# MLB 2025-26 Offseason **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [November 4, 2025, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-26-offseason/1024574 "2025-11-04T17:46:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2026, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-26-offseason/1024574/201 "2026-01-23T23:40:08Z")
Lerners need to sell the Nats. They’re not interested in bringing a winning product to Washington. ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2026, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-26-offseason/1024574/202 "2026-01-24T21:45:29Z")
is there something in the water at Cleveland? “[Guardians](https://www.espn.com/mlb/team/_/name/cle/cleveland-guardians) third baseman [Jose Ramirez](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/32801/jose-ramirez) has agreed to a contract extension that will keep him in Cleveland through 2032, a source confirmed to ESPN on Saturday. Pending a physical, Cleveland will pay him $175 million over the next seven seasons, with $10 million deferred every year. The deal also includes a no-trade clause and bonuses for winning or finishing in the top five in MVP voting.” so you’re giving a 33-yr-old a seven-year extension?? with no-trade clause?? Have they been hanging with Haslam? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2026, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-26-offseason/1024574/203 "2026-01-24T22:41:27Z")
Drugs. Evidently management likes powerful drugs. It’s working so well for Elmo they’ve decided to follow suit. Other than that, I got nuthin’. 'Tis a mystery. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2026, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-26-offseason/1024574/204 "2026-01-24T23:06:33Z")
The ‘why’ of this extension is very interesting indeed. There are two narratives that are unusual. Future hall of famer Jose Ramirez has been underpaid, by MLB standards, for nearly all of his career. Instead of cashing in big time in free agency, he gives the team a startling hometown discount in his original extension. He was happy there and larger piles of cash didn’t rule his thinking. Now you have this extension, which really seems like a gesture of apprecation and thanks. Could it be that both sides have acted in ways that weren’t purely financial? Bizarre. Boras would choke on his foie gras. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2026, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-26-offseason/1024574/205 "2026-01-24T23:52:37Z")
I find it refreshing that there is still loyalty to teams and from teams. Sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2026, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-26-offseason/1024574/206 "2026-01-26T19:45:22Z")
This contract is probably an underpay, honestly. I don’t think folks realize just how good Jose Ramirez is. I bet he left a lot of money on the table to re-sign with Cleveland. His yearly average WAR the last 5 years or so has been over 6. Even if you want to write off all of the last 3 years of this deal, that still leaves 4 years of likely 6 WAR or so. That’s 24 WAR. Average free agents are cost $8M per WAR, with top-tier players earning $9+M per WAR. For those 24 WAR Cleveland is spending $175M, or $7.2M per WAR. And remember, that’s assuming he does absolutely nothing of value in the last three years of this deal. This is a great deal for Cleveland, IMO. You could argue that they already had him signed for a the next three years, and didn’t need to do this. Which is possibly true. But they were able to defer a good chunk of money, which may become very relevant if a salary cap of some sort is put in place after next season. And they get to keep their Hall of Fame player through his entire career - that has value as well from a ticket and merchandise sales perspective. There is also the chance that he is going for some interesting career milestones in those last few seasons. 400 HR seems very possible. 2500 hits. He will probably slow down, but if he steals 40 bases again for the next 3 years (like he has the last two) he will be at 407 SB - and thus has a chance to be only the second member of the 400-400 club (after Bonds). ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2026, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-26-offseason/1024574/207 "2026-01-26T19:55:56Z")
> [@fedman1](#): > > so you’re giving a 33-yr-old a seven-year extension?? with no-trade clause?? He qualified for a 10-and-5 no trade clause anyway, so what’s the problem with that? Jose Ramirez is the most underrated player in the game, year in and year out. I don’t blame Cleveland one bit to lock in their superstar for the rest of his career. Probably the best Cleveland baseball player of all time behind Bob Feller, especially if you account for Feller’s lost seasons. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2026, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-26-offseason/1024574/208 "2026-01-26T22:37:15Z")
[Rotoworld](https://www.nbcsports.com/fantasy/baseball/player-news?playerNewsId=0000019b-fc62-d35e-a1bf-fde2f8570000) is reporting that the Yankees have resigned Cody Bellinger to a 5 year, $162.5 million contract. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2026, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-26-offseason/1024574/209 "2026-01-26T23:44:20Z")
Old news, see posts from the 21st. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2026, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-26-offseason/1024574/210 "2026-01-27T00:16:24Z")
It’s all over the place today, like it just happened. Maybe he passed a physical, signed a contract and now it’s official. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-26-offseason/1024574/211 "2026-02-01T01:51:51Z")
Luis Arráez Is going from the Padres to the Giants on a one year deal. Maybe someone can explain why he wasn’t more sought out. He only got a one year $12 million deal. I know he’s not known as a great fielder but he’s a 3 time batting champion and still young. Great deal for the Giants. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-26-offseason/1024574/212 "2026-02-01T02:19:39Z")
Any hot acquisitions by Washington, or am I in for _another_ 80-year wait? ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-26-offseason/1024574/213 "2026-02-01T06:00:14Z")
On the surface it seems odd. You’d think at the very least he’d get a 2 or 3 year deal at around $15 million per, but the modern stats are not in his favor. Both BBRef and Fangraphs have him as a 1 WAR player in the past two seasons. He has no power or speed, is bad defensively and doesn’t walk much. On the plus side, hit hits for high average and has the lowest strikeout rate since Tony Gwynn. Making things worse for Arraez, he had a down year heading into free agency. If Arraez had played fifty years ago he’d be one of the most prized players in the game. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2026, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-26-offseason/1024574/214 "2026-02-01T06:33:40Z")
Why the fuck didn’t the Nats sign him, if he’s so cheap? (Answer: Because we’re even more so.) ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-26-offseason/1024574/215 "2026-02-02T00:39:30Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Maybe someone can explain why he wasn’t more sought out. He only got a one year $12 million deal. As @BlankSlate pointed out, Arraez just isn’t that valuable of a player. 1 WAR would only get you $8M a year. He’s somewhat overpaid at $12M. It’s basically a bet that he’s actually a 128 OPS+ batter (like he was in 2022 and 2023) than a league-average hitter like he has been the last few years. If he’s really a 4-win player then $12M is indeed a steal. As a fan that grew up with baseball in the 1980s and 90s it feels insane that the MLB batting champ is a league-average hitter, but that’s what the analysis tells us when that batter never walks and hits for very little power. He truly is a player from the wrong era. He’s also 28, which is typically behind the aging curve for MLB players. ETA: Also, he is way less valuable as a 1B than a 2B. But apparently he can’t really play second or third anymore. Most franchises believe they have a guy in the minors that can play 1B and hit as well a Arraez. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-26-offseason/1024574/216 "2026-02-02T00:54:15Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Luis Arráez Is going from the Padres to the Giants on a one year deal. Maybe someone can explain why he wasn’t more sought out. He only got a one year $12 million deal. I know he’s not known as a great fielder but he’s a 3 time batting champion and still young. Great deal for the Giants. He’s basically an average hitter now and isn’t much of a fielder. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-26-offseason/1024574/217 "2026-02-02T01:04:59Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > He truly is a player from the wrong era. If he could just get the ball in the air more and strike out much more often than he walks, he’d be a player for the current era, like the fabled Luis Robert Jr.. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-26-offseason/1024574/218 "2026-02-02T01:29:00Z")
Eugenio Suarez is going [back to Cincinnati](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/47801564/sources-reds-eugenio-suarez-reach-one-year-15m-deal) on a 1-year, $15 million deal with a mutual option for a second year. ---
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-26-offseason/1024574/219 "2026-02-02T04:14:50Z")
Part of Arraez problem is he is sometimes too good at making contact. He has poor plate discipline, but instead of missing like most players would he makes weak contact instead. Some of his lack of power is he just is constantly swinging at and hitting bad pitches. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-26-offseason/1024574/220 "2026-02-02T14:32:16Z")
Arraez was a terrific hitter when he hit .354, but he’s done that once. I don’t know why I’d be delighted to have a .292 hitter with no power, no walks, and average speed, carrying a mediocre glove, and who appears to be past his prime. He’s not a bad player, I could use him, but I don’t see how he’s as good a player as Ernie Clement, say, who makes way less. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-26-offseason/1024574.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-26-offseason/1024574.md?page=12)