MLB winter meetings rumors, news and live updates: More big moves coming?

2026 MLB draft top prospects: White Sox win No. 1 pick in lottery

Major League Baseball’s draft is still more than eight months away. Yet after the Dec. 9 draft lottery determined the selection order, you could say the Chicago White Sox are ready to Roch.

The White Sox earned the No. 1 overall selection among eligible teams, earning them first crack at UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky – the overwhelming choice to top the draft board come July.

USA TODAY Sports breaks down the draft order and takes a look at 17 top prospects who might slide into the pool of lottery and non-playoff clubs:

1. (White Sox) Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA: Reigning collegiate player of the year combines 6-2, 205-pound frame with elite speed and Gold Glove-caliber defense.

2. (Rays) Grady Emerson, SS, Fort Worth Christian HS: The consensus top prep player available, he’s a Texas commit who recently batted .346 with a .949 OPS in a stint for Team USA, earning All-World honors.

3. (Twins) Derek Curiel, OF, LSU: Possibly the best pure hitter in the draft, Curiel batted .390 during LSU’s run through the NCAA playoffs and a College World Series title and will move to center field in his second season at Baton Rouge, which should enhance his stock.

4. (Giants) Justin Lebron, SS, Alabama: Displayed 18-homer pop as a sophomore and led the SEC in RBIs to go along with a very sound skill set at shortstop.

5. (Pirates) Tyler Spangler, SS, De La Salle (Calif.): Like your shortstops big and physical? Spangler may be your man. The Stanford signee, 6-3 and 195 pounds, has a consummately projectable long, lean build, a clean left-handed swing and 6.56 60-yard dash speed.

– Gabe Lacques

Scott Boras explains Schwarber’s impact on Alonso contract

ORLANDO, FL — Agent Scott Boras believes that DH Kyle Schwarber’s five-year, $150 million contract will not only accelerate free-agent signings this winter, but will lead to longer-term contracts for sluggers over the age of 30.

Yes, in particular the 31-year-old New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso, who’s represented by Boras.

“The evidence in the market is that these premium talents that have power,” Boras said, “are in great demand. And the teams are willing to give more length to secure plot power in the marketplace. …

“Schwarber is obviously one of the best power hitters in the game, and all of these guys that are elite, whether they’re 29 or 30, they see a player who’s got five years length at 33, it’s obviously a fair quotient for the players that are younger to demand more years. …

“I think it really shows the demand for power. We just don’t have a lot of it, and it shows the impact that it has.”

– Bob Nightengale

What’s next for Mets with Edwin Diaz’s departure?

While Mets president Stearns declined to comment on Diaz’s departure, given the deal has not been finalized, the latest departure of one of their core pieces underscores a new level of urgency.

“I think when we go into an offseason, we have lots of different paths that the offseason can take,” Stearns said. “We thought it important to bring in a reliever of really high quality. We’re really excited we were able to do that with Devin Williams. We think he’s going fit our club really well.

“I’m also confident we’re going to continue to add to the pen and have a very good one when we get to the regular season.”

– Andrew Tredinnick, NorthJersey.com