NL Central

The Boston Red Sox made another addition to their bullpen on Tuesday by signing a former All-Star.

ESPN's Jeff Passan reported that the Red Sox reached an agreement with seven-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion Aroldis Chapman on a one-year, $10.75 million contract.

The deal comes after Boston signed lefty reliever Justin Wilson to a one-year, $2.25 million contract last month and hired Chris Holt as its new bullpen coach. The team was in need of new faces after closer Kenley Jansen and setup man Chris Martin entered free agency this offseason.

By adding Chapman, Boston's bullpen depth chart now looks like this:

• RP: Aroldis Chapman, Justin Wilson, Greg Weissert, Brennan Bernardino, Zack Kelly, Chris Murphy

Following Tuesday's deal, the Red Sox now have an adjusted payroll of $120.7 million and a projected payroll of $141.9 million, per Spotrac.

Through 68 appearances in his lone season with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2024, Chapman finished with a 5-5 record, 14 saves, a 3.79 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 61.2 innings of work. In June, the 36-year-old set the record for most career strikeouts by a lefty reliever, passing Billy Wagner.

Chapman signed a one-year, $10.5 million deal with the Pirates last offseason after splitting the 2023 season between the Kansas City Royals and the Texas Rangers. He pitched a collective 58.1 innings and finished the year with a 3.09 ERA, 103 strikeouts and just 36 walks.

During the 2023 postseason, Chapman made nine appearances and allowed just two runs with six strikeouts to help the Rangers win their first World Series title in franchise history. He spent the 2024 postseason watching from home, as the Pirates missed the playoffs for the ninth straight year.

A 16-year veteran, Chapman was once one of the most feared relievers in the majors. He brought an intimidating presence to the mound as he dominated opposing batters by routinely throwing fastballs that topped 100 MPH. While he was never able to lock down the closer role with the Rangers, he proved he could still be a reliable option at the end of the bullpen.

Joining the Pirates allowed Chapman to be one of the veteran leaders on a young squad while primarily serving as the setup man for closer David Bednar, who had 23 saves. Pittsburgh was Chapman's sixth team, as he also spent six seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, six-plus seasons with the New York Yankees and was a member of the Chicago Cubs' World Series-winning team in 2016.

By signing with the Red Sox, Chapman will once again be one of the most experienced relievers in the bullpen as the team tries to compete for a playoff spot in 2025.

Free-agent shortstop Willy Adames is one of the most popular players on the open market this winter, and he reportedly could make himself even more attractive with his versatility.

According to ESPN's Jesse Rogers, sources close to the situation said that Adames "is open to a position change, but only if all other factors fit his desires." The 29-year-old would be willing to move around the infield if the team he signs with already has the shortstop position filled.

"If the team, city and contract work -- but there's an incumbent at shortstop -- Adames could move over to third or even to second base," Rogers explained.

It was noted that Adames has made 51 appearances at second base and just seven at third during his time in the majors, but an MLB scout believes his future will be in the hot corner.

"His middle infield range could be limited as he gets older," the scout told Rogers. "It wasn't the best last year, plus he has corner infield power. I like him there."

Adames is coming off a stellar season for the Milwaukee Brewers in which he posted career-highs of 32 home runs, 112 RBI and 21 stolen bases. He would surely be a strong addition to any team hoping to contend for a World Series title next year and beyond.

As the St. Louis Cardinals have already indicated they intend to cut back on payroll next season after a disappointing 2024, Nolan Arenado's future with the organization appears to be very much in doubt.

Per The Athletic's Katie Woo, there is a "growing sense" among people in MLB that Arenado will be traded at some point this offseason.

Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported earlier this month that the Cardinals were "unsure" of what their payroll budget for next season would be amid uncertainty about the local television rights deal with Diamond Sports Group.

Last season also marked the first time since 2003 that the Cardinals failed to draw at least 3 million fans to Busch Stadium in a full season when max capacity was allowed. (They drew 2.1 million fans in 2021, but stadium capacity was limited for the first two months of the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.)

The Cardinals' payroll for next season is currently projected to be $137.7 million. That's down from $192.8 million in cash spending on the 2024 roster. The biggest cut was the expiring contract for Paul Goldschmidt, who earned $26 million last season.

They also declined team options for Lance Lynn, Kyle Gibson and Kenyan Middleton that saved an additional $29 million in 2025.

Goold added the Cardinals are open to trading Willson Contreras and Sonny Gray, but trading either could be difficult since they both have full no-trade clauses in their contracts.

Arenado also has a full no-trade clause and is owed $52 million over the next three seasons. Woo noted Arenado and Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak discussed the possibility of a trade near the end of the season, and Arenado was "agreeable" to the idea without demanding to be dealt.

An eight-time All-Star, Arenado is coming off a down year in 2024. He hit .272/.325/.394 with 16 homers and 71 RBI in 152 games. His .719 OPS was his lowest in a season since he was a rookie with the Colorado Rockies in 2013.

The Milwaukee Brewers are eyeing a former MVP in free agency.

Per USA Today's Bob Nightengale, the Brewers are hoping to bring former St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt to Milwaukee this offseason. Nightengale also reported that the Brewers would have been even more keen on signing Goldschmidt had Rhys Hoskins decided not to opt into his contract.

"The Brewers would love to find a way to get former Cardinals All-Star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt on their roster, and would have been all-in if first baseman Rhys Hoskins had opted out of his contract," Nightengale wrote.

Goldschmidt, a seven-time All-Star and 2022 National League MVP, is coming off a season that saw him hit 22 home runs and 65 RBI with a .245 batting average and .716 OPS. His numbers have tapered off a bit since his MVP season, but he's still a reliable hitter who could help take the Brewers to the next level.

While Goldschmidt has had success in St. Louis, the Cardinals didn't seem to have much of a desire to bring him back. The Athletic's Katie Woo reported in September that the Cardinals were "expected to part ways" with him this offseason, which could make things easier for the Brewers.

Milwaukee won the NL Central last season but faced a wild-card exit against the New York Mets. After years of being a postseason contender, the Brewers are ready to take the next step and compete for a World Series, and adding a veteran like Goldschmidt could help.

The trade market is reportedly slim for one former MVP this offseason.

Per USA Today's Bob Nightengale, the Chicago Cubs are offering Cody Bellinger to "anyone and everyone" and "no team has expressed strong interest" thus far. One general manager attributed the lack of interest to Bellinger's contract.

"Come on," the GM said, per Nightengale. "Who's going to touch that contract? The risk is just too great for the production."

Bellinger, who won the National League MVP in 2019 while with the Los Angeles Dodgers, has an expensive contract considering his recent numbers. He will get $25 million in 2025 and can earn $25 million in 2026 or receive a $5 million buyout. He exercised his 2025 player option earlier in November, earning him a guaranteed $32.5 million.

The 29-year-old hit 18 home runs and 78 RBI with a .266 batting average and a .751 OPS in his second year with the Cubs in 2024. After struggling in his final few years with the Dodgers, Bellinger once again became a reliable hitter in Chicago, but he's not quite back to MVP form yet.

Chicago is coming off an 83-79 season and missed the postseason for a fourth straight year last season. The Cubs are looking to rebuild and get back to championship form, and it seems moving Bellinger is among their priorities this offseason.

If the Cubs want to find a deal for Bellinger, they'll likely need to take on some of his contract to make him less of a financial commitment for a potential suitor.

The Cincinnati Reds have shipped away a player once thought to be a big part of their future.

The Reds traded second baseman Jonathan India to the Kansas City Royals on Friday, the team announced. The Reds received starting pitcher Brady Singer in exchange for the 27-year-old while also sending outfielder Joey Wiemer to Kansas City.

Trent Rosencrans and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic previously reported on Nov. 16 that the Royals and Reds were engaged in trade discussions involving India, and the two sides were able to get a deal done on Friday.

India had been the subject of multiple trade rumors dating back to last offseason, but the Reds chose not to move him during the 2024 campaign. Kansas City ultimately convinced Cincinnati to give up on a player who showed promise early in his career.

The 2021 National League Rookie of the Year, India has still yet to reach his full potential in MLB. After his stellar first year in the majors, he dealt with injuries in back-to-back seasons that clearly affected his performance.

In 2023, India appeared in 119 games and hit .244 with 17 home runs and 61 RBI.

India overcame a slow start to this past season to finish with a .248 batting average, 15 home runs and 58 RBI while appearing in a career-high 151 games. He underwent a minor "clean up" procedure on his ankle in October that is expected to allow him to have a normal offseason. Cincinnati finished fourth in the NL Central with a 77-85 record, missing the playoffs for the fourth straight year.

As for Singer, he finished with a record of 9-13 in 32 starts last season while posting a 3.71 ERA. He also racked up a career-high 170 strikeouts compared to 54 walks in 179.2 innings of work.

Singer has recorded a sub-four ERA in two of the past three years, which included an impressive 3.23 mark during his 2022 campaign to go along with a 10-5 record.

Wiemer spent time with the Reds as well as the Milwaukee Brewers in 2024, going 4-for-26 with nine combined strikeouts and two walks with both organizations.

India is now joining a Royals squad that finished with an 86-76 record in 2024 before losing to the New York Yankees in the ALDS. If he can stay healthy, he should be a solid addition to a lineup that includes stars Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez.

Topps unveiled its card commemorating Paul Skenes' National League Rookie of the Year win.

The Topps Now card features the Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher sitting with girlfriend Livvy Dunne on the night the announcement was made. A special insert includes both of their autographs as well.

It remains to be seen whether the dual-auto card becomes as elusive as the 1-of-1 gem that features Skenes' autograph and his MLB debut patch. The Pirates have volunteered to give the holder of that card season tickets for the next 30 years plus other rewards:

The right-hander was the runaway ROY winner for the NL. He collected 23 of the 30 first-place votes, with the other seven going to San Diego Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill.

Skenes, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft, accelerated rapidly through Pittsburgh's minor league system and showed the hype was more than justified upon reaching the majors. Across 23 starts in 2024, he had a 1.96 ERA and a 2.45 FIP while averaging 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings.

The Chicago Cubs are reportedly hoping to move one of their veteran sluggers this offseason, but some around MLB believe it won't be an easy task.

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, "While rival executives say the [Cubs] want to trade first baseman/outfielder Cody Bellinger, they also note the difficulty the team likely will face pulling off such a move."

As Rosenthal explained, Bellinger "secured a remaining guarantee of $32.5 million—$27.5 million in salary, $5 million in potential buyout—by choosing to remain with the Cubs rather than opt out." While a one-year deal for a veteran power-hitter is usually an ideal situation, the 29-year-old would have the opportunity to forego the buyout and opt in for another $27.5 million in 2026, potentially making a trade for him an expensive two-year commitment.

Bellinger, who began his MLB career with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2017, has spent the last two years in Chicago and regained his form as a reliable hitter. After hitting under .220 in each of his last two seasons with the Dodgers, he had a resurgence in his first year with the Cubs by hitting .307 with 26 home runs and 97 RBI in 130 games to earn the National League Comeback Player of the Year Award.

This past season, Bellinger again made 130 appearances and hit .266 with 18 homers and 78 RBI. The Cubs went 83-79 for the second straight year but extended their postseason drought to four consecutive seasons.

Bellinger would be a strong addition to the lineup for any contending team, but the financial commitment could make it shy away and leave him staying put in Chicago for the foreseeable future.

Paul Skenes and his significant other, Livvy Dunne, had very different reactions to the news of Skenes winning the NL Rookie of the Year.

Following the announcement honoring Skenes, he remained surprisingly still, barely changing his facial expression. Meanwhile, Dunne excitedly clapped and shook his shoulders in celebration, attempting to draw out some emotion from Skenes.

The honor comes after the rookie posted 94 hits allowed over 133 innings, along with 170 strikeouts.

The LSU alum received 23 of the 30 first-place votes, edging out a stacked rookie class that included fellow finalists Jackson Merrill and Jackson Chourio for the honor.

He is just the second Pirates player to win Rookie of the Year winner and posted a 1.96 ERA, the lowest for any rookie with 20 or more starts in the Live Ball Era, according to ESPN's Jorge Castillo.

The rookie is also one of the three finalists for the NL Cy Young Award, alongside Chris Sale and Zach Wheeler. The winner is to be announced on Wednesday.

The Kansas City Royals are looking at Cincinnati Reds infielder Jonathan India as a potential trade target this offseason.

Ken Rosenthal and C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reported that the Royals have looked into India and could acquire him to fill a second base role that was a revolving door for the team in 2024.

"India, the Cincinnati Reds' second baseman, is one of several hitters the Kansas City Royals are targeting, according to sources briefed on the team's discussions," Rosenthal and Rosecrans wrote.

Rosenthal and Rosecrans reported that the Reds could seek Royals pitcher Brady Singer as a return for India.

Ironically, India and Singer were teammates at the University of Florida and were first-round picks in the 2018 MLB Draft.

India hit .248/.357/.392 with 15 home runs and 58 RBIs in 151 games. He could stabilize the second base position and form a formidable middle infield duo with Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.

Singer went 9-13 with a 3.71 ERA in 32 starts in 2024. He's a solid middle-of-the-rotation piece with high upside and could help fortify Cincinnati's stable of arms in 2025.