MLB Weekly Digest: Kent's Hall Call, Cease's Blockbuster, and the Winter Meetings Rush

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The last month in MLB has been a whirlwind of award ceremonies, significant free agent signings, and trade action, all culminating in the kickoff of the annual Winter Meetings in Orlando, Florida, today.

Here is an in-depth look at the major happenings across MLB from November to early December 2025:

Award Season Wrap-Up

November was dominated by the announcement of the annual Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) awards, which saw major names repeat their dominance and a new crop of rookies ascend.

MVP Winners: For the first time in history, both leagues saw repeat MVPs.³
NL MVP: Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers): Ohtani took home his fourth career MVP (and third consecutive), winning unanimously after logging 55 home runs and posting a sub- $3.00$ ERA on the mound.
AL MVP: Aaron Judge (Yankees): Judge won his third AL MVP, narrowly edging out Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh with a season that saw him lead the AL in batting average and OPS.

Cy Young Winners:

AL Cy Young: Tarik Skubal (Tigers): Skubal became the first Tigers pitcher to win back-to-back Cy Young awards since 2000, dominating with a league-best $2.21$ ERA.
NL Cy Young: Paul Skenes (Pirates): Skenes was a unanimous choice, following up his 2024 Rookie of the Year win to become just the second player ever to win the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young awards back-to-back.
Rookie of the Year: The awards went to Nick Kurtz (Athletics) in the AL and Drake Baldwin (Braves) in the NL, highlighting a strong influx of young talent.

Hall of Fame Call: Jeff Kent Elected

In a significant early-offseason announcement, the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee convened and voted to induct former NL MVP Jeff Kent into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Kent, the all-time leader in home runs for a second baseman, received 14 of 16 votes (87.5%), exceeding the 75% threshold needed for induction.
Big Names Miss Out: Controversially, several big names on the ballot once again fell short of the threshold, including Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, who each received fewer than five votes, making them ineligible for this specific committee’s ballot again until 2031.

Free Agent Fever: The First Blockbusters

The free agent market has moved swiftly for key pitching targets, setting a high benchmark for the Winter Meetings:

Dylan Cease to Toronto: The biggest signing thus far saw front-line starter Dylan Cease agree to a massive seven-year, $210 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. The deal immediately takes one of the top available starting pitchers off the board and signals Toronto’s intent to compete in the tough AL East.
Devin Williams to the Mets: The New York Mets solidified their bullpen by signing elite closer Devin Williams to a three-year deal, bringing “Airbender” to Queens.
The Big Names Still Available: The remaining starting pitcher market is led by highly coveted arms like Framber Valdez (who has met with the Orioles, Giants, and Mets) and free agent Michael King, who is drawing widespread interest from the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, and Cubs.

Trade Action and Rumors

While the market for free agent hitters like Pete Alonso and Alex Bregman remains quiet, the trade market has seen key movement, often involving prospects:

Mariners/Nationals Swap: In a curious move, the Seattle Mariners acquired left-handed reliever Jose A. Ferrer from the Washington Nationals in exchange for top-tier catching prospect Harry Ford (MLB Pipeline’s No. 42 prospect).¹⁶ The deal gives Washington a high-ceiling catcher and Seattle much-needed bullpen help.
Orioles/Angels Blockbuster (November): The Baltimore Orioles made a major defensive and offensive upgrade in late November by acquiring outfielder Taylor Ward from the Angels in exchange for starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez.
Ketel Marte Rumors: Arizona Diamondbacks star second baseman Ketel Marte has become a hot trade commodity, with the Red Sox, Tigers, Mariners, and Pirates all reportedly showing strong interest as the Diamondbacks seek young pitching.

The action is expected to accelerate dramatically as all 30 teams convene today for the Winter Meetings in Orlando, where the largest remaining contracts and trade discussions are typically finalized