AL East

Boston Red Sox starter Garrett Crochet is happy that his trade saga with the Chicago White Sox came to an end.

"It's a big relief," Crochet said on Friday, per the Associated Press (h/t ESPN). "It takes a lot of stress out of the way of, I suppose, in spring training being curious where we're going to be living, the housing situation is tough to figure out, so it's nice to kind of be ahead of the game in that regard."

On Wednesday, Chicago dealt Crochet to Boston in exchange for a package of prospects headlined by catcher Kyle Teel.

The southpaw wrapped up a breakout 2024 campaign with the White Sox, earning the first All-Star nod of his career. After transitioning from the bullpen to a rotation role, Crochet thrived.

In 32 starts last season, he posted a 3.58 ERA and 1.068 WHIP. Crochet walked a mere 33 batters compared to 209 strikeouts in 146 innings of work, representing an impressive average of 12.9 strikeouts per nine innings.

Crochet was one of the few bright spots on a White Sox squad that finished with a record-breaking 121 losses. With two arbitration-eligible seasons left, several teams with postseason aspirations were eyeing him prior to the July 30 trade deadline.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported on June 20 that "every contending team" had interest in Crochet.

The trade buzz continued to surround the 25-year-old once the offseason started, increasing before he was finally moved to Boston. The Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets and New York Yankees all reportedly expressed interest.

Crochet ultimately landed on the Red Sox, though. He's expected to headline a rotation that also features Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford and Tanner Houck.

A Maddux on 94 pitches!

Tanner Houck tosses the first shutout of his career! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/dtHrXrjjgY

— MLB (@MLB) April 18, 2024

"The opportunity to play for the market of Boston, the fan base that's representing the Red Sox is about as great of an opportunity as you can come by in this game," Crochet said, per ESPN.

As the Red Sox look to improve upon a record of 81-81 and return to the postseason for the first time since 2021, Crochet will have a full offseason to adjust to the change of scenery and prepare for 2025.

New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge did not speak with Juan Soto this offseason because he didn't have Soto's new phone number, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale.

Soto, who signed a record-setting contract with the New York Mets in free agency, said on Thursday that he hadn't spoken to any of his former teammates since Game 5 of the World Series.

Nightengale reported that Soto had changed his number during free agency, and is now "reaching out to former Yankee teammates."

The reason there was no communication between Juan Soto and his former Yankee teammates simply is that Soto changed his cell phone number.
He was bombarded by outside calls during his free agency and wanted privacy.
Soto now is reaching out to former Yankee teammates.

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 13, 2024

Getting Soto's contact information this winter reportedly wasn't a problem for Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo.

The New York Post's Mike Puma reported on Thursday that Nimmo "obtained Soto's phone number several weeks ago and texted him" with a plea to join the Mets.

In contrast, Judge has previously said he wasn't involved in the Yankees' efforts to lobby for Soto's return to the Bronx.

Judge told reporters ahead of Game 1 of the World Series that he hadn't discussed free agency with Soto, and later said in November that he and his former teammate hadn't spoken since the end of the postseason.

That apparently hadn't changed by the time Soto inked a $765 million, 15-year deal to join the Mets. The Yankees fell short with their $760 million, 16-year offer and will now have to look elsewhere to rebuild their outfield.

After starring for the Milwaukee Brewers for the last six seasons, closer Devin Williams will have a new home for the 2025 campaign.

According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, the Brewers are finalizing a deal that will send Williams to the New York Yankees.

Per Robert Murray of Fansided, the Yankees are sending Nestor Cortes Jr. to Milwaukee. The Brewers will also receive infield prospect Caleb Durbin, per MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.

Milwaukee had declined the $10.5 million option on Williams' contract on Nov. 3 but still retained him on the roster because he was arbitration-eligible for one more year. He will be a free agent in 2026.

Williams signed a one-year contract with the Brewers worth $7.25 million with a club option last offseason to avoid arbitration. He missed the first three months of the 2024 season due to two stress fractures in his back.

After making his return to the mound on July 28, Williams made 22 appearances out of the bullpen and recorded 14 saves, a 1.25 ERA, a 0.97 WHIP and 38 strikeouts in 21.2 innings of work. He gave up four earned runs in two postseason appearances against the New York Mets in the National League Wild Card Series as the Brewers lost the series 2-1.

A two-time All-Star and two-time National League Reliever of the Year, Williams is one of the most dominant closers in the majors. In 2023, he recorded a career-high 36 saves across 61 appearances while notching 87 strikeouts in 58.2 innings pitched.

In his limited time on the mound this past season, Williams showed he can be as effective as ever when healthy, so he will surely be motivated to showcase his dominance in 2025 now that his injury issues are behind him.

By acquiring Williams, the Yankees are ensuring that their bullpen is anchored by one of the most dynamic pitchers in the game today while they chase another run to the World Series.

Relief pitching was an Achilles heel for the Yankees last season. Clay Holmes, who agreed to a three-year, $38 million deal with the New York Mets this week, lost his job as a closer because of his struggles in the ninth inning.

Yankee relievers ranked 19th in MLB in FanGraphs' wins above replacement (3.1). Cortes does take a depth piece away from their starting rotation, but they already addressed that unit in free agency by agreeing to an eight-year, $218 million deal with Max Fried.

Starting pitching was a huge area of need for the reigning NL Central champion Brewers. Freddy Peralta and Tobias Myers are their only returning starters currently on the roster who threw at least 75 innings last season.

Cortes threw a career-high 174.1 innings in 31 appearances for the Yankees in 2024. He posted a 3.77 ERA.

Durbin, a 14th-round pick in the 2021 MLB draft by the Atlanta Braves, played at three levels in the minors last season. He hit .275/.388/.451 with 10 homers and 60 RBI in 406 plate appearances.

A ball from one of the pivotal moments of the 2024 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees sold at an auction held by Major League Baseball.

MLB announced the winning bid for Aaron Judge's dropped ball in the fifth inning of Game 5 at Yankee Stadium sold for $43,510 on Thursday.

After losing the first three games of the series, the Yankees were able to stave off elimination with an 11-4 victory in Game 4. A win in Game 5 would have sent the series back to Los Angeles and put the pressure back on the Dodgers.

It looked like things were going in favor of the Yankees to start Game 5. They took a 5-0 lead after three innings, with Judge hitting a two-run homer in the bottom of the first. Gerrit Cole was cruising with four no-hit innings to start the game.

Then came the fifth inning. Enrique Hernández led off the frame with a single for the Dodgers' first hit. Tommy Edman followed with a soft liner to center for what should have been a routine play, but the ball hit off Judge's glove to put two runners on with no outs.

Judge is not able to make the grab on that one, and the Dodgers have 2 on with nobody out!

📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/S8c5QGQljm

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 31, 2024

Cole looked like he would get out of the situation unscathed after striking out Gavin Lux and Shohei Ohtani, but he failed to cover first on a grounder to Anthony Rizzo that scored one run.

The Dodgers followed with a two-run single by Freddie Freeman and a two-run double by Teoscar Hernández that tied the score. The Yankees did go back on top in the sixth with a sacrifice fly from Giancarlo Stanton, but the good vibes were short-lived.

Los Angeles responded in the eighth by scoring two runs to take a 7-6 lead. Walker Buehler closed out the game with a perfect ninth to seal the win and give the Dodgers their second World Series title in the past five seasons.

Judge's blunder was one of many defensive miscues for the Yankees throughout the playoffs, but his play was going to get more of the headlines by virtue of being the biggest star on the team.

It didn't help matters that Judge struggled with the bat throughout the postseason, despite his first-inning homer in Game 5. He hit just .184/.344/.408 with three homers in 14 games.

The Yankees captain was named AL MVP for the second time in three years after a terrific regular season, but there is a bubbling narrative about his playoff struggles that had another chapter added to it after his fifth-inning error in Game 5.

Juan Soto says he hasn't spoken with any of his former New York Yankees teammates, presumably including Aaron Judge, since the team lost Game 5 of the 2024 World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"I haven't talked to any of those guys," Soto said on Thursday, the day after finalizing a 15-year, $765 million contract to join the New York Mets. "We've talked to them through the playoff, at the end of the playoff, but after that... I haven't talked to any."

Juan Soto has not spoken with any of his Yankees teammates since the end of the World Series pic.twitter.com/5OoikmrAbi

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) December 12, 2024

The Yankees lost out in a bidding war with the Mets after offering Soto $760 million over 16 years, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman.

Soto told reporters on Thursday that he would say he had a good experience with the Yankees since joining the team following his 2023 trade from the San Diego Padres.

"I feel like they did that they had in their power to help me out, to bring me back, but I have other four teams doing the same thing and trying to make me feel comfortable," Soto said.

"At the end, we look at everything. We look at the chances and we look at what other teams wanted to do, and what everybody wants to do for the next 15 years. And I think we have the best chance to win here."

Juan Soto with some insight on why he chose the Mets over the Yankees.

"I think we have the best chance to win here." pic.twitter.com/ZUwaRZYE8s

— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) December 12, 2024

Soto also thanked Yankees fans during his first interviews as a Met.

"I want to say thank you," Soto said. "I actually just want to say thank you to them. They really showed me all the love, and everything that they have, last year. They were right there, day in, day out. They really have a spot in my heart at the end of the day.

"Tough that we couldn't get it together, and try to be back, and stuff like that. But definitely, I'm always gonna appreciate what they did for me in 2024."

Juan Soto gives a message to Yankees fans:

"I want to say thank you. They really showed me all the love and everything that they have. They have a spot in my heart." pic.twitter.com/gonEbM9ILY

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) December 12, 2024

The Red Sox offered Soto approximately $700 million over 15 years, per Sean McAdam of MassLive. The Dodgers "capped" their offer at $600 million, per Patrick Mooney, Will Sammon, Brendan Kuty and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

The Yankees and Mets came closest in terms of money. According to Heyman, the Mets' deal may have been differentiated by "relatively small things" including a higher signing bonus, a fifth-year opt out and a suite for his family.

Judge said multiple times since October that he was not in communication with Soto as his former teammate weighed a return to the Yankees against offers from other teams.

The Yankees captain told reporters on Oct. 24, one day prior to Game 1 of the World Series, that he hadn't discussed free agency with Soto. He then took a similar stance when asked for an update on his communication with Soto in late November.

"I think the best thing is to really give those guys space," Judge said on Nov. 22, per SNY. "You know, I talked to him all season and he knows how we feel about him."

Soto, whose .327 postseason batting average was key in leading the Yankees to the World Series as Judge's offense faltered, will now be taking his services to Queens.

The little things might have added up for Juan Soto when he chose to leave the New York Yankees and sign with the New York Mets this offseason.

Soto reportedly rebuffed a $760 million offer from the Bronx Bombers and opted for the Mets instead. ESPN's Buster Olney and Jeff Passan detailed what led up to the decision, and among the factors might have been his rapport with Yankees officials.

Olney and Passan wrote how chairman Hal Steinbrenner tends to give star players "a respectful space," in contrast to his late father George. That might have backfired a bit with Soto.

"Soto indicated to an associate that he was surprised he didn't know Hal better, and according to two sources in the meetings, Steinbrenner explained he didn't want to overwhelm the player in his first year in New York," the report said.

There were also a couple of minor situations behind the scenes involving people from Soto's camp.

According to Olney and Passan, Soto's father had once tried to enter the clubhouse before a game to deliver some food to his son.

"But he was turned away, in a routine enforcement of rules that were put in place by MLB in the aftermath of the steroid era; in some cases, personal trainers and some family members were found to have served as PED mules," they reported.

In another instance, a driver for Soto who intended to take him home was turned away when he tried to access a parking lot before a Yankees game ended.

The New York Post's Jon Heyman also previously reported one bone of contention for Soto was having a suite set aside for his family and paid for by the team. The Yankees pushed back after having not granted that request to other stars such as Derek Jeter and Aaron Judge.

Across any sport, being a generational talent comes with special privileges. Olney and Passan reported the Washington Nationals and San Diego Padres displayed "more deference" toward Soto and his family when he played for them.

The Yankees, however, still pride themselves on maintaining some of their strict standards. Banning long hair and beards is the most obvious example.

For a long time, the franchise could lean on its history, on-field success, and home market to attract stars despite rules that might be considered arcane or unnecessary. If you wanted to play on a World Series contender, get paid a lot of money, and call New York home, then you signed with the Yankees.

Thanks to the free-spending ways of team owner Steve Cohen, the Mets have become a viable alternative for elite talent who yearn to play in the Big Apple.

It will be fascinating to see whether the Yankees adapt now that the advantage they once owned is gone.

Star first baseman Pete Alonso is open to playing in a different New York City borough if he senses the New York Mets aren't all that preoccupied with retaining him, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman.

Heyman reported Wednesday that Alonso "is also said to have some interest in going to the Yankees if the Mets never seriously engage with him."

The Yanks agreed to a deal with starting pitcher Max Fried worth a reported $218 million, but they should still have a lot of cash to burn considering they were prepared to spend $760 million on Juan Soto.

Any time a free agent of Soto's magnitude finally signs, it causes a domino effect. Fried's contract with the Bronx Bombers is a perfect example. However, some free agents are left to twist in the wind, and their continued presence on the open market only lowers the leverage they have at the negotiating table.

It sounds as though the conclusion to the Soto sweepstakes brought little clarity for Alonso. MLB Network Radio' Jim Duquette said Wednesday on Baseball Night in New York that his market "is still being established."

"The market for him right now is still being established"@JimDuquetteGM joins @sal_licata on BNNY to discuss Pete Alonso's market and other potential Mets offensive targets this offseason: https://t.co/DNJW0vlU4m

➡️ Tri-State @Cadillac pic.twitter.com/nuehGPKkrd

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) December 11, 2024

Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns indicated re-signing the four-time All-Star is the team's preference.

"We'd love to bring Pete back," he said, per ESPN's Jorge Castillo. "Pete's been a great Met. He had some enormous hits for us, and we'll see where that goes."

The Mets could be playing hardball with Alonso given he doesn't seem to have any serious suitors at the moment. Heyman's report comes off as his representatives trying to turn the tables on Stearns a bit more because his departure wouldn't be received well by the fanbase.

Having said that, the Yankees do need a first baseman after declining Anthony Rizzo's 2025 option, so Alonso would address a need in their lineup. They also might like to get one over on their crosstown rivals after the Mets won the Soto bidding.

Anyone with a spare $4 million laying around can now own a coveted piece of New York Yankees history.

SCP Auctions put a game-worn Lou Gehrig jersey from the 1937 World Series and other regular-season games for sale, and TMZ Sports noted it is expected to sell for more than $4 million.

The auction closes Saturday night, and, as of Thursday morning, there is already a bid for $1.65 million.

According to SCP Auctions, it is the "only Gehrig World Series jersey to surface" and was carefully photomatched:

"This majestic Yankees home pinstripe jersey was donned by Larrupin' Lou Gehrig during that triumphant 1937 season. Its emphatic authentication as a Gehrig gamer is beyond doubt. Besides being the most recognizable sports uniform in the world, each Yankees pinstripe jersey holds clues which lend itself to modern photo-matching techniques. While every Yankees home jersey may appear identical on the field, up close each one has its own unique pinstripe pattern where each section of the garment has been sewn together. It is this important characteristic, as unique as human fingerprints, that has led three expert photo-matching firms to conclude that the great Lou Gerhrig wore this jersey in several home games throughout the 1937 campaign, including the Fall Classic."

The Hall of Famer remains one of the most iconic players in baseball history, and he was a dominant force during that 1937 campaign.

Gehrig slashed .351/.473/.643 with 37 home runs and 158 RBI while making the All-Star Game for a fifth straight season. New York won its second of what became four consecutive World Series crowns from the 1936 through 1939 campaigns.

It was Gehrig's age-34 season, although he retired just two years later after he was diagnosed with ALS. He then died in 1941 at the age of 37.

He finished his career with a legendary resume that included seven World Series titles, two MVPs, a Triple Crown, a batting title and seven All-Star Game selections.

The Boston Red Sox made a big splash this winter, trading for starting pitcher Garrett Crochet. Don't expect them to dip into the free-agent market for starting pitchers in the same way unless they can do so on short-term deals.

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, "After getting burned on nine-figure contracts for Chris Sale and David Price, Red Sox owner John Henry is reluctant to award long-term deals to pitchers, according to sources briefed on his thinking."

He added that "perhaps his hesitancy will extend to an extension for Crochet, who is under club control for two more seasons. But the Red Sox are so deep in young talent, that they cannot possibly fit all of their prospects onto future 26-man rosters. So for them, Wednesday's trade for Crochet was a move that made perfect sense."

The Red Sox ultimately gave up four highly-regarded prospects to land Crochet—catcher Kyle Teel, outfielder Braden Montgomery, infielder Chase Meidroth and right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez. All four are now considered top-14 prospects in Chicago's farm system, per MLB Pipeline.

Giving up young talent to acquire starting pitching was apparently more appealing than making long-term commitments to the top free agents on the board like Corbin Burnes, though the Red Sox could perhaps dip into the next level of options below him like Sean Manaea or Jack Flaherty, depending on the length of the deals they're seeking.

Crochet, 25, will eventually need an extension of his own if Boston plans to keep him for the long term, though his two remaining arbitration years should make him a relative bargain from a salary perspective.

He was excellent in his first full season as a starting pitcher, finishing 6-12 with a 3.58 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 209 strikeouts in just 146 innings. Winning the Crochet sweepstakes was a statement of intent from the Red Sox after a disappointing 2024 season, especially if they pair him with a major addition in free agency like Alex Bregman, Teoscar Hernández or Anthony Santander.

"We feel like we got a legitimate No. 1 starter in Garrett," general manager Craig Breslow told reporters. "Left-handed, ton of swing and miss, massive strikeouts and feel like the best is still in front of him. So we're excited about what he brings. And obviously, we needed to trade really good players in order to be able to do this. But that's the cost right now and we're very much focused on what we were able to get."

Just don't expect them to offer a star pitcher a lengthy contract. After getting burnt on those types of deals in the past, the Red Sox appear to have moved onto a new roster-building philosophy when it comes to bolstering the rotation.

Jonathan Loáisiga is reportedly staying with the only Major League Baseball team he has ever known.

ESPN's Jorge Castillo reported Wednesday the New York Yankees and the right-handed pitcher agreed to a one-year deal with a team option for 2026. The expectation is Loáisiga will be ready to take the mound by late April after missing most of last season because of elbow surgery.

Loáisiga's health is a major focal point heading into this new contract, as he was limited to just three games and four innings last year. What's more, elbow injuries limited him to 17.2 innings during the 2023 campaign.

The 2021 season is the only time he has pitched more than 48 innings, as he threw 70.2 while posting a 2.17 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 69 strikeouts.

The Yankees needed to solidify their bullpen after Clay Holmes joined the New York Mets this offseason, and a healthy Loáisiga would help them do just that.

In seven seasons with New York, he has a 3.44 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 207 strikeouts in 219.2 innings. He's not someone who will likely close games for the team, but he can help shorten games in the bullpen with a formidable sinker.

It was anything but a foregone conclusion he would return to the Yankees, as Castillo previously reported he also generated interest from the Mets, San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays.

But the Yankees made sure he is staying put, and they surely hope he stays healthy and helps them compete for an American League East crown in 2025.