New Faces, New Places: Baseball Stars Find New Homes

Big changes are happening in baseball! Some of the best players in the game are moving to new teams. Let's look at five star players who will be wearing different uniforms next season.

Juan Soto Joins the Mets with a Record-Breaking Deal

Juan Soto is leaving his crosstown rival New York Yankees to join the New York Mets with a record-breaking contract. The Mets will pay him $765 million over 15 years. This is the largest contract in the history of American sports!

Soto is only 26 years old and is already on track for a Hall of Fame career. He's coming off an amazing season with:

• 41 home runs
• Over 100 RBIs (runs batted in)
• Over 100 runs scored

He will team up with Francisco Lindor to form a dynamic duo that Mets fans will love to watch.

Dodgers Land Japanese Star Roki Sasaki

The world champion Los Angeles Dodgers have signed 25-year-old Japanese star Roki Sasaki. He is known for his amazing 100 mph fastball and terrific splitter.

What’s a splitter? It’s a pitch that looks like a fastball when the pitcher throws it, but then suddenly drops down as it reaches the batter. This makes it very hard to hit!

Sasaki played four seasons with the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan's Pacific League. He had an impressive 2.10 ERA during his time there.

The big question is: Can his amazing results in Japan translate to success in Major League Baseball?

Chicago Cubs Trade for Star Kyle Tucker

The Chicago Cubs have traded for former Houston Astro and World Series champion Kyle Tucker. This 27-year-old star is considered one of the most underrated players in baseball.

Tucker is coming off a right shin fracture (ouch!) and is looking to bounce back this season. In his last full season in 2023, he hit:

• 29 home runs
• 112 RBIs

Cubs fans are hoping he can return to similar—or even better—numbers as he leads their team back to the playoffs.

Red Sox Trade for New Ace Garrett Crochet

The Boston Red Sox have traded for their new ace pitcher, 25-year-old southpaw (lefty) Garrett Crochet. He is coming off a breakout season with the Chicago White Sox, posting:

• 3.58 ERA
• 209 strikeouts

Crochet has a fastball that can reach 100 mph, along with a devastating slider.

What’s a slider? It’s a pitch that moves sideways and down as it reaches the batter, making it difficult to hit solidly.

Red Sox fans are wondering: Is Crochet the missing piece their team needs to compete for a championship?

Corbin Burnes Heads to the Desert

Corbin Burnes has signed a 6-year, $210 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He will team up with Zac Gallen to form a powerful pitching duo.

Burnes is a former Cy Young Award winner coming off a strong season with the Baltimore Orioles, where he had:

• 15-9 record
• 2.92 ERA
• 181 strikeouts

The big question is: Can he help get the Diamondbacks back to the playoffs?