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For many of us, growing up with baseball meant spending hours on the floor of our bedroom, poring over baseball cards. You might have been one of those who adored the artistry (and especially the creative adventures) of the colorful cardboard collectibles, particularly as various types of special cards became more prevalent in the 1990s. You might have been prone to dog-earing a few copies of Beckett each month, updating the value of your collection by scanning page after page of newsprint-type listings and building skyscrapers in your mind with all your future wealth. No matter what, though, if you loved baseball cards, you spent a lot of time with the numbers. Specifically, of course, you spent a lot of time with outdated numbers. Even by the time I was 11 in 2000, there were publications like Baseball Prospectus and well-known luminaries like Bill James telling everyone who would listen that OBP mattered more than batting average; that RBIs were often a function of opportunity, rather than clutchness or fortitude; and most of all, that pitcher wins are silly. Funnily enough, you'll still find some people who want to make the case for pitcher wins. It's cute. It's like meeting someone obsessed with the question of Zeppelin or Floyd, in 2005. The peak of debate over pitcher wins came a quarter-century ago, now, and it's been a dead issue for at least a decade. No one anyone takes seriously cares what's listed under 'W-L' on a pitcher's baseball card, anymore, because we can all rattle off five or six reasons why those numbers are deceiving, confusing, or just plain useless. It was conceived of at a time when one pitcher usually worked the whole game. Now, it's relatively rare that a pitcher works even two-thirds of one. Given the above, the arbitrary requirement that a starter work at least five innings to earn a win creates an unnecessary distortion in records. For any game in which the lead changes hands late, the person credited with the win is often someone who pitched poorly and left the game while trailing, only to have their offensive teammates seize the lead before someone else took the mound. A starter who pitches a gem but gets outdueled often takes a loss, which is downright foolish. Wins and losses being credited exclusively to pitchers paints the game as much more pitching-dependent than it is. Tough-luck losses and cheap wins can pile up on the records of hurlers, even when (in either direction) it was really a hitter or fielder who decided several games in a sample. Yes, that column has become obsolete for the modern fan. But it's a nice idea, right? One perfectly valid frustration for many fans (especially older ones) is that wins above replacement (WAR), win probability added (WPA) and other 21st-century stats assign value to players by treating all their plate appearances as parts of a continuous seasonal record. This overlooks the fact that each baseball game is a discrete event. While it's very hard to say whether a hitter who delivers 0.1 WPA (i.e., adds 10 percentage points to the team's chances of winning) in six different games is more or less valuable than one who delivers 0.6 WPA in one game and 0 in five others, we can all attest that those things feel very different, and have very different implications for what else needs to happen to get that player's team four wins in the six contests. The won-lost record has value, conceptually. It was just conceived well over a century ago, and doesn't hold up to scrutiny now, both because of how the game has changed and because we understand it so much better and differently now than we did then. So, let's test-drive a still-flawed but more interesting spin on the win (and the loss): WPA W-L. This is radically simple, and not a product of any especially opaque process. I went through all 162 Twins games from 2025, and did the following: If the Twins won: Credited the player with the highest WPA in the game with a win; If the Twins lost: Assigned the player with the lowest WPA in the game a loss; In all cases: Noted the WPA value for the player who earned the decision that day. This takes advantage of the fact that we now have easily searchable WPA values for every game, virtually in real time. There are a few variations between sources' specific WPA values for given games, so for the record, I used Baseball Reference to do this research and leaned on their WPA formula. For those unfamiliar with the idea, WPA simply uses a model informed by historical data to estimate the likelihood of winning for each team entering each plate appearance of a game, and gives credit or blame to the batter and pitcher involved in each encounter based on how those probabilities change from one at-bat to the next. It's far from a perfect system, because it doesn't capture fielding value and only very minimally captures baserunning, but it's something. A pitcher who throws eight innings of one-run ball is extremely unlikely to take a 'loss' under this model, not only because it more directly ties wins and losses to performance by the individual, but because hitters can gets wins and losses in this system, too. Pitchers are still much more likely to do so—hitters took just 52 of the 162 decisions for the 2025 Twins. Now, though, we know the days on which the hitters made the major difference. This still gives us strange quirks. For instance, Brooks Lee had an incredible (although, to fans who were locked in on this team last year, perhaps not an especially surprising) 10 decisions on his own. He went 7-3, showing a remarkable tendency not only to come up with the big hit now and then, but to become the game's main character in either direction. It's very rare for hitters to take losses. It requires a guy not only to go 0-for-4 or so, but to fail in at least one pivotal situation. In the games where hitters got a decision, the 2025 Twins were 37-15, but Lee still managed to lose three games. That he also won seven proves that he disproportionately came to bat in big situations, putting the game on his shoulders. Seven Twins batters had at least three decisions on the season, with most of them being the everyday players you'd expect. Byron Buxton (who, again, gets no credit for his glove and only partial credit for his speed in this framework) went 4-1. Trevor Larnach (not getting penalized for being a DH in this way of studying things, as he is when evaluated by WAR) went 4-2, delivering a bit less game-changing thump than one might have hoped for from a player whose whole game is his bat. Kody Clemens went 5-2, which might surprise his haters. The funniest in this set, though, is Luke Keaschall, who went 3-0 despite losing so much of the season to injury. That's because, in a remarkable streak in mid-August, he won three straight games for the Twins. Keaschall had a WPA of .168 on Aug. 5, a .243 on Aug. 6, and a .143 on Aug. 8. None of those is especially high for a player in a win—the Twins' median WPA for players collecting a win was .269—but he led the way on each of those three days, in his first week back from a broken wrist. If you're particularly sharp-eyed, you'll notice that those three games don't even include his walkoff home run against the Royals, on Aug. 10. It's not his fault; Keaschall was great that day. However, the win went to Michael Tonkin, who held the visitors scoreless in extra innings twice in a row to set up Keaschall's heroics. Tonkin was worth .625 WPA that day; keeping opponents off the board under the automatic-runner rule in startlingly valuable. Speaking of pitchers, it's funny how much this framework emphasizes the fact that their job is simply not to lose. Pitchers can't score, and while hanging zeroes is valuable, team wins often end up being credited to the hitters who produced the runs that decided the outcome. Over half of the Twins' wins went to hitters last year. This framework is unfair to players in a whole different way than standard wins and losses, and most of that unfairness hits relievers. Griffin Jax (0-4) was disappointing in 2025 and certainly wasn't clutch, but Louis Varland (0-4) felt like a more reliable option and gets no better credit than Jax did under this system. Jhoan Duran (1-4) had to pay the price for the fact that he was often pitching at times when a loss was available to him, but a win wasn't. Then again, regular wins and losses inflict some of the same caprices on relievers. Joe Ryan was the decisive influence on the game in about half of his appearances, going 9-7 in 31 games (30 starts). Ditto for Bailey Ober, who went 5-9 in his 27 starts, and Zebby Matthews, who went 3-5 in 16 outings. However, Pablo López (3-2 in 14 starts) and Simeon Woods Richardson (5-3 in 23 games, 22 of them starts) were much less likely to get a decision in a given game. That's not a bad thing; it's a testament to their ability to keep the team in it even when they didn't have their best stuff. That Woods Richardson only took the 'loss' three times is one of the more interesting things I gleaned from this. He really was a competitor. By contrast, you can really see the way the team's evaporated depth killed them late in the season. Beginning with a disastrous Travis Adams loss on Jul. 27, the Twins lost 38 of their final 58 games, and their median WPA by the player who took the loss went from -.277 for their first 54 losses to -.329 the rest of the way. Adams, Mick Abel, Taj Bradley, Noah Davis, Thomas Hatch and Pierson Ohl went a combined 1-12, and several times, they had WPAs of -.400 or worse in those losses, effectively denying the rest of the team a chance to make up for their failures. Players pressed into bigger roles by others' departures couldn't handle it; Justin Topa was 0-6 on the season. Austin Martin and Alan Roden combined to go 0-3. This isn't a robust new stat; it's just a toy. It's fun, though, for the ways it gives us different insights into the unfolding of games than old-fashioned pitcher wins and losses deliver. We'll track this stat in 2026, too, and see where it leads us. For the full list of WPA W-L and the WPAs of the players who got the decision each day, click here. 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We have arrived. If you have been keeping a list of your own, you should know who the five remaining players are on our countdown of top 25 San Diego Padres player assets. These are the players you count on to carry the franchise across a 162-game season. This list ranks the 25 Padres players and prospects with this in mind: Who are the most valuable in the organization's pursuit of building a champion? To make this list, we considered age, upside, and contract. Each player's age and control years are based on his Baseball Reference age for the 2026 season and when Baseball Reference says he can become a free agent. Need a refresher on who we have already ranked? Check out Nos. 6-10, 11-15, 16-20 and 21-25. 5. Michael King, RHP 2026 season age: 31 Controlled through: 2028 King made the surprising decision to return to the Padres on a contract that provides him protection and choices after this season. While he signed a three-year, $75 million deal, the right-handed starter will make $17 million in 2026, with $5 million in salary and a $12 million signing bonus. He then has a player opt-out for 2027 or a salary of $28 million, then a player option for 2028 at a $30 million salary. The contract carries more risk for the Padres if King struggles and doesn't produce up to the standards of what those 2027 and '28 salaries portend. In his two seasons with the Padres since being one of the pieces coming back from the New York Yankees in the Juan Soto trade, King has been stellar. In 46 games, all but one as a starter, King has a 3.65 FIP and a 135 ERA+ with an 8.6% walk rate and 26.8% strikeout rate. But his 2025 was marred by two injuries. First, a nerve issue in his right shoulder sidelined him for 2½ months, then some knee inflammation cut short his first start back after two innings, forcing him to miss another month. That could explain why King, who had a qualifying offer from the Padres, had a softer market than expected. But as of now, King will slot in as the Friars' No. 2 starter, a position he has earned through performance. If he uses his nice mix of a four-seamer, sinker, changeup and sweeper (all used between 19% and 30% of the time) and has success, the Padres will likely be in good shape and set himself up for a bigger payday in 2027. Otherwise, he will still cash in by not opting out. 4. Nick Pivetta, RHP 2026 season age: 33 Controlled through: 2028 Pivetta was found money for the Padres in 2025. Literally. Before signing with the Friars, Pivetta had been a very average-at-best pitcher, mainly in a starting role. But after inking a four-year, $55 million after spring training began last year, the right-hander quickly leapt toward the top of the starting rotation. Pivetta had a $1 million salary with a $3 million signing bonus in 2025. All he did was make 31 starts and toss a career-high 181⅔ innings with a career-best 3.49 FIP and 149 ERA+. That led to a sixth-place finish in the NL Cy Young Award voting. He enters 2026 as the No. 1 starter, but also still the subject of trade speculation. That is because Pivetta is still relatively cost-effective at $19 million for 2026 with an opt-out after this season as well as after 2027. What made Pivetta successful in his first season in San Diego? Perhaps it has something to do with Petco Park being more pitcher-friendly than his previous stops in Boston and Philadelphia, but also likely with him ditching his slider and incorporating a sinker and using his cutter a bit more. It is unlikely that his bigger role in the rotation will faze Pivetta. He has experienced enough throughout his 10-year career to be able to handle anything. This will be a big year for the veteran right-hander, as he will have the carrot dangling of a bigger contract. He has the safety net of two more years for a total of $32 million should anything go wrong for him. 3. Jackson Merrill, CF 2026 season age: 23 Controlled through: 2035 After a fantastic rookie season, Merrill took a step back in 2025, yet was still a productive player. That inconsistency could be due to two things: First is the league's adjustment to Merrill, while the other is that he had three stints on the injured list that limited him to 115 games (strained right hamstring, concussion, sprained left ankle). The center fielder put up a .264/.317/.457 slash line with 16 homers and 67 RBIs and just one steal in three chances for a 112 OPS+. This came after a 2024 in which his slash line was .292/.326/.500 with 24 homers, 90 RBIs and 16 steals for a 127 OPS+, earning him a runner-up finish in the NL Rookie of the Year voting. Merrill signed a nine-year, $135 million contract extension just a few days into the 2025 season, so his Padres future is secure for some time. There isn't much to be concerned about with Merrill, who surprised everyone by jumping into a position, center field, that he had never played before when he made his MLB debut on the Friars' Opening Day roster in 2024. However, it's true that in 2025, his strikeout rate jumped to 22.4%. Concern would grow if his numbers took another step back in the coming season. He will turn 23 in April and the Padres put a lot of faith in Merrill with the extension, which kicks in this year at $2.1 million, then $7.1 million in 2027 and goes up incrementally before surging to $21.1 million in 2030, which would have been his first free-agent season. He was vaulted into the top portion of the lineup in 2025, which could also account for some of his lower numbers, although he also would have had more protection. Merrill is a key part of the Friars' future until he shows otherwise. 2. Mason Miller, RHP 2026 season age: 27 Controlled through: 2029 The most shocking acquisition by any team at the trade deadline was the Friars getting Miller from the A's in a blockbuster deal. Sure, it cost the Padres a highly-touted prospect in shortstop Leo De Vries, but De Vries is still at least a year away from making his MLB debut, while Miller made a lethal bullpen that much more deadly during a run to the postseason. Miller was thought to be almost untradeable at the time and the Padres didn't have a pressing need at the back end of the bullpen. Now, he looks like the key piece in the relief corps. Miller is a fascinating talent and will step into the closer's role vacated by Robert Suarez leaving in free agency. Miller had converted 48 of 54 save opportunities with the A's in 2024 and '25 at the time of the deal and was in a set-up role with the Padres, notching 10 holds and two saves in 22 appearances. The right-hander, who is arbitration-eligible this season for the first time as a Super 2, has some of the most filthy stuff in all of baseball. That shows itself as he ranks in the top percentile league-wide with a 44.4% strikeout rate, 101.2 mph fastball velocity, 22.5% whiff rate, and 37.3% whiff and swinging strike rate. When Miller enters the game to close it out in 2026, there will be as much confidence as the Friar Faithful has had in a closer since the days of Trevor Hoffman and "Hell's Bells" echoed through Petco Park. That is, if the Padres don't trade him before Opening Day. 1. Fernando Tatis Jr., RF 2026 season age: 27 Controlled through: 2034 And then there was one. It should be little surprise that Tatis landed in this spot as he has always been an electric player, first as a shortstop and now as a two-time Platinum Glove-winning right fielder. To some, Tatis is still trying to erase the stench from his 2022 suspension for performance-enhancing drugs that tarnished his 42-homer 2021 that led to a third-place finish for NL MVP. But Tatis came back strong in 2023 in his new position and following shoulder surgery, posting a .257/.322/.449 slash line with 25 homers, 78 RBIs and 29 steals, earning down-ballot MVP votes. He missed a good chunk of 2024 with what was at first right quadriceps injury but turned out to be a stress reaction in his right femur. His slash line was still Tatis-like at .276/.340/.492 with 21 homers, 49 RBIs and just 11 steals in 102 games. In 2025, Tatis played in a career-high 155 games, putting up a .268/.368/.446 slash line with 25 homers, 71 RBIs and 32 steals. That added up to a 5.9 bWAR season, his best since the 6.6 mark in that PED-tainted 2021 campaign. Tatis started earning good money in 2025 as the 14-year, $340 million extension he signed in 2021 paid him $20.7 million, the same figure he will make in 2026. This will be Tatis' seventh season (not counting 2022 in which he didn't play due to injury and the suspension). He is the player the front office has built this team around, although others make more money than Tatis does. All of that time and Tatis is just entering his prime years, as he just turned 27 on Jan. 2. If he puts up numbers incrementally better than he did in 2025, he will continue to show why he is a top-15 player in all of MLB and why the Padres invested in his talent. View the full article

Miami Marlins fans have been watching games on the same regional sports network for decades. It has gone by many different names, most recently FanDuel Sports Network Florida. Beginning with the 2026 season, the way that Marlins television broadcasts are distributed may finally change. From Tom Friend of Sports Business Journal regarding Main Street Sports Group, which owns all of the FanDuel Sports Network affiliates: MLB sources said the St. Louis Cardinals—who did not receive their December rights fee payment—have already informed Main Street they are opting out barring a lucrative 11th hour “final, final offer.” Those same sources also expect six of the other eight MLB teams tied to Main Street will similarly leave—the Brewers, Reds, Royals, Tigers, Angels and Marlins—and that the Braves are considering an exit, as well. Main Street had been trying to sell itself to sports streaming platform DAZN, but those talks are collapsing. If unable to complete a sale, Main Street plans to cease operations at the end of the NBA and NHL regular seasons in April, Friend previously reported. In recent years, the Arizona Diamondbacks, Cleveland Guardians, Minnesota Twins, San Diego Padres and Texas Rangers have broken up with Main Street. Their games are now available to be streamed in-market through MLB.TV. Given that precedent and the timing of this news with Opening Day less than three months away, MLB.TV is seemingly the most likely solution for the Marlins. However, there's also the case of the NHL's Florida Panthers—another Main Street defector—that partnered with Scripps Sports beginning in 2024. The club has not commented on their plans as of Thursday morning. View the full article

The Chicago Cubs parted with top prospect Owen Caissie and two other prospects to acquire Marlins' right-handed pitcher Edward Cabrera. Let’s break it down from all angles! Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-north-side-baseball-podcast/id1798599313 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/75wMGhBwlrDDYPt3kaF453 Listen on iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-the-north-side-baseball-po-268998437/ Listen on Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/eey7h6ih Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@northsidebaseball View the full article

Jed Hoyer got his man on Wednesday, as the Chicago Cubs were able to pull off their long-awaited deal for a starting pitcher, in Miami's Edward Cabrera. He'll join Cade Horton and (eventually) Justin Steele in a formidable trio atop the team's rotation. Naturally, in order to acquire an arm as valuable as Cabrera's, you need to give up value in return. The Cubs sent outfielder Owen Caissie, shortstop prospect Cristian Hernández, and 18-year-old infield prospect Edgardo De Leon to Miami. Caissie is ready to take on the top level on a full-time basis and was expected to challenge heavily for regular time for the 2026 Cubs. Hernández was a massive international prospect signing for the team in January 2021, and checked in at No. 8 on our list of the organization's top prospects. Much of the attention to the Cubs' end of things is, obviously, going to surround what Cabrera adds to the roster. When he's healthy, he can be a frontline arm. Yet, it's also important to explore what the acquisition cost means, in terms of the 2026 roster and the longer-term picture. The most significant component in this deal is Caissie. The 2025 campaign saw his first action at the top level, but he only got 27 big-league plate appearances, so he maintains rookie status ahead of this year (he sat at the top of our list of Cubs prospects). In his cup of coffee with the Cubs, fans got a concentrated dose of what Caissie does both well and poorly. He notched only five hits and struck out 11 times, but added a homer and a 13.3% Barrel rate to the equation. His 27.9% strikeout rate in Iowa was Caissie's lowest in his minor-league career, while the Cubs fanned just 20.7% of the time. Plus-plus raw power is Caissie's hallmark, and there's an argument to be made that he didn't neatly fit the philosophy the Cubs prefer to instill in their hitters, wherein they rely more on efficient swings than loud ones. Nevertheless, Caissie was projected to play a significant role for this group in the upcoming season. Whether right field was a timeshare with Seiya Suzuki or he was serving more as a designated hitter, there was finally a path to playing time upon Kyle Tucker's departure. It's not out of the question that his profile played a role in their willingness to move him. They preferred what Moisés Ballesteros brings at the plate, even if he lacks an actual defensive position. It's likely that with this deal, Suzuki assumes full-time duty in right field, while Ballesteros gets plenty of run as the team's designated hitter. Hernández is an interesting inclusion, as he was certainly a name in the system; he drew Álex Rodríguez comparisons when he was signed out of the Dominican Republic. His bat never got going throughout his time in the system, however, even if he drew rave reviews for his glovework and totaled 97 steals in the last two seasons. His absence will be noteworthy within the system. It'll be interesting to see the shape the team's middle infield takes in the long term now, with Hernández plying his trade in Miami and Nico Hoerner set to hit free agency next winter. Holding onto both Jefferson Rojas and Juan Cabada was key for the Cubs. De Leon is the wild card here, as he'll turn just 19 next month and was a fresh name in the team's system. He turned in impressive numbers in his first year with the organization in the Arizona Complex League, with a .353 on-base percentage and .500 slugging average. He provides the type of upside you often need to complete a deal of this nature, but at this stage of development, it's impossible to know what his trajectory will be. He's not a valuable defensive player. As such, the departure in this trade that immediately impacts the Cubs is Caissie. It makes things easier for Craig Counsell this year (on paper), but also saps some of the power the team was poised to get from the corner outfield spots. They may have to look elsewhere to compensate for that. Overall, though, given Caissie's swing-and-miss profile, Hernández's uncertain offensive future, and the early stages of De Leon's development, the Cubs were able to get a guy they coveted for a long time without cannibalizing their farm system. The needle was threaded, if you will. View the full article

The Kansas City Royals have been aggressively adding to their bullpen this offseason. First, they picked up former Detroit Tiger (and KC Metro area product) Alex Lange. Then, they acquired Nick Mears from the Brewers (along with outfielder Isaac Collins) in a deal for Angel Zerpa. Lastly, Kansas City solidified its late-inning reliever depth by acquiring Matt Strahm from Philadelphia for Jonathan Bowlan. However, it seems like the Royals aren't done adding to the bullpen just yet, as MLB.com Royals beat writer Anne Rogers reported in her latest article. According to Rogers, the Royals are still in the hunt for left-handed bullpen help and are willing to address that need through the trade market. Here's what Rogers said in her article about what they are looking for specifically in regard to bullpen help this offseason. Right now, the only left-handed reliever with Minor League options is Daniel Lynch IV, who has one remaining. Bailey Falter, who moved to the bullpen after struggling in a couple of the starts with the Royals after coming over from Pittsburgh at last year's Trade Deadline, doesn't have one. Thus, the former Pirates lefty would need to stay with the Royals roster all season to avoid being designated for assignment. Thus, with left-handed relievers a priority this offseason, who are some trade targets that could make sense for Kansas City to pursue in the coming weeks? And what would it take from the Royals' end to acquire that much-needed bullpen help? Let's look at three candidates that could be acquired by the Royals and why they would make sense for the Royals in 2026 and possibly beyond. (All graphics and data courtesy of TJ Stats.) Garrett Cleavinger, Tampa Bay Rays The Rays have a bit of a logjam in their closer situation for the upcoming season. With the departure of Pete Fairbanks, the main spot in the ninth inning seems to be up for grabs. The Rays have Edwin Uceta, Griffin Jax, and Cleavinger as possible options in the ninth, and they all bring their fair share of positives and negatives to the role. Cleavinger is an interesting candidate because he posted solid numbers last season. In 61.1 IP, he posted a 2.35 ERA, 33.7% K rate, and 26.3% K-BB%. However, his FIP was high at 3.59, primarily due to an 18.8% HR/FB rate allowed last season. While the move back to Tropicana Field should help suppress that rate a bit, the 31-year-old reliever also saw his hard-hit rate increase from 33.8% in 2024 to 41.2% in 2025, and his average exit velocity allowed go up by 1.9 MPH as well. Hence, he may not be trusted in the ninth as much as Uceta or Jax. The Rays have always been willing to trade relievers to address other needs, and Cleavinger could be an avenue for them to accomplish that goal. Right now, Tampa Bay's situation at second base looks bleak after they traded away Brandon Lowe to Pittsburgh, as Richie Palacios and Ryan Vilade are the only options for now. Could the Royals acquire Cleavinger for Michael Massey, who could provide pop and strong defense at the keystone for the Rays, if healthy? Massey is a much better defender than Palacios, as Massey has a +6 FRV at second base in his career, while Palacios has a -1 FRV. Additionally, while Palacios has a career 100 wRC+, 19 points better than Massey, the Royals' second baseman has a 1.8 fWAR, which is 0.4 better than Palacios'. Thus, Tampa Bay may be interested in a second baseman who could be a "Lowe-Lite," and under team control until 2029. Cleavinger doesn't have any Minor League options, which limits his current roster flexibility. That said, his stuff was stellar last year, as he sported a 102 overall TJ Stuff+ and also sported a chase rate of 31.2% and whiff rate of 35.9%. He likely would be a solid option in the middle innings who could step into high-leverage situations when Strahm is unavailable. Dylan Dodd, Atlanta Braves The Braves have been aggressive in adding to the bullpen this offseason after missing out on the postseason a year ago. They acquired Padres closer Ranger Suarez and Yankees setup man Ian Hamilton to give support to projected closer Raisel Iglesias, who saved 29 games a year ago. They also have strong lefties in Dylan Lee and Aaron Bummer who can pitch in high-leverage situations. Thus, an odd man out in the Braves bullpen is Dodd, who posted a 3.60 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in 35 IP a season ago. Roster Resource projects that the 27-year-old lefty won't make the Opening Day roster, as he still has a Minor League option remaining. If he were traded to Kansas City, he likely would replace either Lynch or Falter's spot on the roster. Dodd doesn't have great stuff, based on TJ Stats metrics (94 TJ Stuff+ overall). However, he's effective at generating chase (33.5%) and whiffs (30.3%), two areas the Royals are trying to improve in 2026. The Braves could trade Dodd for Nick Loftin, who doesn't seem to have an opportunity for much playing time right now. Loftin is a utility player who could play multiple positions in Atlanta and would strike out a lot less (14.4% K%) than other bench options like Vidal Brujan (22.1% K%) and Eli White (25.8% K%). A trade of Loftin for Dodd would be a win-win for both the Royals and Braves, as well as the two players, who should get more of an opportunity in a fresh new location. Jordan Wicks, Chicago Cubs The Cubs have been buyers when it comes to pitching this offseason. They added free agent relievers Hunter Harvey (a former Royal), Phil Maton, Jacob Webb, and Hoby Milner to boost the bullpen. Furthermore, Chicago acquired Edward Cabrera from the Marlins in a trade on Wednesday, which should solidify the Cubs' rotation for 2026. However, all the additions have bumped the 26-year-old Wicks from the MLB mix, as he is projected to begin the year in Triple-A Iowa, according to Roster Resource. Wicks hasn't been great at the MLB level, posting a 5.21 ERA and 4.79 FIP across 26 games and 95 IP. However, he made the move to the bullpen last year and seemed much better in the role. While his ERA and WHIP were high at 6.28 and 1.74, respectively, his FIP was much better at 3.34. He showed impeccable control with a 54.4% zone rate and 17.9% K-BB%. He also put up the latter despite a 19.4% K%. Another positive about Wicks' profile is that he generates a ton of chase, as he sported a 40.4% chase rate a year ago. The stuff is average at 100, but his slider and sweeper are his best pitches with 105 TJ Stuff+ marks. That works a lot better in relief than as a starter. He is also a local product, having attended Kansas State. The Royals have seemed motivated to get local guys this offseason, as illustrated by the Lange and Kameron Misner (Mizzou) moves. The Cubs could use some help off the bench, and someone like Massey or Tyler Tolbert could fit the bill in exchange for Wicks, especially if Kevin Alcantara's strikeout issues don't improve (33.3% K% in 12 PA with the Cubs last year). Tolbert struck out less than 20% last year (19.3% to be specific), and he can play multiple positions in the infield and outfield. Furthermore, he could be a nice baserunning option off the bench for the Cubs, which is something the Cubs prioritize, as they ranked 3rd in stolen bases a season ago. View the full article

Here at the start of 2026, we're taking stock of talent in the Twins organization by ranking their top 20 player assets. We went over the the ground rules in our introductory post on Monday, but the short version is this: We're trying to answer the question, "Which current players in the organization are most indispensable to fulfilling the vision of building a champion?" You can read Monday's, Tuesday's and Wednesday's posts for breakdowns of each player, but here's a quick glance at the list so far: 20. Marek Houston, SS 19. Ryan Jeffers, C 18. Brooks Lee, SS 17. Bailey Ober, RHP 16. Connor Prielipp, LHP 15. David Festa, RHP 14. Eduardo Tait, C 13. Royce Lewis, 3B 12. Matt Wallner, RF 11. Zebby Matthews, RHP 10. Taj Bradley, RHP 9. Mick Abel, RHP 8. Byron Buxton, CF 7. Emmanuel Rodriguez, CF 6. Simeon Woods Richardson, RHP Now, without further ado, here are the five most important players and prospects for the outlook of the Minnesota Twins, from my view. The Top 20 Twins Player Assets of 2026: 1-5 5. Kaelen Culpepper, SS Age: 23 Controlled through: 2031+ 2025 Ranking: NR The biggest riser of the Twins system in 2025. It came at a very opportune time with Carlos Correa's departure opening up shortstop as the franchise's most critical long-term question mark. Right now Brooks Lee is manning the position but he hasn't shown much, leaving the door open for Culpepper to potentially step in soon if he can keep building on his breakthrough in the minors. The 2024 first-rounder's first full season in the pros was split almost equally between High-A and Double-A. Culpepper raked at both stops, posting a cumulative .289/.375/.469 slash line with 20 homers and 25 steals. He played shortstop almost exclusively, generating some belief that he can stick there in the majors, although that's far from assured. Right now he looks like Minnesota's best long-term bet at shortstop, with third base as a potential fallback if the defensive skills aren't quite sharp enough. That'll be a fine outcome so long as he can keep riding a standout bat. Culpepper is very much in play for a 2026 debut. 4. Pablo López, RHP Age: 29 Controlled through: 2027 2025 Ranking: 5 On one hand, it's really hard to rank López this highly as a player making $42 million over the next two seasons for a team hampered by payroll constraints. Recent injury issues don't help his case. On the other hand, what López brings for Minnesota is almost irreplaceable: a proven frontline starter who has dominated in the playoffs, and is in the heart of his prime coming off a 2.74 ERA. To the extent that the Twins have any aspirations of contending for a title in the next two years, López will be foundational. And if they decide it's not in the cards, then trading him would bring back a level of future value to substantially bolster a rebuild. 3. Joe Ryan, RHP Age: 29 Controlled through: 2027 2025 Ranking: 4 The same things I just said about López basically apply to Ryan as well. He also achieved a high watermark for performance in 2025 (3.42 ERA) while earning his first All-Star nod. Unlike López, he reached a new workload peak too, totaling 171 frames over 30 starts. The financial factor looms large here: Ryan is in line to receive (via arbitration) only a fraction of López's guaranteed commitment in his final two years before free agency. That's obviously a major consideration for a Twins team with capped spending capability, and it makes him generally more desirable for potential trade partners as well. 2. Luke Keaschall, 2B Age: 23 Controlled through: 2031 2025 Ranking: 15 Keaschall's stellar big-league debut was one of the biggest bright spots for the 2025 Twins, obscured somewhat by a broken arm that cost him more than half the season. When on the field, he made a memorable first impression, batting .302 with four homers, 14 doubles and 14 stolen bases in 49 games. Keaschall showed an uncommonly advanced eye at the plate, drawing 19 walks against 29 strikeouts and reaching base at a .382 clip. There are legitimate questions about how much power he'll be able to generate. A potential transition to the outfield might downgrade his value a bit (unless he can really shine defensively, which he didn't at second). But those relative drawbacks pale in comparison to the ability he's already shown. With his speed and his control of the strike zone, you can more or less write Keaschall's name into the top of the lineup for years to come. 1. Walker Jenkins, OF Age: 20 Controlled through: 2031+ 2025 Ranking: 1 It's nearly time. Jenkins has been painted as The Next Big Thing ever since he was drafted fifth overall in 2023, and he's been living up to the hype as a prospect, at least in between injuries. The 20-year-old's meteoric ascent through the minors has only been made more striking by all the time he's missed; there's clearly a ton of faith from the organization in his skills and makeup. Minnesota's decision to promote Jenkins to Triple-A near the end of the season – warranted, but fairly aggressive – signals that they envision him in their big-league plans sooner than later. While it should be emphasized that there's no such thing as a sure thing, and even success stories often take time to materialize ... Jenkins is awfully easy to dream on. The few prospects of his caliber who've come through the system – Joe Mauer, Byron Buxton, Royce Lewis – have all made major impacts in the majors. They've also proven you can't do it alone, which is why even a 99th percentile outcome for Jenkins (first-ballot Hall of Famer, like Mauer) would require others above him on this list to support the cause. There you have it. My ranking of the top 20 player assets in the Twins organization entering the 2026 season. You can find the full list summarized below. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Who would you have moved up or down? Who missed the cut that shouldn't have? Who's overhyped and who's underrated? Sound off in the comment section. Walker Jenkins, OF Luke Keaschall, 2B Joe Ryan, RHP Pablo Lopez, RHP Kaelen Culpepper, SS Simeon Woods Richardson, RHP Emmanuel Rodriguez, OF Byron Buxton, OF Mick Abel, RHP Taj Bradley, RHP Zebby Matthews, RHP Matt Wallner, OF Royce Lewis, 3B Eduardo Tait, C David Festa, RHP Connor Prielipp, LHP Bailey Ober, RHP Brooks Lee, SS Ryan Jeffers, C Marek Houston, SS View the full article

Thursday is the deadline for Major League Baseball teams to exchange salary figures with their arbitration-eligible players. The Miami Marlins avoided arbitration hearings in 2025, agreeing to one-year deals with each member of their class. That is once again the likely outcome for them heading into 2026. It is customary for arb-eligible players to receive salary increases from the previous year, even if they struggled. Left-hander Braxton Garrett is an exception—after missing the entire 2025 campaign due to Tommy John surgery, he has settled for an identical salary this season. These negotiations can sometimes culminate in multi-year contract extensions. Marlins fans shouldn't get their hopes up, though, as the club has not extended a single player since March 2022 (Richard Bleier). Edward Cabrera would've been the highest earner in Miami's 2026 arbitration class—MLB Trade Rumors projected him for $3.7 million. Following Wednesday's trade sending Cabrera to the Chicago Cubs, this is poised to be one of the cheapest classes in MLB. RHP Anthony Bender Third year of arbitration eligibility Projected for $2.3 million RHP Calvin Faucher First year of arbitration eligibility Projected for $1.9 million LHP Braxton Garrett Second year of arbitration eligibility Projected for $1.53 million Settled at $1.53 million LHP Ryan Weathers First year of arbitration eligibility Projected for $1.5 million RHP Max Meyer First year of arbitration eligibility Projected for $1.3 million LHP Andrew Nardi First year of arbitration eligibility Projected for $800,000 Hearings for players who don't reach deals will take place in Arizona between January 26 and February 13. View the full article

Davis Schneider has been a utility player over his three-year MLB career with the Toronto Blue Jays. He's handled second and third base, as well as left field. Offensively, he's an adequate contact hitter who walks at a high rate and offers some power. Last season, he slashed .234/.361/.436 with 11 home runs, 33 runs, and 31 runs knocked in over 227 plate appearances. Despite the low batting average, he posted a .280 BABIP and had a 15.9 walk percentage. His .202 isolated power (slugging percentage minus batting average) was 25% better than league average. Surprisingly, as a right-handed hitter, he has struggled against left-handed pitchers over the last two seasons. He posted a .528 and .708 OPS against southpaws in 2024 and '25, respectively, compared to .667 and .915 marks against righties. Last season, 37 of his 60 strikeouts, and only four of his home runs, came against left-handers. These struggles complicate his opportunities for playing time as a right-handed hitter. The signing of Kazuma Okamoto has further muddied Schneider's path to playing time. Okamoto was a primary third baseman in NPB but also spent time at first base and in the outfield. Schneider is now blocked by three right-handed-hitting infielders: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Ernie Clement, and Okamoto. In the outfield, left-handed hitters Addison Barger, Daulton Varsho, Nathan Lukes, and Anthony Santander (switch-hitter) will block Schneider from facing right-handed pitching. Varsho, Lukes, and Santander have outperformed Schneider against lefties over their careers, as well. The only clear-cut route for Schneider to get on the field is if Barger sits against southpaws. Barger has only taken 126 MLB plate appearances against southpaws due to his struggles against them the last two seasons, compared to 601 PA against righties. However, Myles Straw, who is a right-handed hitter and had a .683 OPS against left-handed pitchers last season, could be the preferred candidate to replace Barger. While he isn't likely to be a better hitter than Schneider, he is a far superior defender and baserunner. That means Schneider has no route to regular at-bats unless there's an injury. Toronto's lineup could become even more crowded for the utility player. USA Today's Bob Nightengale is among those to report that Kyle Tucker, Alex Bregman, and Bo Bichette are still on the table to be signed by the defending American League champions. Nightengale also stated that the Blue Jays' preference "is to make Okamoto a superutility player." If the Jays signed one of Tucker, Bregman, or Bichette, it would make a Schneider trade a near certainty. Schneider will only be 27 years old in 2026, and he has four years of team control remaining. That makes him an appealing trade target. There's a chance he could also be sent down to Triple A, but that would mean wasting his talent to keep him around in case of an injury. Ultimately, there doesn't seem to be a scenario where keeping Schneider makes sense for a team with World Series aspirations. View the full article

Baseball has become an international sport. In 2025, internationally born players made up 27.8% of players on Opening Day rosters across Major League Baseball. The Dominican Republic led the way with 100 players, followed by Venezuela with 63 players. You can read more about the situation in Venezuela and its impact on Major League Baseball here. The Red Sox have four Venezuelan players in the organization: the new kid on the block, first baseman Willson Contreras, catcher Carlos Narváez, right fielder Wilyer Abreu, and shortstop prospect Franklin Arias. Beat writer Marcos Grunfeld reported that the Red Sox are “monitoring the situation” in Venezuela and have confirmed that their players, families, and staff in the country are safe. Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe shared an updated list of players attending Fenway Fest this past Saturday. Of the team’s four Venezuelan players, all except Contreras are set to appear. Contreras’s absence caught my attention, especially given the current geopolitical situation. But on Monday morning, Contreras posted an Instagram Story of Cerro El Casupo, a park in Valencia, Venezuela (which I found after a quick reverse Google Image search), so he appears to be doing well. For reference, Valencia is approximately 103.77 miles away from Caracas, the Venezuelan capital and target of U.S. strikes on January 3. Safe travels to players (and any family joining them) traveling to Boston this weekend, and to Contreras ahead of spring training. View the full article

During a Fish On First Twitter space, Isaac Azout, Kevin Barral, Alex Carver and Nate Karzmer share their initial reactions to the Marlins trading Edward Cabrera to the Chicago Cubs for a package of Owen Caissie, Cristian Hernández and Edgardo De Leon.View the full article

Justin Wilson has had a long, successful career in Major League Baseball, authoring a 3.59 ERA over 562.0 innings in 13 seasons. He's pitched for seven teams in that time, though, save for the Chicago Cubs in 2017, none have even advanced as far as the League Championship Series. That includes the Boston Red Sox, who employed Wilson for the first time in 2025. They fell to the New York Yankees (another former stop in the veteran's career) in the AL Wild Card Round, where Wilson surrendered nary a baserunner in 1 2/3 innings. He was effective across the entire season in Beantown, tallying a 3.35 ERA, 2.95 FIP, and 27.5% strikeout rate as the most reliable southpaw in the bullpen not named Aroldis Chapman. That kind of success, even at age 37, was sure to guarantee Wilson another go-round in the majors, be it in Boston or elsewhere. Most anticipated a return to the Red Sox with fellow southpaw Steven Matz leaving for the Tampa Bay Rays in free agency, creating a big opening for a high-leverage southpaw among the late-inning relief corps. However, that entire train of thought has been thrown out the window following the latest report that Wilson is mulling retirement this offseason. Having turned 38 last August, it's understandable that he's debating hanging his cleats up more than 20 years since originally being drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, he's more "grizzled vet" than "long in the tooth", and he can clearly still pitch with the best of 'em — he ranked in the 91st percentile in whiff rate (31.9%) and the 82nd percentile in strikeout rate last season. Hence, it's a bit jaw-dropping to hear Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic report that "It is unlikely Wilson, 38, pitches in 2026 unless it is on a fair deal with a legitimate World Series contender." The Red Sox certainly fit the bill of a "legitimate World Series contender" following the offseason acquisitions of Willson Contreras, Sonny Gray, and Johan Oviedo, and there should be more than enough room in the budget to offer Wilson a sizable raise over last year's $2.25 million salary. Then again, they've reportedly started scouring the free-agent market for a replacement — Danny Coulombe, Tim Mayza, and Cionel Perez have been connected to them directly — which offers some credence to the retirement rumors. Perhaps Boston was preparing for a reunion with Wilson and now must divert their attention elsewhere. The need for another high-leverage southpaw cannot be overstated. Chapman is a brilliant closer, but Jovani Morán is the only other lefty projected to crack the Opening Day bullpen. The latter has produced some strong metrics that portend a breakout season could be on the horizon, but he can't be relied upon to fill the shoes of both Wilson and Matz. The same can be said for Tyler Samaniego, the only other lefty reliever on the 40-man roster. Perhaps a move to the bullpen for Payton Tolle or Kyle Harrison could assuage some of these concerns, though that feels like a last resort considering both offer significantly more value (and upside) as starting pitchers. Signing one of the aforementioned free agents like Coulombe could also do the trick, but that'd require the Red Sox to actually go out and sign their first major-league free agent of the offseason. In truth, the best resolution to this is that the Red Sox offer Wilson whatever terms he's seeking (within reason) on a one-year deal, offering him one last chance to pursue that elusive World Series ring. Insofar as that's off the table, though, you can add one more agenda item to the front office's pile. View the full article

The Minnesota Twins enter 2026 walking a familiar line between patience and urgency. The big-league roster is far from a juggernaut, but the organization underneath it has quietly transformed into one of baseball’s strongest farm systems. After years of prospect droughts, Minnesota finally has waves of talent approaching readiness for the majors. That shift changes the conversation. Development matters as much as results. Decisions made in St. Paul, Wichita, Cedar Rapids, Fort Myers, and on draft day will ripple all the way to Target Field. These are the five prospect storylines that will shape the Twins organization throughout the 2026 season. The Walker Jenkins Debut Timeline Given a healthy spring, Walker Jenkins will open 2026 right where the Twins want him: playing in Triple-A St. Paul. Comfortable. Dominant. And still waiting. After finishing last season with the Saints, Jenkins still has something to prove against minor-league pitching, so Minnesota doesn’t need to rush him. He posted a 154 wRC+ at Double-A Wichita, but saw that drop to an 88 wRC+ in 23 Triple-A games. He is not on the 40-man roster, and the outfield depth chart has bodies in front of him, including Emmanuel Rodriguez, who remains one of the organization’s most polished bats. The Twins gain nothing by forcing the issue. Jenkins will be given time to settle in, refine his approach, and wait for the right opening. When that call finally comes, it will be one of the most anticipated prospect debuts in franchise history. The hype will feel familiar to fans who watched Royce Lewis and Byron Buxton arrive with massive expectations. A Rebuilt Farm System That Must Now Perform Last year’s trade deadline marked a turning point for the Twins organization. The sell-off injected talent, depth, and upside into a system that badly needed all three. Minnesota went from thin to loaded in a matter of weeks. Now comes the hard part—proving the evaluations were right. Players acquired at the deadline are no longer names on a transaction log. Eduardo Tait, Kendry Rojas, Mick Abel, Enrique Jimenez, Ryan Gallagher, Sam Armstrong, and Garrett Horn will all be watched closely in the coming year. These players are expected to form the backbone of the next competitive Twins roster. Adjusting to a new organization can be difficult, but by Opening Day, those growing pains should be a thing of the past. The Twins believe they now have one of the best farm systems in baseball. This season is about distinguishing true building blocks from organizational depth. Draft Day Pressure at Pick Number Three The 2026 MLB Draft could play a massive role in shaping the Twins' long-term outlook, with Minnesota selecting third overall. UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky has emerged as the consensus top prospect in the class and appears likely to go first overall. After that, the board opens quickly. College shortstop Justin Lebron and high school shortstops Grady Emerson and Jacob Lombard headline a talented and volatile next tier. If Lebron slides to number three, the Twins may find themselves staring at a player who could become the organization’s top prospect by this time next season. Draft boards will shift between now and July, but Minnesota is positioned to add another premium talent to an already crowded system. Another Trade Deadline Reset The Twins are not exactly gearing up for a 2026 playoff push. Josh Bell has been the team’s most significant addition, and while he fills a need, he does not change the broader trajectory. The bullpen remains thin, with Cole Sands and Justin Topa currently projected as late-inning options. It's easy to see Minnesota with a sub-.500 record at the trade deadline. If that happens, the front office may again lean into selling veterans. Joe Ryan, Pablo López, and impending free agents (led by Ryan Jeffers) all could be moved. The Connor Prielipp Role Decision Connor Prielipp finally enjoyed something that had eluded him since turning professional: a healthy season. Used as a starter, Prielipp showed real promise, but the Twins handled him cautiously. He reached five innings only twice and never surpassed 85 pitches. That workload tells you everything about how carefully the organization views his future. Derek Falvey has already mentioned the possibility of moving Prielipp to the bullpen, and it feels like the most logical path. His high-end stuff could make him a devastating late-inning weapon; his injury history makes him a risky proposition as a starter. In a system rich with starting pitching options, Prielipp’s role may end up being one of the most critical decisions the Twins make in 2026. A Franchise at a Crossroads The common thread tying all of these storylines together is timing. The Twins are no longer in a race to accumulate talent. They are waiting for the right moments to deploy their top prospects. That is a very different problem from the one the organization has faced in recent years. The coming season is about alignment. It's about balancing acquisition and development and keeping the future in mind while the present unfolds. If the Twins navigate these decisions correctly, the next competitive window will feel close to opening. If they get it wrong, the rebuild risks stretching longer than anyone wants to admit. Which of these storylines do you think will have the most significant impact on the Twins' future, and is there another prospect situation you are watching closely? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. View the full article

On Wednesday afternoon, the Cubs finally addressed their starting rotation, completing a trade with the Maimi Marlins for right-handed pitcher Edward Cabrera. The Marlins and the Cubs have long been apparent bedfellows, with Chicago almost dealing for Jesús Luzardo last year and Cabrera last summer, and they finally consummated a deal. There will be plenty of discourse on the price, and losing Owen Caissie could come back and hurt the Cubs at some point, but what the Cubs are actually getting in Cabrera is just as important. Cabrera, 27, is a 6-foot-5 right-handed pitcher who signed with the Marlins as an international free agent way in 2015. He gained significant prospect hype, making the Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus and MLB Pipeline Top 100 lists for three straight seasons from 2020-22. However, it took a while for him to stick in the Marlins rotation, due to a combination of control issues and injuries. That changed in 2025, when Cabrera and Marlins pitching coach Daniel Moskos (hired away from the Cubs in Nov. 2024) made a significant change in arm slot, which seemingly unlocked Cabrera's potential. By shifting his arm slot lower, Cabrera created a significant change in his movement profile, giving him significantly more horizontal movement than he had before—and tons of vertical movement on his curveball.. Here's Cabrera's new-look curveball in a game against the Milwaukee Brewers in July. On a 2-2 count, and after a (barely) too-low changeup, Cabrera used his hammer to get the punchout. The added depth and how the pitch plays off his changeup earned a chase on this pitch. FanGraphs's Stuff+ agrees the pitch has gotten better, shape-wise. While it was always strong, sitting at a career 109 on their scale, it jumped to a 119 last year. ZU44b25fWGw0TUFRPT1fVlFOVkJsTlZVbFFBQ1ZOUVVRQUhWQTVXQUZrQUJ3Y0FVVkFOQ1ZVQ0FGWlRWbGRX.mp4 While Cabrera's best pitch now is his curveball, his arm slot change also improved his changeup, taking the shape of that pitch from below-average to plus. Changeups are great for right-handed-pitchers to attack left-handed hitters, and it's always been a staple for him. Here, Cabrera used his changeup with strong arm-side run to strikeout the dangerous Lamonte Wade Jr. WEQyTTJfWGw0TUFRPT1fVUFSVUFGSU1Wd1FBWGxKV1ZRQUhBVklEQUFCVUFRSUFWbGNCVVFNQVVnY0dDRllF.mp4 The Marlins and Cabrera were effectively able to change his pitch mix last season to utilize his arm slot optimally, moving away from his 98-mph fastball and highlighting a sinker-slider combination that would better attack righties. The fireballer can now more effectively attack both sides of the plate, which sows doubt and creates deception. None of this matters if there isn't proof of real applicability attached to those adjustments, but there was plenty of that in 2025. Cabrera posted his best ERA (3.53), FIP (3.83) and xFIP (3.62). One thing that could be easy to miss: none of this resulted in a lower strikeout rate. While his per-inning strikeout rate decreased slightly, because his walk rate was so much lower (13.3% career prior, 8.3% last year), he faced fewer hitters per inning and his per-batter faced rate stayed pretty much the same. It was easily his best season. There are still places to improve. The batted-ball data against Cabrera isn't great. He gives up a lot of hard hit balls and isn't great at limiting barrels. With his stuff, one might hope for better chase rates on pitches outside the zone. The Cubs are a team who love cutting action on fastballs, and adding a cutter to Cabrera's arsenal might also continue to help against lefty batters, while allowing him to use his sinker (which he likely throws a little too often to lefties) less often against them. Cabrera is making progress, but is not a finished project. Beyond some cleanup work, there's another red flag in Cabrera's game: injuries. Cabrera has had a fairly lengthy injury record, and last year was no different, as he missed time twice with elbow-related issues. It's tempting to worry that he's on the verge of needing Tommy John surgery, but while any pitcher is seemingly one throw away from exploding, the risk might not be as severe as it seems. Remember, Cabrera significantly dropped his arm slot last year. Typically, that will result in more stress in the elbow versus the shoulder. We shouldn't ignore these, but it could also be that a new motion created some added soreness as the pitcher got used to the changes. Hopefully for his (and the Cubs') sake, this is a transition to a new mechanical signature, rather than something more serious. The Cubs reviewed his medicals before approving this trade, and they appear to believe he's healthier than Luzardo was a year ago. Moving forward, it's fair to be cautiously optimistic about what the Cubs have acquired. The team has clearly prioritized pitchers with lower arm slots, such as Phil Maton, Hoby Milner and Colin Snider this offseason, and Cabrera will fit that mold. He's young and has plenty of upside. There is clear risk here, because he's never fully established himself as a No. 2 in the rotation, but he has the hallmarks of someone capable of breaking out. He also adds much-needed swing-and-miss stuff, and could form a very fun 1-2 punch with Cade Horton atop the Cubs' rotation for the next three years. What do you think of the Edward Cabrera trade? Are you excited? Do you foresee him establishing himself as a top-of-the-rotation arm in Chicago? Sound off in the comments below! View the full article

On Wednesday afternoon, the Cubs finally addressed their starting rotation, completing a trade with the Maimi Marlins for right-handed pitcher Edward Cabrera. The Marlins and the Cubs have long been apparent bedfellows, with Chicago almost dealing for Jesús Luzardo last year and Cabrera last summer, and they finally consummated a deal. There will be plenty of discourse on the price, and losing Owen Caissie could come back and hurt the Cubs at some point, but what the Cubs are actually getting in Cabrera is just as important. Cabrera, 27, is a 6-foot-5 right-handed pitcher who signed with the Marlins as an international free agent way in 2015. He gained significant prospect hype, making the Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus and MLB Pipeline Top 100 lists for three straight seasons from 2020-22. However, it took a while for him to stick in the Marlins rotation, due to a combination of control issues and injuries. That changed in 2025, when Cabrera and Marlins pitching coach Daniel Moskos (hired away from the Cubs in Nov. 2024) made a significant change in arm slot, which seemingly unlocked Cabrera's potential. By shifting his arm slot lower, Cabrera created a significant change in his movement profile, giving him significantly more horizontal movement than he had before—and tons of vertical movement on his curveball.. Here's Cabrera's new-look curveball in a game against the Milwaukee Brewers in July. On a 2-2 count, and after a (barely) too-low changeup, Cabrera used his hammer to get the punchout. The added depth and how the pitch plays off his changeup earned a chase on this pitch. FanGraphs's Stuff+ agrees the pitch has gotten better, shape-wise. While it was always strong, sitting at a career 109 on their scale, it jumped to a 119 last year. ZU44b25fWGw0TUFRPT1fVlFOVkJsTlZVbFFBQ1ZOUVVRQUhWQTVXQUZrQUJ3Y0FVVkFOQ1ZVQ0FGWlRWbGRX.mp4 While Cabrera's best pitch now is his curveball, his arm slot change also improved his changeup, taking the shape of that pitch from below-average to plus. Changeups are great for right-handed-pitchers to attack left-handed hitters, and it's always been a staple for him. Here, Cabrera used his changeup with strong arm-side run to strikeout the dangerous Lamonte Wade Jr. WEQyTTJfWGw0TUFRPT1fVUFSVUFGSU1Wd1FBWGxKV1ZRQUhBVklEQUFCVUFRSUFWbGNCVVFNQVVnY0dDRllF.mp4 The Marlins and Cabrera were effectively able to change his pitch mix last season to utilize his arm slot optimally, moving away from his 98-mph fastball and highlighting a sinker-slider combination that would better attack righties. The fireballer can now more effectively attack both sides of the plate, which sows doubt and creates deception. None of this matters if there isn't proof of real applicability attached to those adjustments, but there was plenty of that in 2025. Cabrera posted his best ERA (3.53), FIP (3.83) and xFIP (3.62). One thing that could be easy to miss: none of this resulted in a lower strikeout rate. While his per-inning strikeout rate decreased slightly, because his walk rate was so much lower (13.3% career prior, 8.3% last year), he faced fewer hitters per inning and his per-batter faced rate stayed pretty much the same. It was easily his best season. There are still places to improve. The batted-ball data against Cabrera isn't great. He gives up a lot of hard hit balls and isn't great at limiting barrels. With his stuff, one might hope for better chase rates on pitches outside the zone. The Cubs are a team who love cutting action on fastballs, and adding a cutter to Cabrera's arsenal might also continue to help against lefty batters, while allowing him to use his sinker (which he likely throws a little too often to lefties) less often against them. Cabrera is making progress, but is not a finished project. Beyond some cleanup work, there's another red flag in Cabrera's game: injuries. Cabrera has had a fairly lengthy injury record, and last year was no different, as he missed time twice with elbow-related issues. It's tempting to worry that he's on the verge of needing Tommy John surgery, but while any pitcher is seemingly one throw away from exploding, the risk might not be as severe as it seems. Remember, Cabrera significantly dropped his arm slot last year. Typically, that will result in more stress in the elbow versus the shoulder. We shouldn't ignore these, but it could also be that a new motion created some added soreness as the pitcher got used to the changes. Hopefully for his (and the Cubs') sake, this is a transition to a new mechanical signature, rather than something more serious. The Cubs reviewed his medicals before approving this trade, and they appear to believe he's healthier than Luzardo was a year ago. Moving forward, it's fair to be cautiously optimistic about what the Cubs have acquired. The team has clearly prioritized pitchers with lower arm slots, such as Phil Maton, Hoby Milner and Colin Snider this offseason, and Cabrera will fit that mold. He's young and has plenty of upside. There is clear risk here, because he's never fully established himself as a No. 2 in the rotation, but he has the hallmarks of someone capable of breaking out. He also adds much-needed swing-and-miss stuff, and could form a very fun 1-2 punch with Cade Horton atop the Cubs' rotation for the next three years. What do you think of the Edward Cabrera trade? Are you excited? Do you foresee him establishing himself as a top-of-the-rotation arm in Chicago? Sound off in the comments below! View the full article

The Kansas City Royals have been involved in their fair share of rumors this offseason, though the temperature on the hot stove has remained low to medium. Now, for the third time this offseason, they have come to a minor league agreement with a utility backup. Having previously signed Jorge Alfaro and Abraham Toro, they have agreed to terms with Josh Rojas. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com is reporting that Rojas also received a non-roster invite to spring training. Rojas, 32, played 69 games for the Chicago White Sox last season. Across 211 plate appearances, he had a .511 OPS with two home runs and four stolen bases. He appeared at second base, third base, and left field. In seven seasons, Rojas has been a below-average hitter (88 wRC+) and has spent time at every position except center field and catcher. He'll look to compete with Alfaro and Toro for one of the last spots off the bench. Do you think the Royals have done enough this offseason to improve the roster? Let us know what you're thinking in the comments! View the full article

Trevor Story is hosting his informal “Story Camp” this week, and some familiar faces have joined the shortstop in Texas. Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer, Connor Wong, Jarren Duran, Triston Casas, and Mikey Romero appear in all of the social media posts surrounding the event. When the first Story Camp was announced a few seasons ago, it seemed like a way for the veteran shortstop to connect with and mentor younger players while he was rehabbing from injury. Now though, it seems to be transforming into something different. With Duran, Wong, and Casas all being present. it showcases them putting in the extra work to improve on down or lost seasons in 2025. It also gives them more opportunities to work with members of the young core in Anthony and Mayer. Romero is penciled in to be the starting shortstop for the WooSox this season and working with Story can only help him improve at the position. Should Story go down with an injury, it’s likely Romero will be one of the first names called up to the big-league roster. Story Camp is a way for Trevor Story to further mentor the up-and-coming talent in the system. We can all hope that this extra time together will translate to positive results on the field in 2026. View the full article

The Boston Red Sox have yet to sign a free agent to a major-league contract this offseason, but at least the team has remained engaged with several free agents. Currently,the team has a lack of left-handed relief options and with that in mind, the Red Sox have been linked to options such as Danny Coulombe, Tim Mayza, and Cionel Pérez as reported by MassLive's Chris Cotillo. The Red Sox currently have nine left-handed pitchers on the 40-man roster, but of them only three are currently viewed as relief options, and one is closer Aroldis Chapman. With just Jovani Morán and Tyler Samaniego as potential left-handed relievers for 2026 following the trades of Chris Murphy and Brennan Bernardino, it is only natural the team is looking to improve its reliever situation. Of the three relievers the team has been linked to, Coulombe is the most attractive option despite a late-season meltdown with the Texas Rangers. Coulombe split the 2025 season between Minnesota and Texas, appearing in 55 games and tossing 43 innings as he finished with a 2.30 ERA. To finish the season, Coulombe pitched in 15 games for Texas after being traded, but struggled as he walked nine batters in 12 innings while allowing three home runs. Should Coulombe pitch closer to how he did in Minnesota (and with Baltimore in 2023 and 2024: he struck out 90 batters in 81 innings while walking just 17) he would slot in immediately as a high-leverage weapon out of the bullpen. Both Mayza and Pérez had less successful seasons in 2025. Mayza pitched in just 15 games split between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, tossing 16 2/3 innings and striking out 15 batters. The lack of appearances was due to a lat strain that cost him a good portion of the season. While healthy, he had an 87th percentile extension at 6.9 feet, a trait that the Red Sox have been interested in the past couple seasons. He also is a ground ball pitcher and could do well if the Sox continue to improve their infield defense. Pérez struggled in 2025, appearing in 19 games with Baltimore while tossing 21 2/3 innings. In that span, he struggled with his command, allowing 18 walks. Pérez was designated for assignment in late May and spent the rest of the season with Triple-A Norfolk where his struggles continued. In 22 1/3 innings, he walked 19 batters and finished with a 6.85 ERA. While he had a 16.4% walk rate with Baltimore, he did manage to limit barrels as batters only barreled up his pitches 2.9% of the time. He also managed to get groundballs 60.9% of the time, something that could play well when paired with the Red Sox's infield. View the full article

The Miami Marlins are very close to trading right-handed starting pitcher Edward Cabrera to the Chicago Cubs, as first reported by Michael Cerami of Bleacher Nation on Wednesday. Outfield prospect Owen Caissie would be part of the deal if completed, a source tells Fish On First. The club has yet to announce the move. Cabrera, who the Marlins signed for $100,000 in 2015, finally broke out in 2025 after inconsistencies since his debut back in 2021. He posted a 3.53 ERA, 3.83 FIP, 9.81 K/9 and 3.14 BB/9 in a career-high 137 2/3 innings pitched. It marked the first time in Cabrera's career that he surpassed the 100 inning threshold. His walk rate was also the lowest of his career, after having struggled with command/control since coming up to the big leagues. The main concern are his injuries. Cabrera was placed on the injured list twice, first on Opening Day with a right middle finger blister and late into the season, he suffered a right elbow sprain, which many assumed would not only knock him out for the remainder of the 2025 season, but all of 2026. Cabrera did return on September 22, making two more starts, going four innings against the Philadelphia Phillies and five innings against the New York Mets to close out the season. President of baseball operations Peter Bendix is taking a gamble by moving Cabrera, who is capable of having an even better season in 2026, but the Marlins are also banking on their crop of talented, less experienced starters—including top prospects Thomas White and Robby Snelling—to keep the team competitive. The Marlins also moved Cabrera because of the health concerns, the fact that it is hard to know what his 2026 will look like given years of inconsistency and the fact that he was the most movable pitcher with years of control remaining. Cabrera is projected to make $3.7M in 2026 via arbitration and will be under club control through 2028. With the trade, the Marlins Opening Day starting rotation now projects to be Sandy Alcantara, Eury Pérez, Ryan Weathers, Max Meyer and Janson Junk. A source has told Fish On First that the expectation is that the Marlins will go out and attempt to sign a starting pitcher, similar to what they did with bringing in Cal Quantrill last year. View the full article

The Chicago Cubs have agreed to a trade to acquire right-handed pitcher Edward Cabrera from the Miami Marlins, a source confirmed to North Side Baseball Wednesday. Michael Cerami of Bleacher Nation had the news first, on Twitter. Owen Caissie will be part of the package going to the Marlins, who nearly acquired him from Chicago last winter in exchange for lefty starter Jesús Luzardo. Cabrera, who will turn 28 in April, comes with three years of team control, and is eligible for arbitration this winter. He made 26 starts and posted a 3.53 ERA in 2025, the best and healthiest season of his career. Long plagued by shoulder injuries, he lowered his arm slot, resulting not only in more durability (though he dealt with elbow issues, instead) but better control. Without missing fewer bats (his strikeout rate held steady at 25.8%), Cabrera used his altered delivery to reduce his walk rate from a career mark of 13.3% before 2025 to 8.3%. He boasts two fastballs that sit in the upper 90s, but is one of the least fastball-reliant starting pitchers in baseball. Instead, he leans heavily on his plus changeup and curveball, also mixing in a slider and an occasional sweeper. The changeup is famous for clocking in as high as 96 miles per hour, thrown with ferocity but achieving great fade and tumble. Given that profile, it's clear what Cabrera adds that the Cubs had previously lacked: a right-handed power arm at the front end of the rotation, to complement Cade Horton. He misses bats with multiple offerings and could still have more in the tank, as he finds a rhythm by staying healthy more consistently. The Cubs could have him throw the heater more than Miami did, but he's a different type of hurler than they have relied on over the last decade—and that's a good thing. For the Marlins, the key piece of the deal is Caissie, who had been slated to take over a significant role in the Cubs' lineup for 2026. Long on raw power and more athletic than his frame suggests, Caissie nonetheless comes with concerns about his ability to actualize that pop (he rarely pulled the ball in the air, for instance, even in a second tour of Triple A in 2025) and about strikeouts. His stock dipped slightly league-wide despite good numbers on the farm last year, and the Cubs entertained trading him in July, when the Marlins were also interested in acquiring him. A source indicated that there will be two other pieces going to Miami to complete the trade. More to come. View the full article

The Minnesota Twins have spent much of the offseason in a holding pattern, with Josh Bell standing as the lone notable addition. That quiet approach could change quickly if events on the East Coast continue to unfold, as the Twins have been connected to the Philadelphia Phillies in trade discussions centered on catcher Ryan Jeffers. According to The Athletic’s Matt Gelb, the Phillies are exploring backup plans in case they do not re-sign longtime catcher J.T. Realmuto. Realmuto has been a fixture in Philadelphia since 2019, earning three All-Star selections along the way. Now 35 years old and coming off his worst offensive season with the club, he has reached free agency with no resolution in sight. With pitchers and catchers set to report soon, Philadelphia’s sense of urgency is growing. As Gelb wrote, “The Phillies have explored contingencies because pitchers and catchers report to Florida in five weeks. It would be ideal to have a starting catcher report. The Phillies have talked trades for catchers, young and old; Minnesota’s Ryan Jeffers is one potential target, league sources told The Athletic.” That urgency cuts both ways. Gelb also noted, “But the closer everyone gets to camps opening, the more reluctant teams are to trade away a catcher. Victor Caratini, who has never started more than 87 games in a season at catcher, is still on the free agent market and could wait until Realmuto decides to pick his own destination.” Jeffers is not Realmuto, but the comparison is closer than it might initially appear. In 2025, Jeffers slashed .266/.356/.397 with nine home runs and 47 RBI across 119 games. Realmuto posted a .257/.315/.384 line with 12 home runs and 52 RBI over 134 games. The larger body of work still favors Realmuto, who owns a .270/.328/.447 career line over 1,373 games, while Jeffers sits at .239/.321/.419 through 515 contests. Still, Jeffers has quietly established himself as an above-average offensive catcher, particularly over the past three seasons. From Minnesota’s perspective, the timing is complicated. Jeffers is projected to earn $6.5 million in his final year of arbitration in 2026 before reaching free agency. Trading him now could bring back meaningful value, especially if Philadelphia’s leverage erodes as camp approaches. At the same time, the Twins lack a clear replacement. Christian Vazquez is a free agent, and the current depth chart includes Alex Jackson and Jhonny Pereda, neither of whom profiles as a true starting catcher. The farm system offers little immediate relief. Eduardo Tait, acquired from Philadelphia in the Jhoan Duran trade, is just 19 years old and several years away despite being the organization’s number three prospect. Ricardo Olivar at Double A is the most advanced catching prospect, but he is not viewed as a near-term solution. Any Jeffers trade would almost certainly require Minnesota to add a replacement via trade or free agency. The free agent market includes names like Jonah Heim, Mitch Garver, Victor Caratini, Elias Diaz, Gary Sanchez, and Christian Vazquez, but each option represents some degree of downgrade for a team that still wants to contend in the AL Central. If Realmuto’s negotiations continue to stall, Minnesota may find itself holding the leverage. In that scenario, the Twins should be demanding rising young big leaguers and meaningful prospects. Trading Jeffers would hurt in the short term, but if the return is strong enough, it could be a calculated move that aligns with a longer view of the roster. For now, it remains a rumor. But it is one that neatly captures where both franchises stand, one searching for stability behind the plate and the other weighing whether its best option might be to cash in before the window quietly closes. View the full article

In our continuing series of ranking San Diego Padres player assets, it's time to take a look at Nos. 6 through 10. This list ranks the 25 Padres players and prospects with this in mind: Who are the most valuable in the organization's pursuit of building a champion? To do so, we considered age, upside, and contract. Each player's age and controlled-through years are based on his Baseball Reference age for the 2026 season and when B-R says he can become a free agent. For what we wrote in this series previously, check out Nos. 11-15, 16-20, and 21-25. 10. Randy Vasquez, RHP 2026 season age: 27 Controlled through: 2030 After an up-and-down first season in the Padres' organization, literally and figuratively, Vasquez became a dependable part of the starting rotation in 2025. One of the five players acquired from the New York Yankees in the Juan Soto trade two offseasons ago, Vazquez was constantly on the Triple-A El Paso shuttle in 2024, with multiple promotions and demotions. While not ideal, that could help account for his 4.74 FIP and 84 ERA+. But he did get 20 starts for a team that went to the postseason. Luckily, 2025 was much different. Vasquez started 26 of the 28 games he appeared in, putting up a 4.85 FIP and 111 ERA+ that belied his 3.84 ERA. His walk percentage was a little high at 9.1% and his strikeout rate was low at 13.7%. So, there is still work to be done there. There was one demotion, following the Padres' acquisition of left-hander Nestor Cortes from the Milwaukee Brewers at the trade deadline — and after a start in which he allowed five runs in four innings — but Vasquez was back up about a week later. Vasquez uses seven pitches, but none a majority of the time. His 90.2 mph cutter was he most-used pitch at 24.8%, with his 93.4 mph four-seamer next at 20.9%. He also has a sinker (19.2%), sweeper (13.6%) and curve (12.9%) in addition to a rarely-used changeup (6.9%) and slider (1.8%). Perhaps refining that repertoire could help in his effectiveness. Vasquez is entering his last pre-arb season. 9. Jeremiah Estrada, RHP 2026 season age: 27 Controlled through: 2029 Teams always hope to find a little success in waiver claims. The Padres have certainly cashed in with Estrada. An offseason waiver pickup from the Chicago Cubs two years ago, Estrada has flourished since joining the Padres' bullpen. After spending the first month of the 2024 season at Triple-A El Paso, Estrada has been a reliable reliever, posting a 2.07 FIP and 140 ERA+ in 2024 in 62 games (61 innings), then a 3.55 FIP and 124 ERA+ in 77 games (73 innings) in 2025. Estrada brings the heat, averaging 97.9 mph on his four-seamer in 2025, a pitch he used 56.8% of the time en route to a 35.5% strikeout rate against an 8.9% walk rate. He also has an 83.7 mph splitter that he used 23.2% and an 88.5 mph slider 20%. Due to his salary status, entering his final pre-arb year with a total of four years of control, Estrada has drawn trade interest. Estrada could also be in line for more saves should the Padres deal Mason Miller, with more late-inning appearances at the worst. Estrada notched three saves in 2025, and he tied for fifth in MLB with 30 holds. 8. Adrian Morejon, LHP 2026 season age: 27 Controlled through: 2026 Speaking of key bullpen arms, Morejon is coming off his best season. The left-hander vultured 13 wins while recording a 2.28 FIP and 206 ERA+ in 75 games covering 73⅔ innings. He was flat-out dominant, holding opposing hitters to a remarkable slash line of .186/.235/.236, walking 5.9% of batters and striking out 24.5%. Morejon keeps his infielders busy with a 51.3% grounder rate. Morejon does that with a terrific sinker-slider combo. He has a 97.7 mph sinker that he used 61.7% of the time in 2025, with his slider at 87.5 mph and 24.6%. On occasion, he will toss a changeup (6.6%), cutter (3.5%) or four-seamer (3.1%) into the mix. As the primary set-up man, the 2025 All-Star would be first in line for saves should Miller be moved. Otherwise, he provides a terrific back-end of the bullpen option to set up Miller. While the Padres tinkered with the thought of making him a starter this offseason, it would have been foolish to weaken the bullpen with trades still in play — even for Morejon, who is projected to earn just $3.6 million in his final trip through arbitration. 7. Joe Musgrove, RHP 2026 season age: 33 Controlled through: 2027 If not for a couple of major injuries over the last few years, Musgrove would probably be up a few notches on this list, perhaps in contention for the No. 1 spot. But the injuries did happen and they cost Musgrove serious time. The latest malady has been Tommy John surgery, which happened following the team's 2024 postseason elimination. That came after Musgrove's 2023 season in ended in July due to inflammation in his right shoulder capsule. He began 2024 in the rotation, but bone spurs in his right elbow led to a 5.36 FIP in 10 starts and a spot on the 60-day injured list. The good news is Musgrove appears to be on pace to be ready for spring training, although he will be in the initial stages of getting his arm back in shape, so the possibility exists of beginning 2026 on the injured list or a rehab assignment. His return will be a boon for the rotation, which already received an unexpected return with right-hander Michael King re-signing for three years and $75 million, If the rotation sticks as currently constructed, Musgrove will slot in after Nick Pivetta and King, giving the Padres a very good top three. Musgrove will always have a place in Padres history as the El Cajon native threw the first no-hitter in team history in 2021. While the competitor in Java Joe will want to return to the rotation ASAP, the business side of Musgrove might take a bit more of a cautious route. He will want to make sure nothing endangers his 2026 or 2027 seasons, which are the last years of Musgrove's current contract. 6. Manny Machado, 3B 2026 season age: 33 Controlled through: 2033 As he prepares to enter his eighth season in San Diego, there is no question that Machado remains the rock of the Padres' offense. That was proven with his third-best bWAR season of his Padres tenure with a 4.1 mark. That came through a .275/.335/.460 slash line with 27 homers and 95 RBIs. He still stings the ball, with an average exit velocity of 92.9 mph, which is in the 94th percentile of MLB hitters. Machado also continues to be one of the better third basemen defensively. The question for Machado, who is under contract through the 2033 season, is how long that continues. He is entering his age-33 season, so any signs of any downfall may start cropping up sooner rather than later. And yet, he earned down-ballot NL MVP votes each of the last two seasons. He provides all-around contributions while holding down the No. 3 spot in the lineup. There is no question the Padres need more power in their lineup, but that isn't necessarily coming from Machado, who is averaging 30 homers in full seasons in San Diego. His production could even go up slightly with more support in the lineup after him. Putting up typical numbers will be one of the key factors for the Padres to remain a contender. The Padres lost Luis Arraez to free agency, but someone such as left fielder Ramon Laureano, acquired at the trade deadline, could turn out to be a better overall contributor. How infielder Sung Mun Song, a free agent from South Korea, fits in will be interesting to watch. Machado is also a couple years from either being a full-time designated hitter or crossing the diamond for some time at first base, and he should remain entrenched at the hot corner in 2026. View the full article

The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey has verified that the Boston Red Sox have a contract offer on the table for Alex Bregman. She has reached out to the source that spoke to ESPN’s Buster Olney last week and confirmed that the offer is indeed “aggressive”. The full details of the offer are unknown at this point, and aggressive likely means different things to all parties involved. What this does show is that the Red Sox are still actively trying to improve the team and have at least some amount of comfort with handing out multi-year offers to free agents. The ball is in Bregman’s court, though, as the Red Sox are far from the only team currently vying for his services. Speculation all offseason has had him returning to Boston, but it’s far from a sure thing, even with this offer in hand. Bregman is represented by mega-agent Scott Boras, so this offer is likely being used to leverage other teams while attempting to gauge if this is actually the best offer Boston will make. Until we know more, we’re all playing the waiting game together. View the full article

By no means do the Milwaukee Brewers need to trim their payroll for 2026. In fact, they could and should spend even more than they're currently slated to, and more than they're likely to spend before the offseason is over. If they decide to trade Freddy Peralta, it won't be to save the $8 million they owe him in 2026; it will be solely because they get a haul of young talent too good to pass up. Still, they're likely to save money in any Peralta deal. They struck a nearly cash-neutral deal with the Yankees last winter when they traded Devin Williams, receiving Nestor Cortes as part of the package in return, but that was a rare case of being able to match need for need and dollar for dollar. Peralta is a much more valuable trade chip than Williams was, and any deal for him will bring back more than the package of Cortes and Caleb Durbin, so the Brewers are unlikely to take back a player with a substantial salary. How, then, should they spend whatever they save by moving their erstwhile ace, should they pull that trigger? First, let's assume (for the sake of argument) that no player acquired for Peralta fills any of the team's top needs for 2026. In reality, they're likely to get someone who can help immediately in such a deal, as they did with DL Hall and Joey Ortiz in the Corbin Burnes trade two offseasons ago and in the Williams trade last winter. It's very hard to predict who that might be, though, so let's sidestep the question by imagining a package that primarily makes them better in 2027 and beyond. Since they have superb pitching depth right now, trading Peralta without getting back an instant contributor isn't out of the question, if the prospects in question are strong enough. For somewhere between $7 million and $10 million in 2026 payroll, the team could fill an interesting potential need, after moving Peralta. The market has been slow to develop for Harrison Bader and Austin Hays, two athletic, right-hitting outfielders coming off solid but unspectacular seasons and hitting free agency for a second time in their early 30s. A competent right-handed bat for a corner outfield spot is one profile the Brewers could fit seamlessly into their 26-man roster for the coming season, especially in the wake of the trade that sent Isaac Collins to the Royals. If Blake Perkins and Garrett Mitchell are the right combination of healthy and good, they might keep Jackson Chourio primarily to left field, but it's much more likely that Chourio will spend at least a good chunk of 2026 in center. Sal Frelick has right field held down, but he's a lefty batter who could benefit tremendously from having a platoon partner to shield him from left-handed pitchers. If Chourio is in center, meanwhile, left field falls to some combination of Christian Yelich (when his back permits him to play the outfield), Jake Bauers and players expected to spend most of the season in the minors: Brandon Lockridge, Steward Berroa, and Akil Baddoo. Bader, 31, batted a stellar .277/.347/.449 in 501 plate appearances with the Twins and Phillies in 2025. He's lost a step in center field, but he's a markedly above-average left fielder and a lefty-masher who figured some things out last year. He'd posted ugly numbers in the previous two seasons, though, and given his age, he's not finding the eight-figure salaries or multi-year offers he'd hoped for this winter. He would fit gorgeously into the team's defensive plans and add some punch against southpaws. Hays, 30, has been more consistently competent than Bader at the plate. He batted .266/.315/.453 in 2025, taking 416 plate appearances for the Reds and cracking 16 home runs. He's not the same caliber of defender as Bader, though, and durability is an important question for him. Either of these players could help the Brewers in slightly less than a full-time role, but still a substantial one. They're likely to make something similar to what Peralta will in 2026, so if and when the Brewers get the offer they've been awaiting on their star hurler, they should turn their attention to signing a key complementary piece with the money the move frees up. View the full article

On Tuesday afternoon, Kazuma Okamoto was officially announced as a member of the Blue Jays. The press conference featured the usual suspects: Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins was present along with Okamoto’s translator, Gino Gordon, his agent, Scott Boras, and Okamoto himself. After a brief introduction and a flurry of photos taken as Okamoto donned the Blue Jays jersey for the first time, the standard question-and-answer period began. The presser included lots of fun information (which can be found here), including how Okamoto (with the help of his daughter) chose the Blue Jays, his affection for the city of Toronto, and lots more, but one question in particular stood out more than others, and it may be a hint into what's in store for the rest of the offseason. That question was addressed to Atkins, who was asked about the potential of more moves coming for this team. He gave his usual, “we're always looking to make the team better” response that Blue Jays fans have heard for years, but then added, “The one thing I’ll add is additions... will start to cut away playing time from players that are very good MLB players.” The quote itself could mean many things, and pinning down exactly what Atkins is trying to convey is no easy task. Perhaps he means that the Jays are content with their roster and no further moves are forthcoming, or maybe it indicates that a trade is being considered to move some MLB talent off the team. Alternatively, it could be a negotiation tactic to lower the demands of Kyle Tucker/Bo Bichette. Only Atkins truly knows. But regardless of what his motives were, there is a lot of truth to his statement. The Blue Jays are running into a problem that a lot of good teams have: too many players and not enough roster spots. If the Jays do decide to add another position player, then someone is going to be the odd man out. As things stand right now, the position player group seems full. George Springer, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Alejandro Kirk, and Daulton Varsho are no-doubt starters. Addison Barger, Ernie Clement, and Andrés Giménez were key contributors during the 2025 playoff run. While there are some question marks about Okamoto and Anthony Santander, both players have tremendous upside and deserve a shot to play regularly until they prove they can't. The Okamoto signing now moves the left-handed hitting Nathan Lukes into a pure bench role, with Myles Straw as the right-handed alternative. Both are strong defensive outfielders who did enough offensively in 2025. Davis Schneider also profiles as a bench piece, but he can hit left-handers and hold his own at second base or in the corner outfield. The other spot belongs to Tyler Heineman, who will serve as the backup catcher. This makes the roster crunch decision incredibly difficult, as all four players were above replacement level in 2025. Here are the fWAR totals for those players: Schneider - 1.3 Straw - 1.8 Lukes - 1.8 Heineman - 2.1 Only Schneider and Lukes still have minor league options. None of these players deserves to be taken off the roster, and I would hate to be in John Schneider's shoes if he has to tell one of them that they're no longer on the team. Now, the Blue Jays could turn this surplus into an advantage. They have a pool of depth that could be used to improve other areas of the roster. Not too long ago, the Blue Jays had three major league-calibre catchers, and they ended up trading one of them to acquire Varsho in 2022. Yet, turning the depth they have now into a trade may be harder than it first appears. Straw is still owed $7.4 million going into the season. Lukes will be 32, and he just played his first full big league season. Schneider may be the piece that other teams have the most interest in, but he was a key contributor in the clubhouse last year and has the most home run power of the bench pieces. The logjam exists not just on the 26-man roster but on the 40-man roster as well. Paxton Schultz was designated for assignment when the Okamoto signing became official, and he threw some quality innings for the team in 2025. He made 13 appearances with a 4.38 ERA and more strikeouts (28) than innings pitched (24.2). He’ll likely catch on with another team, but for now, he’s a victim of circumstance. As for who might be next off the 40-man roster, that's a dilemma in itself. Tommy Nance is a candidate, but like Schultz, he had his moments in ‘25. There are two Rule 5 hopefuls in Angel Bastardo and Spencer Miles who the Jays will likely try to carry into spring training. Bowden Francis had an ugly 2025 season, but a DFA would be surprising. After that, it's the largely unproven group of Adam Macko, Lazaro Estrada, Jake Bloss, Leo Jimenez, Jonatan Clase, and Joey Loperfido. While one of them may be next in line, losing any of them comes with real risk. All of these players have potential big league upside, and a case can be made that they can all help the major league team in 2026. There’s a cliché in baseball that these things always work themselves out, and that's likely to be true again. But the Kazuma Okamoto signing is already forcing the Blue Jays to confront a reality that all good teams face, and that's with depth, difficult decisions follow. Okamoto doesn't just add talent to the lineup; he compresses the roster. And as the offseason continues and more moves feel likely, the challenge for the Blue Jays won't only be who they add, but who they’re willing to let go. View the full article