SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (6-11)
Despite coming off a six-win season, the 49ers enter 2025 as one of the favorites to contend in the NFC. Injuries derailed last season with stars such as Trent Williams, Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk all missing significant time. The Niners came into this season refreshed thanks to a longer offseason than they had the previous three seasons when they made long playoff runs that fell short of a Super Bowl title. San Francisco believes the pieces are still in place to make a run even after several veterans were jettisoned in the offseason in an attempt to get younger and cheaper. There is still plenty of star power with Williams, McCaffrey, George Kittle, Fred Warner and QB Brock Purdy, who was rewarded with a five-year, $265 million extension in the offseason. If the young players can contribute quickly, San Francisco should be a contending team once again.
DE Mykel Williams, DT C.J. West, CB Upton Stout, DT Alfred Collins, QB Mac Jones, WR Demarcus Robinson, S Jason Pinnock, RB Brian Robinson, S Marques Sigle, TE Luke Farrell, WR Skyy Moore, LB Nick Martin, S Richie Grant, P Thomas Morstead, WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, DC Robert Saleh.
WR Deebo Samuel, LB Dre Greenlaw, CB Charvarius Ward, S Talanoa Hufanga, LG Aaron Banks, RB Jordan Mason, DT Javon Hargrave, DT Maliek Collins, DE Leonard Floyd, OL Jaylon Moore.
Quarterback. While the offseason moves chipped away at the depth at many positions, the Niners go into the season in good shape at quarterback. Purdy showed he's more than just the product of a great system and teammates with the way he played last season and has established himself as one of the better passers in the league. The addition of Jones gives San Francisco a better option as a backup if Purdy goes down at any point this season.
Safety. The Niners lost 2022 All-Pro Hufanga to Denver in free agency and enter the season with serious questions on the back end of the defense. Malik Mustapha had a promising rookie season, but could miss up to half of this season recovering from knee surgery. Ji'Ayir Brown showed promise as a rookie in 2023, but struggled at times last season and is danger of losing his starting job. San Francisco is relying heavily on Pinnock and Sigle, a fifth-round rookie.
Last season's first-round pick Ricky Pearsall wasn't able to do much as a rookie after missing the start of the season recovering from a gunshot wound in the chest following a robbery attempt in San Francisco. With Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings missing all or most of camp, Pearsall got plenty of opportunities to be the featured receiver this summer and showed that his 14 catches for 210 yards in the final two games last season might not have been an aberration.
McCaffrey won the AP Offensive Player of the Year in 2023 when he led the NFL with 2,023 yards from scrimmage and 21 TDs. He played only four games last season because of injuries, dooming fantasy owners who picked him high in their drafts. If McCaffrey stays healthy, he once again figures to be one of the top fantasy performers.
Win Super Bowl: 20-1.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan watches from the sideline during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Santa Clara, Calif., Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) rolls out during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
NEW YORK (AP) — Bo Bichette and the New York Mets agreed Friday to a $126 million, three-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal was subject to a successful physical and had not been announced.
A two-time All-Star shortstop with the Toronto Blue Jays, Bichette will move to third base with the Mets, who have Francisco Lindor at shortstop. Bichette has never played a professional game at the hot corner.
Bichette can opt out of the deal after the first or second season to become a free agent again. He would receive $47 million for one year and $89 million for two years, the person said.
The deal does not contain any deferred money and Bichette gets a full no-trade provision. His $42 million average annual value ties for the sixth-highest in baseball history.
It was the latest big development in an eventful offseason for the Mets, who angered fans by letting popular slugger Pete Alonso and star closer Edwin Díaz leave in free agency. President of baseball operations David Stearns also traded two other stalwarts, outfielder Brandon Nimmo and versatile veteran Jeff McNeil — both homegrown players.
New York signed closer Devin Williams to a $51 million, three-year contract, infielder Jorge Polanco to a $40 million, two-year deal and reliever Luke Weaver to a $22 million, two-year agreement.
Although he lacks Alonso's prodigious power, Bichette is a proven hitter with lightning-fast hands and a penchant for line-drive doubles. He would give the Mets a dangerous right-handed bat to help complement lefty slugger Juan Soto.
Because of his inexperience at third, however, Bichette becomes the latest question mark in the field for New York even though Stearns has insisted the team must improve its defense and is determined to do so.
Polanco has one pitch of major league experience at first base, where he and Mark Vientos, previously a third baseman, are the leading candidates to replace Alonso.
New York had planned to start Brett Baty at third, where he provides a strong glove. Baty, who also has experience at second base, is viewed as a versatile defender who could see time in the outfield and perhaps at first.
Or, the Mets could look to trade Baty for pitching or outfield help. Gold Glove winner Marcus Semien is set to play second after arriving from Texas in a November trade for Nimmo.
Bichette batted .311 with 18 home runs, 94 RBIs and an .840 OPS in 139 games for the Blue Jays last year. He homered off Shohei Ohtani in Game 7 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Late last season, Bichette sprained his left knee in a Sept. 6 collision with New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells, keeping the infielder out of the lineup until the World Series. He returned for Game 1 against the Dodgers and played second base for the first time in six years.
Bichette led the American League in hits in 2021 and 2022. He finished second in the major leagues in batting average last season to Yankees slugger Aaron Judge.
Bichette turned down a $22,025,000 qualifying offer from the Blue Jays in November, so they would receive an extra draft pick in July after the fourth round if he completes his deal with the Mets.
New York would forfeit its second- and fifth-highest draft picks, along with $1 million in 2027 international signing bonus pool allocation.
Bichette was one of the last remaining big-name hitters on the free agent market after outfielder Kyle Tucker spurned the Mets and agreed Thursday to a $240 million, four-year contract with the Dodgers.
Bichette, who turns 28 in March, has spent his entire career with the Blue Jays since they selected him in the second round of the 2016 amateur draft. He is a .294 career hitter with 111 home runs and an .806 OPS in 748 major league games.
He is a son of former big league slugger Dante Bichette, a four-time All-Star outfielder.
Also Friday, the Mets claimed infielder Tsung-Che Cheng off waivers from Tampa Bay.
AP Baseball Writers Ronald Blum and David Brandt and AP Sports Writer Dan Gelston contributed to this report.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb
FILE - Toronto Blue Jays' Bo Bichette celebrates his three run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the third inning in Game 7 of baseball's World Series, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in Toronto. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)
FILE - New York Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns responds to questions during a news conference about MLB trade deadline deals, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith, File)
