The MLB offseason has started to pick up steam with some signings occuring such as Alex Bregman, Ranger Suarez, Kyle Tucker, Bo Bichette, and JT Realmuto. Some other news this past week hit as Team USA for the World Baseball Classic has started to take shape.
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Team USA
The World Baseball Classic begins with Pool Play on March 4th with Chinese Taipei facing Australia. Team USA will play its first game, which will be an Exhibition game against the Colorado Rockies on March 4th at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, AZ. Their first game of Pool Play will be March 6th against Brazil at Daikin Parkin in Houston, TX. The roster for Team USA is loaded with AL MVP Aaron Judge and Cy Young Award Winners Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes. This week, Alex Bregman announced he would be playing for Team USA. Southpaw Clayton Kershaw also announced he will pitch for the United States despite his retirement. Outfielder Byron Buxton also announced he’s joining the team along with fellow outfielder Corbin Carroll. Team USA will also have infielder Ernie Clement, who announced his participation this week.
Alex Bregman
Bregman, this past week, signed a five-year deal worth $175 million dollars with the Chicago Cubs. Some of that contract is deferred, and it has a no-trade clause. The Red Sox also had an offer to Bregman, which was for five-years for $165 million, but they refused to offer a full no-trade clause, leading him to sign with Chicago, according to Sean McAdam of MassLive.com.
Bregman in 2025 played in 114 games, hitting .273 with a .821 OPS. He had 28 doubles, 18 home runs, 62 RBI, and 64 runs scored. He was an All-Star in his lone season with the Red Sox. He’s appeared in 1,225 career games, hitting .272 with a .846 OPS. He has 293 doubles, 18 triples, 209 home runs, 725 RBI, and 758 runs scored. The three-time All-Star is a two-time World Series champ. He chose the number three, with Chicago stating he chose it because he wants to win his third championship.
Ranger Suarez
The Red Sox, missing out on Bregman, pivoted and signed left-handed pitcher Ranger Suarez to a five-year deal worth $130 million. His deal also includes deferrals. Last season, he made 26 starts. He went 12-8 with a 3.20 ERA, a 1.20 WHIP, and 151 strikeouts in 157.1 innings. Suárez had career highs in both strikeouts and innings pitched. Suarez has spent all eight seasons of his big league career with the Philadelphia Phillies.
His signing with the Red Sox could signify them moving a pitcher to acquire a bat. The Red Sox have already acquired Willson Contreras, Johan Oviedo, and Sonny Gray this offseason. The addition of Suarez and Gray gives them a rotation of Garrett Crochet, Gray, Suarez, Brayan Bello, Oviedo, along with other arms Payton Tolle, Connelly Early, and they’ll be getting back Patrick Sandoval and Kutter Crawford this season.
Kyle Tucker
Tucker, the biggest name still available on the free agent market, gets his deal as he signs a four-year, $240 million contract with the Dodgers, with $30 million of that being deferred. The deal also includes opt-outs after the second and third seasons. Tucker last season in 136 games hit .266 with a .841 OPS. He had 25 doubles, four triples, 22 home runs, 73 RBI, and 91 runs scored. He was an All-Star as well in his lone season with the Cubs. He’s a four-time All-Star and won the World Series in 2022 with the Astros. Tucker had multiple suitors as the Blue Jays and New York Mets were reportedly in on the left-handed hitter.
Bo Bichette
Bichette, the next big name on the market after Tucker signed last night, found his new home. Bichette this morning signed with the New York Mets, who immediately pivoted after Tucker signed. Bichette’s deal is for three-years for $126 million. Bichette will play third base for the Mets, as they already have Francisco Lindor. Bichette joins a loaded Mets lineup, which includes Lindor and Juan Soto. They Metrs also added Jorge Polanco this season. Bichette last season missed the end of the season for Toronto, but returned for the World Series. In the regular season, in 139 games, he hit .311 with a .840 OPS. He had 44 doubles, a triple, 18 home runs, 94 RBI, and 78 runs scored. Bichette had multiple suitors as well, with one being a division rival of the Mets in the Philadelphia Phillies.
JT Realmuto
The Phillies pivoted after Bichette signed and immediately re-signed Realmuto. Realmuto signed a three-year, $45 million contract. Realmuto returns to the Phillies, where he’s spent the last seven seasons, after the Marlins traded him on February 7, 2019. He re-signed with the Phillies back on January 29, 2021. Last season in 134 games, he hit .257 with a .700 OPS. He had 26 doubles, a triple, 12 home runs, 52 RBI, and 57 runs scored. The power numbers have dipped for Realmuto, but he’s still a key piece to the Phillies’ lineup.
Wrap Up
The next big-name free agent on the list is Cody Bellinger, who, the way things have gone, could likely be on the move in the next day or so. The Yankees are in on bringing him back, and the Mets have also been linked to the left-handed hitter. Expect things to start really moving now as pitchers and catchers report in four weeks.
