The Mets entered the offseason with the sense that they were somewhere in the middle – not in a full rebuild, but not quite ready to go all-in either. That ambiguity only became more confusing after their first major move, which came before free agency even began: trading Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers for 2B Marcus Semien. Nimmo had grown into one of the most consistent leadoff hitters in baseball, a clubhouse staple, and a player fans assumed would be part of the team’s

On paper, the Pittsburgh Pirates should be ecstatic. Paul Skenes just delivered one of the most dominant seasons baseball has seen in decades, winning the Cy Young and immediately establishing himself as a top-three player in the sport. He’s overpowering hitters and commanding the zone at an insane pace, and he is giving Pittsburgh a legitimate chance to win every time he takes the mound. Players like this don’t fall into organizations’ laps often - especially not Pittsburgh

On paper, the Detroit Tigers should be thrilled. Tarik Skubal has turned into one of the best pitchers in baseball, putting together a dominant year that’s made him the clear ace of the staff. He’s posting Cy Young–caliber numbers, missing bats, limiting walks, and giving the Tigers a chance to win every time he’s on the mound. But with his contract talks heating up, Detroit now faces a massive question - how far are they willing to go to keep their guy? The $250 Million Gap 

On paper, the Cincinnati Reds don’t look like an overwhelming contender. Their offense has been inconsistent, their stars are still...