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Most Brewers fans enjoyed the bulk of the 2025 season, with the team setting a franchise record for wins and beating the Cubs in the National League Division Series (a bit of payback for the Cubs signing away Craig Counsell in the 2023-2024 offseason). The 2025 NLCS, where the team ran out of gas, is more forgettable, but the Brewers could avoid that by rethinking their bench. The Brewers usually operate with the maximum allowed 13 pitchers, leaving them 13 position players. Nine position players are spoken for in the everyday lineup, thanks to the National League catching up with the times and adopting the designated hitter. That leaves four spots on the bench. How should Milwaukee use them? One will obviously have to be for the backup catcher. But the Brewers should think out of the box when it comes to the other three. Instead of just having the conventional approach of a fourth outfielder, a backup infielder, and a platoon option at first base (who may or may not be able to handle corner outfield spots), the team may want to turn to versatility instead. How well can this work? The 2018 season provides an example: Javier Baez, then with the Cubs. He mostly played at second base, third base, and shortstop, but he also saw action as a pinch-hitter and first baseman that year, and in the two previous seasons had been at corner outfield spots. He posted 6.8 Wins Above Replacement that year, per Baseball-Reference, and was the runner-up in the NL MVP race to Christian Yelich. He's dropped off the face of the earth offensively with the Tigers, but his versatility still propelled him to 1.9 WAR in 2025, again via Baseball-Reference. The recently traded Isaac Collins could’ve been another example. While he mostly held down left field in 2025, he also saw action at second base, third base, center field, and right field during his professional time with the Brewers (counting the minor leagues). Believe it or not, between the 40-man roster and the non-roster invitees as of Jan. 31, the Brewers could assemble a supersub bench. Here are some of the contenders. Jett Williams Williams is part of the return Milwaukee netted in the Freddy Peralta trade, and multiple Brewers may already be nervous about him. The reason why is pretty obvious. His bat profiles as a very potent one – one that adds power to superb OBP skills, speed, and versatility. It’s not hard to imagine him on Milwaukee’s bench in 2026, covering all three outfield positions, as well as shortstop, second base, and third base. He’s a more versatile version of Baez – and that could be very valuable indeed. Anthony Seigler Seigler has mostly played infield the last two seasons, but he originally came up as a catcher and also saw action there for Triple-A Nashville in 2025. Given the durability of William Contreras, Seigler might be a choice to take a third catcher role, simply because he could contribute elsewhere on the field, including on the pitching mound, occasionally, keeping him from getting rusty. Andruw Monasterio Monasterio has seen less action in 2024 and 2025 combined than he did in his rookie campaign of 2023. However, he brings a competent bat to the plate, and his versatility (playing all four infield positions and left field) is an asset as well. While his offensive floor has been high, he’s also not a likely Silver Slugger candidate, either. Still, he's reliable. Tyler Black Black’s biggest problem has been the lack of a defensive home. The Brewers have tried him at second base, center field, third base, first base, left field, right field, and he’s even seen action at designated hitter. As a supersub, his experience all over the diamond could allow him to give other Brewers a rest, while not sacrificing as much on offense. His bat has never really been in question, just the ability to hold a single position down on defense. Eduardo Garcia Garcia received an invitation to the big-league camp after first signing as an international free agent in July 2019. At one point seen as the Brewers’ shortstop of the future alongside catcher of the future Jeferson Quero, he seemed to stall out after injuries and high strikeout totals, while Cooper Pratt and Jesus Made emerged ahead of him at shortstop. However, he seemed to put his bat together more in 2025, his age-22 season, and he’s now morphed into a very versatile player, handling all three outfield spots as well as second base, third base, and shortstop. His defense, speed, and even occasional pop aren’t in question, just the consistency of his hit-to-contact tool. He's also only 23 years old. By turning to supersubs with higher offensive performance who could play all over, the Brewers might be able to become even more potent in the playoffs, having given players like Sal Frelick, Brice Turang, Caleb Durbin, and Jackson Chourio a chance to rest during the regular season, but also having the option to ride a "hot hand" with minimal disruption. Do you think the Brewers should turn to supersubs on the bench? Let us know in the comments below! View the full article

Is Marcelo Mayer the answer to resolving Boston's third base vacancy? Let's take a dive into what he brings to the table. If not, let's explore the other options available. View the full article

At Marlins Media Day, right-hander Sandy Alcantara speaks with Fish On First about being back to full strength—physically and mentally—and tuning out the constant trade rumors. View the full article

The Miami Marlins held their annual FanFest on Saturday. A total of 20,737 fans attended the event, per a club official, the most in loanDepot park history. As usual, the Marlins held a variety of Q&A sessions with players and "State of the Marlins" with team leadership. On top of that, the second Marlins Legends Hall of Fame class was revealed and teal uniforms were revived. Entry to the four-hour event was free. All things considered, this was one of the best FanFests that the Marlins have ever hosted. Here's what you may have missed. Player Availability From 4:30-6:30 pm on the main stage, Marlins players were organized into small groups. It started with the voice of Marlins Radio, Jack McMullen, talking to pitchers Braxton Garrett, Max Meyer and Pete Fairbanks and outfielder Jakob Marsee. Spanish Marlins radio voices Yiky Quintana and José Luis Nápoles did a panel in Spanish. In that interview, Agustín Ramírez that his goal is to hit 30 home runs and drive in 100 runs. He was joined by Eury Pérez, Sandy Alcantara and Otto Lopez. The last time a Marlins player reached 30 home runs and 100 RBI in the same season was Giancarlo Stanton (59 HR and 132 RBI) and Marcell Ozuna (37 HR and 124 RBI) in 2017. Stanton won the National League MVP and Ozuna made the All-Star Game and finished 15th in MVP voting. Only 12 Marlins ever have achieved a 30 HR/100 RBI season. In his rookie season, Ramírez slashed .231/.287/.413/.701 with 21 home runs, 67 RBI and a 91 wRC+ through 136 games played. Ramírez also stated that he wants to prove to everyone that he can remain a catcher. He emphasized throughout the interview that he has worked extremely hard to make that possible. State of the Marlins At 6:30 pm, president of baseball operations Peter Bendix and manager Clayton McCullough took the stage to answer questions from Marlins.TV play-by-play man Kyle Sielaff. Later on, fans asked questions and let out some of their frustrations. The first question asked was about why the Marlins do not spend more money or value having veteran leadership on their roster. Bendix said that money is being invested in all aspects of the organization. He first mentioned the recently renovated Jupiter Academy. Regarding veteran leadership, he agreed with this fan, and then said that they signed Pete Fairbanks. Fairbanks, 32, is the oldest player on the team and has the second-most service time (6.057) behind Alcantara (7.100). "Pete Fairbanks is here partly for that reason," Bendix said. "I have a relationship with Pete from my time in Tampa Bay. I know what he brings to the table on the mound, and I know what he brings to the table in the clubhouse. I think he's going to be really really good for our clubhouse." Not only does the Marlins media ask McCullough about bullpen management, but fans do as well. One fan asked if sometimes decisions were made for developmental reasons instead of trying to win games. "I definitely hear the feedback," McCullough said. "I think with the bullpen, when we get into a good stretch and we are playing close games every day, I'd love to be able to pitch the same people all the time, but in reality, you just can't do that. In order to get through a full season and have a chance to win a lot of games, everybody has to be able to contribute." McCullough also mentioned that when very high-leverage situations present themselves early in the game, he will "try to go win this moment" instead of limiting his best options to the eighth and ninth innings. One clever fan began his question by naming Marlins infielders and when he got to first, he asked, "Who's first?" Bendix with a smile said, "I don't know," so McCullough took the longer answer noting all the competition that is happening throughout camp, specifically first base. "There will be a lot of competition for playing time and one thing that we tried to put upon our group last year and preach was positional versatility and flexibility," said McCullough. "We have talked to a number of players this offseason about being open-minded about it." Christopher Morel and Griffin Conine were brought up as examples, both of whom are completely inexperienced at the position. For the final question of this session, a fan asked Bendix if we will see players get locked up to contract extensions. No Marlin has been extended in nearly four years (Richard Bleier in March 2022), which was when Kim Ng was still general manager. It was reported this offseason that Kyle Stowers, Jakob Marsee and Eury Pérez have been engaged in extension talks. Stowers seems to be the least likely of those candidates given that the Marlins already have club control of him through age 31, but Marsee and Pérez are both realistic. "We're expecting that we are going to have a lot of these really good players for a long time," Bendix said. "Right now, we have a lot of players who are 23, 24 and 25. These guys are going to be here for a while. Yes, the answer to your question is we want to keep our best players for as long as possible." Following that final statement, the crowd erupted as Bendix and McCullough walked off the stage. With how much of a closed book Bendix typically is, that statement was likely the most transparent he has ever been in public to fans or media. Marlins Hall of Famers Very briefly, the Marlins announced that they will be inducting pitchers Josh Beckett and Dontrelle Willis into their Marlins Legends Hall of Fame. Both Beckett and Willis were on the 2003 World Series-winning team. Unlike the players chosen for the inaugural HOF class in 2025, they were not in attendance at FanFest. Isaac Azout has more on the upcoming inductions of both players, which will take place on September 6 (Beckett) and September 13 (Willis). The teal is BACK After months of build-up, the Marlins announced that they will be bringing back teal jerseys for every Sunday home game. The uniform set also includes Florida Marlins caps. The blue jerseys previously used on Sundays are now out of the regular season rotation, but will remain their primary spring training look. What's next? Marlins pitchers and catchers will report to Jupiter, Florida, on Wednesday. The full-squad report day is Monday. February 16. The first spring training game will take place on Saturday, February 21 at 1:10 pm in Port St. Lucie against the New York Mets. View the full article

The Twins have spent most of the winter creating problems rather than solving them. A manager was fired. Payroll was cut for a second consecutive offseason. New voices were promoted in the front office with spring training less than two weeks away. None of that inspires confidence, but the biggest issue might be the one that has barely registered in the public conversation so far. Shortstop depth is thin, and the plan behind the plan is murky at best. Brooks Lee is scheduled to be the Twins' Opening Day shortstop, and that part is fairly straightforward. What happens after that is where things start to unravel. No one expects Lee to log 140-plus games at the position, and the Twins do not have an obvious fallback option on the major league roster. That reality was bluntly summed up on a recent episode of Baseball America’s Prospect Podcast by JJ Cooper and Ian Cundall. “But I'm just going to say right now, the Minnesota Twins do not have a shortstop right now,” Cooper said. “And I do mean, Brooks Lee is not a shortstop. I'm sorry, but there is no logical path where you say Brooks Lee is going to be defensively what you want to get from an MLB shortstop.” That is not a fringe take from a hot-take artist. That is an evaluator pointing out a structural issue. Lee can handle the position in stretches, and the Twins hope his bat plays almost anywhere on the infield. The problem is that asking him to be the everyday answer ignores both defensive limitations and the physical reality of a long season. If the Twins want Lee’s bat in the lineup consistently, they may have to accept that it cannot always come from shortstop. Orlando Arcia is the most obvious name behind Lee, but even that comes with caveats. He arrived on a minor league deal and still has to earn a roster spot in camp. Even if he does, there are legitimate questions about whether he can still handle shortstop at a level that makes the defense workable over extended stretches. He is insurance, not a solution, and the Twins know it. That pushes the conversation toward the minors, where things get interesting quickly. Kaelen Culpepper is the name most fans will gravitate toward after his breakout 2025 season. The tools are loud, and the confidence is obvious, but the shortstop question has followed him since draft day. Baseball America did not shy away from that concern with Cooper adding, “I don't even think Kaelen Culpepper's a shortstop.” That assessment does not slam the door completely, but it frames the challenge. Culpepper has the arm and the athleticism. What remains in question is whether his range and actions allow him to stick at the position long term. Cundall left open the possibility of Culpepper sticking up the middle. “If Culpepper comes out this year and shows improvement at shortstop because he has the arm, it's just a range question and actions question talking to scouts about him, that a lot of them think he can play third base and so if he can stay on the left side of the infield, there's a pathway and I think that he has that drive that he wants to stay at shortstop.” That pathway matters. If Culpepper shows real progress early in the season, the Twins could be tempted to accelerate his timeline or at least view him as a viable depth option by late summer. If not, the organization may be forced to look elsewhere sooner than planned. That brings us to Marek Houston, last July’s first-round pick and arguably the cleanest defensive shortstop in the system. The bat is still a question, but the glove is not. “We could get to Marek Houston, who is, we don't know how much he's going to hit," said Cooper. "But Marek Houston is 100% is a shortstop. He is the best shortstop that the Twins have at this moment. He's so much better defensively than Brooks Lee right now.” That statement alone should make the Twins pause. Houston is not expected to be in the major league mix this season, but the defensive gap is significant enough to not be ignored. “It’s a lot easier to push Houston, quicker because the hit tool’s a question, but how much is that going to improve in the minors?” Cundall said. “I’m not sure. So, you might as well just push him more aggressively if you know that he’s MLB-ready at defense.” Cooper expanded on Houston’s defensive reputation. “I looked at the best plays for every shortstop in our top-100 and then the guys within the range of the top-100. Marek is the best.” “We’re looking at what guy can make the plays that most shortstops can’t make. Marek Houston makes plays on the other side of second base,” Cooper said. “How did he get to that ball? How is he going to get his body in position to throw? How did he make that throw? He does. Check, check, and check.” The Twins may not push Houston aggressively, but the contrast highlights how thin the current shortstop plan really is. Lee is the best offensive option. Houston is the best defensive option. Culpepper might be something in between. None of that adds up to short-term stability. This is why creativity will be required. That could mean more rotation between shortstop and third base for Lee. It could mean quicker hooks for Arcia if the defense slips. It could even mean an uncomfortable midseason decision to test a prospect before the organization feels fully ready. In a winter defined by uncertainty and cost-cutting, shortstop may end up being the position that exposes just how fragile the roster construction really is. The Twins do not need perfection there, but they do need a plan that extends beyond Opening Day. Right now, that plan feels unfinished. Do you believe Lee can handle shortstop in 2026? How quickly can Houston move through the system? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

With his eighth big league camp over a week away, Vernon Wells already felt a spark for the upcoming season. Wells and a dozen other Blue Jays showed up in Dunedin well before their scheduled check-ins to get a head start on their preseason work at the Bobby Mattick Training Center. Wells’ early arrival was partly to get ready for the inaugural World Baseball Classic, but Toronto’s starting center fielder was also feeling enthused about this season’s team. An aggressive offseason (see 2006 Rewind Part 1 and Part 2) had improved Toronto’s roster and put the Jays in the conversation to win the American League East. For all of the acquisitions made over the winter, the Blue Jays would need the best version of Wells in order to stay in contention. The year before, Wells was expected to shoulder more of the load offensively following the loss of Carlos Delgado, but he came out of the gates flat. Manager John Gibbons dropped Wells from third in the lineup just two weeks into April, a month in which he hit under the Mendoza line. Wells picked up the pace as the season rolled into summer but struggled again after the All-Star break, collecting only 15 extra-base hits over the season’s final two months. As he put 2005 behind him, Wells was energized by the moves his front office made. “We’re being talked about from coast to coast, said Wells. “It’s fun to talk about possibly winning this year.” Wells would be in Team USA manager Buck Martinez’s lineup on March 8 when they were upset 8-6 by Canada in what is remembered as the Adam Stern game. (photo credit: Baseball Canada) Not arriving in Dunedin in as good of a mood was Gregg Zaun, and it was hard to fault the Blue Jays’ catcher. In 2004, Zaun was exiled by the exiled when he was an early spring cut of the Montreal Expos. Toronto had been looking for catching depth, and then-manager Carlos Tosca remembered Zaun from their days in Florida when Tosca was heading the Marlins’ Triple-A affiliate. The Blue Jays signed Zaun in April, and when Greg Myers severely sprained his ankle on newly-installed turf at the Metrodome a few weeks later, Zaun was given an opportunity with his eighth organization. It was one he made last: Data from Baseball-Reference.com. View original table, generated 2/4/2026. Season Age Team Lg WAR G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ 2004 33 TOR AL 2.3 107 392 338 46 91 24 0 6 36 47 61 .269 .367 .393 .761 96 2005 34 TOR AL 3.6 133 512 434 61 109 18 1 11 61 73 70 .251 .355 .373 .729 94 For the first time in his career, Zaun headed into the offseason preparing, expecting, to catch every day. Weeks before he was set to depart for Dunedin, Zaun received a call from Gibbons: the Blue Jays were signing Bengie Molina. Zaun was not happy, though he had a sympathetic ear from his manager. “I told him if he needs to vent, he can call me anytime,” said Gibbons. “I’ll take care of it. I’ll get him his playing time. He waited so long for that job, and he did a great job. We owe him the at-bats.” For general manager J.P. Ricciardi, the addition of Molina simply made the team better, potential disharmony aside. Early in the offseason, the Blue Jays made Molina an offer of $4 million for one season, but entering free agency for the first time and coming off his best year at the plate, the two-time Gold Glove-winning backstop was seeking a big payday. It would not come. Toronto’s offer to Molina stood through the winter, and by February, it was basically all that remained of his market. About two months after Baltimore gave Ramón Hernández $27.5 million over four years, Molina signed a one-year deal with Toronto for $4.5 million. With another starting-calibre catcher in camp, Zaun joined Shea Hillenbrand as the less-than-chipper returnees who were relegated to lesser roles. Ricciardi spent a good chunk of his offseason trying to replace Hillenbrand, who, despite being an All-Star in ‘05, the team felt was too inconsistent throughout the year. Hillenbrand somewhat agreed, feeling that he had “fought [his] mechanics” all year, and he spent the winter tweaking his stance, turning his stride leg inward to combat stepping out. While the results weren’t showing up early on in Grapefruit League play, Hillenbrand felt he was taking quality at-bats and was encouraged by the changes. Another player who revamped his approach at the urging of the Blue Jays was Zaun, who started spring hot at the dish. Zaun had six hits in his first 12 at-bats after he “slowed his feet down” over the winter, delaying his stride to temper swing aggressiveness. Ironically, Zaun said he felt confident enough to work through those changes, as he felt assured he would return as the number one catcher for the first time in his career. Molina or not, Zaun was determined to make it hard for Gibbons to keep him off the lineup card. In the end, Molina chose the Jays over an offer from the Dodgers due to reported concerns about losing playing time to Los Angeles’s two young catchers, Dioner Navarro and Russell Martin. Molina’s contract with Toronto also had a mutual option for the 2007 season. (photo credit: Rick Madonik/Toronto Star) Another player who arrived in Dunedin with an improved swing was Alex Rios. On the second day of camp, Rios launched several home runs in an intra-squad game, one clipping a yellow Hummer belonging to a Jays’ executive in the parking lot. Rios was working on mechanical changes after his power disappeared the season prior. Digging into the box with a widened stance and lower hand placement, everything looked great early, but no one ever really knew what Rios was feeling. 2005 had been a frustrating year for all involved in the Alex Rios business. In July, he stopped running after a batted ball that was ruled fair, leading to a costly run in a loss against the Royals. It was the play that stood out most in a season of frustrating moments for his manager, Gibbons, who benched Rios for parts of September. “How can they just justify keeping him out there?” a teammate wondered aloud over the winter. “He doesn’t run balls out. He hasn’t been around long enough to start playing the game that way.” No one was as experienced in dealing with Rios as Marty Pevey. The veteran Blue Jays minor league coach had managed Rios in Double A and had taken the outfielder out of games for not running balls out before. In the final month of the ‘05 season, Toronto made Pevey the big league first base coach, and while he watched Rios’ struggles along with the rest of the staff, Pevey saw the player differently than most. To Pevey, Rios was just as hard on himself, aware of the expectations he carried and how he wasn’t meeting them. “I was just surprised at how he was letting all of it affect him,” said Pevey. Pevey joined the Blue Jays in 1999, hired by Tim Johnson as the bullpen coach before Johnson was, uh, let go. He lasted one year on Jim Fregosi’s staff before being reassigned to coach High A. “I did know when (Fregosi) walked in, we were all in trouble...and eventually we were in trouble.” (photo credit: Chicago Cubs) Rios would soon be off to play for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic, allowing his potential platoon partner in right to have a loud start to camp. Eric Hinske hit a meager .545 OPS against left-handed pitching in 2005 and lost any semblance of a role on the infield over the offseason. Toronto asked Hinske to learn the outfield in spring in hopes of platooning him with Rios in right, allowing the Blue Jays to hopefully salvage some production out of Hinske’s near-$5 million price tag. Hinske tagged six home runs in spring and played well enough in the field that Gibbons would start the regular season with a platoon in right field. The player with the largest spotlight on him in Dunedin was Toronto’s big free agent signing, A.J. Burnett, who threw two scoreless innings in his spring debut against Team Canada. In his second start, Burnett attempted to add an overhead windup to his delivery and was taken for four runs in three innings before returning to form in his subsequent turn, striking out six Astros across four frames. It was his next outing that gave Blue Jays fans their first scare of the season. Burnett took himself out of the game with discomfort in his right elbow, the same one that required Tommy John surgery three years prior. The follow-up MRI allowed a big sigh of relief. The discomfort was just loose scar tissue from the prior surgery. There was no serious issue, and Burnett would be able to resume throwing in a few days. Still, with Opening Day on the horizon, the Blue Jays opted to start Burnett on the injured list. In his absence, Gibbons moved Scott Downs from the bullpen to the rotation, opening a roster spot for another lefty who put together quite the spring. In January, Ricciardi acquired Brian Tallet from Cleveland for a right-hander named Bubbie Buzachero. Gibbons declared early on that there would be little competition in spring training, and Tallet was one of the six pitchers in camp who figured to be on the outside looking in. As spring rolled through, all Tallet did was get outs. The 6-foot-7 (with 4-inch sideburns) lefty allowed no runs over nine appearances, outperforming the last gasp veterans (James Baldwin and Ben Weber) and trio of young homegrown prospects (Dustin McGowan, Brandon League, and Shaun Marcum). When final cut-down day came, Tallet had a ticket for the flight north as the 12th and final member of the Blue Jays’ pitching staff. Also making the Opening Day roster was Jason Phillips. After being let go by the Dodgers, Phillips called Gibbons, his former minor league manager in the Mets organization, and all but begged for a job. Gibbons went to Ricciardi, and the general manager signed Phillips as a favour to his manager. Phillips was expected to compete with Guillermo Quiroz for the backup job behind Zaun before the Molina signing, which left his chances of making the team near nil. However, Zaun would start the season on the injured list, and Phillips would win the roster spot over Quiroz. Signed as a 17-year-old out of Venezuela, Quiroz was once Toronto’s top catching prospect but looked out of place in 29 games over two seasons. He was claimed off waivers by Seattle after being designated for assignment. (photo credit: MLB) After a pair of games against Triple-A Syracuse, the Blue Jays arrived home in Toronto ahead of a Tuesday night opener against the Minnesota Twins. Over 50,000 tickets were sold for the first game of Toronto’s 30th season, and after a somewhat low-key spring, everyone was finally about to see what the new look Blue Jays were made of. View the full article

The second class of the Marlins Legends Hall of Fame has two new members. At the club’s annual FanFest event at loanDepot park, the Marlins announced that 2003 World Series pitching heroes Josh Beckett and Dontrelle Willis will have their names enshrined on plaques in the stadium’s museum. The Marlins took their first step toward properly celebrating the franchise’s history by establishing the team’s Hall of Fame last season. “Each year, we’ll celebrate former players, coaches, managers, and staff members for their contributions to not just the Marlins organization, but also our South Florida communities,” the club said. Marlins chairman and principal owner Bruce Sherman added, “We are proud to create a deserving tribute for legends who have played integral roles in shaping our franchise.” Beckett, arguably the greatest homegrown pitcher in franchise history, spent the first five seasons of his major league career with Florida. He made 106 starts during that span, not including five superb outings during the team’s 2003 championship run. His World Series–clinching Game 6 start was the highlight of an impressive postseason, as he tossed a complete-game shutout against the Joe Torre–led New York Yankees. Willis, affectionately known as “D-Train,” remains a fan favorite. The talented left-hander also spent five seasons with the Marlins, beginning with the championship season in 2003, when he won National League Rookie of the Year honors. During his time in South Florida—the best stretch of his career—Willis made 162 starts, posted a 3.78 ERA, and earned two All-Star selections. The HOF's inaugural class included Luis Castillo, Jeff Conine, Jim Leyland and Jack McKeon. All of them with the exception of Leyland were part of the '03 squad as well. Beckett’s induction ceremony will be on September 6 and Willis’ on September 13. The first 10,000 fans to arrive for each of those games will receive bobbleheads. View the full article

On Saturday morning, Martie Cordaro, Omaha Storm Chasers President and GM, shared some tragic news that Terrance Gore, a postseason hero in 2014 and 2015, passed away at the age of 34. Gore's wife confirmed his passing on Facebook, noting that he died from complications from a routine surgery. The Kansas City Royals also shared their condolences to Gore and his family on social media later in the morning. Gore is survived by his wife, Britney, and three children. On Saturday, many shared their condolences and fond memories of Gore's tenure in Kansas City. That included former GM and Royals President of Baseball Operations Dayton Moore, who was quoted in an Anne Rogers article about Gore's passing. Former Royals First Baseman and All-Star Eric Hosmer also shared his condolences on Twitter with a broken-heart emoji and some pictures of him and Gore playing together with the Royals. A 20th-round pick in the 2011 MLB Draft by the Royals, Gore played in 112 career games at the Major League level. Most of his career was spent with the Royals, where he played in 85 games (including a career-high 58 in 2019). That said, Gore also played with the Cubs, Mets, and Dodgers. He was primarily utilized as a pinch runner, as he only had 85 career plate appearances and accumulated a 0.1 fWAR and .580 OPS. That said, he was a weapon for the Royals during the 2014 and 2015 postseason runs. He had four postseason stolen bases with the Royals, including one in the 2014 Wild Card game against the Athletics and two in the 2014 ALDS against the Angels. His unique role for the Royals made him a bit of an anomaly, as baseball content creator Jolly Olive profiled in a 2022 breakdown on YouTube. Gore will certainly be missed, not just by his family and friends, but by Royals fans who remembered his career fondly, especially in the postseason. Without Gore, it's possible that the Royals may still be searching for that second World Series championship today. Photo Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images View the full article

Through the first two months of 2025, Max Meyer was on track to lead the Miami Marlins in innings pitched. Then a hip issue popped up, leading to season-ending surgery. "I feel good," Meyer said when he spoke to the media on Friday. "Had a good offseason, put on some weight and everything feels good—how it should feel. Hoping that I can just continue that throughout the whole season." The Marlins saw a 17-win improvement from the previous year, though Meyer unfortunately had to watch most of that from the dugout due to his injury. While being sidelined, he kept himself involved in team activities and tried to make the best of the situation. "There is a lot you can always learn every day and you just can't stop while going through injuries like that," Meyer said. "You have to be there for your teammates and you always have to be a good guy in the clubhouse. There is a lot you can do when you are even on the shelf for a long time. You can help the team out by being with guys who are maybe down or playing games and having fun in the clubhouse, so you just have to attack it a different way every day." In 2025, Meyer pitched 64 ⅔ innings, posting a 4.73 ERA, 4.47 FIP, 9.46 K/9 and 2.78 BB/9. He had gotten off to a red-hot start, highlighted by his 14-strikeout performance against the Cincinnati Reds. Within his first five outings, he posted a 2.10 ERA and 2.50 FIP. In Meyer's final seven starts before landing on the IL, he posted a 7.01 ERA and 6.16 FIP. He had two games where he surrendered 10 hits. Meyer already began to feel like himself again at the end of the 2025 season. "The whole offseason, I've felt pretty good," he said. "Started running and sprinting probably halfway through and everything just feels good." With the exception of his signature slider, Meyer has made "tweaks" to the other four pitches in his arsenal. He "tightened up" his sweeper and worked on a "more consistent sinker shape." He also focused on "getting my depth back on my changeup and a little more (induced vertical break) on my fastball." The Marlins went into the offseason with a projected 2026 rotation featuring Sandy Alcantara, Eury Pérez, Edward Cabrera and Ryan Weathers. Now that Cabrera is a Chicago Cub and Weathers is a member of the New York Yankees, there's a lot more room for Meyer...as long as he stays healthy. "I wanna be there when they call my name," said Meyer. "When they call my name, I don't want to be sitting on the sidelines anymore because it's pretty frustrating. I'm gonna miss those guys, fun to be around, but obviously I gotta step it up." View the full article

In a rare Friday news dump that didn’t make fans want to reach for their Pepto Bismol, the Twins unveiled an updated alternate navy blue jersey for the upcoming season. The release comes a day after the jersey was leaked in an MLB: The Show 26 trailer. In the update, the Twins simply took their existing alternate and replaced the ‘MINNESOTA’ across the chest, and replaced it with the script ‘TWINS’ in white lettering. On the right sleeve, the alternate logo of the state of Minnesota with the North Star over the Twin Cities remains. The left sleeve is not shown in any photos released on Friday but it is more than likely reserved for a jersey sponsor patch, which was Securian Financial in the 2025 season. The ‘MINNESOTA’ blue alternate had been in existence since the Twins rebranded their logos and uniforms prior to the 2023 season. This is not the first time the Twins have switched from ‘MINNESOTA’ to ‘TWINS’ on their blue jerseys, as they had employed one of each jersey in the 2000s with the ‘MINNESOTA’ jersey used for road games and ‘TWINS’ jerseys used for home games. Both were dumped following the 2009 season when the Twins revamped their road uniforms. While this is a nice updated homage to those 2000s home alternates, the jersey itself still comes off as a bit bland. The white ‘TWINS’ lettering across the front over the navy blue jersey just does not strike well. The lettering could benefit from either red borders around the white letters, or going further down the rabbit hole of tributing the 2000 jerseys and make the ‘TWINS’ lettering red with white borders. The same review can also be applied to the numbers on the jersey. The numbers could benefit from some type of border to further emphasize them on the navy blue backdrop. Before this 2023 rebrand, the Twins have always employed some kind of border on their jersey numbering going back to their inaugural 1961 season in the Twin Cities. While the Twins did right with their 2023 rebrand and moved off the gaudy uniforms with gold trim (never understood the gold even though the team tried to tell us often it was ‘kasota gold’), this new alternate and their uniforms as a whole could use some extra tinkering to make them that much better. Simply adding some borders to the letters (not the name on the back, though, those can stay as is) and numbers can take these uniforms from alright to excellent. What do you think of the Twins new jersey? Share your thoughts in the comments below! View the full article

On Friday, the Miami Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays agreed on a trade that sent outfielder Victor Mesa Jr. to the Rays in exchange for minor league infielder Angel Brachi. Mesa had been designated for assignment on Tuesday in a corresponding roster move that allowed the Marlins to claim Garrett Acton off waivers. Mesa remains in the state of Florida, but leaves the only professional franchise that he's ever known. The 24-year-old had been the longest-tenured position player in the Marlins organization, signing alongside his brother, Victor Victor Mesa, in October 2018 when both were international free agents. In 2025 at the Triple-A level, Mesa slashed .286/.352/.460/.813 with seven home runs, 33 RBI and a 121 wRC+ in 52 games played. He was called up to the majors and made his debut where in 16 games, he hit .188/.297/.344/.641 with one home run, six RBI and an 81 wRC+. Mesa will have a slightly easier path to regular MLB playing time with Tampa Bay than he had in Miami, but making the Opening Day roster looks like an uphill battle for him. The Rays have three other left-handed-hitting outfielders ahead of him on their depth chart in Chandler Simpson, Cedric Mullins and Jake Fraley. If necessary, the Rays can option him to the minor leagues (Mesa has one more option left). As for Brachi, 19, he signed for $800k in the 2024 international signing class. Repeating the Dominican Summer League last season, he slashed .337/.453/.408/.861 with 21 RBI, 17 stolen bases and a 142 wRC+ in 51 games. The Cumana, Venezuela, native has led all rookie-level players in Minor League Baseball with 30 HBP since making his pro debut—that is a major reason for his career .403 OBP. Entering the 2025 season, FanGraphs had Brachi as the 49th-best prospect in the Rays organization with a 35+ future value on the 20-80 scale. "He’s a gritty scout favorite with limited tools but advanced baseball acumen and feel to hit," wrote Eric Longenhagen and James Fegan. Brachi's biggest obstacle long term will be producing power (zero homers in his MiLB career thus far). The Marlins and Rays have linked up on at least one trade with each other every year dating back to 2021, so this deal extends that streak to six years. View the full article

At Marlins Media Day, right-hander Max Meyer updates his status coming off hip surgery and explains the tweaks he made to each of his pitches entering 2026.View the full article

Our Opening Roster Projection, v 3.0 shows that almost all of the Chicago Cubs' roster spots are accounted for. That piece left open two places among the initial 26-man group -- one on the bench, one in the bullpen. The 40-man roster contains plenty of candidates to fill these roles, but that group will be getting pressure from non-roster invitees (NRI) who have substantial MLB experience. North Side Baseball looks at three hitters and two pitchers from the NRI set who we think have the best chance to win a job in Mesa. We're excluding minor-league prospects such as Jaxon Wiggins and Jefferson Rojas. Those players are still in the development stage. They'd need to set the world on fire in Arizona to have a chance of breaking camp with the big-league club. Cubs' Best Non-Roster Invites: Hitters OF Dylan Carlson Age: 27 2025 MLB stats: 241 PAs, .614 OPS, 74 wRC+, 6 HRs. Carlson is a candidate to challenge Kevin Alcantara and Justin Dean for a reserve outfielder spot. He is a switch-hitter who can play all three outfield positions. Statistically, his best position is center (career +4 OAA in 1737 1/3 innings), and he has shown a plus arm in the past. Five years ago, he looked like a rising star when he posted a 111 wRC+ and 18 home runs for the St. Louis Cardinals in his first full MLB season. A series of injuries followed, however, and his stats crashed. The year-by-year percentile rankings tell the tale: Expecting him to return to anything like his old self is probably a fool's errand, but there's enough potential baked into both his glove and bat that he should be considered the second-favorite to claim the fourth outfielder job after Kevin Alcantara. OF Chas McCormick Age: 30 2025 MLB stats: 116 PA, .569 OPS, 62 wRC+, 1 HR. If McCormick makes the team, he could serve as a right-handed-hitting complement to Pete Crow-Armstrong in center field. He's known more for his defense (+30 career OAA in 3481 1/3 innings, plus a memorable catch in the World Series), but he has shown flashes of ability at the plate (.842 OPS, 132 wRC+, 22 HRs in 2023). Last year was a bust -- he missed 2 1/2 months during the middle of the season with an oblique strain and then was optioned to Triple-A in September. The Houston Astros non-tendered him last November. IF/OF Scott Kingery Age: 31 2025 MLB stats: 29 PA, .392 OPS, 0 HRs. Kingery is best known for the six-year, $24 million contract extension he got from the Philadelphia Phillies as a rookie in 2018. That deal turned out to be a horrible contract for the club: Kingery spent most of the final three years in Triple-A. He got a fresh start with the Los Angeles Angels, who called him up last year and got him into 19 games. L.A. moved on from him in the offseason. His best tools are his speed and versatility -- he can play second, third, short and all three outfield positions. That alone could endear him enough to Craig Counsell to earn him a surprise spot on the Opening Day roster. Others: Christian Bethancourt, Owen Miller Cubs' Best Non-Roster Invites: Pitchers RHP Trent Thornton Age: 32 2025 MLB stats: 42 1/3 IP, 4.68 ERA/4.74 FIP, 2.29 K:BB ratio. Thornton took a step back last year with the Seattle Mariners before suffering an Achilles tear at the end of July. His K rate plunged from a career-high 26.2 percent in 2024 to 17.8 percent, and his home run rate jumped from 2.7 percent to 3.3 percent. He's healthy again, as evidenced by him throwing in the low-90s at his workout for teams in January. And he might have a new pitch to showcase this spring. RHP Corbin Martin Age: 30 2025 MLB stats: 18 IP, 6.00 ERA/5.30 FIP, 2.56 K:BB ratio. This journeyman has a live arm: his two main pitches are a 96-mph four-seamer and a 92-mph slider. If you're willing to excuse "one bad game," then Martin was decent last year for the Baltimore Orioles. He was charged with six earned runs while not recording an out against the Phillies on Aug. 4; in his other outings, he posted a 3.00 ERA with 23 strikeouts. Others: Collin Snider, Vince Velasquez View the full article

At Marlins Media Day, right-hander Josh White reflects on his dominant 2025 season and looks ahead to his first big league spring training camp. View the full article

The Minnesota Twins announced two wallet-friendly ticket packages to get fans back to Target Field this season. Will you take advantage of these limited-time offers?View the full article

The San Diego Padres are still looking to add to their roster with spring training set to begin in just a few days, and two reports say they were in play for two free agents who agreed to deals this week. The first was the top pitcher on this year's free-agent market, left-hander Framber Valdez. Valdez agreed to a three-year, $115 million contract with the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday. Jon Heyman, an insider for MLB Network and the New York Post, said the Friars "showed late interest" while also mentioning the Padres first among teams who were in contention for the two-time All-Star and 2022 World Series champion with the Houston Astros. The Toronto Blue Jays, Minnesota Twins, and Baltimore Orioles were the other teams, aside from the Tigers. Then, following first baseman Paul Goldschmidt agreeing to a one-year deal to return to the New York Yankees on Friday, Dennis Lin of The Athletic noted that the Padres "were a finalist" for the 2022 NL MVP. Goldschmidt's salary for 2026 is expected to be less than $5 million. This comes on the heels of the Padres bringing in corner infielder-outfielder Miguel Andujar on a one-year, $4 million deal Thursday. Whether Andujar was Plan B after possibly being notified that Goldschmidt was going back to the Yankees, or if the Friars would have taken both, is unknown. There are still budget-friendly rotation options available. View the full article

The Brewers were blessed in 2024 and 2025, as Brice Turang’s offense took some quantum leaps in each of those seasons. He went from a barely adequate starter to a perennial Platinum Glove threat with a lethal offensive profile, posting a 121 OPS+ and racking up 28 doubles and 18 home runs. He’s also been reliable, playing in 311 out of 324 games the last two seasons. Let’s see how second base breaks down for your 2026 Milwaukee Brewers. Brewers Second Base 2025 Review Turang, who won a Gold Glove and the Platinum Glove in 2024, posting 4.7 WAR per Baseball Reference, managed to be even better in 2025. His OPS and OPS+ were the best among any Brewer with more than 300 at-bats. His defense was still superb, even if he was robbed of the Gold Glove by Nico Hoerner. The only drop-off/regression that Brewers fans saw was a decline in stolen bases, from 50 to 24, a career low for Turang, who was also caught a career-high eight times. Then again, Turang’s power surge upped his WAR to 5.6 in 2025, per Baseball Reference. Brewers Current Roster Situation Turang is the incumbent starter and is arguably on the cusp of eclipsing Rickie Weeks as the best second baseman in team history. He’s blown past other notables at the position like Fernando Vina and Jim Gantner. Caleb Durbin and Andruw Monasterio each saw ten games at second in 2025. Both would be capable choices at the position, but the offensive and defensive prowess of Turang would be noticeably absent. Other players with some experience at the position on the 40-man roster and among the NRIs are Tyler Black, Anthony Seigler, Eddys Leonard, Jesus Made, Cooper Pratt, Eduardo Garcia, and Jett Wiliams. In the high minors, the Brewers also have Ethan Murray and Freddy Zamora, while further down on the farm, Josh Adamczewski, Luis Pena, Jadyn Fielder, and Filippo di Turi could be fast risers in the organization due to their bats. In short, in the next few years, the Brewers could have the proverbial overflowing cup at second. Brewers Second Base Best-Case Scenario Brice Turang gets roughly 140 starts at second base, getting time off from the presence of players like Black and Williams, while delivering 2025’s at the plate profile with 2024’s basepath production. Turang could be a 20-50 player for the next few years with Gold Glove-caliber defense. This is one area where Milwaukee may not get pure power, but a guy who takes extra bases and steals bases can be very useful in scoring runs. HI paying fewer games would not be a bad thing, either: He’s played 155 games the last two seasons, but the team did appear to run out of gas against the Dodgers in the 2025 NLCS, and a few more games off might help the team out in October. There are plenty of options. Brewers Second Base Worst-Case Scenario Andruw Monasterio sees more than 20 games at second base. This is not because Monasterio would be horrible – in fact, he’s a competent option at the position. The problem would be that Turang and other higher-ceiling options were injured or ineffective, leaving the Brewers no choice but to go further down their depth chart. Overview There are a lot of ways for second base to go very well for Milwaukee, both for 2026 and the long term. Turang is probably the most familiar option, and if he is a 20-50 player, it will be hard for the Crew to get any better than his performance – or keep him around past 2027 (free agency and a massive payday will beckon). That said, if Caleb Durbin gets a lot of time at second, due to Turang moving to shortstop to fill in for a slumping Joey Ortiz, that’s not a bad outcome for Milwaukee, either. Neither is Jett Williams, Cooper Pratt, or Tyler Black taking playing time. Later in the season, one of Made, Adamczewski, Pena, or Garcia could be a viable choice. Brewers fans will likely have some very talented second basemen in the near future – worthy successors or complements to their current one. View the full article

If San Diego Padres fans are looking for a reason to cheer for a team other than the U.S. in the World Baseball Classic, there is no doubt it is the Dominican Republic. That is because of the 11 Friars participating in the WBC, three are on the DR's roster. Padres appear on eight rosters overall. Despite some insurance issues along the way, official 30-player rosters for all 20 WBC teams were announced Thursday. The tournament begins March 4. Superstars Manny Machado, a third baseman, and Fernando Tatis Jr., a right fielder, were already knowns on the Dominican roster and figure to be among the top players in a loaded lineup. Also on the roster is left-handed reliever Wandy Peralta. Machado will be in his third WBC, while Tatis and Peralta will be making their debuts. Closer Mason Miller is on Team U.S., while shortstop Xander Bogaerts will be playing for the Netherlands, left-handed reliever Yuki Matsui for defending champion Japan, and a pair of Padres in right-hander Ron Marinaccio and minor-league right-hander Alek Jacob playing for Team Italy. Three other minor-leaguers are on rosters with left-hander Miguel Ciengfuegos playing for Panama, right-hander Carter Loewen for Canada and right-hander Josh Mallitz for Israel. Infielder Sung Mun Song would have played for South Korea, but an oblique injury kept him out of the WBC. Another Friar, Yu Darvish, is expected to be an advisor for Japan as he is negotiating a retirement settlement with the Friars on his contract due to injury. The Dominican Republic is one of the favorites to win the WBC. This year's roster is highlighted by Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., New York Mets right fielder Juan Soto, Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez, Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz and Philadelphia Phillies left-handed starter Cristopher Sanchez. Despite typically have the deepest roster of players, the Dominicans have won just one of the five prior WBC championships, capturing the title with a 3-0 win over Puerto Rico in 2013 in San Francisco. The DR has only made the semifinals one other time, in the inaugural WBC in 2006 and finished fourth, losing to eventual runner-up Cuba 3-1 at Petco Park. The Dominican trio of Machado, Tatis and Peralta will go up against Bogaerts and the Netherlands in Pool D in Miami on March 8. Miller and the U.S. face the Italy duo of Marinaccio and Jacob on March 10 in Pool B in Houston. Matsui and Japan are in Pool A, which takes place in Tokyo, The top two teams in each pool advance to the quarterfinals, with the championship game taking place on March 17 in Miami. View the full article

At Marlins Media Day, catcher Liam Hicks speaks with Fish On First about building up his bat speed and arm strength during the offseason, and why this team could exceed expectations again. View the full article

Well, the Boston Red Sox did get a defensive-minded middle infielder, as promised, signing Isiah Kiner-Falefa for one year and $6 million. Visions of Pete Alonso playing alongside of Alex Bregman have gone by the wayside as the front office has committed to bolstering the infield defense. Kiner-Falefa fills that exact role and almost nothing more. He will be competing with lefty-killer Romy Gonzalez, Nate Eaton, Nick Sogard, and even David Hamilton for the starting second base job this spring. Given the timing and the $6 million price tag just five days before pitchers and catchers report, there is little doubt he will be on the Opening Day roster. The bigger question is how often he cracks the starting lineup, especially with Gonzalez offering the superior bat and Mayer appearing to be the preferred option at third base. Kiner-Falefa is the standard utility infielder manning 2B, SS, and 3B in 2025, playing all of them at an average to an above-average level. Second was where he got the fewest reps, with only 34 attempts on a play, and according to Baseball Savant, he was expected to convert 85% of those chances and did so. For his career, he is a +16 Outs Above Average player, though that's come with some serious regression, with most of it coming from an 11 OAA season in 2019; he posted -1 OAA in 2025. Even still, he is a reliable option, posting solid Defensive Runs Saved numbers with three at 3B, one at SS and one at 2B. This simply shows he might not have the same first step he did as a rookie, limiting his previously outstanding range, but he is reliable at making the plays he should with a consistent arm. A lot of the positive things I have to say regarding Kiner-Falefa end at his fielding. His bat is nothing to boast about, never slugging over .376 in a season. As indicated by the graphic above, he is quite clearly not a power option in any capacity. He's hit eight home runs twice in his career, and that is a career-high, and the underlying metrics show no indication that this season will be any different. A 1.1% barrel rate, a Max EV of 106.1, paired with an 8.1% Pull Air% do not bode well for a sudden power boost. That was never his game, regardless, but if you can't hit the ball hard there needs to be another elite trait to supplement that. Outside of his ability to avoid swinging and missing, that impact skill simply is not there. Kiner-Falefa is coming off a season where he slashed .262/.297/.334 while tallying a 75 wRC+. As much as I want to find the underlying breakout metric in his swing, it is not to be found. In fact, he outperformed all of his expected metrics by a good chunk. The role I envision for him is a late-inning defensive fill-in or a surefire way to get the regular infielders some needed rest, thanks to his defensive flexibility on the infield dirt. He provides the ultimate versatility that teams can never have enough of and something I'm sure Alex Cora will appreciate. In the scenario where Kiner-Falefa gets regular at-bats though, something has either gone horribly wrong or he's having an Abraham Toro-style June heater. In a vacuum, the signing is a smart one thanks to his legitimate utility role, but with a glaring need for some pop in the lineup, it has left many fans, including myself, wanting for more. View the full article

Between a quartet of quality middle infielders, which option stands out as the best fit for the Boston Red Sox's second base opening in 2026? In the mix are Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Nick Sogard, David Hamilton, and Romy Gonzalez. View the full article

This winter has felt like a contradiction wrapped in plausible deniability for the Minnesota Twins. On one hand, the organization has preached restraint while trimming payroll and reshuffling leadership. On the other hand, reports keep popping up that suggest the Twins at least poked around on some of the most expensive starting pitching available. Framber Valdez sits at the top of that list. As his free agency dragged deeper into the offseason, ESPN’s Jesse Rogers reported that Minnesota was among the teams involved. That alone raised eyebrows. A Valdez deal would have represented a dramatic shift for an organization that has been cutting costs and just parted ways with president of baseball operations Derek Falvey in a move that landed somewhere between shocking and confusing. Valdez was not the only surprise. The Twins also reportedly jumped into conversations on Freddy Peralta before Milwaukee ultimately sent him to the Mets. Whether Minnesota was a serious contender or simply checking in is impossible to know. Given the context of this winter, diligence feels like the safer assumption. Ownership has reduced spending. The front office structure is still settling. Plans for a full rebuild were shelved after minority investors came aboard to help stabilize the franchise financially. All of that has happened while the on-field product desperately needs help. The Twins lost the second-most games in the American League last season. The winter additions have been modest at best. Victor Caratini adds some flexibility behind the plate. Josh Bell brings a strong bat to an offense that struggled in the second half. Taylor Rogers returns to a bullpen that barely resembles last year’s version. None of that screams urgency. And yet, the rotation is quietly one of the more stable areas of the roster. Pablo Lopez, Joe Ryan, and Bailey Ober give Minnesota a legitimate top three. Simeon Woods Richardson showed real progress. Taj Bradley brings upside. Zebby Matthews, David Festa, Mick Abel, Connor Prielipp, Kendry Rojas, Andrew Morris, and Marco Raya round out a group that is deep if not perfectly defined. Teams never have enough starting pitching, but the Twins might have too many arms for too few rotation spots. Realistically, some of those pitchers will end up in the bullpen, whether by design or necessity. That internal depth is likely a big reason why Minnesota can talk itself out of a major free agent splurge. There are still high-end starters available, or they were recently available. Zac Gallen headlines that group after declining Arizona’s qualifying offer. Signing him would cost a draft pick, something the Twins rarely treat lightly. Lucas Giolito, Chris Bassitt, and Zack Littell represent solid but less transformative options. None carries the same impact as Gallen, and none feels like an obvious fit for a team trying to balance competitiveness with financial caution. So where does that leave Minnesota? Interested but not aggressive. Aware but not reckless. The Twins can tell agents and rival teams that they checked in on Valdez and Peralta, and technically, that can be true. It also does not mean they were ever close. Still, the fact that Minnesota keeps appearing on the periphery of these conversations matters. It suggests a front office that understands the need for impact talent, even if circumstances prevent them from acting on it. For now, browsing might be all they can afford. View the full article

'Tis the season of fringe roster talents getting their chance to make (and aspire to stay) in the big leagues. In this video, we go over the following players: Eloy Jimenez, Charles McAdoo, Chad Dallas, Edward Duran, and Arjun Nimmala (Jays' no. 3 prospect). Who has the best chance to make the roster, and what is the upside for each of these Jays? We give the full deep dive right here on Jays Centre. View the full article

The Minnesota Twins' farm system has quietly reloaded over the last few seasons, and the national rankings are finally starting to catch up. Depending on the publication, the organization currently boasts as many as six prospects landing on Top 100 lists, a reflection of aggressive drafting, targeted international spending, and meaningful deadline trades that infused the system with upside. Even with that level of recognition, prospect lists can only stretch so far. Every organization has players just outside the cut line, and in the Twins' case, several names feel far closer to breaking through than their current status suggests. Some are polished hitters whose statistical profiles lag behind flashier peers. Others are arms with loud tools but have incomplete resumes due to age or health. Two of the players below arrived via trade, while two were selected in the MLB Draft, a snapshot of how Minnesota has diversified its talent acquisition. None currently carry Top-100 prospect labels, but each has a clear path to forcing that conversation by this time next year. Gabriel Gonzalez, OF Gonzalez has already lived the Top-100 life once with MLB.com ranking him 79th in 2024, which makes his exclusion now feel more like a temporary detour than a verdict. Signed out of Venezuela by Seattle in 2021, Gonzalez established himself as a premium bat-to-ball hitter early in his career and reached national prominence before being dealt to Minnesota in the Jorge Polanco trade. A back injury derailed his 2024 season and robbed him of the impact he showed the year prior. Rather than stagnate, Gonzalez used that lost year as motivation. He reported to camp in better shape in 2025, added strength, and reminded everyone why his offensive foundation is so appealing. Across three levels, he hit well north of .300 with a 148 wRC+ and finished the year as one of the youngest regulars in Triple A, holding his own against advanced pitching. The profile is built around contact and aggression. Gonzalez rarely strikes out (14.5 K%) and consistently finds barrels, even if his swing plane and approach are not optimized for over-the-fence power. Defensively, he has improved with better conditioning, but still projects best in a corner, which places pressure on his bat to carry everyday value. 2026 focus: Gonzalez tightening his strike zone and lifting the ball more consistently would go a long way. Even a modest power bump would change how evaluators view his ceiling. Kendry Rojas, LHP The Twins did not acquire Rojas for what he has already done. They acquired him for what they believe he can still become. Injuries limited his workload in Toronto’s system, but Minnesota saw enough raw stuff at the deadline to part with meaningful big league pieces (Louis Varland, Ty France) to bring him over. When healthy, Rojas flashes a fastball that creeps into the upper 90s and a slider that misses bats at a high rate. His changeup gives him a third legitimate weapon, and the ingredients are there for a starter who can turn over a lineup. Last season, he posted a 28.8 K% while reaching Triple-A in his age-22 season. The problem has been availability and consistency. His brief Triple-A run highlighted both sides of the coin: dominant stuff paired with erratic command that led to far too many free passes (15.9 BB% after the deadline) . Rojas will pitch the entire 2026 season at 23 years old, and for the first time in years, the priority is simply staying on the mound. The Twins have a strong track record of maximizing arms with this kind of profile, and even if the rotation path narrows, there is a fallback as a high-leverage reliever. 2026 focus: Health and strike throwing. A full season with improved command would quickly push Rojas into national conversations. Dasan Hill, RHP Hill may not have cracked any Top 100 lists yet, but the ingredients scream breakout. A towering right-hander with premium velocity, Hill overwhelmed Low-A hitters with pure stuff in his first full professional season (40.2 Swing%). Opponents struggled to make contact, and when they did, it was often weak. The challenge was control. Walks piled up as Hill adjusted to longer outings and a professional workload (15.0 BB%), and his late-season jump to High-A exposed how far he still needs to go with fastball command. That said, it is hard to overstate how rare it is to find a teenager with this combination of size, velocity, and secondary pitch quality. The Twins have been patient with similar arms in the past, and Hill’s development arc suggests his biggest gains are still ahead. If the control comes even a step forward, the upside looks like a rotation anchor. 2026 focus: Throwing more strikes and working deeper into games. Efficiency will determine how fast Hill climbs. Marek Houston, SS Houston entered pro ball with one carrying tool that never came into question. His defense. Widely viewed as the best shortstop glove in last July’s draft class, Houston immediately showed why Minnesota valued him so highly with his range, arm strength, and instincts on the left side of the infield. The offensive side remains the swing factor (pun intended). Houston surprised evaluators with a power spike during his final college season (.597 SLG), but skepticism followed him into his debut due to park factors and underlying contact data. His first taste of pro ball offered a mixed picture, with a strong start at Low-A (.868 OPS) followed by a difficult transition after a promotion (.459 OPS). The floor here is relatively high because elite defense at shortstop is always valuable. The ceiling depends on whether Houston’s bat settles somewhere above playable. If it does, the Twins may have found a long-term answer at a premium position. 2026 focus: Adjusting to better pitching and finding a consistent offensive approach at higher levels will determine his trajectory. The Twins system is no longer just top-heavy. Prospects like Gonzalez, Rojas, Hill, and Houston illustrate the depth that exists beyond the headline names. If even one or two take the expected step forward in 2026, Minnesota’s presence on national Top 100 lists could grow even stronger heading into 2027. Which prospect has the best chance to be on next winter’s top-100 lists? Would you add any other prospects to the ones outlined above? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

Milwaukee Brewers fans have a few choices when it comes to which team they will throw their support behind in the World Baseball Classic. It might just boil down to who their favorite member of the 2026 Brewers is. Or, of course, you can root for all the Brewers players until they end up going up against one another. There will be 14 players from the Brewers' organization playing in this year's WBC, representing eight countries. You can add one more to each of those totals if you include a member of the 2025 team who is a current free agent. The 30-player rosters were announced Thursday for all 20 WBC teams. The tournament begins on March 4. Venezuela and Nicaragua lead the way with three members of the Crew. Venezuela, though, has the Brewers' star power in outfielder Jackson Chourio and catcher William Contreras as well as left-handed reliever Angel Zerpa, while Nicaragua's roster includes three minor-leaguers in right-handed starter Carlos Rodriguez, infielder Freddy Zamora, and right-hander Stiven Cruz. Two countries have a pair of Brewers, as Canada has left-handed reliever Rob Zastryzny and minor-league infielder Tyler Black, while Great Britain includes minor-league right-handers Myles Langhorne and Jack Seppings. Going it along are second baseman Brice Turang on the U.S., shortstop Joey Ortiz with Mexico, right-handed reliever Abner Uribe on the Dominican Republic, and 2025 first-round draft pick Andrew Fischer, a corner infielder, with Italy. Left-handed starter Jose Quintana, currently a free agent, will play for Colombia for a third time in the WBC. Turang (US), Ortiz, and Fischer (Italy) are in Pool B in Houston, with Turang and Ortiz meeting on March 9. Italy faces the U.S. on March 10 and Mexico on March 11 to conclude group play. Also in their group are Brazil and Great Britain. Pool D in Miami will have the largest representation by the Crew. That is where Chourio, Contreras, and Zerpa (Venezuela), Uribe (Dominican Republic), and Rodriguez and Zamora (Nicaragua) will be. Seeing Contreras and Chourio face Uribe on March 11 is a possibility. Canada, with Zastryzny and Black, will be in San Juan, Puerto Rico, for Pool A. Cuba, Colombia, Panama, and host Puerto Rico are the other teams in that bracket. The top two teams in each pool advance to the quarterfinals. The championship game ison March 17 in Miami. View the full article