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As we wait for the Twins to give us clues to how the roster will fit together with the addition of veteran catcher Victor Caratini, we can also still speculate about some moves that could work. The Boston Red Sox are still seeking help at the catcher position. The two teams already primed the pump for trades with a minor move on Wednesday morning. Let's see if we can make a bigger trade work, sending Ryan Jeffers to Boston to solve their catching needs. Before the reported signing of Caratini to a two-year deal, one of the big question marks moving forward for the Twins was who would fill the catcher position come 2027. The Twins have collected plenty of catching talent recently, but none of those players is likely to reach the big leagues anytime soon. With Caratini in place, there is a baseline for 2027. If the Red Sox trade for Jeffers, they have a player who could help with the Twins' needs in 2027 and beyond. Connor Wong is currently slated to be the Red Sox's backup catcher, but he doesn’t fit into their long-term plans. Wong is similar to both Caratini and Jeffers, in that he isn’t highly regarded for his defense. His value should lie in his bat. Alas, last season, he did not deliver in that way, hitting .190 with a .500 OPS—a ghastly 39 wRC+ in 63 games. The Twins could be more patient with Wong, who still has an option year remaining and can be sent to the minors. While last year's offensive stats were not good, in 2024, he played in 126 games with a .280 batting average, 112 wRC+, and .758 OPS. while also hitting 13 home runs. The Twins could send Wong to St. Paul and hope the club can help him rediscover that 2024 offensive form, while letting Caratini and Alex Jackson set up behind the plate in Minneapolis. In this part of the trade, the Twins trade away Jeffers’s $6.7 million and replace it with Wong’s $1.375 million, which he'll earn in his first year of arbitration eligibility. That would save the Twins roughly $5.3 million, which could be used to further reinforce the bullpen. Speaking of the bullpen, considering how much more valuable Jeffers is than Wong, the Twins could turn to see if they could identify a reliever for the 2026 bullpen who is on the Red Sox roster. Boston's relief corps is not as deep as their starting rotation, but they could part with a middle-relief arm and use their starter candidates to patch the pen. Late-blooming Zack Kelly, 30, has four more years of team control and can still be optioned to the minors. His results last season were unimpressive, but he has plus stuff. For Twins fans, this return package likely feels underwhelming for a player who has been a key to any positive vibes recently for the club. It does fit with what some previous catcher trades have produced, though. Detroit traded for a half-season of catcher Carson Kelly in 2024, sending two minor leaguers, catcher Liam Hicks and pitcher Tyler Owens. Hicks has seen success with Miami after they selected him in the Rule 5 draft, while Owens debuted last season but pitched well in very limited chances. This past trade deadline, Danny Jansen netted the Rays a prospect in Jadher Areinamo. Before being traded, Areinamo was often ranked in the low 20s in Brewers prospect rankings, and has been successful in the Venezuelan league this winter. Both Jansen and Kelly had less control than Jeffers currently does, and Jeffers is better than either of them were, but it at least gives us a tentative range for Jeffers's value. He has upside, and the Red Sox could get a leg up on other teams in any effort to keep him around long-term by bringing him in now. That would certainly be reflected in a package of Wong and Kelly, who both have a major-league track record to look at and would be under team control for three and four more seasons, respectively. Is this a deal worth making to clean up what appears to be a confusing roster? Should the Twins just figure out how to make it work with both Jeffers and Caratini on the roster? Let's clump around the hot stove on a cold night and talk trade. View the full article

For Milwaukee Brewers fans planning on giving Freddy Peralta one last hurrah at American Family Field, circle the dates July 20-22 on your calendar. Those three days are the first time the Brewers will face the New York Mets in the 2026 season, and it happens at home. Peralta was traded Wednesday by the Brewers to the Mets along with right-handed starter Tobias Myers for two prospects, infielder-outfielder Jett Williams and right-handed starter Brandon Sproat. Peralta is very likely to pitch in that series and could get some help from the Mets. The July 20-22 series is the second one following the All-Star break. The Mets face the Philadelphia Phillies coming out of the break, with a game on July 16, a day off, then July 18-19 at Citizens Bank Park. When Peralta pitches would depend on whether he makes the All-Star Game. Peralta is a two-time All-Star, including in 2025. Let's say that Peralta makes the All-Star Game with the Mets. That would push his first start to at least Saturday, July 18, after the break. Considering teams have the chance to reset their rotations at the break, Peralta is likely to be consulted as to whether he wants to pitch in the series vs. the Brewers, which is a Monday-Wednesday affair. The Mets would need to choose not to pitch Peralta against the two-time defending NL East champion Phillies in order to save him for a sentimental start against the Brewers. That would likely mean Peralta would start the Monday, July 20 game. Now, if Peralta doesn't make the All-Star Game but is still pitching well, he could start the Mets' first game out of the break on Thursday, July 16. That would set Peralta up to start the finale of the three-game series at American Family Field on Wednesday, July 22, an afternoon getaway game. However it plays out, the Brewers are likely to have an emotional tribute video ready for Peralta for the opening game of the series as he makes his return to Milwaukee for the first time since the trade. The Brewers don't play in New York until a midweek series Aug. 25-27. Coincidentally, the Brewers did not have a Peralta-themed promotional item (bobblehead, etc.) scheduled for the upcoming season. View the full article

The Chicago Cubs have signed former Astros outfielder Chas McCormick to a minor-league contract with an invite to Spring Training, per Chandler Rome of The Athletic. McCormick was outrighted off the Astros roster following the 2025 season where he missed nearly 2 months with a left oblique strain. He appeared in 64 games at the Major League level and slashed .210/.279/.290 with a -1.0 WAR. For the second straight season, McCormick appeared in fewer than 100 games while posting a negative WAR. McCormick is nothing more than an outfield depth flier for the Cubs. The soon-to-be 31 year old looked like a late-blooming star in 2023 when he hit .273 with 22 home runs, 19 stolen bases, and an .842 OPS; all while playing above average defense across the outfield. As it stands, McCormick will be competing for a backup outfielder role with top prospect Kevin Alcantara and newly acquired Justin Dean, who are both on the 40 man roster. View the full article

The Minnesota Twins took their first (somewhat) significant step toward shoring up their depleted bullpen, signing former Twin Taylor Rogers to a 1-year, $2-million deal on Thursday. With the annual TwinsFest celebration happening this weekend, some in team leadership are concerned that things might get out of hand. “There’s definitely some worry that the fans might go overboard in their revelry, like Woodstock ’99,” said a source close to the Pohlad ownership group. “We signed a reliever they’ve heard of. And he used to be one of us. They might become feral. “Do we need extra security? Taylor Rogers Fever is a real phenomenon.” While no longer the All-Star he once was, Rogers likely slides into a setup role, and he could close. It’s unknown if he will appear at TwinsFest for media appearances, autograph signings, or meet-and-greets. The team doesn’t want to take any chances. “Put simply, the fans need to understand that just because we’ve finally done exactly what they’ve wanted, it’s no reason to be boisterous or rowdy,” said another source familiar with the Pohlads’ thinking. “If they run roughshod over Target Field or attempt to hoist TC Bear on their shoulders, it could end in tragedy. TC Bear’s struggles with anxiety and personal space are well-documented.” TwinsFest takes place on Friday, January 23 and Saturday, January 24, at Target Field. The only previous example of unruly behavior at the long-running festival was at the adjacent 2022 Winter Meltdown, when the now-shuttered Pourhouse was unable to satisfy Star Tribune journalist Phil Miller’s request for a decent, full-flavored hazy IPA. His shirtless tirade was deemed “colorful” and “remarkably profane, even for a sportswriter” by witnesses. “After the Miller incident, we simply can’t take chances,” said the source. “We know the (Winter) Meltdown audience is mostly freaks, baseball perverts, and communists, but what if that seeps into the family-oriented TwinsFest? We’re on high alert.” Image license here. View the full article

Following the acquisition of superstar, third baseman, Alex Bregman, rumors have been swirling, the Chicago Cubs, and two of their utility infielders regarding their role with the team. While it seems unlikely that Nico Horner ends up being traded, Matt Shaw seems like a more likely candidate. Or, maybe they'll just turn him into a super utility… John Antonoff shared video via his X account of Chicago Cubs infielder Matt Shaw taking reps in the outfield. However, how deep we can look at that remains to be unclear. On one hand, they could be getting shot reps so that he can play either corner outfield spot when Ian Happ or Seiya Suzuki need a rest. While both players are strong, offensively, they are both average two slightly below, average defenders at their respective positions. Shaw's experience in the outfield is extremely limited, while he doesn't have any professional experience, he did appear and left and right field a total of 40 times as an amateur. Depending on how quickly he can pick up outfield defense, he may not be much of a downgrade when half or Suzuki need a day off. On the other hand, the Cubs could be using this time as an opportunity for teams to see that Shaw in the outfield is within the realm of possibility. Do you think the Cubs end up hanging onto Shaw? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

The phrase "limitations breed creativity" isn't often applied to athletics, but as the lone major American sport without a salary cap (for now), Major League Baseball creates a unique environment that demands creativity from certain franchises in order to remain relevant. That's perhaps never been more salient than it is right now, with payroll disparities across the league reaching record levels. In a world where the Los Angeles Dodgers are spending $120 million for one season of Kyle Tucker (when factoring in luxury tax payments), it's growing increasingly difficult for small-market teams to compete for titles. And yet, that hasn't stopped the Milwaukee Brewers from winning four of the last five NL Central titles, despite playing in the same division as the big-market Chicago Cubs. A rebuild from the latter certainly helped matters, but the Crew have just kept on winning, despite never running a yearly payroll higher than $135 million. It's been astonishing work of creating a yearly product that is always larger than the sum of its parts. However, those payroll limitations have caught up with the Brewers. After Brandon Woodruff accepted the qualifying offer (valued a little over $22 million in 2026), the team was up against their internal spending limits. They eventually capitulated to the financial strain, trading longtime ace Freddy Peralta to the New York Mets (alongside Tobias Meyers) in exchange for top prospects Brandon Sproat and Jett Williams. This isn't a new phenomenon for the Brewers, either. Just last offseason, they dealt All-Star closer Devin Williams and received their third baseman of the future (Caleb Durbin) in return. The year before that, it was Cy-Young-winner Corbin Burnes getting shipped to Baltimore for a gaggle of high-upside prospects, including starting shortstop Joey Ortiz. Wind the clock back a few more months, and you'll find Josh Hader being sent via first-class delivery to San Diego. Rip up a bunch of yearly calendars, and you'll find history repeating itself in the form of Yovani Gallardo being traded to the Texas Rangers. All of those players had just one year remaining on their respective deals at the time of their trades, save for Hader who had an extra half-year of control (his was a trade deadline deal). That's simply the price of doing business in Milwaukee; they know they can't pay to extend their superstar players, and so they capitalize on each one's value before they reach free agency. It's a savvy way of doing business, though it also comes with the tremendous risk of always parting with the best player at the time of the trade. There's no guarantee that the prospects the Brewers receive — even with with their excellent scouting department and player development program — will ever amount to anything in the major leagues. This brings us back to the Cubs, who often find themselves on the opposite end of such deals. You need look no further than last winter for such an example, when they acquired Tucker from the Houston Astros for a package headlined by top prospect Cam Smith and third baseman Isaac Paredes. There are new ways to assess Tucker's tenure now that he's officially leaving after only one year in the Windy City, but that's sort of the point of such trades; the superstar-receiving party is guaranteed one year of the player, whereas the superstar-sending party takes on the risk of developing prospects who come with many years of control. The Cubs got what they hoped for out of their sole season with Tucker — a 90-win season, a return to contention, and a playoff series win — but the value he provided in 2025 is all the value he'll ever provide to the team. The Astros, meanwhile, now get a half-decade with Cam Smith to try and keep their own contention window open a little longer. Now, for all their regular-season success, the Brewers haven't won a World Series during this current window. In fact, they haven't even made the Fall Classic, and they've only made the NLCS twice (2018, 2025) just to be stopped short by the free-spending Dodgers both times. Trading great players for long-term control of really good ones is a solid strategy for a 162-game season, but lowering your short-term ceiling is only bound to hurt you in the playoffs. That's the reality facing the Brewers, though. When they trade a star, they'll get young talent in return, but they also do so with the intention of cutting payroll. They only saved $8 million in the Peralta deal, but you can be sure ownership is counting every dollar that comes in or out of the organization. Though the Ricketts may be prone to the same billionaire phenomenon, the Cubs don't have to trade stars in order to save money. There's a good argument to be made that they should be extending more of their in-house standouts (á la the Braves or Red Sox), but that's a conversation for another time. What matters now is that Chicago's list of impending free agents following the 2026 season is as large as it is impressive; the non-exhaustive highlights include Shota Imanaga, Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, Jameson Taillon, and Nico Hoerner. Factor in options that aren't likely to be exercised, and you can include Carson Kelly and Matthew Boyd among that crop. Of course, the 2026 Cubs will be better with all of those players on their team. If the goal is simply to win the title this year, there's no argument to be made otherwise. But we know Jed Hoyer likes to talk about this being a multi-year operation, and the 2027 Cubs will be significantly worse if most or all of those players walk in exchange for nothing, save for maybe a few extra draft picks via declined qualifying offers. Barring a few extensions that add more long-term money to the books, isn't it reasonable for the organization to follow in the Brewers' footsteps and trade a player or two for some major-league ready talent that has to play for cheap? All this lamenting and posturing isn't meant to encourage the conclusion that the Cubs should mimic every facet of the Brewers' operation. As the big-market, deep-pocketed team in the division, the North Siders should aggressively spend on marquee talents, much like they did with Alex Bregman a few weeks ago. They should be aggressive in trades during competitive windows, much like they were in acquiring Edward Cabrera from the Miami Marlins. Even in the rare instance that a superstar player like Kyle Tucker becomes available, it'd be foolish for the Cubs not to at least throw their hat in the ring. But this is a salient conversation amidst a potential MLB lockout, crumbling TV deal, and, of course, the Cubs' self-imposed budget constraints. With so many players due for free agency in a year's time, the front office must weigh the ramifications of lowering the short-term ceiling in order to keep the window of contention pried open a little longer. The Brewers have successfully walked that tightrope for the last half-decade; the Cubs may be destined for second place until they muster the courage to take the same leap of faith. View the full article

The Twins entered the offseason with everything on the table. It felt very possible that they would trade their few remaining star players, Joe Ryan, Pablo López, and Byron Buxton. Instead, they chose to keep these players, to the delight of fans, as they announced their intention to contend in 2026. As we look at the roster as February approaches, it may be time to ask why they chose this path. The Twins should make every effort to contend every season. They play in the AL Central, which has long been one of baseball's less competitive and lower-spending divisions. They also have a handful of star-caliber players to build a successful roster around. They had a clear path to contention, with a handful of additions to bolster the roster. As spring training approaches, though, it’s unclear whether they’ve made a reasonable effort to build a contender. Minnesota's offseason has moved them forward, rather than backward, but has it pushed them back to the front of the underwhelming pack? Context is key: Several of their decisions are understandable in a vacuum, but eyebrow-raising in the context of their situation. Tendering Trevor Larnach a $4.475-million contract yields reasonable value. So does bringing in Josh Bell for $7 million. Carrying two players who are best-served in a DH role on a team with strict financial limitations seems excessive. Adding Alex Jackson via trade to back up Ryan Jeffers, who is expected to take on a bigger role, was reasonable. So was signing Victor Caratini to a multi-year deal last week. Carrying three catchers on this already disjointed roster doesn’t make a lot of sense, though, so now, either Jackson or Jeffers seems likely to be headed out the door. Meanwhile, as the Twins continue to invest their limited payroll in adding to logjams across the roster, they’ve made just two modest additions to the bullpen (Eric Orze and Taylor Rogers), after parting with several cost-controlled, high-leverage relievers at last year’s trade deadline. After preaching athleticism and defense at the end of another disappointing 2025 season, the roster has arguably gone in the other direction, looking likely to be one of the slowest and worst defensive squads in baseball once again. Their logjam of left-handed bats has not been resolved, and even their additions to the offense, such as Bell and Caratini, who are switch-hitters, are better from the left side. The bullpen, which should have been priority number one going into the offseason, has been only lightly reinforced and projects to be one of the worst in baseball in 2026. The offseason may not yet be complete, but the current roster is so flawed that it’s difficult to see how the issues will be resolved without a historic flurry of moves. No matter what the Twins say, this is not a championship-caliber roster. So why didn’t they just sell off their star players, if the current roster is anything close to the final product? It’s possible that the decision to keep all of their stars earlier this offseason was made to appease fans, rather than to compete in 2026. They said all the right things about the fanbase's cratering interest in their product, and then announced they wouldn’t tear the roster down any further. Trading away their remaining valuable veterans and fan favorites would have alienated the fans even further, before the season even started. Given a payroll that will already be significantly lower than last season’s, they could afford to keep these players and try to regain fans' trust. For now, though, the offseason has been insufficient to meet that objective. Perhaps there are more moves to be made, but it’s impossible to envision a functional roster on the field for Opening Day with anything less than a complete overhaul. They may have kept their star players for now, but they’re headed for another major trade deadline selloff in July, based on how they’ve handled the offseason thus far. It’s possible this was the intention all along—that Ryan, Lopez, and Buxton weren’t kept to build a competitor for 2026, but rather to temporarily hit pause on the free-falling interest of their fanbase, with knowledge that they could still bring a haul at the trade deadline. It’s either that, or they genuinely believe that the roster as currently constructed can compete in 2026. At the moment, neither option inspires confidence. View the full article

The 2026 international amateur signing period began on January 15. Strictly speaking, it runs for 11 months (until December 15), though most signings take place right away. There will always be exceptions – the Blue Jays signed Korean right-hander Seojun Moon last September – but the majority of these deals come together as handshake agreements well before the signing window actually opens. Once it does, the teams and their new prospects tend to put pen to paper almost immediately. The Toronto Blue Jays entered this year's signing period with $5.94 million to spend. That's on the low end, but it's not as low as it could have been. The Blue Jays just managed to get under the luxury tax threshold in 2024, which means they only lost $500,000 in bonus pool space for signing free agent Anthony Santander, who received a qualifying offer. If the Jays hadn't gotten under the tax, they would have lost another $500,000. That would have tied them with the Yankees, Mets, Astros, and Giants, who have the smallest bonus pools in the league for this year's signing period. Spending rules are strict when it comes to international amateur free agency. Teams can add more bonus pool money in trades, as the Blue Jays did last winter, taking on Myles Straw's contract from the Guardians in exchange for an extra $2 million to offer Roki Sasaki. However, there are rules. Bonus space can only be dealt in increments of $250,000, and clubs cannot acquire more than 60% of their original assigned pool. This year, for instance, Toronto could not have traded for more than $3.25 million. Bonus pool space is a valuable trade asset because teams cannot exceed their allotment (original pool + any bonus money acquired in trades) for any reason. This isn't like the first-year player draft, in which teams can accept a penalty and spend more than they have in their bonus pool. It's a hard cap. Well... except that bonuses of $10,000 or less do not come out of the pool. The Jays could spend up to $5.94 million in larger bonuses this year and still hand out as many $10,000 bonuses as they'd like. So, how have the Blue Jays been using their $5.94 million? On Wednesday, they announced the signings of 27 international free agents: Player Position Country of Origin Juan Caricote C Venezuela Sebastian Casanova INF Venezuela Yariel Cordero INF Dominican Republic Sahir De La Cruz RHP Dominican Republic Abrahan Diaz RHP Venezuela Fayone Dumorne RHP Dominican Republic Frelian Flores INF Venezuela Evington Gascon RHP Venezuela Deret Gonzalez OF Venezuela Jose Gori C Venezuela Elian Guzman LHP Dominican Republic Celwin Hurkmans LHP Netherlands Alex Linares INF Dominican Republic Eiker Lothar INF Venezuela Michael Mesa OF Dominican Republic Yoenis Morales RHP Cuba Adrian Moreta RHP Dominican Republic Luis Nunez OF Dominican Republic Samuel Orellana C Venezuela Ayberson Ortega C Venezuela Manuel Parra RHP Venezuela Gabriel Porras INF Venezuela Ruben Sanchez INF Venezuela Aneudi Severino OF Dominican Republic Franiel Severino RHP Dominican Republic Alieski Torres RHP Cuba Isay Veras C Dominican Republic Elian Guzman, Celwin Hurkmans, Isay Veras, and Alieski Torres signed in December, at least according to MLB.com's transaction tracker. In other words, those four might technically count among the international class of 2025. The other 23 officially joined the organization this past week. Catcher Juan Caricote commanded just over one-third of Toronto's bonus pool. MLB.com has him signing for $1,847,500, while Baseball America reported a slightly higher figure, $1.95 million. Outfielder Michael Mesa received the second-largest bonus of the class, though MLB.com and Baseball America are farther apart in their reported figures. MLB.com has him earning $797,500, while BA suggests it's $900,000. The last prospect whose bonus has been reported is outfielder Aneudi Severino. (Some sources spell his name "Aneudy," but MLB.com and the announcement from the Blue Jays spell his name with an "i" at the end.) MLB.com has his bonus at $697,500, while BA has it at $700,000. That's likely just a rounding error rather than a meaningful difference in reporting. According to Baseball America's Bonus Board, Caricote received the 17th-highest bonus in this year's international class. Mesa's bonus ranks 55th and Severino's 71st. Regardless of whether you take the slightly higher figures from MLB.com or the slightly lower ones from BA, that's just under two-thirds of the bonus pool on those three players. As far as we know, none of the other 24 signed for more than $300,000, though further details about their bonuses are a mystery. Eric Longenhagen of FanGraphs ranked Caricote as the 11th-best prospect in this year's international class. The 17-year-old backstop was the only one of Toronto's signees to appear on FanGraphs's list, which went 59 players deep. He also appeared at No. 10 on FanGraphs's latest ranking of Toronto's top 40 prospects. Again, he was the only member of this year's international class to make the cut. Interestingly, however, Caricote was not included on MLB.com's ranking of the top 50 international prospects – but Mesa was. The lefty-batting outfielder came in at No. 30, with a blurb saying he could be the Dominican Republic's "best hitter in the ‘26 class." Baseball America does not rank international prospects, but Ben Badler published a write-up of the Blue Jays' signees, highlighting Caricote, Mesa, and Severino, as well as shortstops Sebastian Casanova and Gabriel Porras. Last year, shortstop Cristopher Polanco was Toronto's top-ranked international amateur signing, receiving a $2,297,500 bonus. However, fellow shortstop Juan Sanchez ($997,500 bonus) quickly became the star of the 2025 class. The young slugger put on a show in the DSL in his first professional season and is now widely considered a top-10 prospect in the system. View the full article

The unthinkable (yet inevitable) happened. The Milwaukee Brewers traded away ace right-hander Freddy Peralta to the New York Mets for two prospects on Wednesday night. The Brewers acquired infielder-outfielder Jett Williams, the Mets' No. 3 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, and right-hander Brandon Sproat, their No. 5 prospect, while also shipping right-hander Tobias Myers to New York. Losing the 29-year-old Peralta, who developed from a minor-league wild card when acquired in a December 2015 trade from the Seattle Mariners for first baseman Adam Lind, certainly puts a dent in the Crew's rotation. Last year, Peralta finished fifth in NL Cy Young Award voting after an NL-best 17 wins, a 3.64 FIP, 2.70 ERA, and more than 200 strikeouts for the third consecutive year. Opponents hit just .193 against him in 2025, as he put up 5.5 bWAR. Still, with Peralta due a very affordable $8 million in his last season of club control in 2026 and being likely to earn three times that amount in average annual value in his next contract, he became a hot trade commodity, with the Brewers unlikely to re-sign him. It was the second time in three offseasons that the Brewers traded away their ace. In early 2024, they swapped former NL Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes to the Baltimore Orioles for left-hander DL Hall and shortstop Joey Ortiz. Where does that leave the Brewers' starting rotation? They're still in pretty good shape, regardless of where Sproat is slotted. The Brewers finished with the third-best starting rotation ERA in MLB at 3.56, and figure to roll out a top five of Brandon Woodruff, Quinn Priester, Jacob Misiorowski and two of Sproat, Logan Henderson, Chad Patrick, Robert Gasser or Hall. All but Gasser and Hall are right-handers. Myers would also have been in the last group battling for the No. 5 role or a spot in the bullpen. Woodruff, who turns 33 on Feb. 10, stayed with the Crew after accepting the qualifying offer of $22.025 million instead of becoming a free agent. Woodruff also becomes the leading candidate for Opening Day starter, after returning in 2025 from right shoulder surgery but then missing the postseason with a right lat injury. He is expected to be fine when spring training begins next month. In 12 starts, Woodruff had a 3.17 FIP and 3.20 ERA with 83 strikeouts in 64⅔ innings. He had a 5.4% walk rate and 32.3% strikeout rate, both the best of his career. Now, Woodruff will be asked to lead the staff in what could be his final season with the Crew. The No. 2 spot in the rotation is likely to go to Priester, although Misiorowski could easily step up. The 25-year-old Priester was the feel-good story of the Brewers' rotation in 2025. Acquired just a couple weeks into the season from the Boston Red Sox while stuck at Triple-A Worcester, all Priester did was finish second to Peralta in wins with his 13-3 record, which included going unbeaten in 19 straight appearances, all but three being starts. Priester had a 4.01 FIP and 3.32 ERA in 29 games (24 starts). Priester is not a big strikeout pitcher, which is reflected in his 20.2% strikeout rate against a 7.7% walk rate. It wouldn't be surprising to see Priester take the next step, as he enters camp locked into the Brewers' rotation and on the Opening Day roster for the first time. Misiorowski, meanwhile, has something to prove after being shifted to the bullpen late in the season and for the postseason following a spectacular start to his MLB career. His triple-digit four-seam fastball is what makes all the highlights, but his growth into an ace hinges on improving his control and how he uses his slider and curveball. Misiorowski had a 3.62 FIP and 4.36 ERA in 15 games (14 starts) in the regular season. At 6-foot-7, with a gangly frame, he had a whopping 11.4% walk rate, which is only slightly offset by his 31.9% strikeout rate. He did allow just a .213 opponent batting average. Misiorowski will turn 24 just after Opening Day. If he can mitigate his wildness, his combination of blazing fastball and knee-buckling breaking balls would be deadly. Those three are locks in the rotation. The rest of these names are in much more fluid positions. Let's start with the 25-year-old Sproat, a second-round draft choice by the Mets in 2023 as a senior out of Florida. He's the player who will initially draw a lot of attention, as a direct replacement for Peralta. While ranked as the Mets' No. 5 prospect, he was not in MLB Pipeline's Top 100. Sproat did rank 81st in Baseball America's just-released Top 100; Williams checked in at No. 71. A 6-foot-3, 215-pound right-hander, Sproat made four late-season starts for the Mets in 2025. He pitched six innings in each of his first two starts, while his last two were more rocky. He allowed four runs in each, one going four innings and the other 4⅔. He struck out 17 in 20⅔ innings, including seven in his debut, while walking seven. While Sproat has a good four-seamer at 96.7 mph, he only used that 13.8% of the time. A 95.7-mph sinker was his most-used pitch in his four big-league starts, at 34.1%, indicating he is more of a groundball pitcher, which suits the Brewers' defense. He had a 66.7% grounder rate on balls in play off his sinker. In addition to his four-seamer and sinker, Sproat also mixed in his 84.2-mph sweeper (16.2%), 90.2-mph changeup (14.8%) and 79.9-mph curveball (14.8%). He sprinkles in an 87.9-mph slider 6.2% of the time. Sproat, who made 25 starts at Triple-A Syracuse in 2025, will obviously get a long look in spring training and be given every chance to earn a rotation spot. If not, a trip to Triple-A Nashville wouldn't be out of the question, but he would likely be the first starter summoned when an injury arises. Sproat doesn't profile as a top-of-the-rotation pitcher, but a solid mid-rotation performer. A month shy of turning 24, Henderson is perhaps a forgotten part of the Crew's rotation plan. Henderson made just five big-league starts, before missing almost the entire final two months of the regular season with right elbow inflammation. While something to monitor in spring training, it shouldn't be a concern. Henderson made his debut in late April with a nine-strikeout performance over six innings. After going back to Nashville for about three weeks, he made three more starts, going five innings each time, and allowed a total of three runs. He made one more start in early August, before being sidelined. He had a 3.02 FIP and 1.75 ERA in those five starts, with an 8.1% walk rate and 33.3% strikeout rate. Combine that with a 3.59 ERA in 16 games (15 starts) at Nashville, and he has proven himself worthy of a rotation berth. Patrick proved to be a valuable piece of the Crew's pitching puzzle in 2025. He made 23 starts and four relief appearances during the regular season, posting a 3.53 FIP and an identical ERA, with an 8% walk rate and 25.2% strikeout rate. While the 27-year-old profiles as a starter, Patrick found a different gear in a late-season and postseason relief role. That makes opening the season in the bullpen even more enticing, while knowing that he could convert back to a starter if needed. Patrick allowed three hits and one walk while striking out 11 in nine relief innings in the postseason. Gasser returned to the majors in late September for two abbreviated starts, then made two postseason relief appearances. He made the Brewers' Opening Day roster in 2024 and had five starts before blowing out his left elbow. He is the last piece of the Josh Hader trade still with the Crew, and was the most anticipated player acquired, but has yet to truly showcase himself because of the injury. Gasser will be at full strength come spring training, and a front-runner for the rotation as the lone left-hander among these candidates. Finally, Hall, who hasn't been able to stay on the field long enough the past two seasons to make an impact, deserves at least momentary consideration. He has appeared in 33 games since coming over from the Orioles, 23 of them in relief. Hall began 2025 with a lat strain, came back around Memorial Day, pitched in 20 games, then went down with a strained right oblique in mid-August that ended his season. He put up a 3.73 FIP and 3.49 ERA in 2025, but had an 11% walk rate and just a 17.4% strikeout rate. It might be better to keep him in a relief role until he can prove he can remain healthy. Although they're dark horses, I will mention two other rotation candidates, in left-handers Aaron Ashby and Ángel Zerpa. Ashby has carved out a nice relief role and been a little uneven when given a chance to start, so it is difficult to see the Brewers forcing him out of his comfort zone, but letting him try to stretch out in the spring wouldn't hurt anything. Zerpa was acquired this offseason from the Kansas City Royals for outfielder Isaac Collins and right-handed reliever Nick Mears. He's likely to stay in the bullpen, where he found success in Kansas City, but the team did mention trying him as a starter just after the trade. Of course, the Brewers could always sign a veteran on a short deal for more competition, like they did with left-hander Jose Quintana last year. For now, though, they have a clear top three and a high-variance but high-upside battery of options to round out the back of the rotation. Even without Peralta, they should be a good pitching staff in 2026. View the full article

The Minnesota Twins have agreed to a one-year, major-league deal with left-handed reliever Taylor Rogers, sources tell Twins Daily. Rogers, 35, was the Twins' 11th-round draft pick in 2012 and spent the first six seasons of his major-league career with the team, posting a 3.15 ERA in 319 appearances and recording 50 saves. Last season, for the Reds and Cubs, he had a 3.38 ERA in 57 relief appearances. Once a high-strikeout control artist, Rogers misses fewer bats these days, and his walk rate has ticked up sharply in the last few years. Twins fans remember a pitcher whose fastball could play like a two-seamer with solid ride and who utilized two distinct breaking balls, but Rogers is now purely a sinker-slider guy, with age and injuries having frayed his command of each. Nonetheless, he's an effective middle reliever, especially when he can be shielded from right-handed batters. Rogers first hit free agency after the 2022 season, and signed a three-year $33-million deal with the Giants. San Francisco dumped his salary in a trade that sent Rogers to the Reds last winter, and he was technically dealt twice in July, going from the Reds to the Pirates to the Cubs without actually appearing in Pittsburgh. His strikeout rate of 24% last season was his lowest since 2017, and he's no longer in high demand, but he remains a sturdy relief option—and a cheap one, at just $2 million. Presumably, he'll slot in alongside Kody Funderburk as the main lefties in a bullpen that leans to the right. There's a chance that Rogers will even pick up some save opportunities for Minnesota; he's easily the most accomplished big-league reliever on their staff. Picking up Josh Bell, Victor Caratini and a melange of fringier players gave Derek Falvey's front office the depth they craved on the positional side. However, until now, they'd neglected the bullpen, which was emptied at last year's trade deadline and looks like the most glaring weakness for the 2026 team. This move is a small step toward fully addressing that issue, but it's a concrete one. Rogers is a familiar face, and a reliable addition to a high-variance collection of arms. View the full article

The 2026 Twins Daily Winter Meltdown is officially sold out, and before the first pint is poured or the first interview begins, we want to take a moment to say thank you. Events like this do not happen without the support of incredible local partners, and this year’s Meltdown is no exception. From beer and burgers to gloves, gear, and giveaways, our sponsors help turn a cold January night into one of the most anticipated gatherings on the Twins calendar. Those lucky enough to have tickets can look forward to more than just great conversations and live interviews – you will have the chance to meet, chat with, and win prizes from our sponsors throughout the night. Whether it’s sipping BlackStack beer, digging into Smorgie’s menu, scoring Sotastick gear, ordering premium cuts from Big Woods Beef, or talking gloves with the expert Jim Lonetti at D&J Glove Repair, these partners are a huge part of what makes the Meltdown special. Learn a little bit more about each sponsor before you arrive at the Meltdown this Saturday. D&J Glove Repair is a Twin Cities hidden gem for anyone who believes a baseball glove is more than just leather. What started as a father-son garage project has grown into the only shop in the country devoted solely to restoring baseball gloves. From relacing and restitching to full restorations and vintage finds, their Minnehaha Avenue shop keeps gloves — and baseball tradition — alive one stitch at a time. Sotastick, purveyor of unique Minnesota-centric sports-themed apparel, is hopping on board for the festivities. Not only can you catch the Twins game live, but you can also snag some exclusive Sotastick merchandise. Plus, they are generously raffling off $50 gift cards during the watch party. It's a win-win for all Twins fans! As if baseball, beer, and prizes weren't enough, we're taking it up a notch with a raffle for gift cards to make a delicious purchase from Big Woods Beef (formerly Grote Beef). Picture this: succulent steaks, available throughout the game. It's a carnivore's dream come true. Smorgie’s is the official venue for the 2026 Twins Daily Winter Meltdown and a perfect downtown fit. Just steps from Target Field and Target Center, Smorgie’s is known for great food, strong drinks, and unbeatable value – open daily with the kitchen open late, daily 2-for-1s, everything under $12, and the award-winning Smorgie’s Smash burger. Its lively, laid-back atmosphere makes it an ideal spot to keep the TwinsFest energy going. BlackStack Brewing returns for a second straight year as the official beer sponsor of the Twins Daily Winter Meltdown. Ticket holders will receive two complimentary pints, with a choice between fan favorites Local 755 New England IPA and Slopes Pilsner. A Twin Cities staple since 2017, BlackStack is known for its intentionally crafted beer and wide range of options, including NA drinks, slushies, gluten-free seltzers, and THC beverages. With the event lining up perfectly with TwinsFest, the Winter Meltdown once again becomes the ultimate afterparty — a seamless extension of a full day of baseball, community, and fun. We are grateful to every sponsor who helps make this night possible and cannot wait to celebrate with everyone at Smorgie’s this weekend! View the full article

At this point in the winter, the need for another catcher on the San Diego Padres' roster is well known. While the active roster does, officially, feature the required two bodies prepared to get work behind the plate, the logistical side is screaming for a third. The team acquired Freddy Fermin at last year's trade deadline to give them some medium-term stability at the position. He's not a free agent until 2030 and offers decent-enough blocking and run game skills that compensate for his more average skill set as a framer. He's the presumptive starter. Behind Fermin, though, the Padres are lacking in clarity with their No. 2. Luis Campusano is a longtime member of the organization, but there has been an apparent reluctance to let him get regular work behind the plate. After nearly 700 innings in the field in 2024, the team employed each of Elías Díaz and Martín Maldonado last year instead of having Campusano work in alongside one of the two. Unfortunately for Campusano, that reluctance is fairly justified. Despite some offensive upside, he sat in the sixth percentile in blocks above average (-10), the eighth in caught stealing above average (-4), and the ninth in framing (-8). His brief time at the top level via injury in 2025 featured only 27 plate appearances in 10 games, all of which came as a designated hitter or serving as a pinch hitter in the later innings. While the team has yet to acquire a viable backup in his stead, those prior outcomes lead to the easy assumption that they'll, at some point, make another addition to provide some competition. We've already discussed the idea of the Chicago Cubs' Carson Kelly serving as one option. With a 1A/1B situation between Kelly and Miguel Amaya — in addition to the fact that the team is right up against the first luxury tax threshold — there's a possibility that the team could be willing to part with the veteran. Should the Padres seek such an addition via the trade market, there is another midwestern team that might be willing to part with another high-upside catcher. The Minnesota Twins recently signed Padres' old friend Victor Caratini to a two-year contract. Already employing each of Ryan Jeffers and an out-of-options Alex Jackson, there's now a bit of a logjam behind the plate for a team in a bit of a rebuild. As an impending free agent with a franchise that moved many of their veteran players at last year's deadline, are the Twins now in a position to further bolster their development system by moving Jeffers? Jeffers offers a fascinatingly-similar case to that of Kelly among potential Padres targets. In addition to playing out the last year of his contract, he was 11th among catchers with at least 300 plate appearances in wRC+ (113) and has a history of occasional power at the position, topping out at a .213 ISO back in 2023. The difference is that he's less effective as a blocker (13th percentile) and in run prevention (5th percentile) than either of Kelly or Fermin. He does, however, represent roughly the same level of adequate framing that either one brings to the table. What he is, though, is a sizable upgrade over what the team would be getting in Campusano's defensive work. Another difference lies in the trade package. The Cubs are in a position where they're set to contend, potentially for a division title. They don't need to feel in any way compelled to move Kelly if they want to keep the position fortified between he and Amaya. For the Twins, who could very well be in for a last-place finish in the American League Central, parting with Jeffers might be a simpler calculation. Which means that the trade cost might not be as high as it would be for someone like Kelly, who's also coming off something of a miniature breakout. It's also possible that the Twins hold onto Jeffers for now, roll out Caratini as their backup, and try to sneak Alex Jackson through waivers as organizational depth. But considering their organizational situation against the Padres' clear need for an upgrade in matters of a backup backstop, he may very well represent a more realistic name to monitor against someone like Kelly in the weeks ahead. View the full article

In a whirlwind 24 hours, the top two free agents of the offseason signed with National League teams. If you missed it, outfielder Kyler Tucker signed a massive contract with the Dodgers, and Bo Bichette followed suit with the Mets in an eerily similar deal to that of what 2025 Alex Bregman got with the Boston Red Sox. As we all know by now, Tucker had been tied nearly all offseason to the Blue Jays and the prevailing thought was that once he passed on their 10-year offer, they may pivot to bringing Bichette back into the fold. Neither came to fruition, though, and those signings, or non-signings depending on how you look at it, bust a wide open hole in the AL East for 2026. I’m not going to gloss over the fact that the Blue Jays were two outs away from winning a World Series title last year and added Dylan Cease to their rotation. They are an objectively great team who should be competing for championships for years to come, but baseball is a fickle game. Bichette was the co-face of the team with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and his absence will loom large for a club that is planning on returning to dominance in 2026. He wasn’t their big bopper, but he got on base and was able to hit anywhere in the first five spots of the lineup. When he returned for the playoffs and moved to second base, he gave the Jays a spark that nearly allowed them to overcome the mighty Dodgers in the World Series. Losing out on him makes the team worse, even if they are still an incredibly talented ball club. Losing out on Tucker though? That stings for Toronto. He would have made that lineup something that opposing pitchers feared on a nightly basis. His presence behind Vladdy alone would mean the big man would see far more competitive at-bats. Tucker would have been the way for the Jays to ensure that no one in the AL East, or the entire AL for that matter, could out-slug them. They would have the second-most feared lineup in the league, behind the Dodgers. Suddenly, though, Tucker wasn’t interested in being in Toronto for 10 years and signed with those very same Dodgers. He now slots in as, like, the fifth-best player on that team and can embrace his quiet demeanor in L.A. knowing that he’s not going to be the guy the media comes to on a nightly basis anymore. What this all means for the Red Sox is a little nebulous, but it's pretty clear that they are the second-best team in the AL East and with an addition at second or third base, they could give the Jays a run for their money. The signing of Ranger Suarez gives the Sox the most potent rotation in the American League and puts them in the running for the best rotation in all of baseball. Even if the team makes a trade of someone like Brayan Bello in the near future (and they should), their starting rotation is deep and talented. If Roman Anthony returns to form after he finished last season injured? Forget about it. That doesn’t even account for Wilyer Abreu getting the training wheels taken off him against left-handed pitching, Willson Contreras manning first, or Ceddanne Rafaela’s knack for giant clutch hits when it matters most. The Yankees have done next to nothing this offseason, the Orioles have added pieces but lack the pitching depth to be truly competitive, and the Rays seem to be taking a ‘we’ll just wait and see’ approach to this season. The Blue Jays are going to be good, no doubt about it, but losing out on both Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette is going to cause a pretty big ripple in the division. The Red Sox are going to be lying in wait to take advantage of it. We all got a small taste of playoff baseball in 2025 but in 2026, the fanbase is ready for more. With the majority of star free agents jumping ship to the NL (including Bregman!), the Red Sox have been gifted an opportunity to stake their claim as one of the league's best teams this year. View the full article

We are nearing the end of January, which means that we're nearing the end of the offseason. There are 19 days until Royals pitchers and catchers report to Surprise, Arizona. Thus, Royals GM JJ Picollo is finalizing the roster, ensuring that Kansas City is best equipped in preparation for the upcoming 2026 campaign. Right now, it seems like the Royals' roster is near completion, and it's unlikely that any major moves will occur this offseason. Ken Rosenthal reported that it was unlikely to land Boston's Jarren Duran or St. Louis' Brendan Donovan, who were both rumored as trade targets for the Royals earlier this offseason. Thus, if the Royals do add another player to the roster, it will likely be a low-cost player, whether through free agency or trade. That said, Kansas City could benefit from adding another bat to this roster, just to give them some depth off the bench. According to Roster Resource, the Royals are projected to have a starting outfield of Isaac Collins (LF), Kyle Isbel (CF), and Jac Caglianone (RF) with Lane Thomas, Nick Loftin, Michael Massey, and Tyler Tolbert coming off the bench. That's not a bad group, but Kansas City could benefit from having another veteran or two to solidify the lineup. Thankfully, there are still targets available, including those with familiarity with the Royals' roster, clubhouse, and manager Matt Quatraro. That experience with the organization could mean a smoother transition, and thus, more production in 2026. In this post, I will look at four players who have suited up for the Royals in the past couple of years who could make sense for Kansas City on short-term, low-cost deals for the upcoming season. (Statcast season summary cards courtesy of TJ Stats.) Adam Frazier, UT (Last Played With Royals: 2025) Statistically, Frazier didn't have a great 2024 with the Royals, as he posted a 65 wRC+ and -0.5 fWAR in 294 plate appearances. Nonetheless, he brought some intangibles to the clubhouse, as the Royals experienced a 30-win turnaround from 2023 to 2024. Was Frazier responsible for the majority of that? Of course not, but he definitely brought professionalism and experience that the Royals lacked the previous season. The Pirates jumped on him last offseason, signing him to a one-year deal. However, Frazier didn't have the same impact in Pittsburgh as the Pirates went 71-91. As a result, the then-33-year-old utility player was traded to Kansas City at the All-Star Break for Cam Devanney. Frazier's return to Kansas City was a huge boost to the Royals' lineup. He posted a 98 wRC+ and 0.6 fWAR in 197 plate appearances, and the Royals went 35-30 in the second half (after going 47-50 prior to the All-Star Break). Overall, Frazier posted an 89 wRC+ and 0.7 fWAR in 459 plate appearances with Pittsburgh and Kansas City last year. Hence, he showed that he still has something left in the tank, especially for a team with playoff aspirations. It's been surprising to see Frazier go this long without being picked up by another MLB team, especially since teams are always looking for guys who can positively affect a clubhouse (which Frazier has done for multiple clubs in the past). However, that could work in the Royals' favor, as it could encourage him to agree to a cheap $1 million deal or perhaps a Minor League one with the opportunity to earn a roster spot in Spring Training. Frazier would displace someone like Loftin, who is younger, has more upside, but a less proven track record at the Major League level. Tommy Pham, OF (Last Played With Royals: 2024) Speaking of players who played with the Pirates last year, Pham is another outfield option who remains unsigned. The 37-year-old was expected to be a trade target at the Trade Deadline last year, but he ended up staying put in Pittsburgh. It was the first time Pham had spent an entire season with a single team since 2021 (with San Diego). Pham held his own with the Pirates, especially at the plate. In 449 plate appearances, he hit 10 home runs, collected 52 RBI, and posted a 94 wRC+. He also posted a 0.53 BB/K ratio and had a .318 xwOBA, a sign that he could've been even better in a more hitter-friendly home ballpark. The main issue with Pham last year was his defense, as he sported a -3 OAA and -4 FRV in the outfield. The former Cardinals draft pick has long been a prickly personality, which explains why he's been on so many teams. Even this offseason, he's gone on a bit of a crusade against "advanced metrics", coining his own "metric" called PhamGraphs, which he believes is a better measure of player success (if that sounds weird, it's because it totally is). Pham has "eccentric" viewpoints, to put it nicely, whether it's on statistics, competing, or fantasy football. Putting that all aside, though, he does sport a skill that the Royals have valued this offseason from hitters: he doesn't chase. According to Statcast percentiles, his O-Swing% ranked in the 94th percentile, and his whiff rate and Z-Contact rate ranked in the 61st and 60th percentiles, respectively. In addition to a good eye at the plate, he hit the ball hard last year as well, as evidenced by a 74th percentile hard-hit rate and 85th percentile average exit velocity. The Royals interestingly didn't bring back Pham last year, even though he was a key player for them down the stretch and in the postseason in 2024. He may not be the easiest teammate to understand. That said, if the Royals are looking for a platoon bat (121 career wRC+ against lefties) who can play all three positions in the outfield, Pham fits the bill perfectly. Randal Grichuk, OF (Last Played With Royals: 2025) The Royals targeted Grichuk last offseason, but he ended up signing a one-year deal to return to Arizona. However, the Diamondbacks played themselves out of playoff contention, and the Royals were able to acquire him in exchange for reliever Andrew Hoffmann around the Trade Deadline. Unfortunately, Grichuk failed to secure a roster spot with the Kansas City Royals. In 43 games and 105 plate appearances, Grichuk posted a 56 wRC+ and -0.4 fWAR. He struggled defensively in Kauffman's spacious dimensions, and he didn't hit nearly enough to earn regular playing time with the Royals. The Royals held a mutual option for 2026 with Grichuk, but they opted out, paying the $3 million buyout. The 34-year-old outfielder remains unsigned, and it seems unlikely that Grichuk will get more than a Minor League deal from a team this offseason, due to his career splits (118 wRC+ against lefties; 93 wRC+ against righties) and limited defensive ability. That said, his metrics show that he was much better than his overall stats demonstrated last year. Despite an 82 wRC+ in 2025 with Arizona and Kansas City, he ranked in the 91st percentile in average exit velocity, 86th percentile in hard-hit rate, and 73rd percentile in barrel rate. As a result, his .348 xwOBA was 59 points higher than his actual wOBA in 2025. Thus, Grichuk could see some positive regression in 2026, especially with Kauffman Stadium's new park dimensions. When looking at his spray chart from last year, modified to Target Field, which would be similar to the new Kauffman dimensions, Grichuk would've picked up a few more home runs a season ago. I am not sure if Grichuk would be willing to come back, especially after declining the mutual option and having inconsistent playing time down the stretch. That said, he may be convinced to return to Kansas City if he were guaranteed more playing time, even if it is in a strictly platoon role. MJ Melendez, OF (Last Played With the Royals: 2025) I saved this one for last, as I know some Royals fans would be outraged with the idea. After all, Melendez was awful at the MLB level last year with a -14 wRC+ and -0.6 fWAR in only 65 plate appearances. That's a concentrated level of bad. Furthermore, his Royals tenure wasn't all that great overall, as illustrated by a career -1.1 fWAR and an 88 wRC+ in 1,652 plate appearances. However, Melendez could be an interesting fit as a Minor League asset who could be trade bait later in the season. First off, the hard-hit metrics have always been there for Melendez. He has a career 91.7 MPH average exit velocity, 10.1% career barrel rate, and 46.2% career hard-hit rate. Those are pretty elite marks, even for a hitter with as much plate discipline (0.38 career BB/K ratio) and contact issues (71.6% career contact rate) as Melendez. He also did much better once he went back to his old swing in Omaha, as illustrated by his TJ Stats Statcast summary with the Storm Chasers a season ago. Second, I think Melendez could respond more effectively to the new hitting instruction within the organization. Gone is Drew Saylor, and in his place is a two-headed effort with Nic Jackson taking control of Upper Minors hitting development and Abrahan Nunez in charge of the Lower Minors portion. Thus, the Royals could allow Melendez to make adjustments and focus solely on recouping much of the value he lost in the past season. He won't play at all in the Majors with the Royals, nor should he at this point in his career. However, if he can get hot and show some progress in contact ability, he could net the Royals a mid or lower level prospect mid-season, especially for a team that may be desperate for offensive production in the outfield. It seems unlikely that Melendez will get another chance with another organization, even on a Minor League deal. However, the Royals could take a chance on their former second-round pick in 2026. He would give them the guaranteed production they need in Omaha (I would rather have him in the outfield than Drew Waters) while being a lottery pick who could generate some low-level trade value they may not get from other Triple-A outfielders. View the full article

During November of the 2024 offseason, the Kansas City Royals and Cincinnati Reds teamed up for a trade, with the Royals acquiring utility player Jonathan India and outfielder Joey Wiemer for starting pitcher Brady Singer. The headliner was India, who was expected to come in and provide stability atop the Royals' lineup, giving Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino, and Salvador Perez a chance to drive in India, who posted a .352 on-base percentage during the 2024 season with the Reds. Speaking at the time of the trade to the media, Royals general manager J.J. Picollo talked about the excitement in bringing in the 2021 National League Rookie of the Year. “Clearly, we were looking for a leadoff hitter,” Picollo said. “We wanted to address on-base. We wanted somebody to provide stability for us in that leadoff spot, and Jonathan’s going to do that. We were very happy to acquire him.” Flash forward to today, India wrapped up his first season with the Royals with a slash line of .233/.323/.346, through 136 games played. Over 497 at-bats, India hit a career low, nine home runs, and drove in 45 runs. India gave the Royals positional flexibility, making starts at second base, third base, and left field, but career lows in average, on-base percentage, slugging, and on-base-plus-slugging put a damper on the acquisition. The change in home ballparks could have played a factor in the regression. Great American Ball Park, the home of the Reds, ranks near the top of the list in terms of hitter-friendly ballparks, compared to Kauffman Stadium, which is in the middle to bottom in most categories. Over the past three seasons, Great American Ball Park trails only Dodger Stadium for average home runs given up per season. Kauffman Stadium ranks 24th on per Baseball Savant. Kauffman Stadium has long been known to have a spacious outfield, as seen by giving up the second-most doubles and triples in the past three years, per Baseball Savant. India was unable to take advantage of that, totalling only 29 doubles and zero triples. India’s BABIP reached a new career low in 2025, coming in at .279, well below the previous low of .293 set in 2024, so while there were concerns in year one with the Royals, there are some positives to take into 2026. Belief in Jonathan India With Dimension Change The Royals showed their belief in India during the offseason, bringing back India for his final year of arbitration on a one-year, $8 million contract. With one more year before reaching free agency, India should be motivated more than ever to put together a strong season. Comparing India’s Rookie of the Year season to his first with the Royals, India’s average exit velocity was very similar, 87.6 in year one to 87.9 this past season. India improved his launch angle from 13.1 to 14.7, which should correlate to more extra base hits in the spacious Kauffman. As many fans know, Kauffman Stadium is changing its dimensions for the 2026 season. The walls are being lowered from 10 feet to 8 feet, and the left-field corner will move in from 356 feet to 353 feet. The left-center and right-center gaps are going to be brought in from 389 feet to 379 feet, making the power alleys much more reachable. Center field remains untouched at 410 feet. When comparing India’s new look home to his old home in Cincinnati, where left field sits at 328 feet, left-center is 379 feet, center field is 404 feet, right-center is 370 feet, and right field is 325 feet. The gap in left field is now the same, and while there is a further distance in left field, the wall is shorter at Kauffman, sitting at eight feet as opposed to 12. India, which boasts a launch angle of a player who hits more line drives, could start to find more home runs with the lower walls. While season one didn’t go as planned in Kansas City for India, underlying numbers and a dimension change at Kauffman could result in a better year for India as the Royals hunt down a return to October baseball. View the full article

Walker Jenkins sits comfortably at the top of the Minnesota Twins prospect hierarchy. That part of the conversation is easy. The harder debate begins immediately after him. The Twins system has several legitimate candidates for the No. 2 spot, and each brings a very different profile, risk level, and timeline. This is not a ranking meant to dismiss any of the names below. Instead, it highlights how close this group really is and why the Twins are fortunate to have multiple paths forward. Still, prospect lists force choices, and the question remains simple. Who should be considered the Twins' top prospect behind Jenkins? SS Kaelen Culpepper The case for Culpepper starts with how much he changed the conversation in one season. After entering the year as more of a solid but unspectacular infielder, Culpepper broke out across High A and Double A, with a 138 wRC+. He showed that he can remain at shortstop, while also tapping into more power than most evaluators expected. The bat speed improved, the physicality showed up, and suddenly, he looked like a potential everyday infielder with impact. Why is he number two? Because Culpepper checks the hardest box. He can play shortstop. That alone carries enormous value, especially when paired with a bat that drives the ball to all fields. He does not need to sell out for pull-side power to do damage, and the extra-base hits came naturally as his strength developed. Why shouldn't he be number two? The swing remains fairly flat, which limits the ceiling of his in-game power. It might still be enough, but it likely caps him short of true middle-of-the-order production. There are also lingering questions about his long-term defensive home. If he ends up at third base, the offensive expectations rise considerably, and he will need to keep hitting (including tapping into that power) to justify the move. C Eduardo Tait Tait is the most exciting catching prospect the Twins have had in a long time. That puts him firmly in this conversation. He was also the highest-ranked prospect Minnesota acquired in the Jhoan Duran trade, signaling how highly the organization views his potential. Why is he number two? Catching prospects with real offensive upside are rare, and Tait has that. He shows power, confidence, and leadership behind the plate. If everything clicks, he profiles as an everyday catcher who can hit in the middle of a lineup, something the Twins have been chasing for years. Why shouldn't he be number two? The margin for error is thin. There is nowhere else for Tait to go defensively if he cannot stick behind the plate. His aggressive approach leads to chasing pitches out of the zone, and that tendency will be tested as he climbs the ladder. He is also far from Target Field, and long developmental paths come with risk. OF Emmanuel Rodriguez Rodriguez might have the loudest tools of anyone in the system, when he is healthy. That qualifier matters, and he’s on a path to impact the Twins’ roster in 2026. Why is he number two? When he is on the field, he controls the strike zone at an elite level. He draws walks, hits for power to all fields, and can handle all three outfield spots. In the corners, he is even above-average defensively. Few prospects in the minors combine patience and power the way Rodriguez does. Why shouldn't he be number two? Availability matters. Injuries have followed him throughout his professional career. Over the past five years, he has played more than 65 games only once. The passivity that fuels his walk totals also leads to a high strikeout rate, and when paired with durability concerns, it creates real risk. SP Connor Prielipp Pitching prospects often live in a separate category, but Prielipp forced his way back into this discussion in 2025. Why is he number two? Prielipp worked 82 2/3 innings last season and climbed all the way to Triple-A St. Paul. The stuff is undeniable. If he sticks as a starter, he has the arsenal to become a playoff-caliber arm, something every organization covets. Why shouldn't he be number two? The biggest question is his role. Internally, opinions vary on whether Prielipp ultimately fits best in the rotation or the bullpen. His injury history also looms large. Last season marked the first time he had thrown more than 25 innings since 2019. Betting on health and a starting role at the same time is a risky proposition. So Who Is Number Two? If forced to choose today, Culpepper likely gets the nod. The combination of proximity, defensive value, and offensive growth gives him the highest probability of becoming an everyday contributor. That said, this is a fluid debate. Tait offers rare upside at catcher, Rodriguez brings star potential if healthy, and Prielipp could change the entire picture with one dominant stretch. Behind Jenkins, the Twins do not have a clear answer. Instead, they have options, and that is a very good problem to have. Who would you rank number two in the Twins’ system? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

Freddy Peralta was not the first key player the Brewers traded away as he neared free agency; nor will he be the last. This is the established cycle of Milwaukee player development: acquire players before they establish themselves in the big leagues, enjoy the best years of their careers on bargain salaries, and restart the process by trading them away for young, controllable talent when they get prohibitively expensive. It’s not the most exciting way to run a franchise, but this is the best way for the Brewers to utilize their resources. It allows them to assemble a competitive roster every year, which they believe puts them in the best position to win a World Series. Rather than putting all of their chips on the table for a potentially unsuccessful playoff run and then needing to do a complete teardown and prolonged rebuild, they accept the pain of dealing away cornerstones even as they mold new ones. The media latched onto Peralta’s trade candidacy because the Brewers had done this before, with Josh Hader, Corbin Burnes, and Devin Williams. Peralta’s case was different, though. Like Willy Adames, whom the Brewers kept until free agency, he was a respected clubhouse pillar. He’ll also make just $8 million in 2026, even after the best season of his career. Compared to Burnes or Williams, it was going to take more to pry Peralta away from Milwaukee. The Brewers ultimately pulled the trigger on a return that wasn’t quite overwhelming, but they received a suitable package from the New York Mets, who sent more talent than the Baltimore Orioles did for Burnes two years ago. Utility man Jett Williams and right-hander Brandon Sproat were Baseball America’s Nos. 4 and 5 Mets prospects, respectively, and were both in the Top 100 overall. Both have six full seasons of club control. “Jett and Brandon are two of the top up-and-coming talents in baseball,” president of baseball operations Matt Arnold said, adding that both players will compete for roster spots in spring training. “We are adding both a dynamic athlete and exciting arm to the organization that we see impacting the major-league team for years to come.” Williams has the most prospect buzz and the highest ceiling of the two. At 5-foot-7, it may be tempting to think the 22-year-old is another Pat Murphy guy whose gritty style of play makes him an average big-leaguer without flashy athleticism. In reality, the speedster has legitimate power for his size, which he leverages well with an uppercut swing that consistently pulls balls in the air. He hit 17 home runs in 572 minor-league plate appearances last year, including seven in 151 Triple-A plate appearances. There’s disagreement over Williams’s hit tool. While Baseball America and MLB Pipeline give his hitting a 55 grade, FanGraphs gave it a present grade of 30 and a future grade of 40 in June. His contact and strikeout rates were average in the lower minors, but his 78% in-zone contact rate in Triple-A ranked in the 19th percentile. The Brewers have developed contact-oriented hitters like Sal Frelick, Brice Turang, and Caleb Durbin into capable big-leaguers, but they have not succeeded with more suspect bat-to-ball hitters like Williams. He’s a project worth taking on, though. Milwaukee has enough position players with high floors and needs hitters with more power potential. Because his bat is still unpolished and he’s better suited for second base or center field than shortstop, Williams seems unlikely to be an immediate Joey Ortiz replacement. He’ll be best served by finishing his development in Triple A before reaching the majors in a multi-positional role. While Williams received more love on most prospect lists, the Brewers are best equipped to get the most out of Sproat, who could become the true jewel of the deal. He developed an above-average sinker last year, which became his primary fastball instead of his four-seamer when he reached the big leagues in September. He throws three distinct breaking balls, each of which grades well. Sproat’s 2025 results were below-average in Triple A and in four major-league starts, but he posted a 92 DRA- across the two levels, and his 112 Stuff+ after his callup ranked ninth among starters who threw at least 20 innings in September. He creates a wide range of shapes from a three-quarter arm slot, giving the Brewers plenty to mold to their liking. Chris Hook can also get to work optimizing his whippy delivery to clean up his inconsistent command. Because his changeup has a similar shape to his sinker and a velocity difference of only 5 mph, Sproat will likely join the list of pitchers to scrap it in games upon arriving in Milwaukee. The Brewers may also turn his shorter slider into a true cutter to give him three fastballs. Based on their usual approach, a sinker and sweeper combination will probably become Sproat’s bread and butter against righties, while lefties will see more high four-seamers and curveballs. The Brewers also sent Tobias Myers to the Mets in the deal. The 27-year-old posted a 73 ERA- as a rookie in 2024, but his lackluster peripherals caught up to him last year. Even if he rebounds a bit thanks to the split-changeup he added last summer, it’s still likely his career has already peaked, and he was buried on the Brewers’ pitching depth chart. Sproat profiles as a more impactful starter moving forward. Time will tell how Milwaukee fares without Peralta, who averaged nearly 32 starts across the last three regular seasons, but it received a solid return and still boasts a deep rotation. Sproat, Logan Henderson, Robert Gasser, and Coleman Crow are among the young pitchers set to make starts this year. Jacob Misiorowski and Chad Patrick also profile as breakout candidates, and the Brewers are also optimistic that Brandon Woodruff will be more durable in his second season after returning from shoulder surgery. Trading away star players while remaining competitive is a delicate balance. The Brewers haven’t always struck it perfectly, but it seems they’ve done so nicely with Peralta. View the full article

Entering year 15 at loanDepot park, the Miami Marlins are still dealing with a familiar problem regarding home attendance. The mediocre quality of the product on the field and location of the venue are among the factors that perennially have the Fish finishing with the fewest spectators in the National League. It isn't for a lack of effort. Miami's marketing department turns a large share of regular season home games into special events, plus Marlins ticket prices always rank among the cheapest in Major League Baseball. The following table will expand as more special events and theme games are confirmed. Date Theme/Special Event Giveaway Extras March 27 Opening Day Kyle Stowers bobblehead (25k) Postgame fireworks April 18 Hockey Day — — June 20 Flanigan's Fest Flanigan’s x Marlins cup (10k) Flanigan's food at concession stands View the full article

The international free agent signing period kicked off last week, and the Boston Red Sox have remained busy during the beginning period. Already to this point, the Red Sox have signed 18 international players. For the franchise, the international market has been huge for them the past few seasons when it comes to adding talent to the farm system. And while the only international free agent prospect who has made the majors for the Red Sox since 2020 was Jhostynxon Garcia, their current top prospect list is filled with such players. Franklin Arias, Juan Valera, Justin Gonzales, Dorian Soto, Miguel Bleis, and Enddy Azocar are just a few top prospects the team has signed through the international free agent signing period. Now, the team has added to their depth by signing 18 prospects, including two that were ranked within the Top 50 of the 2026 class. Let's dive into some of the top prospects the Red Sox signed in this international class. Garielvin Silverio was the highest-ranked player the team signed, placing 32nd in the class according to Baseball America. Silverio, who will turn 18 in October, is a left-handed hitting outfielder from the Dominican Republic and was one of the top offensive threats in the class. Thanks to fast bat speed that is paired with a strong, broad-shouldered build, he’s able to produce some of the best raw power of any hitter out of the Dominican Republic this year. He was praised for his hitting ability that includes an advanced feel for squaring up breaking pitches. Due to his limited athleticism, he is destined for a corner outfield spot as he’s a below-average runner with an average arm. The Red Sox are hoping his hitting develops and can carry him through the minor leagues. The second-best player signed by the Red Sox was shortstop Dawvris Brito out of the Dominican Republic, ranked 37th by Baseball America. Like Silverio, Brito won’t turn 18 until the end of the season in mid-September. When it comes to athleticism, Brito is the opposite of Silverio in every way, as he’s an above-average runner who moves around the field well. Thanks to his quickness, range, and consistent ability to make routine plays, he handles shortstop well and has a good chance of sticking at the position despite having an average arm. Brito uses his athletic explosiveness while batting to generate solid bat speed. Due to his rawness at the plate, he’s looking to be a power-over-hit player; if he fully develops, he would give the Red Sox a shortstop prospect with power and speed. Joskairo Ramirez follows the Red Sox's trend of signing players out of the Dominican Republic. Ramirez, an outfielder, was ranked 64th in the class by Baseball America. He is another left-handed outfielder, but unlike Silverio, is currently slated for center field thanks to his ability to get great reads off the bat along with taking clean routes to cover ground in the outfield. Despite being just 5-foot-10, Ramirez is considered rather strong and has been viewed as having great hand-eye coordination that results in great bat-to-ball skills. His power also appears to be mostly gap-to-gap at the time of signing. The final player ranked by Baseball America in the Top 100 is right-handed pitcher Claudio Pereira at 91 out of Brazil. Pereira was the top prospect out of Brazil in the 2026 class and has been compared to Eury Perez, as he’s a skinny 6-foot-6 pitcher who weighs 190 pounds at the age of 17. Currently his fastball touches 90 mph, but his frame shows a projection that he should be able to add significant velocity upon gaining weight. Along with the fastball, he has a changeup that he has a good feel for, along with a curveball. While not in the Top 100, shortstop Isaac Velasquez was signed out of Colombia and could be an interesting prospect. Currently standing at 6-foot, 185 pounds, he stands out mostly for what he does at the plate. Velazquez doesn’t chase much and manages to manipulate the barrel of his bat to make frequent contact that is then mixed with good bat speed, making him an excellent pull-side hitter. Velasquez is an offensive-focused shortstop and could eventually be moved elsewhere in the infield, but should he gain some quickness in the field and become more efficient with his arm, he could stick at the position. Another outfielder, Freyerson Vasquez out of Venezuela, is someone who had scouts interested even when he was an extremely thin player at 130 pounds thanks to a high-contact bat from the left side of the plate. He’s since grown, now standing at 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds, and has maintained the bat control that originally impressed scouts. Currently, he’s projected for a corner outfield spot thanks to a plus arm. Other prospects the team signed include: Infielder Esterlin Casanova out of the Dominican Republic Infielder Anderber Urbina out of Venezuela Infielder Wilneyker Bruce out of Venezuela Pitcher Yeider Pineda out of Venezuela Outfielder Eber Miranda out of Colombia Catcher Edgardo Gutierrez out of Venezuela Shortstop Anderson Gonzalez out of Venezuela Infielder Axell Herrera out of the Dominican Republic Pitcher Harry Canedo out of Colombia Pitcher Isaac Brujan out of the Dominican Republic Pitcher Luis Cayama out of Venezuela Pitcher Angel Roa out of Venezuela Grabbing four of the top 100 prospects in the class should help rebuild the lower levels of the farm system, as the team will now look to develop these players in the Dominican Summer League during the 2026 season. Some will see competition in the Florida Complex League by 2027, while others may take longer or may not even make it to the next level. Prospects are always a gamble, and the Red Sox are hoping they pay off in the long run. View the full article

The Toronto Blue Jays have more starting pitchers than they know what to do with. Their bullpen hasn’t been the subject of nearly as much discussion, but it’s a deep group, too. Not including the six main candidates for the starting rotation, the Blue Jays have 10 pitchers on their 40-man roster with at least 50 games of big league experience: Jeff Hoffman, Tyler Rogers, Yimi García, Louis Varland, Brendon Little, Eric Lauer, Tommy Nance, Brendon Little, Braydon Fisher, Mason Fluharty, and Bowden Francis. That doesn’t even include Chasee Lee (32 MLB games); Rule 5 selections Angel Bastardo and Spencer Miles; prospects Ricky Tiedemann, Adam Macko, and Lazaro Estrada (2 MLB games); or the experienced arms that aren’t on the 40-man roster, namely Yariel Rodríguez and Jorge Alcala. That’s a lot of names. Like I said, it’s a deep group. It’s also a high-variance group. FanGraphs has Toronto’s bullpen as the seventh-best in baseball on their projected depth charts. However, the difference between the Jays in seventh and the Orioles in 16th is less than one projected win. It isn’t hard to picture a scenario in which this bullpen is one win worse than projected. Heck, it isn’t hard to picture a scenario in which every single member of this arm barn fails to meet expectations. What’s the solution? The Blue Jays don’t need another veteran on a guaranteed contract. They don’t need to limit their flexibility any further. To limit variance and raise their floor, what they need is even more depth. They need a pitcher who won’t battle for a spot on the Opening Day roster but who offers a proven floor as a capable major league pitcher. They need their next Eric Lauer. They need Kolby Allard. Allard is a great fit for Toronto. The 28-year-old has appeared in each of the last eight seasons (Experience? Check!), and he’s coming off what was arguably the best year of his career (Upside? Check!). He has a 5.34 ERA and 4.92 FIP for his career, but in 2025, those numbers were 2.63 and 3.54, respectively. A southpaw, Allard would help to balance a righty-heavy staff. Like Lauer, he also has experience as both a starter and a reliever. Hopefully, he wouldn’t ever need to start for the Blue Jays, but there’s no such thing as too much rotation depth. Most importantly, he should be available on a minor league deal. Listen, Allard was good last year. He really was. The lefty went more than one inning in 23 of his 33 appearances for a total of 62 innings pitched. That’s the second-highest total of his career, and the highest in his years as a primary reliever. Adjusted for park effects and the 2025 run environment, his ERA was 35% better than league average. His FIP was 15% better. His expected ERA ranked in the 79th percentile. That successful season underscores Allard’s talent. And there could be room for growth. According to pitch models like PitchingBot, Pitching+, and PitchPro, his cutter was his best pitch last year. Per the models, it’s been his best pitch throughout his career. Yet, the on-field results say otherwise. Opposing hitters have crushed his cutter for a .369 wOBA and a .355 xwOBA, compared to a .327 wOBA and .328 xwOBA on all his other pitches. Even last season, when Allard was at his best, his cutter yielded a .376 wOBA and a .363 xwOBA. The rest of his offerings combined for a .278 wOBA and a .272 xwOBA. Those aren’t just good numbers, they’re excellent. In a vacuum, his cutter looks like his strongest weapon. In actuality, it’s been holding him back. The right coaching could change that. With all that said, I can’t forget I’m writing about a pitcher with a career ERA well above 5.00. Allard signed a minor league deal with Cleveland last winter, went unclaimed on waivers after he was designated for assignment in the summer, and then re-signed with the Guardians on another minor league contract. While he made the postseason roster, he was the only arm that Stephen Vogt never used in Cleveland’s three-game Wild Card Series against Detroit. My point? He’s not going to be in high demand. Simply put, Kolby Allard isn’t an exciting name. That isn’t a knock on the eight-year MLB veteran, it’s just a fact. Leverage index (LI) is a metric that tries to quantify the pressure of any given game situation, taking into consideration the score, the inning, the number of outs, and the runners on base. Allard has made 109 appearances in his big league career; according to LI, he only entered 10 of those games in situations where the pressure was higher than average. A neutral LI is 1.00. The league average LI for a reliever when entering games tends to hover between 1.10 and 1.15. In other words, relievers tend to enter in higher-leverage situations. That makes sense. Allard’s average leverage index when entering games (gmLI) has never been higher than 0.87 in a season. His career average is 0.75. Only one active pitcher (JT Brubaker) has thrown more innings than Allard with a lower gmLI. All of this means Allard doesn’t often enter games with an opportunity to make a significant impact. And when he has made an impact, it hasn’t often been the kind of impact he was hoping. Allard owns a 13-26 record. Only three active pitchers have more career decisions and a lower winning percentage (Patrick Sandoval, Gregory Soto, and former Blue Jay Jordan Hicks). Allard’s teams have gone 37-72 (.339) in his appearances. Those same clubs – the Braves, Rangers, Phillies, and Guardians – had a .524 winning percentage in all their other games. That’s the difference between a 55-win pace and an 85-win pace. On a similar note, Allard has never pitched in the playoffs, despite playing for division-winning teams in each of the past three seasons. So, as much as I like Allard for the Blue Jays, my appreciation comes with qualifiers. In other words, I like him for what he is: minor league depth. Most minor league depth acquisitions don’t work out as nearly well as last winter’s Lauer signing. Still, Lauer’s story is the pudding-covered proof that minor league depth signings are essential. My fingers are crossed that the Blue Jays won’t need another Lauer this season. They really shouldn’t. But if they do, Kolby Allard could be that guy. View the full article

According to reporter Francys Romero, the Toronto Blue Jays were among the teams "most closely monitoring" free agent Yoán Moncada's market before he ultimately re-signed with the Los Angeles Angels. Romero notes that the Pirates and Red Sox had also shown interest in the third baseman. About a month ago, Romero reported that Toronto had expressed "early interest" in Moncada. However, that was before they signed Kazuma Okamoto to a four-year, $60 million deal. Like Moncada, Okamoto's primary position is third base. Moncada, 30, played in 84 games for the Angels in 2025. He hit .234 with 12 home runs and an 11.1% walk rate, finishing with a 117 wRC+. Thumb and knee injuries cut into his playing time; IL stints have been a recurring theme throughout the switch-hitter's career. It wasn't entirely clear how Moncada would have made sense for the Blue Jays even before they signed Okamoto. So, the suggestion that they were still keeping an eye on him is more than a little surprising. Nevertheless, Romero's report is at least an indication that the Blue Jays might not be finished adding to their offense this winter. Featured image courtesy of Kirby Lee, Imagn Images. View the full article

The Milwaukee Brewers and New York Mets are on the verge of a deal to send right-handed pitcher Freddy Peralta to New York, according to a report from the New York Post's Jon Heyman. Peralta will reunite with David Stearns in Queens, while the Brewers will receive multiple pieces in return, a source says. More to come. View the full article

This is not an article about James Outman. It’s written around James Outman, but he didn’t really do anything to deserve it. Instead, James Outman has become the poster boy for a concerning trend with the functional utility of the Minnesota Twins’ roster. Let’s start in 2023: the season in which the Twins put together one of their most functional rosters of all time, even if it wasn’t the best roster. Roster functionality, in this case, can be understood as each player having a specific role and providing something uniquely valuable for the team’s success. As the team awaited the return of the injured Jorge Polanco, Royce Lewis, and Alex Kirilloff, each of whom would go on to play significant roles during the season, the Twins started Opening Day with the following lineup: C: Christian Vázquez 1B: Joey Gallo 2B: Nick Gordon 3B: Jose Miranda SS: Carlos Correa LF: Trevor Larnach CF: Michael A. Taylor RF: Max Kepler DH: Byron Buxton Not all of these players made it to the end of the season in a Twins uniform, and many had rough years. But what we’re focusing on is utility, not just quality. The Opening Day bench underscores what I’m talking about: catcher Ryan Jeffers, infielders Kyle Farmer and Donovan Solano, and super-utility Willi Castro (note: Castro wasn’t in that role at the time; he was expected to be sent down once Polanco returned, and he was more emergency depth and pinch-running). Let’s highlight some of the roles these players filled, or were expected to fill. Taylor was acquired via trade to add depth behind Byron Buxton in center field. He was hailed as an elite defender, and he was right-handed, so he could platoon with Gallo, Larnach, Kirilloff, or Kepler, moving over to a corner against lefty staters. Obviously, he played the whole season in center field, but that just highlights his usefulness. They tried to do the same in 2024 and 2025 with Manuel Margot and Harrison Bader, with mixed results. Farmer was also acquired via trade to start at shortstop, though that was short-lived, as the Twins re-signed Carlos Correa a month later. Farmer was bumped to a utility infield role, as a good enough defender to handle shortstop, second base, and third base. He also was an effective hitter against lefties, so he had a second role: platooning with Gordon at the beginning of the season and Edouard Julien at the end. Gordon had a unique role, too. He started at second base while Polanco was hurt, but his intended role was to bounce around the infield and outfield, hit a bit, and pinch-run. Essentially, he was expected to provide what Castro eventually did. This role was reduced when Buxton moved to a full-time DH role, but there was a clear intention to get his bat into the lineup, coming off the 2022 season in which he batted .272/.316/.427. Solano was a late signing, not joining the Twins until spring training had already started, but he was counted on to platoon with Kirilloff during the season and provide infield depth. Beyond that, he was a reliable pinch-hitting option against both lefties and righties, given his pure hitting ability. They brought in a platoon partner for Kirilloff again in 2024, which ended up being a very good offensive and defensive year from Carlos Santana. I could go on, but I’ll add one more tidbit to the pile—this team had a bunch of multi-positional players. Gallo and Kirilloff could both play the outfield and first base; Gallo could even fake it in center. Gordon and Castro could both play infield and outfield, including up-the-middle positions. Miranda could play first and third. Today, though, the Twins look nothing like that. Let’s assume the following starting lineup: C: Ryan Jeffers 1B: Kody Clemens 2B: Luke Keaschall 3B: Royce Lewis SS: Brooks Lee LF: Trevor Larnach CF: Byron Buxton RF: Matt Wallner DH: Josh Bell And a bench of: Victor Caratini Ryan Kreidler Austin Martin James Outman This projection leaves Alan Roden in St. Paul, starting alongside top prospects Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez. This is also the only way to put James Outman on the Opening Day roster without either starting him or playing without a backup shortstop. I want to preface the Outman discussion by acknowledging that the offseason is not over. The Twins have more moves to make, and that I’m not privy to the real plans the front office is making. We saw them add one plausible backup shortstop via trade on Wednesday, in Tristan Gray. But focusing on Outman is, I believe, the best way to convey my point. Outman has no options left. He’s been below replacement level since his very good rookie season in 2023. But he’s on the roster, after being the return in the trade that sent Brock Stewart to the Dodgers at the 2025 trade deadline. Right now, he’s wedged into the Opening Day picture, at least in the popular imagination (you’re welcome to disagree; I have my doubts he makes it to Opening Day). Why? Because he can play center field. It didn’t look pretty, honestly, after he arrived in Minnesota, but that’s his reputation. He can play it better than Martin, Kreidler, and Keaschall, probably. But that’s really it. Recall Taylor’s role in 2023. He could play center—better than Outman, mind you. But he also hit better in 2023 than Outman has across 2024 and 2025. He also suited the roster beter, hitting right-handed and hypothetically being a platoon option in a corner. Outman, on the other hand, is a lefty on a team full of lefties. To get regular reps in a corner, he needs to outplay Wallner, Larnach, Roden, probably Clemens and Bell, and eventually Jenkins and Rodriguez. If he can’t, he might cover center field once or twice a week against righties and pinch-run a little. That's not a positive net value from a roster spot. The Twins have lefties covering left and right field, first base, (effectively) DH, (effectively) shortstop, and (effectively) backup catcher. Their only platoon option is the batting average-dependent Martin, mostly in left field. If they want to commit to Roden in left field, that costs them either Outman or a shortstop, and it can’t be a shortstop, because Kreidler (or Vidal Bruján, or Orlando Arcia, or Gray) would be the only player beyond Lee who can cover shortstop. Even with one of those three infielders on the roster, their roles will be very limited—basically only playing shortstop, because none of them hit. Unlike Farmer, they can’t even fake league-average production or platoon against lefties. Caratini might be the bench player with the most utility right now, because he can hit from both sides and plays a passable first base, but in every remedial math class, there’s a brightest pupil. Martin has some flexibility, but it’s unclear whether the Twins want to play him in center field or at second base. Gregg’s note: Clemens, if considered to be a bench player—perhaps if Martin is the everyday left fielder—does have the most utility, because he plays a fine first base, second base, and corner outfield, but it’s unclear that will be his role at this point. So, if Outman does make the roster, the bench is a backup catcher; a left-field platoon bat who can play emergency second base and center field; a lefty who should only play center field once a week; and an infielder who should only play shortstop—again, once a week. Again, they aren’t done, but the current outlook pales in comparison to the average player's usefulness in 2023, regardless of overall ability. There may be things that clear the outlook up—committing to one of Martin, Kreidler, or Keaschall as a backup center fielder; trading a corner outfielder; opting to play Caratini at first base and DH; acquiring another infielder who bats right-handed and/or is a better option as a backup shortstop. But right now, it’s bleak. No one exemplifies that more than poor James Outman, a man whose profile lies at the unfortunate crossroads of uniqueness and redundancy. View the full article

It seems like a Freddy Peralta trade is going to happen; it is getting much closer. According to a report by Michael Marino, who calls himself a national MLB reporter but appears unaffiliated with any outlet, the Milwaukee Brewers wanted young New York Mets right-handed starter Jonah Tong in the return package for Peralta, who is entering 2026 in his final year of team control and is making $8 million before hitting free agency. But the Mets rejected including Tong, the No. 4 prospect in the Mets' system and No. 46 in baseball, per MLB Pipeline. As a counterproposal, the Brewers asked for infielder-outfielder Jett Williams, the Mets' No. 3 prospect and No. 30 in baseball, and right-handed starter Brandon Sproat, the Mets' No. 5 prospect but not a top-100 player. The report said the Mets are not willing to pay that steep a price for one year of Peralta. Tong made five starts for the Mets while making his MLB debut in 2025, posting a 4.31 FIP and 7.71 ERA, with 22 strikeouts in 18⅔ innings. Sproat also made his MLB debut in 2025, putting up a 2.80 FIP and 4.79 ERA in four starts, striking out 17 in 20⅔ innings. Williams, who can play middle infield as well as center field, put up a .261/.363/.465 slash line between Double-A and Triple-A in 2025 with 17 homers, 52 RBIs, and 36 stolen bases in 130 games. Williams also struck out 131 times. View the full article

Blue Jays pitchers and catchers will report to the team's spring training complex in Dunedin on February 11, while the first full-squad workout is scheduled for February 16. Five days later – exactly one month from today – the Jays will host the Phillies for their first game of the spring. Today, the Blue Jays announced the names of 20 non-roster invitees who will be joining the players from the 40-man roster (and several more NRIs) in big league training camp. It's an exciting list, made up of eight pitchers and 12 position players and including many of the top prospects in the system. All of these NRIs are rookie eligible, except for Yariel Rodríguez, who was outrighted off the 40-man earlier this winter. Javen Coleman, LHP Chad Dallas, RHP Ryan Jennings, RHP Fernando Perez, RHP (JC No. 19) Gage Stanifer, RHP (JC No. 6) Yariel Rodríguez, RHP CJ Van Eyk, RHP Chay Yeager, RHP Robert Brooks, C Edward Duran, C Aaron Parker, C Geovanny Planchart, C Cutter Coffey, INF Josh Kasevich, INF (JC No. 11) Sean Keys, INF Charles McAdoo, 3B (JC No. 14) Arjun Nimmala, SS (JC No. 3) Josh Rivera, INF Riley Tirotta, UTIL RJ Schreck, OF (JC No. 9) The Blue Jays have also extended a spring training invitation to several free agents they signed to minor league deals. This includes left-hander Michael Plassmeyer, right-hander Jorge Alcala, outfielder/DH Eloy Jiménez, and utility players Rafael Lantigua and Carlos Mendoza. Featured image courtesy of Kim Klement Neitzel, Imagn Images. View the full article