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With Joe Musgrove demanding much of the attention as a key member of the San Diego Padres returning from major surgery early in 2026, it's easy to forget that he isn't the only one on the team's pitching staff set to do so. Jhony Brito underwent internal brace surgery for his UCL back in May, indicating that he could be back within the first couple of months of the upcoming year. For a pitching-starved team like San Diego, it's hard to imagine he won't carve out a role quickly upon his return. The role itself, however, is up in the air. Brito was one of the four players that A.J. Preller acquired when he sent Juan Soto to the Bronx, along with Michael King, Drew Thorpe, and Kyle Higashioka. Thorpe wasn't long for the roster as he was flipped for now-former Padre Dylan Cease, while Higashioka left in free agency at the end of that year. With King now back under contract in San Diego, he and Brito represent the only chance for the team to make good on that deal. There was not a point at which we saw Brito throw a pitch for the 2025 Padres, even before the surgery. His last action came back in 2024, when he logged nearly 44 innings at the big-league level and another 14 in Triple-A. His work at the top level came exclusively in relief, with 26 appearances to a 4.12 ERA and 3.72 FIP. His fastball, averaging 96.3 MPH, sat in the 84th percentile. Most of Brito's appearances that year were of the multi-inning variety. And that's an important part in determining what his role could be. Brito had plenty of work as a starter prior to the 2024 season. He made 20 starts between the minor and major leagues in 2023 and 23 starts in 2022. The results were generally fine, but fell off quite a bit when serving as a starter. His career ERA in 52 2/3 innings as a starter in Major League Baseball sits at 6.32; he's at a 2.88 ERA in 81 1/3 innings in relief. While he's never posted gaudy strikeout numbers, his combination of velocity, command (5.2 BB% in 2024), and groundball contact (48.3 GB%) each make him an enticing option in relief for this particular Padres team. The team, in its current form, has some options in long relief. Kyle Hart could serve such a role. So, too, could any combination of winter signing Ty Adcock or Triston McKenzie, the latter of whom is on a minor-league deal. None of that trio, however, offers the upside we've seen Brito flash in his brief time serving such a role. Hart was knocked around and shuttled between the top two levels in 2025, Adcock presents some command issues, and McKenzie is coming off a multi-year struggle that included a velocity dip wrought by health issues. Brito's skill set would help to contribute to an effective bridge between starting pitchers and a elite group of late-inning relievers. Given that, it's hard to imagine Brito serving any role outside of exactly the one in which we've already seen him. To say nothing of his health in all of this. Even if the team wanted Brito and his remaining years of team control to transition back onto the starting side — something that would only be a consideration given the relative shallowness of the entire starting operation in the short term — they wouldn't immediately transition him into such a position. Assuming a return at the early end of a recovery timeline (May), he'd likely be inserted into exactly the type of role in which we should expect to see him. As such, that multi-inning relief role in which we last saw Jhony Brito is also going to be his best path toward contributing to the 2026 Padres. The aforementioned lack of depth on the starting side will make the multi-inning gig an essential one for this roster, even when assuming more additions to the rotation are on the way. Brito has the skill set to succeed there above all other options, and it's hard to imagine the team would be inclined to let him ply his trade in any role but that upon his return. View the full article

The Brewers added an experienced voice to their front office this week, hiring former Twins general manager Thad Levine as a special adviser to baseball operations. Levine has spent nearly three decades working in Major League Baseball front offices. That includes 11 years with the Texas Rangers as assistant general manager, a stretch that saw the organization make the postseason five times and reach the World Series twice, plus eight seasons with the Minnesota Twins as general manager under chief baseball officer Derek Falvey. During Levine’s tenure, the Twins reached the postseason four times and snapped their long-running playoff losing streak. Levine left the Twins following the 2024 season, which ended with a late collapse that cost Minnesota a postseason berth. The Twins insisted his departure was not tied to that slump, noting that Levine had already planned to step away before the season’s final months. By that point, Levine’s role in Minnesota had evolved. Brought in alongside Falvey in 2016, he played a central role in building out a modern front-office structure and helped develop a deep group of assistants GMs. As that work matured and his responsibilities narrowed, Levine began looking for a new challenge. That mindset came through during a July appearance on the podcast Gleeman and The Geek, when Levine discussed how he believes organizations should operate. “It is very easy to assess and critique deals that are made,” he said. “It is less easy to assess deals that aren’t made. So inactivity is a lot more challenging to judge than activity.” Levine has also cautioned against organizations drifting into comfort. “One thing as a fan I would be attentive to,” he said, “is this notion of: is your team acting in a way that they just want to survive, or that they want to thrive?” Earlier this offseason, Levine was rumored to be a candidate for the Rockies’ general manager opening and has remained active through his Rosters to Rings podcast, which he co-hosts with former NBA general manager Ryan McDonough. When asked about his new role, Levine said the opportunity in Milwaukee aligned with what he was seeking next. “I am energized that the role with the Brewers will give me an opportunity to learn, contribute, and work with extremely dynamic people,” he said. “I am ecstatic to return to the game and work for the Milwaukee Brewers.” That aligns with his values expressed both on the podcast but also when he was leaving the Twins. "What resonates with me is working with exceptional people who are open to me elevating them to a level maybe they never thought they could achieve," he replied when asked what he was looking for in a new position. "And similarly, being willing to invest in me to help me achieve things I never thought were possible." Levine’s exact responsibilities will likely evolve, but the Brewers have added an experienced, team-focused, non-complacent front office veteran who has driven considerable success for his last two teams. That's a good start to wherever he ends up in the organization. View the full article

Context matters with prospects, and Eduardo Tait might be one of the best examples in the Twins system. An 18-year-old holding his own in High-A is not supposed to look clean or finished. It is supposed to look incomplete, with positive signs of what the player can be in the future. That is precisely what Tait showed in 2025, and those clues point directly toward what needs to happen next. At High-A, Tait was not overwhelmed. He was productive. Across 486 plate appearances, he posted league-average offense while being one of the youngest players in the Midwest League. That alone put him on the radar in a more serious way. The Phillies and Twins challenged him aggressively, and he responded by proving the bat belonged. The underlying offensive profile was particularly encouraging. Tait finished with a .174 isolated power and a 103 wRC+, a tick above league average. He had 14 home runs and 32 doubles that tell the story of a hitter already generating real damage even before filling out his frame. The swing path worked. The ball came off his bat with intent. There was obvious room for more. That is where the first significant improvement area for 2026 lives. Tait does plenty of damage, but too much of it still shows up as doubles. With a pull rate north of 47% and nearly 40% of his balls in the air, the ingredients for more home run conversion are already present. Strength gains alone should help, but there is also room for refinement in how he attacks pitches he can lift. Turning a handful of those doubles into home runs would significantly raise the offensive ceiling, especially for a player without defensive questions. The contact foundation gives optimism that this growth will not come at the expense of excessive swing and miss. Tait’s swinging strike rate sat under 13%, and his strikeout rate hovered around 20%. For a teenager facing older pitching, that is more than acceptable. In fact, he faced older pitchers in 100% of his plate appearances. The bat-to-ball skills are fundamental, which makes the next step about selectivity rather than survival. That leads directly to the second area of focus, the walk rate. Around 7% is not disastrous, but it does leave value on the table. Tait showed he could use the whole field, posting a 30% opposite-field rate, suggesting he is not purely a sellout pull hitter. Tightening zone control and learning which pitches he can truly drive should push his on-base percentage forward as he climbs the ladder. For a bat-first catcher, that is not optional. It is required. Of course, none of this exists in a vacuum, because Tait’s future still hinges on where he plays defensively. The bat looks like it can carry a profile, but it carries far more weight if he stays behind the plate. If he can’t catch, he is not one of baseball’s top-100 prospects. Defensive consistency, receiving, and overall polish as a catcher remain the biggest questions in the evaluation. Improvement there would change how the entire industry views him. Even modest defensive progress could solidify his status as a legitimate everyday catching prospect rather than a corner bat with a complicated path. The encouraging part is that none of these issues are red flags. They are checkpoints. Tait is young, left-handed, and already showing power against advanced pitching. He does not need to reinvent himself. He needs incremental growth. Better plate discipline. A bit more home run efficiency. Defensive gains that keep him at catcher. If those boxes start getting checked in 2026, Tait’s profile shifts quickly, and he likely enters next season as a top-50 prospect. The Twins already know the bat is interesting. The next season will determine just how valuable it can become. Can Tait improve in the areas mentioned above? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

In 1972, the Dodgers were the first team to employ a dedicated, intentional five-man rotation. A novel approach at the time -- despite recent experiments leading up to its inception -- it soon became the standard across MLB, despite constant grumblings about its potential efficacy. From the origins of the five-man rotation to today, criticisms have responsibly evolved — to the extent that calling a five-man rotation a 'failure' back in 2002 isn't altogether preposterous. Fast-forward to today. Baseball is in the midst of another rotation transformation. This renaissance is bumpier, has more variables, and an undetermined conclusion, but the transition continues nonetheless. While I don't yet think we've reached the inflection point of transitioning from a five- to a six-man rotation across the league (especially for the Cubs in 2026), the current landscape of strict pitch counts, third-time-through-the-order fears, and the relatively common use of 'Openers' portends more and more experimentation and change in how rotations are constructed. And while six-man rotations are currently an unknown commodity, their usage in the league -- at least in exploratory form -- feels inevitable. What is clear, however, is that a traditional five-man no longer remains an outright expectation. Arm injuries accumulate at an increasingly alarming rate, especially with pitchers throwing harder than ever with more spin than ever before. Starters returning from injury are monitored closely. Hurlers from Japan, a highly-sought after MLB pipeline, are accustomed to five days of rest. Young starters are handled with extreme caution out of long-term health concerns. All of this leads to the need for quality depth. A depth that not only covers for injury, but preemptively helps push back or skip starts to keep pitchers better rested and less likely to breakdown over the course of a grueling 162-game schedule. The Cubs' trade for Edward Cabrera offers immediate upside, to be sure, and also creates the space for that quality depth to shine. With a robust injury history of his own, the cost-controlled, ace-caliber Cabrera will have his innings and pitch count monitored closely. But he's hardly the only starter the Cubs will be keeping tabs on. They have several arms expected to make double-digit starts in 2026, each with their own concerns: Edward Cabrera (significant injury history) Justin Steele (return date TBD; will definitely be monitored closely upon return) Cade Horton (future ace/workhorse potential, entering first full season after ending last season with a minor rib injury) Shota Imanaga (accustomed to five days rest, significant questions with durability over a full season) Matthew Boyd (mid-30's, injury history, career year in 2025 that eroded down the stretch) Jameson Taillon (typically healthy, typically an innings eater, probably the lowest health concern, floor of a #4/5) Colin Rea and Javier Assad (swing arms, will get play in rotation and long-relief in 2026) Jaxson Wiggins (will likely get his debut in 2026 at some point) Call it the 5.5-man rotation if you must — the clear path forward for the 2026 Cubs will ostensibly feature the framework of a five-man setup, but that perception will not be adhered to by reality. Counsell -- who is no stranger to unique rotation usage -- will figure out ways to best utilize all of this depth. A combination of swingmen starting on occasion to allow for a fifth day of rest for starters, calling up an optionable arm from Iowa, and retooling the 'pen with a presumed Iowa-Chicago pipeline should successfully create flexibility, extra rest, and opportunity for the several arms the Cubs have available. And it would be far from shocking to see Counsell roll out an opener whenever he feels it advantageous to do so, no matter how many starters the Cubs have available at any given moment. Our @Andrew Wright recently explored the Cubs' likely roster come Opening Day — and, of course, he did so just before the trade for Cabrera surfaced. Adding Cabrera to that projected 2026 rotation gives the Cubs six starters right now, to say nothing of Steele's eventual return and Wiggins' expected debut. We won't have a concrete answer on the Cubs' plans for the rotation to open the season until spring training has neared its conclusion. What we do know is that while the Cubs won't employ an intentional six-man rotation, they will certainly be creative with operating a traditional five-man setup. Expect several permutations of the rotation as the season unfolds. And should the Cubs make the expected playoff push the baseball world predicts, it's anyone's guess as to who the four arms will be that start playoff games come October. View the full article

In 1972, the Dodgers were the first team to employ a dedicated, intentional five-man rotation. A novel approach at the time -- despite recent experiments leading up to its inception -- it soon became the standard across MLB, despite constant grumblings about its potential efficacy. From the origins of the five-man rotation to today, criticisms have responsibly evolved — to the extent that calling a five-man rotation a 'failure' back in 2002 isn't altogether preposterous. Fast-forward to today. Baseball is in the midst of another rotation transformation. This renaissance is bumpier, has more variables, and an undetermined conclusion, but the transition continues nonetheless. While I don't yet think we've reached the inflection point of transitioning from a five- to a six-man rotation across the league (especially for the Cubs in 2026), the current landscape of strict pitch counts, third-time-through-the-order fears, and the relatively common use of 'Openers' portends more and more experimentation and change in how rotations are constructed. And while six-man rotations are currently an unknown commodity, their usage in the league -- at least in exploratory form -- feels inevitable. What is clear, however, is that a traditional five-man no longer remains an outright expectation. Arm injuries accumulate at an increasingly alarming rate, especially with pitchers throwing harder than ever with more spin than ever before. Starters returning from injury are monitored closely. Hurlers from Japan, a highly-sought after MLB pipeline, are accustomed to five days of rest. Young starters are handled with extreme caution out of long-term health concerns. All of this leads to the need for quality depth. A depth that not only covers for injury, but preemptively helps push back or skip starts to keep pitchers better rested and less likely to breakdown over the course of a grueling 162-game schedule. The Cubs' trade for Edward Cabrera offers immediate upside, to be sure, and also creates the space for that quality depth to shine. With a robust injury history of his own, the cost-controlled, ace-caliber Cabrera will have his innings and pitch count monitored closely. But he's hardly the only starter the Cubs will be keeping tabs on. They have several arms expected to make double-digit starts in 2026, each with their own concerns: Edward Cabrera (significant injury history) Justin Steele (return date TBD; will definitely be monitored closely upon return) Cade Horton (future ace/workhorse potential, entering first full season after ending last season with a minor rib injury) Shota Imanaga (accustomed to five days rest, significant questions with durability over a full season) Matthew Boyd (mid-30's, injury history, career year in 2025 that eroded down the stretch) Jameson Taillon (typically healthy, typically an innings eater, probably the lowest health concern, floor of a #4/5) Colin Rea and Javier Assad (swing arms, will get play in rotation and long-relief in 2026) Jaxson Wiggins (will likely get his debut in 2026 at some point) Call it the 5.5-man rotation if you must — the clear path forward for the 2026 Cubs will ostensibly feature the framework of a five-man setup, but that perception will not be adhered to by reality. Counsell -- who is no stranger to unique rotation usage -- will figure out ways to best utilize all of this depth. A combination of swingmen starting on occasion to allow for a fifth day of rest for starters, calling up an optionable arm from Iowa, and retooling the 'pen with a presumed Iowa-Chicago pipeline should successfully create flexibility, extra rest, and opportunity for the several arms the Cubs have available. And it would be far from shocking to see Counsell roll out an opener whenever he feels it advantageous to do so, no matter how many starters the Cubs have available at any given moment. Our @Andrew Wright recently explored the Cubs' likely roster come Opening Day — and, of course, he did so just before the trade for Cabrera surfaced. Adding Cabrera to that projected 2026 rotation gives the Cubs six starters right now, to say nothing of Steele's eventual return and Wiggins' expected debut. We won't have a concrete answer on the Cubs' plans for the rotation to open the season until spring training has neared its conclusion. What we do know is that while the Cubs won't employ an intentional six-man rotation, they will certainly be creative with operating a traditional five-man setup. Expect several permutations of the rotation as the season unfolds. And should the Cubs make the expected playoff push the baseball world predicts, it's anyone's guess as to who the four arms will be that start playoff games come October. View the full article

Jesus Made has some of the most freakish athleticism in baseball at just 19 years old. He stole 47 bases in 59 attempts last year. He was regularly sitting at 74 mph in bat speed as at May 2025 (MLB average 71.9 mph) per Brenton del Chiaro's interview on the Just Baseball Podcast. He also displayed extremely polished swing decisions, sitting at league average in zone swing rates in High-A Wisconsin and better than league average chase rates, all mightily impressive from someone who was 18 to start the 2025 season. Combining that with a highly regarded hit tool, using fantastic hands to manoeuvre the barrel to the ball, as Aram Leighton noted. Even when he was beaten on a pitch, his hand control was sublime to square up the baseball. Combine that with a surging development at shortstop in 2025, and you have almost all of the traditional tools covered. The only thing I haven't talked about is the power production, and that's what currently distinguishes Made from the likes of Konnor Griffin. While Made has the present bat speed and a frame that teases even further upside with natural growth, at present, that power isn't being tapped into. Made slashed .285/.379/.413 in 2025, showcasing those impressive plate discipline and hitting tools, but the actual home run and extra base power wasn't quite where one would expect from a top prospect in the game. Contrast that to Konnor Griffin, who, while a year older than Made, traversed the same levels of the minor leagues and stole 65 bases, slugged 21 home runs, and also produced excellent defense at both shortstop and in center field, and Griffin certainly gets the nod for now. Made's age is part of this, and we should expect some rawness in the tools, but that doesn't mean we can't investigate how the Brewers will cut this diamond to produce the best possible results. The Front Leg Jesús Made's issue isn't that he struggles to make quality contact, nor that he doesn't hit the ball hard. It all comes down to elevating the ball. Aram Leighton was talking about Made recently and mentioned that his average launch angle on hard-hit balls was just 5°, meaning his barreled balls weren't leaving his bat at angles that could clear the fence and instead were more predisposed towards doubles power and hard-hit singles. His best quality contact was averaging a low line drive, limiting his offensive ceiling. Again, Made is just 19 years old and has plenty of time to work on this, but something Del Chiaro has noted in the past is how Made's weight at the point of contact, especially from the left-hand side, is very much on his front foot. Here's a freeze frame from a ball Made almost took out to the opposite field (impressive in its own right, given his age), but I thought it best to highlight the mechanics on one of his better swings. If you look at his right leg, his entire weight is balanced on it just before contact. He tries to lean back after in an effort to gain more natural loft, but the sheer weight on that foot (he could almost stand on one leg here) reduces the tilt he can get from the left side, and it prevents him from accessing more loft in his batted ball profile. From there, Made continues to see his weight moving forward over that leg, with his head in front of his hips as he gets too much momentum forward, creating what is a very flat bat path. Yes, he manages to barrel the ball and almost slices it under it enough to take it out of the park, but it's not a consistent way to gain that launch angle. The most remarkable thing about this contact is that he sliced under the ball, using a steep-ish bat path to backspin underneath the ball. How he blasted this ball as far as he did, I have absolutely no idea. It's absurd and speaks to the raw tools the Brewers are working with in this instance. The second video below is from a side angle and presents a different view of the issue. You can see Made doesn't get quite so on top of his lead leg, but his weight is moving forward too far and preventing him from getting that natural loft. Even as he's finishing his swing, the head and the body weight are continuing to move forward through the swing, actually diluting some of the rotational power he's generating and keeping that plane of his swing on a very flat arc. Let's contrast this with someone Jesús Made has oft been compared to, Ketel Marte. A fellow switch hitter with lightning fast hands and covering the middle infield, it feels an apt comparison, and the Brewers would love to see Made find the same level of home run threat out of his physical capabilities. You can see below how Marte's swing looks more balanced at impact, using his lead leg to push his hip and weight back, sling-shotting his bat through the strike zone while also creating a more upward plane for the bat path as he leans back at the point of contact: We mentioned hard-hit launch angles earlier, and these are going to be key for Made's development. For a player who hits the ball as hard as he does, you want to see those barreled balls going for extra bases and home runs, not singles through the infield (a profile Brewers fans will be acutely aware of with Christian Yelich). In 2017, Marte hit six home runs in 70 games, not dissimilar to Made, A couple of seasons later, he instituted changes to his leg kick allowing him to stay more on his back leg, leading to an average launch angle going from 5.2° in 2018 to 11.7° in 2019, all while increasing his average exit velocities and creating even more consistently hard contact. His 2025 hard hit launch angle was 12°, almost 7° above Made's, but his transition in 2019 shows that, with a more optimized loading pattern and weight transfer in his legs, Made can achieve that relatively quickly if all goes according to plan. Looking at the freeze frames of the follow-through, you can see how the weight had shifted through and after the point of contact. Where Made's weight continues to move forward, leaving his head actually ahead of his hips, Marte's has kicked backward, creating a more upward path to the baseball and allowing him to do a lot more damage. As previously mentioned, Made is still just 19. He will be until May this year, and he's likely to be playing at Double-A Biloxi. He's a top prospect for a reason, and it's because people can dream on the tools and freakish athleticism he possesses. If he can find a way to get into his back leg more, particularly from the left side (where he should see more plate appearances), Made will go from being a consistent, strong performer and potential All-Star at shortstop to a perennial MVP candidate. His recent Instagram stories suggest this hasn't been a point of emphasis yet this offseason, still putting a lot of weight on his lead leg, but it's something Brenton Del Chiaro is acutely aware of as the minor league hitting co-ordinator. The Brewers' organisational philosophy is not to step in unless the player approaches them, but with Made now in the upper minors, I would expect to see this emphasized during 2026 spring training and in-season work. It's certainly something to keep an eye on, especially in games. It's not a monumental change, in fact, it's relatively subtle, but the difference it could make to Made's offensive profile is startling. View the full article

It is evident that the New York Yankees desperately need starting pitching for the upcoming 2026 season. Unfortunately, the opportunity to get a "big time" starter seems to be dwindling for the Yankees this offseason. First, Dylan Cease signed a massive free-agent deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, which took a possible target off the market early in the offseason. Furthermore, Edward Cabrera was recently traded from the Miami Marlins to the Chicago Cubs. Thus, there aren't a lot of suitors remaining, though it does appear that the Yankees may make a push for Milwaukee Brewers ace Freddy Peralta (although they won't be the lone suitors). That said, if the Yankees can't acquire Peralta or another big-name pitcher via a trade, then Kansas City could make sense for them as a trade partner. The Royals are flush with starting pitching, and the Yankees have some bats that could round out and boost the Kansas City lineup in both the short and long term. Hence, let's take a look at three trade proposals that could make sense for both sides. Note: I used Baseball Trade Values' Trade Simulator to determine values for possible trades between both teams, and TJ Stats for stuff metrics and summary graphics. Noah Cameron and John Rave for Jasson Dominguez and Camilo Doval I don't think the Royals will trade Cameron because he has tons of years of control (six) and he's a local product who hails from St. Joseph, Missouri. I think Royals fans would have a tremendous outcry if they traded a local kid who earned Royals Pitcher of the Year honors and posted a 2.99 ERA in 138.1 IP last year. However, if the Royals were to trade Cameron, it would need to be a deal where it "felt" like the Yankees overpaid for the St. Joe product. This suggested deal does just that. The 22-year-old outfielder seemed untouchable a season ago, but he may be more on the block this season, especially if the Yankees are able to bring back Cody Bellinger. Dominguez had an underwhelming season last year, posting a 106 wRC+ and 0.9 fWAR, with his defense lagging significantly behind his bat (-10 OAA). However, the former New York top prospect hits the ball hard, and with the right tweaks, he could provide the punch they may need in left field or designated hitter. A smaller-market environment could do wonders for Dominguez, as he could turn things around with the Royals, much like Melky Cabrera did when he came over to Kansas City in 2011 after spending most of his career in New York previously. In addition to Dominguez, the Royals would also acquire Doval, who used to close out games for the San Francisco Giants. The 28-year-old righty posted a 3.58 ERA and 3.47 FIP in 65.1 IP last year, which aren't exactly "eye-popping" numbers. That said, he posted an overall TJ Stuff+ of 105, a 29.8% chase rate, and a 28.4% whiff rate. Those are the kind of numbers the Royals are looking for from possible relief targets. The Royals would simply need Doval to be a middle-innings, medium-leverage reliever, not a setup man or closer (or at least not right away). Doval's presence should add even more depth to an already strong bullpen that already got stronger this offseason with the additions of Alex Lange, Matt Strahm, and Nick Mears. Getting a high-upside outfielder and a solid reliever would help lessen the blow of losing Cameron. As for Rave, he would help round out the deal, giving the Yankees a depth outfielder whose left-handed swing could profile decently in the hitter-friendly Yankee Stadium. Kris Bubic for Spencer Jones BTV seems to believe that a Bubic-Jones swap would be equal value, which intrigues me about this possibility. On one hand, I get why this could never happen, especially since Jones is three years younger and has many more years of team control than Bubic, who will be a free agent after this offseason. That said, what if Bubic and the Yankees were willing to commit to a contract extension after he was traded to New York? Tyler Glasnow did this when he was traded from Tampa Bay to the Dodgers. That scenario might make the Yankees more willing to part ways with Jones in a deal. The Royals certainly would get a high-upside bat in Jones, much like they would with Dominguez. However, Jones had no MLB experience (unlike Dominguez), and the 25-year-old outfielder is a polarizing prospect due to his wonky Statcast profile from Triple-A, as illustrated in the TJ Stats summary below. Jones thrives in average EV (100th percentile), barrel rate (99th percentile), hard-hit rate (98th percentile), and LA Sweet-Spot% (94th percentile). Conversely, he's extremely poor when it comes to contact and plate discipline. He ranks in the 6th percentile in O-Swing%, and 1st percentile in Z-Contact%, whiff%, and K%. Jones could be a 30+ HR at the MLB level. That said, he also could be a hitter who barely hits over the Mendoza line (i.e., a .200 batting average) in his career as well. With another free-swinging power outfielder on the roster in Jac Caglianone, would the Royals want a guy like Jones, who may not have a set spot in this 2026 lineup? That may be hard to believe, especially since the organization is focused on acquiring hitters with strong plate discipline profiles (which Jones DOES NOT have). Still, Jones is an intriguing, high-upside prospect who may be worth the risk for the Royals, especially if it only costs Bubic, who has struggled to stay healthy in Kansas City and is likely gone after 2026. Stephen Kolek for Oswaldo Cabrera and Paul Blackburn Kolek had a really good Royals debut after he came over from San Diego at the Trade Deadline. In five starts, he posted a 1.91 ERA and 2.71 FIP in 33.1 IP. That performance helped him earn Royals Pitcher of the Month honors in September. However, with the Royals' rotation loaded as is, it's possible that Kolek may not make the Opening Day roster. Meanwhile, Ryan Yarbrough is projected to be the Yankees' No. 5 starter on Opening Day, according to Roster Resource. Safe to say, not only does Kolek provide more value immediately than Yarbrough, but the 28-year-old righty also holds more long-term value and club control (four years). A trade that could make sense for the Royals to acquire utility player Cabrera and reliever Blackburn in exchange for Kolek. Cabrera isn't a high-profile player, as he has a career 82 wRC+ and has accumulated 1.5 fWAR in 302 career games with the Yankees. However, he can play multiple positions in the field, giving him the utility value that manager Matt Quatraro likes to utilize off the bench. Cabrera also demonstrates a pretty solid contact and discipline profile at the plate, even if there isn't a lot of pop (as illustrated in his TJ Stats Summary below). Cabrera could make sense if the Royals part ways with Michael Massey this offseason, who could be traded for a much-needed left-handed reliever (I suggested Tampa Bay's Garrett Cleavinger as an option in my last post). He would essentially fit into that Massey role, with even more positional versatility. He's also a native Venezuelan who likely would mesh with fellow countrymen Salvador Perez and Maikel Garcia. As for Blackburn, his numbers at the surface level don't look good. In 39 IP with the Mets and Yankees last year, he posted a 6.23 ERA and 1.50 FIP. However, his FIP was much better at 4.39, and he limited free passes on the basepaths with a 6.9% BB% and 12.6% K-BB%. He also showed a strong ability to induce chase last year, as well as minimize productive contact, which can be seen in his TJ Stats Summary below. The stuff overall is meh with a 98 TJ Stuff+. That said, he seems to have a great cutter (105 TJ Stuff+) as well as an above-average sweeper (103) and curveball (102). Blackburn seems like the kind of pitcher who could thrive under pitching coach Brian Sweeney and find a place as a sneaky effective middle-innings reliever in the mold of Taylor Clarke a season ago. Cabrera and Blackburn aren't as sexy a trade package as the other two in terms of return. However, they address some immediate needs and provide a good floor, even though the ceilings aren't as high as those in Dominguez's or Jones's. View the full article

The Boston Red Sox currently have a bullpen problem, at least when it comes to the lack of left-hand options available for manager Alex Cora. Currently on the 40-man roster, there are ten left-handed pitchers and, of those arms, eight are viewed as either being in the rotation or depth for the rotation in the event of an injury. Another is closer Aroldis Chapman. The lone player who doesn't fit either description may soon be a secret weapon for Cora as the season draws nearer. Jovani Morán was acquired from the Minnesota Twins on Christmas eve in 2024 for Mickey Gasper, a move at the time seemed to be rather small and inconsequential. Morán had missed the entire 2024 season after having Tommy John surgery in November of 2023 and there were no sure bets he would rebound and be more like his 2022 self (2.21 ERA, 54 strikeouts in 40 2/3 innings) compared to his 2023 self (5.31 ERA, 48 strikeouts in 42 1/3 innings). It was a risk worth taking, as Gasper was getting moved off the roster regardless. Morán ended up missing the first two months of the 2025 season while still recovering from surgery before finally beginning his rehab in June. His numbers were about what you would expect, making six appearances between the Red Sox Complex team and High-A Greenville and tossing 7 2/3 innings while allowing four earned runs. Upon being activated from the injured list, Morán was sent to Worcester, where he began to look like a potential weapon out of the bullpen. In his first 12 appearances there, he tossed 18 1/3 innings while allowing just seven earned runs and striking out 26 batters. That included a stretch of 7 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball. With the Red Sox needing an arm, they selected his contract and added him to the active roster. His stint with Boston didn’t last long, though, as he appeared in just two games where he tossed four innings before spending the rest of the season with Worcester. However, Morán remained on the 40-man roster through the end of the season and while other left-handed options such as Chris Murphy and Brennan Bernardino have been moved in trades that brought back minor-league talent, Morán has remained. The left-hander, who relies on a four-pitch mix of a fastball, changeup, slider, and curveball, is out of options and will have to break camp with the Red Sox. While there is no guarantee that the team won't bring in another left-handed reliever, Morán looks likely to break camp as the middle-innings southpaw. For those doubting his upside, his recent stint in the Puerto Rican Winter League may be showing why the Red Sox kept him out of all their left-handed bullpen arms. Making 11 appearances out of the bullpen for Criollos de Caguas, Morán has gone 1-1 with an ERA of 0.82 across 11 innings. His fastball, which saw a drop in velocity while recovering from Tommy John surgery, is back to its pre-surgery velocity of 93-95 mph. In 2025, it routinely sat 92-94 mph (and with Boston it averaged 92.3 mph) so the slight increase is a welcome addition for Morán. Across his 11 innings, he has allowed just four hits while striking out 15 batters, flashing the potential that he showcased at the start of his career. Should Morán fully return to his pre-injury self, the Red Sox could have a dangerous weapon out of the bullpen. In 2022, batters hit just .172 against him, their OPS being just .490 as he struck out nearly 33% of the hitters he faced. Plus, throughout his career, he has managed to limit hard contact against him, rocking a career 27.4% hard-hit rate while batters have only managed to barrel up his pitches 5.1% of the time. Even the average exit velocity he allows is low, sitting at 85.7 mph for his career, which, across a full season, would have placed him near the very top of the league. At his best in 2022 and 2023, had he qualified, Morán would have been near the top of the league for whiff rate. The 2022 campaign saw him get just under 39% of whiffs on the pitches he threw, while 2023 saw that number drop slightly to 37%. Along with that, he’s fared equally well against right-handed and left-handed batters, which could allow Cora to mix and match when and where he’s used in the game. Morán may not seem it, but he could very well provide Cora with a key arm that could help bridge the middle innings to the back end of the bullpen, especially if a starter is struggling to get past the fifth inning. However, there is no telling what is going on in Craig Breslow’s mind as he shapes the roster over the remainder of the offseason. There’s still a lot of time between now and the start of the season, so plans could change. But the fact that the Red Sox held onto Morán could signal that they view him as an important piece of their bullpen puzzle in 2026 — and perhaps as the heir apparent to Justin Wilson's soon-to-be-vacated role as the set-up southpaw to Chapman. View the full article

The Miami Marlins have signed outfielder Daniel Johnson to a minor league deal for the 2026 season, Johnson announced Friday on social media. It includes an invite to spring training. Drafted by the Washington Nationals in 2016, Johnson has spent time with six different MLB organizations, most recently the Baltimore Orioles, who outrighted him to the minors at the start of this offseason. The 30-year-old California native is a lifetime .196/.243/.322 hitter (53 wRC+) in 67 career games at the big league level. He's a plus runner who can contribute at all three outfield positions. Johnson just finished playing winter ball with Mexico's Naranjeros de Hermosillo. It is hard enough for NRIs to crack an Opening Day roster under normal conditions and Johnson faces a particularly steep uphill battle. Following this week's acquisition of Owen Caissie, the Marlins are loaded with left-handed-hitting outfielders. Expect him to begin the season with Triple-A Jacksonville. In addition to Johnson, the Marlins have also signed Jesús Bastidas, Evan McKendry, Brian Navarreto, Jack Ralston, Samuel Vásquez and Tyler Zuber to minor league deals this offseason. View the full article

The Toronto Blue Jays are about to enter the 2026 season with a roster built for contention, headlined by elite pitching acquisitions and the addition of Japanese slugger Kazuma Okamoto. However, despite these upgrades, one question persists: Do the Jays need one more offensive free agent signing, specifically a left-handed bat? Sure, what Jays fan wouldn’t want both Bo Bichette and Kyle Tucker, but one of those players would put more of a fright into opposing teams than the other. The projected lineup, as it stands right now, skews to the right. It’s an issue the team has been dealing with over the past several years. Righty-heavy lineups tend to see more same-handed breaking balls, elevated fastballs, and pitch-to-contact sequences that exploit typical same-side vulnerabilities. Adding a high-impact lefty in the heart of the order would complicate these patterns and force opposing pitching staffs to distribute their best right-handed options more thinly. The Jays have often been right-handed dominant when it comes to hitting. Even in seasons in which they attempted to even out that distribution, with players like Brandon Belt and Kevin Kiermaier, the matchup concern persisted when injuries or role changes reduced the consistent presence of left-handed impact hitters in the lineup. If the season were to start tomorrow, only three true left-handed hitters (Daulton Varsho, Andrés Giménez and Addison Barger) and one switch-hitter (Anthony Santander) are projected as regulars. Based on their numbers last season, Giménez and Santander aren’t putting a scare into opponents. The issue of imbalance in the lineup, especially at the heart of the lineup, tends to play out over the course of a game when opposing teams start to consider bullpen matchups. Teams with right-heavy lineups are easier to neutralize by elite right-handed pitchers who dominate same-handed hitters. In postseason play, where rotations feature more aces, this vulnerability is magnified. A balanced lineup and roster force opposing managers into tougher decisions. Left-handed hitters generally fare better against right-handed pitching, which constitutes roughly 70% of MLB innings. Adding a strong left-handed bat maximizes offensive output against the most common pitching profile. Without another left-handed bat, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. could be pitched around in high-leverage spots. A left-handed power bat would force pitchers to attack rather than nibble. Out of the active roster, the Jays have eight right-handed batters, five left-handed batters and four switch hitters. Yet, if the season started tomorrow, the outfield would most likely include Santander in left, Varsho in centre and Barger in right. Two more lefty-batting outfielders could be on the bench: Nathan Lukes and Joey Loperfido. So, another left-handed bat for the outfield wouldn't necessarily help to balance things out. Of course, adding a hitter like Tucker wouldn't just be about balancing the lineup. It would be about impact. If it isn’t Tucker, then who else could it be? And where would they play? Cody Bellinger seems to be the backup option to Tucker for a bunch of teams. Bellinger is a slightly more versatile outfielder with less pop. One of the enticing things about Cardinals second baseman Brendan Donovan is his left-handed pop. He could be on the trade block this offseason, with lots of interest across baseball, but no team has been able to land him. It's likely the asking price has been higher than teams have been willing to go. The Jays do have some young controllable pitching and upside bats that could fit the bill of what the Cardinals are looking for in return for Donovan. However, it seems like the Mariners and Giants are the frontrunners in trade talks with St. Louis, with the Royals and Red Sox also in the mix. As for any other options? The key is having an impact left-handed bat in an available position, and free agents like Willi Castro, Adam Frazier, Rowdy Tellez, Nathaniel Lowe or Alex Verdugo don’t really fit that description. With an eventful offseason already, the Jays have made themselves better through additions and subtractions. Whether or not this new version of the Jays can gel and over-achieve like last season's group still needs to be seen. Expectations will be sky high, and managing that pressure will be one of the many new challenges ahead for this team. In the meantime, as one senior leader in the front office recently told me, the Jays are prioritizing players’ needs and thinking every day about how they can get better through finding small edges, whether in facilities, analytics, development or acquisitions. The distribution of left and right bats in a balanced lineup is an important component in the structure of a successful ballclub. Ideally, every batter hits .300 with an OPS closing in on 1.000, but that simply isn’t a reality. Instead, teams need to put out a lineup that requires opponents to constantly be adjusting and responding. If there are no further additions or subtractions for the 2026 edition of the Jays, the starting lineup will look something like this: George Springer, DH Addison Barger, RF Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B Anthony Santander, LF Alejandro Kirk, C Daulton Varsho, CF Kazuma Okamoto, 3B Ernie Clement, 2B Andrés Giménez, SS On the bench, the Jays will probably have Lukes, Tyler Heineman, Myles Straw and Davis Schneider. That is a lineup that can do some damage day in and day out. One more offensive weapon right in the heart of the lineup would ignite the potential even more. On the flip side, maybe Santander and Giménez find their groove and let their poor offensive outputs in 2025 slide off their backs. If they can return to their top form, or close to it, the lineup as it stands today has a chance to be stronger than it was last season. But wouldn’t one more impact lefty bat make things even better? View the full article

On Friday, the Washington Nationals claimed right-handed pitcher Paxton Schultz off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays. The 28-year-old will compete for their role in Washington's Opening Day bullpen. The Blue Jays designated Schultz for assignment last weekend to open a spot for Kazuma Okamoto on their 40-man roster. After four seasons in Toronto's minor league system, the righty made his MLB debut for the Jays in 2025. He threw 24.2 innings with a 4.38 ERA. If Schultz had passed through waivers unclaimed, the Blue Jays could have sent him outright to the minors, thereby keeping him in the organization as depth for 2026. Instead, he will now get a better chance to establish himself in the majors with a much less competitive club. Featured image courtesy of Dan Hamilton, Imagn Images. View the full article

On Friday afternoon, Major League Baseball announced that former Twins and Phillies outfielder Max Kepler has been suspended 80 games after testing positive for Epitrenbolone, a performance-enhancing substance. It is an item that violates MLB's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Max Kepler will turn 33 years old in a little more than a month. He is currently a free agent looking for his next home. After signing with the Twins in 2009 out of Germany, he spent parts of the 2015-2024 seasons in a Twins uniform. Over those 10 seasons, he was worth 20.5 bWAR. In 1,072 games, he hit .237/.318/.429 (.746) with 205 doubles, 161 homers and 508 RBI. His best season came in 2019 when he hit .252/.336/.519 (.855) with 32 doubles and he led the Bomba Squad with 36 home runs. He was never able to replicate those numbers. He became a free agent for the first time last offseason. He signed a one-year, $10 million deal with the Phillies. In 127 games, he hit .216/.300/.391 (.691) with 19 doubles and 18 home runs. Free agency just became more difficult for Kepler. Some team will sign him and not have to pay him for the first half of the season. He can come back for the final 82 games of the season, but because of the suspension, he will be unable to play in the playoffs should the team make it. Share your thoughts. View the full article

The Milwaukee Brewers were one of nine MLB teams to cancel their contract with Main Street Sports Group, which produces games for TV under the moniker of FanDuel Sports Network. Main Street Sports Group is the former Diamond Sports Group, which filed for bankruptcy a couple of years ago and threw the local TV rights for many MLB, NBA, and NHL teams into a murky situation. Main Street has recently missed payments to a handful of teams, which led to this latest action by the nine teams that remain with Main Street. The other teams that joined the Brewers in severing ties for Main Street, at least for the moment, are Atlanta, the Cincinnati Reds, the Detroit Tigers, the Kansas City Royals, the Los Angeles Angels, the Miami Marlins, the St. Louis Cardinals, and the Tampa Bay Rays. So what does that mean for Brewers fans? Let me try and help you out. Will Brewers games still be on TV this season? Yes. And it will be with all the familiar faces in Brian Anderson, Bill Schroeder, Sophia Minnaert, Jeff Levering, Vinny Rottino, and Tim Dillard calling the action, barring any changes to that cast. The studio show, typically hosted by Craig Coshun, will stay, too. The difference will be that the games, at this point, will be produced through MLB. The only difference is that Brewers games might appear on a different channel on your cable provider and will likely be branded as Brewers.TV. There is also a possibility that a local station could pick up a handful of games, with the majority appearing on Brewers.TV. Will I be able to stream games? Yes. While it is too early in the process for any announcements by the Brewers or MLB, the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks have been streaming through MLB for a couple of years now, with the Cleveland Guardians, Colorado Rockies, Minnesota Twins, and Seattle Mariners joining the fray last season. Those teams offer fans in the local market a team-specific package of $19.99 per month or $99.99 for the entire season. Games can be watched through MLB.tv, but a Brewers package would be in addition to the typical MLB.tv offerings. MLB.tv is typically offered at $149.99. Who is to blame for this? Main Street Sports Group, mostly. Despite filing for bankruptcy a few years ago when it was known as the Diamond Sports Group, Main Street Sports Group appeared to have righted the ship for 2025 after emerging from that process, which was overseen by a judge. Cable companies seek premium fees to carry regional sports networks like FanDuel Sports Network. Main Street recently missed payments to all of its NBA teams, as well as MLB's Cardinals. The Athletic reported that Main Street lost $200 million in 2025 from 29 MLB, NBA, and NHL teams. MainStreet has been in talks with DAZN, another sports streamer, to sell a majority stake in the company, according to The Athletic. What does this mean for the Brewers? Unfortunately, it means less revenue. In each of the last two years, the Brewers received $35 million to have their games carried on FanDuel Sports Network. At the moment, that money is gone for 2026, although a renegotiated deal with Main Street is possible, and that would likely mean a lower fee for the Brewers. Even if there is a sale to DAZN, that does not guarantee the Brewers a similar $35 million annual fee. The Brewers also will not receive any money from MLB. There was an MLB program that ran in 2024 to help out the teams affected, but it was discontinued after that season as more teams started losing their TV home, according to The Athletic. View the full article

Depth is something every organization tries to create, whether through the draft, international free agency, or even minor league free agency. Let’s take a look at how the Twins’ system stacks up at various positions. I decided to start with catchers and work my way around the diamond. Below is a look at the catchers in the Twins system not named Ryan Jeffers or Alex Jackson . I’ve included how and when they were acquired, along with the highest level they played this past season. Mickey Gasper Acquired: Trade, Boston Red Sox, December 2024 Highest Level in 2025: MLB The Twins acquired Gasper in a minor trade with the Boston Red Sox in December 2024 for left-handed relief pitcher Jovan Moran. Gasper split time between Triple-A St. Paul and the Twins in 2025. While he is listed as a catcher, he can also play first base, second base, and has even dabbled in left field. The upside is limited, as he hit .158/.257/.232 over 110 plate appearances with the Twins. Ricardo Olivar Acquired: International Free Agency, 2019 Highest Level in 2025: Double-A Olivar has slowly worked his way up the minor league ladder since signing in 2019. Playing the 2025 season with Double-A Wichita, Olivar appeared in 93 games, catching in 38 of them while playing left field and designated hitter in the others. He has been a bat-first catcher, posting a career .832 OPS over five minor league seasons. His future may be more likely as a designated hitter if he cannot stick behind the plate. If that happens, his path to a role on the major league roster will hinge on his bat. Noah Cardenas Acquired: 2021 Draft, 8th round Highest Level in 2025: Triple-A After signing for a $200,000 bonus as an eighth-round pick in 2021, Cardenas has steadily worked his way toward the major leagues, spending the 2025 season between Double-A Wichita and Triple-A St. Paul. His .245/.387/.438 slash line in 2025 is passable for a backup catcher. He does not strike out at an unreasonable rate at 19.9 percent and his walk rate is higher than average at 16.4 percent. If he continues to develop, Cardenas could carve out a role for the Twins over the next few years. Patrick Winkel Acquired: 2021 Draft, 9th round Highest Level in 2025: Triple-A Drafted one round after Cardenas, Winkel also reached Triple-A this past season, though with a very different profile. In 2025, he posted a 32.8 percent strikeout rate and a 7.2 percent walk rate over 47 games and 180 plate appearances. Winkel will look to continue improving both in the field and at the plate. At this point, he is serving as organizational depth in the upper minors, and it remains to be seen whether he can break through and carve out a role in the Twins’ future plans. Nate Baez Acquired: 2022 Draft, 12th round Highest Level in 2025: Double-A You’ll notice a trend of mid-round picks making their way into the upper minors. Prior to 2025, Baez was an above-average hitter at every level. He started the season in High-A Cedar Rapids, continued to hit, and earned a promotion to Double-A. Double-A marked the first extended stop in his minor league career where he posted an OPS below .700. Assuming he makes the necessary adjustments, Baez’s bat could move him closer to the majors this year. He also began playing more first base in 2025, raising some questions about whether he can stick at catcher defensively. Even if he does not, the hope is that his bat continues to develop. Andrew Cossetti Acquired: 2022 Draft, 11th round Highest Level in 2025: Double-A Another mid-round pick, Cossetti was drafted out of St. Joseph’s University, where he posted a 1.016 OPS over four seasons. He has spent the last two years with Double-A Wichita and has shown some power, hitting 22 home runs over 604 plate appearances. In 2025, he recorded a .374 wOBA with a .798 OPS, good for a 123 wRC+. He has also played some first base, and if he continues to hit, he could begin climbing prospect lists in the future. Poncho Ruiz Acquired: Non-Drafted Free Agency, 2023 Highest Level in 2025: High-A Ruiz signed as an undrafted free agent in 2023, which can happen for a variety of reasons, especially with fewer draft rounds than in the past. He began 2025 in Single-A and was promoted to High-A after 31 games. At 23 years old, he held his own between the two levels, posting a .723 OPS. He has shown a good eye at the plate throughout his minor league career and walked at a 15.8 percent rate in 2025. While not a highly touted prospect, Ruiz can make a name for himself if he continues to grow both at the plate and in the field. Eduardo Tait (#3 Twins Daily Prospect) Acquired: Trade, Philadelphia Phillies, July 2025 Highest Level in 2025: High-A Tait was one of two players, along with right-hander Mick Abel, acquired from the Phillies in exchange for closer Jhoan Duran at the 2025 trade deadline. He signed for $90,000 out of Panama in January 2023 and hit at every level in the Phillies’ system. Like many young catchers, Tait’s defense is still a work in progress. He has a plus arm, and the Twins are hoping he can become at least average as a receiver. Still just 19 years old, he is likely a couple of years away from his major league debut. Tait projects as a future starting catcher and is someone many Twins fans will be watching closely in 2026. Khadim Diaw (#20 Twins Daily Prospect) Acquired: 2024 Draft, 3rd round Highest Level in 2025: High-A Diaw was the highest-drafted catcher by the Twins since Ryan Jeffers went in the second round in 2018. He played his age-21 season in 2025, spending the year at High-A Cedar Rapids. A good athlete, Diaw also saw time in center field and right field. He has a reputation as an aggressive hitter who makes a lot of contact, which showed up in his .429 wOBA this past season. He is likely a few years away, but if catcher does not work out, his athleticism could allow a move to the outfield. Enrique Jimenez Acquired: Trade, Detroit Tigers, July 2025 Highest Level in 2025: Single-A Another pre-deadline acquisition, Jimenez will play his age-20 season this coming year. In 2025, he spent about two-thirds of his time behind the plate and reached Single-A. He showed some power, hitting 12 home runs with a .846 OPS between the Tigers’ and Twins’ systems. While not a high-end prospect, he provides a solid floor and could eventually serve as a backup to Tait, though he is still a long way from that point. Daniel Pena Acquired: International Free Agency, 2022 Highest Level in 2025: Single-A Pena signed out of Venezuela in 2022 and played with Single-A Fort Myers in 2025. He has not hit much since reaching that level, posting a .567 OPS over 55 games this past season. Still just 20 years old, he remains a developmental player to check in on periodically. Ricardo Pena Acquired: International Free Agency, 2022 Highest Level in 2025: Single-A Pena appeared in a combined 22 games between the Complex League and Single-A Fort Myers, so he remains early in his development. He has also seen some time at first base, and a position change could be in the cards, though that decision does not need to be made anytime soon. Pablo Castillo Acquired: International Free Agency, 2025 Highest Level in 2025: Dominican Summer League A 2025 international free agent out of Venezuela, Castillo showed promise in his first 28 games in the Dominican Summer League. At 17 years old, he posted an .885 OPS. While it is a small sample, it provides a strong starting point for a young prospect heading into his next stage of development. Miguel Caraballo Acquired: Trade, San Francisco Giants, December 2025 Highest Level in 2025: Dominican Summer League Caraballo came over from the Giants in the trade that sent Rule 5 selection Daniel Susac to San Francisco. He is not currently a strong defender, but he has shown both power and on-base skills. At 16 years old, he hit five home runs and posted a .874 OPS over 41 games in the DSL. He is a long way from making an impact, but will be a name Twins fans check in on from time to time, especially if Susac makes an impact in San Francisco. Irvin Nunez Acquired: International Free Agency, 2023 Highest Level in 2025: Complex League Nunez signed with the Twins as part of the 2023 international free agent class and played in 43 games in the Florida Complex League in 2025. He also saw time at first base and a handful of games at third base, so he could end up with some positional versatility depending on how he develops over the next few years. Overall, the Twins’ catching depth is a mix of near-ready upper-minors options, mid-level organizational pieces, and longer-term developmental bets in the lower minors and international pipeline. While there is no shortage of names in the system, the group reflects the reality of building depth through many avenues, with some players closer to contributing in Minneapolis and others still several years away. As with most organizations, only a handful will ultimately impact the big league roster, but this collection gives the Twins flexibility, insulation against injuries, and multiple paths to address the position as they continue to build out the system from top to bottom. View the full article

The Twins lost a depth piece on Monday as the Dodgers claimed infielder Ryan Fitzgerald off waivers, according to ESPN’s Alden González. Minnesota designated Fitzgerald for assignment last week to make room on the 40-man roster after acquiring Eric Wagaman from the Marlins, a move that quietly set off a chain reaction between three clubs. Los Angeles had the roster flexibility to make the claim after trading outfielder Esteury Ruiz to Miami late last month. That deal sent Ruiz to the Marlins in exchange for minor league pitcher Adriano Marrero and opened a 40-man spot for the Dodgers. Miami then designated Wagaman for assignment, flipped him to the Twins for minor league pitcher Kade Bragg, and in turn pushed Fitzgerald off Minnesota’s roster. A couple of weeks later, Fitzgerald landed with the Dodgers, turning a series of unrelated transactions into something resembling an accidental three-team trade. Fitzgerald had openly expressed interest on social media in playing professionally in Asia. Still, the Twins blocked that path, likely hoping he would clear waivers and remain in the organization as upper-level depth. Instead, another club with roster space and a reputation for maximizing role players scooped him up. Fitzgerald’s journey to this point has been anything but conventional. Now 31, he spent the early part of his career in independent ball, where he played well enough to earn a minor league deal with the Red Sox in 2018. Five years later, he was selected by the Royals in the minor league phase of the 2023 Rule 5 draft, the same draft that saw Wagaman head to the Angels. Fitzgerald never cracked the Royals’ big league roster and opted for free agency after the 2024 season. That decision led him to Minnesota on a minor league contract and, finally, to the majors. Just shy of his 31st birthday, Fitzgerald made his MLB debut in 2025. His first stint lasted less than a week, but he earned another call-up in August after the Twins shifted into sell mode at the trade deadline and remained with the club for the rest of the season. The production was solid at every stop. Fitzgerald posted an .837 OPS and a 119 wRC+ in 59 games at Triple-A and followed that up with a .758 OPS and a 110 wRC+ across 24 major league games. He also provided defensive versatility, appearing at all four infield positions. Still, with Minnesota prioritizing roster flexibility and younger options heading into 2026, that combination was not enough to secure his spot. For the Dodgers, Fitzgerald represents a low-risk depth addition with real versatility, the kind of player they have turned into meaningful contributors before. For the Twins, it is another reminder of how thin the margin can be for fringe roster players, especially in an offseason filled with 40-man juggling. The ending is bittersweet. Fitzgerald’s path to the majors was long and winding, and his time in Minnesota was brief but productive. Now, he heads to Los Angeles with a chance to stick on one of baseball’s deepest rosters. Even if the Twins could not keep him, something is fitting about a late bloomer getting his opportunity with the defending World Series champions. View the full article

The Marlins have been active this offseason in the free agent and trade markets. Peter Bendix got his whale in fireballing closer Pete Fairbanks. He also dealt from starting pitching depth while maximizing return value on Miami’s biggest trade asset, Edward Cabrera, who is coming off a career year after he managed to stay healthy. The acquisitions of Esteury Ruiz and Christopher Morel bolstered the club's position player depth. These moves, along with the fact that top prospects including the likes of Thomas White, Robby Snelling, and Joe Mack are on the verge of their big league debuts, have given brightened their 2026 outlook. However, the Marlins shouldn’t be content yet. As winter wears on and we push closer to pitchers and catchers reporting back to Jupiter, there is still more that can and should be done. The Marlins spent much of last season with a hole at first base. Following the losses of Troy Johnston (claimed by Rockies) and Eric Wagaman (traded to Twins), that hole is even more glaring. Currently, three players on their 40-man roster have played first base in the big leagues: Liam Hicks, Graham Pauley and Javier Sanoja. Each of them are far more experienced and effective at other positions, though. In the minor leagues, the closest thing the Marlins have to an MLB-ready first baseman is Deyvison De Los Santos. While the last baseball we saw DDLS play this winter overseas was encouraging, he struggled in hitter-friendly Jacksonville this past season. There were also concerns about him off the field as well. The power-only bat will require more seasoning in Triple-A. If only there existed an experienced first baseman who could hold down the position in the short term and help mentor parts of Miami’s young core as a great teammate. Enter Tyler Lawrence France. A very late-round pick in 2015, France has proven to be a very productive major leaguer for five different organizations. In five of his six MLB seasons, he’s posted a positive WAR. Originally a second/third baseman, France began playing first base for the Mariners in 2021. He hasn’t spent much time at any other position since, giving him over 5,400 career innings at the position. With the glove, France has been among MLB’s best at the position, including this past season. For the second time in his career, the 31-year-old led his league in fielding percentage at a near-perfect .996. He also turned in a 10 OAA and his fielding run value was plus-7, marks which ranked first and second among 1Bs. irqhn2.mp4 Offensively, France can be a pesky hitter. He has never struck out much, but he also does not take many walks. In 2025, he posted a 16.9% K rate and 4.5% walk rate, making him one of the most inconsistent free passes in all of baseball. His propensity for getting hit by pitches keeps his on-base percentage in good condition (he has twice led MLB in that category). Historically, France has been able to square up enough to reach double-digit home runs, but he has limited bat speed and even more limited foot speed. Overall, he is mostly a singles-hitting, for-average bat who is best off the bench and can be slotted in at the bottom of a lineup where he attempts to find a hole and turn it over. France’s struggles on both sides of the ball in 2024 allowed the Twins to garner his services for an even $1 million. He didn’t live out the full season with Minnesota as he was dealt to the Blue Jays as part of a deadline deal. With Toronto, France made it to the World Series for the first time in his career, but he wasn’t much of a contributor. Ultimately, he was not offered a new contract and has not been offered one since the start of free agency. Headed into his age-31 season, France would not cost much and there is a likelihood he may even accept a minor league contract with an invite to spring training. Absent any outside additions, Christopher Morel, Griffin Conine and Heriberto Hernández are leading candidates to see time at first base. The Marlins may ultimately move Agustín Ramírez off the catcher position—especially as Joe Mack nears a big league call-up—but Bendix has remained adamant that he is confident in Ramírez’s ability to stick at backstop. All of these individuals are neophytes at the defensive aspects of manning first. A potential France signing would not be flashy. It would not garner many ooh’s and ahh’s from Marlins fans, much less the national baseball world. However, it would provide Miami with a short-term fix to their most obvious problem, first base defense, in the most obvious way. As a bonus, he can also play other positions. There is a potential added bonus if the pop in his bat returns. All we are saying is give France a chance. With low-risk/high-reward potential, the Marlins can’t go wrong. View the full article

The Milwaukee Brewers have a bit of a conundrum at shortstop. The incumbent, Joey Ortiz, is the epitome of good-field, no-hit, to the point where Milwaukee may be better off moving him. Over the long term, talent like Jesus Made, Luis Pena, Juan Baez, Brady Ebel, and Filippo di Turi could also stake a claim to the position. A short-term solution could be to move Brice Turang there, but that would necessitate filling the resulting hole at second base by sliding Caleb Durbin to the keystone. So where does that leave Cooper Pratt, who is slated for a Milwaukee debut of his own sometime in 2026? The answer may be a move a little further to the left side of the infield, a move that could benefit both him and the Brewers over the long haul. Third base might seem to be already in good shape, with Durbin proving to be a solid starter at the hot corner, while the Brewers have multiple options (Brock Wilken, Luke Adams, Andrew Fischer, and Mike Boeve) in High-A or higher. However, Pratt may be a better long-term solution than Durbin. Pratt’s offensive profile fits the approach used by manager Pat Murphy almost perfectly. As the number three prospect in the Brewer Fanatic Top 20, he’s the type of player who should be a franchise cornerstone. In Biloxi, he walked 67 times in 437 at-bats, striking out only 80 times, which should alleviate some concerns about his bat-to-ball and plate discipline from his brief stint in Advanced-A Wisconsin in 2024. His defense has drawn raves, and he has a minor-league Gold Glove. Pratt’s current offensive profile in some aspects is similar to that of Wade Boggs in the 1990s, a solid performer who hit for a .300 average and got on base to the tune of a 112+ OPS. In addition, the 1990s version of Boggs delivered very good defense (Boggs won a pair of Gold Gloves during that timeframe). Pratt, though, has shown he is a very capable threat on the basepaths, notching 58 steals in 66 attempts. So, why the hot corner for Pratt, and why 2026? The fact is, Jesus Made is on a Jackson Chourio-esque rocket up the minor-league ladder. Assuming he splits between Double-A Biloxi and Triple-A Nashville in 2026, he’s likely to be Milwaukee’s Opening Day 2027 shortstop. So, moving Pratt to third would help him get accustomed to what could be a long-term home. As for bringing Pratt up in 2026, much of that can be laid at the feet of Joey Ortiz, whose offensive production plummeted in 2025. The 2024 version of Ortiz would be pretty good for most teams, but Pratt’s offensive floor is higher than what Ortiz provided in 2025, and his ceiling – especially if he taps into his power potential – could propel him to be among the franchise’s best at that position. Turang could handle shortstop for 2026 and shift back to second base when Made makes his Milwaukee debut, allowing the Brewers to flank the switch-hitting with two Gold Glove-caliber defenders in the infield – proving some outstanding run-prevention over the next few years, especially if they can work out an extension with Turang. This also allows the Brewers to use 2023 first-round pick Brock Wilken as a potential trade asset to help nail down a position of need in 2026 – or beyond. The Brewers have been seeking some hot corner stability since trading Aramis Ramirez. Cooper Pratt may well be the solution to that hot problem. Do you think Cooper Pratt should handle the hot corner in Milwaukee? Let us know in the comments below! View the full article

Major League Baseball’s arbitration-deadline day falls on an otherwise sleepy Thursday in early January, but it’s one of the busiest transaction days in the sport. Arbitration-eligible players and their teams had until 8:00 pm ET to agree to a one-year contract. I go into a little more detail about baseball’s arbitration process here, but here’s a quick TL;DR: If players and their organizations didn’t agree to contracts by the deadline, they’re required to file numbers and potentially present their arguments. Per the collective bargaining agreement, this is referred to as the exchange date, which falls the day after the deadline. However, both parties can settle before their hearing. Last year, you might recall the Chicago Cubs and Kyle Tucker filed $15 million and $17.5 million, respectively. Six days after the exchange date, the Cubs and Kyle Tucker agreed to a one-year, $16.5 million deal. This year, the Cubs avoided a kerfuffle, coming to agreements with their three arbitration-eligible players on Thursday. Early in the afternoon, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reported that Cubs southpaw Justin Steele agreed to a one-year, $6.775 million contract. For a professional baseball player, Steele’s salary is a modest raise. He earned $6.55 million in 2025, although he only pitched in four games due to a “revision repair” of his left ulnar collateral ligament. Steele posted a 4.76 ERA, 17.6% K-BB%, 4.94 FIP, and 0.0 WAR across 22 2/3 innings in 2025. When healthy, Steele is a dominant pitcher. In 2023, he went 16-5 with a 3.06 ERA (6th), 19.6% K-BB%, 3.02 FIP (5th), and 4.8 fWAR (9th), finishing fifth in National League Cy Young Award voting. Entering his age-30 season, Steele's return time and role in the rotation are up in the air. Skipper Craig Counsell anticipates the Cubs will have a better idea of his return date come spring training: “I really don’t want to speculate until we get to spring training… I think we'll know in spring training, kind of a target area or date.” Steele has one remaining year of arbitration before entering free agency in 2028. Thursday evening, Jesse Rogers of ESPN reported that the Cubs and Edward Cabrera agreed to a $4.45 million contract, an increase from his $1.95 million salary in 2025. Preceding his first year of arbitration, Cabrera had a breakout season. He went 8-7, posting a 3.53 ERA, 17.6% K-BB%, 3.83 FIP, and 2.0 fWAR, a career high across 137.2 innings pitched. Though he has an extensive injury history, his underlying metrics indicate he has the potential to be a front-of-the-rotation starter with further development. Cabrera turns 28 in April and has three remaining years of team control. While I was unwinding before bed, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times broke that the Cubs and Javier Assad agreed to a $1.8 million contract. Assad was eligible for arbitration for the first time this year. He holds a career 18-12 record with a 3.43 ERA, 9.6% K-BB%, 4.46 FIP, and 2.7 fWAR across 331.0 innings pitched. An oblique injury limited him to just eight games in 2025. Nonetheless, his performance was solid, posting a 3.65 ERA. As @Brandon Glick noted, Assad doesn’t have the flashiest stuff, but still manages to outperform his expected stats. Following these agreements, the Cubs' 2026 40-man CBT payroll sits at $211.55 million, which is $32.44 million under the first CBT threshold. Looking to upgrade their lineup, they remain in the mix for Alex Bregman and Bo Bichette. View the full article

The Padres have a few holes left to plug before pitchers and catchers report next month to begin the 2026 season. For the Friar Faithful, those spots are noticeable. At least one more starting pitcher, a first baseman, and a catcher or bench piece that hopefully can be a right-handed compliment at DH against left-handed pitching. Those first two are definitive holes. The others mentioned are up for debate. This article will provide three names that could be perfect fits to help fill those needs. It could end up being a free agency or trade route. We'll take a shot at both: two trade possibilities and one free agent signing. The first alternative is the starting pitching route. As mentioned above, they could sign a free agent. Players such as Chris Bassitt or Lucas Giolito, both of whom have been linked to the team in recent write-ups, could be alternatives. With the team possibly having budget constraints, however, that makes it obviously less likely. Here are three criteria for why a player is on the list. His age. How much will he cost in payroll obligations? The years of team control he'll provide. Initially, Edward Cabrera was listed as the original choice for the best fit. He would have made the most sense and would have fit all of our chosen criteria. His age, three years of team control, and estimated payroll hit of $3.5 million would have been perfect. With him being traded to the Cubs, the next candidate was bumped to the top of the list. Mitch Keller was also considered. He offers multiple years of team control and would be a reliable 4th or 5th starter that would eat innings; however, he wouldn't be much of an upgrade over current in-house options like Randy Vasquez or JP Sears. He also comes at a price tag that would be too high for what the team would be willing to pay for a back-end starter. With that being said, the next option is Freddy Peralta of the Milwaukee Brewers. His age and salary certainly fit into this possibility. His lack of team control and becoming a free agent after this season does not. The cost in a trade would be steep enough that it's just not worth giving up the capital for a one-year rental. Even if it is a pitcher of his caliber, though, it would be dreamy to see him fronting the rotation. Putting him at the top would be a real game-changer. It's just not feasible at that cost, though. Our next option may be just as good as Peralta. He also fits all three listed criteria. That player is MacKenzie Gore of the Washington Nationals. It would be a fun story for him to come full circle back to the team that originally drafted him with the third overall pick in the 2017 draft, too. Not to mention it would be nice to have a left-hander in the rotation to split things up a bit. He might not be quite as good as Peralta, but he does have two years of team control and is projected to make less money as well. Peralta is estimated to make $8 million, compared to $6.5 million for Gore. That's why we'll roll with him. Padres receive: MacKenzie Gore Nationals receive: Kruz Schoolcraft, SP Kash Mayfield, SP Jorge Quintana, SS Next up, first base choices. On the free agent front, the pickings are slim to say the least. With the Padres missing out on Kazuma Okamoto to the Blue Jays, there isn't really an upgrade that meets their need of a power bat. The best player available is probably former Padre Luis Arraez. Other options include Rhys Hoskins, Paul Goldschmidt, and Carlos Santana, none of which stand out as difference-makers. Arraez coming back is still a possibility, but if the Padres insist on finding more power, they'll have to look to the trade market. These four players present better options. Triston Casas of the Boston Red Sox, Mark Vientos of the New York Mets, Yandy Diaz of the Tampa Bay Rays, and Christian Walker of the Houston Astros make much better fits for the team's needs. Players like Ryan Mountcastle and Coby Mayo of the Baltimore Orioles also theoretically fit into this trade category. Still, theyy don't have the same appeal as the players we've mentioned above.. Though Casas and Vientos offer intrigue due to their low-cost salaries and years of team control, not to mention their power potential, they just don't have the same experience or upside in comparison to Diaz and Walker. Those two have multiple years of proven results. There's a scenario in which they could choose any of the four, depending on how much money they're willing to take on or how much trade capital they're willing to part with, which could also be said of Mountcastle and Mayo. However, when you consider the contention window the team is currently in, it makes the most sense to go after who fits their needs the most. We could seriously make a case that Diaz might be the best overall hitter and that his contract is more reasonable, but he'd probably cost the most in prospect capital. Not to mention, he is a poorly rated fielder and is only controlled through this season, albeit via a reasonably priced option for next year. Who's the player that provides the most upside and fits those needs the most, you'd ask? That would be Walker. While his salary might be the highest of the players mentioned ($20 million AAV), he is under contract for the next two years. His track record also speaks for itself. Even if his batting average (.238) and on-base percentage (.298) weren't ideal last season, he was still able to swat over twenty-five long balls (27) and knock in over eighty-five (88) runs. That's the middle of the order production they're looking for. He provides the most consistent thump of the four mentioned, too. He's also the best defender of the group, having won three Gold Gloves. If the Friars were able to get the Astros to throw in some money to offset Walker's salary, it makes him the frontrunner. They also have less leverage than the Rays in trade negotiations because of the logjam the Astros possess at the position. Padres receive: Christian Walker, 1B $10 million in cash considerations Astros receive: Miguel Mendez, SP Jagger Haynes, SP Tirso Ornelas, OF Now that the two positions of need are taken care of, the Padres still need a catcher and/or a bench piece. It's no secret that the team would like an experienced catcher to serve as the backup to starter Freddy Fermin, replacing Luis Campusano. His defensive deficiencies are well chronicled. His bat, on the other hand, could be of some use. Although Campusano didn't precisely set the world on fire with the chances he received last year (albeit in limited opportunities) at the major league level, he did crush Triple-A pitching. Even if it was in an extremely hitter-friendly environment in the Pacific Coast League, it also showed he doesn't have anything left to prove in the minors. That hit tool could fit a platoon role at DH. Campusano is also out of minor league options. Which segways us right into the final transaction. The Padres sign free agent catcher J.T. Realmuto. Signing Realmuto would give the Padres one of the better catching tandems in the game. It also presents a late-inning strategy of keeping three catchers on the roster. He might not be the player he was a few years ago, but with Fermin and Realmuto in the fold, they could split the catching duties fairly evenly. Other options were considered for this final spot, such as keeping Campusano as the backup catcher and going with a more traditional DH option, such as Marcell Ozuna, who doesn't offer much positional versatility and would be strictly a DH. A part-time one, at that. Not to mention, he's likely out of the team's price range. It still doesn't mean they couldn't still sign him and use him in that situation. Especially if the Padres don't see Campusano making the Opening Day roster. So what do you think, Friar Faithful? Are these reasonable options to finish off the Hot Stove season? Or would you go in another direction with some of the other names mentioned? Please let us know what your best options are for upgrading the team in the comments below. View the full article

The Boston Red Sox avoided arbitration hearings with their seven arbitration-eligible players this offseason. On Thursday, Triston Casas, Tanner Houck, Johan Oviedo, and Romy González each signed a one-year contract covering the 2026 season. @Alex Mayes and @Nick John previously wrote about Jarren Duran and Kutter Crawford’s deals, two of the team’s other arbitration-eligible players. Connor Wong also reached a $1.375 million agreement in November. body { font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, sans-serif; padding: 20px; background-color: #f5f5f5; } table { border-collapse: collapse; background-color: white; box-shadow: 0 2px 8px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border-radius: 8px; overflow: hidden; } thead { background-color: #0d2b56; color: white; } th { padding: 14px 16px; text-align: center; font-weight: 600; font-size: 14px; } th:first-child { text-align: left; } td { padding: 12px 16px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0; font-size: 15px; text-align: center; } td:first-child { text-align: left; font-weight: 500; } tbody tr:last-child td { border-bottom: none; } tbody tr:hover { background-color: #f8f9fa; } Player Position Service Time (Years) Salary Tanner Houck SP 4.100 $4.15 million Johan Oviedo SP 4.078 $1.55 million Romy González UTIL 3.083 $1.60 million Triston Casas 1B 3.031 $1.61 million I’m not too shocked at any of these numbers. Tanner Houck and Johan Oviedo are in their second year of arbitration. Houck’s salary increased from $3.95 million in 2025 to $4.15 million in 2026, though he’s unlikely to see playing time as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. Depending on how Johan Oviedo fares with the Red Sox, his contract could end up looking like a bargain. Romy González is a competent bench piece with positional versatility. Triston Casas, who was injured for much of 2025, is expected to return at some point during the 2026 season. You often hear claims online that players don’t want to sign with the Red Sox because their front office treats players poorly. It’s a gray area for the team, which has traded away franchise cornerstones like Mookie Betts and Rafael Devers. But judging solely by the arbitration process, the Red Sox have treated players fairly by consistently avoiding hearings in recent years. The last time the organization went to a hearing was six years ago, when Eduardo Rodríguez sought $8.675 million in salary, but lost his case and was awarded $8.3 million. Before that, Mookie Betts beat the team in 2018, earning $10.5 million, the highest salary the Red Sox have awarded through an arbitration hearing. Betts holds records for the highest salaries for a player in their second ($20 million in 2019) and third year of arbitration ($27 million in 2020), both of which were settled without a hearing. With these four salaries settled, the Red Sox are roughly $4 million under the first CBT threshold of $244 million. Should free agent third baseman Alex Bregman accept the team’s reportedly aggressive offer, it would push the team well beyond it. View the full article

Had it not been for the 2024 brilliance of Paul Skenes in Pittsburgh, we may very well have had to stipulate "former National League Rookie of the Year" when discussing Jackson Merrill. As it were, Skenes took home the hardware while Merrill had to "settle" for a nine-year extension ahead of Year 2 in Major League Baseball. Indeed, such a contract was well-earned on the part of Merrill and not even remotely questioned for a San Diego Padres team that has faced plenty of them for handing out hefty multi-year pacts. His 2024 season featured a a .292/.326/.500 line across 156 games, as well as a 130 wRC+ and 5.3 fWAR. Just 13 qualifying position players finished ahead of Merrill in that fWAR figure, and only three of them were of the outfielder variety. One can understand why the Padres were so eager to lock him up long-term. His percentile distribution was indicative of a player standing on the cusp of elite status, as well: While there might have been a desire to see Merrill reign in the discipline a bit, it didn't cost him in his ability to avoid strikeouts or generate quality contact. Despite the aggression inherent in his approach, each of those rates remained respectable. His 7.5 ft swing length average allowed for zone coverage, with enough bat speed to help him compensate to the tune of the 16th-best Contact% among position players that year (81.0). He also scored high marks defensively, where his 12 Outs Above Average checked in in the 97th percentile. Unfortunately for Merrill, many of the positives from his rookie campaign regressed mightily in 2025. His line fell to one that went .264/.317/.457, with a wRC+ that dropped 14 points from the prior year (116). His 3.0 fWAR was a notable step back. It was still a strong year by any individual standard, but still rung as disappointing for a player that looked like a budding superstar after Year 1. Of course, there were perfectly good and obvious reasons for that. By the time we reached the end of August last year, Merrill was set to head to the injured list for the third time in 2025. He strained his hamstring in April and was the victim of a hard tag to the head while sliding into second base in June. The third stint was due to a rolled ankle that resulted in a sprain and bone bruise. Enduring such a rollercoaster on the health side resulted in Merrill appearing in just 115 games and even some of those were not played at 100 percent health. The result of such health woes were a percentile chart that doesn't look nearly as appealing as the first year: Merrill wasn't able to generate the same type of contact and saw roughly a five percent increase in strikeouts. What's striking is that he maintained an upper-tier barrel rate within all of that. It leads to a natural conclusion that some effects lingered as Merrill worked his way back from injury, only to face another a short while later. That doesn't mean it's all negative, though. The approach, in particular, saw some improvement. While Merrill did whiff and, subsequently, struck out more throughout the 2025 season, he also walked more. He saw a slight decrease in his swing rate and chase rate with two strikes specifically, indicating that there could be some growth on the horizon in that regard. A combination of an improving approach and an offseason clear of myriad injuries should each bode well, to say nothing of how Merrill finished the year. The following is Merrill's monthly wOBA throughout last season: There is a significant drop following the hamstring injury that held him out for exactly a month. It continued to drop following the concussion in June. Once he was clear of that second IL trip, the numbers started to rise sharply. Even following the ankle injury, he continued to ascend back toward his 2024 levels of performance. Aside from April, where he had come out scorching at the plate, September was Merrill's best individual month of the year. He returned from the ankle injury on September 1 and turned in a month that included a .352 ISO and 160 wRC+. His 53.8 percent hard-hit rate was his highest in an individual month. That continued into the postseason, as Merrill reached base in four of 12 plate appearances and was one of the team's only hitters to contribute much of anything in a short series against the Chicago Cubs. It is ultimately those trends that have the arrow pointing back up for Merrill in 2026... with one caveat. September was more aggression than patience at the plate, as his swing and strikeout rates each went up and the walk rate went down. But even if Merrill is unable to sustain growth in his approach, it's surely a tradeoff the Padres are willing to accept if the outcomes look like that. Regardless of the nuance presented in his plate appearances, it's clear that the healthy version of Jackson Merrill that we saw mere glimpses of in 2025 is closer to the true version we saw full-time in 2024. If the Padres are going to bank on a rebound from any of their hitters, he's likely the one. View the full article

Spencer and Joseph Zarr touch on Frank Cairone's car crash and situation, then discuss the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers' season and their tiers of position players and pitchers. A lot of Jesus Made and Luis Pena talk. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-brewer-fanatic-podcast/id1740648724 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5CY8mWsQayqjDXqw9OT2Td iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-the-brewer-fanatic-podcast-166534588/ Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/ommzz627 Watch On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@brewerfanatic View the full article

The Toronto Blue Jays came into the offseason with seven players eligible for arbitration. Four of them were locks to be tendered a contract: Daulton Varsho, Ernie Clement, Eric Lauer, and Tyler Heineman. The others were Nick Sandlin, Ryan Burr, and Dillon Tate. The team DFA’d and outrighted those three pitchers in November, and each elected free agency. This past Thursday at 1:00 pm ET was the deadline for teams to come to terms with their arbitration-eligible players before they must schedule an arbitration hearing. The deadline for each side to submit salary figures was later in the evening, at 8:00 pm ET. Teams and players can still avoid arbitration after exchanging figures, although some organizations prefer to take what’s known as a “file-and-trial” approach. In other words, once they have filed for arbitration, they will refrain from negotiating. The Blue Jays are often considered a file-and-trial club. When teams and players are unable to agree on a contract and avoid arbitration, they go to a hearing (usually sometime in February) and make their cases for the salary figures they filed to a panel of arbitrators. The panel will pick one of the two salary figures for the player. For example, when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was entering his third arbitration-eligible season (out of four), he and the Blue Jays were unable to come to terms on a deal prior to the deadline. He and his agents filed for a $19.9 million salary, while the team countered with $18.05 million. Guerrero won at the hearing and received $19.9 million for the 2024 season. That remains the highest salary ever awarded in an arbitration hearing. The following year, the Jays were able to avoid arbitration with their superstar, agreeing to a $28.5 million contract exactly one year ago today. This year, the Blue Jays agreed to terms with three of their four arbitration-eligible players on deadline day: Varsho, Clement, and Heineman. Here are the pertinent details. Daulton Varsho MLB Trade Rumors projected a $9.7 million salary for Varsho in his final season of arbitration. The Gold Glove center fielder ended up signing a one-year, $10.75 million contract to avoid arbitration, just over $1 million more than his projection (per the New York Post’s Joel Sherman). Ernie Clement Clement was projected to earn $4.3 million in his first year of arbitration eligibility. He and the Blue Jays avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $4.6 million deal (per The Athletic’s Mitch Bannon). Tyler Heineman Heineman was projected to earn $1 million in his long-awaited first season of arbitration. He and the Blue Jays agreed to a one-year deal worth $1,237,500 (per Nicholson-Smith). Eric Lauer Lauer was projected to earn $4.4 million in his last year as an arbitration-eligible player. The Blue Jays filed at exactly that number, while Lauer and his agents filed at $5.75 million. According to Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith, the two sides are likely to go to an arbitration hearing. To learn more about how the arbitration process works and why it exists, check out this article by DiamondCentric’s Maddie Landis. View the full article

Sources close to your dad have confirmed that the lifelong Minnesota Twins fan and current season ticket holder will spend most of the upcoming season calling free agent signing Orlando Arcia “Oswaldo.” Oswaldo Arcia, Orlando’s brother, played for the Twins from 2013-16. Even though your dad probably knows this, “the snowball is already rolling downhill,” per your mom. “Your father was skimming that (local chicken fried rice expert/journalist Aaron) Gleeman fellow’s Athletic column on his iPad and said, ‘Hey looks like we got Oswaldo back,’ or something to that effect. Your brother tried to correct him, but he already took his readers off to go see if the recycling truck had been here.” The younger Arcia, who was an All-Star in 2023 but has slumped mightily since, signed a minor-league deal and is in the mix for a team that is in desperate need of depth at shortstop. Oswaldo last played major league baseball in 2016. “I always liked Oswaldo,” your dad is reported to have said. “Wasn’t he one of The Piranhas? God those guys hustled.” Sources say that even when he finds out he’s mistaken, he’ll likely still use the incorrect brother’s name 75-80% of the time. “Remember when Teddy Bridgewater was the Vikings quarterback, and dad kept calling him Timmy,” your brother said. “We tried so hard to correct him, but then he’d just say ‘Sounds like Timmy’s having a great offseason’ before looking out the window to see if that car was still parked across the street.” Orlando played for both Atlanta and Colorado in 2024. After the Braves released him in June, the Rockies signed him and used him at multiple infield positions. “Wonder if ol’ Oswaldo has anything left in the tank,” speculated your dad, before pulling up another YouTube video about the interstate highway system. Image license here. View the full article

Red Sox shortstop prospect Franklin Arias is a dynamic, multi-faceted talent in Boston's farm system. What are his strengths, weaknesses, and MLB comparison? We walk you through it all in this short video! View the full article