MLB News: White Sox Sign New Closer, Andrew McCutchen-Pirates Reunion Possibility & More

Dominguez has spent six seasons in the Philadelphia Phillies organization since his MLB debut back in 2018. The Dominican right-hander was then traded to the Baltimore Orioles in the summer of 2024. He moved to the Toronto Blue Jays at the deadline last year before helping the team win the American League pennant and pitching in the World Series for the second time in his career.

Pirates Hint at Andrew McCutchen Returning For Another MLB Season

Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington feels there is a chance that franchise legend Andrew McCutchen returns to the team for another season in the MLB. However, the Pirates’ front office will first focus on improving the team as much as they can. At the recent PiratesFest, Cherington said they will approach McCutchen with an offer when they feel the time is right.

“Andrew has meant a ton to the team. He’s had an incredible run at two different times. Certainly, his legacy as a Pirate is secure. Everybody with the Pirates, it’s our desire to maintain a really good relationship with Andrew well into the future,” Chenrington said. “Then we come back to our team. What is the job? The job is to build a team that gives us the best chance to win games when you’re at the ballpark in June and July. That’s where I see that passion come out.”

“Our approach this offseason has been laser-focused on what gives us the best chance to win more baseball games in Pittsburgh than we have in the past seasons. That’s going to continue to guide our decisions. So much respect for Andrew. That relationship is really important to us. We’ll continue to communicate with him directly as the team comes together. We have more work to do.”

McCutchen spent the first nine years of his MLB career in Pittsburgh. He returned to the Pirates for the past three seasons, albeit on one-year deals worth $5 million. The 39-year-old slugger regressed a fair bit at the plate in 2025. He batted .239/.333/.367 with 12 home runs, while his OPS+ dropped by 11 points from the previous season to 95.

Max Scherzer Willing to Wait for Desired Offer, Says MLB Insider

At the age of 41, Max Scherzer came within a whisker of winning a third World Series ring during his solo campaign with the Toronto Blue Jays last year. At the moment, Scherzer is healthy and available in the free agent market. However, the three-time Cy Young winner is happy to wait beyond Opening Day until he gets the right deal, according to MLB insider Ken Rosenthal.

“In a telephone conversation Thursday, free-agent right-hander Max Scherzer said he is healthy and ready to sign at any moment if certain teams call. But if the right opportunity is not available, Scherzer also is content to wait until after Opening Day for an opening to emerge with one of his preferred clubs,” Rosenthal reported in The Athletic on Friday.

Scherzer joined the Blue Jays just before spring training in the previous offseason on a one-year, $15.5 million contract. He landed on the IL with a thumb issue on his debut for the team before returning to the mound in June. He posted 85.0 innings in 17 starts during the regular season, finishing with a 5-5 record and a 5.19 ERA.