DiamondCentric

The Arizona Fall League is starting to wind down and in preparation of the end of the season, they have announced their yearly Fall Stars. The Fall Stars Game will be played on Sunday, November 8 as the American League and National League will send the best prospects in the AFL to face off against each other. The Boston Red Sox have one representative out of their eight AFL prospects. Antonio Anderson, who has been one of the best hitters not just on the Mesa Solar Sox but for the entire league, will be taking part in the Fall Stars Game after putting together a fantastic season. He's also going to take part in the AFL's Home Run Derby. So far through 16 games, Anderson is hitting .361/.500/.623 with five doubles, one triple, three home runs and 20 RBIs. He’s also walked 17 times to 20 strikeouts. With Mesa, he currently leads the team in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging, OPS, home runs, and RBIs. He’s also tied for the lead in doubles and walks. Compared to everyone in the fall league, Anderson is tied for fifth in batting average, fourth in on-base percentage, and eighth in slugging and home runs. View the full article

The 2026 season certainly was not the year of the Kansas City Royals. That might be an understatement. After a 69-93 season, it’s back to the drawing board for Kansas City, and with a salary floor likely on the horizon, the Royals are one of many teams that will very likely need to increase their spending this offseason. One way to do that is by improving the bullpen. Kansas City’s relief corps was arguably the worst unit in the league, finishing with a 5.03 ERA, the second-worst mark in baseball. Their 1.53 WHIP and 482 strikeouts were both dead last. With that in mind, let's take a look at three realistic bullpen options the Royals could target this winter. All three are featured on DiamondCentric's 2026-2027 top free agents list, and each could help fix the identity of Kansas City's bullpen. LHP JoJo Romero Kansas City doesn’t really have a proven, reliable left-handed reliever, and Romero could be exactly that. He comes in as DiamondCentric’s 42nd-ranked free agent after another solid season in which he finished with a 3.68 ERA or better for the fourth consecutive year, including a 2.07 mark in 2025. Romero was traded from St. Louis to Milwaukee at this year’s trade deadline, and he’s been a valuable piece of the Brewers’ bullpen down the stretch. He’s helped strengthen a relief corps that has played a major role in Milwaukee’s postseason success. He succeeds primarily by inducing ground balls with his sinker, which features plenty of movement alongside his sweeper and changeup. He consistently produces one of the highest ground-ball rates in the league, and while his fielding-independent pitching (FIP) tends to sit a bit higher than his ERA, he’s still a useful late-inning option. The Royals also have a quality defensive infield, which could help maximize Romero’s effectiveness. He’s not going to be the top reliever on the market, but his track record of consistency and ability to keep the ball on the ground would be a welcome addition to Kansas City’s bullpen. Romero and the Royals could be a match made in heaven. RHP Jason Adam Adam comes in as DiamondCentric’s 44th-ranked free agent, and like Romero, he’s been about as consistent as they come over the last handful of years. He’s finished with a 2.98 ERA or better every season since 2022, making him an intriguing option for a Royals team that desperately needs dependable relief arms. He frequently pitches backward, leaning heavily on his slider and changeup before mixing in his four-seam fastball. He does a good job of limiting hard contact while keeping the ball on the ground, giving him another avenue to get outs even when he isn’t generating many strikeouts. However, there are some legitimate concerns following his 2026 campaign. Adam missed a good chunk of the season with a shoulder strain and didn't return until the end of September. Across 34 1/3 innings, he posted a 2.62 ERA, but his strikeout rate dropped from 26% in 2025 to just 15.5% this year. His 4.85 FIP was also the highest of his career since his rookie season. His whiff and chase rates remained strong, suggesting his stuff can still be effective, but he wasn't putting hitters away at the same rate. Whether those numbers were the result of his shoulder injury or simply the effects of age remains to be seen. Adam will turn 36 next August, which could also help keep his price down. If his medical evaluations check out and the Royals can get him at a reasonable price, he could be a really strong addition to their bullpen. There's some risk involved, but the potential reward makes him worth considering. LHP Sean Newcomb Newcomb is coming off two really strong seasons in a hybrid role and comes in as DiamondCentric’s 49th-ranked free agent. He’s primarily been used as a bullpen arm, but he’s also made 11 starts over the last year and a half, giving him some valuable versatility. This past season with the White Sox, Newcomb finished with a 3.09 ERA and a 3.21 FIP across 90 1/3 innings. He also recorded 84 strikeouts against 31 walks, showing that he can handle a substantial workload while keeping opposing offenses in check. Like Romero and Adam, Newcomb does a really good job of keeping the ball on the ground and limiting hard contact. He doesn't generate whiffs or chases at an outrageously high rate, but his six-pitch mix helps keep hitters off balance. He also increased his average fastball velocity from 93.3 mph in 2025 to 94.9 mph this past season. He throws from a relatively flat arm angle, allowing his arsenal to generate plenty of arm-side run. Between his sinker, slurve, and ability to mix in different pitches, he appears to have found a niche as a swingman who can provide value in multiple roles. And while he won't be the flashiest name on the market this winter, he's someone who could immediately improve Kansas City's pitching staff. His versatility would give the Royals another option when they need length out of the bullpen, while also providing some insurance in the rotation. The Royals have plenty of work to do this offseason, and the bullpen should be near the top of their priority list. Romero offers a reliable left-handed option, Adam has an impressive track record if he can return to form, and Newcomb brings valuable versatility. If Kansas City can land the right combination of arms, its bullpen could look considerably different in 2027. View the full article View the full article

The 2026 season certainly was not the year of the Kansas City Royals. That might be an understatement. After a 69-93 season, it’s back to the drawing board for Kansas City, and with a salary floor likely on the horizon, the Royals are one of many teams that will very likely need to increase their spending this offseason. One way to do that is by improving the bullpen. Kansas City’s relief corps was arguably the worst unit in the league, finishing with a 5.03 ERA, the second-worst mark in baseball. Their 1.53 WHIP and 482 strikeouts were both dead last. With that in mind, let's take a look at three realistic bullpen options the Royals could target this winter. All three are featured on DiamondCentric's 2026-2027 top free agents list, and each could help fix the identity of Kansas City's bullpen. LHP JoJo Romero Kansas City doesn’t really have a proven, reliable left-handed reliever, and Romero could be exactly that. He comes in as DiamondCentric’s 42nd-ranked free agent after another solid season in which he finished with a 3.68 ERA or better for the fourth consecutive year, including a 2.07 mark in 2025. Romero was traded from St. Louis to Milwaukee at this year’s trade deadline, and he’s been a valuable piece of the Brewers’ bullpen down the stretch. He’s helped strengthen a relief corps that has played a major role in Milwaukee’s postseason success. He succeeds primarily by inducing ground balls with his sinker, which features plenty of movement alongside his sweeper and changeup. He consistently produces one of the highest ground-ball rates in the league, and while his fielding-independent pitching (FIP) tends to sit a bit higher than his ERA, he’s still a useful late-inning option. The Royals also have a quality defensive infield, which could help maximize Romero’s effectiveness. He’s not going to be the top reliever on the market, but his track record of consistency and ability to keep the ball on the ground would be a welcome addition to Kansas City’s bullpen. Romero and the Royals could be a match made in heaven. RHP Jason Adam Adam comes in as DiamondCentric’s 44th-ranked free agent, and like Romero, he’s been about as consistent as they come over the last handful of years. He’s finished with a 2.98 ERA or better every season since 2022, making him an intriguing option for a Royals team that desperately needs dependable relief arms. He frequently pitches backward, leaning heavily on his slider and changeup before mixing in his four-seam fastball. He does a good job of limiting hard contact while keeping the ball on the ground, giving him another avenue to get outs even when he isn’t generating many strikeouts. However, there are some legitimate concerns following his 2026 campaign. Adam missed a good chunk of the season with a shoulder strain and didn't return until the end of September. Across 34 1/3 innings, he posted a 2.62 ERA, but his strikeout rate dropped from 26% in 2025 to just 15.5% this year. His 4.85 FIP was also the highest of his career since his rookie season. His whiff and chase rates remained strong, suggesting his stuff can still be effective, but he wasn't putting hitters away at the same rate. Whether those numbers were the result of his shoulder injury or simply the effects of age remains to be seen. Adam will turn 36 next August, which could also help keep his price down. If his medical evaluations check out and the Royals can get him at a reasonable price, he could be a really strong addition to their bullpen. There's some risk involved, but the potential reward makes him worth considering. LHP Sean Newcomb Newcomb is coming off two really strong seasons in a hybrid role and comes in as DiamondCentric’s 49th-ranked free agent. He’s primarily been used as a bullpen arm, but he’s also made 11 starts over the last year and a half, giving him some valuable versatility. This past season with the White Sox, Newcomb finished with a 3.09 ERA and a 3.21 FIP across 90 1/3 innings. He also recorded 84 strikeouts against 31 walks, showing that he can handle a substantial workload while keeping opposing offenses in check. Like Romero and Adam, Newcomb does a really good job of keeping the ball on the ground and limiting hard contact. He doesn't generate whiffs or chases at an outrageously high rate, but his six-pitch mix helps keep hitters off balance. He also increased his average fastball velocity from 93.3 mph in 2025 to 94.9 mph this past season. He throws from a relatively flat arm angle, allowing his arsenal to generate plenty of arm-side run. Between his sinker, slurve, and ability to mix in different pitches, he appears to have found a niche as a swingman who can provide value in multiple roles. And while he won't be the flashiest name on the market this winter, he's someone who could immediately improve Kansas City's pitching staff. His versatility would give the Royals another option when they need length out of the bullpen, while also providing some insurance in the rotation. The Royals have plenty of work to do this offseason, and the bullpen should be near the top of their priority list. Romero offers a reliable left-handed option, Adam has an impressive track record if he can return to form, and Newcomb brings valuable versatility. If Kansas City can land the right combination of arms, its bullpen could look considerably different in 2027. View the full article View the full article

The Seattle Mariners are turning to an unexpected name to lead their organization into the 2027 season. On Tuesday, November 3, the club announced that former Minnesota Twins draft pick Jason Kanzler had been named its new manager. The 36-year-old becomes the 22nd manager in franchise history and one of the youngest skippers in Major League Baseball. Kanzler's path to a big-league managerial position is anything but traditional. Before building an impressive coaching resume, he spent three seasons playing in the Twins organization. Although he never reached the major leagues as a player, his time in Minnesota helped launch a baseball career that has now taken him to one of the game's most prominent leadership positions. The Twins selected Kanzler in the 20th round of the 2013 MLB Draft out of the University at Buffalo. An outfielder, he spent time with the Gulf Coast League Twins, Cedar Rapids Kernels, and Fort Myers Miracle during his professional playing career. Across 255 minor league games, Kanzler hit .249 with 23 home runs, 109 RBI, and 57 stolen bases. Those numbers might not immediately jump off the page, but Twins fans who followed the organization's minor league system in 2014 might remember one particularly memorable moment. Kanzler helped the Fort Myers Miracle capture the 2014 Florida State League championship. In the deciding Game 4 against the Daytona Cubs, the teams were tied in the 11th inning when Kanzler stepped to the plate. He launched a two-run home run over the center field wall, giving Fort Myers a 4-2 advantage. The Miracle held on to secure the championship, and Kanzler delivered one of the biggest hits in franchise history. His playing career ended after the 2015 season, but Kanzler found another path into professional baseball. He eventually joined the Houston Astros organization in 2019, beginning his coaching career as the hitting coach for their High-A affiliate in Fayetteville. He continued moving up the organizational ladder, becoming the Astros' minor league hitting coordinator in 2021. Houston promoted Kanzler to its major league coaching staff in 2022. He was part of Dusty Baker's staff when the Astros won the World Series, giving him championship experience before reaching his mid-30s. Kanzler remained with Houston through the 2023 season, serving as an assistant hitting coach during his final year. The Chicago Cubs hired Kanzler as their director of player development in 2024. He spent three seasons overseeing the organization's minor league system, working with players and coaches throughout the farm system. That experience added another important layer to his baseball background, providing him with a broader understanding of player development and organizational leadership. Now, Kanzler gets his first opportunity to manage at the professional level. He has never managed a minor league or major league team, making Seattle's decision an unconventional hire. At 36, he is also expected to be the second youngest active manager in baseball, behind Washington Nationals skipper Blake Butera. The Mariners finished the 2026 season with a 76-86 record and moved on from manager Dan Wilson. Kanzler will be tasked with getting the organization back into contention after Seattle reached the American League Championship Series in 2025. For Twins fans, this announcement provides an opportunity to look back at a former draft pick whose baseball journey took several unexpected turns. Kanzler never made it to Target Field as a player, but his time in Minnesota was an important early chapter in his career. From a late-round draft selection to a World Series coach and now a major league manager, his rise through baseball's ranks is an impressive story. View the full article

David Bell is leaving the Blue Jays after two years with the organization, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The former Reds manager joined the Jays as an assistant general manager and vice president of baseball operations during the 2024-25 offseason. Shi Davidi of Sportsnet confirmed the report, adding that Toronto is seeking a new executive to replace Bell in the front office. It's not yet clear if that new hire would take over all of Bell's previous duties. As assistant GM and VP of baseball operations. Bell managed two departments for the Blue Jays: player development and physical & mental performance. According to the Blue Jays' staff directory, the team still employs four VPs of baseball operations and two assistant GMs. View the full article

David Bell is leaving the Blue Jays after two years with the organization, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The former Reds manager joined the Jays as an assistant general manager and vice president of baseball operations during the 2024-25 offseason. Shi Davidi of Sportsnet confirmed the report, adding that Toronto is seeking a new executive to replace Bell in the front office. It's not yet clear if that new hire would take over all of Bell's previous duties. As assistant GM and VP of baseball operations. Bell managed two departments for the Blue Jays: player development and physical & mental performance. According to the Blue Jays' staff directory, the team still employs four VPs of baseball operations and two assistant GMs. View the full article

The Minnesota Twins need bullpen help heading into the 2027 season. That much is obvious. In 2026, the Twins bullpen finished 26th in baseball with a 4.74 ERA; 20th in strikeout rate, at 21.9%; and 29th in walk rate, at 11.2%. By just about any metric, the Twins bullpen was one of the worst in the league. While things improved somewhat in the second half of the season (thanks in large part to the trade deadline acquisitions of Tommy Nance, A.J. Minter, and Jeff Hoffman), the bullpen still ranked just 18th in baseball after the All-Star break. Some major holes still need to be addressed. Hoffman, Andrew Morris, Yoendrys Gómez, and Nance are locked into roster spots heading into next season, but the other four spots in the bullpen are completely up for grabs, with at least a couple of those spots likely needing to be filled through free agency. The question is not whether the Twins need to add a free agent reliever or two, but rather, how high a caliber of reliever they can realistically target. More specifically, do the Twins need to sign someone better than Hoffman to fill the closer role? I'm of the opinion that they do. Hoffman is an excellent reliever, but he has also shown some cracks and a propensity to have a blowup every now and again. Additionally, his injury risk (after undergoing an elbow cleanup this offseason) makes him someone the Twins should probably have an insurance policy for. Counting on Hoffman as the only veteran big arm in the bullpen could backfire if his elbow becomes a recurring concern. Having a pitcher like Hoffman in the setup role, meanwhile, would instantly make him one of the best setup men in baseball. Not needing to rely on him as the team's number one option would make him even more valuable as an elite number two. So, with that in mind, who would be a good fit to fill the closer role for the Twins? That question became a bit more complicated after reports that the two top relievers on the free agent market, Adrian Morejon and David Bednar, received qualifying offers from their current teams. The Twins likely weren't going to pursue either player in the first place, but the draft pick compensation attached to signing them (combined with the likelihood of an expensive multi-year price tag) makes them even less realistic targets. The Twins have shown time and time again that they're unwilling to sign a reliever to a multi-year deal. The last time they did so was in 2018, when they signed Addison Reed. Given the budgetary constraints the Twins continue to place on themselves, committing multiple years to the most unstable position in baseball is not something they have shown a willingness to do, which makes sense. There is a lot of risk involved in handing out multi-year contracts to relievers, and the Twins are not in a position where they can afford to take that kind of risk on a regular basis. There is a free agent available, however, who could fill the closer role for the Minnesota Twins without requiring a multi-year commitment. That pitcher is Raisel Iglesias. Iglesias is a 12-year veteran with plenty of experience closing games, having recorded 297 career saves between the Los Angeles Angels and Atlanta Braves. In his 10 seasons as a full-time closer, Iglesias has posted a 2.72 ERA while striking out 11 batters per nine innings and walking just two. He has been rock solid year after year and is coming off his first All-Star appearance in his age-36 season. Last year, Iglesias posted a 2.55 ERA across 60 innings, saving 34 games, which tied a career high. His four-seam fastball velocity has ticked down a bit, sitting at 94.3 MPH after reaching 96 MPH at his peak, but he is still striking out nearly 10 batters per nine innings, limiting walks (extra important given the Twins' bullpen control issues), and generating plenty of swing and miss. The most enticing part of Iglesias's free agency is his age. At 37 years old, he's likely to be looking at a one-year commitment, rather than a multi-year deal. That commitment will not come cheap, as most projections have him earning somewhere in the $16 million to $17 million range for the 2027 season. That is a significant amount of money for a reliever, especially for a Twins team that has rarely shown a willingness to spend at that level. However, on a one-year deal without the risk of a multi-year commitment, the price becomes much more palatable. Of course, there is risk with signing a 37-year-old to be your closer, but Iglesias really hasn't shown any signs of a drop-off and has historically been a very healthy pitcher. Only twice in his 12-year career has he failed to eclipse 60 innings in a season. A signing like this would give the Twins an elite back end of the bullpen featuring Iglesias, Hoffman, Gómez, and Morris. It would also give the Twins some much-needed insurance behind Hoffman while allowing him to settle into a setup role where he could be even more effective. Rather than relying on Hoffman to be the team's best reliever while also hoping he stays healthy, the Twins could build a bullpen with two legitimate late-inning weapons and a much clearer hierarchy. The Twins have never paid a reliever anywhere close to what it would take to sign Iglesias. That is the biggest obstacle to this idea becoming a reality. But when you can fill one of the biggest holes on your team with an All-Star closer who has been reliable year after year, has postseason experience, and could provide some veteran leadership in the clubhouse, the idea becomes a lot more enticing—especially when you can do it without committing multiple years to him. This would require an investment from Tom Pohald, but he has continued to say he's willing to invest where it makes sense, and it's hard to argue that an investment in plugging the most glaring hole on the roster, while avoiding a multi-year commitment, doesn't make sense. The Twins have plenty of needs heading into 2027, and there are certainly other areas of the roster that will require financial investment. But the bullpen was one of the team's biggest weaknesses in 2026, and it is difficult to imagine the Twins being a legitimate contender next season without making significant improvements. Iglesias would give them a proven closer, allow Hoffman to slide into a more comfortable role, and provide a level of stability that the Twins bullpen has lacked for years. Would you be willing to see the Twins spend $16 million to $17 million on Raisel Iglesias, if it meant only committing to one year? Or is that simply too much money for a reliever, even one of Iglesias' caliber? Leave a comment below and start the conversation! View the full article

Two San Diego Padres prospects will get a little extra work in this weekend at the Arizona Fall League. Outfielder Alex McCoy and right-handed starter Kannon Kemp were named to Sunday's Fall Stars Game. They will be on the NL team. McCoy will also participate in Saturday's Home Run Derby. McCoy, Padres Mission's No. 8 prospect, has been one of the overall standouts of the Arizona Fall League with his tremendous exit velocities. An undrafted free agent who just completed his first full pro season, McCoy has put together a .283/.409/.660 slash line in the AFL entering Wednesday, with his five homers tied for second in the AFL. McCoy is also tied for the Peoria Javelinas lead with 16 RBIs. Kemp was using the AFL to make up for lost time this year. The 22-year-old, an eighth-round draft choice in 2023, was sidelined until June due to an oblique injury. Kemp has made five starts, striking out 14 and walking eight over 13 innings for a 6.23 ERA. Seven of the 10 runs he has allowed came in two outings. Saturday's Home Run Derby is at 5:30 p.m. PT, while Sunday's Fall Stars Game is at 5 p.m. PT. The Fall Stars Game will be carried by MLB Network. View the full article

Two San Diego Padres prospects will get a little extra work in this weekend at the Arizona Fall League. And there could be a third. Outfielder Alex McCoy and right-handed starter Kannon Kemp were named to Sunday's Fall Stars Game. They will be on the NL team. McCoy will also participate in Saturday's Home Run Derby. Shortstop Justin DeCriscio is on the ballot for the final spot on the NL team. He is up against two other players, both Los Angeles Dodgers prospects, so you know what to do, Padres fans. McCoy, Padres Mission's No. 8 prospect, has been one of the overall standouts of the Arizona Fall League with his tremendous exit velocities. An undrafted free agent who just completed his first full pro season, McCoy has put together a .283/.409/.660 slash line in the AFL entering Wednesday, with his five homers tied for second in the AFL. McCoy is also tied for the Peoria Javelinas lead with 16 RBIs. Kemp was using the AFL to make up for lost time this year. The 22-year-old, an eighth-round draft choice in 2023, was sidelined until June due to an oblique injury. Kemp has made five starts, striking out 14 and walking eight over 13 innings for a 6.23 ERA. Seven of the 10 runs he has allowed came in two outings. DeCriscio is slashing .268/.388/.537 with three homers and 14 RBIs in 12 games. He hit a grand slam as part of a two-homer, six-RBI day last week. Saturday's Home Run Derby is at 5:30 p.m. PT, while Sunday's Fall Stars Game is at 5 p.m. PT. The Fall Stars Game will be carried by MLB Network. View the full article

The Arizona Fall League has been a gold mine for the majority of the five New York Mets pitchers sent to the desert, and today two of them were given All-Star honors. Irving Cota has been largely dominant in his time with the Surprise Saguaros. In 12.2 innings, Cota has 15 strikeouts and a 0.87 WHIP. While he has dealt with some recent struggles, a Fall Stars recognition was still deserved after his dominant start to his fall campaign. Ryan Lambert has also been dominant this fall, still not allowing a hit or earned run in six innings of work. Lambert has also accumulated 10 strikeouts in that span. He was supposed to be called to the big leagues at one point this past season, but struggles delayed that from happening. With the huge fall that he is having, Lambert is putting himself on track for another shot at a potential call-up. The Fall Stars Game will happen this Sunday, Nov. 8, at 8pm EST. View the full article

The Arizona Fall League has been a gold mine for the majority of the five New York Mets pitchers sent to the desert, and today two of them were given All-Star honors. Irving Cota has been largely dominant in his time with the Surprise Saguaros. In 12.2 innings, Cota has 15 strikeouts and a 0.87 WHIP. While he has dealt with some recent struggles, a Fall Stars recognition was still deserved after his dominant start to his fall campaign. Ryan Lambert has also been dominant this fall, still not allowing a hit or earned run in six innings of work. Lambert has also accumulated 10 strikeouts in that span. He was supposed to be called to the big leagues at one point this past season, but struggles delayed that from happening. With the huge fall that he is having, Lambert is putting himself on track for another shot at a potential call-up. The Fall Stars Game will happen this Sunday, Nov. 8, at 8pm EST. View the full article

After staving off one front-office defection, the Milwaukee Brewers have lost a different key member of the Ivory Tower. Cam Castro, the Brewers' senior vice president for player development and performance, has been hired by the A's as general manager, according to a report Wednesday by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Castro is second in command to Taylor Smith, recently hired away from the Boston Red Sox to be the A's president of baseball operations. Castro has been integral in the Brewers developing pitchers in recent years. Castro had been with the Brewers since 2019 as pitching coach of the then-High-A Carolina Mudcats. He started his climb through the organization as the minor-league pitching coordinator in 2020 and 2021, then getting a promotion to director of pitching development following the 2021 season. He would get another bump in July 2022 to vice president of player development, then rising to his current position in October 2024. The Brewers had a starting rotation this season that was filled with rookies and one second-year player, probable NL Cy Young Award winner Jacob Misiorowski, while also having one of the better-known pitching labs in MLB to aid in bringing along young pitchers. Late last week, assistant general manager Matt Kleine was the favorite for the Houston Astros' general manager position, but that job went to Randy Flores, who was with the St. Louis Cardinals at the time. An apparent sticking point in negotiations was Kleine wanting the title of president of baseball operations, while owner Jim Crane wanted it to be GM. View the full article

After staving off one front-office defection, the Milwaukee Brewers have lost a different key member of the Ivory Tower. Cam Castro, the Brewers' senior vice president for player development and performance, has been hired by the A's as general manager, according to a report Wednesday by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Castro is second in command to Taylor Smith, recently hired away from the Boston Red Sox to be the A's president of baseball operations. Castro has been integral in the Brewers developing pitchers in recent years. Castro had been with the Brewers since 2019 as pitching coach of the then-High-A Carolina Mudcats. He started his climb through the organization as the minor-league pitching coordinator in 2020 and 2021, then getting a promotion to director of pitching development following the 2021 season. He would get another bump in July 2022 to vice president of player development, then rising to his current position in October 2024. The Brewers had a starting rotation this season that was filled with rookies and one second-year player, probable NL Cy Young Award winner Jacob Misiorowski, while also having one of the better-known pitching labs in MLB to aid in bringing along young pitchers. Late last week, assistant general manager Matt Kleine was the favorite for the Houston Astros' general manager position, but that job went to Randy Flores, who was with the St. Louis Cardinals at the time. An apparent sticking point in negotiations was Kleine wanting the title of president of baseball operations, while owner Jim Crane wanted it to be GM. View the full article

According to Will Sammon of The Athletic, the New York Mets are hiring former MLB catcher A.J. Ellis to be the team's major-league strategy coordinator. Ellis worked as a special assistant in the San Diego Padres' front office and was managed by Andy Green in San Diego. Ellis played a majority of his career with the Dodgers and posted a career .693 OPS and a 91 OPS+. The Mets are making this hire because of his experience helping to run a pitching staff, including his work as Clayton Kershaw's personal catcher during his run of Cy Young awards. Ellis will be a big part of the day-to-day game planning, and having his experience from behind the plate on the staff should benefit the Mets on the field in 2027. View the full article

According to Will Sammon of The Athletic, the New York Mets are hiring former MLB catcher A.J. Ellis to be the team's major-league strategy coordinator. Ellis worked as a special assistant in the San Diego Padres' front office and was managed by Andy Green in San Diego. Ellis played a majority of his career with the Dodgers and posted a career .693 OPS and a 91 OPS+. The Mets are making this hire because of his experience helping to run a pitching staff, including his work as Clayton Kershaw's personal catcher during his run of Cy Young awards. Ellis will be a big part of the day-to-day game planning, and having his experience from behind the plate on the staff should benefit the Mets on the field in 2027. View the full article

The Minnesota Twins need to make several improvements to their roster this offseason, and the bullpen should be near the top of that list. Minnesota has some intriguing options already in place, but the organization cannot afford to enter another season without enough dependable arms to handle the late innings. One familiar name recently became available. Former Twins right-handed reliever Emilio Pagán declined his $10 million player option with the Cincinnati Reds for the 2027 season, according to Faccording to Francys Romero. The decision makes him a free agent after spending the last three seasons in Cincinnati. At 35 years old, Pagán might not seem like an obvious long-term investment. He also missed nearly two months during the 2026 season with a hamstring injury. However, he put together an impressive second half and finished the year as one of Cincinnati's most dependable bullpen options. The Twins should absolutely explore a reunion. Pagán has experience pitching in Minnesota, has demonstrated the ability to handle high-leverage situations, and could immediately become one of the team's most important relievers. There are financial and performance concerns, but this is exactly the type of opportunity Minnesota should consider as it looks to improve its bullpen. Why Pagán Makes Sense for the Twins Pagán's 2026 season was something of a tale of two halves. He struggled early, posting a 6.15 ERA before the All-Star break. A strained hamstring also kept him out of action from early May until July 3, limiting him to just 16 1/3 innings before the break. However, the right-hander looked like a completely different pitcher after returning. Pagán recorded a 1.72 ERA over 26 1/3 second-half innings while striking out 29 batters. He converted all 18 of his save opportunities during that stretch, helping the Reds remain competitive in the National League Central. His final numbers were impressive considering the injuries and early-season struggles. Pagán finished with a 3.38 ERA (3.42 xERA), 45 strikeouts, and 25 saves in 28 opportunities across 42 2/3 innings. He also posted a 25.9% strikeout rate and a 6.3% walk rate. Those last two numbers are particularly encouraging. Pagán continues to miss bats while limiting free passes, which is an important combination for a reliever entrusted with protecting narrow leads. His 2025 season provides another reason to believe his recent success is legitimate. Pagán recorded a 2.88 ERA with 81 strikeouts and 32 saves across 68 2/3 innings. He established himself as Cincinnati's closer and was one of the more dependable pieces of the Reds' bullpen. The Twins need someone who can consistently handle the ninth inning. Pagán has demonstrated that ability over the last two seasons. A Familiar Face in Minnesota Twins fans already know what Pagán can bring to a bullpen. Minnesota acquired him from San Diego before the 2022 season in a deal that also brought Chris Paddack to the organization. The Padres received Taylor Rogers and Brent Rooker in the trade. Pagán's first season with Minnesota was somewhat inconsistent. He posted a 4.43 ERA with 84 strikeouts across 63 innings. His strikeout stuff was evident (30.7 K%), but he struggled to consistently turn that ability into strong results. The following season was a different story. Pagán recorded a 2.99 ERA over 69 1/3 innings while striking out 65 batters (23.8 K%). He became a valuable member of the team's relief corps and helped Minnesota reach the postseason. He also delivered when the stakes were highest. Pagán pitched two scoreless innings across two appearances during the 2023 postseason as the Twins finally advanced beyond the Wild Card round. After that season, Pagán signed a two-year, $16 million contract with Cincinnati. His first year with the Reds was not particularly successful, as he posted a 4.50 ERA in 38 innings. However, he bounced back in 2025 and earned another contract from the organization. Following his excellent 2025 campaign, Cincinnati brought him back on a two-year, $20 million agreement. The contract included a $10 million player option for 2027, which Pagán has now declined. There is something appealing about bringing back a player who already understands the organization and has previously experienced some level of success in Minnesota. More importantly, Pagán is coming off consecutive seasons in which he demonstrated that he can handle important bullpen responsibilities. What Would Pagán Cost? The financial commitment is where things could get interesting. Spotrac estimates Pagán's market value at approximately $25.7 million over two years. That would represent an annual commitment of roughly $12.8 million for a reliever who will turn 36 during the 2027 season. That is significant investment, especially for a Minnesota organization that has spent recent years operating with substantial payroll limitations. However, the financial situation appears to be changing. Twins chairman Tom Pohlad has publicly committed to increasing payroll for 2027. At his season-ending news conference, Pohlad reiterated that the organization intends to meaningfully invest in the roster. Minnesota also demonstrated a willingness to take on additional salary at the 2026 trade deadline, acquiring Jeff Hoffman and other established players to strengthen the roster. Pagán could be another opportunity to demonstrate that ownership is serious about improving the team's overall talent level. A two-year contract worth approximately $24 million to $26 million would be a reasonable starting point for negotiations. The Twins should be comfortable making a competitive offer if they believe Pagán can continue performing at his recent level. However, they should avoid getting caught in a bidding war. There are other bullpen needs to address, and Minnesota cannot afford to spend its entire offseason budget on one reliever. The Risks of a Reunion There are legitimate reasons to hesitate before signing Pagán. The first concern is his age. Relief pitchers can experience significant performance fluctuations from one season to the next, and a multi-year contract for a pitcher approaching his late 30s carries some risk. Pagán also experienced a hamstring injury in 2026. Although he returned and pitched exceptionally well, the Twins would be committing multiple years to someone who recently lost nearly two months to an injury. His underlying numbers also deserve attention. Pagán does not generate many ground balls. His 26.3% ground-ball rate in 2026 was well below the MLB average of 44.1%. Instead, he allows a considerable number of balls in the air, creating additional opportunities for opposing hitters to generate extra-base hits and home runs. His average fastball velocity also dropped from 95.8 mph in 2025 to 94.9 mph in 2026. That is not necessarily a major concern by itself, but combined with his age, it is something the Twins should monitor. There is also a question about sustainability. Pagán's 2026 strikeout rate declined from 30% in 2025 to 25.9%. His ability to limit walks remained excellent, but Minnesota would be hoping that his second-half dominance is more representative of his future performance than his early-season struggles. These concerns do not eliminate Pagán as a target. They simply reinforce why the Twins need to establish a financial limit before making an offer. Should the Twins Bring Pagán Back? Minnesota needs to improve its bullpen, and Pagán would be one of the more interesting reunion possibilities on the free-agent market. Imagine a late-inning group featuring Pagán, Jeff Hoffman, Andrew Morris, and Yoendrys Gómez. Hoffman could handle important setup situations, while Pagán provides an established closer. Morris and Gómez would give the team additional options as they continue developing their roles. That would not solve every bullpen concern, but it would give manager Derek Shelton more flexibility when protecting leads. The Twins cannot expect to compete consistently if they continue relying on inexperienced relievers to handle every important situation. Adding established arms should be a priority, particularly after the bullpen struggled to provide consistent production throughout 2026. Pagán has already shown he can succeed in Minnesota, and his recent performance suggests he still has plenty to offer. His age and ground-ball tendencies create some uncertainty, but the potential reward outweighs those concerns at the right price. The Twins should make the call and see what it would take to bring him back. A two-year commitment is understandable, especially with ownership promising to increase payroll. Minnesota needs to start spending money on proven major-league talent. Reuniting with Pagán is certainly one place to start. Does a Pagan reunion make sense? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

Robin Yount played his entire 20-year professional career with the Milwaukee Brewers. Yount was known for his elite contact and speed as he is a 3x All-Star, 2x MVP, and a Gold Glove winner. Yount became a member of the 3,000 hit club in 1992, and was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1999. View the full article

Robin Yount played his entire 20-year professional career with the Milwaukee Brewers. Yount was known for his elite contact and speed as he is a 3x All-Star, 2x MVP, and a Gold Glove winner. Yount became a member of the 3,000 hit club in 1992, and was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1999. View the full article

Jazz Chisholm Jr. had a tough final season with the New York Yankees. The svelte second baseman stole 41 bases, but his strikeout rate climbed, his OPS dropped by over .100, and when the campaign ended, the Yankees elected not to extend him a qualifying offer. A year or two ago, he looked like one of the marquee prospective free agents of the 2026-27 class. Now, he's unlikely to get a big payday this winter. For the Chicago Cubs, though, that might all be good news. Both Seiya Suzuki and Ian Happ are free agents, and neither is particularly likely to return. The Cubs therefore need to make some major investments in the corner outfield market, but they can't afford to sign such a player to a long-term, high-dollar deal. Chisholm might just be the perfect fit for the team, on what would be a short-term deal with upside both ways. In November 2022, the Los Angeles Dodgers non-tendered Cody Bellinger. The former National League MVP had fallen a long way in a short time, after separate injuries to his knee and shoulder hampered him and resulted in ugly offensive stat lines in 2021 and 2022. Bellinger's talent was still evident, but given his two-year slump and the big payday that would have avaited him in a final trip through arbitration, it was no big surprise that the Dodgers cut him loose. The Cubs swooped in not long afterward, though, signing Bellinger to a one-year, $17-million contract that would turn out to be a boon for the player and a bargain for the team. On the North Side, Bellinger rediscovered his form and became a key cog in the team's resurgent lineup. When he hit free agency again the next winter, the sides got together again, on a more lucrative (but still short-term) deal that included an opt-out after 2025. It might be the best signing of the Jed Hoyer Era, on a strict value basis. You can see where I'm going with all this. It's possible that Chisholm, who will turn 29 years old next February, will push for a long-term deal this month, while he's unencumbered by the qualifying offer. If, however, he's open to a flexible short-term deal whereby he would move to left field and try to establish a much better platform for a second run at free agency, the Cubs should be all over the opportunity. Of course, that would represent a position switch for the Bahamian star, and it'd be a big move down the defensive spectrum. He came up as a second baseman, then moved to center field for a spell, and he's been back on the infield since the Yankees acquired him two and a half years ago. He rated very well at second base in 2026, too, according to Outs Above Average. In fact, his glovework at second is the only thing that kept him near star level this season, going by those numbers. But those numbers are liars. Chisholm's defense was solidly below average, according to Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) from Sports Info Solutions. He posted -6 DRS at the keystone this year, with poor range (especially to his right). When you watch him on tape, it's easy to tell which stat is right. Chisholm is not a plus defensive infielder. He also wasn't a good defender in center field, but that was a while ago, and the Cubs don't need him to be a center fielder. In left field, Chisholm profiles quite well. Some of the best plays he made at second in 2026 even came on balls hit in the air, over his head. He might not be eager to make the change, but a move to an outfield corner would be good for his defensive value. It would also give him a chance to focus on fixing what went wrong at the plate in 2026. In a nutshell, what went wrong at the plate was that the lefty swinger got pull-happy. After hitting 31 home runs in his first full season with the Yankees, Chisholm tried to produce even more power in 2026, and he ended up rolling over far too often. A whopping 27.7% of his batted balls were pulled on the ground, which was not only the highest share of his career, but the sixth-highest among the 274 batters who had at least 200 total batted balls in 2026. It was a waste of Chisholm's speed, and it also led to his increased strikeout rate. On balance, he's still a dynamic offensive player. He stole 41 bases in 50 tries and hit 19 home runs. He drew 56 walks. To get back to the level of production of which everyone agrees he's capable, though, Chisholm will have to retreat a bit from his all-or-nothing approach. He's exactly the kind of hitter with whom John Mallee routinely does good work; he would thrive in the Cubs' hitting system. A true one-year deal is unlikely, but there might be common ground on a structure whereby the Cubs guarantee Chisholm up to $60 million, but give him the chance to opt out of most of that and return to free agency after 2027 or 2028. If Chisholm is open to that, the Cubs should give it a whirl. The final question would be about the player's makeup, and it's a legitimate one. Chisholm's play is stylish, but it often looks flippant, and he's rubbed multiple sets of teammates and coaches the wrong way. It's somewhat telling that the Yankees didn't extend him the QO, letting him leave for nothing. There's no question that Chisholm is a different kind of person than Alex Bregman, Dansby Swanson or Nico Hoerner. That's not necessarily a bad thing, though. The Cubs need a bit more varied a set of personalities in the clubhouse. They need some looseness and swagger to balance what is a tightly wound, very intense team. Chisholm might benefit, too, not only from interacting with the serious professionalism of Swanson and Bregman but from Pete Crow-Armstrong's combination of cocksure and intense. Chisholm is the player whose talent outstrips his likely cost by the most this winter. There are reasons for that, but the Cubs need to be open to the idea that those reasons are market inefficiencies, rather than ironclad condemnations of Chisholm. He might be the player who can galvanize their team and leave room for all the rest of the work they need to do this offseason. View the full article

Jazz Chisholm Jr. had a tough final season with the New York Yankees. The svelte second baseman stole 41 bases, but his strikeout rate climbed, his OPS dropped by over .100, and when the campaign ended, the Yankees elected not to extend him a qualifying offer. A year or two ago, he looked like one of the marquee prospective free agents of the 2026-27 class. Now, he's unlikely to get a big payday this winter. For the Chicago Cubs, though, that might all be good news. Both Seiya Suzuki and Ian Happ are free agents, and neither is particularly likely to return. The Cubs therefore need to make some major investments in the corner outfield market, but they can't afford to sign such a player to a long-term, high-dollar deal. Chisholm might just be the perfect fit for the team, on what would be a short-term deal with upside both ways. In November 2022, the Los Angeles Dodgers non-tendered Cody Bellinger. The former National League MVP had fallen a long way in a short time, after separate injuries to his knee and shoulder hampered him and resulted in ugly offensive stat lines in 2021 and 2022. Bellinger's talent was still evident, but given his two-year slump and the big payday that would have avaited him in a final trip through arbitration, it was no big surprise that the Dodgers cut him loose. The Cubs swooped in not long afterward, though, signing Bellinger to a one-year, $17-million contract that would turn out to be a boon for the player and a bargain for the team. On the North Side, Bellinger rediscovered his form and became a key cog in the team's resurgent lineup. When he hit free agency again the next winter, the sides got together again, on a more lucrative (but still short-term) deal that included an opt-out after 2025. It might be the best signing of the Jed Hoyer Era, on a strict value basis. You can see where I'm going with all this. It's possible that Chisholm, who will turn 29 years old next February, will push for a long-term deal this month, while he's unencumbered by the qualifying offer. If, however, he's open to a flexible short-term deal whereby he would move to left field and try to establish a much better platform for a second run at free agency, the Cubs should be all over the opportunity. Of course, that would represent a position switch for the Bahamian star, and it'd be a big move down the defensive spectrum. He came up as a second baseman, then moved to center field for a spell, and he's been back on the infield since the Yankees acquired him two and a half years ago. He rated very well at second base in 2026, too, according to Outs Above Average. In fact, his glovework at second is the only thing that kept him near star level this season, going by those numbers. But those numbers are liars. Chisholm's defense was solidly below average, according to Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) from Sports Info Solutions. He posted -6 DRS at the keystone this year, with poor range (especially to his right). When you watch him on tape, it's easy to tell which stat is right. Chisholm is not a plus defensive infielder. He also wasn't a good defender in center field, but that was a while ago, and the Cubs don't need him to be a center fielder. In left field, Chisholm profiles quite well. Some of the best plays he made at second in 2026 even came on balls hit in the air, over his head. He might not be eager to make the change, but a move to an outfield corner would be good for his defensive value. It would also give him a chance to focus on fixing what went wrong at the plate in 2026. In a nutshell, what went wrong at the plate was that the lefty swinger got pull-happy. After hitting 31 home runs in his first full season with the Yankees, Chisholm tried to produce even more power in 2026, and he ended up rolling over far too often. A whopping 27.7% of his batted balls were pulled on the ground, which was not only the highest share of his career, but the sixth-highest among the 274 batters who had at least 200 total batted balls in 2026. It was a waste of Chisholm's speed, and it also led to his increased strikeout rate. On balance, he's still a dynamic offensive player. He stole 41 bases in 50 tries and hit 19 home runs. He drew 56 walks. To get back to the level of production of which everyone agrees he's capable, though, Chisholm will have to retreat a bit from his all-or-nothing approach. He's exactly the kind of hitter with whom John Mallee routinely does good work; he would thrive in the Cubs' hitting system. A true one-year deal is unlikely, but there might be common ground on a structure whereby the Cubs guarantee Chisholm up to $60 million, but give him the chance to opt out of most of that and return to free agency after 2027 or 2028. If Chisholm is open to that, the Cubs should give it a whirl. The final question would be about the player's makeup, and it's a legitimate one. Chisholm's play is stylish, but it often looks flippant, and he's rubbed multiple sets of teammates and coaches the wrong way. It's somewhat telling that the Yankees didn't extend him the QO, letting him leave for nothing. There's no question that Chisholm is a different kind of person than Alex Bregman, Dansby Swanson or Nico Hoerner. That's not necessarily a bad thing, though. The Cubs need a bit more varied a set of personalities in the clubhouse. They need some looseness and swagger to balance what is a tightly wound, very intense team. Chisholm might benefit, too, not only from interacting with the serious professionalism of Swanson and Bregman but from Pete Crow-Armstrong's combination of cocksure and intense. Chisholm is the player whose talent outstrips his likely cost by the most this winter. There are reasons for that, but the Cubs need to be open to the idea that those reasons are market inefficiencies, rather than ironclad condemnations of Chisholm. He might be the player who can galvanize their team and leave room for all the rest of the work they need to do this offseason. View the full article

The San Diego Padres made an attempt to add a left-handed starter at the trade deadline, but their bet on Robbie Ray failed in his first full season back after Tommy John surgery in 2023. Ray had a 3.59 ERA in 182 1/3 innings for the San Francisco Giants in 2025, but, after arriving in San Diego, he finished allowing a 5.02 ERA in nine starts and was inefficient in the postseason. So, if the Padres try to find a left-handed arm to balance the rotation, as my colleague @Sam Caulder suggested, Trevor Rogers stands out as the top arm on the free-agent market after Tarik Skubal. Rogers ranks second among the southpaw class in fWAR (4.0), but if he proves to be too expensive, Chicago Cubs Japanese pitcher Shota Imanaga could also be an interesting option for the Friars. Imanaga was a free agent last winter, after a season-ending stretch in which he showed some improvements by increasing his K-BB% rate from 12.1% to 19.5% and lowering his xFIP to 4.08 after the All-Star break, but his continued problems with home runs were impossible to ignore. His fastball was the real culprit, with just a 15.9% whiff rate, his second-lowest rate in a single season among all his pitches, and he finished the 2025 season allowing 24 home runs and a .594 xSLG on the pitch, a figure fairly close to his 32 strikeouts. In the end, he accepted the Cubs’ $22 million qualifying offer, a deal that ended up working for both sides. So, after a better performance in 2026, Imanaga is back on the market and has a 2.4 fWAR projection, with notable improvements to his four-seam fastball and elite splitter. He stands out for having a left-handed arm capable of generating chases and whiffs, which he combines with his excellent control to avoid giving up walks. His average velocity with the four-seam fastball only increased 0.8 mph this year, but what really drove the turnaround was his pitch mix and command. One of his biggest problems in 2025 was not just the home runs he allowed, but that Imanaga completely lost the impact of his fastball inside the strike zone. On the left is the hot zone for his fastball in 2025, and on the right are this year's chart. As you can appreciate, Imanaga was hit hard and, when pitches stayed middle-middle or in the upper-third of the strike zone, the result was often ineffective, leaving the impression that he was throwing batting practice. This year, he managed to prevent almost all those zones from becoming vulnerable again and, although he allowed 17 home runs, his run value improved from -20 to +2. Along with those improvements to his fastball, the splitter regained a little movement on both planes and continued to be his lethal weapon, recording a run value of +11, higher than the +6 mark it generated in 2025. His breaking balls were a little less reliable, especially after the sweeper’s decline this year from 8 to -6 run value. However, he can get most hitters out with his signature fastball-splitter combination. Assuming Imanaga can get his sweeper back on track with a new team, he'll have three above-average pitches that account for 89.2% of his repertoire: his four-seam fastball (40.1%), splitter (34.5%) and sweeper (14.6%). For the Padres, he could be a starter in the middle of the rotation, perhaps as the No. 3 or No. 4, depending on who makes up the rest of the group. With a projected salary between $30 and $38 million over a couple of seasons, he'd be a strong target to bring some left-handed upside to the starting five next year. View the full article

The San Diego Padres made an attempt to add a left-handed starter at the trade deadline, but their bet on Robbie Ray failed in his first full season back after Tommy John surgery in 2023. Ray had a 3.59 ERA in 182 1/3 innings for the San Francisco Giants in 2025, but, after arriving in San Diego, he finished allowing a 5.02 ERA in nine starts and was inefficient in the postseason. So, if the Padres try to find a left-handed arm to balance the rotation, as my colleague @Sam Caulder suggested, Trevor Rogers stands out as the top arm on the free-agent market after Tarik Skubal. Rogers ranks second among the southpaw class in fWAR (4.0), but if he proves to be too expensive, Chicago Cubs Japanese pitcher Shota Imanaga could also be an interesting option for the Friars. Imanaga was a free agent last winter, after a season-ending stretch in which he showed some improvements by increasing his K-BB% rate from 12.1% to 19.5% and lowering his xFIP to 4.08 after the All-Star break, but his continued problems with home runs were impossible to ignore. His fastball was the real culprit, with just a 15.9% whiff rate, his second-lowest rate in a single season among all his pitches, and he finished the 2025 season allowing 24 home runs and a .594 xSLG on the pitch, a figure fairly close to his 32 strikeouts. In the end, he accepted the Cubs’ $22 million qualifying offer, a deal that ended up working for both sides. So, after a better performance in 2026, Imanaga is back on the market and has a 2.4 fWAR projection, with notable improvements to his four-seam fastball and elite splitter. He stands out for having a left-handed arm capable of generating chases and whiffs, which he combines with his excellent control to avoid giving up walks. His average velocity with the four-seam fastball only increased 0.8 mph this year, but what really drove the turnaround was his pitch mix and command. One of his biggest problems in 2025 was not just the home runs he allowed, but that Imanaga completely lost the impact of his fastball inside the strike zone. On the left is the hot zone for his fastball in 2025, and on the right are this year's chart. As you can appreciate, Imanaga was hit hard and, when pitches stayed middle-middle or in the upper-third of the strike zone, the result was often ineffective, leaving the impression that he was throwing batting practice. This year, he managed to prevent almost all those zones from becoming vulnerable again and, although he allowed 17 home runs, his run value improved from -20 to +2. Along with those improvements to his fastball, the splitter regained a little movement on both planes and continued to be his lethal weapon, recording a run value of +11, higher than the +6 mark it generated in 2025. His breaking balls were a little less reliable, especially after the sweeper’s decline this year from 8 to -6 run value. However, he can get most hitters out with his signature fastball-splitter combination. Assuming Imanaga can get his sweeper back on track with a new team, he'll have three above-average pitches that account for 89.2% of his repertoire: his four-seam fastball (40.1%), splitter (34.5%) and sweeper (14.6%). For the Padres, he could be a starter in the middle of the rotation, perhaps as the No. 3 or No. 4, depending on who makes up the rest of the group. With a projected salary between $30 and $38 million over a couple of seasons, he'd be a strong target to bring some left-handed upside to the starting five next year. View the full article

Now that the World Series festivities have started to cool off, it’s only natural to reflect on the season with rose-tinted glasses. When one thinks of all the moments that ultimately led to Milwaukee’s triumph, the ones that stand out are often roster changes. The arrival of new faces can often be exciting, as the feeling of the unknown allows each fan to predict how they think each player will help (or hurt) the team’s cause. Fortunately, now that we live in the future, we can easily look back on the major deals that the Brewers struck and reflect on whether they were wins, losses, or something in between. For the sake of this article, we will only be looking at the most significant moves (if you’d like to discuss the aftermath of the Joel Kuhnel trade, feel free to start a forum thread!) and will primarily be focusing on what was delivered this year. February 9: Milwaukee Brewers trade Caleb Durbin, Andruw Monasterio, and Anthony Seigler to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for Kyle Harrison, Shane Drohan, and David Hamilton Milwaukee sent almost all of their third-base depth to Boston. In return, they received two left-handed pitchers and a utility infielder. At first, this deal was surprising. Caleb Durbin had a really strong rookie campaign, placing third in NL Rookie of the Year voting, and he was a Pat Murphy favorite. Anthony Seigler was a Brewer Fanatic favorite and had a lot of potential that was often overshadowed by poor batted-ball luck. Andruw Monasterio had been on the team for years and finally looked like he was starting to put things together in 2025. On paper, the return value didn’t seem exciting for the Brewers. In 2024, Kyle Harrison was the Giants’ No. 1 prospect and the No. 23 prospect overall, but he hadn’t quite lived up to the hype. Shane Drohan had yet to pitch in the majors, though he'd posted solid numbers in Triple-A in 2025 over a small sample. David Hamilton posted an OPS+ of just 63 in 2025. Overall, it seemed like a mystery why the Brewers were giving up enough third base depth to end up having to rely on Luis Rengifo. This ended up being a rare win/win trade for both parties. Harrison had a great first half, and though his numbers after the All-Star break were shaky enough to demote him from No. 2 in the rotation to nowhere to be seen in the playoffs, it seems like Milwaukee had discovered the recipe for how to make him great: using the slurve to keep hitters off of his fastball, and throwing that fastball with a bit more carry. Drohan wasn’t too shabby in his rookie year, either, pitching to a 4.19 ERA with a 3.73 FIP over 124 ⅔ innings. He made 19 starts and 14 relief appearances, even managing to accumulate two saves. He’s got more work to do before cementing his place in Milwaukee’s rotation, but he had his moments, and most importantly, he provided much-needed innings. Hamilton became a textbook “scrappy” player, doing whatever was needed to help his team win. He led MLB in sacrifice hits (13), was a solid defender at third base and shortstop, and posted a .950 OPS with two home runs in the Brewers’ postseason run. For the Red Sox, this trade got off to a brutal start, as Durbin was one of the worst qualified hitters in baseball for a while. Fortunately, he ended the year as a worthy successor to Alex Bregman, accumulating 4.4 rWAR thanks to league-average offense combined with Gold Glove defense. Though they didn’t have full-time roles, Seigler and Monasterio carved out niches of their own. At the end of the day, both organizations got their hands on a few young players with years of control remaining. It wouldn’t be surprising to see all six of the players involved continue to take on more responsibility for their respective rosters. August 3: Milwaukee Brewers trade Alexander Frias and Josiah Ragsdale to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for Dustin May and JoJo Romero This was a spicy trade for two reasons. First, many felt that it was an overpay. Frias and Ragsdale were the organization’s No. 8 and No. 22 prospects, respectively, but they were both having breakout seasons in the minors. At 18 years old, Frias posted a 189 wRC+ with an absurd .441 average and .518 on-base percentage in 137 plate appearances in the Arizona Complex League. Before being traded, Ragsdale had a 184 wRC+ with 12 home runs in 119 Double-A plate appearances. Second, this was a rare trade with a division rival. These two organizations don’t often do business with each other, for obvious reasons. If the deal were to end up lopsided, it’d be a price they’d have to pay for 13 times a year. They last made a deal in 2015 that swapped reliever Jonathan Broxton for outfield prospect Malik Collymore. Nonetheless, the front office saw something they liked in Dustin May, who had a 4.38 ERA and 3.15 FIP across 21 starts for St. Louis. JoJo Romero had also been solid out of the bullpen, with a 3.35 ERA. To most people, the May acquisition didn’t really pan out. He struggled immediately with the Brewers and finished his last 10 starts with a 5.65 ERA and 5.06 FIP. He was arguably the least effective pitcher of the team’s playoff run, pitching to a 5.73 ERA over 11 innings. Despite being the headliner of the trade, he was quickly overshadowed by Romero, who didn’t make his Milwaukee debut until September due to injury. Romero was as advertised in the regular season but dialed it up to 11 in the playoffs, posting a stellar 1.13 ERA and making even the toughest opposition look outmatched. Both Frias and Ragsdale cooled off after joining the Cardinals organization, but since both are still early in their professional careers, the worst could still be yet to come. Both May and Romero have returned to free agency, but with the latter playing a vital role in delivering Milwaukee its first championship, it’ll be worth a few years of regular season pain from these two prospects if they end up making it to the show. August 3: Milwaukee Brewers trade Mark Manfredi and Juan Martinez to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for Antonio Senzatela For the first half of the season, Antonio Senzatela was doing the impossible: pitching well at Coors Field. Following several underwhelming seasons as a starter marred by Tommy John and rough numbers, he moved to the bullpen for the first time and loved it, posting a 3.61 ERA and 3.37 FIP in 52 ⅓ innings for the Rockies. Naturally, this interested the Brewers, who invested heavily in multi-inning relievers this season—a decision that would pay dividends in the postseason. Senzatela’s regular season was confusing, as he reverted to bad habits and an outdated pitch mix that led to subpar results in Milwaukee. Fortunately, he turned it around and was scoreless in his 4 ⅓ postseason innings. Neither of the prospects that the Rockies received were ranked in the Brewers’ Top 30, but they still proved their worth. Mark Manfredi worked his way to a debut and eventual solid stint with the Rockies, making 14 appearances and maintaining a 3.06 ERA with a 3.55 FIP. Juan Martinez struggled with High-A competition when he was in the Brewers system, but after moving to Colorado, he had a respectable 109 wRC+ over 104 plate appearances and is now ranked as the organization’s No. 25 prospect. At just 19 years old, it’s far too early to see whether he’ll end up being a pillar of the Rockies’ lineup, but even if he ends up being a star, it'll be hard to blame the Brewers for having been willing to move him. Overall, this trade was a solid addition for both. The Rockies got a decent reliever and a potentially promising infielder for the future, while the Brewers got more depth in their relief unit. That allowed them to, at the very least, manage their bullpen more aggressively in playoff situations. Milwaukee has already declined Senzatela’s option, making him a free agent, so like the May/Romero trade, we’ll have to wait a few years to really see who got the better end of this deal. But then again, we know. The Brewers have a trophy already. These deals have already paid the dividends the team was pursuing, and they'll keep getting value from one of them for several more years. View the full article

Now that the World Series festivities have started to cool off, it’s only natural to reflect on the season with rose-tinted glasses. When one thinks of all the moments that ultimately led to Milwaukee’s triumph, the ones that stand out are often roster changes. The arrival of new faces can often be exciting, as the feeling of the unknown allows each fan to predict how they think each player will help (or hurt) the team’s cause. Fortunately, now that we live in the future, we can easily look back on the major deals that the Brewers struck and reflect on whether they were wins, losses, or something in between. For the sake of this article, we will only be looking at the most significant moves (if you’d like to discuss the aftermath of the Joel Kuhnel trade, feel free to start a forum thread!) and will primarily be focusing on what was delivered this year. February 9: Milwaukee Brewers trade Caleb Durbin, Andruw Monasterio, and Anthony Seigler to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for Kyle Harrison, Shane Drohan, and David Hamilton Milwaukee sent almost all of their third-base depth to Boston. In return, they received two left-handed pitchers and a utility infielder. At first, this deal was surprising. Caleb Durbin had a really strong rookie campaign, placing third in NL Rookie of the Year voting, and he was a Pat Murphy favorite. Anthony Seigler was a Brewer Fanatic favorite and had a lot of potential that was often overshadowed by poor batted-ball luck. Andruw Monasterio had been on the team for years and finally looked like he was starting to put things together in 2025. On paper, the return value didn’t seem exciting for the Brewers. In 2024, Kyle Harrison was the Giants’ No. 1 prospect and the No. 23 prospect overall, but he hadn’t quite lived up to the hype. Shane Drohan had yet to pitch in the majors, though he'd posted solid numbers in Triple-A in 2025 over a small sample. David Hamilton posted an OPS+ of just 63 in 2025. Overall, it seemed like a mystery why the Brewers were giving up enough third base depth to end up having to rely on Luis Rengifo. This ended up being a rare win/win trade for both parties. Harrison had a great first half, and though his numbers after the All-Star break were shaky enough to demote him from No. 2 in the rotation to nowhere to be seen in the playoffs, it seems like Milwaukee had discovered the recipe for how to make him great: using the slurve to keep hitters off of his fastball, and throwing that fastball with a bit more carry. Drohan wasn’t too shabby in his rookie year, either, pitching to a 4.19 ERA with a 3.73 FIP over 124 ⅔ innings. He made 19 starts and 14 relief appearances, even managing to accumulate two saves. He’s got more work to do before cementing his place in Milwaukee’s rotation, but he had his moments, and most importantly, he provided much-needed innings. Hamilton became a textbook “scrappy” player, doing whatever was needed to help his team win. He led MLB in sacrifice hits (13), was a solid defender at third base and shortstop, and posted a .950 OPS with two home runs in the Brewers’ postseason run. For the Red Sox, this trade got off to a brutal start, as Durbin was one of the worst qualified hitters in baseball for a while. Fortunately, he ended the year as a worthy successor to Alex Bregman, accumulating 4.4 rWAR thanks to league-average offense combined with Gold Glove defense. Though they didn’t have full-time roles, Seigler and Monasterio carved out niches of their own. At the end of the day, both organizations got their hands on a few young players with years of control remaining. It wouldn’t be surprising to see all six of the players involved continue to take on more responsibility for their respective rosters. August 3: Milwaukee Brewers trade Alexander Frias and Josiah Ragsdale to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for Dustin May and JoJo Romero This was a spicy trade for two reasons. First, many felt that it was an overpay. Frias and Ragsdale were the organization’s No. 8 and No. 22 prospects, respectively, but they were both having breakout seasons in the minors. At 18 years old, Frias posted a 189 wRC+ with an absurd .441 average and .518 on-base percentage in 137 plate appearances in the Arizona Complex League. Before being traded, Ragsdale had a 184 wRC+ with 12 home runs in 119 Double-A plate appearances. Second, this was a rare trade with a division rival. These two organizations don’t often do business with each other, for obvious reasons. If the deal were to end up lopsided, it’d be a price they’d have to pay for 13 times a year. They last made a deal in 2015 that swapped reliever Jonathan Broxton for outfield prospect Malik Collymore. Nonetheless, the front office saw something they liked in Dustin May, who had a 4.38 ERA and 3.15 FIP across 21 starts for St. Louis. JoJo Romero had also been solid out of the bullpen, with a 3.35 ERA. To most people, the May acquisition didn’t really pan out. He struggled immediately with the Brewers and finished his last 10 starts with a 5.65 ERA and 5.06 FIP. He was arguably the least effective pitcher of the team’s playoff run, pitching to a 5.73 ERA over 11 innings. Despite being the headliner of the trade, he was quickly overshadowed by Romero, who didn’t make his Milwaukee debut until September due to injury. Romero was as advertised in the regular season but dialed it up to 11 in the playoffs, posting a stellar 1.13 ERA and making even the toughest opposition look outmatched. Both Frias and Ragsdale cooled off after joining the Cardinals organization, but since both are still early in their professional careers, the worst could still be yet to come. Both May and Romero have returned to free agency, but with the latter playing a vital role in delivering Milwaukee its first championship, it’ll be worth a few years of regular season pain from these two prospects if they end up making it to the show. August 3: Milwaukee Brewers trade Mark Manfredi and Juan Martinez to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for Antonio Senzatela For the first half of the season, Antonio Senzatela was doing the impossible: pitching well at Coors Field. Following several underwhelming seasons as a starter marred by Tommy John and rough numbers, he moved to the bullpen for the first time and loved it, posting a 3.61 ERA and 3.37 FIP in 52 ⅓ innings for the Rockies. Naturally, this interested the Brewers, who invested heavily in multi-inning relievers this season—a decision that would pay dividends in the postseason. Senzatela’s regular season was confusing, as he reverted to bad habits and an outdated pitch mix that led to subpar results in Milwaukee. Fortunately, he turned it around and was scoreless in his 4 ⅓ postseason innings. Neither of the prospects that the Rockies received were ranked in the Brewers’ Top 30, but they still proved their worth. Mark Manfredi worked his way to a debut and eventual solid stint with the Rockies, making 14 appearances and maintaining a 3.06 ERA with a 3.55 FIP. Juan Martinez struggled with High-A competition when he was in the Brewers system, but after moving to Colorado, he had a respectable 109 wRC+ over 104 plate appearances and is now ranked as the organization’s No. 25 prospect. At just 19 years old, it’s far too early to see whether he’ll end up being a pillar of the Rockies’ lineup, but even if he ends up being a star, it'll be hard to blame the Brewers for having been willing to move him. Overall, this trade was a solid addition for both. The Rockies got a decent reliever and a potentially promising infielder for the future, while the Brewers got more depth in their relief unit. That allowed them to, at the very least, manage their bullpen more aggressively in playoff situations. Milwaukee has already declined Senzatela’s option, making him a free agent, so like the May/Romero trade, we’ll have to wait a few years to really see who got the better end of this deal. But then again, we know. The Brewers have a trophy already. These deals have already paid the dividends the team was pursuing, and they'll keep getting value from one of them for several more years. View the full article

The Kansas City Royals’ 2026 season was marked by bright spots and shadows on defense. Although the Royals once again had outstanding players such as two-time Gold Glove winner and Platinum Glove winner shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., his double-play partner, second baseman Michael Massey, and Gold Glove winner at third base Maikel Garcia — who missed a large part of the season — as well as center fielder Kyle Isbel, the team also suffered a dangerous defensive decline in the outfield and had problems at catcher. After Freddy Fermin’s departure to the San Diego Padres, the Royals’ catching took a step backward. Salvador Perez has recorded negative results in two consecutive seasons and now has accumulated -9 Fielding Run Value since 2024. Carter Jensen was an undeniable offensive force and quickly became a key hitter, but defensively, he is still far from offering the guarantees Kansas City needs. Even so, Jensen finished with -1 FRV and recorded positive framing results with +3, well above Salvy, who ended the year with -8. One point in the veteran's favor is that his experience and arm strength still have an undeniable impact on the game, and Jensen was not far behind in that regard either. However, both had difficulty blocking pitches, and, regarding ABS decisions, Jensen finished with -3. The Royals also had problems in the outfield, where center fielder Isbel (+4 FRV) was the only player who contributed positive defensive value during the year, despite his arm limitations. Isaac Collins took a step back in the range he had shown with the Brewers in 2025, while Jac Caglianone had a great offensive year and has arm strength that ranks among the best in the league, but finished with -9 FRV and -9 Range — counting his appearances at first base and in right field — the worst defensive performance among all Royals starters in 2026. That said, this is my defensive top three for the 2026 Royals. #3: Kyle Isbel, CF It was not Isbel’s best defensive season, especially if we take into account that last year he reached his best level, with +10 FRV in 1,032 innings. His range also reached another level, with +11 Range, a figure he had already reached in 2022, although he played fewer innings that year (656). Isbel finished 12th in the league with +7 OAA, and his ability to reach fly balls was not in question, but his arm strength continued to decline, and that should be a warning sign for the Royals. Isbel recorded the fourth-lowest average throwing velocity, at just 81.2 mph, well below the league average of 89.6 mph in 2026. Nick Loftin also deserves recognition, as he is among the Gold Glove finalists as a third baseman. His defense took a positive step forward, and he finished 2026 with +5 FRV over 582 innings in Garcia’s absence. #2: Michael Massey, 2B Massey is among this season’s Gold Glove finalists, and it is no wonder: he put together the best defensive season of his career, with +8 FRV in 994 innings at second base, his personal record, although he also played 20 innings in left field and two at third base. Between 2023 and 2025, Massey accumulated +8 FRV, so in this 2026 season he matched all the defensive value he had added during those three years. However, there was a negative aspect worth exploring further later on: Massey went from +2 Infield DP to -1 this season. Given that his role alongside Witt Jr. is key in double plays around second base, Massey will have to work to prevent this decline from becoming a problem. This not only includes plays in which he has the opportunity to complete a double play after receiving the throw, but also those in which he starts the play and fails to complete it. In that process, among other factors, throws to second base are involved, which can originate from different positions and not only on double-play plays with forced runners. #1: Bobby Witt Jr., SS Well, I think this is too predictable: there is no debate. Witt Jr. is once again a strong Gold Glove candidate and led not only the Royals, but all of baseball, with +24 OAA for the second consecutive year. In addition, he finished tied with Masyn Winn of the St. Louis Cardinals, with +17 FRV. Witt Jr. and Winn have been the leading shortstops in advanced metrics every year since 2024, but the wizard Witt Jr. has accumulated 48 FRV over that span, ahead of Winn’s 40. Now, do you remember Massey’s problems? Yes, the decline in his ability to complete double plays. That has also been a difference between Winn (+3) and Witt Jr. (-1), who finished with a negative mark in that metric for the first time. So far, Baseball Savant does not offer more statistics that allow us to delve deeper into what the problem might be for both Massey and Witt Jr. However, on every play with the possibility of a double play, it is analyzed who starts the play and who makes the pivot to complete it. Therefore, the decline by both could be related to their performance in one of those two roles. View the full article