength of an elite bullpen. Vogt’s relief group easily led the majors with a 2.57 earned run average. The Guardians nabbed the #2 seed in the American League to secure a first-round bye.

Awards voting occurs before the start of the postseason, so the playoffs weren’t a factor in these honors. Cleveland held serve by defeating the upstart Tigers in the Division Series. They dropped a five-game set to the top-seeded Yankees in the Championship Series. While it didn’t end as hoped, it was a much more successful season than most people envisioned.

Vogt rather handily won the support of voters. He nabbed 27 of the 30 first-place selections. Kansas City’s Matt Quatraro and Detroit’s A.J. Hinch were the only others to receive a first-place vote in the America League. Quatraro and Hinch finished second and third, respectively. Joe Espada, Aaron Boone, Mark Kotsay, Rocco Baldelli and Alex Cora all appeared on at least one ballot.

The story was much the same in the National League. Murphy was in his first year at the helm. Like Vogt, he took over for one of the sport’s most respected managers. Craig Counsell departed to sign with the Cubs, leaving Murphy in charge of a dugout for the first time since an interim stint with the Padres in 2015. As with Cleveland, Milwaukee’s formerly vaunted rotation had been thinned by injury and trades.

The Brewers got success out of unheralded starters Tobias Myers and Colin Rea. Their bullpen was arguably the best in the National League. Despite losing Devin Williams for the first half of the season, Milwaukee relievers led the NL with a 3.11 ERA that trailed only Cleveland’s mark overall. The Brewers outscored opponents by 136 runs to post a 93-69 record. They essentially replicated their results from Counsell’s final season and grabbed their third NL Central title in four years.

Milwaukee’s year ended with a bitter defeat. Williams’ blown save against the Mets in the Wild Card round left them with a first-round exit for the second straight year. That’s not a factor in the voting, of course, and it’s not as if anyone would fault Murphy for turning to his star closer in that situation anyhow.

 

Murphy rather remarkably becomes the first Brewers’ manager to win the award. Counsell has surprisingly never won that honor. As with Vogt, Murphy took 27 of 30 first-place spots. San Diego’s Mike Shildt, New York’s Carlos Mendoza and Philadelphia’s Rob Thomson each picked up one first-place nod. Shildt and Mendoza placed second and third, respectively. Torey Lovullo landed in fourth overall, while Thomson rounded out the top five. Brian Snitker, Dave Roberts and Oli Marmol also received votes.

Full voter breakdowns courtesy of the BBWAA.

Jonny DeLuca To Be Rays’ Primary Center Fielder In 2025

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After trading Jose Siri to the Mets earlier today, the Rays have revealed that Jonny DeLuca will be their primary center fielder next season (per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times). Siri had been Tampa Bay’s primary center fielder since the club acquired him from the Astros ahead of the trade deadline in 2022.

DeLuca, 26, was the secondary piece the Rays acquired in the trade that sent Tyler Glasnow to the Dodgers last offseason; Ryan Pepiot was the centerpiece of the return. That said, the Rays clearly viewed DeLuca as more than a mere throw-in. A broken hand kept him from making the Opening Day roster this past season, but after his return in early May, he appeared in 107 of Tampa Bay’s remaining 130 games. His bat was feeble, producing a .609 OPS and 77 wRC+, but he stole 16 bases and played strong defense while splitting his time between all three outfield positions. He earned 5 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS), 8 Outs Above Average (OAA), and 5.1 Deserved Runs Prevented (DRP), helping him rack up positive value according to every version of Wins Above Replacement. He already has elite speed and a strong throwing arm, so if he can learn to tap into a bit more of the plus power and plate discipline he displayed throughout the minor leagues, it might be enough for him to become a productive big league center fielder.

Now, that’s a big if, but the Rays seem to have a good amount of faith in DeLuca. President of baseball operations Erik Neander cited the young outfielder’s improvement over the last few months of the 2024 season, telling Topkin, “You look at the progress, you look at the improvement, you look how he’s made up, and his history of just what he’s been able to do with more reps given what a good athlete he is, he’s just continued to get better.”

It’s true that DeLuca hit significantly better in the second half of the 2024 season than the first. But much of that improvement came from a strong September (116 wRC+) in which the righty batter outperformed his .269 xwOBA by more than 50 points. That’s not a lot to go on, especially for a team that aims to contend once again in 2025. Most clubs would certainly be looking for an upgrade on the free agent market. But of course, this is the Rays we’re talking about, a team that loves to turn unheralded trade pickups into productive major leaguers.

Topkin notes that lefty batters Josh Lowe and Richie Palacios could also see some time in center field next year. Neither one has much big league experience at the position, but both are young and athletic outfielders who played a good deal of center in the minors. More to the point, if either of them ends up playing center, it will only be because manager Kevin Cash is looking to get more offense in the lineup, especially against a tough right-handed pitcher. Both players were roughly league-average at the plate in 2024, but they were significantly more dangerous in 2023. Even if neither returns to the heights of his 2023 campaign, a league-average bat would still be a whole lot more productive than DeLuca was this past season.

However, any time Lowe or Palacios spends in center field would take them away from the outfielder corners. That would most likely leave either Dylan Carlson or Christopher Morel covering a corner spot. The only other outfielders on Tampa Bay’s 40-man roster are Kameron Misner, who appeared in eight games for the big league club this past season, and Jake Mangum, who was recently added to the 40-man to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. Neither is necessarily anything more than depth for the bench. Thus, even if the Rays are planning to give DeLuca the bulk of the playing time in center field, it would make sense for them to add at least one more outfielder this offseason.

Athletics Sign Matt Krook To Minor League Deal

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The Athletics signed left-handed pitcher Matt Krook to a minor league contract late last week, according to his transaction log on MLB.com. The 30-year-old elected free agency earlier this month.

Eleven years ago, the Marlins selected Krook out of high school in Competitive Balance Round A of the 2013 draft. While he planned to sign a contract, the team discovered a left shoulder injury during his physical, and the two sides were unable to come to terms on a signing bonus. Things continued to go downhill for Krook when an elbow injury cut his freshman season at the University of Oregon short; he would undergo Tommy John surgery that spring.

The Giants took Krook in the fourth round of the 2016 draft, and this time he signed a deal and entered the organization. After parts of two seasons in San Francisco’s farm system, he was included in the trade that brought Evan Longoria from the Rays to the Giants. Three years later, the Yankees selected Krook away from the Rays in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft, and another two years after that, they added him to the 40-man roster to prevent him from electing minor league agency.

The Yankees made Krook a full-time reliever in 2023, and he kicked off his major league career that same season. Tossing four innings across four separate stints with the big league club, he gave up 11 earned runs, walking six and striking out just three. It was no surprise that control issues were his downfall; he came into his MLB debut with a career 14.3% walk rate in the minors. Despite his ever-present control problems, his minor league numbers were excellent that year (1.32 ERA, 2.81 FIP in 34 IP), but even so, they weren’t enough to stop New York from designating him for assignment over the offseason.

The Orioles put in a claim and sent the Yankees cash to acquire the lefty. Although he looked solid over 43 2/3 frames with Triple-A Norfolk (3.92 ERA, 4.49 FIP), Krook only got the chance to pitch one inning with the O’s in 2024. He allowed three runs (two earned) on a three-run shot off the bat of Rangers rookie Wyatt Langford. While he technically lowered his career ERA from 24.75 to 23.40, it wasn’t the image-rehabilitating showing he was surely hoping for. Baltimore DFA’d Krook at the trade deadline and outrighted him to Triple-A a few days later.

Krook will look to get another crack at the majors in 2025, this time with the A’s. Outside of star closer Mason Miller, the Athletics don’t have much in the way of top-end talent or depth in the bullpen, so Krook should have a clear path to playing time if he pitches well. His minor league deal presumably includes an invitation to spring training, where he’ll have his first chance to make a good impression on his new club.

Padres Sign Trenton Brooks To Minor League Deal

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The Padres have signed first baseman Trenton Brooks to a minor league deal, according to his transactions tracker at MLB.com. He will presumably also receive an invite to major league spring training.

Brooks, 29, has a long minor league track record showing his strong plate discipline. Over the past four years, he took 1,691 plate appearances on the farm with a 13.8% walk rate and 16.4% strikeout rate, both of those being much stronger than average. However, he only hit 55 home runs in that stretch, a fairly light tally for a first baseman. Still, that led to a combined .279/.383/.470 batting line and 119 wRC+ for that stretch.

He was finally able to parlay that into a major league debut in 2024, though he ultimately got a very limited look from the Giants. He was on the 40-man for less than a month, getting into 12 games and slashing just .120/.241/.120 in his 29 plate appearances. He was sent through waivers unclaimed and outrighted off the roster, eventually electing free agency at season’s end.

The Padres have Luis Arráez and Jake Cronenworth as first base options, but Cronenworth might be covering second base if Xander Bogaerts is going to move back to shortstop with Ha-Seong Kim now a free agent. The club doesn’t have an obvious designated hitter at the moment, so there’s room for another bat in the lineup. Arráez is also a speculative trade candidate since he’s entering his final year of club control with MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projecting a hefty $14.6MM salary next year, a notable expense for a club with known budgetary limitations.

Brooks can provide the club with some upper level depth at the position and try to force his way back to the majors. If he manages to do so and finds more success this time, he still has a full slate of options and just a handful of service days. That means he can be cheaply retained into the future, which would be appealing for any club but perhaps more so for the Friars as they have had to scale back payroll recently.

Mariners Trade For Austin Shenton, DFA JT Chargois

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As announced by both teams, the Mariners have acquired infielder Austin Shenton in a trade with the Rays. Seattle will send cash considerations to Tampa Bay in return. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Mariners designated right-handed pitcher JT Chargois for assignment.

Shenton began his professional career with the Mariners, who selected him in the 2019 draft. Though he was never a highly-ranked prospect, the flexible defender quickly worked his way up the minor league ladder, hitting well at every step along the way. In 120 games across four levels in Seattle’s system, he hit .299 with 46 doubles and 19 home runs, good for a .940 OPS. While he spent most of his time at third base, he also took reps at first base, second base, and both outfield corners.

Ahead of the 2021 trade deadline, the M’s dealt Shenton to the Rays in exchange for right-handed reliever Diego Castillo. Funnily enough, the other player Seattle sent to Tampa Bay in that trade was none other than Chargois. (After brief stints with the Rays and Marlins, Chargois made his way back to the Mariners at the trade deadline this past summer. But more on him in a moment.) Injuries cut into Shenton’s playing time in the Rays system in 2021 and ’22, but after his strong 2023 season (1.006 OPS in 134 games between Double and Triple-A) the team added him to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.

Shenton wasn’t as dominant with the stick in 2024, but he provided above-average offense for both Triple-A Durham and the Rays over a handful of games with the big league club. In his first MLB season, he slashed .214/.340/.405 across 50 plate appearances, good for a 120 wRC+. Those are decent numbers for a lefty bench bat, but nonetheless, Shenton was the casualty when the Rays needed to free up an extra roster spot to protect a pair of promising pitchers from this year’s Rule 5 reaping. He was DFA’d yesterday evening.

Despite his solid offensive production, it’s not hard to guess what the Rays might have been thinking. While his bat has real promise, Shenton will be 27 years old next season, and he comes with his fair share of flaws. Although he has played several positions, he might not be capable of regular MLB playing time anywhere other than first base. As for his offense, he has enticing power and a good eye, but strikeouts could be his downfall against the highest level of competition. He has also had dreadful splits against same-handed pitching in two of the last three seasons. On top of all that, he has often had trouble staying on the field; he spent time on the IL in each of his first four professional campaigns.

Regardless, the Mariners must have liked what they saw (and what they remembered) of Shenton, and there’s little risk for Seattle in taking him on. He still has two minor league option years remaining, so he won’t get any playing with the big league club unless he earns it. Moreover, it’s not as if Chargois was going to be a key player in the M’s bullpen next season. Rather, he seemed to be a likely non-tender candidate ahead of this week’s deadline.

Chargois, 34 in December, is a journeyman low-leverage reliever who has bounced between the Twins, Dodgers, Mariners, Rays, and Marlins throughout his big league tenure. He also spent a season with the Rakuten Eagles in Japan. The veteran righty has never been a flashy name, but his career 3.35 ERA and 3.84 SIERA over 231 1/3 innings are impressive numbers. Durability and injury concerns (he has never pitched more than 53 2/3 innings in a season) could prevent him from signing anything more than a minor league contract this winter, but his sparkling 2.23 ERA and solid 4.18 SIERA from this past season should help him find a new place to pitch in 2025.

D-Backs Select Tim Tawa, Joe Elbis

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The Diamondbacks added infielder Tim Tawa and right-hander Joe Elbis to their 40-man roster to keep them out of the Rule 5 draft. Arizona’s roster count sits at 37.

Tawa, a 25-year-old utility player, was Arizona’s 11th-round pick in 2021. The Stanford product is primarily a second baseman but can bounce around to the corner infield or any outfield spot. The right-handed hitter split the ’24 season between Double-A Amarillo and Triple-A Reno. He hit 31 homers with a .279/.349/.519 batting line across 613 plate appearances. The power output is surely inflated by his favorable home parks, but Tawa’s versatility and minor league production could make him a solid bench piece.

Elbis, 22, is a starting pitcher who reached Double-A. The Venezuela native combined for 135 1/3 innings of 3.39 ERA ball between High-A and Double-A this year. While his 20% strikeout rate isn’t overpowering, he showed solid control with an 8.3% walk percentage. He’ll begin the ’25 season as minor league rotation depth.

Dodgers Select Jack Dreyer

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The Dodgers added left-hander Jack Dreyer to their 40-man roster, reports Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 (X link). He’s their only addition to the 40-man roster on Rule 5 protection day.

Dreyer, 26 in February, was an undrafted signee out of Iowa in 2021. The 6’2″ reliever has overcome that lack of draft pedigree to grab a roster spot with the defending World Series winners. Dreyer posted fantastic numbers in the upper minors this year. Between Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City, he turned in a 2.20 earned run average across 57 1/3 innings. He struck out nearly 32% of batters faced while limiting his walks to a 5.3% clip.

The Dodgers have Alex Vesia and Anthony Banda as their top lefty relief options. Justin Wrobleski and swingman Zach Logue were the only other southpaws on the 40-man roster. Dreyer has a shot to pitch his way into the middle innings next season.

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