Phillies weigh a winter outfield upgrade after a disappointing showing in 2024. Harrison Bader’s late-season impact helped, but Castellanos regressed and Kepler’s hot streak wasn’t enough. Trade or free-agent routes heat up around Cody Bellinger or Kyle Tucker, with cheaper options like Cedric Mullins or Lane Thomas in play. Jo Adell of the Angels is a tempting trade target under team control through 2027, while links to Alonso and Schwarber replacements hint at broader retooling. Rob Thomson’s status colors all moves.

Alex Bregman opts out of his Boston Red Sox contract, entering a bustling 2025-26 free-agent class. He posted a strong line in 114 games (.273/.360/.462, 18 HR, 28 2B) with a 3.5 WAR and an All-Star nod, despite a quad strain. The market for third basemen is thin beyond Eugenio Suárez, with Kyle Tucker, Pete Alonso, Bo Bichette, and Kyle Schwarber among the headline names. Boston is keen to bring him back, while Tigers, Mariners, Blue Jays, Mets, Phillies, and Rangers are flagged as potential suitors. Boras is betting on a broader, healthier market.

Yankees offseason pivots around big moves: Alonso to juice the middle of the order, Bellinger opt-out shifting free-agent intrigue, and Buxton as a potential center-field spark if a blockbuster trade lands. Alonso’s power could unlock a lineup that led MLB in homers (274). If Bellinger departs, Buxton becomes even more valuable, and the team could chase a top starter with added payroll flexibility. The piece weighs bold rounds, balance, and strategic risk as New York eyes a World Series push.

Milwaukee advanced to the NLCS for the first time since 2018 after a 3-1 Game 5 win over Chicago, powered by a bullpen-friendly plan and three solo homers. Andrew Vaughn sparked the series with a 1.126 OPS and two homers after a midseason trade from Chicago, while Jacob Misiorowski scattered a run over four innings with no walks. Bob Uecker’s memory loomed large in the clubhouse as Yelich urged fearless play ahead of a Dodgers showdown.