The Month That Was in Baseball: November 2025

Saturday, November 1

In a winner-take-all, instant classic that will be talked about for years to come, the Los Angeles Dodgers complete their comeback from one game down and three runs behind in the seventh game of the 2025 World Series, stunning the Blue Jays at Toronto in 11 innings, 5-4. With the triumph, the Dodgers become baseball’s first repeat champions since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees. 

Though both teams play their hearts out, the Dodgers come off as the team that wants it more. This is suggested through singular moments, like Andy Pages racing 121 feet from center field to KO left fielder Kiké Hernandez and make a leaping catch on what might have been a series-winning hit for the Blue Jays. It’s suggested through Miguel Rojas, a bench player throughout the postseason, his ribs ailing from celebrating Game Six the night before—but still getting the start and, batting ninth, launching one of the most unlikely home runs in baseball history. And it is suggested through the Dodgers’ desperate strategy of employing all four of their starting pitchers throughout the course of Game Seven. 

The game does not start well for the Dodgers. Shohei Ohtani gets the dream start but suffers something close to a nightmare outing; the location of his pitches is dubious, he loads the bases in the second (but gets out of it without harm), then serves up a three-run homer to Bo Bichette—possibly playing his last game with the Blue Jays—to give Toronto a 3-0 lead in the third. (At the plate, Ohtani will knock out two singles but does not feature in the game’s more prominent moments.) 

Max Scherzer, the oldest pitcher (41 years, 97 days) to start a World Series Game Seven, is adequate but not dominant through four-plus innings of work. The Dodgers finally get to him in the fourth, loading the bases but only managing a run on a sac fly from Hernandez. It could have been worse for Scherzer and the Blue Jays; Hernandez’s line drive, as well as Tommy Edman’s liner past first base, are both snared on excellent, turf-scraping catches from (respectively) Daulton Varsho and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 

There’s tension in the bottom of the fourth when Justin Wrobleski, in relief of Ohtani, hits the Jays’ Andres Gimenez after nearly plunking him on two earlier pitches, setting off a shouting match between the two that leads to the emptying out of both team’s dugouts and bullpens. No punches are thrown, no warnings are given, and no one is ejected. 

Down 3-1, the Dodgers begin to slowly chip away at the Toronto advantage. They scratch a second run on another sac fly, this time from Edman, in the sixth. After Gimenez’s RBI double in the sixth to regain Toronto’s two-run cushion, the Dodgers start to go long ball. Max Muncy smashes a splitter from Trey Yesavage—the Game Five starter pitching the eighth—off the facing of the second-deck in right field for a solo homer. Then in the ninth, with the Dodgers trailing by a run and down to their last two outs, Rojas drills a 387-foot drive to the foot of the left-field bleachers, joining the legendary Bill Mazeroski as one of two players to go deep with a game-tying, go-ahead or game-winning homer in the ninth inning of a winner-take-all World Series game. 

It only gets crazier in the bottom of the ninth, as the Blue Jays try to unlock the tie and go home champions. With Blake Snell pitching, Bichette singles and Addison Barger walks; Snell goes out, and in comes Yoshinobu Yamamato—who just one day earlier pitched six innings for the Dodgers. He hits Alejandro Kirk with his second pitch, loading the bases with one out. The Dodgers’ draw their infield in, and Varsho next hits a grounder right to Rojas—who initially wobbles before throwing home to retire Isiah Kiner-Falefa, pinch-running for a hobbled Bichette, for the second out. But the play at the plate is much closer than initially imagined; Dodgers catcher Will Smith lifts his foot off the plate to reel in Rojas’ throw, and video review shows the foot retouching the plate a micro-second before Kiner-Falefa, representing the series-winning run, reaches it. 

Ernie Clement, who earlier establishes a postseason mark with his 30th hit, next launches what might be his 31st with a high fly to deep left; Hernandez races back a la Willie Mays to make an over-the-shoulder catch—only to be bulldozed by Pages, just inserted into the game one batter earlier, leaping to make one of baseball’s most crucially insane catches and send the game into extra innings. (Hernandez, face-planted on the warning track, is initially convinced that the ball is uncaught and the Blue Jays have won the series.) 

Uplifted, the Dodgers find try to small-ball their way to the lead in the 10th, loading the bases on a single and two walks against Seranthony Dominguez with one out—but a pair of ground outs leaves them empty-handed. In the 11th, with Shane Bieber taking over on the mound for the Blue Jays, the Dodgers will only need one baserunner—Smith’s deep poke clearing the wall in left and bouncing through the Toronto bullpen to take a 5-4 lead. 

The Blue Jays do not go gently into that good night. With Yamamoto still on the mound, Guerrero leads off the Toronto 11th with a double to the left-field corner, then is bunted to third by Kiner-Falefa. Barger walks, bringing up Kirk, who on a 0-2 offering hits a bat-shattering grounder to Mookie Betts that turns into a tailor-made double play, ending the game and the series in the Dodgers’ favor. 

“(This game) was, in every way, the best baseball has to offer,” writes Yahoo Sports’ Jake Mintz. 

This is the sixth World Series winner-take-all to go extra innings. The Dodgers become the fifth straight road team to win Game Seven, the first road team to win while trailing in the ninth, and the first road team on enemy turf to win the final two games with double plays. 

Yamamoto ties a single postseason mark with his fifth win; of the five pitchers who co-own that mark, he has the lowest ERA (1.45). 

Louis Varland, the Blue Jays’ second pitcher, breaks a postseason record with his 15th appearance. Over 16 October innings, the right-hander furnished a 3.93 ERA. 

On X, Justin Toscano posts: “Baseball cannot afford a work stoppage after the 2026 season…This sport has so much momentum right now. Marketable starts. Faster-paced games…Can’t afford to potentially miss out on a World Series like THAT.” 

Game Seven attracts an average U.S. viewing audience of 25 million, peaking at 31 million during the late innings, even as the game paces on past the midnight hour on the East Coast. It’s the highest-rated audience for an MLB game since the final contest of the 2017 World Series featuring the Dodgers and Houston Astros. Additionally, up to another 18 million Canadians—nearly half of the country’s population—watch the game. The total viewing audience in Japan—the birth country of Dodgers stars Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto—is 12 million. 

Sunday, November 2

After an exhausting and absolutely entertaining World Series, there’s no rest for the weary as Baseball quickly shifts into awards mode with the announcement of this year’s Gold Gloves. The list of winners for excellence in fielding isn’t exactly star-studded; only one of them (Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Amstrong) doubled as an All-Star starter. Crow-Armstrong is one of three Cubs to be honored, joining fellow outfielder Ian Happ and second baseman Nico Hoerner. Happ co-owns seniority rights among this year’s field, with he, Yankees pitcher Max Fried and Cleveland outfielder Steven Kwan each winning their fourth Glove. Two rookies make the cut: Detroit catcher Dillon Dingler and Miami utility man Javier Sanoja. 

Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and San Diego outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. will later be named winners of (respectively) the AL and NL Platinum Gloves, celebrating each league’s very best defensive players. 

Monday, November 3

Two days after celebrating their second straight World Series triumph at Toronto, the Dodgers return home and parade through downtown Los Angeles to Dodger Stadium. It’s a celebration similar to that of the year before, with the same route, turnout—estimates count up to 250,000—and formal ceremony at the ballpark where a packed crowd cheers on the repeat champions on an outfield stage. One difference: Shohei Ohtani leaves his dog at home and, this time, brings along his wife. The messaging on stage centers on a goal for 2026: Make it three straight world titles. With virtually all of their star assets locked in for the long haul, the Dodgers are likely to be the dominant odds-on favorite to do just that. 

Former shortstop and Colorado manager Walt Weiss, bench coach for the past eight years in Atlanta, will replace retiring Braves skipper Brian Snitker. The 61-year-old Weiss inherits a solid roster that finished a very disappointing 76-86 this past season as injuries—especially within the rotation—wracked the ballclub. The hope is that Weiss’ familiarity with the organization—and vice versa—will resonate in a positive way; better luck with avoiding injuries will also be a big plus. 

Transactions kick up in the wake of the World Series with numerous players declining 2026 options. Among those ready to test the free-agent market include Mets slugger Pete Alonso, teammate closer Edwin Diaz, San Diego closer Robert Suarez, Atlanta infielder Ha-Seong Kim, Boston pitcher Lucas Giolito, and all-time Brewers ERA and win percentage leader Brandon Woodruff. In an easy decision to make up for the (brief) loss of Woodruff, the Brewers activate the club option on Freddy Peralta, who led the NL with 17 wins this past season—but rumor has it that he may be on the trading block. 

In Miami, the Marlins name Gabe Kapler as their new general manager. The former San Francisco skipper joined the Marlins in 2024 as an assistant to team president of baseball ops Peter Bendix; the team had no formal GM since the departure of Kim Ng in 2023. 

The three nominees for each of the four major 2025 season awards are named, with the winners to be announced next week. 

In Cooperstown, the Hall of Fame announces eight finalists for the upcoming Contemporary Baseball Era vote on December 7, looking at players who performed after 1980 and failed to be inducted via the general vote. The list includes Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, two legendary ballplayers whose notorious ties to steroids have kept them out of the Hall through 10 general ballots and a previous vote within the Veterans’ committees. Less controversial but still worthy names on the list include Don Mattingly, Dale Murphy, Jeff Kent, Carlos Delgado, Gary Sheffield, and the late Fernando Valenzuela. 

Victor Conte, the man who helped “improve” Bonds into a superhuman ballplayer, dies of pancreatic cancer at the age of 75. BALCO, the sports nutrition company Conte founded in 1984, became a focal point of baseball’s steroid era, as Bonds, Sheffield and Jason Giambi became prominent customers. Bonds testified to a grand jury that he was given substances by Conte which, he claims, didn’t realize were steroids. Conte, who dabbled in music and briefly played bass for the R&B band Tower of Power during the late 1970s, pleaded guilty to steroid distribution and money laundering—serving four months in prison—but continued to embrace the “nutrition supplements” industry even after his release. In 2009, he associated with major league outfielder Marlon Byrd, raising eyebrows through MLB hallways. Though Byrd never tested positive while working with Conte, he later got nailed twice for PEDs—the second instance leading to a 162-game suspension. 

Tuesday, November 4

The flurry of roster movement continues with more numerous transactions. 

In a somewhat surprising move, the Cubs are (briefly) cutting ties with pitcher Shota Imanaga, who in two years with Chicago produced a 24-11 record and 3.28 ERA. But it’s Imanaga’s weakened finish in 2025—a 2-5 record and 5.17 ERA over his last 12 starts—that had the Cubs wondering if the three years and $57 million they were set to pay him would be worth it. 

Up the freeway in Milwaukee, the Brewers also waive bye-bye to slugger Rhys Hoskins and pitcher Jose Quintana, declining team options to bring them back in 2026. Hoskins has been a disappointment with the Brewers—batting .223 with 38 homers over two seasons—while the 36-year-old Quintana (11-7, 3.96 ERA this past year) will have to prove himself once again, as he seeks an eighth team since 2020. 

Teams saying yes to returning players including the Seattle Mariners, who bring back 26-year-old closer Andres Munoz after 38 saves this past season, while the Chicago White Sox opt to keep Luis Robert Jr.—who underwhelmed with a .223 average and 14 homers—for $20 million. 

Several other players, controlling their own fate with player options, decide to stick around with their current teams. Trevor Story, who enjoyed a comeback year in Boston with 25 homers, 96 RBIs and 31 steals, will return to Boston and a 2026 salary of $25 million. Shane Bieber, acquired late in the year by Toronto after his recovery from Tommy John surgery, says yes to a full 2026 campaign with the Blue Jays. And in Detroit, pitcher Jack Flaherty will take $20 million to remain a Tiger and try to improve on a subpar (8-15, 4.64 ERA) 2025 season. 

The Kansas City Royals and catcher Salvador Perez agree to tear up the one year remaining on his current contract, instead adding a two-year, $25 million extension through 2027. Perez, who turns 36 next May, has played all 15 of his seasons with the Royals; this past year, he batted .236 with 30 homers and 100 RBIs. 

That questionable six-year extension the Padres gave Yu Darvish—covering his age 36-through-41 seasons—is currently not looking to have been a very good idea. The veteran right-hander, who’s spent half of his last two seasons on the shelf, will miss the entire 2026 campaign as he undergoes a second career Tommy John surgery. In 15 starts this past season, Darvish was 5-5 with a 5.38 ERA for the Padres.

Wednesday, November 5

The Braves exercise their 2026 team options on ace pitcher Chris Sale and three-time All-Star second baseman Ozzie Albies—and the money involved makes it easily explainable as to why. Sale will be paid $18 million, a relative bargain for a pitcher of his quality, while Albies will earn $7 million. Both Sale and Albies endured injury-riddled campaigns in 2025—as did most everyone else on the Braves—but it’s tough to bet against a return to form in 2026. 

Sale becomes a free agent after next season; the Braves hold another $7 million team option on Albies for 2027. 

Thursday, November 6

Paul DePodesta, the analytics guru who in the early 2000s encouraged A’s GM Billy Beane to rethink the way a team should build rosters as told in the book and movie Moneyball, is back in baseball after a 10-year absence. His new challenge may be the most difficult in MLB today: Bringing the Colorado Rockies back to respectability. The truly dreadful Rockies have hired DePodesta as their new head of baseball ops after an embarrassing 43-119 record this past year, running their active streak of 100-loss campaigns to three. DePodesta has spent his last decade with the NFL’s Cleveland Browns; under his watch there, the Browns were 56-99-1, including a 0-16 record in 2017. 

Craig Stammen, three years removed from his last game as a pitcher, is the new manager of the San Diego Padres. The irony of his hire is that during the Padres’ early search for a replacement after Mike Shildt’s retirement, Stammen was one of those doing the interviewing as a member of the Padres’ front office. Apparently, at some point, the others in the room turned to Stammen and asked, “How ‘bout you?” Stammen will be the eighth Padres manager in the 12-year reign of A.J. Preller atop San Diego management. 

Thirteen pending free agents have been given a $22 million qualifying offer from incumbent teams, hoping to keep them for another year. Among the 13 are those likely to be the most sought after on the market, include Kyle Schwarber, Bo Bichette, Kyle Tucker, Framber Valdez, and Edwin Diaz. There are certain players receiving the offers who may take the money and run. They include the Yankees’ Trent Grisham, a career .218 hitter; Milwaukee pitcher Brandon Woodruff, who’s been sharp when healthy—but has spent far more time on the Injury List over the past few years; and Detroit’s Gleyber Torres, who’s run hot and cold since a 38-homer season in long ball-happy 2019. 

The Dodgers exercise a $10 million team option on third baseman Max Muncy, who batted .243 with 19 homers through an injury-shortened 2025 season. While those numbers may not sound impressive, Muncy’s usual plethora of walks did raise his OPS to a respectable .846. In eight years with the Dodgers, he’s belted 209 round-trippers. 

Jorge Polanco, one of the heroes during Seattle’s close-but-no-cigar shot at their first-ever pennant, declines his end of a mutual $8 million option and will become a free agent. The 12-year infielder had a solid year at Seattle, batting .265 with 26 homers and 78 RBIs; he added three more bombs and eight RBIs in the playoffs. 

Tampa Bay says no to closer Pete Fairbanks, ending his seven-year run with the Rays as they decline his $11 million team option for 2026. The 31-year-old Fairbanks saved a career-high 27 games for the Rays with a 2.83 ERA in 61 appearances. 

Friday, November 7

Munetaka Murakami, who toppled Sadaharu Oh’s Japanese season home run record at the age of 22 and has 265 homers over eight seasons with the Yakult Swallows, says he’s ready for America (or Toronto). Starting today, the 25-year-old third baseman will have a 45-day period to sign with any MLB team. He’ll certainly represent a nice catch for the ballclub that snares him. In 2022, Murakami’s Japanese tenure peaked when he drilled a record-setting 56 homers with 134 RBIs, 118 walks, a .318 batting average and 1.168 OPS. The left-handed hitter’s power numbers have since tempered with home run totals in the 30s; this past season he belted 22, but over 69 games as he dealt with an oblique injury that sidelined him for a majority of the year. 

The year’s Silver Slugger awards, honoring each league’s best hitters by fielding position, are announced. Of the 20 total individual honors, there are 11 first-time winners including big names in Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh, Mets first baseman Pete Alonso, and Minnesota outfielder Byron Buxton. Cleveland third baseman Jose Ramirez and Mets outfielder Juan Soto each win their sixth Slugger; the A’s Nick Kurtz is the only rookie feted. The Yankees and Dodgers win Sluggers for the recently initiated team awards, while the Arizona Diamondbacks have the most players represented with second baseman Ketel Marte, shortstop Geraldo Perdomo, and outfielder Corbin Carroll each making the list. 

Sunday, November 9

Over three months after being placed on paid leave, Cleveland All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase and teammate starting pitcher Luis Ortiz are indicted by the Department of Justice for bribery, money laundering and conspiracy to influence sporting contests. The indictment claims that both pitchers intentionally threw certain pitches outside of the strike zone—or threw them at certain velocities—alerting bettors in the know to place big money on those “prop” bets. It is estimated that Clase won at least $450,000 for their contacts, while Ortiz won at least $60,000. The two pitchers each made over $10,000 in exchange for informing the bettors in advance of the rigged pitches. The evidence in the indictment appears concrete; Clase was said to even use his phone during games to text or call bettors. MLB players are forbidden from using their personal phones during games; this is one of the reasons why. If convicted of all charges, Clase and Ortiz could each face up to 65 years in prison. They both have, very likely, thrown their last pitches in a professional baseball game. 

MLB has reaped what it sowed by getting into bed with online sports gambling. Players and umpires have been suspended or banned from the game in the last two years for getting involved in betting activity, while other players and their families have been harassed and threatened by angry bettors for performing poorly. This will get worse—potentially far worse—unless MLB seriously addresses the problem and enacts tough measures to curtail it. Yes, big sponsorship money with the likes of FanDuel and DraftKings may have to be sacrificed; perhaps next time, MLB should consider a safer industry to partner with. 

Monday, November 10

Athletics slugger Nick Kurtz and Atlanta catcher Drake Baldwin are winners of this year’s Rookie of the Year awards in, respectively, the AL and NL. Both players were considered the favorites to receive the honor, as Kurtz snags all 30 first-place votes while Baldwin gets 21 from NL voters; no other player was named on all 30 ballots in either league. (Securing the other nine first-place votes on NL ballots is Cubs pitcher Cade Horton.) Kurtz, who batted .290 with 36 homers and 86 RBIs in just 117 games, is the ninth A’s rookie to win the award; only the Yankees (10) have won more among AL teams. Baldwin is the 10th Braves player to grab the honor, second in the NL to the Dodgers’ 18; he’s the fourth Atlanta player rewarded in the last 15 years. 

In the aftermath of the Emmanuel Clase/Luis Ortiz gambling scandal, sportsbooks nationwide have accepted MLB’s request to limit so-called “prop” bets to no more than $200—and that such bets cannot be included as part of a parlay in which multiple bets are bundled. Prop bets include those on single pitches, which Clase and Ortiz allegedly rigged. 

The move is a wise one by MLB—but it may need to do more to discourage players from getting illicitly involved in betting, while protecting other players from the hostilities of angry bettors, like the one who threatened the children of Houston pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. after a bad outing this past season. 

In Boston, Ortiz has the charges of his alleged crimes read to him by a federal judge, before being released on a $500,000 bond—which is more than he made this past season, after taxes and union dues. Ortiz who was arrested at Boston’s Logan International Airport, is ordered to stay within Massachusetts state limits and surrender his passport. Clase, meanwhile, remains out of the country; it is unknown when—or if—he will return to America to face his charges. 

After a failed comeback attempt in Anaheim with the Angels, veteran pitcher Kyle Hendricks announces his retirement after 12 seasons and a 105-91 record. With stifling off-speed pitches that made it hard for opposing hitters to make solid contact, Hendricks thrived early in his career with the Cubs—posting an MLB-best 2.13 ERA during the team’s historic, drought-breaking world title in 2016. Injuries began to slowly take their toll on the right-hander, as he regressed into the 2020s. In his final season, Hendricks was 8-10 with a 4.76 ERA for the Angels. 

Tuesday, November 11

It’s a copy-and-paste routine in this year’s Manager of the Year vote, as last year’s winners—Milwaukee’s Pat Murphy and Cleveland’s Stephen Vogt—both repeat as this year’s honorees. It’s the first time in the award’s 43-year history that both recipients reign for a second straight season—and they’re the first two to win in each of their first full two seasons as manager. Under Murphy, the Brewers put together the majors’ best record during the regular season with a 97-65 mark; the Guardians, with Vogt at the helm, came roaring from 12.5 games down with five weeks to play and toppled Detroit for their second straight AL Central crown. (The vote for the award was taken a day after the end of the regular season—and before the Guardians lost to those same Tigers in the first-round Wild Card Series.) Murphy gets 27 first-place votes, easily outdistancing Cincinnati’s Terry Francona, who finishes second. Vogt wins in a closer vote, as he nets 17 first-place votes as opposed to Toronto’s John Schneider, who finishes a close second with 10 first-place nods. 

Wednesday, November 12

Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal reach the Cy sky as winners of this year’s Cy Young Awards for excellence in pitching. In winning the NL Cy, Skenes is the third Pittsburgh pitcher and first since Doug Drabek in 1990 to be honored; he’s also the first pitcher to follow up a Rookie of the Year award with a Cy since Dwight Gooden. Skenes receives all 30 first-place votes; Philadelphia’s Cristopher Sanchez grabs all 30 second-place tallies, making this the first time the winner and runner-up receive all 30 of their respective votes. 

In a reflection of just badly the Pirates’ hitters backed him up, Skenes is the first starting pitcher to win a Cy Young Award without a winning record (10-10). 

For Skubal, it’s his second straight Cy, making the Detroit ace the 12th pitcher to win the honor back-to-back. He receives 26 of 30 first-place nods, with Boston’s Garret Crochet getting the other four; both pitchers place either first or second. Four previous Tigers have been bestowed with a Cy, most recently Max Scherzer in 2013. 

Thursday, November 13

Aaron Judge overcomes a 60-homer performance from Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh and the threat of “Judge fatigue” to win his second straight AL MVP, and third over the past four seasons. Raleigh had become a popular favorite among sportswriters and (especially) fans with his big-time, bust-out campaign—but numerically speaking, Judge was clearly the better choice with 53 homers of his own to go with MLB highs in batting average (.331), on-base percentage (.457), slugging percentage (.688) and OPS (1.144). By comparison, Raleigh placed 102nd, 22nd, third and fourth, respectively, in those departments. Yet the vote is close; Judge gets 17 nods for first place and 13 for second; it’s the opposite for Raleigh, netting 13 for first and 17 for second. Cleveland’s Jose Ramirez finishes third in the vote, placing in the top three for the fourth time in his career; AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal gets the most votes among pitchers, finishing fifth. 

Judge is the 13th player to win at least three MVPs; he’s the fourth Yankee to do so, following Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle. 

With far less debate, Shohei Ohtani repeats as the NL MVP, gathering all 30 first-place votes. The Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber is a distant second, followed by the Mets’ Juan Soto. It’s the fourth such honor for Ohtani, who previously won twice while a member of the Los Angeles Angels; all four of his MVPs have come with a unanimous vote, an impressive feat considering that no other multi-MVP recipient has gotten all 30 first-place votes more than once. Ohtani is also the first player to win multiple MVP awards in each league; Frank Robinson is the only other player to win NL and AL honors, once in each circuit. 

A day after Luis Ortiz pleads not guilty to charges of fixing pitches for gambling profit, fellow Cleveland pitcher Emmanuel Clase does the same in a New York federal court. There was some uncertainty as to whether the All-Star closer, who learned about his charges outside of the country, would return to America—but he arrives at JFK International Airport and is immediately arrested hours before facing the judge. 

There’s one theory as to why Ortiz and Clase plead not guilty, in the face of what appears to be a mountain of damning evidence. By pleading guilty, they would virtually admit wrongdoing—which would more likely get them permanently banned by MLB. As it is, any return to the majors, regardless of how the verdicts ultimately come down, has to be considered a long shot at this point. 

The Los Angeles City Council says nope to a proposed gondola that would span Dodger Stadium and Union Station, less than a mile to the south toward downtown. The council’s 12-1 vote is not the final word; it’s actually a resolution, advising the county’s transportation authority not to proceed with the $500 million project. 

Advocates for the gondola say it would ease traffic on the freeways around Dodger Stadium on game days, but opponents believe the traffic impact would be minimal—while the gondola towers would be both a nuisance during construction, and an eyesore once completed for residents who would live near or under them. 

Friday, November 14

After the naming of the MVPs, the final honors of the 2025 awards season are announced at the MLB Awards ceremony in Las Vegas, presented by MGM Rewards—not BetMGM. Comeback of the Year honors go in the NL to Atlanta outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr.—rebounding from his latest ACL tear—and in the AL to Texas pitcher Jacob deGrom, finally enjoying a full (and stellar) season for the first time 2019. (Sorry, George Springer.) Also receiving awards are the Mets’ Elias Diaz and Red Sox’ Aroldis Chapman for top relievers in the NL and AL, respectively; Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge, mirroring their MVP triumphs by receiving the Hank Aaron Award for each league’s best offensive performers; and Ohtani winning an MLB-wide honor for the best DH. Milwaukee’s Matt Arnold takes his second straight Executive of the Year award. 

Unlike the four major awards (MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, Manager of the Year) voted on by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, the MLB Awards consist of different voting blocs depending on the category. For instance, the Hank Aaron Awards are picked by a group of past winners and prominent current players, while front office folk from each MLB ballclub select the Executive of the Year award. 

Saturday, November 15

There’s a baseball game played at Citi Field at New York, where over 20,000 spectators brave chilly fall weather to watch an exhibition between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. Though billed as an All-Star game, it actually features a mix of young prospects and old vets—including eight-time All-Star second baseman Robinson Cano, for whom the game is a tribute to. The 43-year-old Cano, whose run at 3,000 hits ran into a brick well with a PED suspension in 2021—and played sparingly and ineffectively afterward—has thrived in the Mexican League over the past two seasons, batting an eye-opening .400 over 164 games for Diablos Rojos del Mexico. He plans to return there in 2026, but also says that the exhibition at Citi Field, in which he gets a base hit in three at-bats before being ceremoniously removed in the seventh inning, will be his last played in the U.S. 

Sunday, November 16

The first big deal of the offseason is reportedly complete, with first baseman Josh Naylor returning to the Seattle Mariners on a five-year, $92.5 million contract. The 28-year-old Canadian started this past season with the Arizona Diamondbacks, before being traded to the Mariners for their playoff drive; in 54 games with Seattle, Naylor batted .299 with nine homers, 33 RBIs and 19 steals (previous career season high: 10). Naylor’s return to Seattle should help to maintain the Mariners’ depth alongside Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez. 

Monday, November 17

The Hall of Fame releases its ballot for the 2026 general election to be held in January, with 27 players—including 12 newcomers—making the list. None of the first-time entrants are regarded as a first-ballot lock—or perhaps any ballot after that; at one time, Ryan Braun once might have been considered a strong candidate, but being caught red-handed as a steroid user has doomed any real chances of him reaching Cooperstown. Among the other newcomers are Cole Hamels, Matt Kemp, Edwin Encarnacion, Nick Markasis and Hunter Pence. 

The weak list of first-timers will boost the chances of the 15 returnees, especially as voters in this day and age appear loathe to turn in a blank ballot. Among those who may have a shot at induction are Carlos Beltran and Andruw Jones; Alex Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez, both of whom were once considered shoo-in’s for the Hall until positive PED tests upended their legacies, have never received more than 35% of the vote. For Ramirez, this will be his 10th and final eligible ballot. 

Tuesday, November 18

A record four out of 13 potential free agents tempted with a $22.025 million qualifying offer to stay with their incumbent teams one more season take the offer. The four are Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga, Milwaukee pitcher Brandon Woodruff, Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham and Detroit infielder Gleyber Torres. Among the nine who don’t accept the offer include Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber, Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker, Houston pitcher Framber Valdez, Mets closer Edwin Diaz, and Toronto infielder Bo Bichette. 

A total of 157 players has been given the qualifying offer since the concept was initiated in 2012; 18 of those, including the four this year, have accepted. 

Randy Jones, whose collection of off-speed “junk” confounded opposing hitters for the San Diego Padres during the mid-1970s, passes away at the age of 75. The announcement, made by the Padres, does not reveal a cause of death—although Jones had overcome throat cancer, a consequence of chewing tobacco, in 2018. A 22-game loser in 1974—hardly an unheard-of number during the franchise’s early, inept years—the left-handed Jones reversed course, winning 20 in 1975 with an NL best 2.28 ERA. A year later, Jones peaked; he won 16 games before the All-Star Game—which he also won—and finished with a 22-14 record over 40 starts, 25 of which he completed, and 315.1 innings. In becoming the first Cy Young Award winner in Padres history, Jones struck out only 93 batters, but induced 34 double-play grounders—one of three times leading the league in that department. Unfortunately, Jones hurt his arm in his last start of that 1976 season; he struggled throughout the next season, followed by a return to respectability (but not ace form) to close out the 1970s. A trade to the Mets in 1981 only hastened his demise on the mound, pitching his last game at the age of 32. He wrapped his career with a 100-123 record and 3.42 ERA. 

On our list of the Padres’ greatest pitchers, Jones checks in at #1. 

Wednesday, November 19

After a 25-year absence, NBC will return to broadcasting major league games in 2026, as MLB announces new media rights agreements in the wake of ESPN opting out of its current contract. Sunday Night Baseball, which has been aired by ESPN since 1990, will now be taken over by NBC, its streaming partner Peacock, and the network’s new sports channel, NBCSN; NBC will also provide coverage of the first-round Wild Card Series. Additionally, Netflix will be entering the baseball broadcast realm for the first time, airing the Home Run Derby and other select regular season games. Despite letting go of its longstanding Sunday gig, ESPN is not out of the MLB picture; it will carry 30 regular season games during the week but, more importantly, will become the rights holder for mlb.tv, which will be available on the ESPN app. Viewers who previously purchased mlb.tv through MLB can still do so. 

The overall deal will cover the next three seasons and is valued at nearly $2.4 billion. It will not affect the ongoing contracts the league has with Fox and TBS. 

An intriguing trade sees power outfielder Turner Ward dealt from the Los Angeles Angels to Baltimore in exchange for young pitcher Grayson Rodriguez. Ward finished this past season with career highs in home runs (36), RBIs (103) and walks (75), albeit at the expense of a meager .228 batting average; he’s one year away from free agency at age 32. By contrast, the 26-year-old Rodriguez, recently a top pitching prospect with the Orioles, has struggled with injuries for the past year-plus, but has performed well when healthy—as evidenced by a 20-8 record and fair 4.11 ERA over 43 career starts. 

The Atlanta Braves make two moves, re-signing closer Raisel Iglesias for one year and $16 million while trading for Houston utility man Mauricio Dubon. The 35-year-old Iglesias has saved 96 games for the Braves over the past three seasons and has a career 2.35 ERA with the team since being traded late in 2022 from the Angels. Meanwhile, the Honduras-born Dubon evolved into a reliable part-time rock at Houston, playing every field position except catcher and pitcher while racking up two Gold Gloves under the newly-established utility player category. 

Thursday, November 20

Two more Japanese baseball stars announce their intent to join MLB next year, in what’s becoming close to a banner offseason for talent crossing the Pacific. Kazuma Okamoto, with 277 home runs over 11 seasons with the Yomiuri Giants, will make himself available, as will pitcher Kona Takahashi, who’s an undeserving 85-91 on a quality 3.39 ERA, also over 11 years of play in Japan for the Seibu Lions. Both players are still in their upper 20s, so they still have plenty of time to make an impact in North America. MLB teams have until January 4 to make a deal with either.  

Friday, November 21

There are 66 new free agents on the market as the deadline passes for teams to offer contracts on arbitration-eligible players. The two biggest names on the list are former Texas Rangers All-Stars: Adolis Garcia, who just two years ago belted 39 home runs with 107s RBIs in a World Series-winning season but has since rapidly slipped in performance; and catcher Jonah Heim, whose own bat has hit brownout mode since peaking in 2023. Other noteworthy players non-tendered by their teams include first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, who also starred on that 2023 Texas team but spent last year splitting his time between Washington and Boston; all-or-nothing slugger Christopher Morel, who batted .219 with 11 homers in part-time play with Tampa Bay; and Mike Tauchman, who’s always been a reliable part-time asset wherever he’s played but has struggled to latch on with a single team for the long-term. 

Saturday, November 22

The Chicago Cubs bulk up their bullpen by signing reliever Phil Maton to a two-year deal. This will be the sixth club for the 32-year-old right-hander since the start of the 2023 season; during this time, he also suited up for Houston, Tampa Bay, the New York Mets, St. Louis and Texas. Through it all, Maton hasn’t pitched that badly—producing a 3.15 ERA and nine saves in spot closer activity. 

Sunday, November 23

The Rangers trade three-time All-Star second baseman Marcus Semien to the Mets, receiving outfielder Brandon Nimmo in exchange. It’s an intriguing move; although Semien won his second Gold Glove this past season, his offense production has wilted significantly, and he’ll be 35 next Opening Day. Nimmo, who turns 33 late next March, is coming off one of his best years offensively, setting career highs with 25 home runs and 92 RBIs while batting .262 to match his lifetime figure. 

While some say the trade of Semien to New York is a cost-cutting move by the Rangers, Nimmo is actually owed more money ($100 million to Semien’s $72 million) with his current contract—albeit over five years, compared to the three years left on Semien’s deal. 

Monday, November 24

After securing his second World Series ring in as many years with the Dodgers, Shohei Ohtani will be looking for more championship bling next spring as he announces he’ll suit up for Japan in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Ohtani played for his native country in 2023, winning the tournament working ninth inning relief in the title game against the United States and striking out then-Angels teammate Mike Trout for the final out. 

Tuesday, November 25

The St. Louis Cardinals trade veteran pitcher Sonny Gray, who earned the team’s “Best of Show” honors in our 2025 season review, to the Boston Red Sox. In exchange, the Cardinals will receive two pitchers: Dick Fitts (2-4, 5.00 ERA in 11 appearances this past year) and raw, hard-throwing minor leaguer Brandon Clarke. Having just turned 36 years of age, Gray looks to be aging like fine wine. Over the past two seasons, he’s posted a 27-17 record and struck out over 400 batters; his 14 wins this past year tied a career mark, while his 5.29 K/BB ratio led all National Leaguers. 

Pittsburgh ace and 2025 NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes will see his 2026 salary quadruple to $3.4 million from the past year, thanks to his record share of the annual $50 million pot set aside for deserving major leaguers who have yet to qualify for arbitration. The payout breaks the old record of $3.07 million awarded late in 2023 to Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., before the Royals gave him an 11-year, $288 million contract extension. One wonders if Skenes is closing in on something similar—should the notoriously penny-pinching Pirates be up for it. 

Wednesday, November 26

Up-and-down pitcher Dylan Cease is feeling very up after signing a seven-year, $210 million contract with Toronto. Although the right-hander, who turns 30 next month, has enjoyed durable consistency by rarely missing a start, the results have been more oscillatory. He went from a 3.91 ERA in 2021 to a 2.20 the next season—then back up to 4.58, down to 3.47, and up to 4.55 this past season. In short: You don’t know what version of Cease you’ll get in any given year, except that one year’s results may be much different than the previous. But the Blue Jays are betting that the yo-yoing will stop and that Cease will be consistently superb going forward. 

Saturday, November 29

Reliver Ryan Helsley, who two years ago set a Cardinals season record with 49 saves, signs a two-year, $28 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles. The deal includes an opt-out after the first year. The 31-year-old right-hander started this past season well—saving 21 games with a 3.00 ERA for the Cardinals. But after being sent to the New York Mets at the trading deadline, he looked lost as a set-up man for Mets closer Edwin Diaz, posting a 7.36 ERA, a 0-3 record and four blown saves in as many opportunities over 22 appearances. It is widely assumed that he’ll take over the closing role at Baltimore with Felix Bautista expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2026 season.