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Before reading this part of the Brewers' voyage to Milwaukee, read part one of the series, "A Failed Launch". Also, part two of the three-part series, "Up For Grabs." PART 3 Charlie O. Finley got back into the headlines on Feb. 4, 1970. “I tried to be of help to Milwaukee. The next thing I see all over the papers is that my plan wasn’t good for baseball," Finley said to reporters at the time. "They made me look like a fool.” His plan had been to move the Pilots to Milwaukee on an interim basis. “If that group up there is trying to get major-league baseball, they haven’t shown me anything.” On Feb. 5, hotel magnate Edward Carlson lauded a fundraising effort that raised nearly $6 million toward a ‘cash and credit goal,’ in a last-ditch effort to get the necessary cash together for the Seattle group. “We hope and believe that this remarkable demonstration of civic pride and financial commitment will convince the American League to retain the Pilots franchise in Seattle on a permanent basis,” Carlson said. “I think we have a deal.” That statement sounded prescient on Feb. 10, when the American League owners voted to keep the franchise in Seattle. Several possibilities were discussed, including a trusteeship that would rescue the team. “This is a very serious problem,” AL president Joe Cronin said. “The American League is leaning over backwards to keep baseball in Seattle." The next day, the American League rejected an application for the Carlson/Danz Seattle group and voted to have the Daley/Soriano group keep the Pilots in Seattle. Carlson had wanted a non-profit organization to run the club for him, and this was a main concern of the American League. "We felt the non-profit factor in their plan could not fit into operation of a baseball club,” Cronin said. At that same meeting, the AL decided to advance the Pilots $650,000 for spring training expenses. On Valentine’s Day, the American League appointed Roy Hamey to oversee the operations of the Pilots. Hamey, you might remember, was a general manager for the New York Yankees in the early 1960s. He would take command of the team as it was just getting ready for spring training. On Feb. 24, 46 players began camp in Tempe, Arizona. Meanwhile, Tempe community leaders reported that they “have exceeded last year’s season ticket sale for the Pilots’ spring training schedule,” according to the Everett (Washington) Daily Herald. Back in Seattle, John Spellman was optimistic. “We still plan to let out bids in November, and construction [for the domed stadium] is still scheduled to start before the end of the year (1970)," he said. In early March, the Milwaukee Sentinel reported that owners were "contemplating moving the club before the regular season started.” The story went on to say that the group worried the Pilots would lose more money in 1970. Hamey’s reply? “Absolutely ridiculous.” Court chaos returned on March 16. The American League had been set to move the franchise to Milwaukee, having the nine necessary votes from owners that would approve the move. Just before the meeting was to begin, though, Circuit Court Judge James D. Bruton, Jr. issued a restraining order that would keep the league from moving the team from Seattle. The league’s response was that the teams could not afford to continue to support the Seattle franchise. The Bank of California sided with the AL in trying to remove legal hurdles that would keep the Pilots in Seattle. The lawsuit that Mayor Wes Uhlman filed at $25 million had been increased to $82 million. According to the Olympia (Washington) Olympian, William Dwyer, special assistant state attorney general, said that if the restraining order was dismissed, “the club will move and our $82 million antitrust damage suit goes into effect immediately.” Note: The lawsuit lasted until Feb. 1976, when it was dismissed on the condition that Seattle would receive an expansion team in 1977. After going from state court to federal court, and then back to Washington state court, and seeing two changes of venue from King County to Kitsap County to Snohomish County, the suit was officially dismissed in April 1977—when the Seattle Mariners made their debut in the new domed stadium called the Kingdome. On March 18, a petition was filed in U.S. District Court, asking that the franchise be sold to Milwaukee for $10.8 million under the Bankruptcy Act. In a hearing that took place on Friday, Mar. 21, Superior Court Judge James W. Mifflin heard arguments. He granted a continuance over the weekend, after which he would decide whether to grant the City of Seattle and State of Washington a temporary injunction to prevent the franchise from moving. Pacific Northwest Sports, Inc. (the ownership group) filed a petition of bankruptcy that sought a transfer of the franchise to Milwaukee so creditors could get paid. Sidney C. Volinn, a bankruptcy court referee, was scheduled to hear the petition on Tuesday, Mar. 24. Baseball Facilities, Inc., a developer of the Pilots' spring training site, filed suit saying the Pilots had failed (once again) to develop the facilities as promised. As the wheels of justice continued to move slowly along, Judge Mifflin's patience wore thin. Meanwhile, Volinn was set to decide the fate of the franchise on Mar. 30. Forgotten in all the litigation was the fact that the ownership group had signed a contract with the Milwaukee group earlier in March, which would expire on April 1. Time was of the essence. Back in Seattle, Dewey and Max Soriano were hung in effigy at a downtown mall. Max Soriano later explained that the club “was too embarrassed to ask a bank for additional funds.” It probably didn’t matter, though. “No banker in his right mind would loan the Pilots additional money," Campbell noted. In Milwaukee, a storm dumped four inches of snow on the ground and groundskeepers at County Stadium were hard at work to get the facility ready for a potential Opening Day contest against the California Angels on Apr. 7. Volinn listened to testimony on Mar. 30, but after a long day in court, decided to continue proceedings the following day. “I realize the onset of the baseball season is here and there is an atmosphere of haste,” Volinn said. “But the court will take all the time necessary in order to receive all the evidence that is necessary to make a decision in this case.” A couple of issues Volinn was considering: the Pilots couldn’t pay their debt of $8.13 million, and would not be able to survive a second season; and it would be unfair to make the league keep the franchise afloat. As spring training ended, the team’s equipment truck drove north from Tempe, Arizona to Provo, Utah and waited at a rest area along I-80 north of Provo. They were waiting to hear whether to head west to Seattle or turn east and make the long drive to Milwaukee. The following day, it became official: The Seattle Pilots would become the Milwaukee Brewers. The driver started his truck and turned east on I-80, starting the long 1,500-mile drive to Brew City. Milwaukee finally got its team! On Apr. 7, 1970, in front of a crowd of 36,107 fans at Milwaukee County Stadium, the Milwaukee Brewers era started with a 12-0 loss to the California Angels. Sources Wikipedia Everett (WA) Daily Herald Spokane (WA) Spokesman-Review Spokane (WA) Chronicle Minneapolis Star Tribune Madison (WI) Capital Times Green Bay (WI) Press-Gazette Appleton (WI) Post-Crescent New York Times Milwaukee Sentinel Olympia (WA) Olympian View the full article

The Minnesota Twins may have made one of the more overlooked moves of the offseason when they signed Josh Bell. On the surface, it didn't make a huge splash. But the underlying numbers tell a much more intriguing story. In this video, we break down why Bell’s 2025 profile points to a hitter who could be far more impactful than headlines suggest. View the full article

Ethan Conrad is the Cubs' first-round pick from the 2025 MLB Draft. The Marist/Wake Forest alum brings a well-rounded approach, as he flashed with 13 triples in his 2024 season. Already being rated as the no. 5 prospect in the Cubs system, Conrad projects to be the team's future outfielder in just a couple of years' time. Will he take Seiya Suzuki or Ian Happ's spot, and will either be around after their contracts expire after this season? We dive into it all here on North Side Baseball. View the full article

Ethan Conrad is the Cubs' first-round pick from the 2025 MLB Draft. The Marist/Wake Forest alum brings a well-rounded approach, as he flashed with 13 triples in his 2024 season. Already being rated as the no. 5 prospect in the Cubs system, Conrad projects to be the team's future outfielder in just a couple of years' time. Will he take Seiya Suzuki or Ian Happ's spot, and will either be around after their contracts expire after this season? We dive into it all here on North Side Baseball. View the full article

Thinner than a rail all offseason, the San Diego Padres' rotation now has a glut of options. The most recent addition is former Colorado Rockies ace German Marquez, who reportedly agreed to a one-year contract with a mutual option for 2027. He brings the number of pitchers in camp competing for the last two spots to at least eight. San Diego isn't getting anything near the All-Star version of Márquez. The 30-year-old was hit hard last year after missing close to two full seasons because of elbow problems. In 126 1/3 innings over 26 starts, he posted full-season career worsts across the board: a 6.70 ERA/5.47 FIP, 5.9 strikeouts per nine innings, a .545 slugging percentage against and a .923 OPS against. He allowed 168 hits and 23 home runs. Our series on rotation candidates continues with Marquez. Should he be in the Friars' rotation, work out of the bullpen, or go down to Triple-A El Paso to begin 2026? Germán Márquez's Stuff In terms of results, Márquez's best pitch last year was his knuckle curve. It was well below-average in both movement and drop, but it had above-average spin (64th percentile). It served as Marquez's out pitch: opponents batted .208 with a 33.9 percent K rate against it. Despite that, it produced a negative-6 run value. Marquez's fastball velocity was league-average -- 94.8 mph on his four-seamer, 94.2 mph on his sinker -- but both pitches were about one mile per hour slower than his fastballs in 2022 and continued to have below-average spin (24th percentile). The four-seamer did have above-average horizontal movement, with 10.9 inches of arm-side run (in to right-handed batters, away from left-handed batters). And yet, hitters feasted on it, slugging .642. The pitch had a negative-24 run value. Opponents punished the rest of the repertoire, too. Marquez's sinker, slider, and changeup produced respective SLG's of .545, .565, and .556. Each of those pitches flashed below-average movement. There were plenty more ugly peripherals to go around. Marquez's ground-ball rate plummeted to a career-low 36.6 percent and his air rate soared to a career-high 63.3 percent. His 91.7 mph average exit velocity was more than two miles per hour higher than his career norms. His 11.1 barrel rate was the second-worst of his career. He allowed a 1.057 OPS after falling behind 1-0 in the count. There is a Coors Effect in Marquez's career splits, but it shows up in hits allowed rather than home runs allowed. He has averaged 9.99 hits per nine at Coors, compared to 8.53 per nine outside Denver. That speaks to the fact that lots of hits fall in at Coors Field because of the park's spacious outfield. His home run rates are 3.44 percent at home and 3.29 percent on the road. For what it's worth, Petco Park has been a good place for him. His career numbers there are skewed by two poor outings last year -- 12 earned runs in seven innings. Prior to that, he had a 3.64 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 10 games (nine starts). German Marquez's Arsenal Márquez was essentially a three-pitch pitcher last season. He threw the four-seamer 35 percent of the time, a knuckle curve 32 percent of the time, and a sinker 20 percent of the time. He also made use of slider (11 percent) and changeup (2 percent), though they were seldom featured. Of note: He threw his slider 21 percent of the time in 2022, his last full season prior to 2025. His knuckle-curve made up that 10-point difference last year. As usual, there was a narrow gap between the fastballs and his secondary pitches: 9.3 mph between his fastest (four-seamer) and slowest (knuckle curve, 85.5 mph). That was in line with his career averages. His slider (88.8) and changeup (88.5) were thrown at almost the same speed. The use of his fourth and fifth pitches was based almost strictly on batter handedness. He threw 196 of his 226 sliders to right-handed batters and 49 of his 50 changeups to left-handed batters. What Should German Marquez's Role Be in 2026? Márquez's 2025 season says that he shouldn't be guaranteed anything, but his history and contract say that he will begin the year in the rotation. How long he stays in it will depend on performance. The Rockies kept running him out there last year to eat innings. The Padres will have a fraction of that patience in 2026. If Márquez is eventually moved to a long-man role, it would be his first relief work since 2016, when he was a rookie. Again, because he's signing a major-league deal, it's almost certain that the Padres would keep him around as the 13th man on the staff. El Paso feels very far away, despite the recent results. View the full article

JUPITER, FL—On a beautiful Monday morning in Jupiter, 72 Miami Marlins players (32 non-roster invitees) reported to camp ready to make their mark and build on a very encouraging 2025 season in which the club won 79 games—a 17-win improvement from the year before. Principal owner and chairman Bruce Sherman, standing in front of the newly renovated Jupiter Academy, addressed the media prior to the team’s first full-squad workout. The 2026 season will be the ninth under Sherman’s ownership. “Our expectations are to be extremely competitive and to continue on this path of being successful every single year,” Sherman said. “We measure it by getting to the playoffs consistently, and that will be the standard for our organization and our front office. That’s what the Miami Marlins are going to be all about.” Ownership’s message to players early Monday morning differed from last spring, when patience and development were emphasized. As exciting as the 2025 season was for a team with limited big league experience and modest expectations, this year’s message was clear: it wasn’t enough, and expectations are higher following investments in both payroll and infrastructure. “This investment we made in free agency—four players and over $20 million—was done with extraordinary care by Peter Bendix and his entire staff,” Sherman said. For the first time since 2016–17, the Marlins signed at least four major league free agents in a single offseason. Despite those additions, Miami’s payroll for 2026, according to Roster Resource, is projected to be approximately $73 million, the lowest in Major League Baseball. Sherman feels that he's spending an appropriate percentage of the franchise's revenue, particularly when accounting for the aforementioned facility renovations. “I’m not in this for profit at all. We haven’t taken a nickel out of this in eight years; we just keep putting money in, and ownership is pleased to do that. We want to win. W-I-N. Period.” How do the Marlins plan to compete against division rivals such as the Phillies, Mets, and Braves, whose player payrolls are several times the size? “We don’t care what other teams are doing—we’re trying to beat them,” president of baseball operations Peter Bendix said. That message was reiterated to both established major leaguers and top prospects expected to contribute this season. “We were told to have faith in ourselves and in each other, and that we’re going to prove a lot of people wrong again,” No. 1 prospect Thomas White told Fish On First. “We’re not worried about what other teams are doing. We’re focused on what’s happening in our clubhouse and trying to do something none of us have done before—reach the playoffs.” When asked about the overall goal for the upcoming season, manager Clayton McCullough emphasized development and culture. “Seeing growth across the board from players and coaches,” McCullough said. “We want to create a culture here and a group that puts us in position every year to compete for a championship.” The 34th season of Marlins baseball begins March 27 at home against the Colorado Rockies. Before that, the club opens Grapefruit League play this Saturday in Port St. Lucie against the Mets. View the full article

The Kansas City Royals had a goal this offseason of adding depth and improving their talent floor. While they won 82 games last year, the second time they've had a winning season since the 2015 World Series, they also missed out on the postseason after winning 86 games in 2024. Under owner John Sherman and President of Baseball Operations JJ Picollo, the Royals aim to be a frequent playoff contender, like other small-market franchises such as the Cleveland Guardians, Tampa Bay Rays, and Milwaukee Brewers. That said, Kansas City also faces financial limitations as a small-market franchise. While this team has been more prone to spending money under Sherman than in years past, they are not going to acquire big-name free agents like Bo Bichette, Alex Bregman, or Kyle Tucker (which was the case again this year). Furthermore, Picollo also doesn't want to "sell" the farm in trades either. There were plenty of rumors this offseason tying the Royals to players like Boston's Jarren Duran and St. Louis' Brendan Donovan. However, they were unwilling to part with key players (Cole Ragans) or key prospects (Blake Mitchell) to make such deals happen. We will see if Picollo was right to wait, or if they missed an opportunity for a big-name player this offseason. Still, while this offseason wasn't "eye-popping" by any means, the Royals did a lot to improve the roster, whether through trades or free agency. In this post, I will break down all the trades, extensions, MLB free-agent signings, and Minor League signings the Royals made this winter, give grades to each category, and then rate the Royals' offseason as a whole. Trades OF Kameron Misner for a PTBNL/Cash Considerations The Royals were active early this offseason, acquiring outfielder Misner, a Mizzou product, from the Tampa Bay Rays for a PTBNL/Cash Considerations. Misner has been so-so at the Major League level, as he hit .213 with a .618 OPS in 217 plate appearances with the Rays last season. He did have five home runs, but he also struck out 31.8% of the time and didn't have great batted-ball percentiles either. When it comes to his Statcast profile, he didn't show great batted-ball metrics, and he chased a lot with the Rays. Those are two aspects the Royals already have plenty of in Triple-A, which makes the acquisition a little puzzling at the surface level. It's likely that Misner provides some depth in Triple-A Omaha, and he carries a Minor League option, which is valuable to have for a player who likely is more of a "fill-in" at the Major League level (i.e., a guy who comes up when a regular outfielder goes on the IL). He did show some promise in Triple-A Durham last year, so perhaps he can tap into that in his new surroundings in Kansas City. Grade: C+ RHP Mason Black for RHP Logan Martin The Royals acquired Black from the San Francisco Giants for Martin, who pitched in the Arizona Fall League this past autumn. Martin was a nice piece for High-A Quad Cities, as he posted a 3.45 ERA in 22 starts and 91.1 IP for the River Bandits. However, he was a college arm who had a low ceiling. Black was a former Top-10 prospect in the Giants' system who hasn't quite put it all together at the Major League level. He mostly pitched in 2024, but the numbers weren't good in a 36.1 IP sample. He posted a 6.44 ERA, 5.45 FIP, and 9.5% K-BB%. He produced solid extension that season, but his TJ Stuff and Statcast percentiles were pretty underwhelming, as illustrated below. He only made one appearance with the Giants in 2025, as he mostly spent last season in Triple-A Sacramento. He posted a 5.81 ERA and 5.64 FIP in 119.1 IP with the Rivercats. Acquiring a pitcher like Black is a nice gamble for the Royals, especially for a Minor League arm like Martin, who is good, but not great. It will be interesting to see if the Royals perhaps move Black to the bullpen, hoping that his stuff plays up better in shorter innings. At the very least, he provides some nice starting depth in Omaha, which is something they missed a season ago. Grade: B- OF Isaac Collins and RHP Nick Mears for LHP Angel Zerpa The Royals wanted to improve their bullpen and their outfield this offseason. They accomplished that somewhat in one trade, as they acquired Collins and Mears for Zerpa, the Royals' primary left-handed reliever last season. Losing Zerpa is tough, but his ERA rose from 3.86 in 2024 to 4.18 in 2025, and his HR/FB% also rose from 14.3% in 2024 to 15.9% in 2025. The Venezuelan lefty was certainly expendable, though Milwaukee certainly is a nice landing spot for him. In return, the Royals got an on-base machine in Collins, who posted a .368 OBP and 0.61 BB/K ratio in 441 plate appearances. Collins did lose some playing time at the end of the season, but he's the kind of multi-positional outfielder who gives the Royals the plate discipline and versatility that they've desperately needed. Collins doesn't hit the ball all that hard or barrel balls that much, but he doesn't chase, and he pulls the ball effectively, two qualities that the Royals were looking for this offseason. As for Mears, he had an interesting season, especially when compared to 2024. That season, he sported a 5.93 ERA in 57,2 IP. However, his FIP was 3.39, and his K rate was 29.3%. Last year, his ERA was better at 3.49 (in 56.2 IP). Conversely, his FIP was higher at 3.86, and his K rate dropped to 20.8%. Mears had trouble finishing batters off last year in his first full season with the Brewers. That said, he still showed solid TJ Stuff+ metrics and an ability to make batters chase. Mears is a two-pitch pitcher, which may explain why he struggled with K% after succeeding in 2024. Hitters may just have a better scouting report on him now. However, the Royals' pitching coaches have had success helping pitchers add another pitch and maximize their repertoire. Mears could be another success story in 2026. Grade: A LHP Matt Strahm for RHP Jonathan Bowlan Picollo mentioned early in the offseason that they wanted to add a left-handed reliever who could pitch in high-leverage situations. After they traded Zerpa to Milwaukee, the need heightened even more. Thankfully, they found an excellent lefty in Strahm, who was originally drafted by the Royals in the 21st round in the 2012 MLB Draft. Strahm was excellent with the Phillies, posting ERA marks of 3.29, 1.87, and 2.74 from 2023 to 2025, respectively. His FIP marks also remained within the same range, at 3.24, 2.29, and 2.99, respectively. He's also thrown 60+ innings in each of the past three seasons and posted K-BB% marks of 24.8%, 28.7%, and 19.5% over that span. The strikeouts went down a bit, and the walks went up a little in his last season in Philadelphia. He also generated fewer whiffs, and the fastball velocity ranked in the bottom percentiles. Still, his TJ Stats profile shows Strahm to be a reliever who can be relied upon in high-leverage situations. Strahm's four-seamer and slider were above-average offerings last year on a TJ Stuff+ end. His cutter and sinker? Below average, unfortunately. It will be interesting to see whether Brian Sweeney and Mike McFerran encourage any tweaks to improve his pitch quality in Kansas City, though given his batted-ball metrics, that may not be needed. What prevents this deal from being a home run is that the Royals gave up Bowlan, who was starting to become a reliable reliever for Kansas City last season. The former Memphis product posted a 3.86 ERA in 44.1 IP and also sported a 16.1% K-BB%. He also posted excellent Statcast metrics and three above-average pitches, according to TJ Stuff+. The issue with Bowlan? He struggled with finding the strike zone at times, walked more than he should've (12th percentile BB%), and gave up a lot of barrels as well as home runs (15.4%). Thus, with no Minor League options remaining, I can understand why the Royals were willing to part with Bowlan to acquire Strahm. Still, I would've been curious to see what Bowlan could've done had the Royals left him up for a full MLB season instead of constantly shuffling him between Kansas City and Omaha. Grade: B+ RHP Mitch Spence for RHP A.J. Causey The Royals acquired Spence last week in an effort to improve their pitching depth at both the Major and Minor League levels. Spence was a 2024 Rule 5 pick by the Athletics. He was a target of the Royals, who had the pick after the Athletics, but they ended up selecting fellow Yankees pitching prospect Matt Sauer instead (who was returned to New York early in the 2024 season). Spence had a good 2024 with the Athletics, posting a 4.58 ERA, 4.21 FIP, and 1.3 fWAR in 151.1 IP. He wasn't perfect by any means, but he proved to be a durable pitcher who could pitch as a starter or out of the bullpen. Unfortunately, things got tougher for Spence in 2025 in the move to Sacramento, as he posted a 5.10 ERA and FIP in 84.2 IP. It seemed like the new park dimensions of Sutter Park in Sacramento had an effect, as his ERA was much higher at home than on the road. Those splits probably explain why the Royals were willing to take a chance on Spence. Losing Causey was a tough blow, especially since the 2024 5th-round pick posted a 1.72 ERA and 2.28 FIP in 73.1 IP between High-A Quad Cities and Double-A Northwest Arkansas. However, Causey was solely a reliever, and he had an uneven AFL campaign, which probably explains why the Royals were willing to part ways with him in exchange for Spence. Spence will likely start the year as a starter in Omaha, which is needed with Alec Marsh again starting the year on the 60-Day IL after missing all of 2025 due to injury. Grade: B Extensions C Salvador Perez: Two years, $25 million The Royals were never going to part ways with their captain and future Royals Hall of Famer (and maybe Cooperstown Hall of Famer). The extension saves the Royals about $2 million per year, as his option on his last contract was for roughly about $14 million. Perez also defers about $12 million from his current deal, giving the Royals some payroll flexibility. This is a good, though not earth-shattering, deal given the high likelihood of Perez returning. That said, it was nice to see Picollo be proactive to keep the franchise legend happy. Grade: B+ 3B Maikel Garcia: Five years, $57.5 million One had to wonder whether Picollo would ink any of their young core to extensions after solid 2025 campaigns. Garcia was the first domino to fall this offseason, and it was well worth it, especially after Garcia posted a 5.6 fWAR and 121 wRC+ in 666 plate appearances. After a down season, the Royals put their faith in Garcia to be their regular third baseman in 2025, and he ended up making good on that confidence. Not only did Garcia make his first All-Star game, but he also earned his first Gold Glove and was a Silver Slugger finalist. By extending Garcia, Kansas City has guaranteed the left side of its infield until at least 2030. Grade: A 1B Vinnie Pasquantino: Two years, $11.1 million The Royals and Pasquantino didn't reach a deal before the initial arbitration deadline. They were roughly $500,000 apart, so it seemed an agreement was imminent and a hearing wouldn't be necessary. The Royals avoided the hearing not only by reaching an agreement with Pasquantino but also by securing a two-year extension. Honestly, I get why the Royals did it. He's a leader in the clubhouse and holds so much weight with the Royals community, including the fanbase. That said, he's a hitter-only first baseman who doesn't offer any value on defense or the basepaths, and he's already 28. It feels like Kansas City did this deal because they had to, not because they wanted to. Grade: C+ Major League Free Agents OF Lane Thomas: One year, $5.25 million Thomas' stats were bad last year, as he posted a -0.5 fWAR and 48 wRC+ in 142 plate appearances. That said, he wasn't healthy, as he played only 39 games due to various injuries. The 30-year-old outfielder showed that when healthy, he can be a solid presence in the lineup and in the field, defensively. He posted a 99 wRC+ and 1.4 fWAR in 2024 with the Nationals and Guardians, and he had a 109 wRC+ and 2.9 fWAR with the Nationals in 2023. He also hit 28 home runs and stole 20 bases in 2023 and hit 15 home runs and stole 32 bases in 2024. Thus, there's some power and speed potential here if he can get back to full health in Kansas City. When looking at his Statcast percentiles from 2024, Thomas showed a strong ability to avoid chasing out of the zone, which is what the Royals were looking for in targets this offseason (like Collins). For a one-year, $5.25 million deal, the Royals got a nice bounce-back candidate who can play all three outfield positions and give them the pop and speed that they need at the bottom of the batting order. That's a nice weapon to have (if healthy), especially for a manager like Quatraro who likes to play matchups. Grade: B RHP Alex Lange: One year, $900,000 The Royals acquired Lange after he was designated for assignment by the Tigers. They swooped him up on a cheap $900K deal, and they have control of him until 2029 (he isn't arbitration-eligible until 2027). Lange is a local product, as he went to Lee's Summit North High School. It wasn't too long ago that Lange was the closer in Detroit. In 2023, he saved 26 games and posted a 3.68 ERA. However, the combination of injuries and inconsistency has derailed him a bit since then. He has only pitched 19.2 innings since his 26-save season. He mostly spent time in Triple-A last year, and while he generated strikeouts (30.2% K%), he still had a 4.62 ERA (though his 3.88 ERA was much better). In his TJ Stats profile, his zone and walk rates weren't great (second- and fifth-percentile ranks, respectively). However, everything else was solid, both on the batted-ball and swing-and-miss end. Lange is a sleeper who could solidify the middle of the Royals' bullpen and give them a high-velocity arm that can generate strikeouts in that spot. They missed that last year, as it seemed like they didn't have a ton of arms in the bullpen who could get strikeouts when needed. He also has an option, so they don't need to rush him to the Majors this year if he's not fully recovered. Grade: B+ Minor League Free Agents Pitchers Jose Cuas, RHP Helcris Olivarez, LHP Hector Neris, RHP Aaron Sanchez, RHP Eli Morgan, RHP The only deals that stick out are Morgan and Neris, who both have legitimate shots to make the MLB roster. Neris isn't what he was in years past, as he posted a 6.75 ERA in 26.2 IP with the Braves, Angels, and Astros. However, he still can generate whiffs, chase, and strikeouts, as illustrated below in his TJ Stats profile. Morgan is another intriguing non-roster invitee, as Royals fans may be familiar with him from the Guardians. His best season came in 2024 when he posted a 1.93 ERA in 42 IP. He was traded to the Cubs in 2025 and only made seven appearances due to an elbow injury. While the overall numbers with the Cubs weren't good in his small sample, Morgan generated chase (100th percentile O-Swing%), limited hard hits (94th percentile), and didn't give up a lot of walks (77th percentile). If he can get back to form, he may be the kind of middle-innings reliever who could handle medium-to-high leverage situations in a pinch, especially if one of their other relievers is unavailable. Of course, he needs to make the active roster first. Grade: B Position Players Connor Kaiser, INF Kevin Newman, INF Abraham Toro, INF Elih Marrero, C Jorge Alfaro, C Josh Rojas, INF Luke Maile, C (Pending) Maile is dealing with a personal issue, so who knows when (or if) he'll make his way to camp in Surprise. Alfaro is also having visa issues and has not been in camp either. That said, both were longshots anyways to make the MLB Opening Day squad. Kaiser is a local guy, but he seems more like an everyday Triple-A infielder than one who could legitimately contribute to the MLB squad. Thus, that leaves Newman, Toro, and Rojas as the main candidates to make the Opening Day roster, though their odds seem long with the Royals already having so much depth in the infield. If the Royals want that veteran right-handed infielder, Newman may fit the bill, especially if Nick Loftin struggles (again). Newman can play all over the infield, and while he doesn't hit the ball hard, he doesn't whiff either. If the Royals want one from the left-hand side of the plate, then Rojas may be their answer. That said, his profile is more similar to that of former Royal Nicky Lopez, which is serviceable, but not exactly endearing for a team with postseason aspirations. There isn't a ton of difference in Newman and Rojas' TJ Stats profiles from a year ago, though Rojas chases much less than Newman. To be frank, it's hard to envision either Newman or Rojas or any of the non-roster position player invitees making the Opening Day roster, barring an injury in Spring Training. Grade: C+ Final Grade The Royals made a number of smart moves this offseason to improve. The Collins and Mears move was the best of the bunch this offseason. The Garcia extension was the best internal move they made. Strahm and Lange were solid moves that aren't perfect, but still considerably improve the bullpen without breaking the bank. Thomas has the same value, but on the position player end. Still, it was a bit disappointing that the Royals couldn't swing that "big" deal that could've made them the favorites in the AL Central. The Royals look good across many metrics and projections, with PECOTA actually projecting them to have the best record in the AL Central (which is NOT common for this franchise). Thus, it would've been nice to see the Royals make one big move to help them get over the top (or, at least, theoretically). That said, Picollo is not the kind of GM to sit on his hands during the season. It's entirely plausible that a big move is on the horizon, but it will come at the Trade Deadline instead. Grade: B View the full article

The trade to bring Carlos Narvaez to the Boston Red Sox completely flew under the radar before last season. The deal was completed almost immediately after the team traded for Garrett Crochet, and the most anyone said about Narvaez was, essentially, “well, he’s a rookie backup catcher.” How wrong we all were. Narváez burst onto the scene in 2025 as he filled in for an injured Connor Wong. He stepped into the starting role with confidence and never looked back. While no player should lose their position due to injury, Wong proved that he was incapable of playing starting quality baseball upon his return and the year of Narvaez was born. Narvaez worked a .240/.307/.413 slash line last season with 15 home runs, 50 RBIs, .315 wOBA, a 97 wRC+, and 2.7 fWAR. He wasn’t an offensive juggernaut by any means, but to begin the season he was one of the best hitters on the team and likely should have been named an American League All-Star reserve. He was the preferred catcher for the majority of the starters last season and proved that he could call and manage a game like a veteran backstop. That ability on the defensive side of the baseball is where Narvaez shined. He led the league in caught steals with 24, was in the 88th percentile in blocks above average, 87th percentile in framing, 80th percentile in pop time, and the 98th percentile in caught stealing above average. Defensively, he was a top-tier catcher no matter how you slice it. What makes those numbers even more impressive is that he played the entire season with an injured meniscus that should have required surgery in July. Narvaez held off on the surgery until the season concluded in October and has reported to spring training feeling great, according to Alex Cora. If Narvaez was able to play like that on an injured meniscus, which acts as a shock absorber between the femur and tibia while providing stability in the joint and help to provide lateral movement, then oh boy. With a healthy knee, expect Narvaez to improve his offensive output across the board. He has a swing that plays incredibly well at Fenway Park and with more stability in his lead leg, he should be able to generate more barrels and up his hard-hit rate, which clocked in at 45.5% last season. Where he could stand maybe the most improvement though, is in his strikeout habits. He posted a 25.4% K% last season to go along with a manageable 8.7% walk percentage. If he can cut down on his strikeouts, either by walking more or making more contact, then his offensive numbers will continue to climb. Posting even better numbers while being one of the top defensive catchers in the game will help set the Red Sox up for success, not only in 2026 but in every season that Narvaez is the starter behind the dish. We already have seen what kind of defensive wizard he is, and his ability to handle the pitching staff is fantastic, but should his offensive numbers start to catch up? Watch out because he’s going to be a big, big problem. His FanGraphs 2026 projections are fairly tempered. He’s expected to slash .228/.311/.375 with 11 home runs, and there likely is going to be some regression at some point in the season, but those are some conservative estimates for a rookie who played hurt all of last year. Barring a sophomore slump, fans should fully expect an improvement at the plate for one the game's best behind it. Carlos Nárvaez was an incredible bright spot for the Red Sox in 2025 and figures to be a massive part of the team for the next handful of seasons. Alex Cora recently, and expectedly, named him the starting catcher for the team and Gabrielle Starr spoke to Narvaez about that and a possible extension. While it hasn’t been discussed, Narvaez said that his goal is to be a member of the Red Sox ‘forever’ and he would like to retire with the ballclub. A bit of lip service? Perhaps, but there's real belief from both sides. After all, it’s hard to luck your way into trading for a catcher that has the makings of a foundational piece of the organization. View the full article

Enjoy new episodes of our Miami Marlins livestreams throughout 2026 spring training. Every week, Fish On First staffers answer your questions and provide in-depth analysis of the team leading up to Opening Day. Monday's show was hosted by Ely Sussman and featured panelists Jeremiah Geiger, Isaac Azout, Alex Carver, Kevin Barral and Daniel Rodriguez. The following topics were covered: Annual start-of-spring press conference with Bruce Sherman and Peter Bendix Takeaways from the first full-squad workout The end of Josh Simpson's Marlins tenure Ely's Opening Day roster projection, going deep on Owen Caissie, Max Meyer and others You can find Fish Unfiltered and Fish On First LIVE on the Fish On First YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever else you get your pods. Designated for assignment by the Marlins last week, Simpson was traded to the Seattle Mariners for cash considerations. The 28-year-old left-hander had spent his entire professional career in the Marlins org. In 31 MLB relief appearances in 2025, Simpson posted a 5.35 FIP (7.34 ERA) in 30 ⅔ innings pitched. View the full article

The Blue Jays like them some versatility. Ernie Clement makes highlight-reel plays all over the infield. He was arguably the best utility player in baseball last season. Addison Barger is the first player in MLB history to play at least 25 games at third base and right field in each of his first two years in the bigs. Even George Springer is hoping to contribute on defense in 2026. Given his age, injury history, and how well he swung the bat last year, no one would be mad if he were a full-time DH. But according to John Schneider, he's a legitimate option in the outfield too. Then there's Andrés Giménez; the Jays acquired the Platinum Glove-winning second baseman because they knew he could also play a good shortstop. And after Toronto signed Kazuma Okamoto this winter, both Ross Atkins and Okamoto himself acknowledged he could take the field at multiple positions. According to Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith, the organization sees him as a capable third baseman and an above-average first baseman. He also has experience in the outfield. There's one more name I should have mentioned by now, and you might be surprised I haven't. Davis Schneider is one of only three active players to have appeared in at least 100 games at second base and in left field over the past three seasons. Funnily enough, the other two are both winners of the utility Gold Glove Award: Brendan Donovan and Mauricio Dubón. The defensive metrics will tell you Schneider has done just fine at each position, albeit in a small sample. He owns a -1 DRS and +1 FRV in 636.1 innings at the keystone and a -1 DRS and +1 FRV in 996.2 innings in left. In theory, all this versatility should allow John Schneider maximum creativity as he fills out his lineup card. The most frequent swap-outs will likely be the righty-batting Davis Schneider and Myles Straw replacing the lefty-batting Barger and Jesús Sánchez for the sake of platoon matchups. Sánchez has been unplayable against southpaws throughout his career. Barger has struggled against lefties too, though the Blue Jays haven't given him much of a chance to improve against same-handed pitching. On that note, I'd like to see Barger in the lineup more often against left-handed starters, at least early in the year. He deserves a chance to prove he's more than a platoon bat. I'm hopeful John Schneider is on the same page. When camp opened, the skipper suggested the everyday right field job was Barger's to lose. Presuming Barger is starting regularly against lefties, the Jays only need one righty-batting outfielder to platoon with Sánchez. If Straw can be that guy, it would free up Schneider as an option at second base. In such a scenario, Clement would slide over to shortstop to give the lefty-batting Giménez a day off. And in case that last paragraph was confusing, here's the lineup I'm proposing: Position Starter vs. LHP C Alejandro Kirk (R) 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (R) 2B Davis Schneider (R) SS Ernie Clement (R) 3B Kazuma Okamoto (R) LF Myles Straw (R) CF Daulton Varsho (L) RF Addison Barger (L) DH George Springer (R) To be clear, I'm not suggesting this should be Toronto's go-to group against all left-handed pitchers. I'm just saying it's an option if the Jays want to maximize offense when they're facing a tough southpaw. This lineup includes every right-handed hitter on the team's projected 26-man roster, as well as Barger and Daulton Varsho. The only realistic alternative is to put Schneider in the outfield and keep Giménez at shortstop. The configuration with Giménez would be stronger defensively, but I think the version with Barger and Varsho would score more runs. Some days, offense is going to be the priority. Or... maybe not. See, I'm not sure how much time Davis Schneider is actually going to see at second base. RosterResource has him taking 161 of his 322 projected plate appearances at second. I think that's ambitious. During the playoffs last year, when every game, every inning, every play mattered more, Schneider appeared in eight games. He started five, all in left field. Meanwhile, Isiah Kiner-Falefa took the field in 15 of Toronto's 18 contests. He played 91 defensive innings, exclusively at second base. Sometimes he came on as a defensive replacement, sometimes he was the one replaced. But by and large, he was the player John Schneider and the Blue Jays wanted in the infield (when it couldn't be Bo Bichette). Kiner-Falefa had a 75 wRC+ in 2025. He has an 82 wRC+ for his career. Conversely, Schneider posted a 127 wRC+ last season, while his career mark is 109. Simply put, Schneider is a vastly superior hitter. There's no debate. According to FanGraphs, Kiner-Falefa has been worth 22.8 offensive runs below average over the last three years and 62.1 below average in his career. Schneider has produced 9.0 offensive runs above average since his debut in 2023. Moreover, IKF gave the Blue Jays next to nothing at the dish throughout the playoffs. He went 6-for-37 (.162) with two doubles, one walk, and a 7 wRC+. That's 93% worse than league average. My aim is not to denigrate Kiner-Falefa. Rather, I'm trying to point out that the Blue Jays watched all that and still decided they wanted to run out a lineup with Kiner-Falefa at second base instead of Schneider. They decided Kiner-Falefa's glove was that good (or Schneider's that bad) for the offensive trade-off to be worth it. To be fair, sometimes Schneider was busy in left field while IKF was manning short, but there were plenty of moments the Jays stuck with Kiner-Falefa while Schneider was sitting on the bench. The Blue Jays played 18 postseason games. Kiner-Falefa and Schneider were only ever in the same starting lineup three times. So, what does all this mean for 2026? Kiner-Falefa is in Boston now, but Toronto still has a pair of excellent defenders up the middle in Clement and Giménez. If the 2025 playoffs are any indication (and I don't see why they wouldn't be), John Schneider and the Blue Jays vastly prefer to have a great glove at second base, even if it means sacrificing some offense. The hypothetical, bat-first lineup I proposed as an option against tough left-handed starters might be just that – hypothetical. Davis Schneider couldn't steal a start from a slumping IKF in the playoffs, so I don't see many starts at second base in his future either. View the full article

Minnesota Twins manager Derek Shelton provides an update on Pablo Lopez and discusses the team doing the little things on day one to be successful. View the full article

The incredible postseason run the Chicago Cubs went on in 2016 that resulted in their first World Series championship in 108 years is quickly approaching its ten-year anniversary. There were so many moments and decisions that led to breaking the “Curse of the Billy Goat” that played a role in securing the title. Arguably the biggest in-season move the Cubs' front office made that year was going “all-in” at the trade deadline by giving up a four-player haul to the Yankees in order to acquire All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman. Chapman played lights out that season for both franchises, finishing the year with a 1.55 ERA and 90 strikeouts in 58 innings, to go along with 36 saves. His production during his time with the Cubs was remarkable. He posted a 1.01 ERA, 46 strikeouts in 26 2/3 innings, and 16 saves. The Cubs traded for Chapman on July 25, 2016 and at the time, the team had the best record in baseball. They were 20 games above .500 with a 7.5-game lead over the second-place St. Louis Cardinals within the Central Division. The belief that 2016 could finally be the year skyrocketed within the organization and fanbase alike. The best team in baseball added one of the most dominant closers in baseball. I get fired up just reminiscing about that trade and it got me wondering: Could 2026 be the year the Cubs make a splash move at the trade deadline again in an attempt to put everything on the line to win another championship? If they do, what would a similar trade cost them? There has been a buzz and excitement around this year's Cubs team with the additions of Edward Cabrera (RHP) and Alex Bregman (3B) to a roster that returns most of the players that defeated the San Diego Padres in the playoffs last year before exiting in the National League Division Series. It is not unreasonable to think that the 2026 North Siders could find themselves positioned for a deep postseason run by the trade deadline again this year as they did in 2016. They will have to compete with the other top-tier teams in the National League, most notably the Los Angeles Dodgers who are coming off back-to-back championships, in order to even reach the World Series. A big move at the deadline could add to the depth and confidence of this year’s team. The package of players that the Cubs sent to the Yankees for Chapman was considered a very steep price for a reliever that was in the final year of his contract. They gave up prospects Gleyber Torres (INF), who was the team's top prospect at the time, Billy McKinney (OF), listed as their sixth-best prospect, and Rashad Crawford (OF) along with bullpen arm Adam Warren (RHP). The Cubs were willing to ship out potential long-term contributors for a player that would be on the roster for only a few months. It was 100% the right decision in hindsight. Gleyber Torres was the only player from that group to have sustained high-level success over a long MLB career (career stats: .264 BA, 1006 H, 515 RBI, and 154 HR). He became a two-time All Star during his time with the Yankees and is still in the league today with the Detroit Tigers. It is challenging to predict the exact positions that the Cubs may target at the trade deadline in 2026 if they are in the playoff mix, since injuries or lack of production from current players could factor into that decision. As it stands today, adding another dominant arm (similar to the Chapman trade in 2016) or bat-first slugger seem like the most likely areas they may focus on. If they attempt to acquire a fate-changing player such as Kris Bubic (LHP) of the Kansas City Royals, Pablo Lopez (RHP) of the Minnesota Twins, or Yandy Diaz (INF/DH) of the Tampa Bay Rays, it will require a willingness to part ways with young talent within the organization again. The Cubs have already dealt some of their talented minor-league players in order to acquire Edward Cabrera this offseason. They sent Owen Caissie (OF), Cristian Hernandez (INF) and Edgardo De Leon (INF) to the Miami Marlins, but there are still plenty of players that would certainly intrigue other teams looking to add multiple young players in exchange for a transformative veteran player. A trade of this magnitude would most likely require at least one of their top four prospects, which include Moises Ballesteros (C/DH), Jaxon Wiggins (RHP), Jefferson Rojas (INF), or Kevin Alcantara (OF), along with a couple other quality pieces with upside. Players such as James Triantos (INF) or Kaleb Wing (RHP) could be coveted as well. Will Jed Hoyer decide this season is the right time to take another big swing? Only time will tell, but his aggressiveness this offseason seems to demonstrate a belief that this Cubs team is ready for a deep playoff run. The farm system no longer features a plethora of Top-100 prospects like it has in recent years, so they should feel some urgency to maximize the potential that this lineup is capable of now, rather than looking to the future. As antithetical as that may seem to this front office's M.O., remember that this is the final season before the expected 2027 lockout. Cost and revenue certainty is valuable for any organization, and in Major League Baseball, that ends in 2026. It will be exciting to monitor all of the action this year in July as the trade deadline approaches if the Cubs can position themselves as buyers for another push in the postseason. Adding Aroldis Chapman was a massive shot in the arm to a loaded Cubs team in 2016. Here's to hoping we as fans get that same jolt in just a few short months. View the full article

As the Minnesota Twins opened camp this spring, a noticeable theme echoed throughout the organization. After a season defined by transition, youth, and growing pains, this group is searching for something that does not show up on a stat sheet. Leadership has become one of the most talked-about needs inside the clubhouse as Minnesota prepares for the 2026 season. Fortunately, that leadership may already be in place. Byron Buxton is coming off arguably the best big-league season of his career and remains the best player on the roster. His impact has long been measured by highlight-reel defense, game-changing speed, and middle-of-the-order production. Now, the Twins are looking for something more from their franchise cornerstone, as a new wave of young talent continues to arrive in the clubhouse. Leadership, according to Buxton, can mean quite a bit. “A lot. Like, we thought quite a bit this offseason, just because we had to. So it's one of those where we know what we're trying to get to," Buxton said. "We know what we're striving to. And it's gonna take us veteran guys, to kinda lead these young guys to get to where we want them. We've been here to know how to play baseball the right way, play the game the right way, put in the effort. It's all about showing them the right way, how to do things.” For a roster that continues to look for young players to take the next step, leadership is about more than just setting the tone during games. It becomes the connective tissue between experience and potential. Veteran players who have endured postseason battles, slumps, injuries, and the daily grind of a 162-game schedule can provide a blueprint for younger teammates still learning how to navigate the league. In Buxton’s case, that blueprint is not going to look dramatically different from years past. “Nope, be myself, go about my business the same way I went," he told reporters in Ft. Myers. "Come in and play ball, that's it. Like, I'm a dad at the end of the day, and I'm a husband. I'm like, this is my job, this is a game. I know what I'm supposed to be doing when I'm here, but when I leave, this is over with. So, enjoy this while I'm here.” That authenticity has stood out immediately to manager Derek Shelton. “The thing that stuck out to me the most was just how mature he is. When I was here before, he was a young player trying to establish himself," Shelton said. And now? "He's a superstar. You don't play center field for Team USA in the WBC if you're not a superstar. You don't do the things that he's done. There's nothing that specifically he said stood out. The way he walks in a room now is different. When you're around great players and they walk in the room, you know it. When he walks in the room, you know it.” Shelton also emphasized that leadership within a clubhouse rarely looks the way fans expect it to from the outside. “Leadership is organic. When Byron—and I saw this from him before in '19—the guys he came through the minor league system with, they gravitate towards him, because they know the expectation he has on himself. “When leaders show the expectation they have of themselves, it doesn't matter how the leadership manifests outwardly, whether it's loud, whether it's quiet," Shelton continued. "I know everyone expects, not just in Buck's case, but in any case, 'This guy has to be loud.' “There's only very few people that know how conversations happen within a room when no one is there. That's leadership. That happens organically, and I think he does it in his own way. The expectation anybody would change how they go about that, I don't think that's fair to that person or to the rest of the group. It will come out organically.” If the Twins are going to take the next step in 2026, they will need production from their young core. Just as importantly, they will need guidance from the players who understand what it takes to succeed at the highest level. Buxton has already established himself as the face of the franchise on the field. This season, his influence away from it could prove just as valuable. Can Buxton’s organic leadership style help the Twins to be successful in 2026? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

People love to talk about the Milwaukee Brewers' payroll. People also like to talk about the on-field success the Brewers have, with postseason appearances in seven of the last eight seasons. Sure, there are only two postseason series victories in that span, but a short series (one, three or five games) can be determined by luck, as much as talent or even teamwork. Thus, Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold sought to keep the train on that track this offseason. The Brewers appeared to be in good shape entering the winter, with no glaring holes to patch. More power from the starting lineup would be nice, but some of that could be achieved from what the Crew already had. Is outfielder Jackson Chourio capable of 30 homers? How about 20 from second baseman Brice Turang? Over a full season, first baseman Andrew Vaughn can crank out 30, right? And what can the Brewers get from a healthy Garrett Mitchell, who remains toolsy and tantalizing despite all the missed time? Believing positive answers to those questions await, Arnold focused on amassing maximal pitching depth this winter. With camp underway in Phoenix, it is time to assess what Arnold did this offseason. In a winter that didn't need a lot of news to be made, Arnold created enough headlines to keep things interesting, but didn't acquire enough talent to impress projection systems, which once again make the Cubs the favorites in the NL Central. Will the Brewers prove them wrong again? It will take 162 games to figure that out. For now, let's review the six moves made that affected the MLB roster before pitchers and catchers reported to Phoenix. That doesn't include Friday's addition of Luis Rengifo, who plugs a hole that Arnold created just four days earlier, but that move feels relatively minor, anyway. Grading Every Brewers Move This Offseason Free-Agent Signing: RHP Brandon Woodruff to 1-year, $22.025 million contract While some fans were surprised that the Crew would actually hand out a qualifying offer, it was the right thing to do. If Woodruff were to sign elsewhere, they needed to at least get a draft pick to compensate for the loss. Instead of testing the free-agent market beyond his three-week trial period, Woodruff accepted the offer and will stick around for (in all likelihood) a final season in Milwaukee. This came after Woodruff declined his end of a mutual option that would have paid him $20 million in 2026, instead receiving a $10-million buyout. That $10 million was figured into the Brewers' budget for 2025, when Woodruff nominally made just $5 million, so the raise here is not as drastic as it might first appear, but it's substantial. The biggest reason Woodruff accepted the QO was the shoulder injury that (again) ended his season. The right-handed starter, who has been in the organization since being drafted in the 11th round out of Mississippi State in 2014, missed the last two weeks of the regular season and the postseason due to a strained lat. This followed his return from surgery in September 2023 on his right shoulder, from which it took him 21 months to fully return. When he did come back, though, it was like he never missed a beat. The two-time All-Star posted a 3.17 FIP in 12 starts, with career bests of a 5.4% walk rate and a 32.3% strikeout rate. He appears to be fully healthy at the start of spring training. Arnold said Woodruff's return played a role in the trade of Freddy Peralta. Grade: A Free-Agent Signing: OF Akil Baddoo to 1-year, $1.25-million contract Given all the outfield depth the Brewers already had, Baddoo was a curious addition. He signed a split contract that will pay him less while he is in the minors, which is probably where he'll spend most of the campaign. The left-handed-hitting outfielder, who mainly plays left, was a success story as a Rule 5 pick before the 2021 season. Baddoo ended up starting 107 and appearing in 124 games for a Tigers team that went 77-85. He put together a .259/.330/.436 line in 2021, hitting 13 homers, driving in 55 runs and stealing 18 bases in 22 attempts. But those numbers plummeted over the next four seasons, as he put up a combined .201/.288/.323 mark with 15 homers, 49 RBIs and 25 steals in 223 games. He was designated for assignment by the Tigers after the 2024 season, but returned on a minor-league deal and played in just seven MLB games in 2025. Baddoo is simply a depth piece, in case injuries take their toll on the outfield. Grade: C- Trade: LHP Ángel Zerpa acquired from Royals for OF Isaac Collins and RHP Nick Mears This deal had fans scratching their heads. Collins is coming off a surprising 2025 in which he finished fourth in the NL Rookie of the Year voting, but also wasn't a big part of their postseason lineup, getting 10 plate appearances over seven games. Mears had arguably the best of his six MLB seasons, with a career-high 63 appearances and career-low 0.97 WHIP to go along with a 3.86 FIP (3.49 ERA). But in Zerpa, the Brewers saw a left-hander who could either relieve or start and had an additional year of control over Mears. Unlike Mears, Zerpa can also be optioned to the minors. Collins, a superb defender perhaps squeezed out of regular playing time with a healthy Mitchell, still has five more years of club control, but probably wouldn't have been in the team's plans for more than two of those years. Zerpa has 129 appearances over the last two seasons with the Royals, with FIPs of 3.97 in 2024 and 3.86 in 2025. With some fine-tuning, perhaps more can be unlocked with Zerpa. As a sinkerballer, he should work well with the Brewers' stellar infield defense. Zerpa could work his way into a role as the top lefty in Pat Murphy's bullpen, pending the roles, health and performance of Jared Koenig and Aaron Ashby. Grade: B- Trade: IF-OF Jett Williams and RHP Brandon Sproat acquired from Mets for RHP Freddy Peralta and RHP Tobias Myers This was the headline move of the offseason, and one on which speculation began just hours after the Brewers were eliminated from the postseason by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Losing Peralta is a tough blow to the team in general and the rotation, specifically. Peralta grew from a fresh-faced rookie with braces to a clubhouse leader and two-time Opening Day starting pitcher who led the NL in wins in 2025. Those are the attributes that also made him attractive to other teams, augmented by the fact that he's set to make a very affordable $8 million in 2026. Myers didn't have a guaranteed spot on the big-league staff, as a starter or reliever, so his loss is minimal—especially given the other notable move the team made, after this one. In exchange, Arnold extracted two of the Mets' top five prospects, in infielder-outfielder Jett Williams and right-handed starter Brandon Sproat. While Williams is the better (at least more highly rated) of the two prospects, Sproat will get most of the attention immediately; he's in competition for the rotation spot vacated by the very trade in which he arrived. A specialist at inducing grounders, Sproat is seen more as a No. 3-type starter than as a potential ace, but the team seems fine with that. H made his big-league debut in 2025, with four late-season starts for the Mets. Williams, however, is more dynamic. Think of a right-handed-hitting Sal Frelick with a bit more power and more of a threat to steal bases, while being able to play either middle-infield spot or center. Williams had 34 games at Triple-A in 2025, so he probably needs a bit more seasoning before joining the parent club. That also suits the Brewers, as they don't have a need up the middle at the moment. Williams is likely to get some work at third base following the Caleb Durbin trade, though they've also patched the hole that move briefly created. Grade: B+ Trade: LHP Kyle Harrison, IF David Hamilton and LHP Shane Drohan acquired from Red Sox for 3B Caleb Durbin, IF Andruw Monasterio and IF Anthony Seigler This one hit like a surprise snowstorm in late April (or, I guess, a heat wave in February). The Brewers took Durbin, the third-place finisher in last year's NL Rookie of the Year voting, and two spare-part infielders, and acquired a similar utility player and two left-handed starting pitchers who have a ton of potential. Durbin was the guts of the return in the Devin Williams trade with the New York Yankees following the 2024 season. He was bypassed in spring training by Vinny Capra and Oliver Dunn, partially because Capra was out of options but partially, too, because it didn't look like Durbin could handle third base defensively. But it was Durbin who was one of the underlying stars of the Brewers' run to an MLB-best 97 wins, making leaps and bounds with the glove and being enough of an offensive contributor to keep the line moving. His departure left a gap at the hot corner just days before pitchers and catchers were to report. Monasterio was a solid backup infielder, but his days were numbered, anyway. Seigler was a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency guy, with more versatility than real utility. Getting Harrison is the initial headline of this deal. He was part of the four-player return the Red Sox got in the Rafael Devers trade with the San Francisco Giants—three of whom are now with yet another organization. Harrison, just two years removed from being the Giants' No. 1 prospect, still has five years of club control, though he's already made 37 MLB starts and five relief appearances since debuting in 2023. He has a career 4.43 FIP and, like Zerpa, could benefit from Milwaukee's strong developmental infrastructure, though he already benefited from Boston's, too. Hamilton returns to the Brewers' organization (he was shipped, along with Jackie Bradley Jr. and another prospect, to the Red Sox for Hunter Renfroe after the 2021 season), and is the favorite to be the Monasterio replacement as the backup infielder. Drohan is the piece in this deal to keep an eye on. He has battled some injuries, but had a nice stint at Triple-A in 2025 to increase his value. Was this a deal that needed to be made? No. Was it one that could pay off handsomely for the Crew? Most definitely, especially if you believe that what Durbin showed in 2025 was close to his ceiling. Grade: A- Free-Agent Signing: C Gary Sánchez to a 1-year, $1.5 million contract Sánchez returned a day before pitchers and catchers reported, for a minimal price. He figures to get most of his action as a pinch-hitter, as William Contreras hates taking a day off and Christian Yelich seems locked into the designated hitter role. Sánchez can still provide the long ball and is a solid backup catcher, as the Crew found out in 2024. It might be that Contreras finally plays less this year, whether he likes it or not. Grade: B- Conclusion The moves executed by Arnold and his front office this offseason felt like efforts to optimize the team's chances in the medium term, even if that meant getting very slightly worse in the short term. However, the underlying logic of each move seems sound. The best move of the offseason could be bringing back Woodruff to sit atop the rotation. He is likely to be the Opening Day starter for the third time (2020, 2021), as long as he truly is healthy—even if that honor is conferred more out of deference to his veteran bona fides than because he's expected to be the ace. If he can stay in the rotation for the whole season, the signing will stand out. But it also could stand out for the wrong reasons, if Woodruff's shoulder has more issues. Zerpa, Harrison and Sproat are the newcomers likely to have the most impact in 2026. While fans might have rather seen Peralta sign an extension and Durbin still holding down third base, this is what the Brewers do, and why they have won three straight NL Central championships. Final grade: B View the full article

JUPITER, FL—Kyle Stowers drew attention during his first spring training in the Miami Marlins organization, but for the wrong reasons. In Grapefruit League games, he went 7-for-40 with a .540 OPS and looked like a candidate to be optioned to the minor leagues. It was a continuation of the 2024 season in terms of being unable to unlock the raw power that the Marlins desperately needed to add to their lineup. One year later, as Marlins position players reported to camp for Monday's first full-squad workout, Stowers was surrounded by reporters at his clubhouse locker and by fans once the workout began. That's what happens when you slash .288/.368/.544/.912 with 25 home runs, 73 RBI and a 149 wRC+ in what was an All-Star-worthy 2025 season. "I think the good news is, if I played poorly in spring, everyone would be like, 'Oh, he's right on pace with last year,'" Stowers said jokingly. "Kyle just went out there and continually made adjustments," said manager Clayton McCullough. "And he's gonna have to make adjustments again this year...If you don't adjust in the major leagues, you won't last long." Stowers and the Marlins were engaged in contract extension talks this offseason. The Athletic reported that the sides were far apart, with Stowers' camp asking for about $100M and the Marlins valuing him closer to $50M. The 28-year-old outfielder confirmed that no formal offer was made and disputed the $100M figure. "I'm just so focused on this year," said Stowers. "I got four years of control left. I understand it and you have every right to play my control out. I'm just so excited to be here, so grateful to be in this organization. Was bummed we didn't get something figured out. Would love to someday, but at the same time, let's take care of this year and we'll go from there." Stowers missed the final quarter of the season due to an oblique strain, but comes into camp 100% healthy. He will not let himself "lose the competitive side of things" just because his roster spot is more secure entering 2026. Marlins principal owner Bruce Sherman applied some extra pressure during his Monday morning press conference, saying that "our expectations are really high for him." Becoming a father for the first time earlier this month gives him even more motivation to avoid complacency. "I've gone into every single spring training my entire career to compete for a job...It's not a passive process. I don't want to lose that edge." Stowers expects his teammates to adopt a similar mentality despite the Marlins' 17-win improvement from the year before. "The reality of it is all 30 teams are trying to get better. From the Dodgers to the last-place team, every single team at the end of the season looks to improve," said Stowers. "The notion that because we won however many games one year, then that many the next, there's not going to be that same guarantee of increase, and we know that. You got to have hunger to go earn it and continue to get as much as we can out of each day." Quick Notes - Miami Marlins chairman and principle owner Bruce Sherman and president of baseball operations Peter Bendix addressed the media. - All 72 players who were invited to Marlins camp have reported on time, per Clayton McCullough. - The following pitchers threw on Monday: Braxton Garrett, Eury Pérez, Pete Fairbanks, Garrett Acton, Michael Petersen, Bradley Blalock, Patrick Monteverde, Thomas White, Josh White, Dale Stanavich and Karson Milbrandt. - Monday was also our first opportunity to see Griffin Conine and Christopher Morel participating in defensive drills as first basemen. Neither of them have any prior professional experience at the position. View the full article

Monday is supposed to be a day of excitement and hope across Twins Territory. Pitchers and catchers reported last week, and now the remaining position players have joined them. However, there was a noticeable shift in energy at Twins camp on Monday morning. After the first full squad workout of the spring, some concern crept into the clubhouse when Pablo López walked off the mound during a live batting practice session and reported elbow soreness. The right-hander had been scheduled to throw three simulated innings, which represented a heavier workload than most pitchers in camp as he prepares to pitch for Team Venezuela in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. According to the Star Tribune, everything appeared routine until the second pitch of his third inning. That was when López alerted pitching coach Pete Maki to how his elbow felt. Moments later, he walked off the mound, and the session came to an abrupt end. Manager Derek Shelton told reporters that López will undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the issue. "Obviously, it's February 16," Shelton said. "After he and Pete talked, we decided, out of an abundance of caution, let's get him off the field and make sure he's OK. We'll get some imaging on it, just because of how important it is and he is to us. I think we'll have more information as we go along." If López is forced to shut down from throwing, it would likely take him out of participation in the World Baseball Classic and could put his Opening Day availability in jeopardy. That would be a significant development for Minnesota, given that López has taken the ball on Opening Day in each of the past three seasons and has established himself as the anchor of the rotation. Last week, López spoke on Inside Twins about how excited he was to represent Venezuela on an international stage. He reflected on his youth and the disappointment of being left off All-Star teams earlier in his career and noted how meaningful it would be to pitch for his country alongside a strong roster and coaching staff. On that episode, López was asked about how he felt entering the season. He reiterated that many of the tests he was doing this winter proved that he was “in the best shape of his life.” That can become a cliche during early spring workouts, but it was clear that he felt better than he had in a long time, especially after injuries limited him to 14 starts last season. Shelton recently emphasized just how vital he is to the Twins' pitching puzzle this spring as the club works through multiple moving pieces on the staff. "I don't know if anybody in that room takes care of himself as well as Pablo does, not only during the season, but in the offseason," Shelton said. "The fact he has awareness of his body, and he and Pete have a strong relationship, and they were able to have a conversation that was like, 'Let's hold off, and take a look here.' " Spring training injuries always feel amplified, especially when they involve the arm of a frontline starter. For now, the Twins will wait on imaging results and hope that an early February scare does not turn into a March setback. The organization built its rotation around López’s reliability and presence atop the staff, and any missed time would create a ripple effect throughout camp. The best-case scenario is that Monday becomes a reminder of why caution matters in February rather than the first chapter of a much larger concern for Minnesota’s pitching plans in 2026. Check back at Twins Daily for more updates as they become available. View the full article

The Miami Marlins will recognize Josh Beckett's contributions to the franchise by inducting him into the team's Hall of Fame this September. A former No. 2 overall MLB Draft pick of the Fish, the Texas right-hander had some inconsistencies during his career, both health-wise and performance-wise, but he peaked as one of MLB's best starters and repeatedly elevated his game in the postseason. Beckett's inclusion in the 2026 HOF class got us wondering: Is he the best homegrown pitcher in franchise history is? Before we get started, we must define what it means to be "homegrown." These are players who were acquired by the Marlins as amateurs either through the draft or international free agency. Since 1992, the Marlins have selected 806 pitchers in the draft and hundreds more internationally. That rules out prominent names like Kevin Brown, Dontrelle Willis, Ricky Nolasco, Aníbal Sánchez, and Sandy Alcantara, as their professional careers commenced with other organizations. This is a discussion reserved for the farm-raised hurlers who had big league success with the organization. To be paid to play baseball professionally is an accomplishment of its own, even more fulfilling if that dream is one day realized at the highest level. But to get to the major leagues and succeed is beyond what most people's imagination would allow for. The "Just Missed" Edward Cabrera (Dominican Republic) would hold the title for best international pitcher signed by the Marlins, as his 7.1 bWAR ranks first among such players. However, being traded to the Chicago Cubs ahead of the 2026 season means we won't be privileged to bask in the fruit of his 2025 breakout. In a career-high 137 ⅓ innings, Cabrera posted a 3.53 ERA, striking out nearly 10 batters per nine innings. In a similarly valuable vein, Brad Penny, worth 8.1 WAR during his Marlins tenure, could potentially have found his way into the conversation had he not been dealt to the Dodgers at the 2004 trade deadline. Penny posted a trio of near-three-win seasons between 2001 and 2004, including a 2003 season where he pitched to a 2.19 ERA in the club's World Series triumph over the New York Yankees. In the years that immediately followed his departure from 2005 to 2007, Penny experienced his longest sustained run of success, pitching to a 117 ERA+ and making a pair of All-Star teams. Among MLB pitchers to throw at least 500 innings in that span, Penny's 11.3 bWAR ranked 21st, sandwiching him between two future former Marlins, Dan Haren and Javier Vázquez. If we're accounting for relievers, as well, then AJ Ramos is worth mentioning. His 6.6 bWAR is the most among all relief pitchers originally drafted or signed by Miami, and his 2.78 ERA trails only Kevin Brown (2.30) and the late-José Fernández (2.58) for third-lowest among pitchers to throw at least 300 innings for the team. The Big Three The aforementioned Beckett drew comparisons to Nolan Ryan and raced through the minor leagues before debuting with the Marlins at the end of the 2001 season. Beckett was one of just eight pitchers to throw 135 or more innings and finish with an ERA below 4.00 in each season between 2003 and 2005. He is best remembered for his series-clinching shutout thrown on three days' rest in Game 6 of the '03 World Series While his body of work leaves some to be desired for this discussion—a 3.46 ERA and 10.7 bWAR in 609 innings—Beckett's place in Marlins lore is firmly entrenched. Beckett was very briefly teammates with another exceptional "Josh," Josh Johnson. Not only is Johnson's 25.8 bWAR the most of any homegrown Marlins arm, but it's also the highest of any pitcher in the franchise's history. At his best, Johnson was on the short list of best pitchers in baseball. Some notes to illustrate this: - Who are the only two National League pitchers to win the ERA title between 2010 and 2014? Clayton Kershaw, who did it every year from 2011 to 2014, and Johnson, who finished with a 2.30 ERA in a seven-win 2010 season. Were it not for a back injury that limited him to 183 ⅔ innings, Johnson had a case for the first Cy Young in franchise history, ultimately finishing fifth. - Of the 91 pitchers to throw at least 500 innings between 2008 and 2011, only the late Roy Halladay (2.59) and Adam Wainwright (2.68) had a lower ERA than Johnson's 2.80, and his 22.4 bWAR between 2008 and 2012 was the ninth-highest mark in baseball. While injuries took their hold of Johnson far too soon, he was a rare breed. And then, there was Niño. José Fernández exuded so much flare and sheer joy when playing the game. He was also among the most automatic pitchers the game had seen to that point. In merely 471 ⅓ innings he threw in his short life, Fernández dominated, posting a 2.58 ERA and even more impressive 2.44 FIP. In each of his four big league seasons, Fernández finished with an ERA and FIP below 3.00. Of the 109 hurlers to throw at least 450 innings between 2013 and 2016, only three—Clayton Kershaw, Max Scherzer, and Fernández—finished with a sub-3.00 ERA and better than 10 K/9. With his death in 2016 at only 24 years old, a dark cloud was cast over the city of Miami and Major League Baseball. It still lingers as we approach 10 years since that fateful September day. And the Winner is... Are we rewarding longevity? Peak success? Unrealized talent? I defer to the former, as many a player can find their way to a successful season or two, but to do it consistently is the true separator. And for that, the distinction of "best homegrown pitcher in Marlins franchise history" goes to Josh Johnson. Not only are Johnson's 916 ⅔ innings the fourth-most in franchise history, but his 3.15 ERA is still third when setting the minimum number of innings to 450. Even on a per-inning basis, Johnson's 0.028 bWAR/IP lightly edges out Fernández's 0.0278. Active Contenders The Marlins have a slew of young, promising arms poised to make an impact on the club. Thomas White and Robby Snelling as big leaguers is all but a formality at this point. Kevin Defrank, though only 17, already boasts a fastball that touches triple digits. Noble Meyer, the club's first-round pick in 2023, has been a mixed bag since turning pro, but there's enough there via his mitigation of hits and ability to induce whiffs to suggest he can be better moving forward. Not yet 23 years old but far removed from prospect status, Eury Pérez already owns a 3.71 ERA and 3.9 bWAR in a hair more than season's worth of innings. Then there's Braxton Garrett, one of the better Marlins pitchers between 2023 and 2024, where he posted a 124 ERA+ and 5.6 bWAR. A rebound 2026 after missing all of 2025 due to injury could see him sneak his way into the conversation. View the full article

Connor Prielipp was the 48th overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, and at one point, he looked like he might go first overall. He’s currently the Twins’ No. 5 prospect and a top-100 overall prospect according to ESPN and Baseball America. On paper, he fits the mold: 6’2”, 210 pounds, left-handed, and armed with multiple swing-and-miss pitches. But his path hasn’t been smooth, and the reason starts early. As a 19-year-old true freshman at the University of Alabama, Prielipp was untouchable. In 21 innings, he didn’t allow a single run. He struck out 35, walked six, and gave up just five hits. It was absurd. At that point, the conversation wasn’t whether he’d be a first-round pick; it was whether he’d go No. 1 overall. Then came 2021. He was limited to seven innings as a sophomore before undergoing Tommy John surgery. Just like that, his trajectory shifted from a fast-rising ace to a rehab project. After recovering from Tommy John, Prielipp made his professional debut in 2023. But after just 6.2 innings, he underwent internal brace surgery to reinforce his surgically repaired UCL. Another setback, and another reset. So before he had even logged meaningful professional innings, he had already endured two significant elbow procedures. That context matters when evaluating everything that’s come since. We finally got a slightly longer look late in 2024. He threw 23.1 innings, 19 at High-A, finishing with a 2.70 ERA and 41 strikeouts against just seven walks. That looked like the Connor Prielipp the Twins drafted; attacking hitters and missing bats at a high clip. And the advanced numbers supported it. During that 2024 stretch, he posted a swinging-strike rate north of 24% and a CSW% (called strikes plus whiffs) around 38%. Those are elite bat-missing indicators, especially for someone working back from major elbow surgery. But the stuff has never been the issue. Prielipp throws a four-pitch mix: fastball, slider, sinker, and changeup. His fastball typically sits 94-95 mph and can touch 97. It’s a strong pitch, but the slider is the headliner. On the 20-80 scouting scale, where 50 is league average and 80 is elite, his slider earns a 70. That’s firmly in plus-plus territory, and it’s quite literally one of the best sliders in professional baseball. His fastball carries a 60 grade, and his changeup sits around 55. The underlying data backs those grades up. Last season, he generated a 56% swing-and-miss rate on his slider and a 62% swing-and-miss rate on his changeup when hitters offered. When he’s ahead in the count, he has very legitimate put-away pitches. The overall dominance dipped in 2025. He climbed to Triple-A, throwing 82.2 innings across Double-A and Triple-A with a 4.03 ERA and 98 strikeouts against 31 walks. The strikeouts show the upside, and the stuff still plays. But perhaps most importantly, as Prielipp himself even acknowledged, was staying healthy. "Yeah, like you said, it was a good last year. The main thing for me was just to stay healthy through a full season, and I accomplished that." The concern last season wasn't health-related; it was the 94 hits he allowed and his 1.51 WHIP. A major reason for that was a .394 batting average allowed on balls in play, an extraordinarily high number that’s almost certain to regress. His fielding independent pitching (FIP) sat comfortably lower than his ERA, and his left-on-base rate was under 70%, suggesting some poor sequencing luck. Luckily, improvement doesn’t require a complete overhaul again; it requires tightening command and getting more neutral batted-ball outcomes. Even in 2025, his strikeout-minus-walk profile remained solid, reinforcing that his ability to overpower hitters is very real. But when he misses in the zone, high-level hitters can make him pay. Cleaning up command, especially when ahead in counts, will determine whether he takes another step. One interesting note: he threw his slider roughly a third of the time, more than any other pitch in his arsenal. Given his elbow history, that might raise eyebrows since sliders can be taxing. But when you have a 70-grade pitch that generates that many whiffs, it’s hard not to lean on it. In shorter bursts, that pitch could become even more devastating. Which brings us to the bigger question: what is Connor Prielipp long term? When asked about it, he addressed it directly. "So far, I'm told I'm being built up as a starter, so I'm cool with that plan, and we'll see where it goes." 34 of his 35 minor league appearances have been starts. He was drafted as a starter, but between the injury history and the Twins’ rotation depth, it’s fair to wonder if Prielipp's future is in the bullpen. That’s where I personally tend to lean. He’s made just one minor league start where he pitched into the sixth inning. I understand minor league pitchers often work shorter outings, especially while building back up from surgery. But when your average start hovers around three innings, projecting a traditional 180-inning major league starter becomes difficult. That doesn’t mean he can’t be a difference-maker. In fact, he could thrive in a late-inning role. Plenty of elite relievers dominate with two or three pitches. Prielipp has three above-league-average offerings that all move differently and play off each other. The fastball can overpower. The slider can put hitters away. The changeup neutralizes right-handers. In one or two inning bursts, that mix could be electric. He’ll likely open 2026 in Triple-A. But health permitting, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him in the majors at some point during the season, even if it’s a limited look. At this stage, the priority isn’t defining his role; it’s staying healthy and stacking innings. He’s absolutely one of those prospects with massive upside. If everything clicks and his arm holds up, he could anchor the back end of a bullpen, or perhaps carve out a role as a starter. But he’s also the type of arm where, if injuries resurface, we might look back years from now and wonder what could have been. That’s the battle with high-upside pitching prospects. The talent is obvious. The advanced metrics confirm it. Now it’s about durability and refinement. If his left arm cooperates, Connor Prielipp has the tools to be a real impact piece for the Twins someday. And that’s why he remains one of the most fascinating arms in the system. View the full article

The close we get to Opening Day, the more projection systems help illuminate the path (and the season) ahead. PECOTA, for example, loves the Cubs in the 2026 season and thinks they have a 72.5% chance to win their division. However, within that single projection, PECOTA is telling you that the Cubs still have a 27.5% chance of not winning the division. and even a 13.4% chance of missing the playoffs altogether. This is just one system, others will have different outlooks on what the Cubs might be. So, what does the worst-case scenario for the 2026 Chicago Cubs look like? Conversely, what would the best-case scenario look like? Can the team win a World Series? Can they miss the playoffs entirely? Together, let's peer into the crystal ball. What does the worst-case scenario look like for the Cubs? The 2026 season starts with hope, and an immediate boost thereto. The team has an early six-game homestand facing the lowly Nationals and Angels. Alas, cold weather in northern Illinois begins to derail the season right away, as Pete Crow-Armstrong pulls a hamstring in frigid Chicago temperatures, forcing rookie Kevin Alcántara into starting duty. The injury keeps the Cubs' center fielder out through May, as the team is cautious bringing him back, and Alcántara struggles to stay afloat. The team let at least one of Chas McCormick and Dylan Carlson leave at the end of spring training, and Justin Dean offers no relief. While Crow-Armstrong eventually returns, the hamstring injury hurts his defense and speed and the lefty has a down season. PECOTA's depth charts project Alcántara and Dean for a combined 385 plate appearances, and Crow-Armstrong for 595. In this scenario, those numbers get reversed. Pitching-wise, the injury bug bites and the itch spreads. Matthew Boyd, fresh off the most productive season of his career, suffers from early-season arm fatigue, with his velocity dipping two ticks on the radar gun. In an effort to give the hurler some time to recover, Colin Rea jumps into the rotation but cannot reproduce his excellent 2025, either. The most tragic of the injuries happens a little later when Edward Cabrera feels something tugging in his elbow. An MRI reveals the worst-case scenario; it's Tommy John surgery for the newest Cub in the rotation. Before it's officially summer, the Cubs have lost their prized pitching addition. Hope begins to turn to frustration, as the much-anticipated return of Justin Steele takes longer than hoped. Steele, much like Boyd, shows diminished velocity in rehab starts in Iowa. After three or four starts, it's clear he's not entirely right yet, so the Cubs shut him down for a few extra weeks. The left-hander eventually returns to his pre-surgery velocity, but it's already July and the team is in a hole. Just up the interstate, Milwaukee has once again turned lemons into lemonade. Kyle Harrison, the once-ballyhooed prospect in San Francisco has added a little velocity and looks like a menace. The Brewers have also found a few more short kings to plug into their lineup and hold a four-game lead over the Cubs headed into the All-Star-Break; there's no stopping that machine. The upstart Pirates nip at the Cubs' heels as well. Jed Hoyer, hoping that the second half of the season will see a return to health for Crow-Armstrong, Boyd, and Steele, mostly sits the deadline out, choosing to add a few depth arms to the bullpen and half-heartedly upgrade the bench. Disaster strikes in mid-August, just as it seems like the Cubs are gaining momentum; Alex Bregman gets hit with a 95-mph fastball, breaking his wrist. While Matt Shaw has been an upgrade over 2025 nightmares Jon Berti and Vidal Bruján on the bench, his low-90s wRC+ doesn't include the second-half pop he had in 2025. Bouncing around the diamond has made his defense more suspect. He's not terrible, but the loss of the Cubs' newfound leader is profound. The Cubs have lost both of their biggest offseason additions. V0F3ZFpfWGw0TUFRPT1fVXdjRFhBWURWZ2NBWEZvS1Z3QUhCZ0FDQUZsV1cxTUFBVndDQ0FaUkF3SUJWZ2RS.mp4 August and September begin a downward slide. While the team never truly flatlines, they are an unexciting, frustrating mess. For every 8-run outburst or defensive masterclass, they drop a 2-1 tilt to the Reds, or surrender six to the Pirates at home. Watching becomes a chore, but the team remains just close enough you can never stop watching. When October starts, the Cubs are left out of the playoffs. They finish third in the division, a handful of games behind both Milwaukee and Pittsburgh, with 81 wins. Injuries are mostly to blame, but Ballesteros was just okay; Shaw is unable to sustain gains made last year; Cade Horton's unable to beat his xFIP like he did in 2025; and many of the Cubs' young players will now enter a winter lockout with big questions hanging over them. Fans rage at the team for extending Hoyer last summer. Many wonder if the team will have the same resources in the upcoming offseason that they had this time, to retain players such as Nico Hoerner, Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki. What does the best case scenario for the Cubs look like? On the sunny side of Future Street, the Cubs exit spring training with no notable injuries. March 26 is unseasonably warm on the lakefront, with the thermometer reading a balmy 52° F. Alex Bregman, in his first home at-bat as a Cub, sends a ball 105 mph off the bat into the bleachers in left-center; the Wrigley faithful goes wild. The Cubs win a laugher, posting double-digit runs, and everything snowballs from there. In an inversion of last year's gauntlet of a start, the team faces only one playoff team from last season in their first 25 games (the aging, injury-depleted Philadelphia Phillies) and get off to an early NL Central lead. 343d734c-094ec5e3-29839735-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4 As the temperature warms, the Cubs remain hot. Offensively, Ballesteros looks like the real deal; Shaw's bat looks like the guy who showed up post-All-Star break last year; and Bregman is the stick that stirs the coffee. Pitching-wise, the Cubs have a two-headed monster at the top of the rotation, as a healthy Cabrera and Horton have both come into their own. The pitching staff requires some Colin Rea interventions, as others in the rotation have small, annoying injuries, but nothing major. Justin Steele continues a smooth rehab, and by the end of May, he's on the cusp of a return. When Jameson Taillon pulls a quad fielding a ball, the lefty is called to the rescue and the Cubs add another excellent arm to the equation. When the All-Star break begins, the Cubs feature heavily in the festivities. Pete Crow-Armstrong and Bregman are selected via fan vote. Hoerner, Horton, Cabrera and Daniel Palencia all make the team, and it's clear to all that Michael Busch got snubbed. In the standings, the Cubs have the second-best record in the NL, while it's clear that at least for this year. the Brewers' pixie dust has run out. The North Siders have no major injuries come July, and the teams add a resurgent AJ Puk from a despondent Arizona Diamondbacks team to round out the bullpen. This team is cruising, and the vibes are great. 445951f4-90da5b2f-2b45ba19-csvm-diamondgcp-asset-4000K.mp4 By September, the division is all but sewn up. The Brewers are in a second-place battle with the Pirates, but both teams are barely on the periphery of the Wild Card race. This allows the Cubs to rest players where they can and give valuable innings to top prospect Jaxon Wiggins. The team enters the playoffs rested, with the second seed in the NL. The Dodgers were good, but haven't been the dominating force many thought they were. The Cubs easily dispatch their first foe in the playoffs in just four games, setting up a date with the new Evil Empire out west. In what is a very hard-fought battle, the Cubs persevere and upset the two-time defending champs. No one player plays hero; but in a full-team effort, the visitors win a decisive Game 7, sending the team to the World Series. Surpassingly, an 83-win Baltimore team has gotten hot and found themselves between the Cubs and a championship. Sadly for the Orioles, they run out of steam. Chicago grounds the Birds in six games, winning the Series in front of their home crowd. Who cares about the impending lockout? The Cubs have climbed the mountain. Celebrate, rejoice and enjoy; we'll worry about the rest later. If your first thought is that these are extreme outcomes and are unlikely: of course they are! Remember, these are the "best" and the "worst" scenarios. For better and worse, both are plausible, however unlikely they may be. PECOTA gives the Cubs a 7% chance to win the World Series and a 17% chance to miss the playoffs outright; neither of these outcomes are impossible. The 2026 season will likely fall somewhere between the best and the worst cases. There will be injuries at inopportune times, to important players. There will be players who overachieve, and some who disappoint. This a very good baseball team, but likely not an elite one. Even in the best-case scenarios I can fathom. they're unlikely to be better over 162 games than the Dodgers. But at the same time, even in the event of the worst-case tailspin, it's probably a team who will offer entertainment and hope until the bitter end. Milwaukee is a good team, probably better than PECOTA thinks they are, but they probably aren't a 95-win team this year, either. Even with injuries, the Cubs have a good roster and should be able to take a few lumps. This is going to be a fun year, but we'll have to wait a little longer to see just how fun it can be. What are your predictions for the 2026 Cubs? Can the best case scenario of winning a Title happen? What's your worst case outcome? Sound off in the comments below! View the full article

As all San Diego Padres fans know, the prospective sale of the franchise — which the Seidler family has been looking into since at least the start of the offseason — has limited what the front office can do to keep this current window of contention open as long as possible. When Mike Shildt stepped down, it was fresh-faced Craig Stammen who replaced him, rather than another veteran with a long history of postseason success. When Dylan Cease left for a $200 million contract in free agency, no blockbuster trade or marquee signing was made in an attempt to fill his vacated spot atop the rotation. And yet, despite so much uncertainty regarding both the team's immediate budget and long-term financial future, president of baseball operations A.J. Preller has left no stone unturned in his attempt to get this franchise over the hump. Forced to prioritize one major free agent, Preller let Cease, Ryan O'Hearn, Robert Suarez, and Luis Arraez walk, instead pivoting to a creative three-year deal with incumbent No. 2 starter Michael King. With practically no depth or major-league ready prospects to speak of, Preller has been unceasing in low-risk signings, bringing in German Marquez, Kyle Hart, Griffin Canning, Triston McKenzie, Marco Gonzales, and Sean Boyle as back-end rotation options for Stammen to pick from. He's also found a way to stretch every dollar the team has at its disposal, adding some much-needed utility to the bench group in Sung-mun Song. In need of more power, especially against left-handed pitchers, he signed Nick Castellanos and Miguel Andujar deep into the winter months. He jumped at the opportunity to try and revitalize the careers of Ty France and Jose Miranda on minor-league deals, and he even got his already-loaded bullpen some reinforcements in Daison Acosta and Ty Adcock. Though it hardly fits the profile of a "masterclass", Preller has shown, with no room left for doubt, that he's as creative as any executive in the game, even when he doesn't have the financial freedom to hand out $300 million contracts or the prospect depth to swing a trade for Craig Kimbrel. Of course, a lot of the very walls closing in on the Padres were built by him over many years of freely wheeling and dealing, but with his back in the corner, the Friars' general manager has used this offseason to keep the team firmly in range of their first World Series title ever. For that great work — plus an impressive track record that now spans more than a decade — the Padres have decided to extend Preller on a multi-year contract, per FanSided's Robert Murray. Originally hired as GM in 2014, Preller is now the second-longest tenured front office chief in baseball, behind only much-maligned Yankees leader Brian Cashman. Though San Diego hasn't been back to the Fall Classic since 1998, Preller has led the franchise to an unprecedented run of success, including four trips to October over the past six years. In 2024 and 2025, the team has also won 90+ games in consecutive seasons for the first time in franchise history. With a sale of the organization is expected to happen sooner or later, having Preller in tow to guide the team through such a tumultuous transition period is indescribably valuable. He may not want to stick around too long after the Seidlers leave town, but knowing he'll be the one calling the shots is the type of reassurance that can keep the Padres from plunging head-first into irrelevancy under a particularly frugal new owner. Of course, the sale isn't the only uncertain thing facing the Padres right now. An MLB lockout is widely expected next offseason, and recent reports suggest it could wipe out most, if not all, of the 2027 season. Whether or not games get played, those contentious Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations will alter the finances of the sport in some irrevocable way, be it a salary cap/floor or harsher luxury tax penalties. That could lead to a painful trimming down of the roster, but it's almost certainly better if Preller is the one shedding weight rather than a new baseball operations lead with a background in finance and cap compliancy. Once described as the "rock star general manager" of baseball, Preller has shown a little more maturity and restraint this offseason, if only because there's no more room in the budget for a big show. We know he still has that wild side to him after last year's trade deadline. And now, the Padres know they'll be in good hands no matter what comes next for them or the league as a whole. View the full article

Marlins principal owner Bruce Sherman and president of baseball operations Peter Bendix speak to the media about the franchise's spending, player development infrastructure and goals for 2026.View the full article

Marlins principal owner Bruce Sherman and president of baseball operations Peter Bendix speak to the media about the franchise's spending, player development infrastructure and goals for 2026.View the full article

Spring training has a funny way of rewarding the prepared. I’m not suggesting you pack your Type A personality on your trip to Fort Myers, but you also don’t want to miss the big stuff. Like eating. Or finding shade. Or seeing your favorite ballplayers up close. That’s why Twins Daily created our Ultimate Minnesota Twins Spring Training Guide, and that’s why we just updated it. Consider it your 2026-ready field manual—tightened, refreshed, and upgraded with the stuff you only learn by being there, because we want you to love Twins spring training as much as we do. The biggest change is that we leaned into specifics for the 2026 season. No more needing to Google when the Hammond Stadium Open House or “Minnesota Day” is: you’ve got the specifics. Also, since 2026 includes the World Baseball Classic, we’ve provided additional tips on the best time to visit. We still have other activities you can do in Fort Myers, besides attending Twins games, and we now have additional tips on baseball-related activities when the Twins are out of town, including which road games are the easiest trips. But maybe even better, we’ve added tips about the best ways to watch your favorite players when they aren’t on the road trips. Of course, that also means updating our favorite restaurants and haunts away from the ballpark, especially in downtown Fort Myers, which is experiencing a bit of a revival. Since many of our readers are craft beer lovers, we are also keeping tabs on our favorite breweries, including the release of a new Twins D-Ale-y Pale Ale and “Beers with Beat Writers” event at Palm City Brewing on February 27th. Best of all, the updates won’t stop today. Like our favorite baseball team, we’re committed to improving over the next few weeks. So check back often and leave your comments so we can get into Major League shape. See you in Fort Myers. Check out the Ultimate Spring Training Guide! View the full article

Marlins manager Clayton McCullough speaks to the media about his philosophy of living in the moment and how he could improve from his rookie season in Miami. View the full article

Marlins manager Clayton McCullough speaks to the media about his philosophy of living in the moment and how he could improve from his rookie season in Miami. View the full article