Frankie Montas Agrees to Two-Year, $34 Million Deal with New York Mets

Frankie Montas is headed to the Big Apple.

The 31-year-old Dominican professional baseball pitcher, a right-hander, has agreed to a two-year, $34 million contract with the New York Mets, per ESPN sources.

Frankie MontasWith Montas’ deal, the Mets add a veteran to a thinned-out rotation in the team’s first free agent signing of what’s bound to be a busy winter.

Montas joins Kodai Senga and David Peterson among Mets starters after Sean ManaeaLuis Severino and Jose Quintana reached free agency.

While a reunion with any of the three pitchers who anchored New York’s playoff rotation is not out of the question, the Mets pivoted to Montas, who can opt out of the deal — which is pending a physical — after the first season.

Montas has shown flashes of frontline starter potential, with a splitter, slider and cutter complementing a fastball that sits around 96 mph.

The Cincinnati Reds gave him a one-year, $16 million deal last year despite Montas throwing only 1⅓ innings in 2023 following arthroscopic shoulder surgery. The team eventually traded Montas to the Milwaukee Brewers and he finished the season with a 4.84 ERA over 150⅔ innings, with 148 strikeouts, 66 walks and 24 home runs allowed.

With the free agency of the three pitchers, first baseman Pete Alonso, designated hitter J.D. Martinez, outfielder Harrison Bader and the ending of payments on Justin Verlander‘s and Max Scherzer‘s salaries, the Mets have shaved around $150 million off their payroll from last season.

They remain among the favorites to sign superstar outfielder Juan Soto, who shares an agent, Scott Boras, with Montas. New York has engaged in conversations about a vast array of free agents beyond Soto, though signing him to a record deal would not preclude the Mets from pursuing other big names.

New York is coming off a surprising run to the National League Championship Series. In what was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Mets, they snuck into the playoffs with a furious late-season run, ousted Milwaukee in the wild-card round, thumped Philadelphia in the division series and pushed the NLCS to six games against the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

Starting pitching was a fundamental part of their run. Despite losing Senga, their Opening Day starter, for the majority of the season, the Mets finished with a 3.91 starters’ ERA, getting better-than-expected seasons from Manaea, Severino and Quintana, all of whom were signed to short-term deals similar to Montas’.

Yasiel Puig Signs with South Korea’s Kiwoom Heroes for 2025 Season

It’ll be a Heroes return for Yasiel Puig next season.

The 33-year-old Cuban-born professional baseball right fielder, a former Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder, is set to return to South Korea for the 2025 season after signing with the Kiwoom Heroes.

Yasiel Puig, The commitment will require Puig to leave his winter league team, Tiburones de La Guaira in Venezuela, per Kiwoom’s request.

Puig hasn’t played in the major leagues since 2019 when he batted a combined .267 with 24 home runs and 84 RBIs over 149 games with the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians.

In six seasons (712 games) for the Dodgers, Puig batted .279 with 108 home runs and 331 RBIs, finishing second in voting for National League Rookie of the Year in 2013 and playing in his lone MLB All-Star Game in 2014.

In 126 games for Kiwoom in 2022, Puig batted .277 with 21 home runs and 73 RBIs.

Last season, he played for El Aguila de Veracruz in the Mexican League and batted .314 with 18 home runs and 43 RBIs in 64 games.

Puig became a United States citizen in 2019. He has faced legal issues in the U.S. that include multiple sexual assault accusations, as well as multiple reports in 2022 that he placed wagers with an illegal sports betting operation.

Houston Astros Star Jose Altuve Earns Silver Slugger Award for the Seventh Time

Jose Altuve has earned another special MLB prize…

The 34-year-old Venezuelan professional baseball second baseman for the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers utilityman led the field of Silver Slugger honorees, picking up the award for the seventh time in his career.

Jose AltuveMajor League Baseball revealed the 2024 Silver Sluggers on Tuesday, as voted on by major league managers and coaches. The group features seven first-time winners and 14 different clubs with at least one honoree.

Altuve was picked as the American League second baseman winner after he batted .295 with a .789 OPS, 20 home runs, 31 doubles and 65 RBIs in 153 games in 2024. He was an MLB All-Star for the ninth time.

Other Latino players to win in the American League include Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez, Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez and outfielders Juan Soto of the New York Yankees and Anthony Santander of the Baltimore Orioles.

Latino players receiving Silver Slugger awards in the National League include Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras, Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte, San Diego Padres third baseman Manny MachadoNew York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor and outfielder Teoscar Hernandez of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The full list of winners is as follows:

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Catcher: Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals
First base: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays
Second base: Altuve, Astros
Third base: Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Guardians
Shortstop: Bobby Witt Jr., Royals
Outfield: Judge, Yankees; Juan Soto, Yankees; Anthony Santander, Baltimore Orioles
Designated hitter: Brent Rooker, Oakland Athletics
Utility: Josh Smith, Texas Rangers

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Catcher: William Contreras, Milwaukee Brewers
First base: Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies
Second base: Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks
Third base: Manny Machado, San Diego Padres
Shortstop: Francisco Lindor, New York Mets
Outfield: Jackson Merrill, Padres; Teoscar Hernandez, Dodgers; Jurickson Profar, Padres
Designated hitter: Ohtani, Dodgers
Utility: Betts, Dodgers

Francisco Lindor Named a Finalist for MLB’s National League MVP Award

Francisco Lindor is in the running for one of Major League Baseball’s biggest individual honors.

The 30-year-old Puerto Rican professional baseball shortstop for the New York Mets, nicknamed “Mr. Smile,” is a finalist for the National League MVP award.

Francisco Lindor Lindor, a 4-time MLB All-Star, 3-time Silver Slugger and 2-time Gold Glove Award winner, is joined among the top three in National League voting by Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte and Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, a finalist for his first National League MVP award after twice winning the American League honor.

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge is a finalist for his second American League MVP in three seasons, joined by Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto.

Ohtani was unanimously voted the AL MVP in 2021 and 2023 as a two-way star for the Los Angeles Angels and finished second to Judge in 2022 voting. Ohtani signed a record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers in December but didn’t pitch in 2024 following elbow surgery.

Ohtani would join Frank Robinson for Cincinnati in 1961 and Baltimore in 1966 as the only players to win the MVP award in both leagues.

Pittsburgh‘s Paul Skenes is a finalist in balloting for the NL Cy Young Award and NL Rookie of the Year. The 22-year-old right-hander becomes the fifth rookie to finish among the top three in Cy Young Award voting, after Mark Fidrych (1976), Fernando Valenzuela (1981), Dwight Gooden (1984) and José Fernández (2013). The only one to win both in the same year was Valenzuela in the National League.

Ohtani hit .310, stole 59 bases and led the NL with 54 homers and 130 RBIs exclusively as a designated hitter, becoming the first player with 50 or more homers and 50 or more stolen bases in a season. He helped the Dodgers to the World Series title, playing the final three games with a torn labrum in his left shoulder.

Ohtani would become the first primary DH to win an MVP award.

 

The top three finishers in voting for each of the major individual awards presented annually by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America were announced Monday night on MLB Network. Winners will be revealed next week.

Balloting is conducted before the postseason.

Ohtani would become the 12th player with three or more MVPs, joining Barry Bonds (seven) and Jimmie Foxx, Joe DiMaggio, Stan Musial, Roy Campanella, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Mike Schmidt, Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols and Mike Trout (three each).

Lindor batted .273 with 33 homers, 91 RBIs and 29 steals, while Marte hit .292 with 36 homers and 95 RBIs.

Judge led the major leagues with 58 homers, 144 RBIs and 133 walks while hitting .322. Witt topped the big leagues with a .332 average, hitting 32 homers with 109 RBIs. Soto batted .288 with 41 homers and 109 RBIs.

Atlanta’s Chris Sale and Philadelphia’s Zack Wheeler are NL Cy Young Award finalists along with Skenes, who made his big league debut May 11 and went 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA in 23 starts, striking out 170 in 133 innings.

Detroit’s Tarik Skubal, Kansas City’s Seth Lugo and Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase are the finalists for the AL honor. Clase becomes the first reliever to finish among the top three in voting since San Diego’s Trevor Hoffman came in second in 2006 NL balloting.

Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill and Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio joined Skenes as finalists for NL Rookie of the Year. Yankees right-hander Luis Gil and catcher Austin Wells are AL finalists along with Baltimore outfielder Colton Cowser.

Cleveland’s Stephen Vogt, Kansas City’s Matt Quatraro and Detroit’s A.J. Hinch are finalists for AL Manager of the Year. The three NL finalists were all first-year managers with their teams: the Mets’ Carlos Mendoza, Milwaukee’s Pat Murphy and San Diego’s Mike Shildt.

Carlos Torres to Make World Series Debut as Member of Umpire Crew

Carlos Torres is preparing to make his World Series debut…

The 46-year-old Venezuelan professional umpire, who made his Major League Baseball debut in 2015 as a fill-in umpire, will work his first-ever Fall Classic.

Carlos TorresTorres will be joined by Mark Carlson, who has been named the World Series umpire crew chief, Andy Fletcher and Mark Ripperger.

Torres will work the plate for the opener between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees at Dodger Stadium, MLB officials said Thursday.

Carlson will be at first base for Game 1 on Friday night, joined by Doug Eddings at second, Ripperger at third, Chad Fairchild in left and Todd Tichenor in right. Fletcher will be the reserve umpire.

All nine umpires worked in the Division Series.

Torres previously worked the MLB All-Star Game in 2022 and the World Baseball Classic in 2023, among other special assignments.

New York Yankees to Start Lefty Carlos Rodon for Game 2 of the World Series

Carlos Rodon is getting a (fresh) start

The New York Yankees will start the 31-year-old Cuban American left-handed pitcher for Game 2 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday.

Carlos RodonRodon has started three games this postseason including Games 1 and 5 against the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Championship Series.

Overall, he’s 1-1 with a 4.40 ERA in 14⅓ innings in October.

He gave up just three runs in 10⅔ innings against Cleveland in the ALCS.

During the regular season, Rodon was better at home than on the road, posting a 4.69 mark away from Yankees Stadium compared to a 3.11 ERA in New York.

Righty Yoshinobu Yamamoto will oppose Rodon in Game 2.

Jack Flaherty and Gerrit Cole face each other in Game 1 on Friday at Dodger Stadium.

Los Angeles Dodgers to Honor Fernando Valenzuela with Special Patch During World Series

The Los Angeles Dodgers are set to honor franchise great Fernando Valenzuela.

The team will honor the late Mexican-American professional baseball pitcher with a jersey patch in the World Series and during the 2025 season.

Fernando Valenzuela,The Dodgers unveiled the patch on Thursday — a circular design with a black background, his name in white and a large No. 34 in Dodger Blue.

Valenzuela, who sparked a fan phenomenon known as “Fernandomania” as a rookie and became a Dodgers legend, died Tuesday evening at age 63.

No cause of death was given.

Valenzuela pitched for the Dodgers from 1980 to 1990, then had stints with the Los Angeles Angels (1991), Baltimore Orioles (1993), Philadelphia Phillies (1994), San Diego Padres (1995-97) and St. Louis Cardinals (1997).

Fernando Valenzuela World Series PatchHe finished with a 173-153 record, a 3.54 ERA and 2,074 strikeouts in 2,930 innings over 453 games (424 starts).

He riveted Southern California in 1981, when as a 20-year-old from Mexico he went 13-7 with a 2.48 ERA in 25 starts, throwing 11 complete games — eight of them shutouts — to win both Rookie of the Year and the National League Cy Young Award.

The Dodgers won the World Series against the New York Yankees that season — their opponent in this year’s World Series — and Valenzuela was 3-1 with a 2.21 ERA in five starts in that postseason.

After pitching in the majors for 17 seasons, Valenzuela served as a Spanish-language broadcaster for the Dodgers, starting in 2003. He had stepped away from his broadcasting duties before the start of these playoffs to “focus on his health,” the team said.

Teoscar Hernández Helps Lead Los Angeles Dodgers into the 2024 World Series

Teoscar Hernández has returned to form just in time to help his team reach the World Series.

The 32-year-old Dominican professional baseball outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers and teammate Will Smith, mired in weeks-long slumps, turned it on when they needed to most.

Teoscar Hernández In the end, they helped propel the Los Angeles Dodgers into the World Series and create the matchup that will captivate an entire nation.

The 2024 Dodgers were initially defined by their stars. As their season evolved, they were thwarted by injuries. And when adversity hit, they were bolstered by the sum of their parts — by a fellowship that empowered them.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts alluded to it on the makeshift stage that was set up on Dodger Stadium‘s outfield grass Sunday night, in the wake of a 10-5, pennant-clinching victory over the New York Mets in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series, when he repeated an oft-used phrase.

“I’ve never believed in a group of guys more than I believe in these guys,” Roberts shouted to the fans after setting up a highly anticipated, final-round showdown against the New York Yankees. “Most importantly, they believe in each other.” 

It was built.

“The way this collective group has come together has created that environment and culture,” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said amid a celebratory clubhouse, his clothes drenched in beer. “There are a lot of people that contributed to that, but it really does take an entire group coming together to create something special.”

The Dodgers splurged more than $1 billion in a winter that saw them add Shohei OhtaniYoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow, among others. But the following autumn presented a dizzying array of challenges. They needed to overcome a rotation that had been whittled to three starting pitchers after injuries knocked out Glasnow, Clayton Kershaw, Gavin Stone and Emmet Sheehan. They needed to figure out how to get consistent offensive production even though their No. 3 hitter, Freddie Freeman, was severely hampered by a sprained right ankle.

Mostly, though, they needed to conquer the layoff.

The past two years had seen the Dodgers secure first-round byes only to get knocked out in the ensuing division series by inferior NL West rivals. Their success this October, the players believed, would hinge on how they would treat the five days between the end of their regular season and the start of their postseason.

“This year,” Max Muncy said, “it was very player driven.”

The Dodgers wanted to recapture the comradery they felt when they won the championship at the end of the COVID-19-shortened season of 2020, while quarantined in a hotel for three weeks. The off time was their opportunity. They spent at least eight hours together at the ballpark every day, even when they weren’t working out. They watched the other playoff games. They ate. They talked. They set a tone.

“‘We all love our family; there’s no question about that,'” Muncy said, recalling a conversation at the start of the playoffs. “‘We’re not questioning you as a father. We know you want to be the best husband you can be. But, boys, I need three weeks out here. We need three weeks. After three weeks, we win that World Series, we get that parade, you can be the best dad, best husband, in the world.’ When that message got sent out, and everybody really thought about it, it was like, ‘Absolutely.'”

Their togetherness showed in their perseverance. When the Dodgers fell to the brink of elimination in the NL Division Series, they rallied around a bullpen game to win in front of a hostile San Diego Padres crowd in Game 4 and came back home to dispatch an exceedingly talented Padres team in Game 5. When they lost Game 2 of the NLCS, merely splitting their first two games from Dodger Stadium, they responded by combining for 18 runs from New York’s Citi Field in Games 3 and 4.

And when they came back home for Game 6, one win away from their first World Series trip in four years, they continually applied pressure on the resurgent Mets.

Edman drove in four early runs, supplying a two-run double in the first inning and a two-run homer in the third to up his RBI total to 11 in this series, while on his way to being named NLCS MVP. Smith, who entered 5-for-36 this postseason, added a two-run homer later in the bottom of the third. Ohtani contributed an RBI single in the sixth, his eighth hit in 13 at-bats with runners on base this postseason. And a cavalcade of relievers — Michael KopechBen Casparius, Anthony Banda, Ryan Brasier, Evan Phillips, Daniel Hudson and Blake Treinen, in that order — constantly thwarted Mets rallies.

Said Roberts: “I think they proved to themselves how tough they are.”

 

All told, the Dodgers scored an NLCS-record 46 runs against the Mets, a team they outscored by 22 runs. They became the second team with four wins of six-plus runs in a single playoff series, joining the 2007 Boston Red Sox, and the first team with eight-plus runs four times in a single LCS, according to ESPN Research.

Ohtani lived up to expectations, setting a Dodgers record by reaching base safely 17 times in the NLCS. But Muncy tied a postseason record by reaching base in 12 consecutive plate appearances; Mookie Betts shook off an 0-for-22 postseason slump that spanned the past two Octobers by slashing .342/.419/.763 over his past nine playoff games; Hernandez went from going hitless in 18 NLCS at-bats to contributing two big hits early in Game 6; Kiké Hernández continued to thrive in October, adding a couple of home runs to give him 15 in 81 career postseason games; and Edman, moved to the cleanup spot with Freeman absent, drove in more runs than he ever has in a six-game span.

The Dodgers will now advance to their fourth World Series since 2017 and still seek their first traditional championship, with a full-fledged parade on the streets of Los Angeles, since 1988.

Pete Alonso Hits Improbable Home Run to Keep New York Mets in the NLCS Hunt

Pete Alonso helps his New York Mets stay in the game… 

The 29-year-old half-Spanish American professional baseball player, nicknamed “Polar Bear,” hit an improbable home run on Friday to set the tone for the night.

Pete AlonsoThe Mets first baseman hit a first-inning slider from the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Jack Flaherty at his feet to deep center field, a three-run, 432-foot blast that put the New York offense in gear in an eventual 12-6, season-saving win in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series.

The home run wasn’t a pitching mistake as much as it was a hitting marvel.

Alonso made contact on a pitch that was 1.12 feet above the ground, the second-lowest ball hit for a home run in the postseason in the pitch-tracking era (since 2008).

“I was just looking for something over the middle of the plate,” Alonso said when asked to explain how he got the barrel of the bat on Flaherty’s pitch. “I didn’t really realize how low the pitch was. I got caught a little out front. … Honestly, it’s inexplainable. It’s the magic of the postseason. And I’m just happy I squared it up.”

The home run sparked an incredible night for the Mets’ offense, one that did not include a strikeout by any New York hitter. It marked the first time a team hasn’t struck out in a postseason game since the Los Angeles Angels in the 2002 World Series against the San Francisco Giants.

“We didn’t strike out?” outfielder Jesse Winker said when informed of the accomplishment. “We didn’t strike out? Wow. I don’t think I’ve been part of a game like that. That’s amazing. We just have to keep doing that.”

The turnaround against Flaherty was striking. He shut out the Mets over seven innings in a Game 1 win but lasted only three innings in Game 5, giving up eight runs, eight hits and four walks.

“We didn’t chase his secondary pitches,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “We know he’s got that slider and the knuckle curve and he’s going to try to make us chase, and we didn’t do that today. And when he came in the zone with his fastball, we were ready, and that’s the key.”

After the game, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts revealed Flaherty wasn’t feeling his best.

“He wasn’t sharp, clearly,” Roberts said. “He’s been fighting something. He’s been under the weather a little bit. So I don’t know if that bled into the stuff, the velocity.”

Flaherty averaged 91.4 mph on his fastball in Game 5, down from 92.6 in Game 1. His regular-season average was 93.3 mph.

After the loss, the veteran right-hander didn’t address how he felt during the game but offered this explanation for his issues: “I felt like for the first time in a while I let the game speed up on me a little bit and didn’t make the adjustments in-game.”

Roberts could have pulled him earlier, but knowing his team had a cushion in the series, he left him in while the Mets built a big lead.

As much as Flaherty struggled, credit has to go to the Mets, who had 14 hits, including four by Starling Marte and three by Francisco Alvarez.

“When it comes to hitting, at that point you just have to rely on capitalizing on the mistakes that the pitcher makes,” Marte said. “And thankfully that’s what I’ve been able to do in terms of getting the results.”

Though the Dodgers didn’t go quietly, the 43,841 fans at Citi Field saw the Mets respond every time.

The win sends the series back to Los Angeles for Game 6 on Sunday.

On paper, the Mets have the starting pitching edge as Sean Manaea will get the ball on five days’ rest; the Dodgers have planned a bullpen game.

“We’ve had our backs against the wall all season,” Mets designated hitter J.D. Martinez said. “Why should this be any different?”

Adrian Beltre Officially Inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame

Adrian Beltre is officially a Hall of Famer

The 45-year-old Dominican former professional baseball third baseman and Texas Rangers great was officially welcomed into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday during the annual induction ceremony at the Clark Sports Center.

Adrian BeltreBeltre, who finished his 21-year career with 3,166 hits and five Gold Gloves at third base, was enshrined along with Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer and Colorado Rockies first baseman Todd Helton, the latter pair becoming baseball’s newest one-team Hall of Famers. That puts the Hall’s membership at 273 among those who entered as players.

Also inducted was longtime manager Jim Leyland, who piloted four teams, including the 1997 World Series champion Florida Marlins. Leyland represented the Detroit Tigers, whom he managed from 2006 to 2013 and led to a pair of American League pennants.

Beltre struck a playful tone with many of his remarks, which he said were “maybe 25%” improvised. He was perhaps buoyed by Hall of Famer David Ortiz, who approached Beltre on stage and patted him on the head. Beltre is famously averse to having his head touched.

“That never relaxes me,” Beltre said. “But it was a little c,ue to go back to the days when I was playing, and it’s like ‘OK, get ready to go out there and do your best with the speech.'”

Beltre, who played with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox and Rangers, is one of only two players to have over 3,000 hits, 400 homers and at least five Gold Gloves. The other was Willie Mays, who was recognized before the speeches, along with the other Hall of Famers who died since last year’s induction: Whitey Herzog, Brooks Robinson and Orlando Cepeda.

Beltre is the fifth player born in the Dominican Republic to be enshrined, the last being Ortiz — a member of the 2022 Hall class. As with Ortiz, there was a sizable contingent of Dominican fans on hand, along with a strong turnout of Texas fans.

While acknowledging some of his former teammates, Beltre cited retired ace “King FelixHernandez, whom he played with in Seattle.

“To that guy who call himself ‘King,'” Beltre said. “I loved [playing] with you. But I loved hitting against you even more.”

The 2½-hour event unfolded under pleasant skies in Cooperstown, a welcome respite for an event that has often taken place in broiling conditions.