Blue Jays Regrouping After Missing Out on Two Superstar Free Agents

Toronto was trying to get the best of both worlds, now they need to make sure they have enough to move forward without either.

Maddy Dickens

35 minutes ago

The free agent market is rapidly starting to dwindle, and while the Toronto Blue Jays have been aggressive during this offseason, one of their top pursuits just signed with the reigning world champions. Outfielder Kyle Tucker will be playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2026, as the Jays came up short in their bidding war to land him.

In a perfect world, Toronto was hoping to not only land Tucker but also their homegrown hero, Bo Bichette. The Dodgers are paying an astronomical $60 million a year to have Tucker on their roster, and while the Blue Jays have been willing to spend this offseason, they weren't going to fork over that much cash.

Retaining both Bichette and Tucker would have been a dream come true for the organization, but a nightmare came to be for the Jays instead. The team not only lost Tucker to their nemesis, but were unable to retain Bichette.

The New York Mets came way out of left field to sign Bichette to a three-year, $126 million contract, meaning the Toronto Blue Jays just lost one of their key pieces to the 2025 roster. It is going to take more than one player to replace the production that he is taking with them, and time is running out.Retaining both Bichette and Tucker would have been a dream come true for the organization, but a nightmare came to be for the Jays instead. The team not only lost Tucker to their nemesis, but were unable to retain Bichette.

The New York Mets came way out of left field to sign Bichette to a three-year, $126 million contract, meaning the Toronto Blue Jays just lost one of their key pieces to the 2025 roster. It is going to take more than one player to replace the production that he is taking with them, and time is running out.

Missing Bichette in the Infield

After signing Kazuma Okamoto as a strong utility man for the infield, and with Bichette now suiting up for the Mets, John Schneider will be relying on Okamoto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Ernie Clement to lead the lineup, which they are more than capable of doing.

The real concern, and the player who needs a comeback, is going to be Andres Gimenez.

By the end of the regular season, the Blue Jays were easily one of the best offenses in baseball, but Gimenez stood out among players who played in at least 100 games. He finished with the worst slash line of his career and on the Jays: .210/.285/.313 to bring his OPS to a mere .598.

Bichette lead the team in hits and runs batted in last season as the face of their all-around offensive masterpiece. If the Jays are up to the task of taking down the Dodgers, they need Gimenez to look like the player he was in Cleveland, where he batted no worse than .252.

After an incredible start to their offseason, they emerged as the easy front runners to take another division title. But, manager John Schneider is looking for another pennant, and redemption in the Fall Classic, meaning losing out on both Tucker and Bichette, cannot derail their goals.

Ernie Clement Poised to Fill Bichette's Shoes

Goodbye Bichette, hello Ernie Clement. While he's no stranger to Toronto (he's set to enter his fourth season with the club), the 29-year-old now becomes a middle infield fixture. Yes, he will probably end up locked in at second base while Andres Gimenez shifts back to shortstop, but the transition from Bichette to Clement seems clear.

Clement may not be the offensive force that Bichette is, but he can hold his own. He hit .277 over a career-high 545 at-bats in the regular season, then reached historic heights in the playoffs by hitting .411 and recording the most hits (30) in a single postseason in MLB history. What he lacks in power (he hit just nine home runs last season) can potentially be offset by the arrival of Okamoto.

Defensively, Clement represents a clear upgrade. The Rochester, NY native and soon-to-be Team USA World Baseball Classic representative led all of baseball in 2025 with 22 defensive runs saved. He is equally adept at playing shortstop and third base, offering some valuable positional versatility.

Who knows, maybe the Blue Jays aren't done and could look to add talent from a free agent pool that still includes the likes of Cody Bellinger, Eugenio Suarez and Luis Arraez. However, with Bichette gone and Toronto's front office remaining mindful of not disrupting the team's exceptional clubhouse chemistry, it's hard to foresee any scenario that doesn't include Clement playing a pivotal role in 2026.

Bichette's departure is a painful loss, to be clear. No team can lose a 27-year-old everyday player who hits for average (.311) and power (18 home runs, 94 RBI) without facing some kind of setback. Fortunately, the Blue Jays have the talent and depth to move forward, and Clement is a big part of that. He may not be the better player, but you'd certainly rather have him at $4.6 million than Bichette at $42 million.

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

By Nick Deeds | January 18, 2026 at 12:05pm CDT

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 acquire. 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.

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[ This is a good thing. Brendan Donovan, Jarren Duran, Harrison Bader, and Luis Robert are all on my wish list. I'm hoping for at least one of the four mentioned to be in a Guardian uniform by opening day. ]

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Royals Hit Jackpot, Landed Kansas City's Next 5-Tool Star

The Royals might have hit the jackpot in international free agency..

Zach Pressnell

1 hour ago

The Kansas City Royals have a lot of talent on their big league roster, but they're seemingly building sustainable success through the farm system.

They have quite a bit of talent coming up through the minor leagues, which is crucial for the future of the team, considering their best player is young shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. Building a team of young talent around Witt would be the best-case scenario for the Royals.

The Royals have a talented farm system already, but they recently added to it in a big way. MLB Pipeline reported the Royals signed international free agent Jaider Suarez to a deal this offseason. Suarez is MLB Pipeline's 22nd ranked prospect in this winter's international free agency class.

Royals might have struck gold with Jaider Suarez signing

"Even at a young age, Suarez has the physical look of a potential impact talent," MLB Pipeline's scouting department wrote. "His right-handed swing routinely produces loud contact and his consistency in keeping his head still at the point of impact allows him to get to extra-base pop. In over 100 plate appearances in Cuba’s U16 National League back in 2023, Suarez – despite being just 13 at the time – slashed .355/.495/.605 and walked nearly twice as many times as he struck out."

Suarez is a very talented prospect with incredible potential. He has true five tool ability with the chance to develop into one of the game's best all-around players in the coming decade.

He's a very good athlete, which should result in his sticking at shortstop for years to come. At 180 pounds, the teenager has the room to add muscle and weight to his frame. This should see his power tick up over the next few years.

Suárez's raw power is very impressive for his age. The best part about his bat is the fact that he doesn't sacrifice bat to ball skills in order to hit the ball out of the park. He's able to do both at an above average level. There's a long way to go before he's playing in Kansas City, but he has the tools to make it to the big leagues over the coming years.

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Royals Sign Top Ranked Outfielder With Superstar Potential

The Royals were able to make a blockbuster move in international free agency...

Zach Pressnell

Jan 15, 2026

The Kansas City Royals don't have the money to compete with the biggest markets around the league in free agency. It's difficult for the Royals to sustain success over time if they aren't able to compete in free agency bidding wars.

Fortunately, they were able to extend Bobby Witt Jr.'s contract before he broke out at the big league level. As a result, he's going to be in Kansas City for the foreseeable future.

Still, the Royals are going to need a loaded farm system if they want to sustain success. Given the fact they're unlikely to land any big contracts in free agency, building through the farm system is crucial.

On Thursday, the Royals made a big splash in international free agency to land one of the best prospects in the game.

Angeibel Gomez is a massive addition for the Royals

MLB Pipeline reported that the Royals signed top international prospect Angeibel Gomez for $2.9 million on Thursday. Gomez, 17, is MLB Pipeline's No. 4 ranked prospect in the international free agency class.

Gomez is one of the more physically developed players in the class. He's already well over 6 foot tall, which helps boost his speed and athleticism.

Gomez has one of the better bats in the class, which pairs well with his above average speed and defense. He has the potential of a true 5-tool prospect if he can put the pieces together over the coming years.

While most shortstop prospects won't be able to stick at shortstop down the road, Gomez projects as a true shortstop with the speed and defense to excel at the position.

It's rare to find a true 17-year-old shortstop with superstar potential like Gomez. He should remain one of the best prospects in the game as he works his way over to professional baseball in the coming months and years.

There's a chance he flies up the Royals minor league system over the coming years. Gomez has the chance to be a special talent for the Royals.

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Now is the time for the Guardians to strike a trade for Brendan Donovan

No better time than the present.

By Henry Palattella

9 hours ago

The Cleveland Guardians offseason has been defined by relief pitchers. Like, a lot of relief pitchers.

And while those bullpen reinforcements were well-needed given the fact that Emmanuel Clase has likely thrown his last pitch ever for the Guardians, there is still clearly a huge hole in the Guardians’ lineup that needs to be addressed between now and Opening Day.

St. Louis’ Brendan Donovan has stood out as one of the top options to fill that hole for most of the offseason, and it looks like the clock could be ticking on their chances to get him in a trade.

Over the weekend, Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom spoke to reporters at the team’s fan fest and said that he would “ideally” like to have Donovan’s situation wrapped up by the start of spring training.

Although there’s been a lot of public posturing about Donovan’s trade market, Bloom going on record about Donovan’s timeline adds some added pressure to potential suitors like the Guardians.

The Guardians are going to need to move quick if they want to trade for Brendan Donovan

While Bloom didn’t outright say “hey we’re looking to trade Brendan Donovan,” his comments have added a much-needed deadline to his trade talks. And the Guardians should be in the thick of those trade talks given how easily he could fix a big hole in the team’s lineup.

He’s a utility savant who has a Gold Glove and an All-Star nod under his belt and has mashed double-digit home runs in three straight seasons. He’s best suited as a right fielder (which was a black hole for the Guardians last season) and a second baseman (which wasn’t much better).

Donovan hit a career-best .287 last season with 32 doubles, 42 walks and just 67 strikeouts while appearing at three different positions.

That versatility would also give him a chance to stick on the Guardians’ roster after Travis Bazzana or Khalil Watson is recalled since he’d be able to move around the diamond as opposed to being stuck behind either rookie.

One of the reasons the Guardians’ front office hasn’t added any position players this offseason is because Chris Antonetti wants to give the team’s young players as much of a chance to get everyday playing time, but Donovan wouldn’t stand in their way the same way a less-flexible addition would.

Donovan’s trade talks have been a roller coaster (the latest buzz prior to Bloom’s update was that the Royals weren’t going to trade for him), but it seems like he’s available for the right price. The Guardians hoard prospects like no one’s business, but it likely wouldn’t take a ton to wiggle him away from the rebuilding Cardinals.

Donovan wouldn’t solve all the Guardians’ problems, but he’d be a welcome addition to a lineup looking for a shot in the arm. The clock’s ticking.

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Luis Robert Jr. Traded to Mets From White Sox Amid Cody Bellinger Contract Rumors

Andrew Peters

Jan 20, 2026

After signing Bo Bichette last week, the New York Mets have made another big move.

The Mets have acquired centerfielder Luis Robert Jr. from the Chicago White Sox in return for rookie infielder Luisangel Acuña and right-handed pitcher Truman Pauley.

Robert, a former Gold Glove Award and Silver Slugger Award winner, is coming off a season in which he hit 14 home runs and 53 RBI while slashing .223/.297/.364. It was far from the best season of his career, but he was also limited to just 110 games because of a hamstring injury suffered in August.

He was starting to get hot before the injury, posting a .298/.352/.456 slash line over 31 second-half games.

The White Sox exercised their $20 million option on Robert's contract in November, and general manager Chris Getz indicated at the time that the team wanted him to stick around in 2026.

"We're planning on him being in a White Sox uniform," Getz said. "What he did in the second half was very indicative of what he's capable of doing and how that can impact our team. You look at the production we had when he was in the lineup, and oftentimes, it helped us win baseball games."

Manager Will Venable also spoke highly of the center fielder.

"This guy is a game changer," he said. "We all know that his skill set is incredible and he can make an impact on the field as much as anybody on this planet. To have him out there healthy, it makes all the difference in the world for us."

While Chicago appeared to be excited about having Robert around, the offer from the Mets proved to be enough to move him to the Big Apple.

Now that the Mets have added one outfielder, the question that remains is whether they'll continue their pursuit of coveted free agent Cody Bellinger. Will Sammon of The Athletic reported earlier this week that the Mets "still hold interest in signing" in signing Bellinger, though they prefer a short-term deal.

The signing of Robert would seemingly curb that interest some.

Acuña & Pauley

Chicago lands Luisangel Acuña, who brings speed and defensive versatility to the organization. Offensively, the 23-year-old struggled this past season, hitting .234/.293/.274 with a .567 OPS, zero home runs, and eight RBI in 95 games. Despite the numbers, the White Sox see upside and long-term potential.

Truman Pauley is the other piece heading to Chicago. The 22-year-old right-hander was selected by the Mets in the 12th round of the 2025 MLB Draft and signed for $397,500.

More to come.

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Why the Kansas City Royals Moved the Outfield Fences at Kauffman Stadium

The Kansas City Royals outfield fence move at Kauffman Stadium represents a data-driven attempt to modernize run scoring, improve roster efficiency, and generate new revenue without abandoning the park’s identity.

Kansas City did not move the fences to chase cheap home runs. The Royals moved the fences to change outcomes.

For decades, Kauffman Stadium has been one of the most difficult parks in baseball for power hitters. Deep alleys, high walls, and expansive outfield space consistently turned well-struck fly balls into loud outs. That reality shaped roster construction, offensive philosophy, and even how opponents pitched Kansas City. On January 13, 2026, the Royals made a deliberate correction, announcing that the outfield walls would be moved in and lowered in several areas while center field would remain intact. This was a competitive decision informed by data and a business decision driven by revenue and long-term planning.

What Exactly Is Changing at Kauffman Stadium

The new dimensions keep the foul line distances at 330 feet in left and right field and preserve the iconic 410 feet to center. The biggest changes occur in the power alleys, where distances are reduced by roughly 8 to 10 feet, and in wall height, which drops from 10 feet to approximately 8.5 feet in several sections. These changes are paired with the addition of roughly 230 new seating areas in the outfield.

This matters because most marginal home runs in modern baseball are not scraped over the foul pole. They come from balls driven into the gaps at optimal launch angles. Small geometric changes in those areas have outsized effects on run scoring.

Why the Royals Targeted Park Neutrality

Statcast park factor data has long classified Kauffman Stadium as suppressive for home runs while inflating doubles and triples. In 2025, the Royals hit fewer home runs at home than on the road, a split that reinforced what players and analysts already understood anecdotally. The park did not consistently reward quality contact.

The front office has framed the change as an effort to move Kauffman closer to league average rather than turning it into an offensive outlier. Neutral parks reward execution without artificially inflating results. That distinction is important for long-term roster building and player evaluation.

How the New Dimensions Help the Offense

The most direct benefit is simple. More fly balls that previously died at the warning track will now leave the yard. FanGraphs analysis of batted ball data from recent seasons suggests that a measurable number of outs would have cleared the new walls under the updated configuration. Even modest increases in home run totals can flip multiple one-run and two-run games across a season.

There is also a secondary effect. Pitchers can no longer challenge hitters as aggressively, knowing that the park will protect them. Increased home run risk forces better sequencing, fewer fastballs over the plate, and more hitter-friendly counts. That can raise walk rates and on-base percentage even when the ball does not leave the park.

From a personnel standpoint, park neutrality improves the Royals’ ability to retain and attract hitters. Ballpark reputation matters in arbitration, extensions, and free agency. Suppressive environments depress counting stats and market value. A more balanced Kauffman removes that friction.

The Offensive Risks the Royals Accept

There is a real danger in allowing the park to mask deeper lineup flaws. Fence adjustments do not replace plate discipline, contact quality, or lineup depth. A short-term power spike can cover structural weaknesses during the regular season, only to be exposed in October against elite pitching.

There is also an identity risk. Kansas City has historically won with defense, athleticism, and pressure baseball. If the fence move is treated as a shortcut rather than a supplement to development, the competitive gains flatten quickly.

What the Changes Mean for Pitching

Keeping center field at 410 feet preserves the heart of Kauffman Stadium and protects the value of range and athletic defense. The Royals did not eliminate the challenge for pitchers. They narrowed it.

The tradeoff is obvious. Missed locations are punished more often. A fly ball that was once a loud out now becomes a solo home run. For pitchers who rely heavily on contact management, the margin for error shrinks.

However, the reduced gap depth can also reduce extra base hits that stretch innings and inflate pitch counts. Some doubles and triples turn into outs rather than rallies. The net effect is not purely anti-pitching. It redistributes risk.

The Business Case Behind the Fence Move

The added outfield seating provides a clear financial incentive. With approximately 230 new seats and 81 regular-season home games, the Royals could add 18,630 additional ticket opportunities per season if demand supports it.

Using publicly reported pricing data, Kansas City’s median MLB ticket price in 2025 was listed at $72. Even under conservative assumptions, incremental ticket revenue alone ranges from $745,000 to $1.34 million per season, depending on pricing and sell-through.

Concessions amplify that number. A 2025 MLB fan spending report estimated average per-game food and beverage spend at roughly $56 per attendee. Applied to the added seating, which represents over $1 million in additional annual concessions revenue before operating costs.

Taken together, the fence move creates a realistic path to $1.8-$2.4 million in additional annual gross gameday revenue while improving the on-field product. That is without merchandise, parking, premium upsells, media revenue, naming rights, and sponsorships. That is a front-office decision that links performance and monetization without waiting for broader stadium outcomes.

What this means for the Royals moving forward

The Royals did not change who they are. They removed a handicap.

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[ So! The bottom line. Does the change improve the Royals won/loss record? For sure, welcome news for jac caglianone. Lot of well struck balls stayed in the park. Should also be good news for Witt. Can the pitching staff keep the ball in the yard? ]

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