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After receiving NL MVP votes a year ago, a star player for the World Series champion Milwaukee Brewers has a much better finish on tap in 2026. Brewers second baseman Brice Turang was named Monday as one of the top three finishers in NL MVP voting. The other two are Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani has won the last two NL MVPs and three straight including his final year with the AL's Los Angeles Angels. He has won an MVP in four of the last five years. Crow-Armstrong is the expected NL MVP after putting up a 40-40 season for the Cubs, who finished second to the Brewers in the NL Central. The Brewers have won the last four division titles. Turang made a big jump offensively last year, hitting 18 homers and driving in 81, then finishing 14th in NL MVP voting. This year, he added more consistent power and was a run producer. He had career highs of 21 homers and 100 RBIs, which led the Brewers, while having a slash line of .268/.366/.450. Turang, who won his second NL Gold Glove on Sunday, is the first Brewers player to be among the top three for NL MVP since Christian Yelich won in 2018 and finished second in 2019. View the full article

After receiving NL MVP votes a year ago, a star player for the World Series champion Milwaukee Brewers has a much better finish on tap in 2026. Brewers second baseman Brice Turang was named Monday as one of the top three finishers in NL MVP voting. The other two are Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani has won the last two NL MVPs and three straight including his final year with the AL's Los Angeles Angels. He has won an MVP in four of the last five years. Crow-Armstrong is the expected NL MVP after putting up a 40-40 season for the Cubs, who finished second to the Brewers in the NL Central. The Brewers have won the last four division titles. Turang made a big jump offensively last year, hitting 18 homers and driving in 81, then finishing 14th in NL MVP voting. This year, he added more consistent power and was a run producer. He had career highs of 21 homers and 100 RBIs, which led the Brewers, while having a slash line of .268/.366/.450. Turang, who won his second NL Gold Glove on Sunday, is the first Brewers player to be among the top three for NL MVP since Christian Yelich won in 2018 and finished second in 2019. View the full article

Add one prospect to the San Diego Padres' 40-man roster. Left-handed starter Luis Gutierrez had his contract selected in order to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. Gutierrez, 23, pitched just 36 innings this season after injuring his left shoulder following three starts to begin the season with the Double-A San Antonio Missions. He came back to make five rehab appearances in the Arizona Complex League and with the High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps before three more starts with San Antonio and finishing the season with the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas. In all, he made 13 starts and had a 4.50 ERA, with an 11.6% walk rate and 28.4% strikeout rate. While he might have been considered a risky proposition if selected in the Rule 5 draft, the Padres felt they had the room on the 40-man to protect their future with Gutierrez. View the full article

Add one prospect to the San Diego Padres' 40-man roster. Left-handed starter Luis Gutierrez had his contract selected in order to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. Gutierrez, 23, pitched just 36 innings this season after injuring his left shoulder following three starts to begin the season with the Double-A San Antonio Missions. He came back to make five rehab appearances in the Arizona Complex League and with the High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps before three more starts with San Antonio and finishing the season with the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas. In all, he made 13 starts and had a 4.50 ERA, with an 11.6% walk rate and 28.4% strikeout rate. While he might have been considered a risky proposition if selected in the Rule 5 draft, the Padres felt they had the room on the 40-man to protect their future with Gutierrez. View the full article

The Miami Marlins made a flurry of roster moves on Monday. Infielder Graham Pauley, right-hander Josh White and left-hander Patrick Monteverde were all placed on outright waivers. Pauley (Chicago White Sox) and White (Baltimore Orioles) were both claimed by other MLB teams, while Monteverde cleared and was outrighted to Triple-A Jacksonville. Former New York Mets righty Cameron Weston was claimed off waivers. The Marlins also reinstated Ronny Henriquez, William Kempner, Adam Mazur, Andrew Nardi and Robby Snelling from the 60-day injured list. Now that the dust has settled, the club's 40-man roster is down to 36 players. Pauley, one of four players acquired by the San Diego Padres in the Tanner Scott trade, played in 124 Marlins games and slashed .218/.287/.370/.656 with eight home runs, 36 RBI and posted an 83 OPS+. Although the bat never materialized into much, Pauley's defense was his calling card, posting seven outs above average in 2025 and one in 2026, mainly as a third baseman. Pauley also played some first base and second base on a limited basis. With Pauley out of the picture, Javier Sanoja is currently lined up to be Miami's everyday starter at third in 2027. Of course, there is plenty of time to shop for outside help at the position. White, at one point viewed as a top 30 prospect in the organization, only appeared in one game during the 2026 season, which was his major league debut. Most of his time was spent in Triple-A Jacksonville where in 36 appearances, he posted a 2.41 ERA, 4.61 FIP, 9.96 K/9 and 4.98 BB/9. He was even more dominant in 2025, yet was never given a true opportunity. The Marlins are moving on even though he still has two minor league options remaining. Monteverde, who was selected by the Marlins in the eighth round of the 2021 MLB Draft, appeared once for them in the majors during each of the past two seasons. Assuming he'll choose to elect free agency, the lefty finishes his Marlins MiLB tenure with 127 games (103 starts) and an ERA of 4.62. As for Weston, who was the lone addition of the day, he debuted on May 28. Outside of that, he spent the season in Triple-A with the Mets and Baltimore Orioles. He threw to a 7.18 ERA, 4.98 FIP, 11.86 K/9 and 4.99 BB/9. His best pitch is the forkball, which generated a 39.9% whiff rate. The 26-year-old will be matched up mainly against right-handed hitters, as they had a .587 OPS against him. Weston has two minor league options remaining, so he can be sent back down to Triple-A come Opening Day if he doesn't earn a spot on the 26-man active roster. View the full article

The Miami Marlins made a flurry of roster moves on Monday. Infielder Graham Pauley, right-hander Josh White and left-hander Patrick Monteverde were all placed on outright waivers. Pauley (Chicago White Sox) and White (Baltimore Orioles) were both claimed by other MLB teams, while Monteverde cleared and was outrighted to Triple-A Jacksonville. Former New York Mets righty Cameron Weston was claimed off waivers. The Marlins also reinstated Ronny Henriquez, William Kempner, Adam Mazur, Andrew Nardi and Robby Snelling from the 60-day injured list. Now that the dust has settled, the club's 40-man roster is down to 36 players. Pauley, one of four players acquired by the San Diego Padres in the Tanner Scott trade, played in 124 Marlins games and slashed .218/.287/.370/.656 with eight home runs, 36 RBI and posted an 83 OPS+. Although the bat never materialized into much, Pauley's defense was his calling card, posting seven outs above average in 2025 and one in 2026, mainly as a third baseman. Pauley also played some first base and second base on a limited basis. With Pauley out of the picture, Javier Sanoja is currently lined up to be Miami's everyday starter at third in 2027. Of course, there is plenty of time to shop for outside help at the position. White, at one point viewed as a top 30 prospect in the organization, only appeared in one game during the 2026 season, which was his major league debut. Most of his time was spent in Triple-A Jacksonville where in 36 appearances, he posted a 2.41 ERA, 4.61 FIP, 9.96 K/9 and 4.98 BB/9. He was even more dominant in 2025, yet was never given a true opportunity. The Marlins are moving on even though he still has two minor league options remaining. Monteverde, who was selected by the Marlins in the eighth round of the 2021 MLB Draft, appeared once for them in the majors during each of the past two seasons. Assuming he'll choose to elect free agency, the lefty finishes his Marlins MiLB tenure with 127 games (103 starts) and an ERA of 4.62. As for Weston, who was the lone addition of the day, he debuted on May 28. Outside of that, he spent the season in Triple-A with the Mets and Baltimore Orioles. He threw to a 7.18 ERA, 4.98 FIP, 11.86 K/9 and 4.99 BB/9. His best pitch is the forkball, which generated a 39.9% whiff rate. The 26-year-old will be matched up mainly against right-handed hitters, as they had a .587 OPS against him. Weston has two minor league options remaining, so he can be sent back down to Triple-A come Opening Day if he doesn't earn a spot on the 26-man active roster. View the full article

At least he will have a World Series ring to remember his time in the Milwaukee Brewers' organization. Outfielder Akil Baddoo was claimed off waivers Monday by the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 28-year-old had been designated for assignment by the Brewers. Baddoo signed a split contract with the Brewers last offseason, which pays him one salary while in the minors and another while in the majors. But Baddoo was never called up by the Crew. Baddoo began the season on the 60-day injured list following a strained quadriceps sustained in spring training. He played in just 66 minor-league games and had a slash line of .252/.348/.470 with 11 homers and 47 RBIs. With how crowded the Brewers' outfield situation is entering this offseason, there was little chance of Baddoo's situation improving with Milwaukee. View the full article

At least he will have a World Series ring to remember his time in the Milwaukee Brewers' organization. Outfielder Akil Baddoo was claimed off waivers Monday by the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 28-year-old had been designated for assignment by the Brewers. Baddoo signed a split contract with the Brewers last offseason, which pays him one salary while in the minors and another while in the majors. But Baddoo was never called up by the Crew. Baddoo began the season on the 60-day injured list following a strained quadriceps sustained in spring training. He played in just 66 minor-league games and had a slash line of .252/.348/.470 with 11 homers and 47 RBIs. With how crowded the Brewers' outfield situation is entering this offseason, there was little chance of Baddoo's situation improving with Milwaukee. View the full article

If anyone was surprised by the Milwaukee Brewers winning the World Series, hang on because there is something just as shocking that happened Monday. The Brewers slapped a qualifying offer on first baseman Jake Bauers, guaranteeing the NL Championship Series MVP a $23.15 million contract for 2027 if he accepts. Bauers was one of eight players to receive the qualifying offer by Monday's 4 p.m. CT deadline. The others are Seattle Mariners outfielder Randy Arozarena, New York Yankees right-handed reliever David Bednar, Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers, Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe, San Diego Padres left-handed reliever Adrian Morejon, Baltimore Orioles left-handed starter Trevor Rogers and Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki. All have until Nov. 17 to accept the qualifying offer and return to their team or choose to hit free agency, where negotiations are likely to be hampered by accompanying draft-pick compensation. It is quite the change in career trajectory for Bauers. Just two offseasons ago, he was nontendered by the Brewers as he was set to retire from baseball after putting up a paltry slash line of .199/.301/.361 with 12 homers and 43 RBIs in 116 games. But shortly after being nontendered, Bauers' wife revealed she was pregnant, so the first baseman re-signed with the Brewers so that they had health insurance. Fast-forward to 2026 and Bauers, who made $2.7 million this season in his last year eligible for arbitration, led the Brewers during the regular season with 26 homers while driving in 86 runs while posting a slash line of .266/.389/.484. He then was a huge part of the Brewers' run to their first World Series championship, particularly against the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS. There, Bauers went 4-for-14, but drove in six runs, including a huge two-run homer to cap an 11-pitch at-bat in the seventh inning of Game 3 that put the Brewers on top 3-2 in what would be a 6-2 victory. The homer happened just after he hit a long foul ball that would have been a homer. The Brewers would sweep the Dodgers in four games. Bauers had been projected by some outlets to receive a three-year contract with an average annual value of around $15 million. Now, the Brewers will pay him $23.15 million if he accepts. View the full article

If anyone was surprised by the Milwaukee Brewers winning the World Series, hang on because there is something just as shocking that happened Monday. The Brewers slapped a qualifying offer on first baseman Jake Bauers, guaranteeing the NL Championship Series MVP a $23.15 million contract for 2027 if he accepts. Bauers was one of eight players to receive the qualifying offer by Monday's 4 p.m. CT deadline. The others are Seattle Mariners outfielder Randy Arozarena, New York Yankees right-handed reliever David Bednar, Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers, Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe, San Diego Padres left-handed reliever Adrian Morejon, Baltimore Orioles left-handed starter Trevor Rogers and Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki. All have until Nov. 17 to accept the qualifying offer and return to their team or choose to hit free agency, where negotiations are likely to be hampered by accompanying draft-pick compensation. It is quite the change in career trajectory for Bauers. Just two offseasons ago, he was nontendered by the Brewers as he was set to retire from baseball after putting up a paltry slash line of .199/.301/.361 with 12 homers and 43 RBIs in 116 games. But shortly after being nontendered, Bauers' wife revealed she was pregnant, so the first baseman re-signed with the Brewers so that they had health insurance. Fast-forward to 2026 and Bauers, who made $2.7 million this season in his last year eligible for arbitration, led the Brewers during the regular season with 26 homers while driving in 86 runs while posting a slash line of .266/.389/.484. He then was a huge part of the Brewers' run to their first World Series championship, particularly against the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS. There, Bauers went 4-for-14, but drove in six runs, including a huge two-run homer to cap an 11-pitch at-bat in the seventh inning of Game 3 that put the Brewers on top 3-2 in what would be a 6-2 victory. The homer happened just after he hit a long foul ball that would have been a homer. The Brewers would sweep the Dodgers in four games. Bauers had been projected by some outlets to receive a three-year contract with an average annual value of around $15 million. Now, the Brewers will pay him $23.15 million if he accepts. View the full article

This time, there wasn't even a dilemma. There was no agonizing over whether the Brewers should trade Jake Bauers or hold onto him. There was no discourse about whether they could be considered a serious organization if they simply traded away all their great players every time they approached free agency. Just a handful of months ago, no one thought Bauers was that caliber of player. The same controversies that swirled around Corbin Burnes, Willy Adames, Devin Williams and Freddy Peralta heading into their final seasons of team control were absent with Bauers, because no one expected him to fetch a significant amount via trade, and no one was worried about the Brewers losing him for nothing. Now, even if Bauers has played his last game in a Brewers uniform, the team will get something good for him. They extended Bauers the one-year, $23.15-million qualifying offer Monday afternoon, ahead of the 4 PM CT deadline to do so at the official start of MLB free agency. Bauers will probably reject that offer and sign a multi-year deal this winter, and if (as we should expect) he signs it with some other team and earns north of $50 million in total, the Brewers will receive a pick after the end of the first round in the 2027 MLB Draft. Being a small-market, revenue-sharing-receiving team comes in handy this time of year, because the Brewers stand to receive a better pick than a richer team would if Bauers departs. Every year, the team's challenge is to find controllable talent that can make them better for multiple seasons. They get some help from the rules, in that (in addition to better compensation when top free agents leave) the Crew gets a competitive-balance draft pick after either the first or the second round every year. To make the most of those advantages, though, they also try to find opportunities to trade players nearing free agency for prospects who can be valuable for half a decade or more. The downside of letting a player reach free agency and leave, even if they leave behind a high pick via the QO, is that often, that player came with a high acquisition cost and/or used up a substantial share of the payroll in their final season before doing so. None of that is true in Bauers's case. This is almost free value for the Brewers, who neither gave up much to acquire Bauers nor paid him handsomely (by big-league standards) during his tenure with the club. They should get a good prospect for him if he goes to a wealthier team this winter, making Matt Arnold's job easier as he tries to keep Milwaukee's perpetual winning machine in motion. View the full article

This time, there wasn't even a dilemma. There was no agonizing over whether the Brewers should trade Jake Bauers or hold onto him. There was no discourse about whether they could be considered a serious organization if they simply traded away all their great players every time they approached free agency. Just a handful of months ago, no one thought Bauers was that caliber of player. The same controversies that swirled around Corbin Burnes, Willy Adames, Devin Williams and Freddy Peralta heading into their final seasons of team control were absent with Bauers, because no one expected him to fetch a significant amount via trade, and no one was worried about the Brewers losing him for nothing. Now, even if Bauers has played his last game in a Brewers uniform, the team will get something good for him. They extended Bauers the one-year, $23.15-million qualifying offer Monday afternoon, ahead of the 4 PM CT deadline to do so at the official start of MLB free agency. Bauers will probably reject that offer and sign a multi-year deal this winter, and if (as we should expect) he signs it with some other team and earns north of $50 million in total, the Brewers will receive a pick after the end of the first round in the 2027 MLB Draft. Being a small-market, revenue-sharing-receiving team comes in handy this time of year, because the Brewers stand to receive a better pick than a richer team would if Bauers departs. Every year, the team's challenge is to find controllable talent that can make them better for multiple seasons. They get some help from the rules, in that (in addition to better compensation when top free agents leave) the Crew gets a competitive-balance draft pick after either the first or the second round every year. To make the most of those advantages, though, they also try to find opportunities to trade players nearing free agency for prospects who can be valuable for half a decade or more. The downside of letting a player reach free agency and leave, even if they leave behind a high pick via the QO, is that often, that player came with a high acquisition cost and/or used up a substantial share of the payroll in their final season before doing so. None of that is true in Bauers's case. This is almost free value for the Brewers, who neither gave up much to acquire Bauers nor paid him handsomely (by big-league standards) during his tenure with the club. They should get a good prospect for him if he goes to a wealthier team this winter, making Matt Arnold's job easier as he tries to keep Milwaukee's perpetual winning machine in motion. View the full article

The San Diego Padres have made their move to retain one of their top relievers. Now the question is: Will he accept it? Left-hander Adrian Morejon was given a $23.15 million qualifying offer for the 2027 season on Monday. Morejon, one of eight players to receive a qualifying offer this offseason, now has 10 days to decide whether to accept it or become a free agent. No other Padres free agent received a qualifying offer. Morejon had been expected to be the top reliever on the market, expected to fetch a multiyear contract worth as much as $20 million by some estimates. The 27-year-old boosted his value this season by pitching a career-high 84 innings and 76 games, while crushing his previous career best with 107 strikeouts (71 in 2024). Finding a few more ticks on his four-seamer, which averaged 99.4 mph this year, his strikeout rate went from a career mark of 24.2% all the way up to 30.4% in 2026. His walk rate, however, suffered, going from 6.9% in his first seven seasons to 8% this year. The Padres would be due draft-pick compensation if Morejon declines the qualifying offer and signs elsewhere, depending on the size of the contract. This also gives the Padres more time to exclusively negotiate with Morejon and a long-term contract. View the full article

The San Diego Padres have made their move to retain one of their top relievers. Now the question is: Will he accept it? Left-hander Adrian Morejon was given a $23.15 million qualifying offer for the 2027 season on Monday. Morejon, one of eight players to receive a qualifying offer this offseason, now has 10 days to decide whether to accept it or become a free agent. No other Padres free agent received a qualifying offer. Morejon had been expected to be the top reliever on the market, expected to fetch a multiyear contract worth as much as $20 million by some estimates. The 27-year-old boosted his value this season by pitching a career-high 84 innings and 76 games, while crushing his previous career best with 107 strikeouts (71 in 2024). Finding a few more ticks on his four-seamer, which averaged 99.4 mph this year, his strikeout rate went from a career mark of 24.2% all the way up to 30.4% in 2026. His walk rate, however, suffered, going from 6.9% in his first seven seasons to 8% this year. The Padres would be due draft-pick compensation if Morejon declines the qualifying offer and signs elsewhere, depending on the size of the contract. This also gives the Padres more time to exclusively negotiate with Morejon and a long-term contract. View the full article

The Minnesota Twins have made their decision on Ryan Jeffers. Minnesota extended the veteran catcher a qualifying offer worth $23.15 million for the 2027 season, giving both sides an interesting decision as the offseason gets underway. Jeffers is coming off one of the better offensive seasons of his career, and he enters free agency as one of the more intriguing catching options available. The Twins clearly don't want to lose him without receiving something in return. However, extending a qualifying offer comes with some financial risk, especially for an organization that has spent the last few seasons operating with a limited payroll. Now, Jeffers has until November 17 to decide whether he wants to accept the one-year contract or decline it and explore the free-agent market. Jeffers Earned His Opportunity Jeffers has spent his entire professional career with the Twins after being selected in the second round of the 2018 MLB Draft. He made his big-league debut in 2020 and gradually developed into Minnesota's primary catching option. His offensive production has seen inconsistencies throughout his career, but he has established himself as a productive hitter at a position where offense can be difficult to find. That was especially true during the 2026 campaign. Jeffers finished the season hitting .256/.353/.461 (.814) with 14 home runs and with a career-best 12.5 BB% across 369 plate appearances. He also combined for a career-best 17.9 K%, demonstrating improved plate discipline while continuing to provide power from the right side of the plate. His performance was particularly impressive when considering the offensive expectations for catchers around the league. Jeffers finished with a 128 wRC+, meaning he was 28% better than the league-average hitter. The average major-league catcher finished with a 91 wRC+, giving Jeffers a significant advantage offensively at his position. There are still questions about his defensive ability. Jeffers has generally graded out as a below-average pitch framer, and his ability to control the running game hasn't been a major strength. However, he remains a capable offensive catcher who provides Minnesota with a legitimate middle-of-the-lineup threat. The Twins also have plenty of familiarity with Jeffers. He has spent six seasons in the organization, experienced several different roster constructions, and established relationships with Minnesota's pitching staff. Losing that type of continuity would create another challenge for an organization already facing several offseason questions. Why the Qualifying Offer Makes Sense A qualifying offer gives Minnesota some protection against losing Jeffers without receiving anything in return. If he declines the offer and signs with another organization, the Twins will receive draft-pick compensation. That is particularly important considering Minnesota's decision to keep Jeffers through the trade deadline. There was plenty of speculation about whether the organization would move its longtime catcher before he reached free agency. Instead, the Twins held onto him and maintained an important piece of their roster for the remainder of the season. Offering the qualifying offer gives the organization an opportunity to recoup some value if Jeffers decides to leave. There is also a reasonable argument for keeping Jeffers around for another season even at a premium price. Victor Caratini remains under contract for 2027, but the Twins need more certainty behind the plate. Caratini provides a veteran presence, but he hasn't consistently demonstrated that he can handle a significant offensive workload. Minnesota also has catching prospects working their way through the minor leagues. Eduardo Tait is one of the organization's most intriguing young players at the position, while Vahn Lackey, the third overall selection in the 2026 MLB Draft, represents another potential long-term option. Neither player should be expected to immediately take over as Minnesota's everyday catcher in 2027. Jeffers would give the Twins a proven major-league option while those younger players continue developing. If Minnesota wants to compete in 2027, having a dependable catcher should be part of the equation. The Risk of Jeffers Accepting The biggest concern with extending a qualifying offer is that Jeffers could accept it. At $23.15 million, he would receive a significant salary increase and become one of the highest-paid catchers in baseball. That is a substantial investment for a player who has dealt with injuries and hasn't consistently handled an everyday workload. Jeffers is also approaching his 30s, an important consideration for a position that takes a physical toll on players. Catchers frequently experience declining offensive production and defensive ability as they get older. The Twins have generally preferred having two capable catchers who can share responsibilities throughout the season. That approach helps keep both players fresh, but it also makes committing more than $23 million to one catcher a difficult decision. Minnesota has other roster needs, particularly on the pitching staff. The organization needs to improve its bullpen and find additional rotation depth. Committing that much money to Jeffers would take away some financial flexibility, although the Twins have plenty of room to increase their payroll compared to recent seasons. If Jeffers accepts, Minnesota would be getting a quality offensive catcher for another season. It wouldn't necessarily be a bad baseball decision, but the organization would be paying a premium for that production. What Happens If Jeffers Declines? Declining the qualifying offer is probably the more likely outcome. Jeffers has an opportunity to test free agency after establishing himself as one of the better offensive catchers available. A multiyear contract could provide more financial security than accepting a one-year deal, particularly as he enters his age-30 season. However, the qualifying offer creates an additional obstacle for interested teams. Any organization signing Jeffers would have to surrender draft-pick compensation, potentially reducing his overall market. The Twins could benefit from that situation in two different ways. If Jeffers declines and signs elsewhere, Minnesota receives a compensatory draft selection. If the qualifying offer makes other organizations hesitant, the Twins could potentially bring him back on a multiyear agreement at a lower annual salary. Minnesota hasn't extended a qualifying offer to one of its players since Sonny Gray following the 2023 season. Gray declined that offer before signing with St. Louis, and the Twins eventually used their compensatory selection to draft infielder Kyle DeBarge. Now, Minnesota is hoping for a similar outcome with Jeffers. The Twins Made the Right Decision Extending Jeffers a qualifying offer is a logical move for an organization that needs to maintain some roster stability while continuing to develop its younger players. There is risk involved, especially if Jeffers accepts the offer. However, the Twins shouldn't be afraid to spend money on a productive player simply because the organization has other needs. Jeffers has earned the opportunity to explore free agency, but Minnesota also deserves some protection after keeping him through the trade deadline. The qualifying offer provides that protection while leaving the door open for a reunion. The next decision belongs to Jeffers. If he declines, the Twins can begin exploring their options behind the plate while potentially adding another draft pick. If he accepts, Minnesota retains one of its most productive offensive players for another season. Either way, the qualifying offer gives the Twins some control over how this offseason unfolds. Now, everyone will be waiting to see what Jeffers decides. Do you agree with the QO decision for Jeffers? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

Seiya Suzuki can't leave the Cubs for nothing. Though the team will only receive a low-level draft pick if Suzuki signs elsewhere as a free agent this winter, they will, at least, receive some compensation for the loss. They extended Suzuki a one-year, $23.15-million qualifying offer ahead of Monday afternoon's deadline (and the starting point for true free agency), attaching the loss of a draft pick by a signing team to him whenever and wherever he signs. This doesn't preclude Suzuki re-signing with Chicago, but it ensures that they get a last morsel of value from him if he departs. Interestingly, the team eschewed the chance to offer the same deal to both Ian Happ and Matthew Boyd. Neither player changed teams during the 2026 season, and neither had received a qualifying offer before, so they could have been tagged the same way, but the Cubs clearly felt that neither would be worth the hefty salary they'd receive if they accepted the deal—and that there was at least some chance they would do so. Happ and Boyd, too, could re-sign with the Cubs, but should either head for greener pastures, the team won't get anything in return. Suzuki, 32, was a no-brainer to receive this offer. He's one of the top bats on the free-agent market. He batted .270/.368/.473 in the final year of his five-year contract with the Cubs, and has been one of the most reliably productive right-handed hitters in the majors over that half-decade. As Cubs fans know very well, that year-to-year consistency masks major streaks and slumps within seasons, but still, Suzuki has been an indispensable slugger for the Cubs during their emergence from a brief rebuilding phase. His defense vastly improved in 2026, thanks in no small part to the tutelage of Cubs outfield coach Quintin Berry, and he should successfully market himself as a corner outfielder, rather than a designated hitter. He's a lock to reject the offer. If the Cubs want him back, they'll have to pony up at least $25 million per year on a deal covering at least three seasons. The pick the Cubs might get to compensate for the loss of Suzuki is not a premium one. Because they were competitive-balance tax payers this year, they'll receive a pick after the fourth round. It's better than nothing, but that might also be part of the reason why the team didn't extend offers to Hepp or Boyd. The reward for whatever risk one sees in making that offer is not as great as it has been in recent years when the Cubs stayed below the first tax threshold. View the full article

Seiya Suzuki can't leave the Cubs for nothing. Though the team will only receive a low-level draft pick if Suzuki signs elsewhere as a free agent this winter, they will, at least, receive some compensation for the loss. They extended Suzuki a one-year, $23.15-million qualifying offer ahead of Monday afternoon's deadline (and the starting point for true free agency), attaching the loss of a draft pick by a signing team to him whenever and wherever he signs. This doesn't preclude Suzuki re-signing with Chicago, but it ensures that they get a last morsel of value from him if he departs. Interestingly, the team eschewed the chance to offer the same deal to both Ian Happ and Matthew Boyd. Neither player changed teams during the 2026 season, and neither had received a qualifying offer before, so they could have been tagged the same way, but the Cubs clearly felt that neither would be worth the hefty salary they'd receive if they accepted the deal—and that there was at least some chance they would do so. Happ and Boyd, too, could re-sign with the Cubs, but should either head for greener pastures, the team won't get anything in return. Suzuki, 32, was a no-brainer to receive this offer. He's one of the top bats on the free-agent market. He batted .270/.368/.473 in the final year of his five-year contract with the Cubs, and has been one of the most reliably productive right-handed hitters in the majors over that half-decade. As Cubs fans know very well, that year-to-year consistency masks major streaks and slumps within seasons, but still, Suzuki has been an indispensable slugger for the Cubs during their emergence from a brief rebuilding phase. His defense vastly improved in 2026, thanks in no small part to the tutelage of Cubs outfield coach Quintin Berry, and he should successfully market himself as a corner outfielder, rather than a designated hitter. He's a lock to reject the offer. If the Cubs want him back, they'll have to pony up at least $25 million per year on a deal covering at least three seasons. The pick the Cubs might get to compensate for the loss of Suzuki is not a premium one. Because they were competitive-balance tax payers this year, they'll receive a pick after the fourth round. It's better than nothing, but that might also be part of the reason why the team didn't extend offers to Hepp or Boyd. The reward for whatever risk one sees in making that offer is not as great as it has been in recent years when the Cubs stayed below the first tax threshold. View the full article

Fish On First has created this landing page to be frequently updated throughout the year with the latest on injuries affecting Miami Marlins players in both the majors and minors. Major league injuries RHP Anthony Bender (right shin stress reaction) Last official game appearance: August 18 (rehab assignment, Jacksonville) Underwent right shin surgery on September 23 Rehabbing in Jupiter as of September 29 Projected to be ready for spring training OF Owen Caissie (lumbar stress reaction) Last official game appearance: September 12 2B Xavier Edwards (left thumb discomfort) Last official game appearance: September 19 RHP Ronny Henriquez (right UCL reconstruction with internal brace procedure) Last official game appearance: September 28, 2025 Continuing throwing progression as of September 4 RHP William Kempner (right elbow sprain) Last official game appearance: July 11 Underwent elbow surgery with Dr. Keith Meister on August 19 Projected to miss majority, if not all, of 2027 season OF Jakob Marsee (left UCL repair surgery with internal brace) Last official game appearance: September 26 Underwent left UCL repair procedure with internal brace on October 12 Still wearing elbow brace as of October 28, but regaining full range of motion Projected to return to game action in April 2027 RHP Adam Mazur (right UCL reconstruction surgery) Last official game appearance: March 2 Underwent surgery on March 11 Began throwing program as of September 14 Projected to return to game action in April/May 2027 RHP Max Meyer (neck strain) Last official game appearance: July 18 Rehabbing in Minnesota as of September 29 Projected to be ready for spring training LHP Andrew Nardi (left elbow surgery) Last official game appearance: May 27 Experienced left elbow discomfort during rehab Underwent elbow surgery with Dr. Keith Meister on August 28 Projected to miss majority, if not all, of 2027 season LHP Robby Snelling (left UCL repair surgery with internal brace) Last official game appearance: May 8 Underwent surgery on May 23 (performed by Dr. Keith Meister) Began throwing program as of September 14 Projected to return to game action in May/June 2027 LHP RJ Shunck Assigned to Low-A Jupiter Last official game appearance: April 14 Finished 2026 season on 60-day IL RHP Jesús Tinoco (right UCL reconstruction surgery) Assigned to Triple-A Jacksonville Last official game appearance: June 2, 2025 Underwent surgery in September 2025 Began throwing program on March 9 Finished 2026 season on full-season IL RHP Samuel Vásquez Assigned to Double-A Pensacola Last official game appearance: April 16 Finished 2026 season on 60-day IL LHP Joey Volini Assigned to Double-A Pensacola Last official game appearance: August 30 Finished 2026 season on 7-day IL RHP Logan Whitaker Assigned to Double-A Pensacola Last official game appearance: August 26 Finished 2026 season on 7-day IL RHP Brandon White Assigned to Triple-A Jacksonville Last official game appearance: September 8 Finished 2026 season on 7-day IL RHP Josh White Assigned to Triple-A Jacksonville Last official game appearance: August 22 Finished 2026 season on 7-day IL LHP Thomas White (left shoulder capsular sprain) Assigned to Triple-A Jacksonville Last official game appearance: May 14 Throwing bullpen sessions as of October 17 Projected to be ready for spring training Finished 2026 season on 60-day IL LHP Kaiden Wilson Assigned to FCL Marlins Last official game appearance: August 19, 2025 Finished 2026 season on full-season IL View the full article

The Chicago Cubs claimed right-handed reliever Eric Orze off waivers from the Minnesota Twins Monday, the team announced. For Minnesota, waiving Orze was a matter of early-offseason roster cleanup, after he finished the season at Triple-A St. Paul. He'll be out of options next spring, so if the Cubs retain him throughout the offseason, they'll need to carry him on the major-league roster on Opening Day in order to keep him in the organization. Orze, 29, appeared in 36 games and had one save for the 2026 Twins. In 41 1/3 innings, he posted a 5.06 ERA, with a too-low 19.0% strikeout rate. The 6-foot-4 twirler started the season in a high-leverage role for a weak Twins bullpen, but by midsummer, he'd become a mop-up man. He was optioned to the minors on July 8 and never promoted back to the larger of the Twin Cities. He's a local product—a native of Elk Grove who attended Glenbard North High School. He was selected by the Mets in the abbreviated MLB Draft in 2020 and debuted with them in 2024, but was traded to the Rays that November. After an uneven season with Tampa Bay, he was dealt to Minnesota last November, so this makes three straight early changes of scenery for the still-controllable arm. He was a collegiate draftee, having attended the University of New Orleans, so he's already used up all of his minor-league options. That made him expendable for a Twins team with an overloaded 40-man roster. For the Cubs, he's an intriguing flier because of his arsenal and pitch shapes. He throws from a high-three-quarters arm slot and gets good carry on his four-seam fastball, though the pitch has only sat 92-94 during his big-league stints. His primary pitch is a splitter with great depth, though it doesn't always tunnel as well with the fastball as a typical splitter, due to the extremes of movement on the two offerings. He also sprinkles in a slider, and he developed a curveball during his brief time in Minnesota. The building blocks of a pitcher with good swing-and-miss upside and small platoon splits are there. Control has been his bugaboo. Orze doesn't have plus command of any of his offerings and has walked 11.1% of opposing batters during his three seasons in the majors. Batters don't expand the zone as much as he would need them to, in order to get the strikeouts that his arsenal promises. With the right set of adjustments, that could change, and for now, the Cubs will bet on unlocking him. If their offseason is as robust and active as they hope, he might become a roster casualty at some point, before ever throwing a pitch for the team in the big leagues. There's a chance, however, that he turns into their latest diamond-in-the-rough bullpen find. He's under team control through 2032, or (much more realistically) for however long he can stick on the big-league roster. View the full article

The Chicago Cubs claimed right-handed reliever Eric Orze off waivers from the Minnesota Twins Monday, the team announced. For Minnesota, waiving Orze was a matter of early-offseason roster cleanup, after he finished the season at Triple-A St. Paul. He'll be out of options next spring, so if the Cubs retain him throughout the offseason, they'll need to carry him on the major-league roster on Opening Day in order to keep him in the organization. Orze, 29, appeared in 36 games and had one save for the 2026 Twins. In 41 1/3 innings, he posted a 5.06 ERA, with a too-low 19.0% strikeout rate. The 6-foot-4 twirler started the season in a high-leverage role for a weak Twins bullpen, but by midsummer, he'd become a mop-up man. He was optioned to the minors on July 8 and never promoted back to the larger of the Twin Cities. He's a local product—a native of Elk Grove who attended Glenbard North High School. He was selected by the Mets in the abbreviated MLB Draft in 2020 and debuted with them in 2024, but was traded to the Rays that November. After an uneven season with Tampa Bay, he was dealt to Minnesota last November, so this makes three straight early changes of scenery for the still-controllable arm. He was a collegiate draftee, having attended the University of New Orleans, so he's already used up all of his minor-league options. That made him expendable for a Twins team with an overloaded 40-man roster. For the Cubs, he's an intriguing flier because of his arsenal and pitch shapes. He throws from a high-three-quarters arm slot and gets good carry on his four-seam fastball, though the pitch has only sat 92-94 during his big-league stints. His primary pitch is a splitter with great depth, though it doesn't always tunnel as well with the fastball as a typical splitter, due to the extremes of movement on the two offerings. He also sprinkles in a slider, and he developed a curveball during his brief time in Minnesota. The building blocks of a pitcher with good swing-and-miss upside and small platoon splits are there. Control has been his bugaboo. Orze doesn't have plus command of any of his offerings and has walked 11.1% of opposing batters during his three seasons in the majors. Batters don't expand the zone as much as he would need them to, in order to get the strikeouts that his arsenal promises. With the right set of adjustments, that could change, and for now, the Cubs will bet on unlocking him. If their offseason is as robust and active as they hope, he might become a roster casualty at some point, before ever throwing a pitch for the team in the big leagues. There's a chance, however, that he turns into their latest diamond-in-the-rough bullpen find. He's under team control through 2032, or (much more realistically) for however long he can stick on the big-league roster. View the full article

As teams get set to attack the offseason, the Minnesota Twins have lost one of their pitchers. Right-handed reliever Eric Orze was claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs on Monday. That takes the Twins' 40-man roster down to 37 as free agency is set to kick off at 4 p.m. CT. Orze was acquired last offseason in a trade for minor-league right-hander Jacob Kisting. Orze spent the first half of the season on the Twins' roster, appearing in 36 games and 41⅓ innings, putting up a 3.34 FIP but 5.66 ERA with an 11.1% walk rate and 19% strikeout rate. He was then sent to Triple-A St. Paul, where he had a 2.35 ERA in 19 games and 23 innings. The 29-year-old has a 4.68 ERA over 71 games and 84⅔ innings with the Twins, Rays and New York Mets in the last three seasons. View the full article

Before the free-agent market opens for players to change teams, the New York Mets made two moves Monday on the fringes of their roster. Infielder Christian Cairo was signed to a one-year split major-league contract, while right-handed reliever Jack Anderson was claimed off waivers from the Minnesota Twins. The Anderson addition was reported by Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Financial terms for Cairo were not known. These two moves leave the Mets' 40-man roster at 41. It needs to be at the 40-player limit by 5 p.m. ET. Cairo was claimed off waivers from the Philadelphia Phillies in mid-September. The Phillies had designated the 25-year-old for assignment and the Mets assigned him to Triple-A Norfolk. He slashed .230/.381/.300 with four homers, 36 RBIs and 25 steals at Triple-A between the two stops. Anderson was recently DFA'd by the Twins, although that move had not been reported before the Mets claimed him Monday. The soon-to-be 27-year-old made seven appearances between the Twins and Boston Red Sox this year, including his MLB debut. The Twins acquired Anderson after he was DFA'd by the Red Sox. In those seven relief appearances, Anderson had a 2.94 FIP (2.19 ERA) with one save, with a 6.3% walk rate and 25% strikeout rate. View the full article

Before the free-agent market opens for players to change teams, the New York Mets made two moves Monday on the fringes of their roster. Infielder Christian Cairo was signed to a one-year split major-league contract, while right-handed reliever Jack Anderson was claimed off waivers from the Minnesota Twins. The Anderson addition was reported by Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Financial terms for Cairo were not known. These two moves leave the Mets' 40-man roster at 41. It needs to be at the 40-player limit by 5 p.m. ET. Cairo was claimed off waivers from the Philadelphia Phillies in mid-September. The Phillies had designated the 25-year-old for assignment and the Mets assigned him to Triple-A Norfolk. He slashed .230/.381/.300 with four homers, 36 RBIs and 25 steals at Triple-A between the two stops. Anderson was recently DFA'd by the Twins, although that move had not been reported before the Mets claimed him Monday. The soon-to-be 27-year-old made seven appearances between the Twins and Boston Red Sox this year, including his MLB debut. The Twins acquired Anderson after he was DFA'd by the Red Sox. In those seven relief appearances, Anderson had a 2.94 FIP (2.19 ERA) with one save, with a 6.3% walk rate and 25% strikeout rate. View the full article

The Minnesota Twins are losing another piece of organizational pitching depth. The New York Mets have claimed right-handed pitcher Jack Anderson off waivers, according to MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. Anderson had not previously been reported as removed from Minnesota's 40-man roster, but the Twins evidently designated him for assignment and exposed him to waivers in recent days. Anderson's departure comes during one of the busiest stretches of the offseason transaction calendar. Teams are beginning to make difficult decisions about their 40-man rosters, and fringe players are often the first to feel the pressure. November 2nd marks the deadline for the 60-day injured list to go away, forcing teams to find room for players returning to the 40-man roster. The next major date arrives November 17, when organizations must protect eligible prospects from the Rule 5 Draft. Those upcoming decisions leave limited room for players who haven't established themselves as regular contributors at the major league level. For Minnesota, Anderson became expendable as the organization prepares for those roster decisions. A Short Minnesota Stint This marks the second time Anderson has been claimed off waivers during the 2026 season. He began the year in the Boston Red Sox organization and made his major league debut in April. His opportunity with Boston was brief, appearing in three games before being sent back to the minors. Boston eventually placed Anderson on waivers in July, allowing Minnesota to bring him into its organization. The Twins moved him between Triple-A and the big league roster throughout the remainder of the season, giving him occasional opportunities to contribute to the pitching staff. Anderson's major league numbers were encouraging in a limited sample. Across seven appearances, he allowed three earned runs in 12 1/3 innings. Those results gave Minnesota a useful depth option, although his limited experience made it difficult to determine what kind of role he could handle over a full season. Anderson has also demonstrated some versatility in the minor leagues. He has worked as both a starter and reliever, accumulating 180 innings across the 2025 and 2026 seasons. During that stretch, he posted a 4.75 ERA while striking out 23.3% of opposing hitters and walking just 6.7%. The strikeout numbers aren't particularly overwhelming, but his ability to limit walks could make him an intriguing organizational option. Another Bullpen Depth Piece Moves On The Mets have some flexibility with Anderson because he still has multiple minor league option years remaining. That gives New York the opportunity to keep him as organizational depth without immediately committing a spot in its major league bullpen. Anderson could spend much of next season at Triple-A, waiting for an opportunity when the Mets need another arm. His experience working in different roles could also make him useful when injuries or workload concerns create openings on the pitching staff. There is also the possibility New York eventually exposes Anderson to waivers again. If he clears, the Mets could potentially retain him as non-roster pitching depth. For the Twins, this is another example of how quickly the edges of a 40-man roster can change during the offseason. Anderson showed some promise during his brief time in Minnesota, but the organization evidently believes other players deserve those roster spots heading into the winter. With the Rule 5 Draft deadline approaching, Minnesota will have plenty of additional decisions to make. Anderson is moving on, and the Twins can now focus on which players they want to protect for the future. View the full article

The Chicago Cubs were pretty good defensively at the MLB level. They also have some good defenders on their way up. First baseman Josiah Hartshorn, North Side Baseball's No. 1 prospect, was named a minor-league Gold Glove winner on Sunday. Minor-league Gold Gloves go to the best defender at their position regardless of level. The 19-year-old Hartshorn, a sixth-round draft choice in 2025 who made his pro debut this season, played at three levels in 2026—Low-A Myrtle Beach, High-A South Bend and Double-A Knoxville—and made just five errors in 440 chances at first base for a .989 fielding percentage. He also played 31 games in right field and 27 games in center without an error. Hartshorn had a slash line of .284/.407/.518 with 23 homers, 112 RBIs and 17 stolen bases in 125 games. View the full article