Patriots Not Seeking Short-Term Help at NFL Trade Deadline
The Patriots are entering another critical point in their 2025 season this week, with an opportunity to win a sixth straight game as they welcome the Falcons–a wildly inconsistent bunch–to Foxborough on Sunday. Two days later, the team will hit the NFL trade deadline, and possibly add to a group that has been among the most pleasant surprises in the league this year.
The deadline is usually a spot at which contending teams can pilfer an unwanted player heading into free agency to bolster the roster for the second half. Though the Patriots have the record of a contender, though, the brain trust at the top still sees this as a long-term rebuilding project.
So any player the Patriots bring in is not expected to be in New England for a cup of coffee on their way to mid-March free agency. The Patriots still want to bring in players they see themselves keeping beyond this season.
Patriots Want to Invest
That’s the word from NFL insider James Palmer, who is half of the “Scoop City” podcast with Diana Russini of The Athletic. Appearing on NBC Sports podcast, “Next Pats” with Phil Perry, Palmer said that while the Patriots are expected to be buyers if presented with the right opportunity next week, they’re only going to buy and hold.
Said Palmer: “I do think they’re going, ‘OK, maybe we’ve exceeded expectations quicker than we assumed … but we don’t want to rent anybody. Anybody we’re bringing in, we’d like to make sure they’re an impact player maybe for us in 2026 as well or perhaps past that. I think that might be what they’re looking at.”
Patriots Aren’t Reacting to Record
That is certainly consistent with the way coach Mike Vrabel has talked about his players and the process of rebuilding the roster, which he has pretty much torn down in the 10 months since he took over in New England.
“We’re just going to continue to try to strengthen the roster each and every day,” Vrabel said this month. “Sometimes there will be small moves, maybe bigger ones.
“I don’t think right now, our conversations are centered around what our record is currently. Those things can help us build and strengthen us for long-term consistent success. And I think that’s what we should try to do.”
Jaelan Phillips Has Generated Interest
The Patriots, for all their success this season, have played a very flimsy schedule, with opponents recording a mark of just 21-41. The team has been mostly healthy, though it is undergoing a wave of running back injuries that has shown how little there is, depth-wise, on the roster.
New England is said to be chasing pass-rushers at the deadline, with Russini naming the Patriots among the suitors for Jaelan Phillips of the Dolphins. Phillips is a former first-round pick whose career has been marred by ACL and Achilles tendon surgeries.
He has been healthy this season, though, and at 26 years old, could make sense as a low-risk addition who could be signed to a team-friendly extension.
Chicago Cubs predicted to replace Kyle Tucker with projected $182 million Boston Red Sox superstar
The Chicago Cubs are coming off a 92-70 season that saw them finish second place in the National League Central Division behind the Milwaukee Brewers, who were 97-65. After defeating the San Diego Padres in the Wild Card round, Chicago fell to the Brewers 3-2 in their five-game NLDS series, ending their season.
Now that the World Series is over, the club and its fans has their eyes completely set on preparing for the 2026 MLB season in hopes that they can improve their roster, make it back to the postseason, and win another title themselves.
In order to do that, some tough decisions will need to be made and some serious money will need to be spent.
The Chicago Cubs are predicted to replace Kyle Tucker with Alex Bregman
Sep 30, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; Boston Red Sox third base Alex Bregman (2) hits a single during the first inning against the New York Yankees during game one of the Wildcard round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Recently, Jim Bowden of The Athletic listed Cubs right fielder Kyle Tucker has his number one MLB free agent of the offseason. Per Bowden, it is expected that, despite his injuries in 2025, Tucker will command a contract worth over $400 million.
In other words, Chicago, who is not likely to hand out that kind of contract, will need to find a way to replace a player who hit .266/.377/.464 with 22 home runs, 73 RBI, and 25 stolen bases.
Jordan Campbell of Cubbies Crib suggests that they do so by signing third baseman Alex Bregman, who Bowden suggests will command a $182 million contract over six years:
“The guess here is that the Cubs make a strong push for Alex Bregman. The Cubs identified Bregman as the piece last offseason that could transition them from being a good team into a great team. They weren’t wrong, but the problem was that the Cubs made a pursuit of Bregman a priority far too late in the offseason. The Boston Red Sox likely will make a strong push to bring Bregman back, but the Cubs being involved shouldn’t be that surprising.”
Playing for the Boston Red Sox last season, Bregman hit .273/.360/.462 with 18 home runs and 62 RBI. He, like Tucker, also dealt with injuries last season that limited his production.
The thought of replacing Tucker, an outfielder, with Bregman, a third baseman, make sense since the Cubs already have Ian Happ, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Seiya Suzuki as their starting outfielders.
The problem, though, is that Bregman will be highly sought after in free agency, and the Cubs may get into a bidding war for his services.
