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Team United States of America’s official roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic is in, and Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Michael Wacha will be a part of the team. The announcement of Wacha’s addition will mean that Team USA will have both Wacha and Bobby Witt Jr. from the Royals. Wacha becomes the eighth Royal to be named to the WBC, joining Witt Jr., Salvador Perez, Maikel Garcia, Vinnie Pasquantino, Jac Caglianone, Seth Lugo, and Carlos Estévez. Wacha is entering his third season with the Royals in 2026. Last season, the right-hander started 31 games, pitching to a record of 10-13, an earned run average of 3.86, and a WHIP of 1.22. Wacha led the Royals pitchers in innings with 172 ⅔ in 2025. Signed to a three-year extension worth $51 million in November of 2024 with a club option for 2028, Wacha has posted a 23-21 record, 3.61 ERA, and 1.20 WHIP in 60 starts in the 34-year-old’s two seasons with the club. Wacha will hope to help the USA bounce back from the 2023 WBC, in which they fell to Japan in the championship game, 3-2. Wacha is a USA Baseball alumnus, as he was a member of the 2011 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team. A 13-year MLB veteran, Wacha has a career record of 111-75, an ERA of 3.89, and a WHIP of 1.27 across 309 games in his career. Team USA kicks off its tournament on Friday, March 6th, in Houston, Texas, against Brazil. View the full article

At Marlins Media Day, outfielder Jakob Marsee speaks with Fish On First about his mindset entering his first full major league season and World Baseball Classic debut. View the full article

The World Baseball Classic begins March 5, and the opening round will be played in four locations. Pool play games will be held in Tokyo, Japan; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Houston, Texas; and Miami, Florida. The Toronto Blue Jays have 12 players and prospects participating in the WBC tournament. José Berríos intended to play, but he was denied an insurance policy. He participated in the last three classics, playing for Puerto Rico. The righty had an up-and-down MLB season last year, posting a 4.17 ERA with 138 strikeouts over 166 innings. In the first half of the season, he posted a 3.75 ERA and held batters to a .238 average over 115 1/3 innings. However, those numbers inflated over 50 2/3 innings in the second half, when he posted a 5.15 ERA and a .284 batting average against. He was sent to the bullpen, but he only threw two innings before he was placed on the 15-day injury list for the first time in his 10-year career with right elbow inflammation. Berríos was later revealed to be dealing with a biceps tendon issue. Japan is looking to repeat as WBC champions. However, the teams from the USA, Venezuela, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic will be stiff competition. There is also the chance of a surprise team making a run (What about that Canadian roster?). Blue Jays in the WBC Here are the Blue Jays players participating and the countries they will represent: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. - 1B, Dominican Republic Alejandro Kirk - C, Mexico Adam Macko - LHP, Canada Ernie Clement - INF, USA Kazuma Okamoto - 3B, Japan Andrés Giménez - SS, Venezuela Leo Jiménez - SS, Panama Yariel Rodríguez - RHP, Cuba CJ Stubbs - C, Israel RJ Schreck - OF, Israel Will Cresswell - C, Great Britain Ismael Munguia - OF, Nicaragua Guerrero will be making his first WBC appearance. He committed to play early after missing out on the 2023 tournament due to knee discomfort. Kirk will be the starting catcher for Team Mexico. He's also making his first WBC appearance after missing the 2023 event due to the birth of his child. Clement is still riding the high of a hot October, in which he set the record for hits in a single postseason (30). It'll be his first appearance for Team USA, and he'll offer versatility in the field. Clement can play any infield position for manager Mark DeRosa. Okamoto makes his second WBC appearance; he was a key contributor in Team Japan's 2023 WBC victory. He had a 1.278 OPS with two home runs and seven RBIs throughout the tournament. One of those home runs was against Team USA in the championship game. Giménez will also be making his second WBC appearance for Team Venezuela. In 2023, he slashed .294/.368/.294 with two runs and an RBI. However, he makes most of his impact with his glove. He is a three-time Gold Glove winner and won the Platinum Glove Award in 2023 while with the Cleveland Guardians. The Blue Jays' shortstop can play both middle infield positions, giving manager Omar López flexibility with the plethora of MLB infielders Team Venezuela has. Rodríguez will be making his second appearance for Team Cuba. During the 2023 tournament, he made two starts. He allowed two earned runs and struck out 10 batters over 7 1/3 innings. The Blue Jays also have several prospects participating in the classic. Stubbs is the only one with WBC experience. He played in the 2023 tournament for Team Israel. However, he played in only one game and went 0-for-3 at the plate. Of the notable minor leaguers participating, Macko is on the Blue Jays' 40-man roster. Rodríguez, Stubbs, and Schreck will be non-roster invitees in spring training. All four could make an appearance with the major league club during the season. If Macko or Schreck get called up, it would be their MLB debuts. Stubbs made a brief debut last season with the Washington Nationals, taking three plate appearances. Rodríguez has pitched in 87 big league games, but will also most likely be starting the season in Triple A. View the full article

The Mets and Twins might as well be playing different sports when it comes to their level of investment in the product on the field. That said, both teams could use some roster upgrades and could match up on a deal. Should the Twins look to deal starting pitching for a young position player? The Twins are currently expected to wind up with a win total somewhere in the low to mid-70s range, according to several projection systems and betting outlets. It’s not difficult to see why, as the team remains largely unchanged at its core after their disastrous finish to 2025. With spring training approaching, the team should be looking for upside to try to outperform expectations, and the Mets have a pair of young players the Twins should target. The Mets have utilized their deep pockets this offseason to bring in Jorge Polanco, who is expected to take over first base duties, as well as Bo Bichette, who is expected to switch to third base. They also parted with a young, borderline top-100 pitching prospect to acquire Freddy Peralta, who is currently on a one-year deal. As a result, a pair of young hitters in Brett Baty and Mark Vientos have been displaced, and their stock of young, near-MLB pitching has taken a bit of a hit. The Twins and Mets should look to help each other. Mark Vientos Vientos is the less intriguing of the pair of young Mets hitters the Twins should target, but he isn’t without intriguing traits, and will undoubtedly be the most affordable in trade. He looked to have broken out in 2024 when he slashed .266/.322/.516 while slugging 27 homers in just 111 games. He fell flat out of the gate in 2025, posting a .640 OPS in the first half, but quietly rebounded with a .778 OPS to finish the year. Vientos can play third base, though he’s been a liability there so far in his career by all accounts. He’s been around neutral defensively at first base in a limited sample, making 1B/DH a stronger possibility long term. The fit isn’t obvious for 2026, but that is a result of the Twins' head-scratching roster build, rather than Vientos’ abilities. His performance against left-handed pitching will likely far surpass any other options the Twins currently have in the 1B/DH slot, and his power would only rival that of Matt Wallner’s on the current roster. Vientos has the kind of offensive upside that makes him worth gambling on, and he's more than capable of making the positional fit moot. Because of his defensive limitations and current fit on the Mets, he would likely fetch the lower end of the Twins' current rotation depth, perhaps in the Kendry Rojas or Andrew Morris range. Even if it took a bit more, Vientos is team-controlled through 2029. Brett Baty It’s possible Baty’s breakout 2025 was enough for the Mets to take him off the table completely, but the Twins would be wise to at least find out. Baty is a former top prospect who, despite swinging left-handed, is exactly the kind of profile the Twins should look to acquire. His .748 OPS in 2026 was solid, as his quality of contact jumped significantly and he posted a slash line 11% better than league average according to wRC+. His offense is strong enough for him to play every day, but his defensive versatility can also make him viable in a utility role. Unlike Vientos, Baty was a solid defender at third base. He also posted a positive Defensive Runs Saved at second base, and is capable of playing first. He would be strong injury insurance for Royce Lewis , with the kind of upside to completely take over the position long term, should injuries or performance continue to be a problem. He’s also strong insurance for Luke Keaschall , who has an injury history of his own and could potentially see more time in the outfield in 2026. The Mets may be convinced that Baty is a budding star after his breakout 2026, but it’s hard not to notice that he currently has no place in their Opening Day lineup. If they’re interested in swapping him out for what they see as similar value in rotation depth, the Twins would be a good fit. Several names, such as Mick Abel and Zebby Matthews, are unlikely to make the roster in the Minnesota rotation on Opening Day. Parting with MLB-ready rotation options may seem like a risk, but it may be worth taking to try to raise the lineup’s ceiling to another level. The Twins have no shortage of rotation options under control for years to come, and it’s far more likely that if the team struggles in 2026, it’s due to offensive performance rather than starting pitching. A late offseason pivot to transfer some of that starting pitching depth into legitimate lineup help may be a wise choice to help the offense. Do you agree? Where would you draw the line at acquiring Vientos and Baty? View the full article

Kaelen Culpepper is more than likely to start his 2026 season at Triple-A St. Paul. It does call into question what veteran Orlando Arcia's role will be with the team, but having a veteran shortstop like Arcia alongside Culpepper starting the year at Triple-A could prove to be to his benefit. View the full article

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Before diving into this article, we recommend reading part one, Gold Standard Padres, Infield Edition. With that said, let's look at the gold standard Padres of the outfield and designated hitter. LF Greg Vaughn "Vaughnie" "Hootie" 1998 (6.3 WAR) The Sultan of the Fifty AVG: .272 | H: 156 | R: 112 | 2B: 28 | HR: 50 | RBI: 119 | SB: 11 | BB: 79 | OPS: .960 NL All-Star | Silver Slugger | TSN NL Comeback Player of the Year | Players' Choice NL Comeback Player | NL Player of the Week 7/19 | Padres Team MVP | Padres Chairman’s Award The Five Pillars of Hootie Innovation: After a disastrous 1997 season where many thought his career was fading, Vaughn innovated his entire offensive philosophy by apprentice-studying under Tony Gwynn. He abandoned his "all-or-nothing" pull-heavy swing for a shorter, more scientific stroke that utilized the gaps. Under Gwynn's mentorship, Greg spent countless hours in the video room, learning to stay back on the ball and drive outside pitches to the opposite field. This mechanical overhaul allowed him to remain a terrifying power threat while significantly improving his plate discipline, turning him into a surgical slugger who punished pitchers for nibbling at the strike zone. Impact: Vaughn was the indispensable engine of the 1998 squad, providing the middle-of-the-order gravity that allowed Tony Gwynn to see better pitches. By launching a franchise record (50) home runs and finishing 4th in NL MVP voting, he single-handedly altered the defensive strategy of every opponent the Padres faced. His production reached a crescendo in the World Series; in Game 1 against the Yankees, his two-homer performance silenced the Bronx and gave San Diego a legitimate belief they could capture a title. He was the emotional heartbeat of a clubhouse that won a franchise record (98) games, which remains the winningest season in franchise history and still stands years 28 later. Legend: The "Legend of Hootie" is etched into San Diego lore as the man who conquered the 50-home run plateau, a feat no other Padre has ever achieved. While the national media focused on the McGwire-Sosa race, Vaughn was the blue-collar hero of the West Coast, delivering massive shots that seemed to defy the heavy marine layer at Qualcomm Stadium. His story is one of pure resilience, having gone from the trade block to the MVP conversation in the span of twelve months. He became a folk hero for his grit, culminating in his (50th) blast on the final day of the season—a moment that remains a cornerstone of Padres history. Iconic Look: Standing in the box with a menacing, wide-legged stance and a high, rhythmic bat waggle, Vaughn was a terrifying silhouette. His visual presence was defined by his trademark goatee and jersey sleeves stretched to the breaking point over his massive biceps. Clad in the home white jerseys where navy pinstripes served as the sharp accent, paired with the navy cap featuring the white and orange interlocking "SD," he looked like a modern-day gladiator. The "Vaughn Trot"—a slow, purposeful stroll around the bases punctuated by his signature gold chain catching the stadium lights—became a symbol of 1998 dominance. Every at-bat felt like a heavyweight title fight, with his violent follow-through serving as the definitive exclamation point. The "Did You Know" Factor: Did you know that Greg Vaughn was the first player in the National League to reach the 10, 15, and 20-homer milestones during the historic 1998 home run chase? While the national media eventually shifted focus to Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, Vaughn was the one setting the pace for the first two months of the greatest power-hitting season in baseball history. He even became the only Padre in history to hit two home runs in a single World Series game, going deep twice off David Wells in Game 1. Furthermore, he joined an exclusive group by winning the Silver Slugger and Comeback Player of the Year awards in the same season. Despite the high-strikeout era, his discipline in 1998 was elite; he drew 79 walks and posted a .960 OPS, which still stands as one of the top offensive seasons in team history, proving he was a complete offensive force CF Steve Finley "Fins" 1996 (7.2 WAR) The Five-Tool Technician AVG: .298 | H: 198 | R: 126 | 2B: 45 | 3B: 9 | HR: 30 | RBI: 95 | SB: 22 | XBH: 84 | TB: 348 | OPS: .924 Gold Glove (1995-1996) | NL Player of the Week (7/7/96) The Five Pillars of Fins Innovation: Finley was a pioneer in "Biomechanical Longevity." Holding a degree in physiology, he treated his body like a laboratory, innovating a training regimen of chiropractic care, yoga, and precise nutrition long before they were standard in MLB clubhouses. He incorporated visual conditioning exercises to sharpen ocular tracking and neural reaction speeds, maintaining the twitch-fiber explosiveness of a man a decade younger. He wasn't just "talented"; he was a finely tuned machine who mastered a way to sustain peak "Speed-Power" output for six months straight. This commitment to physiological maintenance demonstrated that elite athleticism could be extended through science—a philosophy that allowed him to play until age 42. Impact: The statistical impact of Finley's 1996 is massive, but his "clutch impact" was global. He dominated the historic "Monterrey Series" in Mexico, hitting the first-ever regular-season home run on Mexican soil to ignite a sweep of the Mets that galvanized the San Diego fan base. On the field, he was a statistical vacuum; he led the Majors with 655 at-bats while setting franchise records for total bases (348), extra-base hits (84), and runs scored (126)—benchmarks that remain the franchise's all-time single-season records 30 years later. This offensive engine was anchored by his defensive erasure in center field; his elite range earned him the Gold Glove, as he turned sure-fire doubles into outs and provided an essential safety net for the pitching staff. This combination of iron-man durability and defensive mastery was the primary catalyst that powered the Padres to a 91-win division title. Legend: The legend of Steve Finley is that of the ultimate "Five-Tool Technician." He possessed a "Zen-like" focus that made him arguably the best defensive center fielder in the history of Jack Murphy Stadium. His legend was cemented on the final day of the 1996 season in a head-to-head battle for the National League West title against the Dodgers, where his consistent pressure helped San Diego clinch the division crown. His historical legend is tied to his membership in two of baseball's most exclusive clubs: he is one of only three players, joining Willie Mays and George Brett, to record 300 home runs, 425 doubles, and 100 triples; furthermore, he and Mays are the only two in that group to also surpass 300 career stolen bases Iconic Look: Finley’s iconic look was the epitome of lean, mid-90s baseball grace. Standing 6'2" with a wiry, athletic frame, he featured a silhouette that seemed perfectly designed for the expansive gaps of "The Murph." His stance was a masterclass in balance: a low, controlled crouch followed by a smooth, left-handed "loop" swing that generated effortless whip. Clad in the classic white-and-navy pinstripes with his pants worn high to emphasize his speed, he was the ultimate technician in motion. The most enduring image of Finley is him at a full sprint in center field, closing the gap with elite acceleration before a perfectly timed, head-first dive that preserved a late-inning lead. Did You Know" Factor: Did you know that in 1996, Steve Finley became only the second player in Padres history, after Tony Gwynn, to record 5 hits and a home run in the same game, with Finley's performance featuring a go-ahead home run. He also established a "Gold Standard" for versatility that year, finishing just one triple shy of becoming the first player in major league history to join the 30/40/10 club, ending the season with 30 home runs, 45 doubles, and 9 triples. Most impressively, his strict "physiology-first" lifestyle allowed him to start 161 games in center field, proving that his specialized conditioning made him one of the most reliable and durable fixtures in the National League during the Padres' title run. RF Tony Gwynn "Mr. Padre" 1987 (8.6 WAR) The High-Tech Hit King AVG: .370 | H: 218 | R: 119 | 2B: 36 | 3B: 13 | HR: 7 | RBI: 54 | SB: 56 | BB: 82 | IBB: 26 | SO: 35 | OBP: .454 | OPS: .958 8x NL Batting Champion (1984, 1987-1989, 1994-1997) | 5x Gold Glove (1986-1987, 1989-1991) | 7x Silver Slugger (1984, 1986-1987, | 8x Silver Bat Award | (1984, 1987-1989, 1994-1997) | 1989, 1994-1995, 1997) | 15x NL All-Star (1984-1987, 1989-1999) | 5x NL Player of the Month (May 1984, May 1987, July 1988, Aug 1993, May 1997) | 11x NL Player of the Week (June 7 & June 21, 1987) | 7x Padres Team MVP (1984, 1986-1988, 1990, 1994-1995) | Branch Rickey Award (1995) | Padres Chairman’s Award (1995) | Lou Gehrig Memorial Award (1998) | Roberto Clemente Award (1999) | Padres Hall of Fame (2002) | #19 Retired by the San Diego Padres (2004) | National Baseball Hall of Fame (2007) The Five Pillars of Mr. Padre Innovation: Gwynn pioneered the "Information Age" by becoming the sport's first true video junkie in 1987. He traveled with two professional-grade VCRs, utilizing shuttle-search frame-by-frame technology to build a mental and physical database of pitcher tendencies, release points, and sequence patterns. This was the birth of the "Captain Video" era. That same year, he overhauled his physical approach to develop explosive hand speed, which he maximized by using some of the smallest, lightest bats in MLB history—typically 32 to 33 inches and weighing only 31 ounces. This technical combination of video study and precise swing-weight innovation resulted in a .370 average, which was his career high at the time. Impact: The 1987 campaign remains the most complete individual season in Padres history. Gwynn’s 8.6 bWAR was fueled by a historic dual-threat performance where he earned a Silver Slugger while leading the league in (AVG .370), (H 218), and (158 Runs Created) while swiping a career-high (56 SB). His situational impact was statistically staggering—he hit a remarkable .375 with runners in scoring position for the entire 1987 season. He was the only player in the 20th century to finish a season with at least 200 hits, 100 runs, and 50 stolen bases while hitting over .350. Defensively, he utilized his "basketball feet" and elite lateral quickness to record 348 putouts and 10 assists in right field, earning his second Gold Glove Legend: Tony Gwynn remains the only player to serve as the heartbeat of both Padres World Series teams (1984 and 1998). In 1987, he maintained a historic "Contact Gap," striking out only 35 times in 680 plate appearances; he was 1.6 times more likely to steal a base (56) than he was to strike out. His bat control was so precise that he recorded only one multi-strikeout game during that entire campaign and maintained a .300 average even when reaching a two-strike count. This mastery was defined by his ownership of the "5.5 hole" between third base and shortstop, a corridor he exploited so often that it became his personal trademark. His status was solidified by his performance against the era's elite; he hit a combined .331 against Hall of Famers Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, and Pedro Martinez. Iconic Look: His 1987 aesthetic was deeply rooted in the Padres' vintage "Brownie" era (1985-1990) uniforms, in which the pinstripes emphasized his lean point guard physique, which still carried the athletic grace of his time on the court. Taller and more agile than in later years, he sported a closely trimmed mustache that framed an intense focus. He stood in a signature "closed" batting style, defined by a constant, rhythmic circular bat waggle and an inward knee-knock that triggered his legendary weight transfer. On his hands, he sported black Franklin batting gloves paired with vibrant orange wristbands on each arm, while his Rawlings glove was known for its distinctively soft, broken-in leather. Completing the late-eighties look was the clean, straight-line aesthetic of the ribbon sock style and a high-shine reflective brown helmet that caught the glint of the San Diego sun. The "Did You Know" Factor: Did you know that in 1987, Tony Gwynn became the first player in National League history to win a batting title and record over 50 stolen bases in the same season? This campaign stands alone in the Padres' record books as the only time a player hit the "200 Hit / 100 Run / 50 Steal" trifecta—a benchmark that has never been challenged in the decades since. Gwynn recorded a staggering 73 multi-hit games that year, meaning he collected more than one hit in nearly half of his appearances (46.5%). Furthermore, he showcased rare gap-to-gap power by tying the franchise record with 13 triples; fittingly, his 200th hit of the year was one of those record-setting triples. He capped off the season by winning the batting title by a massive 32-point margin over runner-up Pedro Guerrero, a gap that remains one of the largest in the modern era of the National League. Vince Coleman after John Kruk error - 1987" width="200"> DH Gary Sheffield "Sheffield of Dreams" "Sheff" 1992 (7.0 WAR) The Triple Crown Chaser AVG: .330 | H: 184 | R: 87 | 2B: 34 | 3B: 3 | HR: 33 | RBI: 100 | SB: 5 | BB: 48 | IBB: 12 | SO: 40 | OBP: .385 | SLG: .580 | OPS: .965 | OPS+ 168 | wRC+ 172 NL Batting Champion (1992) | Silver Bat Award (1992) | NL Silver Slugger (1992) | NL All-Star (1992) | NL Player of the Month (August 1992) | NL Player of the Week (May 24, 1992) | Sporting News MLB Player of the Year (1992) | Sporting News NL Comeback Player of the Year (1992) | Padres Team MVP (1992) The Five Pillars of Sheffield of Dreams Innovation: Sheffield engineered a swing that prioritized violent bat speed over traditional weight transfer in a way the league had never seen. His signature "bat waggle" served as a timing mechanism that allowed him to keep his hands back until the last possible moment, making him able to turn on triple-digit fastballs with ease. In 1992, he refined a lift-and-separate timing mechanism that maximized rotational force in his lower half, allowing him to dominate the inside pitch. He utilized a distinct open-stance foundation, providing a clear vantage point to identify the pitch early before the trigger synchronized his body for the point of contact. This mechanical shift allowed him to put backspin on the ball, which in the modern Statcast era is recognized as the foundation for spin rate, launch angle, and exit velocity. Impact: The impact of Sheffield's 1992 campaign is defined by a 7.0 Peak Value. He secured the NL Batting Title with a .330 average, becoming the first Padre other than Tony Gwynn to win the crown and the youngest player to do so since Tommy Davis in 1962. He remains the only player in franchise history to win a batting title while also hitting 30+ home runs in the same season. Sheffield led the Major Leagues with 323 total bases and produced an elite strikeout-to-home-run ratio, recording only 40 strikeouts despite smashing 33 home runs. His dominance was further cemented on August 6, 1992, when he and Fred McGriff became the first teammates since 1955 to hit back-to-back home runs twice in a single game. This 1992 breakout earned him the Sporting News Major League Player of the Year award and 9 first-place votes in the NL MVP race, where he finished 3rd behind Barry Bonds and Terry Pendleton. Legend: The 1992 season was a display of offensive dominance where Sheffield nearly rewrote history, fueled by a pursuit of the first NL Triple Crown since 1937. This chase represented the closest any National League player has come to the feat in the last 88 years—a drought that continues in the Senior Circuit to this day. He held the lead in all three Triple Crown categories as late as August 23rd and ultimately finished just two home runs and nine RBIs shy of the Crown. A fractured finger that ended his season a week early was the only thing that could stop the pursuit. By capturing the batting title that season, he became the first National League third baseman to do so since 1933—a 59-year historical gap spanning from the Great Depression to the end of the Cold War. This campaign established the foundation for a career that saw him become the first player in MLB history to record 100-RBI seasons with five different franchises. Iconic Look: Sheffield’s visual profile was the definition of "90s cool." He wore the white home navy pinstripe jersey featuring the navy-and-orange accented "Padres" script across the chest, paired with matching navy headwear showcasing the white-and-orange interlocking "SD". To commemorate San Diego hosting the Midsummer Classic, the 1992 All-Star Game patch was featured on both the side of his cap and his left jersey sleeve—drawing attention to his massive forearms. This look was further defined by thick navy wristbands, Franklin batting gloves, white-and-navy Nike high-tops, and a swinging gold chain. Every at-bat felt intense, as Sheffield stared down pitchers while pacing in the box and holding his pine-tar-stained Rawlings bat high, swinging it like a cobra. The "Did You Know" Factor: Traded to San Diego just 11 days before the 1992 season began, Sheffield arrived as a key piece of "The Four Tops"—the legendary quartet of Tony Fernandez, Tony Gwynn, Gary Sheffield, and Fred McGriff. Whenever any of the four recorded a hit at Jack Murphy Stadium, the PA system would blare Motown hits. Notably, Sheffield credited his entire transformation to Tony Gwynn, who took him under his wing after the trade and taught him how to "think" like a professional hitter. Despite being traded away in 1993, Sheffield famously said he cried when leaving San Diego because of the bond he had formed with Gwynn and the city. The ultimate family showdown occurred on May 12, 1992, when he faced his uncle, Dwight Gooden, at Shea Stadium; Sheffield famously smiled at the mound before lacing a line-drive single off the Cy Young winner. View the full article

Can you feel it? The San Diego Padres' season is right around the corner, and the excitement is palpable. One sure sign of that is when teams reveal their non-roster invitations to spring training. The Padres did that by updating their website. All of these players are on minor-league contracts, so a bulk of them will be ticketed to start the season at Triple-A El Paso. But there might be a couple of players who earn a spot on the Opening Day roster. First baseman Gavin Sheets was one of those guys last year. This year, there are 28 players who have formally been revealed as having non-roster invites. There is an additional one I included because of a recent announcement. As a reminder, spring training opens next week in Peoria, Ariz., with pitchers and catchers due to report on Feb. 11 and position players shortly after on Feb. 15. The first Cactus League game is Feb. 20 against the Seattle Mariners, with whom the Friars share the Peoria Sports Complex. Pitchers (13*) LH Marco Gonzales Gonzales didn’t pitch in 2025 and only seven times in 2024 due to having left flexor tendon surgery in September 2024. Gonzales only pitched in 10 games in 2023 and had nerve decompression surgery. He will get $1.5 million if he makes the Padres’ roster. The soon-to-be 34-year-old is an interesting low-risk gamble, as JP Sears and Kyle Hart are the top lefty options in the rotation at the moment. He was pretty solid in 2021 and 2022 with the Seattle Mariners before the injuries hit. RH Triston McKenzie If there is one pitcher to watch during spring training, it is McKenzie. Once a highly touted prospect in the Cleveland Guardians' system, the 6-foot-5 right-hander appeared to be breaking through with a 2022 season in which he posted a 3.59 FIP (2.95 ERA) in 30 starts (31 games). Shoulder and elbow issues led to Tommy John surgery in 2023. He wasn’t sharp in his return in 2024 and was designated for assignment by the Guardians after a rough start to 2025. McKenzie took a lottery ticket from the Padres and is the top candidate not on the 40-man roster to claim a rotation spot. If not, he likely heads to Triple-A El Paso to be called upon when needed. RH Riley Pint* This is the asterisk inclusion as Pint was not included on the website, but that might be because that move is fairly fresh and could be a paperwork holdup. He would make 14 NRI pitchers. Pint is a very intriguing candidate for a bullpen role. The No. 4 overall pick in the 2016 draft by the Colorado Rockies has career minor-league walk and strikeout rates that will make you pull your hair out (7.8 walks per nine innings) and simultaneously make you drool (10.9 K’s). He is coming off a 2025 season in which he didn’t pitch in the minors for the Guardians due to an undisclosed injury, but hit Driveline this offseason and showed enough during a workout for teams (97.4 mph fastball, 95 mph sinker) to get a deal with the Padres. He is likely ticketed for Triple-A, but if he has turned the corner with his control, he would be a huge weapon out of the bullpen or even as a starter if he were to be stretched out. LH Omar Cruz Due to the lack of rotation depth, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Cruz stretched out to be a starter this spring. He made his MLB debut with the Padres in 2025 with two relief appearances, but does have 67 starts in 159 career minor-league games. That included 11 starts in 2025 at Triple-A El Paso. He has the strikeout potential with a career 10.4 K’s per nine in the minors. He appears to be an organization favorite as he was an international signee by the Friars in 2017, then brought back as a minor-league Rule 5 pick after the 2023 season. He re-signed on a minor-league deal this offseason. RH Sean Boyle The 29-year-old was a 25th-round draft choice by the New York Yankees in 2018 out of Dallas Baptist and has spent all that time in the minors in that organization. He has bounced between reliever and starter, with 71 of his 134 minor-league games as a starter. In 2025, he spent the entire season at Triple-A, with 23 starts and five relief appearances, compiling a 4.61 ERA in 134⅔ innings. For his career, he has a 3.83 ERA with 2.5 walks and 9.2 strikeouts per nine innings. RH Evan Fitterer The 25-year-old starter was a fifth-round draft choice by the Miami Marlins in 2019 and signed with the Friars in December. He is a SoCal native, born in Mission Viejo and attending Aliso Niguel High School. He plateaued with six starts at Triple-A in 2024, but has otherwise spent the last three seasons at Double-A. That included a swing role in 2025, where he made 33 appearances, including 10 starts, with a 3.92 ERA. Walks have been a slight issue for him as he has a career four walks per nine innings to go with 8.9 strikeouts per nine. RH Justin Yeager A 29th-round draft choice by Atlanta in 2019 out of Southern Illinois, the recently turned 28-year-old reliever has spent all six seasons in the minors, last year splitting time between Double-A and Triple-A in the Milwaukee Brewers' organization. He posted a 0.64 ERA in 18 Triple-A games and has a career ERA of 3.04. Yeager was one of the three players the Brewers got in the three-way trade between Atlanta and the A's in which the Crew netted William Contreras. LH D.J. Snelten A very under-the-radar candidate, the 6-foot-6 left-hander has four games of MLB experience — in 2018 with the San Francisco Giants. Since then, Snelten has seen action in five other organizations. There is no record of him playing in 2025, although he was with the Chicago White Sox until being released in mid-May. His path to the Padres has been filled with stops in independent ball, including Mexico, and was disrupted by Tommy John surgery in 2021. He reportedly was clocked in the triple-digits in Mexico. Prospects LH Jagger Haynes, MLB Pipeline's No. 10 Padres prospect, was a fifth-round draft choice in 2020 as a 17-year-old from a small North Carolina high school. He has experienced a number of injuries, including having Tommy John surgery shortly after making his pro debut in 2021, then blister and shoulder issues after returning to begin 2023. But he has stayed in the rotation the last two years, first at High-A Fort Wayne, then at Double-A San Antonio. He has walked 5.4 batters per nine each of those seasons, while striking out 9.3 and 8.8 per nine, respectively. RH Francis Pena, just turned 25, was a late international signing, joining the Padres just before turning 21 in 2022 for $10,000. He is the Friars' No. 20 prospect who made 43 relief appearances in 2025 at Triple-A El Paso. He struggled with his control there, walking 5.8 per nine innings en route to a 5.68 ERA. He also struck out 8.1 per nine. He has a 3.85 ERA in 125 career minor-league games. LH Jackson Wolf enters his age-27 season having been a fourth-round draft choice in 2021 out of West Virginia. He made his MLB debut with the Friars in July 2023 with a five-inning start and went back to the minors the next day. A week later, he was sent to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the deal that brought left-hander Rich Hill and first baseman Ji Man Choi to the Friars at the trade deadline. He came back to the Padres just after Opening Day 2024 in a 1-for-1 deal for minor-league shortstop Kervin Pichardo. In five minor-league seasons, Wolf has started 102 of 118 games, registering a 4.91 ERA with 3.6 walks and 9.5 strikeouts per nine. LH Ryan Och was the Friars' seventh-round draft pick in 2021 out of Southern Mississippi and is a 27-year-old reliever who spent all of 2025 at Double-A San Antonio. He appeared in 45 games with a 4.28 ERA, walking 4.8 and striking out 9.1 per nine innings. RH Logan Gillaspie, who went undrafted out of Oxnard College in 2017 and played independent ball, enters his age-29 season having appeared in three MLB games with the Padres as a reliever in 2025 and nine more in 2024. He also made 28 relief appearances with the Baltimore Orioles in 2022 and 2023. He has a 4.75 FIP in those 40 games, walking 6% of batters faced while striking out 14.5%. In seven seasons in the minors, Gillaspie has made 29 starts among his 198 appearances, with a 4.61 ERA. RH Manuel Castro is a 23-year-old reliever who joined the organization in the summer of 2021 and has made a steady climb, spending 2025 between Double-A San Antonio and Triple-A El Paso. He posted a 3.66 ERA at El Paso, with a .198 opponent batting average. RH Ethan Routzahn enters his age-28 season having been an undrafted free agent out of St. John's. He bounced between Double-A San Antonio and Triple-A El Paso in 2025, making a combined 46 relief appearances with a 4.50 ERA. He walked 4.5 batters and struck out 7.2 per nine. Catchers (4) Ethan Salas This is the name that pops out due to all of the hype surrounding the player some have ranked as the Friars' top prospect. Salas was the No. 1 prospect in the international class when he signed as a 16-year-old in January 2023. Born in Florida with family ties to Venezuela, he made his pro debut that year and made headlines by not only being a 16-year-old at Low-A Lake Elsinore, but then being promoted as a 17-year-old to High-A Fort Wayne and then Double-A San Antonio by the end of the season. It was an aggressive approach by the Friars to their top prospect who is known for his tremendous defense. While the left-handed hitter had a good offensive showing at Lake Elsinore, posting a .267/.350/.487 slash line with nine homers and 35 RBIs in 48 games, he hasn't been able to replicate that. He has a slash line of .221/.305/.347 for his three-year career, which included playing in just 10 games in 2025 with San Antonio due to a stress reaction in his back. As he enters his age-20 season, the Padres are likely to give Salas a full year of seasoning in the minors while banking on the chance of him making the Opening Day roster in 2027. Blake Hunt The Southern California native who was a Padres second-round pick in 2017 returned on a minor-league deal this offseason. Like others on this list, the former Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana) figures to be simply an option should the Friars need a catcher. The right-handed hitter was a backup at Triple-A with the Seattle Mariners in 2025, with a slash line of .272/.368/.452 with eight homers and 35 RBIs in 68 games. He was part of the Padres’ package shipped to the Tampa Bay Rays in the December 2020 Blake Snell trade. Anthony Vilar Vilar is a 26-year-old who was drafted in the 15th round in 2021 by the Friars out of Miami (Fla.). The left-handed hitter spent all of 2025 at Double-A San Antonio, notching a .209/.316/.317 slash line with six homers and 32 RBIs in 100 games. In five seasons in the minors, Vilar has a .220/.346/.339 slash line with 22 homers and 125 RBIs. Rodolfo Duran Duran turns 28 on Feb. 19 and signed with the Padres last offseason. The right-handed hitter began his career as a 17-year-old after signing with the Philadelphia Phillies, then joined the New York Yankees' system before 2023 as a free agent, then the Kansas City Royals before 2024. Duran appeared in 86 games with Triple-A El Paso in 2025, turning in a .288/.344/.503 slash line with 16 homers and 73 RBIs, so the offensive juice is there. Infielders (7) 1B Nick Solak Solak has the most MLB experience of the non-roster invitees, having played in 259 games, including 11 with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2025. Once a highly touted second baseman, the 31-year-old right-handed hitter has transitioned to be a first baseman who could probably play the outfield corners if needed. While good offensively, with a career .250/.325/.369 slash line in the majors with 21 homers and 93 RBIs, defense has been an issue, thus the move to a corner spot. The good news for Solak is the Friars could use a little extra offense from first base, especially from a right-handed hitter. In nine minor-league seasons, the 2016 second-round pick has a .295/.385/.458 slash line. 3B Jose Miranda Another corner infield option, the 27-year-old was not brought back by the Minnesota Twins after having good showings in 2022 and 2024. The 2016 second-round selection had a poor start to 2025 and was relegated to Triple-A, where his struggles continued. That was surprising after a 2024 in which the right-handed hitter had a .284/.322/.441 slash line with nine homers and 49 RBIs, setting an MLB record with hits in 12 straight plate appearances. As a rookie in 2022, he put up a .268/.325/.426 showing with 15 homers and 66 RBIs. He would be another candidate to be a backup corner infielder and could improve his chances if he added some left field to the mix. 2B/SS/3B Samad Taylor The most versatile of all the players on this list, Taylor has seen action at all three outfield spots as well as second base and third base in 38 MLB games, 31 of those coming with the Kansas City Royals in 2023. The Friars list the right-handed hitter as an infielder. He spent the last two years with the Seattle Mariners, also playing shortstop at Triple-A. Taylor put up a .296/.378/.461 slash line in Triple-A in 2025, with 17 homers and 86 RBIs as well as 44 steals in 54 tries. But he has just a .205/.272/.260 in his brief MLB experience, although he has eight steals. If he could put together a good spring, he would be the perfect bench addition for any team due to his positional versatility. Prospects 1B Romeo Sanabria was the Friars' 18th-round draft pick in 2022 out of a Florida junior college and is entering his age-24 season. He is the 21st-ranked prospect in the Padres' system. After playing at three levels in 2024, including Double-A San Antonio, he spent all of 2025 at San Antonio and had a .257/.309/.376 slash line with 12 homers and 56 RBIs. 2B/3B Marcos Castanon enters his age-27 season after being a 12th-round draft choice by the Friars in 2021 out of UC Santa Barbara. He also attended Wilmer Amina Carter High School in Rialto. The right-handed hitter was at Double-A San Antonio for much of 2025, although he did make his Triple-A San Antonio debut with 16 games. Between the two, he had a slash line of .273/.339/.442, hitting 15 homers with 75 RBIs. 2B/3B/SS/OF Clay Dungan was a ninth-round draft choice by the Kansas City Royals in 2019 out of Indiana State and is 29 years old. The Friars added the left-handed hitter through the minor-league Rule 5 draft before the 2024 season. He spent all of 2025 at Triple-A El Paso and put up a .273/.368/.448 slash line with 14 homers, 80 RBIs and 30 steals in 140 games. 2B/3B/SS Francisco Acuna enters his second season in the Friars' system and just turned 26. He played 121 games in 2025, with 109 at Double-A San Antonio and the other 12 at Triple-A El Paso. Across the two stops, he had a slash line of .259/.359/.380 with 10 homers and 51 RBIs. Outfielders (4) OF/2B/3B Pablo Reyes The 32-year-old has played in the majors in each of the last seven MLB seasons he was eligible. Reyes was suspended for 80 games before the 2020 season due to performance-enhancing drugs. The right-handed hitter has positional versatility. In 2025 with the New York Yankees, he played four positions in addition to being a DH in 24 games. He has an MLB career slash line of .245/.305/.342 with eight homers and 56 RBIs across 257 games and 606 plate appearances. He also had 14 steals in 20 tries. OF Jase Bowen The 25-year-old was an 11th-round draft choice by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2019 draft out of an Ohio high school. The right-handed hitter is coming off a 2025 in which he put up a .272/.353/.449 slash line with nine homers, 37 RBIs and 20 steals at four levels, including his Triple-A debut. There he slashed .294/.386/.484 in 36 games with three homers, 17 RBIs and seven steals. OF Carlos Rodriguez A 25-year-old, the left-handed hitter has split time between Double-A and Triple-A each of the last two seasons, first with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2024, then Atlanta in 2025. In 128 games at Triple-A last year, Rodriguez slashed .247/.317/.323 with eight homers, 32 RBIs and 17 steals. OF Nick Schnell Entering his age-26 season, Schnell was a first-round pick (No. 32 overall) by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018 out of an Indianapolis high school. The left-handed hitter reached Triple-A each of the last two seasons, first with the Rays then with the Washington Nationals, whom he signed with last offseason. Following a promotion from Double-A last year, Schnell turned in a .244/.322/.490 slash line with 21 homers, 68 RBIs and 12 steals. View the full article

There was a moment, not that long ago, when the sweeper felt unavoidable. Every broadcast featured it. Every Pitching Ninja clip highlighted it. Every development staff wanted one more guy who could rip a Frisbee-like breaking ball that darted horizontally and embarrassed hitters. The pitch existed before, of course, but the league finally figured out how to define it, measure it, and teach it. According to The Athletic, pitchers had been throwing slider-like pitches with sweep for years. The breakthrough came when teams identified the specific properties that made a sweeper effective and used that information to scout and develop arms who could do what was needed to produce those results. Once that door opened, the flood followed. From 2020 through 2023, the league added roughly 10,000 sweepers each season. It was the hot new pitch type, and everyone wanted in. Then, hitters did what hitters always do. They adapted. As sweepers proliferated, they became less exotic, and thus less deceptive. The league's batting average against the pitch climbed from .183 in 2020 to .215 by 2025. Slugging jumped more dramatically, from .280 to .364. Hitters chased less often and swung more frequently when the pitch actually entered the zone. What was once a deception-driven pitch became something batters could recognize earlier and square up more consistently. When a pitch goes from rare to common, the advantage flips. Hitters see it in bullpens. They see it on video. They see it on highly specialized Trajekt pitching machines. They see it in games multiple times a week. Training catches up. The sweeper did not suddenly get worse. The league just got better at hitting it. This is where Stuff+ comes into play. Stuff+ is designed to answer a deceptively simple question for teams: “What inherent qualities make a pitch good?” Velocity, movement, release traits, and shape are all baked in. The challenge is that baseball never stops moving. What worked in 2020 does not necessarily work in 2026. That forced a difficult decision. How much old data should inform what we think makes a pitch effective today? How relevant is the early sweeper boom to the current environment, where hitters are actively hunting the pitch? To address that, Stuff+ removed 2020 and 2021 from its training data and added 2025. The goal shifted from being a historical artifact to answering a more practical question. What makes a pitch good right now? That reduces its usefulness for comparing across eras, but it strengthens its predictive value, which is where Stuff+ shines, anyway. In small samples, it can tell scouts, teams, and fantasy players a lot about pitch quality before the results stabilize. The update by the engineers of Stuff+ brought with it a reckoning. As batters improved against sweepers, the pitch type itself lost Stuff+. Some pitchers took a hit as the model adjusted to the new reality. Zebby Matthews was one of them. He tied for the third-largest Stuff+ drop following the update, falling from a 106 to a 101. Only Luis Severino and Aaron Civale saw larger declines. On paper, that looks concerning. In practice, it's more complicated. Matthews still leaned heavily on the pitch, throwing his sweeper 25.1% of the time in 2025, just a slight dip from 25.9% the year before. The results, however, were dramatically better. Opponents slugged .252 against the pitch last season, down from .462 during his rookie year. Contact quality declined as well, with average exit velocity dropping from 90.2 to 87.5 mph. Part of that improvement came from added life. Matthews generated an additional 70 rpm of spin, giving the pitch more late action. Within his arsenal, the sweeper remained his best bat-missing weapon. It posted a 38.5% whiff rate on swings and successfully put a hitter away in two-strike counts 24.3% of the time, both of which were the top results for his pitch mix. Even as the league cooled on sweepers overall, Matthews found a way to refine his version and stay ahead of the curve. Pablo López's sweeper arc is a slightly different story. When the Twins acquired him before the 2023 season, one of the first changes they made was adding a sweeper. The early returns were excellent. In its first season, hitters managed just a .210 wOBA against the pitch, with a 36.5% whiff rate. It gave López another look that complemented his fastball and changeup beautifully. Last season was more complicated. Injuries likely influenced his approach and execution, but the sweeper clearly changed. López held batters to a .163 wOBA with the pitch, his lowest mark for any offering, but the swing-and-miss wasn’t the same. His whiff rate dropped to 30.1%, the lowest since he introduced the pitch. Hitters were making more contact, even if that contact did not always turn into damage. That tension captures where the sweeper sits in 2026. It can still work. It can still produce weak contact, because it has lots of horizontal movement, which traditionally does better at limiting damage. But it no longer consistently fools hitters the way it once did, and because it often has less vertical depth than a traditional slider or a hard curve, it doesn't miss as many bats. Vertical movement is better at producing whiffs. The league is already adjusting. The kick-change is gaining momentum, offering deception through velocity separation and late movement rather than a sweeping horizontal break. That's an innovation that benefits pitchers most when they face opposite-handed batters, rather than same-handed ones, but teams can adjust to the changing pitch design-and-adjustment cycle by sacrificing the platoon advantage to chase exoticism and deception in key matchups. Even when it comes to same-handed batters, though, the sweeper might be overtaken by another tack soon. Something else will follow. It always does. The story of the sweeper is a reminder that no pitch remains king forever. As hitters learn, pitchers must evolve. The question now is, which pitch will be next to explode across the league, and how long will it take hitters to catch up this time? How will Matthews and López change their approach in 2026? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

The Twins dipped back into familiar waters this week, agreeing to a minor league deal with catcher David Bañuelos. The deal includes an invitation to big league camp, giving Bañuelos a chance to reintroduce himself to an organization that knows him well. At 29 years old, Bañuelos does not bring much in the way of major league experience. His time in the big leagues has been fleeting, appearing in just two games with Baltimore across the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Those appearances amounted to three plate appearances and not much opportunity to leave an impression. The Orioles ultimately removed him from their roster last summer, and he hit free agency after the season. Even in the minors, recent playing time has been hard to come by. Baltimore frequently stashed Bañuelos on its taxi squad as emergency depth, which limited his opportunities to get regular at-bats. Over the last two seasons, he logged fewer than 200 plate appearances on the farm and struggled to find a rhythm in sporadic usage. That lack of recent production does not erase his longer history in Minnesota. Originally acquired from Seattle in 2017 for $1 million in international bonus pool money, Bañuelos spent several years climbing the Twins' minor league ladder. From 2021 through 2023, he bounced between Double- and Triple-A, offering occasional power but also plenty of swing and miss. In 176 plate appearances in the minors over the past two years, he slashed .171/.284/.270 (.554).The offensive upside never fully arrived, but the defensive reputation stuck. That glove-first profile is what brings him back into the picture now. The Twins currently project Ryan Jeffers and Victor Caratini as their primary catching tandem, with Caratini also capable of spelling first base or serving as a designated hitter. Alex Jackson looms as the third catcher on the roster, though his lack of remaining options complicates the roster math. Bañuelos slots in neatly as depth beyond that group. He gives the Twins a reliable defensive presence at Triple-A and an experienced option if injuries strike or roster maneuvering thins the catching corps. If Jackson were to be lost on waivers, or if the Twins need an extra backstop for a short stretch, Bañuelos provides coverage without forcing a rushed promotion. There is also a longer view to consider. If the Twins fall out of contention later this summer, Jeffers becomes an obvious trade chip as an impending free agent. Even Caratini, under contract through 2027, could draw interest in the right scenario. In that kind of shakeup, organizational depth suddenly matters a lot more. For now, the signing is quiet and practical. Bañuelos is unlikely to push his way into a prominent role, but he fills a necessary space on the depth chart. Those are the kinds of moves that rarely make headlines in February, yet often become important by August. View the full article

While much of Canada’s sporting attention is focused on the Winter Olympics, the World Baseball Classic is quickly approaching, bringing together much of the game’s best talent on the international stage. On Thursday evening, Baseball Canada announced its official 30-man roster for the 2026 WBC, revealing that Canada is bringing some of its best and brightest talents to the world stage. The strength of the team is going to be its young position player core. All-Star first baseman Josh Naylor will provide some middle-of-the-order thump, coming off a 20-homer, 30-steal season with the Diamondbacks and Mariners in 2025. Joining him will be another power threat in Tyler O’Neill, who has eclipsed 30 home runs twice and has a pair of Gold Glove Awards to his name. It will be the third straight WBC appearance for O’Neill. Team Canada has a chance to exceed expectations, as there are more young players full of high-end potential on the roster that could provide elite production. Owen Caissie is a former top-100 prospect who has already reached the big leagues, Denzel Clarke is already one of the best defensive center fielders in baseball, and Edouard Julien, who is entering his fourth big league season, went 7-for-13 with four extra-base hits in the 2023 tournament. Beyond the headliners, the rest of the lineup is filled with major league contributors. Josh Naylor's brother Bo will be behind the plate, Otto Lopez just put together a 3.5 bWAR season with the Marlins, and Liam Hicks, Tyler Black, Abraham Toro, and Jared Young all spent some part of the 2025 season in the major leagues. Canada’s pitching staff leans heavily on experience, blending proven major league veterans with depth arms capable of soaking up innings in a short tournament. The rotation will be led by 2019 All-Star Michael Soroka, who has a career 3.85 ERA and will be making his WBC debut in 2026. Jameson Taillon has over 1,200 major league innings under his belt and will provide some quality innings for the team, as will Cal Quantrill, a veteran of seven MLB seasons. Canadian baseball fans will recognize some other names on the roster, most notably James Paxton (a.k.a. the Big Maple), who will be coming out of retirement to pitch for the team. Logan Allen, who has five years of big league experience, will join Team Canada after throwing 173 innings in the KBO in 2025. Rob Zastryzny, Jordan Balazovic, and Phillippe Aumont all have previous major league experience as well. The Canadian coaching staff can't be overlooked either. Ernie Whitt will manage the team for a record sixth straight WBC, and joining him will be former AL MVP Justin Morneau as hitting coach, former All-Star and Blue Jay Russell Martin as the first base coach, Paul Quantrill, Cal Quantrill’s father, as the pitching coach, and Stubby Clapp, who was a key part of the 2006 WBC team, rounds out the staff as the third base coach. For as good as Team Canada looks, some notable names were eligible but won't be playing. Former MVP and nine-time All-Star Freddie Freeman wanted to participate but withdrew due to “personal reasons” back in January. Kingston, Ontario native and Seattle Mariners flamethrower Matt Brash was a late withdrawal, while fellow major leaguers Nick Pivetta, Cade Smith, Erik Sabrowski, Jordan Romano, Jonah Tong, and pitching prospect Mitch Bratt were all left off the roster. With the roster finalized, attention now turns to pool play, and for the first time since the tournament began, Team Canada won't have to deal with Team USA in their pool. Canada is in Pool A, with games being played at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in Puerto Rico. Joining Team Canada in the pool will be Cuba, Panama, Colombia, and the hosts, Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico will likely be the favourite, and while all five rosters feature major league talent, Canada has a clear path to success. If the Canadians can finish in the top two in their pool, it would mark the team's first trip to the knockout round in tournament history, and this roster has the talent to make that dream a reality. Team Canada will have a chance to tune up when they play against the Blue Jays in an exhibition game on March 3 in Dunedin, Florida. They'll play another the next day against the Phillies in Clearwater. The tournament gets underway on March 5, with Canada’s first game taking place on March 7 against Colombia. The full roster for Team Canada in the 2026 World Baseball Classic can be found here: Pitchers LHP Logan Allen, West Palm Beach, Florida LHP Micah Ashman, Salt Lake City, Utah RHP Phillippe Aumont, Gatineau, Quebec RHP Jordan Balazovic, Mississauga, Ontario RHP Eric Cerantola, Montreal, Quebec RHP Indigo Diaz, North Vancouver, British Columbia LHP Antoine Jean, Montreal, Quebec RHP Carter Loewen, Abbotsford, British Columbia LHP Adam Macko, Bratislava, Slovakia LHP James Paxton, Lander, British Columbia RHP Cal Quantrill, Port Hope, Ontario RHP Noah Skirrow, Cambridge, Ontario RHP Michael Soroka, Calgary, Alberta RHP Jameson Taillon, Lakeland, Florida LHP Matt Wilkinson, Vancouver, British Columbia LHP Rob Zastryzny, Edmonton, Alberta Catchers C Liam Hicks, Toronto, Ontario C Bo Naylor, Mississauga, Ontario Infielders 1B/DH Tyler Black, Toronto, Ontario 3B/DH Matt Davidson, Yucaipa, California 2B/SS Adam Hall, London, Ontario 2B Edouard Julien, Quebec City, Quebec 2B/SS Otto Lopez, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 1B Josh Naylor, Mississauga, Ontario 2B/3B Abraham Toro, Longueuil, Québec 1B/DH Jared Young, Prince George, British Columbia Outfielders OF Owen Caissie, Burlington, Ontario OF Denzel Clarke, Toronto, Ontario OF Tyler O’Neill, Burnaby, British Columbia OF Jacob Robson, London, Ontario Coaching Staff Manager: Ernie Whitt, Detroit, Michigan Hitting Coach: Justin Morneau, New Westminster, British Columbia Pitching Coach: Paul Quantrill, London, Ontario First Base Coach: Russell Martin, East York, Ontario Third Base Coach: Stubby Clapp, Windsor, Ontario View the full article

The Boston Red Sox continue to add to their infield depth, as they signed Brendan Rodgers to a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training as first reported by MassLive’s Chris Cotillo. Rodgers is the second veteran infielder that Craig Breslow has brought into the organization in the past 24 hours, previously signing Isiah Kiner-Falefa to a one-year contract. Rodgers, who won a Gold Glove in 2022, will compete for a roster spot in spring training. The veteran infielder spent most of his career for the Colorado Rockies where he played in 452 games from 2019 until 2024. In that time, he hit .266/.316/.409 with 92 doubles, eight triples, 45 home runs and 197 RBIs. Rogers spent the 2025 season with Houston where he appeared in 43 games and struggled offensively. Overall, he slashed .191/.266/.278 with four doubles, two home runs and 11 RBIs. Offensively, Rodgers has a lot of swing and miss in his game and doesn’t walk enough to make up for it. In his short run with the Astros, Rodgers put up career highs in both walk percentage and strikeout rate at 8.6% and 35.9%, respectively. In 2025, his approach changed slightly as he began to pull the ball more in the air than he previously did in his career. The Red Sox are no strangers to bringing in veteran players on minor-league deals and getting production out of them. Amidst a gaggle of veterans competing for time at second base, Rodgers could emerge as a key contributor in 2026. View the full article

The San Diego Padres finally added a right-handed bench bat, signing Miguel Andujar to a one-year deal. Will he purely platoon for the Friars, or are the bigger plans to get him into the starting lineup on a nightly basis? View the full article

Perhaps the biggest question mark for the Twins this offseason has been what they would do to restock their bullpen, which was decimated at last year’s trade deadline. With the exception of welcoming back Taylor Rogers, the Twins have left the cupboard bare, and there are simply no solutions left on the free agent market. Do they plan to convert starters to relievers? Make a trade with one of their many left-handed corner outfielders or Ryan Jeffers? Rely on unproven minor leaguers? Sources say the current thinking rejects all the above paths and focuses on an unproven method: Napping. “Let’s face it, it’s going to be tough sledding,” said a source familiar with the front office’s thinking. “We didn’t really sign anyone, there’s no money for anything, and [Derek] Falvey just split two weeks before spring training. The best thing, going forward, is to go into the next room, take a snooze under a big pile of coats and blankets, and hope it all works out in the end.” This approach, while unorthodox, has gained steam within the organization since Falvey’s surprise departure last week. “You know how, during natural disasters, neighbors just sort of figure things out because no one is coming to save them,” said another source. “I think the Minnesota Twins are in the same boat. If leadership isn’t around to offer guidance, the coaches and pitchers will piece it all together. We’ll wake up, and bingo bango, our problems are solved.” Outside the organization, this plan is being met with skepticism. “That’s literally part of the plot in the Simpsons episode where Homer goes to college,” said Jayson Stark, senior baseball writer for The Athletic. “It’s a great episode, mind you, written by Conan O’Brien. But it doesn’t seem applicable to building a major-league bullpen. Are you sure this is real?” Although neither Tom Pohlad nor newly elevated baseball chief Jeremy Zoll would go on the record, multiple sources with knowledge of the plan, nicknamed Operation Sleepy Little Guys, confirm its existence to Twins Daily. “Here’s the deal: when we wake up, there’s gonna be a bullpen,” said the first source. “Someone literally has to do it if we’re not there. That’s the beauty of Operation Sleepy Little Guys. Sleep smarter, not harder. Although, let me tell you, we’re going to be out like a light.” Image license here. View the full article

The San Diego Padres' biggest offseason question was how to plug the holes in the rotation. The club lost Dylan Cease to free agency and Yu Darvish to injury. Because A.J. Preller is in charge, visions of a Tarik Skubal or Freddy Peralta trade or a Framber Valdez signing danced in people's heads. However, Preller has just re-signed Michael King to a player-friendly contract. As the players arrive in Arizona for spring training, three of the five starting spots are spoken for: King, Nick Pivetta and Joe Musgrove. The incumbent options for spots Nos. 4 and 5 -- Randy Vasquez, J.P. Sears, Kyle Hart and Matt Waldron -- do not inspire much hope. That leaves the door open for non-roster invitees Triston McKenzie and Marco Gonzales. Padres Mission is taking an analytical look at all the contestants for Opening Day rotation spots. This piece will focus on what Gonzales might bring to the club and whether he should break camp with San Diego or report to Triple-A El Paso as an insurance policy/reclamation project. Previous Entries: Randy Vasquez's Arsenal Marco Gonzales' Stuff Gonzales fits the profile of a "crafty lefty" who "knows how to pitch." His velocity is distinctly below average, but he throws strikes, moves the ball around and expands the zone. He has produced excellent chase, exit velo, hard-hit and walk rates in his career. He also knows how to pitch to the dimensions of his home park. After working in St. Louis' Busch Stadium, Seattle's T-Mobile Park and Pittsburgh's PNC Park, his career home ERA is 0.62 runs lower than his road ERA in almost the same number of innings (3.85 to 4.47), and his home run percentage is six-tenths of a point better (3.0 to 3.6). Obviously, he'd go 4-for-4 if he adds Petco Park to the list. Those numbers help to explain why he has been able to pitch for a decade in the majors despite a career 90 Stuff+ and 104 Location+, per Fangraphs. The biggest unknown with Gonzales is his health. He has undergone two forearm surgeries in recent years --- the first one in August 2023 to repair a nerve issue, the second in September 2024 to repair a flexor tendon injury. He missed the 2025 season as he recovered from the latter procedure. How much command will he have when he returns to the mound? Marco Gonzales' Pitch Arsenal Saying Gonzales does not overpower hitters is a massive understatement. His fastball velocity ranked in the fourth percentile or lower every year from 2019 through 2024. In fact, his sinker --- which he threw nine percent of the time --- was his fastest pitch in 2024, averaging 90.1 mph, per Baseball Savant. His four-seamer averaged 89.7 mph and his cutter averaged 85.7 mph. All three speeds were well below the league average for left-handers. Gonzales also features a changeup and a curveball. The change is the primary off-speed pitch (80.2 mph), and its movement compares quite favorably to changes thrown by pitchers who have similar arm angles and extensions. The four-seamer, which tends to ride up in the zone, also stacks up well. (Gonzales enjoys the benefits of above-average extension.) With the Pirates in '24, he used the change about as often as the cutter, but both were thrown less frequently than the four-seamer. He threw those three pitches almost equally to right-handed batters, though he leaned more heavily on his four-seamer against left-handers (43 percent). The curveball lost its bite in 2024. Gonzales responded by throwing it 10 percent of the time, below his career norm. Of note, Gonzales' average arm angle has been dropping steadily over the years, from a high of 48 degrees in 2021 to a low of 37 degrees in 2024. The lowest individual angle is for the changeup, which was thrown at an average of 30.7 degrees two years ago. What Should Marco Gonzales' Role Be in 2026? Gonzales has been exclusively a starter since 2018. The Padres need rotation help. It seems clear what the role should be. But he needs to show enough in spring training to make a team, any team, and that might be too difficult after a year off. What does he have left after his latest surgery? Can he build up to around 80 pitches by Opening Day so he can get through five innings? Will he be afforded a longer ramp-up period while serving as Triple-A insurance? So many questions to answer, but it's clear that this is a veteran who could be serviceable if he's healthy. View the full article

As impressive as it was to see Eduardo Tait make it to High-A at just 18 years old in 2025, he will have his first big test starting in 2026 with the Cedar Rapids Kernels, as he will be playing in consistently cold weather for the first time in his young career. Even if he sees some regression in April, the true test will be if he can resurge to his 2025 numbers once the weather warms. View the full article

Though he shouldn't start at second base, Isiah Kiner-Falefa brings more versatility, speed, and defense to a Boston Red Sox bench brimming with quality depth. View the full article

Twins baseball is back on the air—or, at least, it will be. On Thursday, the team released its complete broadcast schedule for spring training action, which is set to begin on Friday, Feb. 20, with an exhibition tilt against the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. Grapefruit League play will begin the following day, with the Twins facing their crosstown rivals, the Boston Red Sox. In conjunction with Major League Baseball, 830 WCCO (WCCO-AM) and 102.9 The Wolf (KMNB-FM), along with the Treasure Island Baseball Network (TIBN), the Twins announced a comprehensive radio broadcast schedule, which will give fans free access to 25 games via a combination of over-the-air and streamable broadcasts through the Audacy and MLB.TV apps. (Notably, nine of these games will be exclusive to the Audacy app.) The team also confirmed that 22 games will be available for fans to watch live via their direct-to-consumer Twins.TV platform. Anyone can register for a free account that will feature these spring training games, and regular-season MLB.TV subscribers will also have access through their account. Linear subscribers will also be able to access these games through their cable, satellite and multichannel video providers. Subscription packages for Twins.TV, as well as league-wide packages, will be available for fans to purchase or renew starting on February 10. Two games will also be featured for free on FOX 9 (KMSP-TV). Their Saturday, March 14 tilt against the Tampa Bay Rays and a Friday, March 20 matchup with the reigning American League champion Toronto Blue Jays will kick off the second year of limited free over-the-air broadcasts, with a handful of regular-season games following throughout the year. Seven other spring training games will be aired on FOX 9+. Of these 22 streamable games, 15 will be Twins-produced broadcasts. A dozen of these will be simulcast with radio productions. Familiar faces and voices will be featured on these various broadcasts, including Twins.TV’s Cory Provus, radio play-by-play voice Kris Atteberry, Twins Hall of Famer Dan Gladden and National Baseball Hall of Famer Paul Molitor. Highlights of this spring schedule include a matchup with Team Puerto Rico on March 4 before they head to the World Baseball Classic, and an all-prospect face-off between the Twins’ top youngsters and those of the Philadelphia Phillies on March 19. Here's the full schedule, with game times, ways to watch and broadcasters scheduled to handle the contests. Happy viewing. Date Opponent Time CT TV Radio/Stream Talent Fri., 2/20 Univ. of Minnesota 5:05 PM Twins.TV/ Gray Media TIBN/830 WCCO/ 102.9 The Wolf /Audacy App Kris Atteberry / Dan Gladden Sat., 2/21 Boston 12:05 PM Twins.TV/ Gray Media TIBN/830 WCCO/ 102.9 The Wolf /Audacy App Kris Atteberry / Dan Gladden Tue., 2/24 Baltimore 12:05 PM TIBN/Audacy App Kris Atteberry / Dan Gladden Wed., 2/25 Boston 12:05 PM Twins.TV/FOX 9+/ Gray Media TIBN/Audacy App Kris Atteberry / Dan Gladden Thu., 2/26 @ Pittsburgh 12:05 PM Twins.TV (via SNP) Fri., 2/27 NY Yankees 12:05 PM Twins.TV/FOX 9+/ Gray Media TIBN/ 830 WCCO/ 102.9 The Wolf/Audacy App Kris Atteberry / Dan Gladden Sat., 2/28 @ Boston 12:05 PM Twins.TV (via NESN) Sun., 3/1 Atlanta 12:05 PM Twins.TV/ Gray Media TIBN/ 830 WCCO/ 102.9 The Wolf/Audacy App Kris Atteberry / Dan Gladden Tue., 3/3 Tampa Bay 12:05 PM TIBN/Audacy App Kris Atteberry / Dan Gladden Wed., 3/4 Puerto Rico (WBC) 12:05 PM Twins.TV/FOX 9+/ Gray Media TIBN/Audacy App Kris Atteberry / Dan Gladden Thu., 3/5 @ NY Yankees 12:05 PM Twins.TV (via YES) Fri., 3/6 Atlanta 5:05 PM Twins.TV/ Gray Media TIBN/ 830 WCCO/ 102.9 The Wolf/Audacy App Kris Atteberry / Dan Gladden Sun., 3/8 Philadelphia 12:05 PM Twins.TV/ Gray Media TIBN/ 830 WCCO/ 102.9 The Wolf/Audacy App Kris Atteberry / Dan Gladden Wed., 3/11 Detroit 12:05 PM TIBN/Audacy App Kris Atteberry / Dan Gladden Thu., 3/12 Boston 12:05 PM Twins.TV/FOX 9+/ Gray Media TIBN/Audacy App Kris Atteberry / Dan Gladden Fri., 3/13 @ Toronto 12:07 PM Twins.TV (via SN) Sat., 3/14 Tampa Bay 12:05 PM Twins.TV/FOX 9/ Gray Media TIBN/ 830 WCCO/ 102.9 The Wolf/Audacy App Dan Gladden / Paul Molitor Sun., 3/15 @ Boston 12:05 PM Twins.TV (via NESN) Mon., 3/16 Pittsburgh 12:05 PM Twins.TV/FOX 9+/ Gray Media TIBN/Audacy App Cory Provus / Paul Molitor Tue., 3/17 @ Philadelphia 12:05 PM Twins.TV (via NBCSP) Thu., 3/19 Philadelphia (Spring Breakout) 12:05 PM Twins.TV/FOX 9+/ Gray Media TIBN/Audacy App Cory Provus / Paul Molitor Fri., 3/20 Toronto 12:05 PM Twins.TV/FOX 9/ Gray Media TIBN/ 830 WCCO/ 102.9 The Wolf/Audacy App TV: Cory Provus / Glen Perkins TIBN: Kris Atteberry / Paul Molitor Sun., 3/22 Atlanta 12:05 PM Twins.TV/ Gray Media TIBN/ 830 WCCO/ 102.9 The Wolf/Audacy App TV: Cory Provus / Glen Perkins TIBN: Kris Atteberry / Dan Gladden Mon., 3/23 @ Boston 12:05 PM Twins.TV (via NESN) Tue., 3/24 Boston 12:05 PM Twins.TV/FOX 9+/ Gray Media TIBN/Audacy App TV: Cory Provus / Glen Perkins TIBN: Kris Atteberry / Dan Gladden View the full article

With MLB The Show 26 soon to be released, they're releasing hype videos to hook convince consumers to purchase the latest version of the game. In one of those trailers, it seems they have leaked a new uniform for the Minnesota Twins 2026 season. Though not official, MLB The Show is an officially licensed product by Major League Baseball. It stands to reason that any uniform seen in their gameplay, content, trailers, etc. is likely something that you could see in a really MLB game. Additionally, we don't know which uniform could be replaced however it's fair to think that they replace the navy blue jerseys shown in the cover image of this post due to their similarities. See the jersey highlighted in the MLB The Show trailer below. The two notable diffferences are "Twins" replacing "Minnesota" across the chest and a Minnesota patch on the right sleeve instead of a "TC" patch. In other images circulating around social media, you can also see the "Securian" advertisement patch on the left sleeve. Its not unusual for teams to release new uniforms without going through a major rebrand as the Twins did ahead of the 2023 season. What do you think about the uniforms? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

Reports repeatedly connected the Chicago Cubs to designated hitter/outfielder Miguel Andujar in the last fortnight, but Andujar signed with the San Diego Padres this week, for $4 million. That contract is proof that the Cubs didn't have a particularly serious interest in Andujar. San Diego offered a path to more playing time than the Cubs could, so if Andujar had his long-term earning potential in the front of his mind, he might have demanded considerably more from the Cubs than the Padres paid. In truth, though, the North Siders' interest was always contingent on the possibility of a second move, which didn't materialize. Andujar is a right-handed batter who mashes lefty pitching. That's a valuable complementary piece, even with little defensive value added thereto, but it's less valuable to the Cubs than to most other teams. Chicago wanted Andujar only in a scenario in which they moved Matt Shaw and opened a spot to add a left-hitting infielder to their bench. That hasn't happened, and looks increasingly unlikely, so Andujar didn't end up being a fit for the team. At catcher, the Cubs have two right-handed hitters. Among their six infielders (counting Tyler Austin, who'll back up and platoon with Michael Busch), they have five righty batters, in Shaw, Alex Bregman, Dansby Swanson, Nico Hoerner, and Austin. Busch is the only lefty batter out of those eight roster spots, so the Cubs need lots of left-handed at-bats from their outfield and DH spots. They'll get them, of course. Ian Happ is a switch-hitter, and Pete Crow-Armstrong bats left-handed. Moisés Ballesteros, in whom the team demonstrated their great faith by trading Owen Caissie earlier this winter, will soak up plenty of playing time at DH. Seiya Suzuki is locked in for at least 550 plate appearances, though, and bats right-handed. The team will choose from among Justin Dean, Kevin Alcántara, Chas McCormick and Dylan Carlson for the fourth outfielder job, and all four of those guys are de facto right-handed bats. (Carlson, technically, is a switch-hitter, but he's a disaster from the left side and would only find a real role as a backup and partial platoon partner for Crow-Armstrong.) We've accounted for all 13 position-player spots on the roster, but we haven't really accounted for all the available playing time. There are likely to be between 300 and 450 plate appearances available in that outfield and DH mix, accounting for injuries, the possibility of failure by Ballesteros, and the times when they won't need to carry any of the backup center field candidates. Those plate appearances should be given to a strong lefty batter, to make up for the right-leaning infield group and the fact that a team faces more righty pitchers than lefties. A few good trade candidates stand out. The team could try to pry underachieving but intriguing corner outfielder Trevor Larnach away from the Twins. (In fact, the Twins have several lefty bats who are short on positional or defensive value but can hit a bit.) They could pursue Lars Nootbaar, of the rebuilding Cardinals, or late-blooming former top pick Mickey Moniak from the Rockies. However, the easiest path forward is a simple, warm-feeling one: Re-sign ex-Cub Mike Tauchman. Tauchman, 35, doesn't come with worries about clubhouse fit or swing retooling. He doesn't need to play with a next contract in mind, like Andujar. He's a player with clear flaws whom everyone knows to be in decline, and he absolutely can't be placed in center field anymore. However, since the start of 2023, he's averaged almost exactly the number of plate appearances the Cubs need to fill, at the very positions where they need to fill them. He's batted .255/.359/.381, and his rates with the White Sox in 2025 weren't a step down from that. Tauchman still gets on base, and he can play a competent corner outfield spot. He'll also be exceptionally cheap. He's not likely to stay healthy all year or to be an impact player even while he's on the roster. As a complementary option in the outfield, though, Tauchman would give the Cubs lineup extra length. Because he spent two fruitful years reviving his career at Wrigley Field, he's a known commodity in the clubhouse. This is a simple solution to a simple problem. Unless something bigger comes together very, very soon, the Cubs should bring back the Palatine, Ill. native for a fourth consecutive hometown summer. View the full article

Perhaps flying a bit under the radar, left-hander Robert Gasser might be the most interesting starting pitcher to watch in Milwaukee Brewers spring training this year. Gasser came to the Crew with much fanfare, part of the package that came from the San Diego Padres in the Josh Hader trade at the 2022 trade deadline. Gasser had been a second-round pick of the Padres in 2021 out of the University of Houston and was the Padres' No. 7 prospect (MLB Pipeline) at the time. He was the biggest piece of the deal in terms of what he meant for the future. After having been at High A with the Padres at the time of the deal, Gasser went up to Double-A with the Crew and made four starts before getting another promotion to Triple-A Nashville. He spent all of 2023 in Nashville, posting a 3.79 ERA, then started 2024 at Triple-A. He made three starts before getting the call to make his MLB debut as the Crew's No. 4 prospect. When he did debut, he did not disappoint. In five starts, Gasser had a 3.38 FIP (2.57 ERA) with a microscopic 0.9% walk rate and a 14% strikeout rate (one walk, 16 strikeouts in 28 innings). But in that final start, he went five innings and gave up three runs, including his first two homers allowed, not looking as sharp as he had in the other four outings. It ended up being his final start of 2024 as he eventually chose Tommy John surgery, which would sideline him until the end of the 2025 season. He came back to make two late-season starts and was included on the postseason roster. Thus bringing us to where we are today and Gasser's candidacy for Milwaukee's Opening Day rotation. With two open spots behind right-handers Brandon Woodruff, Quinn Priester, and Jacob Misiorowski, Gasser has the advantage as the only left-hander among the other contenders (Chad Patrick, Logan Henderson, Brandon Sproat). Sure, Aaron Ashby could be in the mix, but it would be hard to see him being removed from his key role as the top lefty out of the bullpen. DL Hall is another lefty who might get a shot, but he seemed comfortable in a relief role in 2025. Robert Gasser's Stuff Due to Gasser's limited time in the majors, a total of seven games and 33⅔ innings over 2024 and 2025, the data is fairly incomplete. The 26-year-old isn't a high-velocity guy, ranking in the 28th percentile with a 93.2 mph four-seam fastball. He does have an advantage with 6.8 inches of extension, which is in the 79th percentile. His four-seamer was on pace with where it was in 2024 before surgery, when it was at 93.3 mph. All of his other pitches were above their 2024 velocities, which is a positive now that he will have had a normal offseason to get ready for 2026. In 2025, his four-seamer, sinker, and cutter were within solid margins of MLB averages for lefty pitchers, but his sweeper had 4.1 inches less drop, and his changeup had 2.6 inches more tail and 3 inches more drop, not good things when it comes to controlling the pitch. Again, this came in a very small sample of two abbreviated starts. Robert Gasser's Pitch Arsenal Gasser has a very traditional five-pitch mix: four-seamer, sweeper, sinker, cutter, and changeup. As a lefty, Gasser relied on his 82 mph sweeper in his 5⅔ innings in 2025 the most, throwing it 33.3% of the time. In 2024, the sweeper was at 80.6 mph and 32.1%. His 93.2 mph four-seamer and 92.9 mph sinker were each used 26.5% of the time, both up from 2024, when his 92.5 mph sinker was used 24.3% and 93.3 mph four-seamer 20.1%. His changeup averaged 88.9 mph and was used 10.8% of the time, compared to 87.9 mph and 14.3% usage, while his 89.4 mph cutter was used a mere 2.9% of the time, as opposed to 2024, when it was 88.4 mph and 9.3%. Year Pitch Type # # RHB # LHB % MPH PA AB H 1B 2B 3B HR SO BBE BA XBA SLG XSLG WOBA XWOBA EV LA Spin Ext. Whiff% PutAway% 2025 Sweeper 34 17 17 33.3 82.0 10 8 0 0 0 0 0 2 6 .000 .078 .000 .087 .138 .197 86.1 14 2416 6.7 40.0 18.2 2025 Four Seamer 27 22 5 26.5 93.2 6 6 1 1 0 0 0 2 4 .167 .093 .167 .123 .147 .093 90.2 52 2247 6.8 27.3 22.2 2025 Sinker 27 8 19 26.5 92.9 9 6 2 2 0 0 0 1 5 .333 .277 .333 .455 .430 .442 85.2 32 2040 6.7 10.0 20.0 2025 Changeup 11 11 0 10.8 88.9 2 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 .500 .448 1.000 .633 .626 .456 98.1 5 1891 6.8 0.0 0.0 2025 Cutter 3 3 0 2.9 89.4 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1.000 .889 4.000 3.536 1.380 1.257 107.1 29 2393 6.7 0.0 0.0 2024 Sweeper 128 95 33 32.1 80.6 25 21 4 3 0 0 1 8 15 .190 .135 .333 .232 .245 .190 86.0 21 2497 6.7 34.5 19.0 2024 Sinker 97 79 18 24.3 92.5 27 27 6 6 0 0 0 2 25 .222 .268 .222 .318 .196 .262 87.1 6 2043 6.7 17.6 11.8 2024 Four Seamer 80 70 10 20.1 93.3 35 33 7 7 0 0 0 4 29 .212 .250 .212 .298 .217 .268 83.1 20 2183 6.7 14.6 10.8 2024 Changeup 57 56 1 14.3 87.9 16 15 5 4 1 0 0 1 15 .333 .299 .400 .419 .319 .321 82.2 2 1985 6.7 17.2 20.0 2024 Cutter 37 32 5 9.3 88.4 11 10 6 5 0 0 0 1 10 .600 .379 .900 .607 .587 .411 93.3 17 2430 6.7 20.0 11.1 What Should Robert Gasser's Role Be In 2026? Of all the candidates mentioned above, Gasser has the inside track to the No. 4 or 5 spot due to his pedigree and performance thus far, especially considering he is really the only lefty in the primary mix. While he still has three minor-league options remaining, Gasser should have a spot on the Opening Day roster one way or the other. If Hall, another lefty, surprises this spring in a starter's role and lands a spot, Gasser could go to the bullpen. Of course, both could grab the last two spots, although that is unlikely. Brewers fans should be looking forward to a full year of Gasser in the rotation. View the full article

In my last post, I took a look at five pitching prospects in the Royals system who are not in the Royals Keep Top-20 Prospects rankings. The pitchers were a mix of ones who may have had down seasons in 2025 or showed progress, but are just on the outside when it comes to being classified as a Top-20 prospect. The same will be true for the five position player prospects that I will profile in this piece. The Royals are looking to improve their farm system hitters further in 2026. While the Royals made the news with the hirings of new assistant hitting coaches Connor Dawson and Marcus Thames, they also restructured the Minor League hitting development coaching staff. Gone is Drew Saylor, and in his place is a two-headed team with Nic Jackson handling hitters in the upper levels and Abrahan Nunez overseeing lower-level hitters. Hopefully, Jackson and Nunez can have an impact on the Royals' position player prospects. The five I am going to profile are prime candidates to have underrated impacts this season with the right tweaks and adjustments. As in my previous post, I will be using TJ Stats for graphics and images for each player. Spencer Nivens, OF (Projected Starting Level: Double-A) There were some high hopes last season for Nivens, a fifth-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft out of Missouri State in Springfield. In 99 games and 412 plate appearances in High-A Quad Cities in 2024, he hit 20 home runs, posted a .369 wOBA, and 130 wRC+. He had a slightly high strikeout rate at 26.9%, and his 0.44 BB/K ratio was good, not great. Furthermore, he only hit .243, though his .290 BABIP did him no favors in the Midwest League. That said, the power was enticing, and there was some hope that Nivens could be a 20+ HR and 15-20 SB threat at the MLB level in 2027 or 2028. Unfortunately, Nivens' power dipped significantly in 2025 in Double-A Northwest Arkansas. His home run total went from 20 to 6 despite having 103 more plate appearances with the Naturals. Furthermore, his ISO went from .232 in High-A to .096 ISO in Double-A. As a result, his wOBA dipped to .329 and wRC+ to 97, and his prospect stock fell as well this offseason. However, there were some encouraging signs from Nivens last season, despite the dip in power. His batting average (.250), BB/K ratio (0.64), and contact% (75.2%) all improved with the Naturals last season. He also overcame a slow start in 2025, as he saw a tremendous spike in wOBA by his 400th plate appearance. By the end of the year, he was posting a wOBA in the .400 range, which is excellent and closer to what he did in 2024 in Quad Cities. The walk rate dipped by his 400th plate appearance, but so did his K%, so it was a fair trade-off. Nivens seems to be a hitter who takes some time to adjust to a level. He had a slow start in High-A in 2024 and then ended up mashing 18 of his 20 home runs after July 1st. The power didn't translate in Double-A, but the strong finish overall did. Thus, it wouldn't be surprising for Nivens to get off to a hot start in a repeat in Northwest Arkansas and quickly matriculate to Triple-A Omaha. Sam Kulasingam, 2B (Projected Starting Level: Double-A) Kulasingam has often gone under the radar as a prospect in his career, stemming back to college. He excelled as a player at the Air Force Academy, but that's not a school that's going to turn heads or capture the attention of prospect analysts like LSU, Texas, or Oregon State. As a result, he was drafted in the 13th round, though he did manage a respectable $150,000 signing bonus. The 24-year-old second baseman was seen as a polished prospect with strong intangibles and leadership potential, and he showed exactly that in High-A Quad Cities last season. In 123 games and 547 plate appearances, he hit .291 with a .366 wOBA and 122 wRC+. He didn't hit for a lot of power (2 home runs; .103 ISO), but he stole 22 bases and had a strong eye at the plate (0.73 BB/K ratio). This profile, along with solid defense and intangibles, helped him earn the Alex Gordon Heart and Hustle Award. Kulasingam doesn't appear to be a high-ceiling prospect, and his swing, while polished, will have a tough time gaining power as he moves up the Royals system, unless changes are made. He did tail a bit toward the end of the year, as he saw a sharp decline in wOBA around the 400th plate appearance. On a positive note, he did rebound around the 500th plate appearance, helping him finish the season on a good note. The Royals' system is full of polished middle-infield prospects, especially ones who can play second base (Peyton Wilson, Javi Vaz, and Dustin Dickerson are a few others). However, Kulasingam's polished profile and strong makeup should help him continue to succeed in Double-A in 2026. Continued progress in the Texas League, especially in the power department, could help him be a candidate for a 40-man roster spot in 2027. Austin Charles, 3B/SS (Projected Starting Level: High-A) Charles has always been seen as a high-ceiling, low-floor prospect since being drafted in the 20th round in the 2022 MLB Draft. The 22-year-old has intriguing size (6'5, 215 pounds) and strong athletic potential. He also performed well in his first full Minor League stint in Low-A Columbia in 2024, hitting 10 home runs, stealing 36 bases, and posting a 117 wRC+ in 481 plate appearances. Unfortunately, he took a step back in High-A Quad Cities in 2025. Limited to only 59 games with the River Bandits due to various nagging injuries, Charles hit .205, had two home runs, and posted a .264 wOBA and 57 wRC+. He did steal 11 bases, but his ISO went from .130 with the Fireflies to .093 with the River Bandits. As illustrated in his TJ Stats card above, whiffs have been an issue for Charles, both in High-A and even Low-A ball (25.8% K% with the Fireflies). With the River Bandits, he struck out 25.9% of the time and also whiffed 33.8% of the time, both below-average marks. His walk rate wasn't good overall at 8.3%, but he saw considerable progress later in the year, as it rose to nearly 15% after his 200th plate appearance. In fact, Charles was just a whole lot better by the end of the year. According to his rolling wOBA chart, he was close to league-average in wOBA after his 200th plate appearance. I think there was some pressure that Charles was feeling after being seen as a "breakout" prospect in 2025 after a strong 2024 campaign in the Carolina League. He pressed, he got hurt, and negative results followed. When he got healthy and stepped back into the spotlight, Charles seemed more like his 2024 self. It will be a key year for Charles in 2026, especially with him eligible for the Rule 5 Draft in December of this year. If he can get off to a hot start in High-A ball and matriculate to Northwest Arkansas and hold his own, he could be someone the Royals add to the 40-man roster next offseason. There is still considerable upside with Charles, and at 22, he has some development left in him, especially in his frame and athleticism. That said, he can't have another season like 2025. Henry Ramos, OF (Projected Starting Level: Low-A) Ramos, one of the Royals' top international signings in 2022, is an interesting prospect because the surface-level metrics aren't eye-popping from the past two seasons. In his first taste of Stateside competition in the Complex League last year, Ramos hit .260 with a .319 wOBA and 70 wRC+ in 140 plate appearances. He also had one home run and nine stolen bases in 37 games as a 19-year-old. As a 20-year-old in Low-A Columbia, he hit .220 with a .313 wOBA and 83 wRC+ in 277 plate appearances. While he did steal 18 bases, the power was lacking. He only hit one home run and posted a .073 ISO with the Fireflies. That said, there's a lot to like when one looks at his scouting report and swing metrics. Baseball America highlighted Ramos as one of its "breakout prospects" in a December 17th piece. Ramos showed strong contact, with a 84.4% Z-Contact% and a 24.8% whiff rate, both above average. He also posted a 0.57 BB/K ratio, amplified by a 12.1% BB%. The latter is impressive to see for a 20-year-old in the Carolina League. Furthermore, his walk rate significantly improved after his 200th plate appearance. According to his rolling charts, he was producing a near 20% BB% by the end of the season, and his K% was below 20%. He slumped a bit in the middle of the year, according to his rolling wOBA chart, but he got off to a strong start and finish with the Fireflies. That shows that Ramos has resiliency and the ability to adjust to professional pitching. With budding batted-ball and power skills, the Dominican-born outfielder could see some legitimate progress in a repeat of Low-A ball, which could help him earn a call-up to High-A Quad Cities by midseason, at the latest. Jose Cerice, 1B/3B (Projected Starting Level: High-A) Not many prospect experts are talking about the Cuban-born corner infielder, a 2024 International signee. However, he should be one that Royals fans pay attention to closely in the Minors this season. As a 20-year-old, Cerice performed well in both the Complex and Carolina League last season. In 28 games and 109 plate appearances in Arizona, he hit .354, posted a .429 wOBA, and 140 wRC+. That solid performance in the Complex League earned him a call-up to Columbia, and he once again held his own in Low-A full-season ball. In 34 games and 126 plate appearances, he hit .302 with a .355 wOBA and 109 wRC+. Much like his time in the Complex, Cerice hits, but doesn't provide much else beyond that. He had only one home run in Columbia, which was just one fewer than in Arizona. He also had only six stolen bases combined between Arizona and Columbia. It's not like he's a bad athlete by any means, but his tools, especially power and baserunning, don't really "pop" like other prospects in the Royals system. That said, another former prospect in the lower Minors didn't have impressive power or athleticism initially but showed a strong ability to hit. That contact tool eventually carried him, and he became more valuable as his body filled out. That Royals prospect? None other than Maikel Garcia. Now, am I saying Cerice is going to be Garcia 2.0? Not at all. However, Garcia is an example of why Royals fans should not overlook strong-hitting prospects at lower levels just because they don't initially flash big-time power or speed. Cerice could be another success story for the Royals, especially as he continues to grow into his frame and makes the likely move to High-A ball in Quad Cities this season. View the full article

With a plethora of young starters set to compete for rotation spots in spring training—most of them already on the 40-man roster—minor-league signee Gerson Garabito probably won’t be in the running for the Brewers’ Opening Day roster. Still, Garabito will be among the pitchers reporting to big-league camp in the coming days, where he’ll get an opportunity to make an impression for later in the season. Andruw Monasterio, Jared Koenig, Anthony Seigler, and Easton McGee are among the recent non-roster invitees to find their way to Milwaukee in the middle of a season after being further down the depth chart in spring. For a club that has gone through plenty of arms throughout the last few seasons, Garabito could be next. The 30-year-old Dominican made his debut in 2024 for the Texas Rangers, for whom he pitched to a 5.77 ERA and 4.96 FIP over 34 ⅓ innings across parts of two seasons. They released him last June to sign with the Samsung Lions of the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO), where he posted a 2.64 ERA and 3.94 FIP in 15 starts. Stuff models are not enamored with Garabito’s arsenal. He had a 92 Stuff+ and 0.1 StuffPro (where 0 is average and lower is better) in his eight big-league innings in 2025. However, he throws five pitches, with a few interesting shapes. Most notably, his sinker had 3.5 more inches of sink than expected from his three-quarters arm slot, while his four-seamer had an extra inch of carry. That heavy sinker figures to become the foundation of his pitch mix in the Brewers organization, which has been among the top five teams in sinker usage over the past two seasons. One of their greatest development successes last year was Quinn Priester, who throws a similar bowling-ball two-seamer. In fact, Garabito’s velocity, pitch shapes, and arm angle are eerily similar to Priester’s before his 2025 breakout. There are a few key differences between the two pitchers. Garabito’s four-seamer has more spin and carry than Priester’s did, and his curveball has more of a sweeping slider shape. That’s because Priester throws his curveball from a higher slot than the rest of his pitches to get more traditional 1-to-7 movement, but Garabito uses a lower slot to give his hook more lateral break. That means Garabito may not make all of the same changes as Priester, who refashioned his four-seamer into a cutter last year and threw his curveball less. His four-seamer has a better shape, and his slider has more backspin, leaving him with less room to switch to a cutter. Because his curveball plays more like a bigger slider, it’s been his go-to breaking ball against righties, whereas Priester typically threw his to lefties. The primary focus, though, could be similar. While the Brewers brought along Priester’s other pitches as the season progressed, their initial tweaks simplified things by letting his sinker play in the heart of the strike zone. Identifying that sinker as his best pitch, they upped its usage from 30% to 42%, eliminated his changeup, and moved him to the middle of the rubber to get him in the zone more often. Each of those adjustments could benefit Garabito. Between the big leagues and Triple A, his sinker produced a monstrous 72% ground ball rate. Like Priester, his changeup had very similar spin-induced movement. Pitching from the extreme third-base side of the rubber, he’s struggled with walks throughout his career, including 12.2% and 11.3% walk rates in Triple A and in the KBO last year, respectively. The Brewers’ plan for Garabito’s arsenal will soon become apparent. It could look familiar, and it might have him soaking up big-league innings later in the summer. View the full article

In a major change to the organization’s leadership structure, the Twins announced last week that they had “mutually agreed to part ways” with Derek Falvey, ending a tenure that spanned nearly a decade and reshaped the franchise in ways both celebrated and criticized. Falvey, who had overseen baseball operations since 2016 and was promoted last March to run both the baseball and business sides, was suddenly gone. Jeremy Zoll will continue to run baseball operations, while new principal owner Tom Pohlad assumes interim oversight of the business side as the Twins begin a search for new leadership. It was a stunning development, not because Falvey had been universally beloved, but because of how central he was to everything the modern Twins became. From the depths of the worst season in franchise history to division titles, blockbuster free agent signings, and eventually a jarring teardown, Falvey’s tenure covered nearly every possible outcome for a front office. Which leads to the unavoidable question, now that it is over. Was Derek Falvey a good president of baseball operations for the Minnesota Twins? The way his tenure ended makes that question harder to answer emotionally than it should be analytically. Falvey’s final years were defined by shrinking payrolls, roster stagnation, and ultimately a fire sale that left the organization hollowed out. Offseasons became quiet, often limited to low-impact signings and internal optimism that rarely held up to the test of the team taking the field. Trade deadlines passed without meaningful action, even when the roster’s flaws were obvious and opportunities existed to reshape a core that had clearly run its course. Over time, Falvey’s reputation shifted from aggressor to bystander. Players like Edouard Julien, Brooks Lee, Max Kepler, and others held trade value at various points, but the Twins repeatedly opted for continuity. Budget constraints from ownership were real, but they increasingly felt like a reason to stand still, rather than a challenge to navigate creatively. That frustration reached its peak at the 2025 trade deadline, when the Twins abruptly pivoted from inactivity to a full-scale fire sale, trading away 10 major-league players and gutting any realistic hopes of near-term contention. Ownership influence was significant, but Falvey was the one making the moves, and the returns did little to inspire confidence. Those low points matter, but they should not erase what came before them. When Falvey took over following the 2016 season, the Twins were in disarray. They were coming off a 59-103 campaign, the worst record in franchise history, and had lost 90 or more games in six of the previous seven seasons. The roster lacked impact talent, the farm system needed a reset, and fan engagement was fading. Turning that situation around quickly was far from guaranteed. Instead, Falvey engineered one of the most impressive turnarounds the organization has ever seen. In just three seasons, the Twins built a 2019 roster that won 101 games, the second-most in franchise history, and captured the division for the first time since 2010. That team was built through a series of smart, assertive decisions. Max Kepler and Jorge Polanco signed extensions that paid immediate dividends. Nelson Cruz was brought in as a culture-altering free agent who became the heartbeat of the lineup. Complementary additions like C.J. Cron and Jonathan Schoop filled critical roles. While the postseason ended quickly, the regular season dominance reinvigorated the fan base and fundamentally changed the perception of the franchise. Falvey’s willingness to push payroll was a defining feature of his success. Unlike previous regimes that took pride in underspending, he consistently pressed ownership to the limits of what was allowed. That approach resulted in some of the largest contracts in team history, including those given to Josh Donaldson and Carlos Correa. For the first time, the Twins operated as a team willing to play in the upper tiers of free agency. Even though that approach faded as ownership priorities shifted, Falvey proved that Minnesota could compete in that space and benefit from it. He brought that same selective aggressiveness to the trade market. Not every swing connected, and trades for players like Sam Dyson and Tyler Mahle ultimately cost the organization. But acquisitions like Sonny Gray and Pablo López were franchise-shaping moves that raised the ceiling of the roster. The team became a superb scavenger in the endgame of the offseason, not only signing players whose markets didn't materialize but trading for good players whose former teams needed to move on—most notably, Jake Odorizzi and Kenta Maeda. Falvey was willing to take risks, and that mindset alone marked a meaningful shift from what Twins fans had grown accustomed to. Those moves culminated in the defining achievement of his tenure. The 2023 Twins won the division, snapped the playoff losing streak, and captured the franchise’s first postseason series win since 2002. It was a long-awaited release for a fan base burdened by decades of October frustration. That moment does not happen without Falvey’s smartest and boldest decisions, and it should stand as a central part of his legacy. Upon weighing the totality of Falvey’s time in Minnesota, my view is that it was a success. His best years showed what this organization could be when leadership was aligned, ownership was willing to invest, and aggressiveness was encouraged. The lowlights were real and damaging, but many of them were the results of an ownership environment that no longer supported the very approach that had produced success. With an ownership group that consistently cared about winning and empowered its baseball operations department, those late-stage failures likely never would have occurred. The Falvey era was imperfect and frustrating at times, but it also delivered one of the best regular-season teams in franchise history and one of the most meaningful postseason moments Twins fans have experienced in decades. That matters. It should not be overshadowed by how things ended. As the Twins move forward yet again, I hope Derek Falvey is remembered not for the collapse, but for the progress, the ambition, and the moments that made fans believe again. View the full article

Under Derek Falvey, the Twins front office developed a penchant for making moves — including some of their biggest moves — in the very late stages of the offseason. This was best exemplified by the Taylor Rogers trade, which took place on the eve of Opening Day in 2022, but there were plenty of others. It's possible that Falvey's successor, Jeremy Zoll, will eventually differentiate himself from this tendency. But by virtue of stepping into the lead role so late in the offseason, for a team with an unfinished and imbalanced roster, he almost has no choice but to pick up the mantle with some February or March moves. Given the team's circumstances, I wouldn't rule out one or more transactions of some significance. Here are five signings, trades and extensions I could pretty easily envision taking place before Opening Day. Not all would make the team better, but they'd at least provide a further sense of direction and long-term vision. Trading Joe Ryan or Pablo Lopez Yeah, the Twins have said they don't plan to trade either of their frontline starters. But the time for rallying season-ticket sales has mostly passed, and by now reality has to be setting in that this team is not equipped to contend in the AL Central, especially after Detroit's bold move to add Framber Valdez alongside Tarik Skubal top their rotation. Tom Pohlad might not like the business optics, but the baseball wisdom of trading one of these two premier starters is undeniable. It means opening up more innings for the young arms Minnesota needs to audition, while bringing back a haul to bolster the team's post-2026 outlook. The Twins acquired Ryan while he was competing in the Olympics. Could they trade him away while he competes in the World Baseball Classic? Trading Ryan Jeffers After acquiring Victor Caratini and Alex Jackson this offseason, the Twins now have three catchers. None have minor-league options. Conventional wisdom says they'll go with the two best ones, Jeffers and Caratini, while seeking a low-scale trade for Jackson or trying to sneak him through waivers at the end of camp. That puts them at risk of losing Jackson for nothing, and while the team didn't invest a ton to acquire him (Payton Eeles), it was something. Clearly they like him to some extent. The bigger risk for the Twins in this scenario is that they lose Jeffers for nothing after this season, when he's due for free agency. An opportunistic gambit would be to trade him now and roll with a catching duo of Caratini and Jackson. That'd be a clubhouse leader and quality player out the door, but again, if the Twins aren't contending, it doesn't matter. Jackson is under control for two more seasons so he'd provide some continuity at least alongside Caratini, who signed a two-year deal. Trading Trevor Larnach It would almost be more surprising if this doesn't happen. The Twins have to move Larnach or someone else in the lefty-swinging 1B/DH/COF mix, because currently the pieces simply don't fit together. He continues to be the most likely candidate, though he hardly offers clear surplus value at $4.5 million. You'd like to think the Twins can flip him for at least a decent middle reliever, which they could sorely use. But if such a deal were available, wouldn't they have already made it? Maybe spring developments will create new opportunities but it seems the front office is struggling to find takers for its superfluous lefty corner bat — not exactly a first for them. Signing Michael Kopech Finally, an additive move! The Twins made a play for Framber Valdez, so clearly they've been given the green-light to pursue a somewhat sizable investment as Pohlad pushes for an energy boost. There aren't many places left to spend, as the free-agent market has been picked over, but there's one clear standout atop the relief market. Kopech is hardly a big splash, but he's the last remaining reliever from The Athletic's top-50 big board (he was #50) and really the last chance for Minnesota to make a remotely emphatic addition to its needy bullpen. He's been oft-injured and rarely good, but the 29-year-old righty offers undeniable upside with his bigtime fastball. This is the team's last chance to truly bolster the relief pitching outlook via free agency. Long-term contract for Luke Keaschall or Walker Jenkins This wouldn't really impact the 2026 season, but it would generate some much-needed positive headlines for a Twins team that needs them. Extending young players and even yet-to-debut players on long-term deals has become in-vogue for MLB teams, and tends to be a win/win for both sides. The player secures generational wealth, guaranteed. The club gets price breaks down the line if things to plan, with modest risk on their side. The Twins say they're serious about building from within and getting behind the talent they draft and develop. A move like this would be a statement to back that up. And while it might not make much difference this year, gaining cost control over Keaschall or Jenkins — whom I recently ranked as the two most valuable player assets in the organization — could make greatly improve the front office's ability to add around them in their primes. View the full article