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Before diving into this article, we recommend reading previous entries in this series, along with an introduction in part one. With that said, let's look at the gold standard Padres, starting rotation. Part one: Gold Standard Padres, Infield Edition Part two: Gold Standard Padres, Outfield Edition Part three: Gold Standard Padres, Bench Edition The Starting Rotation: The Masters of the Hill The architects of the rubber. These arms took the ball every fifth day, carrying the hopes of the city for nine innings at a time. Through heat, movement, control, deception, and sheer will, they turned the mound into a sanctuary and defined the different eras of Padres baseball. Kevin Brown "Brownie" "The Hired Gun" 1998 (8.6 WAR) The Sinkerball Assassin W-L: 18-7 | ERA: 2.38 | FIP: 2.23 | SIERA: 2.71 | SO: 257 | IP: 257.0 | CG: 7 | SHO: 3 | WHIP: 1.07 | K/BB: 5.24 | K%: 24.9% | K-BB%: 20.2% | ERA+ 164 NL All-Star (1998) | NL Player of the Week (Aug 16 & Sept 20, 1998) | Clyde McCullough Pitcher of the Year Award (1998) | Padres Chairman's Award (1998) The Five Pillars of Brownie Innovation: Brown was the architect of the modern "power sinker," a pitch that defied the laws of physics in the late 90s. While most sinkerballers of the era sat in the high 80s, Brown’s clocked in at a staggering 96-98 MPH with a violent, late horizontal run. Under the specific guidance of pitching coach Dave Stewart in 1998, Brown perfected a devastating split-finger fastball that mimicked the exact arm speed and tunnel of his sinker before falling off a table. This two-pitch tunnel made it impossible for hitters to distinguish between a ball breaking into their hands or one diving into the dirt. He effectively weaponized the ground ball and the strikeout simultaneously in a feat rarely seen before the Statcast era—a combination of power and precision that paved the way for the high-velocity, high-spin specialists of today's game. Impact: Kevin Brown’s presence changed the entire culture of the 1998 clubhouse. His "bulldog tenacity" was contagious, leading the staff to an imposing identity. In the playoffs, he famously outdueled Randy Johnson in Game 1 of the NLDS with 16 strikeouts—setting a franchise postseason record and the tone to upset the 102-win Astros. He followed that by silencing the 106-win Braves in the NLCS, throwing a three-hit, 11-strikeout complete game shutout in Atlanta that gave San Diego a commanding 2-0 series lead. During the regular season, he led the National League with 8.6 WAR and set a Padres franchise record with 257 strikeouts, a mark that still stands today. He finished the year with 7 complete games and 3 shutouts, while leading all of Major League Baseball with a microscopic 0.3 HR/9. Legend: Kevin Brown's 1998 season is widely regarded by historians as the most dominant single-season pitching performance in San Diego history. Beyond the record-breaking stats, he provided the psychological edge the franchise needed to transition from a divisional contender into a legitimate national juggernaut. He remains the only pitcher in club history to anchor a World Series run while simultaneously leading the entire Major Leagues in overall value with an 8.6 WAR. Brown arrived as the ultimate "hired gun," and though his tenure lasted only one summer, he established an impossible standard of excellence that remains the benchmark for every San Diego ace who has followed. His 1998 campaign is the definitive chapter of Padres pitching lore, representing a moment when the best pitcher on the planet belonged exclusively to San Diego. Iconic Look: Brown was the intimidating face of the Padres' 1998 "pinstripe" era in navy blue and orange. On the mound, he was a study in controlled aggression, standing 6'4" with a menacing, stoic expression and a traditional clean-shaven look that highlighted his intense, focused game face. His appearance was anchored by the team's navy blue crown cap featuring the iconic white-and-orange interlocking "SD" logo, a color scheme that became the visual hallmark of the 1998 World Series run. In an era where many pitchers were moving toward loose, baggy styles, Brown maintained a sharp, athletic appearance with high-set shoulders and a deliberate, high-leg kick. He exclusively used a dark Rawlings heart-of-the-hide pitcher’s glove with a closed web to hide his grips on his legendary sinker and split-finger pitches. The finishing touch to his look was his signature intensity; he rarely smiled, and his jersey was often stained with sweat and dirt, reflecting the grit he brought to every start. The "Did You Know Factor": Kevin Brown’s 1998 season was so dominant that he finished in the top four of the National League in every major pitching category: Wins (18), ERA (2.38), and Strikeouts (257). He was the only pitcher in the Senior Circuit to achieve that level of "Triple Crown" consistency that year. Despite his dominance, Brown finished 3rd in the Cy Young voting behind Tom Glavine and teammate Trevor Hoffman. This created a historical rarity: Brown and Hoffman became the only pair of teammates to finish second and third in the voting while the award went to a player from a different team. Perhaps most impressively, Brown surrendered only 8 home runs across 257.0 innings; he famously struck out twice as many batters in a single playoff game (16) as he allowed home runs over the entire 162-game regular season schedule. Randy Jones "The Junkman" "Jonesie" 1976 (7.8 WAR) The Workhorse of Mission Valley W-L: 22-14 | ERA: 2.74 | FIP: 3.16 | SIERA: 3.42 | SO: 93 | IP: 315.1 | CG: 25 | SHO: 5 | WHIP: 1.027 | K/BB: 1.86 | K%: 7.4% | K-BB%: 3.4% | ERA+ 119 NL Cy Young Award (1976) | Sporting News NL Pitcher of the Year (1976) | Baseball Bulletin NL Pitcher of the Year (1976) | NL All-Star (1975, 1976) | NL Player of the Month (April & May 1976) | NL Player of the Week (May 22, 1976) | Padres Team MVP (1975, 1976) | Clyde McCullough Pitcher of the Year Award (1975, 1976) | Padres Chairman's Award (1975, 1976) | No. 35 Retired by Padres (1997) | Padres Hall of Fame (1999 - Inaugural Class) The Five Pillars of Jonesie Innovation: Jones was the master of the "sinker-slider" approach, a style of pitching that served as a radical, cerebral departure from the high-heat dominance that defined the mid-70s. Relying on impeccable control and late, biting movement rather than raw velocity, Jones innovated through a blend of psychological warfare and relentless tempo. He famously worked with a rapid-fire cadence that bordered on the obsessive, often completing nine full innings in under two hours. By weaponizing the diving action of his sinker and varying its speeds to create a "ghost" effect, he forced the opposition to play at his speed, turning aggressive swings into a record-setting parade of weak ground balls and demoralizing double plays. He proved that a pitcher could dominate the strike zone and dismantle an order without ever needing to touch 90 miles per hour on a radar gun. Impact: He was the ultimate "workhorse" during a fragile era where the Padres franchise was still desperately fighting for respect and a foothold in the National League. In 1976, Jones got a season started that remains statistically unprecedented; he became the first pitcher in National League history to be named Player of the Month in back-to-back months (April and May). This early-season blitz anchored the entire organization, as he went on to lead the major leagues in Wins (22), Starts (40), Innings Pitched (315.1), and Complete Games (25). His efficiency was unmatched, finishing the year with a league-best 1.027 WHIP, proving he could maintain elite precision despite the massive workload. This output single-handedly preserved a thin bullpen and gave a young, often outmatched San Diego team a legitimate chance to win every fifth day. Legend: In 1976, Randy Jones became a literal folk hero, cementing his place in San Diego lore as the first pitcher in franchise history to capture the Cy Young Award. Following a 20-win season in 1975, where he was arguably snubbed for the honor, he returned with a quiet vengeance, capturing the hearts of the city during a historic summer where "Randy Jones Day" became a mandatory local holiday. He was the first true superstar the city could claim as entirely their own—a home-grown icon who provided a symbol of hope for a young expansion franchise. His legacy is defined by his "weapon of choice"—a sinker with a distinct screwball tilt that baffled the era's greatest hitters. This unique movement, combined with a superior mental plan, allowed him to out-duel Hall of Fame flamethrowers with surgical precision. Iconic Look: With his trademark blonde curls flowing out from beneath his cap and his classic brown and gold #35 jersey, Jones was the visual pulse of San Diego in the 70s. His calm, methodical presence on the mound provided a perfect contrast to the high-pressure situations he mastered, moving through innings with a smooth, repeatable delivery that looked effortless. He was the visual embodiment of the Swinging Friar era, frequently seen in the team’s signature brown-sleeved home whites or the solid chocolate brown road jerseys with gold sleeves. On the mound, he utilized an oversized, deep-pocketed tan glove to hide his finger grips and a short, controlled follow-through that left him in a perfect, square-ready defensive stance. His relaxed, West Coast swagger became as recognizable to fans as the Mission Valley skyline itself. The "Did You Know Factor": Jones started the All-Star Game for the National League and earned the win, pitching three dominant innings against an American League powerhouse. This performance came on the heels of his 1975 season, where he led the league in ERA, making him the only pitcher in franchise history to win an ERA title and a Cy Young Award in back-to-back campaigns. During the 1976 season, he went 68 consecutive innings without walking a single batter, tying a 63-year-old National League record set by the legendary Christy Mathewson in 1913. Furthermore, Jones set a major league record for the most total defensive chances by a pitcher in a single season (112) without committing an error. He also entered the All-Star break with a 16-3 record, a National League mark for most wins before the break. His dominance was so total that he finished 10th in the 1976 NL MVP voting. Dave Roberts "The Unlucky Lefty" 1971 (7.1 WAR) The Quiet Professional W-L: 14-17 | ERA: 2.10 | FIP: 2.89 | SIERA: 3.11 | SO: 135 | IP: 269.2 | CG: 16 | SHO: 3 | WHIP: 1.050 | K/BB: 2.21 | K% 12.4% | K-BB% 6.8% | ERA+ 151 NL Cy Young - 6th Place (1971) The Five Pillars of The Unlucky Leftie Innovation: The tendency of the era was toward high-strikeout smoke, but Roberts operated with a surgical precision that stood in stark contrast to his peers. He innovated through the art of the calculated contact game, utilizing a heavy, bowling-ball sinker that bore in on the hands of right-handed hitters with such violent downward action that it was widely considered the most physically taxing pitch to square up in the National League. He weaponized a unique cross-fire delivery, stepping slightly toward the third-base dugout to create an angled release point that hid the ball until the last possible millisecond, thriving in the expansive, marine-layer-heavy dimensions of San Diego Stadium. By mastering tunneling—maintaining an identical arm slot for both his biting slider and his fading changeup—he dictated the pace of every at-bat, forcing hitters into late, defensive swings. Impact: Roberts’ 1971 campaign remains the gold standard for hard luck brilliance in Major League history. Despite a losing record of 14-17, his 2.10 ERA was the second-best mark in the league, trailing only Tom Seaver, and remains a franchise record that still stands. His impact was defined by his role as the first true stabilizer for a fledgling Padres rotation; he threw nearly 270 innings and completed 16 games, single-handedly shielding a young, overmatched bullpen from exposure. His value was most visible in his 24 Quality Starts, a mark of consistency that was routinely sabotaged by a historically stagnant Padres offense that finished dead last in the NL in runs and hits. Roberts was forced to pitch with zero margin for error, as evidenced by his 11 starts in which his offense provided zero or one run of support, yet he still posted the third-highest WAR (7.1) of any pitcher in the league. Legend: Before the arrival of Cy Young winners like Randy Jones and Gaylord Perry, Dave Roberts was the quiet foundation upon which San Diego pitching was built. He was the franchise’s first legitimate Ace, a southpaw who carried the dignity of a last-place team on some of the worst rosters in team history. His legacy is etched in the 1971 leaderboards, where he stood toe-to-toe with Hall of Fame giants, earning a 6th-place Cy Young finish that served as the first legitimate mark of excellence in Padres history. To this day, he is remembered by San Diego purists as the Unlucky Lefty—a man who once pitched 28 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run across four starts, yet failed to record a single victory during that stretch due to an utter lack of support. He didn't just play for the Padres; he validated them, proving a pitcher could achieve immortality even while pitching for a 100-loss club. Iconic Look: Roberts was the personification of the early "Mustard and Mud" era, cutting a lean, focused figure on the mound in the Padres’ original 1971 uniforms. In contrast to the shaggier looks of the later 70s, Roberts maintained the clean-shaven, traditional appearance of a quiet professional. He wore the solid brown cap featuring the bold, gold SD logo and a gold button on top—the gritty, definitive look of the team's infancy. He donned the high-waisted, classic white flannels with the brown Padres script across the chest, often seen with his stirrups pulled high to show a flash of the white sanitary socks underneath. He used a dark, deep-pocketed Rawlings leather glove he kept tucked tight to his chest, emphasizing a windup as compact and unshakeable as his personality. The "Did You Know Factor": On August 11, 1971, Roberts participated in arguably the greatest pitching duel in franchise history, out-dueling Tom Seaver in a 1-0 masterpiece by throwing a 12-inning complete-game shutout and allowing only 5 hits while striking out 10. During that historic season, Roberts went on an incredible tear where he made 15 consecutive starts without allowing a single home run, a stretch spanning over 93 innings that remains a franchise record that stands to this day. His mastery extended to the running game; with a lightning-quick slide step and a deceptive pickoff move, he allowed only five players to successfully steal a base against him all season. He remains the only pitcher in major league history to finish a season with an ERA at or below 2.10 while pitching at least 250 innings and still finishing with a losing record. Jake Peavy "The Alabama Hammer" "The Gunslinger" 2007 (6.7 WAR) The Triple Crown Champion W-L: 19-6 | ERA: 2.54 | FIP: 2.62 | SIERA: 3.01 | SO: 240 | IP: 223.1 | CG: 0 | SHO: 0 | WHIP: 1.061 | K/BB: 3.53 | K% 26.8% | K-BB% 19.2% | ERA+ 158 NL Cy Young Winner - Unanimous (2007) | Pitching Triple Crown (2007) | NL All-Star Game Starter (2007) | Padres Team MVP (2007) | Clyde McCullough Pitcher of the Year (2007) The Five Pillars of The Gunslinger Innovation: Peavy was a "max-effort" right-hander with a violent, cross-fire delivery. Working closely with pitching coach Darren Balsley and veteran Greg Maddux, he refined his command to the point where he could pinpoint a "nasty" two-seamer that broke late and sharp, leaving the league's best hitters flailing. He mastered pitch tunneling, ensuring his 95-mph heater and his 10-to-4 slider looked identical until the last moment for the batter. By landing his lead foot toward the third-base side, he created a horizontal angle that made his sinker effectively run away from lefties and jam righties, leading to a league-best 0.52 HR/9. This mechanical precision transformed him from a pure thrower into a tactical surgeon who could dismantle lineups without ever giving up a barrel, marking the fifth-best ERA season in franchise history. Impact: He was the heartbeat of the mid-2000s Padres. Peavy didn't just pitch; he competed with a visible, fiery intensity that galvanized the entire stadium. His 2007 campaign kept the Padres in the hunt until the final breath of the season. Beyond his energy, he was the statistical anchor of the staff, taking the ball 34 times and leading the National League with a 1.06 WHIP. During the high-pressure stretch of September, Peavy went 4-1 with a 1.20 ERA, single-handedly carrying the rotation through a brutal race that ended in the 163rd tie-breaker game. He finished the season holding opponents to a measly .208 batting average, serving as the ultimate "stopper" every fifth day for a club that eventually fought into a 163rd tie-breaker game, providing the workhorse stability that allowed a heavy-use bullpen to survive. Legend: In 2007, Jake Peavy reached a level of dominance rarely seen in the modern era. By leading the National League in wins, ERA, and strikeouts, he secured the only Pitching Triple Crown in Padres history. He was the unanimous choice for the Cy Young, cementing his place as the greatest homegrown arm to ever wear the jersey. His 2007 season remains a mountaintop in franchise lore, as he received all 32 first-place votes to become a unanimous selection. He is one of only two NL pitchers since 1985 to sweep all three Triple Crown categories, joining Randy Johnson in that elite tier. His transformation from a 15th-round draft pick into the undisputed premier pitcher in the world solidified his status as the most important arm developed in San Diego history. Iconic Look: Often pitching with a face red from exertion and grit, Peavy was a blur of motion in the navy blue and sand uniforms. His jersey was usually stained with dirt and sweat by the fifth inning, a testament to his "bulldog" mentality. This high-octane visual was punctuated by a distinct, audible grunt that accompanied every single max-effort delivery, a sound that echoed through the stadium and signaled his absolute physical commitment to the pitch. His aggressive follow-through, where his flat-back finish left him staring down hitters through a sweat-streaked cap pulled low over his eyes, showcased the sheer torque of his delivery. The sight of him shouting into his glove after a massive strikeout became the definitive image of the Petco Park era, personifying a high-tension performer who exerted every ounce of physical torque into every single delivery to connect with a fan base that thrived on his gritty persona. The "Did You Know Factor": On April 25, 2007, he struck out 16 Arizona Diamondbacks, including a stretch where he fanned nine consecutive batters—just one shy of the all-time MLB record set by Tom Seaver. By winning the ERA title in 2007, he became the youngest pitcher since Dwight Gooden to win two career ERA crowns. Further adding to his 2007 legacy, he outdueled reigning Cy Young winner Brandon Webb in that 16-K performance and tied the franchise single-game record he had previously set in 2006. In a strange statistical anomaly, he also became the first pitcher in the live-ball era to win a Pitching Triple Crown without recording a single complete game. This 2007 run also included a stretch of four consecutive games with double-digit strikeouts, one of the most dominant stretches in franchise history, highlighting his status as the most feared arm in the National League. Gaylord Perry "The Spitter" 1978 (6.6 WAR) The Ageless Alchemist W-L: 21-6 | ERA: 2.73 | FIP: 3.19 | SIERA: 3.82 | SO: 154 | IP: 260.2 | CG: 5 | SHO: 2 | WHIP: 1.178 | K/BB: 2.33 | K% 14.6% | K-BB% 8.3% | ERA+ 122 NL Cy Young Award (1978) | Sporting News NL Pitcher of the Year (1978) | NL Pitcher of the Month (September 1978) | Clyde McCullough Pitcher of the Year (1978) The Five Pillars of The Spitter Innovation: Perry was the undisputed master of psychological warfare on the mound. Whether it was the legendary "spitball" or simply the threat of one, he kept hitters completely unsettled. He was a master of gamesmanship. By turning his pre-pitch routine into a theatrical performance, he forced batters to hunt for a "wet" ball rather than focusing on his actual release point. This mental manipulation enabled him to weaponize a high-leverage pitching style that disrupted a hitter's rhythm and intent. He effectively used an agonizingly deliberate pace to make his sinking fastball and hard slider even more devastating because the batter was often mentally defeated before the ball was even released. He mastered the art of the "decoy," understanding that in the heat of a pennant race, the suspicion of a doctored baseball was just as lethal as the pitch itself, forcing hitters to fight a ghost that may or may not have been there. Impact: His arrival provided a veteran championship pedigree that the 1978 Padres desperately needed. He gave the rotation an anchor and taught the younger staff how to "pitch with their heads," using 21 wins to lead the team to its first-ever winning season. Perry’s presence professionalized a clubhouse that had known only losing, serving as a de facto coach for young starters like Bob Shirley and Bob Owchinko. By eating 260 2/3 innings, he stabilized the rotation and protected the rest of the staff. His 21 wins accounted for 25% of the team's total victories, a workload that earned him the Cy Young over Burt Hooton and Vida Blue. This shift in culture resulted in an 84-78 finish—the first time in the franchise's 10-year history they finished above .500. His 1978 campaign wasn't just a statistical outlier; it was the blueprint that proved the Padres could compete for a pennant. Legend: In 1978, at the age of 39, Gaylord Perry became the first pitcher in MLB history to win the Cy Young Award in both leagues, proving that "Spitter" still had plenty of magic left in his right arm when he arrived in San Diego. This achievement made him the oldest pitcher to win the award at the time, a record that stood for 26 years until Roger Clemens won it at 42. His 1978 campaign remains the gold standard for veteran acquisitions in Padres history, as he defied the physical decline expected of a player his age through intelligence and craftiness. This dominance was recognized across the league, as he was voted the NL's top starting pitcher by his peers in The Sporting News. By the time he moved on from San Diego, he had climbed to 3rd all-time on the strikeout list, trailing only Walter Johnson and Bob Gibson, cementing his status as a first-ballot Hall of Famer who used the 1978 season to prove that the "Ageless Alchemist" longevity was no fluke. Iconic Look: With his weathered face and the 1978 home white pullover with its distinct brown sleeves, Perry looked like a veteran of a thousand battles. His left sleeve featured the 1978 All-Star Game patch, which famously introduced the "Swinging Friar" logo to the Padres' game uniform for the first time, placing him right in the center of the design. At 6'4" and 215 pounds, Perry was famous for having sweat on his forehead and neck; he used the San Diego heat to his advantage, making sure everyone saw the moisture he might be using for his spitter. It was a visual intimidation tactic that left hitters more focused on his fingers than his sinking fastball. His deliberate, methodical motion and legendary pre-pitch ritual—touching his hat, belt, and jersey—made him a fascinating spectacle that often prompted opposing managers to demand that umpires search him for hidden substances. The "Did You Know" Factor: Perry once famously said, "I'd give them a look at the dry side, the wet side, and the side they hadn't even thought of yet." He leaned so far into this reputation that he published an autobiography in 1974 titled Me and the Spitter, in which he detailed his methods for doctoring the ball. Because of this, opposing managers often asked umpires to perform mid-game inspections. These searches included peering into his cap and feeling behind his ears and along his neck. During one famous search, an umpire even made Perry pull up his pant legs to check his knees. His Padres catcher, Gene Tenace, later joked that the ball was sometimes so greasy he couldn't even throw it back to the mound, forced instead to walk it out and hand-deliver it to Perry. When he wasn't using grease, he used a "Puffball" tactic, caking the ball in rosin so it would explode in a cloud of white dust upon release, a move that forced MLB to pass a rule in 1981 specifically banning the practice. Blake Snell "Snellzilla" 2023 (6.0 WAR) The Cy Young Specialist W-L: 14-9 | ERA: 2.25 | FIP: 3.44 | SIERA: 4.06 | SO: 234 | IP: 180.0 | CG: 0 | SHO: 0 | WHIP: 1.189 | K/BB: 2.36 | K% 31.5% | K-BB% 18.2% | ERA+ 182 NL Cy Young Award (2023) | All-MLB First Team (2023) | NL Pitcher of the Month (June & September 2023) | Players' Choice NL Outstanding Pitcher (2023) | Sporting News MLB Starting Pitcher of the Year (2023) | Clyde McCullough Award (2023) The Five Pillars of Snellzilla Innovation: Snell mastered the "tunneling" of his four-pitch mix to a degree rarely seen in the Statcast era. He utilized a high-velocity four-seam fastball with "ride" to effectively set up three distinct "out" pitches: a devastating 12-6 curveball, a sharp slider, and a fading changeup. This approach focused on mirroring his release points to ensure that no pitch was ever located over the heart of the plate, keeping hitters off balance. In a shift from traditional usage, he reduced his fastball frequency to a career-low (under 50%), instead utilizing those secondary offerings as primary weapons. While traditional pitching emphasizes pounding the strike zone, Snell and pitching coach Ruben Niebla adopted a philosophy in which walks were a calculated risk, proving that a pitcher could dominate by using the space just outside the zone. Impact: During a season of high expectations, Snell became the ace of the Padres. He was a master of escaping jams, posting an 86.7% left-on-base rate—the seventh-highest mark by a starting pitcher in history—anchored by a Major League-best .152 opponent average with runners in scoring position. This was fueled by 234 strikeouts and a 37.3% whiff rate. He also led the majors with just 5.75 hits allowed per nine innings. This season was punctuated by an NL Pitcher of the Month performance in September—his second of the season (June and September)—where he went 3-0 with a 0.58 ERA and ended the year with 19 consecutive scoreless innings. Beyond his league-leading .181 opponent batting average, Snell also led all of Major League Baseball in opponent slugging (.286) and opponent OPS (.579). Legend: In 2023, Blake Snell produced one of the most dominant seasons in baseball history. He became just the seventh pitcher to win a Cy Young in both leagues, joining the elite company of Gaylord Perry as the only two players to accomplish the feat while wearing a Padres uniform. This achievement placed him in a rare circle alongside icons like Randy Johnson and Pedro Martinez. For months, he was essentially a brick wall, posting a historic 1.20 ERA over his final 23 starts. In the last century of Major League history, the only pitcher to post a lower ERA over a similar span in a single season was Bob Gibson (0.85 ERA), a feat not seen since the "Year of the Pitcher." In 1968. Iconic Look: Although he hails from the Pacific Northwest, Blake Snell brought a distinct, laid-back energy to the mound that resonated perfectly with the Friar Faithful. He became a staple of the modern Padres era, pulling off the vibrant City Connect pink and mint or the classic brown pinstripes. His signature look was defined by a loose-fitting jersey, his blingy Jaxxon gold chains, and a delivery where he holds his hands high before an explosive leg kick that hides the ball behind his frame. To complete the look, he wore custom gear that turned a childhood nickname he stole from his brother, Dru, at age eleven into a massive personal brand. This included his signature Snellzilla belt and hand-painted cleats featuring everything from Kobe Bryant tributes to The Simpsons—specifically Bart and Homer playing catch. The "Did You Know Factor": In his 2023 Cy Young campaign, Blake Snell became the first pitcher since the ERA became an official stat in 1913 and the first in Major League history to lead all of baseball in both ERA (2.25) and walks (99) in the same season. This ability to ignore negativity was built early on. Growing up, Blake was often smaller than his peers and doubted he could keep up, but his father, Dave—a former pro in the Giants and Mariners systems—guided him through those years at their family training facility, Showcase Sports NW. Having now passed that torch by launching "Zilla National," a youth travel team in Seattle, where he personally coaches and outfits players with neon gear and custom Jaxxon jewelry. His competitive edge translates to the digital world, too—Snell is a world-class gamer who dominated the delay in a shortened 2020 COVID season by winning the inaugural MLB The Show Players League championship, sweeping the virtual World Series 3-0. View the full article

For the better part of the last few seasons, the Minnesota Twins did not have to think very hard about how they were going to finish games. When a lead made it to the ninth inning, the ball went to Jhoan Duran, and the rest of the league usually understood what came next. Duran developed into one of baseball’s most dominant closers thanks to his overpowering fastball and splinker combination that made even elite hitters look overmatched. He brought consistency to a bullpen that had spent years searching for a true shutdown presence. When he took the mound in save situations, there was a level of calm that had been missing in Minnesota for a long time. That stability is now gone. At last year’s trade deadline, the Twins made the difficult decision to part ways with Duran, along with Griffin Jax and Louis Varland. All three had experience pitching in high-leverage roles, and any one of them could have entered spring training as the favorite to close games in 2026. Instead, Minnesota will attempt to piece together the ninth inning with a mix of veteran reclamation projects and internal arms looking to take the next step. LHP Taylor Rogers Minnesota signed Rogers to a one-year, $2 million deal, but that does not mean the left-hander cannot provide value in the closer role to begin the season. In fact, it probably makes the most sense for the Twins to lean on his experience early in the year, given the number of other lefties projected to make the bullpen, like Kody Funderburk and Anthony Banda. On a recent episode of Inside Twins, Rogers spoke about the adjustments he has made later in his career to rely more on sequencing and pitchability as his velocity has dipped. He also mentioned that new bullpen coach LaTroy Hawkins has been a valuable resource when it comes to finding ways to extend a reliever’s career and remain effective in high-leverage spots. Rogers seems to have the inside track to the closer role, but he’s told Twins manager Derek Shelton that he must earn the spot. RHP Liam Hendriks Hendriks has been one of the best closers of his generation, but the reality is that he has thrown fewer than 20 innings over the last three seasons. Since 2022, Hendriks has dealt with seemingly constant adversity, beginning with a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that offseason, which delayed his 2023 debut until May 29. He was only able to make five appearances that year before suffering an elbow injury that ultimately required Tommy John surgery. “[He’s a] veteran guy that people speak so highly of in the game in terms of who he is as a human being,” Shelton said. “Obviously, he’s had some challenges in his life over the last couple years. Just talking about the person, [we're] excited to add him into that group.” If Hendriks can rediscover anything close to his previous form, he could quickly move to the front of the closer conversation. RHP Cole Sands Sands might possess the highest upside of anyone currently projected to make the Twins’ bullpen. However, he also seems like a candidate to slide into the fireman role that Jax occupied in recent seasons, which takes him out of the full-time closer conversation. Minnesota may prefer to keep Sands flexible enough to enter during the middle innings to escape a jam or bridge the gap to one of the more traditional ninth-inning options. He has been working on adding a gyro slider that could help neutralize left-handed hitters more consistently. “So the big idea here is just try and put lefties away," Sands told reporters this past week. "And that's kind of where the gyro came into play. And we're always going to continue to push all, you know, all these pitches to try and execute lefties as well as I [do against] righties.” RHP Justin Topa Topa arrived in the Jorge Polanco trade after a breakout season with the Mariners that saw him post a 152 ERA+ and a 3.15 FIP. He has recorded a handful of saves throughout his career, which gives him at least some credibility in late-inning situations. However, his 18.3 K% last season suggests his skill set is better suited for a setup role. Minnesota will need reliable right-handed options throughout the year, which should still allow Topa to carve out meaningful opportunities even if they do not come in the ninth inning. Dark Horse Candidates David Festa and Connor Prielipp Festa and Prielipp are both expected to begin the year building starter workloads, but the reality is that each comes with injury concerns, and the Triple-A rotation is likely to be crowded. Both pitchers feature electric arsenals that have allowed them to succeed as starters in the minors. Limiting their pitch mix in shorter bullpen stints could unlock additional velocity and give Minnesota another potential late-inning weapon. The organization has already seen how that transition can work with pitchers like Jax, Varland, and Sands in recent seasons. Replacing a talent like Duran is not something that can be done with a single move. The Twins are not just searching for someone who can collect saves but for someone who can bring a sense of stability to the bullpen’s most important moments. That responsibility could shift month to month depending on performance and health. There is also value in keeping the role fluid early in the season. Locking in a closer on Opening Day might provide clarity, but it could also limit the Twins’ ability to deploy their best relievers in the highest leverage spots, regardless of inning. Minnesota has leaned into that philosophy at times over the last few years and may now be forced to embrace it more fully. Ultimately, this bullpen will look very different from the one that opened last season. New opportunities often create unexpected outcomes, and the Twins will be hoping that one of these veterans or emerging internal options can seize the ninth inning and make it their own. If that happens, Minnesota might not completely replicate what Duran provided at the back end of games, but they could still find a path toward building their next trusted late-inning presence. Who should be the team’s closer on Opening Day? Who will have the most saves for the Twins in 2026? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

There was perhaps no need that was more evident, for any team in Major League Baseball, than starting pitching was this winter for the San Diego Padres. They lost Dylan Cease early in free agency and appeared poised to do the same with Michael King. Yu Darvish was quickly declared out for the entirety of 2026, if he doesn’t call it a career it a career altogether. Nestor Cortes was a virtual non-factor upon his acquisition at last year’s trade deadline and never really merited discussion of a return. In short, the situation was dire for the Padres’ 2026 rotation. As the offseason progressed, however, they started to shift the narrative, at least a bit. King was, surprisingly, re-signed to what could amount to a one-year deal (though reads three on paper). Joe Musgrove is going to be close to a full-go for the regular season from the jump as he works back from Tommy John surgery. Adding those two to Nick Pivetta provided at least some stability to the top of the group. Questions remained, however. Sure, Randy Vásquez finished the year strong. But his profile is still flawed given some command woes against a lack of upside in his stuff. Even if he is able to build on that finish, the absence of anything resembling certainty helps to make this the murkiest positional group on the roster. With the team more recently opting for a pure volume approach in addressing it, though, they might have an opportunity to capitalize on that lack of clarity in seeking a more creative solution: the six-man rotation. Last week, the team signed Griffin Canning and Germán Márquez to one-year deals. They join in-house holdovers JP Sears, Kyle Hart, and Matt Waldron and non-roster invitees Triston McKenzie, Marco Gonzales, Sean Boyle, and Walker Buehler to create a competition that presents plenty of intrigue, even if it’s lacking in upside. If you’re keeping count, that’s 13 names for five spots. Pared down based on the more certain aspects, that’s 10 names for two spots. It’s not a terribly favorable probability for those that are on a deal of the minor-league variety or lacking in upside altogether. For example, it’s much more likely that we see a name like Hart in the bullpen or El Paso on the guaranteed contract side, with Boyle serving a similar role off the 40-man roster. However things shake out, though, it’s an opportunity to the Padres to explore the possibility of the six-man setup. The concept of a six-man rotation is floated throughout the league with decent regularity, but few teams actually adopt it. Pitchers being as routine oriented as they are stifles at least some of its usage, while another share of the responsibility goes to simply not having six options with which to work in the context of some organizations. In the Padres’ case, though, there’s real logic in exploring the possibility. From the standpoint of the certain aspects of the rotation, King is coming off a season in which he made only 15 starts. Musgrove hasn’t thrown a big-league inning since 2024. Pursuing such an avenue as a six-man rotation allows each of the two to settle back into regular work without putting too much stress on either arm early in the season. That’s the primary reason the team would even consider it. But it may not be the only one. As an added benefit, it also provides the Padres with runway beyond the spring to sort through some of the volume they’ve accrued. If they like what they see from the likes of Triston McKenzie or Walker Buehler – two pitchers that have performed at a high level in the past – they could structure the rotation in such a way that allows them sufficient time to evaluate whether some of the upside still persists within either pitcher. With Griffin Canning likely needing some time to work his way back from the Achilles injury, too, they get additional coverage from an innings standpoint. FanGraphs’ prognostication indicates that, in some way, the Padres will heavily feature at least six starters in 2026. Their list includes Canning grabbing 11 percent of the available starts, which is the lowest among the six starters playing on a guaranteed contract. That amounts to roughly 18 starts. While the depth charts are predictive and don’t necessarily always factor in context, this at least suggests that the thought isn’t entirely unreasonable. The Padres represent as good a case as any for the six-man rotation. The situation is always different when these conversations manifest around different organizations. But considering their lack of certainty at the back end of the rotation and their group of pitchers recovering from injury, the merits of the approach are at least visible to the naked eye. View the full article

While Ben Brown was hit around and struggled to control at-bats with a two-pitch mix in 2025, there are a few signals pointing towards a bounce-back campaign in 2026. If all goes to plan, and Brown expands his arsenal, Tommy Hottovy eluded that Brown could be a pivotal part of the future of this Cubs rotation. View the full article

While Ben Brown was hit around and struggled to control at-bats with a two-pitch mix in 2025, there are a few signals pointing towards a bounce-back campaign in 2026. If all goes to plan, and Brown expands his arsenal, Tommy Hottovy eluded that Brown could be a pivotal part of the future of this Cubs rotation. View the full article

In 2026, the Twins could have a secret weapon in Austin Martin. He can play almost anywhere, he gets on base, and he gives the team flexibility that might just be invaluable over a long season. Think of him as Minnesota’s ultimate Swiss army knife. View the full article

Spring training games start this weekend. I invite you to take a moment and think back to what the Blue Jays' roster looked like a year ago today. Some of the main characters are still around, but not even a trip to the World Series was enough to make this team immune to the winds of offseason change, least of all on the pitching side. There was considerable turnover in the rotation and the bullpen as the Jays try to stay ahead of the curve in a division that's only getting more hyper-competitive. At this point, all notable public player projection systems have given their two cents on how this season will unfold. Naturally, each forecasting model on sites like FanGraphs and Baseball Prospectus is built on slightly different foundations. Two models can come to entirely different conclusions on a given player's prognosis. On FanGraphs alone, there are a handful of algorithms dedicated to predicting every major leaguer's immediate future. ZiPS uses historical comps to estimate future performance. Steamer uses underlying numbers and regresses toward league average. FGDC averages ZiPS and Steamer with a more precise playing time projection. Similar to Steamer in nature are The Bat and The Bat X, with the latter incorporating more Statcast data. ATC is an elaborate aggregate of all those systems. OOPSY is more exploratory, considering pitch modelling and bat tracking more than its predecessors. What do these models think about the Blue Jays’ pitching staff in 2026? Which is most optimistic? Which is least optimistic? Who are the specific pitchers they find common ground on, and who has a wide range of outcomes? In Agreement It's always a comforting sign for a fanbase when the computers have a shared, positive consensus on their team's most expensive addition of the winter. Across the board, Dylan Cease is pegged for a mid-3.00s ERA and FIP by the FanGraphs projections roundtable. The proverbial crystal balls are quite confident he'll rebound from an inconsistent 2025 and become the team's best starting pitcher. Derek Carty's The Bat X provides the most glowing report, predicting a 3.37 ERA for Cease across 29 starts and 171 IP. Cease's reputation as a strikeout pitcher certainly precedes him, but Steamer is the most bullish on him suppressing the walks that have plagued him from time to time (proj. 8.7% BB rate). By contrast, ATC is on the low end with a 3.72 ERA estimate. A minuscule difference of 0.35 runs between the best and worst ERA projections is a ringing endorsement of Cease's ability to live up to the peripherals and be a true ace in Toronto. Setting expectations for rookies, especially after the run that Trey Yesavage went on to cap off 2025, can be a tough exercise. However, the models paint a pretty clear picture. Between FanGraphs' various models, Yesavage has the lowest standard deviation in FIP projections of anyone on this staff. Unsurprisingly, the stuff-based OOPSY likes him the most (3.39 ERA, 3.67 FIP), while The Bat thinks he'll be a little closer to average (3.86 ERA, 3.94 FIP). The alien release point, high-vert fastball, dizzying splitter, and reverse slider make for an enigmatic package. The most crucial task for Yesavage this year will be staying ahead of hitters; he had them perplexed for most of October, but baseball is a game of constant adjustment and readjustment. In any case, he's one of the more talented young pitchers the organization has seen in some time. As with prospects, it can be tough to put a finger on pitchers coming in from overseas. Yet, as with Yesavage, the models have conviction in their optimism for Cody Ponce in what'll be his second go-around at the MLB level. He isn't the same pitcher he was when we last saw him with the Pirates, and the FanGraphs projections are buying into his stellar showing in the KBO, with a composite 4.07 ERA/3.94 FIP outlook. Ponce has the tightest forecasted ERA window of any of his teammates, with Steamer more sold than the rest (3.94 ERA, 3.81 FIP) and ZiPS falling on the other end of the spectrum (4.20 ERA, 4.13 FIP). He looks like a perfectly capable back-of-the-rotation arm from that standpoint, something the Blue Jays would surely be happy with considering his relatively low free agent price tag. In Disagreement It was a strange first year back in the organization for Jeff Hoffman. There were pronounced highs and lows, and he underperformed some of his peripherals, but after some speculation that someone else would be the closer in 2026, it looks like it's his job to lose once again. Most of the classic "luck" indicators can't make heads or tails of what happened last year: His BABIP was low, his HR/FB% was very high, and his xERA was considerably lower than reality, albeit still higher than it was with the Phillies. The projections are thus conflicted as well; OOPSY (3.36 ERA, 3.61 FIP) and ZiPS (3.38 ERA, 3.74 FIP) are believers while The Bat is not (4.08 ERA, 4.06 FIP). It's important to note that despite the wide range of possibilities, Hoffman's forecast stands out relative to his colleagues. His 3.60 composite ERA projection is the third-lowest of the pitchers widely expected to break camp. There's also some contention regarding Louis Varland. The bullpen's chief workhorse has OOPSY convinced (3.20 ERA, 3.40 FIP), which, again, shouldn't be too surprising given how electric the stuff is. On the other hand, a fastball that regularly touches 100, coupled with the hardest knuckle curve in the sport and decent command, isn't enough to convince The Bat X (4.23 ERA, 4.00 FIP). Varland has the highest standard deviation in ERA and FIP projections of anyone who's likely guaranteed an Opening Day roster spot, but as with Hoffman, the averages paint a more reassuring picture. His 3.72 composite ERA projection slots right behind the closer as fourth-best on the team. Among those turning heads early in camp is Ricky Tiedemann, who's healthy for the first time in a while and inserting himself into that Opening Day roster conversation. The talent is undeniable for the former third-round pick, but considering the lack of clarity as to his role if he does make the team and his injury history, the computers are divided on him. OOPSY has him down for a 3.73 ERA and a 3.88 FIP, which would be an encouraging development but relatively inconsequential at the team level, given his playing time projection of 19 appearances and 32 innings. ZiPS thinks it'll be a slower climb (4.68 ERA, 4.74 FIP), but the fact that he's off the IL and ready to create some tough decisions for the coaching staff is a refreshing sign for everyone in the organization. The Verdict Out of the wealth of projection systems at FanGraphs, Steamer has the lowest team-wide ERA for the Blue Jays in 2026, while ZiPS has the highest. More Notes This season's forecast is strong for Brendon Little. On aggregate, he has the lowest ERA (3.46) and second-lowest FIP (3.70) projection on the staff. He burned out down the stretch and was not reliable in October, but he was one of the most effective lefty relievers in baseball during the first half and frequently got the ball in high-leverage spots. Finishing the season the way he starts and putting up a better fight against fatigue will be key. Thanks to the additions in the bullpen, Braydon Fisher is not guaranteed a big-league job right out of the gate. The projection systems think he should be, though, as he has the fifth-lowest composite ERA projection of the group (3.74). Fisher was acquired from the Dodgers for Cavan Biggio in 2024, and the Blue Jays have certainly gotten what they wanted so far out of that deal. Both on the surface and below, he has had a glowing start to his big league career. Eventually, the bullpen will welcome back Yimi García, who will start the year on the IL after he battled injury for most of last season. When the Blue Jays re-acquired him in free agency last winter, it was thought that he could compete with Hoffman for the closing job, and while it remains to be seen how his rehab will affect his stuff, most of the projection systems are confident. Garcia's aggregate ERA projection is 3.75, right behind Fisher’s, and hopefully a positive omen that he'll work his way back to high-leverage work sooner than later. View the full article

The moment Shota Imanaga first took the mound in Chicago, there was an electricity in the air. On a cold night, with the help of the Wrigley wind, against a hapless Colorado Rockies lineup, Imanaga carved up hitters left and right. Through his first 53 innings in Major League Baseball, the left-handed pitcher had a sub 1.00 ERA, and hadn't recorded a loss; a phenom was born, albeit, one that could never live up to that kind of hype. The rest of his debut season was good, but wasn't as good, as over his next 119 innings, Imanaga posted a 3.82 ERA, a 3.78 xFIP, to go along with a 23.9 K%. These are good, nearly very good, numbers, but short of "ace" territory — the kind of pitcher you want in your rotation but probably not good enough to lead your rotation. Heading into 2025, he was probably a bit overrated by the general populace. Then, 2025 happened. The narrative around Imanaga has shifted dramatically as a result. To put it lightly, last year was not a good one for the Cubs' left-handed pitcher. Right away, Imanaga struggled in the Tokyo Dome in front of a raucous crowd and against a tough Dodgers team. On May 4, Imanaga would suffer a hamstring injury that would hamper the rest of his season. The left-hander showed diminished velocity all year long, with a fastball down a few MPH. He never got fully right in 2025, struggling with (potentially) tipping pitches against the lowly White Sox and never really getting back to the guy we saw the year before. It looked like maybe he was bouncing back after the rough start, posted a 3.54 ERA (with a 3.61 xFIP) over his next 54 innings after facing the Pale Hose, but the wheels fell off in his last two regular season starts, then once again in the playoffs. Something was wrong and the Cubs decided to skip over their Opening Day starting pitcher in the do-or-die Game 5 of the NLDS. This led the team to difficult decisions when it came to his contract; eventually, both sides decided that playing out 2026 on the qualifying offer, a one-year, $22.025 million pact, would be best for everyone involved. For the pitcher, this represents a pay-increase over what he was expecting, but a loss of guaranteed years behind; for the team, it's a chance to evaluate the hurler before they commit to more seasons. It's an imperfect solution for both, however, the two probably need each other still and this allows that partnership to continue. Entering the 2026 season, it's hard to figure out what to make of Imanaga, however (and why the team was so hesitant to pick up his three-year option). Is he the 2024 guy, who, even when taking out his amazing start, was the kind of arm you'd slot into a top-three spot in your rotation? Is he the home-run-soft-tosser he looked like in 2025? A lot of this is going to come down to one thing: velocity. The worst part is we probably won't know the answer to that concern until the season truly begins. Chris Langin, a former Driveline instructor, expertly broke down the velocity cliff that Imanaga faced last year. His best pitch is his fastball and it's not particularly close. Because his fastball is so good, it allows his other stuff to play up despite mediocre shapes. But he's also living in a razor-thin land of velocity; at 92-93mph, his fastball has such unique outlier characteristics that allow it to front his arsenal. Hitters have to protect against the fastball, and thus, they swing at the sweeper and the splitter which generate a ton of chase. However, at 90-91mph, the fastball loses much of it's uniqueness, and now instead of protecting against the pitch hitters are hunting the fastball. And this is where he sat last year. It's a no-man's land and Imanaga suffered the consequences. This can be easily seen with a quick glance at Imanaga's Baseball Savant page, as well. He still generated a lot of chases, as outlined in the above tweet-thread by Langin, but his whiff and K% dropped significantly. Hitters made significantly better contact as well. Imanaga's fastball value plummeted, so while hitters still struggled against his off-speed offerings, his fastball was the clear issue. Diving into his individual offerings, the whiff% is also highlighted there. While Imanaga's whiff% on his fastball wasn't significantly lower year over year, the batted ball data against that pitch (especially his expected data) was much worse. But beyond jus the fastball, his whiff% against his split-finger is telling, as hitters simply weren't swinging and missing as much on that pitch or getting put away as often. Imanaga is a primary fastball-splitter guy, and if both pitches aren't getting the same results, it's not shocking that the overall results suffered. So, then, what's the fix? For the Cubs and Imanaga, the hope here is clear: health. Craig Counsell spoke before the Cubs' first spring training game and voiced that he believed that the hamstring injury took velocity out of Imanaga's game in 2025. And it would appear as though his velocity is up, at least from the team. This is all good news. As Langin outlined, if Imanaga gets back to the velocity shown in 2024, there's top-30 starter upside there. The fastball velocity tracking seems to support this to a degree. Before his hamstring injury, Shota was averaging 91.2 mph on his fastball, while after, it dipped to 90.7 mph. And while 91.2 mph is still down from Imanaga's 91.9 mph average in 2024, some of that may be attributed to throwing a bunch in a very cold Wrigley Field early in the season. The other good news is that the fastball velocity isn't the only thing that stands out in his data. Following his injury, his arm angle also dropped significantly. While this could have been designed to give him extra run on his sweeper, it could also be because of the injury to his left hamstring. Because he's left-handed, that hamstring is his anchor and where he's driving from to generate power. Not only could that cause velocity drop, but it could also create those bad mechanics that led to a homer binge at the end of the campaign. If you're following the Cubs this spring, we're in luck: Sloan Park, the home of the Cubs in Mesa, will have Statcast tracking this year for all of their spring training games (as will all spring stadiums)! There will be plenty of fun things to keep an eye on, but maybe none as important as the velocity that Imanaga shows. If he's hitting 92-93mph, there's probably a good reason to believe he's back, at least to some degree, to his 2024 self. The Cubs have done a good job of making sure they're not too invested in his fastball velocity. So, while the team will be significantly better if Imanaga is significantly better, they aren't counting on him in 2026 like they were last year. The team has Cade Horton, Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon, and Edward Cabrera slotting in ahead of the lefty in the rotational pecking order, while also rostering a returning Justin Steele. Rookie Jaxon Wiggins is also waiting in the wings, and swing starters such as Colin Rea, Javier Assad, Jordan Wicks and Ben Brown could slot in if Imanaga continues to falter. But the Cubs could also be in a situation in which they have an embarrassment of riches if Imanaga shows 2024-type-velocity on his fastball as well. It's a worthwhile gamble, and heading into this upcoming season, it likely means Shota Imanaga has once again become underrated by the fanbase to a degree, much like he was when he made his first fateful start in Chicago. What do you think about Shota Imanaga as we head into 2026? Do you think he will be an asset to the team? Or was it a mistake to give him a qualifying offer? Let us know in the comments below! View the full article

Aaron Ashby is entering his fifth year in Milwaukee and has been an above-average pitcher for the Brewers, posting career numbers of 114 ERA+ and a FIP of 3.46. Let’s say, for the sake of argument, that Nashville is not a realistic option, as in, ‘he’s too good to send down.’ Where will he fit into Milwaukee’s plans? Ashby was a fourth-round pick in the 2018 draft out of Crowder College in Neosho, Missouri, and made good progress through the Brewers chain, arriving in Milwaukee in just his third year, and has been a solid contributor ever since. The Brewers have two main questions with their pitching staff: who is going to start, and who is going to stay in Milwaukee? Let’s answer the first question. Currently, the Brewers have six southpaws that have the versatility to make the rotation or pitch out of the pen. Newcomers Kyle Harrison and Shane Drohan came over in the Caleb Durbin trade from Boston, joining Robert Gasser, Angel Zerpa, DL Hall, and Ashby. All these guys could potentially join the rotation, or they could reside in the pen. Back in 2022, Ashby made 19 starts for Milwaukee. He averaged nearly five innings per start, striking out at a high rate of 26.2%, but unfortunately, his 10.4% walk rate was pretty bad. Last year in 43 appearances (including one opener game) he whiffed 28.1% while improving a little on his walk rate, dropping it to 8.9%. Ashby began spring training last year as a starter but suffered an oblique injury and missed the first third of the season. When he came back, he was inserted into a regular bullpen role, pitching in all leverage situations. Realistically, Quinn Priester, Brandon Woodruff, Chad Patrick, and Jacob Misiorowski are front-runners for the first four starting spots. Logan Henderson and Brandon Sproat are on the periphery. They are all right-handers. Add to that Harrison, Gasser, Ashby, Zerpa, Hall, and Drohan, and you have nearly a baker’s dozen of arms to choose from. Some will get injured, some will underperform, and before you know it, the Brewers could be scrambling to cobble a rotation together. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen. Aaron Ashby's Stuff Ashby depends heavily on his sinker, which he throws over 50% of the time, and backs it up with his curveball, which he throws once every four pitches. His most effective pitch is his curveball, which has a 7.6" drop, more than the major league average. It produced 27 strikeouts for a K rate of 47%. His slider has big movement as well, 9" more than the major league average. Ashby has changed his arm angle over the years, going from high-three-quarters in 2022 when he was a starter to a more over-the-top guy last year with an arm angle of 51%. Aaron Ashby's Pitch Arsenal Ashby uses his sinker and curve three-quarters of the time overall, while using his changeup at a 12% rate, while the slider (8%) and four-seam (2%) are the lesser-used pitches in his repertoire. He relies more on the sinker to lefty hitters (58%) and doubles the slider offering up to 18%. When facing righties, the slider and the four-seam go in the back pocket (5% total) while the curve and slider come out half the time, along with the old reliable sinker at 47%. That sinker gets beat into the dirt more often than not (62%), and with an infield like the Brewers have, that is a good thing. Year Pitch Type # # RHB # LHB % MPH PA AB H 1B 2B 3B HR SO BBE BA xBA SLG xSLG wOBA xwOBA EV LA Spin Ext. Whiff% PutAway% 2025 Sinker 530 305 225 51.3 97.5 136 119 29 24 2 1 2 21 101 .244 .259 .328 .354 .291 .311 90.2 -1 2151 5.3 16.4 22.8 2025 Curveball 273 192 81 26.4 82.2 57 49 7 5 2 0 0 27 22 .143 .150 .184 .185 .219 .225 88.0 3 2737 5.3 43.9 34.6 2025 Changeup 122 120 2 11.8 91.4 38 35 10 6 3 1 0 9 26 .286 .250 .429 .353 .325 .282 89.2 4 1902 5.3 31.3 25.0 2025 Slider 84 14 70 8.1 84.2 31 28 6 5 0 0 1 17 11 .214 .140 .321 .242 .277 .218 76.2 0 2661 5.3 51.5 29.3 2025 Four Seamer 24 17 7 2.3 96.9 8 7 2 2 0 0 0 2 5 .286 .189 .286 .207 .307 .243 78.8 -12 2263 5.3 28.6 11.8 2024 Sinker 216 136 80 44.6 96.2 56 49 12 9 2 0 1 8 42 .245 .211 .347 .327 .297 .297 90.4 1 2120 5.2 12.6 15.1 2024 Changeup 99 91 8 20.5 88.8 27 23 5 1 3 0 1 4 20 .217 .252 .478 .422 .337 .339 86.5 6 1775 5.2 36.4 13.3 2024 Curveball 93 77 16 19.2 82.2 14 14 1 1 0 0 0 9 5 .071 .161 .071 .241 .063 .174 94.6 -5 2636 5.3 42.9 34.6 2024 Slider 66 26 40 13.6 83.2 19 18 2 1 1 0 0 12 6 .111 .138 .167 .277 .149 .201 85.6 9 2541 5.2 43.8 35.3 2024 Four Seamer 10 9 1 2.1 96.9 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 .000 .155 .000 .467 .000 .255 95.4 32 2214 5.3 0.0 0.0 What Should Aaron Ashby's Role Be in 2026? In his major league career, Ashby has appeared in 97 games, of which 26 were starts. He started 66 times in the minors among his 95 appearances, so he definitely has the chops to fit into the rotation. Given the heavy right-handed presence in the tentative rotation, manager Pat Murphy will probably be looking to insert one southpaw into that mix. The question is: which of the groups listed above will be that left-hander? I would put Harrison or Gasser at the top of that list, but given an underperformance and the likelihood of an injury or two, you might as well flip a coin or roll the dice to decide. No matter where he ends up, Ashby will play a huge role for the Brewers in 2026. View the full article

Outside of Trey Yesavage, who will be graduating from prospect status before long, JoJo Parker is the top-rated prospect in the Toronto Blue Jays system before even playing a game. Where did this guy come from, what does his skillset look like, and how long will it take for him to reach the show? We answer all of these questions. View the full article

Outside of Trey Yesavage, who will be graduating from prospect status before long, JoJo Parker is the top-rated prospect in the Toronto Blue Jays system before even playing a game. Where did this guy come from, what does his skillset look like, and how long will it take for him to reach the show? We answer all of these questions. View the full article

The 2026 Minnesota Twins entered spring training with a clear identity. If there was one area this roster could hang its hat on, it was starting pitching. That strength was supposed to give the Twins a path, however narrow, to relevance and possibly even a surprise playoff push. That plan lasted exactly one day. Twins ace Pablo López suffered a torn UCL on the first day of spring training, an injury expected to sideline him for the entirety of the 2026 season. In one moment, the Twins lost the pitcher they were most reliant on to anchor the rotation. In the wake of that injury, the Twins need to reassess their direction, and that reassessment should lead to one clear conclusion: It is time to trade Joe Ryan. Even before López went down, the Twins' margin for error was already slim. The idea was never that Minnesota could contend with a merely solid rotation. Their chances rested on starting pitching being outstanding in order to offset a lineup filled with question marks and a bullpen that lacked proven reliability. Without López, that scenario becomes increasingly difficult to envision. Every remaining starter is now pushed up a rung in responsibility. The first depth arm in St. Paul, whoever that would have been, is no longer a depth option but a necessary member of the rotation. Any flexibility the Twins may have had to deploy a starter in a hybrid bullpen role, similar to how Louie Varland had been used just last season, is now gone as well. Even if starting pitching remains the team’s relative strength, that says more about the rest of the roster than it does about the rotation’s ceiling. A good rotation is not enough for this team. The Twins needed an elite one, and without López it is hard to imagine a realistic scenario in which they reach that level. The projections reflect that reality. FanGraphs gave the Twins a 31% chance to make the playoffs before the injury. Following Lopez’s diagnosis, that number has dropped to 26.5%, with Vegas moving the Twins' win total to just 73.5 games. The odds were already low. Now they are even lower. That context makes Ryan’s situation impossible to ignore. He is 29 years old and firmly in the prime of his career, coming off a season in which he earned his first All-Star selection while posting a career-best 3.42 ERA. He also has two full seasons of team control remaining, which matters greatly in the current pitching market. That market has changed. The free agent pool of starting pitchers has largely dried up, leaving trades as the primary avenue for contenders to improve their rotations. There may not be a more attractive starter realistically available than Ryan, who is durable, effective, controllable, and producing at a peak level. The Twins already know the interest is real. At last season’s trade deadline, during the team’s fire sale in which 10 players were moved, Ryan nearly became the 11th. Advanced talks with the Boston Red Sox never materialized into a deal, but speculation followed Ryan into the offseason as many wondered whether the Twins would ultimately trade him, López, or both. The Twins chose to hold onto their starters with the belief that pitching could carry the 2026 roster. That bet didn't work out. Whether it means reopening discussions with Boston, a team that still enters the season with questions at the back of its rotation, or engaging another contender looking to stockpile pitching depth, the Twins should be aggressive. Injuries happen every spring. Another team could quickly find itself desperate for a starting pitcher, and Minnesota should be prepared to capitalize. It was arguable that the Twins should have traded Ryan during last year’s fire sale. It was arguable that they could have done it this offseason. After López’s injury, it is no longer debatable. Ryan would command a significant prospect return, the kind of capital that could help reset the organization’s timeline and better position the Twins for the future. With each passing month, his value declines as his remaining team control decreases. There is also an uncomfortable reality the Twins just experienced firsthand. Health is far from guaranteed, especially for starting pitchers. What happened to Lopez this spring could just as easily happen to Ryan. While no one could have predicted López’s injury, the decision not to trade him now looks like a missed opportunity in hindsight. The Twins cannot afford to risk another one. With a healthy Ryan who may never have more trade value than he does right now, the Twins should cash in. López’s injury did not just remove an ace from the rotation. It fundamentally altered the Twins competitive outlook for 2026. The path that once existed, however narrow, has become even smaller. In that context, holding onto Ryan no longer makes sense. Trading him now offers the Twins their best chance to extract meaningful value, mitigate risk, and begin charting a more realistic course forward. What do you think? Should the Twins move Joe Ryan now and lean into a reset, or is there still a case for holding onto him despite the long odds? Leave a comment below and start the conversation! View the full article

Baseball action is finally back, and the Boston Red Sox's roster looks largely complete. However, when you take a look at the bullpen, it's clear the team still has some moves to make prior to Opening Day. If the season were to start today, the only guaranteed left-handed reliever would be Aroldis Chapman. With Chapman slotted to be the closer once more after a historically great season in 2025, that would leave the Red Sox without a left-handed option for earlier in the game. Jovani Morán is a likely case to break camp with the team as he is out of minor-league options, though necessity doesn't always equal preference. It seems that the team would want a second left-handed option to pair with Morán for the middle innings. Earlier in the offseason, you could argue that the Red Sox had plenty of left-handed options in Brennan Bernardino and Chris Murphy also on the 40-man roster, but they were both traded. Shane Drohan could have been another option to be a reliever for the team but he too was shipped off. Thus, the team must turn to a dark horse candidate. Drafted by the New York Yankees in the first round of the 2019 Draft, T.J. Sikkema has spent a lot of time in the minor leagues since. After making four starts in 2019, he would not pitch again until 2022, where he would be part of a package by the Yankees sent to the Kansas City Royals for Andrew Benintendi. Sikkema would become a minor-league free agent after the 2023 season and would find himself pitching in the Cincinnati Reds’ organization; in 2025, he finally managed to make it to Triple-A. While it was only five appearances, he still garnered decent results, tossing 23 1/3 innings while walking just eight batters and striking out 16. Most impressively, he only allowed opposing batters to barrel up his pitches 1.4% of the time. For good measure, he walked batters at a reasonable 8.1% rate. Sikkema doesn’t come without his own issues, however. He isn’t a big strikeout guy, nor does he generate a ton of chases or whiffs. Again, it was during a small sample, but it demonstrated that Sikkema has never really been someone who overpowers or tricks batters. And yet, Sikkema threw a live bullpen in Sox camp on February 18, going up against Roman Anthony, Caleb Durbin, Nate Eaton, Masataka Yoshida and Tsung-Che Cheng. Of the five hitters, Sikkema managed to get Anthony out twice on weakly hit balls including a broken bat and struck out Yoshida. While spring is still early, it’s a positive sign of a pitcher who may just force his name into the bullpen conversation. Sikkema relies on a fastball-slider combination, though the slider is the better of the two pitches. Sikkema isn’t the hardest thrower as his fastball averages 88 to 91 mph, but he has managed to get it into the mid-90s on occasion. With an offseason of working in the Red Sox's pitching lab, it's not unreasonable to suggest that he could add some more punch to his heater, which would make him a far more intriguing candidate for the bullpen. At this point, whoever the Red Sox bring in as a left-handed reliever will lead to divisiveness, but the options are what they are. Sikkema may never reach the majors with Boston, but there's a reason the team signed him with a non-roster invite attached. He may be a longshot, but opportunity has come knocking. View the full article

Speaking to Sportsnet's Shi Davidi, Blue Jays right-hander Yimi García confirmed that he will open the 2026 season on the injured list. García, 35, had elbow surgery last September. He has not suffered a setback, but the Blue Jays are simply taking things slow with the veteran reliever, who also dealt with elbow issues in 2024. The righty has not yet thrown off a mound this spring, though he's hoping to do so soon. While it once seemed as if the Blue Jays would have some tough decisions to make regarding their Opening Day bullpen, that might not be an issue anymore. Barring a particularly impressive spring training from Chase Lee or one of the Rule 5 guys (or a last-minute Max Scherzer signing), Toronto's Opening Day bullpen is likely to include Jeff Hoffman, Tyler Rogers, Louis Varland, Brendon Little, Eric Lauer, Tommy Nance, Braydon Fisher, and Mason Fluharty. View the full article

FORT MYERS - Minnesota Twins baseball returned on Friday night, though it won’t count even in spring training’s Grapefruit League standings. The Twins beat the University of Minnesota’s Golden Gophers baseball team, with Zebby Matthews starting and Cole Sands following him on the mound. Gophers pitchers faced a mix of veterans (Josh Bell - 1B, Kody Clemens - 2B, Gio Urshela - 3B) and top prospects (Emmanuel Rodriguez - CF, Henry Mendez - DH, Gabriel Gonzalez - RF; Walker Jenkins and Kaelen Culpepper subbed in midway). I’m not going to go over any of their stats, because it would create the false impression that any of it means anything. Instead, I’ll tell you that it was a beautiful night, included a great sunset, and was appreciated by an appropriately sized half-full Hammond stadium. Matthews threw hard and seemed to feel good, which is probably the most important takeaway. Tomorrow afternoon, the Grapefruit League schedule will start with a home game versus the crosstown rival Boston Red Sox, and with Joe Ryan starting the game. Ownership Thoughts New Twins executive chair Tom Pohlad has spent the week in Fort Myers with his family, the team, management, and even the media. The message has been consistent: he wants to be hands on, he wants to be aggressive, and he wants the team to win this year. The reaction, of course, has been skepticism, because the Twins have consistently spent less under the Pohlads than the average MLB team for at least the entirety of 21st century. View the full article

At the start of the off-season, it seemed pretty clear-cut that the Twins would promote their reigning Minor League Hitter of the Year, Kaelen Culpepper, to Triple-A at the start of 2026. Now, it's not quite clear with the additions of Orlando Arcia and Gio Urshela on minor league deals, both of whom will likely be platooning the left side of the Saints' infield to start 2026. View the full article

Max Scherzer has had an exceptional 18-year career, which includes three Cy Young Awards. However, his first season with the Toronto Blue Jays didn't live up to Mad Max's standards. He suffered a career-worst ERA (5.19) and his second-worst WHIP (1.29), and an injury was an issue. The 41-year-old made one start last season before going on the 60-day injury list with right thumb inflammation. Scherzer would return in late June, but he just wasn't his usual self. His up-and-down performance could have been due to the thumb injury or simply to the fact that he was 40. Despite the struggles, he still looked like his fiery self at times, including in a World Series Game 7 start, in which he threw 4 1/3 innings of one-run baseball against the Los Angeles Dodgers. News regarding Scherzer has been limited this offseason, as expected for a player of his age, but things may be heating up. Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet has reported, "The Blue Jays' talks with Max Scherzer have gotten more serious in the last week." This comes a day after the news that Shane Bieber, who will start the season on the injured list, is hoping to begin throwing off a mound in the next week or two. The Blue Jays have a loaded starting rotation, even with Bieber not throwing yet. Kevin Gausman, Dylan Cease, Trey Yesavage, José Berríos, and Cody Ponce currently form their starting five, with Eric Lauer available as depth. So, it will be interesting to see how the rotation works out if Scherzer is added. Will Ponce get moved to the bullpen, or will Berríos be traded? There are many different ways the Blue Jays could utilize Scherzer. View the full article

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You can listen by downloading us from iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, GleemanAndTheGeek.com, click this link or you can listen to it or watch it below. View the full article

Beginning with the 2026 season, the Miami Marlins are making a major change by leaving the regional sports network model behind and partnering with Major League Baseball to produce their television game broadcasts. A source told Fish On First that all of the team's on-air talent will remain employed for the upcoming year, but with changes to some of their roles. While we await a formal announcement from the Marlins, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald broke down many of the specifics Friday morning in this column. Marlins.TV Kyle Sielaff will be back as the Marlins play-by-play announcer. Sielaff called the vast majority of games on FanDuel Sports Network Florida in 2025 and his workload will increase even more moving forward, slated to do 154 of the 157 Marlins.TV games, according to Jackson. Craig Minervini will fill in for the other three. Former pitcher Jeff Nelson previously served as an analyst for both the Marlins and New York Yankees. Focused fully on the Fish in 2026, there are 70 games on his schedule (most among Marlins.TV analysts). Longtime analyst Tommy Hutton is doing 60 games, all of them at loanDepot park. The other 27 games will go to former Marlin Gaby Sanchez. Rod Allen, who was part of the game analyst rotation for the past four seasons, will no longer be in the booth. He'll work the pregame and postgame shows, alternating with Nelson and former Marlins closer AJ Ramos. However, the length of those shows is being reduced as part of this transition. There was previously 30 minutes of coverage before and after games, but that's going down to 15 minutes for home games, and on the road, there will be no pregame show and only a five-minute postgame show. Minervini and Marlins insider Craig Mish are each hosting half of the home games, and sometimes, Mish will be paired with Minervini and function as the analyst. Kelly Saco and Jeremy Taché will still serve as in-game reporters, but Mish and Minervini are in the fold for that as well. Saco will get the most amount of games, followed by Taché, then Minervini and finally Mish. Marlins Radio Network The Marlins are "close to finalizing an agreement" that would move their radio broadcasts from WINZ (940 AM) to WQAM (560 AM and 104.3 FM), per Jackson. WQAM was home to the inaugural Marlins season, but this would be the club's first time back with them since 2007. Due to those ongoing negotiations, fans trying to access the Marlins Radio Network during spring training should use MLB.com or the MLB app. Rod Allen and AJ Ramos will be the primary analysts alongside second-year play-by-play man Jack McMullen. Nelson, Saco and Marlins Radio pregame host Stephen Strom will handle the leftover games. Combining his assignments across both mediums, Ramos will have a much bigger role than he did last season. View the full article

As expected, Minnesota Twins ace Pablo López will undergo Tommy John reconstructive surgery on Wednesday. A second opinion confirmed the initial diagnosis of significant tearing in the ulnar collateral ligament in López’s right elbow, leaving little doubt about the path forward. The procedure will take place in Texas under the care of noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. Keith Meister. It will be López’s second Tommy John surgery, and while the Twins are optimistic about a full recovery, he is expected to miss the entire 2026 season. The typical recovery timeline for pitchers following the procedure is roughly twelve months, which gives López a chance to return near the beginning of the 2027 campaign. That timeline would place his comeback in the final season of his four-year extension with Minnesota. Minnesota acquired López in one of the franchise’s most impactful trades in recent memory when they sent batting champion Luis Arraez to the Miami Marlins prior to the 2023 season. Since then, López has been everything the Twins hoped for at the top of their rotation. Across three seasons in Minnesota, he posted a combined 3.68 ERA while striking out 26.8% of opposing hitters and walking just 5.8%. He also helped the club end their playoff losing streak that had stretched into a second decade. López looked poised to deliver another excellent season in 2025 before injuries began to mount. He carried a 2.82 ERA through his first 11 starts before suffering a Grade 2 strain of his teres major in early June, an injury that ultimately sidelined him for roughly 3 months. He returned for three strong starts in September, allowing four runs across 15 innings, but ended the year back on the injured list due to a minor forearm strain that he suffered after diving for a ball. He entered the offseason with a clean bill of health, making the sudden UCL tear that surfaced all the more surprising. With López officially sidelined, the responsibility of leading the rotation will almost certainly fall to Joe Ryan on Opening Day. Bailey Ober and Simeon Woods Richardson should also slot into prominent roles, while younger arms such as Zebby Matthews and David Festa now find themselves with an opportunity to claim meaningful innings. Minnesota built its pitching staff around stability at the top of the rotation. Losing López for the entire season changes the outlook in a significant way and puts immediate pressure on the club’s depth to respond. The Twins still believe they can compete this season, but that task became considerably more difficult the moment their ace’s elbow gave way. View the full article

For a team that has spent the better part of the last calendar year trying to insulate itself from exactly this type of situation, the timing is less than ideal. The Minnesota Twins have quietly built legitimate starting pitching depth over the last year, particularly following last season’s trade deadline acquisitions that reshaped the upper levels of the organization. That group was supposed to supplement a rotation headlined by Pablo López, Joe Ryan, and Bailey Ober, a trio viewed internally as the foundation of what could be a contending club in 2026. Now, the load-bearing rotation will be put to the test after news that López will likely miss the 2026 season with a tear in his UCL. Twins Chairman Tom Pohlad has spoken openly this offseason about his belief that Minnesota can outperform outside expectations. Public projection systems have not been nearly as optimistic. FanGraphs currently forecasts the Twins for an 80-82 finish, while some betting markets have placed the club’s win total at just 73.5 victories. “That’s ridiculous,” Pohlad said at the start of camp. “I’ve been consistent from the beginning, saying that we feel confident in this team and that we think what you see, the talent we have, is stronger than maybe you guys or the fans are giving the roster credit for. We’re very confident in what this group of people can do together.” Those projected win totals were built with López firmly at the front of Minnesota’s rotation. His injury threatens to shift that math considerably. “Everything’s getting rolling and the expectations and stuff, and then just having him go down like that, it’s tough,” Ryan said. “It doesn’t feel real in a sense, it’s just a shock. We’ve got to make that adjustment.” Fortunately for Minnesota, making that adjustment was always part of the plan. Rotation Options Already in Camp Ryan now becomes the de facto leader of the staff. The All-Star right-hander continues to miss bats at an elite rate thanks to one of the most deceptive fastballs in baseball and has developed into a stabilizing presence capable of working deep into games. With López sidelined, his ability to anchor the rotation becomes even more critical. Ober remains one of the most underrated starters in the American League if he can return to his 2022-24 form. His extension-based approach and elite command allow him to limit hard contact despite below-average velocity. Now, Minnesota must trust that he is healthy and can consistently provide quality innings regardless of the matchup. Simeon Woods Richardson offers a different look with a deep pitch mix and an improving strike-throwing ability. He may not have the upside of some of the other arms in camp, but he’s been one of the most consistent young pitchers for the team over the last two seasons. The former top prospect took meaningful steps forward last season and appears poised to handle a full-time rotation role if needed. Acquired last July, Taj Bradley has over 380 innings at the big-league level, and there’s a reason the Twins targeted him in a trade. He finished the 2025 campaign with a 5.05 ERA in a career-high 142 ⅔ innings, but his 4.37 xFIP suggested that he got a little unlucky. His development has centered around improving command of his fastball and splitter, but the raw stuff is capable of overpowering opposing lineups when he is in rhythm. Zebby Matthews has impressed internally with his poise and ability to attack hitters in the zone. Matthews posted a 3.79 FIP and paired it with an 18.1 K-BB% that sat well above league average. He may not generate the same level of chase as others on this list, but his strike-throwing and efficiency give him a strong chance to contribute meaningful innings. There has been talk of moving David Festa to the bullpen, but that plan may need to be put on hold with the Lopez news. The primary reason behind Festa’s struggles in the majors is that his four-seam fastball has surrendered a .609 slugging percentage last season. Improving his secondary offerings could allow his fastball to perform better. Perhaps the most intriguing name in the mix is Mick Abel. Abel’s fastball shape and spin rate grade out better than average, especially once one adjusts for his low three-quarter arm slot. Abel can still refine his mechanics and improve his strike-throwing to put himself squarely in the conversation for early-season innings. Depth Waiting in St. Paul At Triple-A, additional reinforcements are expected to be available. Connor Prielipp remains one of the system’s highest upside arms when healthy and could factor into the major league picture at some point this season. Prielipp has told reporters he is building up as a starter this season, and that makes sense given teams' need for high-upside pitching depth. Andrew Morris has steadily climbed the organizational ladder with a polished repertoire that plays up due to his command. Meanwhile, Kendry Rojas offers another developmental arm with the type of stuff that could force the issue if he continues to progress against upper-level competition. Minnesota spoke very highly of Rojas after acquiring him from Toronto. The Twins entered camp believing their starting pitching depth was finally a strength rather than a question mark. López’s injury does not erase that progress, but it immediately places added pressure on the next wave of arms to prove they are ready for meaningful innings at the major league level. If Minnesota is going to surprise the sport in 2026 as Pohlad expects, the path likely runs through this group. The rotation depth built at last summer’s deadline was designed for moments like this. Now the Twins will find out just how prepared they really are. Can the Twins still outperform their projections even with López’s injury? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

Cactus League play is finally here, with the San Diego Padres opening the exhibition season by playing the Seattle Mariners, with whom they cohabitate the Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, Arizona. The wins and losses don't mean anything. For a handful of the dozens of players who will play in these games, neither does their performance. Their spot on the Opening Day roster is set. But there are others, whether they are on the 40-man roster or a spring training invitee, who are depending on these games to prove they belong among the 26 who will be in the Petco Park clubhouse come March 26 vs. the Detroit Tigers. With that in mind, here are three position battles to keep an eye on this spring. (Players listed in order of strongest candidacy.) No. 4 and No. 5 Starting Pitcher After feeling a good bit of unease when pitchers and catchers reported last week, Friars fans have to be feeling a bit more comfortable now that president of baseball operations A.J. Preller has added three more arms, all with plenty MLB experience, to the field battling for the last two spots in the five-man starting rotation. The top three is set with right-handers Nick Pivetta, Michael King and Joe Musgrove. RHP Walker Buehler: Relegated to a minor-league deal after a poor 2025 as a whole, the former Los Angeles Dodgers star will look to build on his final seven games (four with the Boston Red Sox, three with the Philadelphia Phillies) in which he posted a 2.53 ERA. RHP German Marquez: In his first season following Tommy John surgery, Marquez had a 5.47 FIP in 26 starts with the Colorado Rockies in 2025. Like a few others on this list, Marquez is a low-cost bounce-back option (one year, $1.75 million) who could become a stalwart at the back of the rotation. RHP Griffin Canning: Coming off a torn left Achilles, Canning (one year, $2.5 million) will begin the season on the injured list, but could be ready to join the rotation by the end of April at the earliest. The good news is Canning had the best 2025 of anyone in this this group before getting injured in late June, putting up a 4.04 FIP in 16 starts. RHP Randy Vasquez: The person whose stock suffered the most with the above additions, Vasquez went from securely being the No. 4 starter to now wondering where he fits in. Perhaps that will bring out the competitor in Vasquez and unlock a little more in his performance. LHP JP Sears: We enter the left-handed portion of this list. Any of these southpaws could have an advantage by virtue of simply being a lefty. That begins with Sears, who put up a 4.92 FIP in parts of four seasons (95 starts, one relief appearance) with the A's. He struggled in five starts after coming over at the trade deadline and could be a long reliever if he doesn't grab a rotation spot. LHP Kyle Hart: Often a forgotten figure in this discussion, Hart returned to the majors for the first time since 2020 to make 20 appearances (six starts) with the Padres in 2025. He figures to be an option only if injuries take their toll on the rotation. RHP Triston McKenzie: After emerging as breakout star in 2022 in Cleveland, McKenzie has had issues repeating that performance. Most of that has to do with choosing rehab over Tommy John surgery in 2023, a decision that has led to him pitching in just 24 games over the last three seasons. Starting at Triple-A El Paso could be a better situation for McKenzie, with an early call-up possible. LHP Marco Gonzales: Signed to a minor-league contract with a $1.2 million price tag in the majors, Gonzales had flexor tendon surgery late in 2024 and missed all of 2025. That scenario also makes him better-suited to start at Triple-A El Paso and come up when a starter is needed. First Base This position also changed dramatically in the last week due to a couple more free agents joining the mix. Jake Cronenworth will see time at first, though he is currently slated as the starting second baseman. Nick Castellanos: Following his well-publicized release from the Philadelphia Phillies last week, Castellanos became the front-runner to start at first base, a position he hasn't played in the majors. The former third baseman who has been playing right field almost exclusively since 2018 could bring some much-needed power to the lineup if he shows he can play first. Otherwise, he will be one of the primary designated hitters. Gavin Sheets: Entering spring training, Sheets was the favorite to start at first. This comes after just 13 games at the position and 64 games in left in 2025. Sheets' bat is his primary asset, having hit 19 homers and driven in 71 in 145 games last year while also seeing action in 64 games as the DH. With extra outfield depth acquired, Sheets will either be the first baseman or DH in 2026. Ty France: A 34th-round pick of the Padres in 2015, France returns to the organization on a minor-league deal after being traded to the Seattle Mariners in 2020. He was the AL Gold Glove winner at first base last season, in which he was traded from the Minnesota Twins to the Toronto Blue Jays at the deadline. Miguel Andjuar: The 2018 AL Rookie of the Year runner-up to Shohei Ohtani has lost much of the power that he showed that year (27 homers) following a rash of injuries. But he can still hit. Andujar had a slash line of .318/.352/.470 between the A's and Cincinnati Reds in 2025, with 10 homers and 44 RBIs. His 341 plate appearances were his most since his rookie year. Sung Mun Song: Signed to a four-year, $15 million contract to come over from the Korea Baseball Organization, Song is a long shot to start at first, but will see time at the position as he floats around the diamond as a super-utility option. Last Bench Spot This is where Preller and manager Craig Stammen face their biggest decision as to roster construction. While going with three catchers had been floated, that idea is no longer in play with the additions of Castellanos and others. With Luis Campusano set as the back to Freddy Fermin at catcher, there are three other bench spots to fill. For argument's sake, we will pencil Castellanos and Sheets in as the starters at first base and DH in some fashion. Song and Andujar are givens at the moment. Song will be the backup at second and third base and will try the outfield this spring, while Andjuar has the ability to play left field, third base and first base. If Song is tried in center and shows he can play the position, that could make for other interesting decisions. That leaves one bench vacancy. Bryce Johnson: His spot on the 26-man roster is in jeopardy if Song can play center. Otherwise, he is the only other pure outfielder on the 40-man roster now that Tirso Ornelas has been jettisoned. He was really good offensively in 2025, with a .342/.383/.434 slash line to pull his career mark up to .240/.298/.305. Mason McCoy: The only other player on the 40-man with shortstop experience besides McCoy is Cronenworth. Do the Friars choose to have Cronenworth as the backup to Xander Bogaerts or do they prefer McCoy? The benefits of having another shortstop on the 26-man roster may overshadow other shortcomings on the roster. Will Wagner: The son of Hall of Fame closer Billy Wagner hasn't established himself in the majors, though he's produced a .294/.394/.439 slash line in five minor-league seasons. In 55 games between the Toronto Blue Jays and Padres after coming over at the trade deadline, Wagner's slash line was .225/.324/.279. He has played second, third and first in the majors. If he expands to center field, that gives him a better shot. Ty France: Already with limited defenders in Castellanos and Sheets, do the Friars carry a third first baseman? As mentioned, France has a minor-league deal, but likely with an out by the end of camp to pursue a major-league job. Samad Taylor: A true wild card, but perhaps the only other non-roster position player to have a legit chance to make the Opening Day roster. Taylor brings the positional versatility needed from the last bench spot as he can play second, third and short on the infield and all three outfield spots. In addition to defense, he brings speed to the lineup, but has a slash line of .205/.272/.260 in 38 MLB games over the last three seasons. View the full article

Seeing as the 2026 World Series will mark the 10-year anniversary of that championship, I don't feel it is a stretch to say that most of us would love to skip ahead to March 26 when the 150th version of this squad hosts the Washington Nationals on Opening Day. Lest one of you fine readers be Marty McFly, we are required to wait it out here in the present, but this past week alone, the club gave its faithful a lot to be excited about. Now, while fans of the city's North Side ball club don't need to line up for their Ben Zobrist bobbleheads quite yet, they certainly are recognizing both the work and the tone being set down in Mesa, Arizona. Since the outset of spring training, no one has put in more work than the Cubs' new superstar third baseman Alex Bregman. On three separate occasions recently, the veteran slugger sent cascading long flies into the dry Arizona skies during live batting practice. It was Bregman's signing in mid-January that created the most positive buzz around this club, and he's currently displaying that buzz was for good reason. He's settling in nicely and buying into the team culture as hoped. It's great to have him in the Cubs' pinstripes. This squad's pitching staff is heralded as being one of the most formidable in baseball, and a key piece of that staff, newly-acquired starter Edward Cabrera, gave his new team their first taste of what to expect from the young hurler. Cabrera established a rhythm and chemistry with catchers Carson Kelly and Miguel Amaya, looking to come back strong from an injury that sidelined him in the midst of a promising 2025 season. What this squad accomplishes on the mound this year will directly inform how much success they do, in fact, attain. Off the practice fields, all eyes were on team Chairman Tom Ricketts this past week, as he spoke candidly with the media on expectations for this specific club and the franchise as a whole. It turns out, he also wants to see some success, as Ricketts expressed an explicit desire to win the division, and ultimately, yes, the World Series. His candor wasn't necessarily a heel turn; he wants to win, but he received some praise for saying the quiet part out loud in his comments. Depending on when you've clicked on this article, the Cubbies have already gotten their spring training slate underway against their Crosstown rival, the Chicago White Sox. Toeing the rubber for the North Siders in their spring opener is the underrated Jameson Taillon. The versatile righty is set to get his first meaningful reps of the year against Chicago's Southside team. Taillon went 11-7 with a 3.68 ERA in 2025. Completely letting yourself bask in a good Cubs team can be a big ask, but at this point, the club has provided plenty of convincing evidence as to why it's ok to catch a good vibe, at least for now. View the full article

Despite projections in the 72-80 win range and a remarkably small payroll, Twins owner Tom Pohlad said he expected the team to be competitive in the AL Central. The lack of splashy free-agent signings or big trades led almost everyone in Twins territory to question this goal. Still, Pohlad expressed remarkable confidence in his team, going so far as to give an impassioned speech to the squad on the first day of spring training. In an unfortunate bit of timing, this was followed by staff ace Pablo López likely going out for the season with an elbow injury. Sources say adding insult to this particular injury was the flaw it exposed in Pohlad’s Top Secret Pennant Plan, or PTSPP, known to only a handful of front office employees. “The main tenet of PTSPP was ‘We’ll Be OK If Nobody Gets Hurt'," said a person with knowledge of the plan. “In fact, it was the only tenet. Lots of white space on the paper.” Pohlad was reportedly very disappointed when they learned the extent of the López injury, which is likely to result in a second Tommy John procedure for the All-Star hurler. “He was definitely upset,” said the source. “He repeatedly asked (new Twins general manager Jeremy) Zoll how often pitchers get hurt like this. Jeremy said quite often. I don’t think Tom liked that answer. “Then Jeremy told him this happens to every other team. It made him feel a little better, even though Jeremy couldn’t tell him when or to whom it would happen.” The source says Pohlad is calling an emergency meeting of team stakeholders to reveal PTSPP 2.0 on Friday. “I’m not at liberty to discuss the details, but I can reveal that there are two to three sentences.” Image license here. View the full article